Abstract: A non-coherent frequency shift keying detection scheme. The invention has been applied to the special case of capturing caller ID information when the voice-band modem is in the low power mode. The technique provides the capability for capturing and decoding enough of the caller ID information transmitted by the telephone company while the computer is in the sleep or low power mode, and upon awakening the computer can use this captured information to decode the actual caller ID information. Additionally, this invention automatically accommodates both the Bell 202 or V.23 transmission standards by utilizing a threshold concept in which the time that has elapsed between the zero crossings of an FSK tone half cycle are measured. The elapsed times may be used as an indication of which FSK tone has been transmitted thus allowing capture of caller ID information. The bit output of the caller ID capture circuit is output for storage by RAM thus allowing use by the computer when it wakes up.

Abstract: A system for digital-to-analog conversion and up-conversion (frequency multiplication) that reduces the distortion and attenuation caused by the sinc effect is described. The shape of the sinc function that gives rise to the sinc effect is altered in a manner such that the distortion produced by the sinc effect is reduced. The output of a digital-to-analog converter is provided with a return-to-zero (RTZ) output such that the digital-to-analog converter produces output pulses rather than output levels as would be expected from a conventional sample-and-hold output. The use of output pulses pushes the first null of the sinc function to a relatively higher frequency and thus the sinc function does not produce as much distortion in the harmonics of the sampled signal. Since the harmonics are less distorted, a bandpass filter or other filter can be used to extract harmonics of the sampled signal rather than the fundamental frequency.

Abstract: RF voltage amplifier circuits which have high voltage amplifier gain and input signal frequency range, and a method for boosting the voltage amplifier gain and input signal frequency range in such circuits is provided. A method includes the steps of providing a voltage amplifier having a transistor with the grounded source and the drain connected to a power supply via a resistive load, and providing an integrated inductor for biasing the transistor, having an inductor connecting an input signal terminal to the gate of the transistor and a capacitor connecting the gate and the source of the transistor. The next step includes selecting a resonant frequency of the integrated inductor at a frequency where the voltage amplifier gain is starting to roll-off, for boosting the voltage amplifier gain and the input signal frequency range. The integrated inductor preferably operates at a resonant frequency approximately matching the roll-off frequency of the voltage amplifier.

Abstract: A method for creating and preserving alignment marks used for aligning mask layers in integrated circuit formation including the steps of creating a first set of marks within a reference layer to form a basic alignment mark, creating a second set of marks overlapping the first set of marks and positioned perpendicular to the first set of marks in the same reference layer to form a preservation pattern, and etching the reference layer to form a substantially checkerboard-type pattern where portions of the first set of marks are recessed within a thickness of the reference layer. After creating the checkerboard-type pattern formed from the first and second marks, a first metal a layer may be deposited to fill in any recesses contained within the pattern. CMP follows without damaging the segmented portions of the first set of marks which lie recessed within a thickness of the reference layer. Finally, the preserved portions of the first set of marks are aligned with pattern marks for a second metal layer.

Abstract: A method of compressing programs, especially those used in embedded systems, is provided which allows greater program compression without significantly degrading system performance. The method provides: first, examining an entire program for sequences of lines of code, which may or may not constitute basic blocks; determining which sequences are identical or are identical except for a variation in a predetermined number of Elements within the sequence; designating and saving one uncompressed version of the identified sequences in memory as a specific microroutine, saving the Elements which differentiate the saved sequence from the various nearly identical sequences; and, assembling a version of the program consisting of original lines of code and microcalls. The microcall is a line of code which instructs a processor to implement a previously saved microroutine and provides an indication as to which Elements in the microroutine are to be replaced and where to find the substitute Elements.

Abstract: A traffic manager system coupled to a communication system for scheduling transmission of data associated with a plurality of connections in the communication system. The traffic manager includes a schedule table, a global priority queue, and a scheduler. The schedule table includes a plurality of slot locations, each having a least one tunnel entry. The scheduler is coupled to the schedule table and the global priority queue. The global priority queue has a tunnel level associated with the tunnel entry of the slot. The scheduler processes the slot locations in the schedule table and sets a tunnel active in response to processing the tunnel entry. The scheduler selects at least one connection from the tunnel level when active, which thus provides for the selection of connections from a plurality of service classes. As such, the scheduler allows per connection shaping in the tunnel mode. The scheduler, thus, maximizes communication bandwidth.

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: A modulator is configured with a first multiplexer having a first data signal input coupled to receive the first digital baseband signal and a second data signal input coupled to receive the second digital baseband signal. The first multiplexer provides a multiplexed output signal including components of the first and second digital baseband signals. The modulator also includes a source of alternating samples of first and second carrier signals and a multiplier having a first input coupled to the output of the first multiplexer and a second input coupled to the source of carrier signal samples. The multiplier is thereby coupled to provide a digital modulated output signal. The source of alternating samples of first and second baseband signals may include a second multiplexer having a first signal input coupled to receive a first carrier signal and a second signal input coupled to receive a second carrier signal.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line communication system does not require the use of a plain old telephone service (POTS) splitter in the resident's home. Digital signal-processing techniques are utilized to accommodate varying subscriber line conditions coming from POTS telephone equipment. The digital signal-processing techniques eliminate the need for a splitter by reducing susceptibility to distortion resulting from varying subscriber line characteristics. The digital subscriber line modem can utilize quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signals and frequency division multiplexing. The digital subscriber line modem includes a control circuit that implements an echo canceler and an analyzer to reduce near-end cross-talk noise. The analyzer performs spectral analysis to preemphasize or to predistort the transmitted signals in accordance with the cross-talk noise.

Abstract: A filter system having a variable dynamic range window comprising a parameter detector, a biasing unit and an active filter network. In one implementation, the active filter network comprises a log-domain filter. The parameter detector is configured to detect a parameter of a signal. The biasing unit, responsive thereto, biases the incoming signal. In one implementation, the biasing unit biases the signal to avoid zero crossings thereof. The effect is to adjust the dynamic range window of the filter to achieve an effective dynamic range which is greater than the nominal dynamic range.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing the perceptible impact to user traffic during a hand-off process in a full duplex wireless communications system having subscriber units and base stations, the subscriber unit being responsible for locating candidate base stations where the subscriber unit monitors the voice activity of the subscriber unit user and/or network user (connected to the base station) and uses the monitored activity to determine when it may miss one or more signal transmissions or receptions to search for a candidate base station without perceptibly impacting the voice traffic between the subscriber unit user and network user.

Abstract: A system for reducing internal interference in a radio-frequency (RF) receiver includes providing a plurality of time slots within a frame where the receiver is configured to receive external RF signals during a receive time slot within the frame. External RF signals are the prevented from reaching a front-end portion of the receiver and the receiver is activated, and a predetermined period of time is permitted to elapse to permit the receiver to settle. An interference data collection is performed during a period of time prior to a predetermined receive time slot where the data collected represents internally generated interference signals. The data collected during the interference data collection is processed to determine a bias value corresponding to the interference signals, and the receiver is then permitted to receive external RF signals during the predetermined receive time slot so that data is collected during the predetermined receive time slot.

Abstract: To compensate for the substantially non-uniform spacing of constellation points in a pulse code modulation modem, the transmitting power efficiency is substantially maximized while substantially limiting the complexity of the mapping. To optimize the transmitting power efficiency, the present invention suitably determines an approximate cost function g(n) to reduce the complexity and the 2K lowest cost N-tuples (m0,m1, . . . ,mN-1) for power transmission efficiency. Knowing the lowest cost N-tuples, fractional K data bits are systematically mapped uniformly onto the 2K lowest cost N-tuples.

Abstract: A multi-rate speech codec supports a plurality of encoding bit rate modes by adaptively selecting encoding bit rate modes to match communication channel restrictions. In higher bit rate encoding modes, an accurate representation of speech through CELP (code excited linear prediction) and other associated modeling parameters are generated for higher quality decoding and reproduction. To support lower bit rate encoding modes, a variety of techniques are applied many of which involve the classification of the input signal. The encoder utilizes gain normalization wherein LPC (linear predictive coding) gain provides a smoothing factor for combining both open and closed loop gains. The lower the LPC gain, the greater the open loop gain contribution to a gain normalization factor. The greater the LPC gain, the greater the closed loop gain contribution. For background noise, the smaller of the closed and open loop gains are used as the normalization factor.

Abstract: A power amplifier that amplifies an electrical signal that is passed through a power amplification array. The power amplifier is employed in various applications including cellular telephones, radio frequency signal transmission, and other electrical signal applications requiring power amplification. The power amplifier contains a number of power amplifiers arranged in a power amplifier array. To reproduce a particular envelope profile, a selected number of the power amplifiers of the power amplifier array is switched ON, whereas another selected number of the power amplifiers of the power amplifier array are switched OFF. All elements are fed with an RF signal containing phase information as well. The amplified, output signal provided after the power amplifier array is fed to an antenna for signal transmission.

Abstract: A wireless receiver is capable of detecting and avoiding interference from a potentially interfering transmitter. The receiver includes circuitry that determines whether a signal from the potentially interfering transmitter is likely to overlap an expected signal at an assigned carrier frequency or channel. If so, the receiver switches to another carrier frequency or channel to receive the expected signal. In some embodiments, the receiver switches to the other carrier frequency only if the interference is likely to exceed a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An improved microelectronic device and methods for forming the device are disclosed. The device includes a conductive feature formed on a semiconductor wafer by creating a trench within an insulating material, depositing barrier material substantially only within the trench, depositing conductive material on the wafer surface and within the trench, and removing the conductive material from the wafer surface. Alternately, the barrier material may be deposited onto the wafer surface and the trench and removed from the wafer surface prior to conductive material deposition.

Abstract: A power management system for a mobile unit wherein the base station detects the quality of the signals transmitted by the mobile unit. Based on this signal quality, the base station determines if the mobile unit should increase the transmission power level. If an increase in transmission power is indicated, the base station sends a signal to the mobile unit to cause the mobile unit to increase transmission power. However, to save battery power, the mobile unit only transmits at the increased power level for a limited amount of time, and then automatically returns to transmitting at the lower power level. Further, a slightly decreased high power level is established to allow the mobile unit to function when it is located away from the base station, yet not near the outer transmission boundary.

Abstract: A video compression method is provided and implemented in a pixel processing controller of a digital solid-state imaging device for maximizing throughput of digitized video data on a link between the digital solid-state imaging device and a host computer. The method performs separate luminance (Y) domain compression of the video data on a line-by-line basis, without storing video data lines or video data frames, and separate chrominance (Cr/Cb) domain averaging of the video data on a region-by-region basis without storing video data in video frames. The Y and Cr/Cb domain compression steps are implemented in the digital solid-state imaging device hardware for real time link transmission of the compressed video data to the host computer.

Abstract: Silence description coding for multi-rate speech coding systems that employ discontinued transmission. Speech coding systems include multi-rate speech codecs having an encoder and a decoder. The silence description coding is performed in either the encoder or the decoder of the multi-rate speech codec. It may also be performed in a distributed manner wherein it is performed partially in the encoder and partially in the decoder. The silence description coding is performed on a speech signal having a substantially non-speech-like characteristic. Voice activity detection classifies the speech signal as being either substantially speech-like or substantially non-speech-like. The silence description coding is selected from a plurality of coding modes. In certain embodiments of the invention, the silence description coding is a source coding mode that operates at a bit rate that fits within a bit rate budget as determined by all of the available source coding modes within the plurality of coding modes.