Abstract: A system provided for controlling an output frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator relative to a reference frequency. A method includes the steps of detecting a phase error between a divided output of the voltage controlled oscillator and the reference frequency, pumping a frequency control input of the voltage controlled oscillator with the phase error and adjusting a pumping gain based upon a magnitude of the frequency control input to the voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: In one embodiment a precursor gas for growing a polycrystalline silicon-germanium region and a single crystal silicon-germanium region is supplied. The precursor gas can be, for example, GeH4. The polycrystalline silicon-germanium region can be, for example, a base contact in a heterojunction bipolar transistor while the single crystal silicon-germanium region can be, for example, a base in the heterojunction bipolar transistor. The polycrystalline silicon-germanium region can be grown in a mass controlled mode at a certain temperature and a certain pressure of the precursor gas while the single crystal silicon-germanium region can be grown, concurrently, in a kinetically controlled mode at the same temperature and the same pressure of the precursor gas. The disclosed embodiments result in controlling the growth of the polycrystalline silicon-germanium independent of the growth of the single crystal silicon-germanium.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a hybrid VLIW-SIMD programming model for a digital signal processor. The hybrid programming model broadcasts a packet of information to a plurality of functional units or processing elements. Each packet contains several instructions having certain characteristics, such as instruction type and instruction length, among others. The hybrid programming model includes functional units which are reconfigurable based upon the instructions with an instruction packet and the availability of the functional units. The model groups the functional units such that the operations specified in the instructions can be efficiently executed and selects which functional units should be utilized for a given operation.

Abstract: A speech coding system is provided with time-domain noise attenuation. The speech coding system has an encoder operatively connected to a decoder via a communication medium. A preprocessor processes a digitized speech signal from an analog-to-digital converter. Speech coding systems are used to encode and decode a bitstream. Gains from the speech coding are adjusted by a gain factor Gf that provides time-domain background noise attenuation.

Abstract: A multi-communication rate switching physical device for a port of a mixed communication rate Ethernet repeater network. The present invention includes a physical device for recovering bits from a wire connection (e.g., fiber, twisted pair, etc.) that is coupled to computer system adapter. The physical device can be implemented on a single chip integrated within an Ethernet repeater hub within each hub port. The physical device chip of the invention includes a front end multiplexer coupled to channel information between a 10 Base T physical device circuit and a 100 Base T physical device circuit, depending on the result of an auto-negotiation circuit also on the physical device chip. The physical device chip also advantageously employs a second, back end multiplexer, that is coupled to channel data between either the 10 Base T physical device circuit or the 100 Base T physical device circuit and one of a multiple of media independent interfaces (MIIs).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing cells in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communication system. A group of bits comprises a primary scoreboard indicative of the scheduling status for cell time slots in a periodic container of cells, with each bit indicating the availability of a corresponding cell time slot. A connection identifier (ID) table is maintained with each location in the table corresponding to one of the cell time slots and thus a single primary scoreboard bit. A cell scheduling instruction specifies a connection ID for a virtual connection on an ATM transmission link. A processor searches the primary scoreboard until a bit corresponding to an available cell time slot is located, reserves the located cell slot by setting the corresponding bit, and stores the connection ID in the corresponding location in the connection ID table. A cell servicing instruction specifies an address in the connection ID table.

Abstract: Phase Change Material (“PCM”) are used to reduce the range of temperature excursions in a semiconductor die attached to an interconnect substrate in the flip chip technology. In one embodiment a PCM underfill, which comprises PCM microspheres interspersed within a polymer, is dispensed in the interface area between the semiconductor die and the interconnect substrate. Reduction of the range of temperature excursions in the semiconductor die is achieved since the PCM underfill acts as a cushion to dampen the range of temperature excursions of the semiconductor die. During dissipation of power pulses in the semiconductor die, the PCM underfill absorbs energy from the semiconductor die by changing phase from solid to liquid without a concomitant rise in the temperature of the PCM underfill. Thus, the energy released when power pulses are being dissipated in the semiconductor die does not result in a rise in the temperature of the PCM underfill.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ascertaining states of a telephone line. A communication device, such as a modem, is coupled to a telephone line that also has other communication device or devices coupled to the line. The state of the line is determined before the modem goes off-hook. An energy level of a capacitor that is coupled to the telephone line is ascertained by a data pump of the modem. Should the energy level of the capacitor exceed a threshold, then the telephone line is in use and the modem does not go off-hook. If the energy level is at or below the threshold level, then the modem goes off-hook. In another implementation, an energy profile is established for the other communication devices when they transition from an on hook state to an off hook state and vise versa. The energy profile can be detected by the data pump to ascertain the state of the telephone line or the state of the communication device.

Abstract: A direct conversion receiver system is provided in which a first input signal at a first frequency is applied to a first input port of a multiplier, a second input signal at a second frequency equal to about {fraction (1/n)} times the first frequency, wherein n is an integer, is applied to a second input port of the multiplier. A first filter coupled to the first input port is configured to substantially filter out any leakage at the second frequency which may be present. A second filter coupled to the second input port is configured to substantially filter out any leakage at the first frequency which may be present. The multiplier is configured to produce a signal at an output port thereof which is derived from the product of the first and second signals. In one embodiment, the output is representative of the product of the filtered first signal and a multiplication factor which switches at n times the second frequency. The output of the multiplier is coupled to a third filter.

Abstract: A pulse code modulation modem system utilizes the same total average transmit power formula for designing signal point constellations and for verifying that the transmit power of the signal point constellations are within a designated maximum power limit. The transmit power of the signal point constellations designed by the client modem is also calculated by the server modem to verify that the transmit power limit imposed upon the server modem is not exceeded. In addition, the modem system is capable of designating a transmit power limit associated with one or more training signal points or a training sequence for use during a training mode.

Abstract: A modem utilizing a DAA having line side circuitry including a telephone network interface and system side circuitry including a host system interface. The line side circuitry and the system side circuitry are separated by a high voltage isolation barrier. In accordance with the invention, the high voltage isolation barrier and other DAA circuitry are configured such that data and control information may be communicated between the system side circuitry and the line side circuitry using a serialized digital communication protocol. In one embodiment of the invention, the line side circuitry of the modem includes detection and measurement circuitry that is programmable to measure or establish electrical characteristics (e.g., tip/ring voltage and loop current) of the telephone line interface connection. Command information for the programmable circuitry is multiplexed with data communicated across the high voltage isolation barrier.

Abstract: A number of methods to display interlaced video on non-interlaced monitor are disclosed. One method is to display all of the incoming fields but one at a time, and correcting for the positional offset of one field relative to another in the interlaced data. An important aspect of the present invention is the correction of the positional offset of the two interlaced video fields. There are two ways presented to deal with the vertical offset of the two fields in accordance with the present invention. The first way is that the two fields can be displayed at different positions on the display using a non-interlaced display. The second way is that the video data can be altered to correct the positional offset between the fields. Another method of the present invention is to lock the frame rate of the output video to the incoming field rate or a multiple of the incoming field rate, or to certain sub-multiples of the incoming field rate.

Abstract: A system for receiving a signal is provided. The system includes a receiver that is operable to receive the signal, but which may also receive a noise signal. A duty cycle system is connected to the receiver. The duty cycle system can turn the receiver off and on at a controllable frequency. A signal strength system is also connected to the receiver, and is further connected to the duty cycle system. The signal strength system can determine the signal strength of the signal received by the receiver. If the signal strength indicates that the noise signal is not being received, the signal strength system generates control commands to the duty cycle system that cause the duty cycle system to cycle various components of the receiver that are used to suppress noise on and off, so as to conserve power.

Abstract: A splitterless digital subscriber line modem adapted to be coupled to a subscriber line including a sending end and a receiving end, the modem being capable of simultaneous access to the subscriber line with other telephone equipment operating in a frequency band below four kilohertz is disclosed herein. The modem includes a data terminal and a control circuit. The data terminal couples the modem to the subscriber line. The control circuit is coupled to the data terminal and receives and transmits signals to and from the data terminal. The control circuit utilizes line coding techniques to measure signal and noise at the receiving end and adjusts amplitude of the signal in response to the signal and the noise whereby power of the signal is optimized.

Abstract: A signal generator is disclosed. The signal generator includes a variable frequency selector that is configured to provide a variable frequency for generation of a variable frequency signal. The signal generator also includes a periodic signal generator. The periodic signal generator is used to generate a periodic signal. The periodic signal generator has an input receiving the variable frequency signal and an output providing the periodic signal. The periodic signal has a frequency approximately the same as the variable frequency selection. The periodic signal generator stores a table of values associated with a reference periodic signal, each stored value corresponding to a discrete time in the reference periodic signal. The periodic signal generator is configured to interpolate between the discrete points in the table of derivative values.

Abstract: A CMOS PECL-rx of the present invention comprises a decision stage, an output buffer; and biasing means for adjusting the tip voltage of the output buffer by negative feedback.

Abstract: An improved telecommunication system is capable of supporting an enhanced audio transmission mode and a conventional PCM waveform encoding mode. The enhanced audio transmission mode is governed by an audio coding protocol, while the PCM mode is governed by a PCM protocol such as &mgr;-law encoding. The telecommunication system performs an in-band signaling routine during a first communication session in accordance with the PCM protocol. The in-band signaling routine employs a form of robbed bit signaling to transmit information between the calling codec and the called codec. The signaling information is utilized to determine whether the called codec is compatible with the enhanced audio coding mode and, as necessary, to initiate the transition between the PCM mode and the audio coding mode. The audio coding mode transmits signals using a wider bandwidth than that used during the PCM mode. The use of a wider bandwidth results in a higher quality sound that better resembles person-to-person speech.

Abstract: A modem utilizing a data access arrangement (DAA) having line side circuitry including a telephone network interface and system side circuitry including a host system interface. The line side circuitry and the system side circuitry are separated by a high voltage isolation barrier. In accordance with the invention, the high voltage isolation barrier and other DAA circuitry are configured such that information may be communicated between the system side circuitry and the line side circuitry in a digital format. In one embodiment of the invention, the high voltage isolation barrier comprises a single capacitor for communicating bidirectional digital data. In another embodiment of the invention, a pair of capacitors are provided in the high voltage isolation barrier, with the digital signals being driven is a differential manner.

Abstract: A system and a method for building an online database for a computer system having a server module configured to receive information from client modules. The method comprises configuring at least one client module to communicate with the server module when the at least one client module is operating on the computer system. At least one communication channel is established between the at least one client module and the server module such that information may be passed from the at least one client module to the server module. This information is passed through the at least one communication channel from the at least one client module to the server module and compiled, with the server module, in a manner selected by a user of the computer system. The information is displayed in the manner selected by the user of the computer system to thereby assist in diagnostics of the computer system.

Abstract: A mobile wireless transceiver selects one of multiple nearby base stations to facilitate communication over a wireless network. Each base station transmits a pilot signal that includes a spreading signal transmitted at one of many possible phase offsets. The wireless transceiver selects an initial one of the possible phase offsets of the spreading signal and then correlates a received signal against the spreading signal at consecutive ones of the possible phase offsets. Correlation begins at the selected initial phase offset and continues until a component of the received signal and the spreading signal are aligned, indicating the detection of the pilot signal from one of the base stations.