Abstract: A method and system are provided for preventing data loss in a VoIP system. In particular, during a VoIP call, it is determined whether incoming ringing on a POTS line causes an unacceptable level of signal loss or errors. If so, for subsequent VoIP calls, the CO handling calls to the POTS line is instructed to either answer each call with a busy signal or automatically forward calls to the POTS line to the VoIP line or other selected telephone. Calling returns to normal upon ending of the VoIP call. In this manner, incoming ringing on the POTS line does not result in call dropping or lengthy retraining processes.

Abstract: A grounding switch is described which operates properly even in the presence of negative voltages on a signal line. The grounding switch uses isolated field effect transistors that have their substrates tied to different voltages. The isolated field effect transistor has a gate voltage and substrate voltage which can be pulled down to a negative voltage when the signal line has a negative voltage allowing the switch to remain open even with a negative voltage.

Abstract: Dielectric heating is used to cause explosive nucleation of ink in an ink reservoir to expel a drop of ink from an inkjet print head. Conductive plates generate an alternating electric field at microwave frequencies across an ink reservoir causing the ink to heat. Since the ink is heated without heating the conductive plates, less heat dissipation of the inkjet print head is necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuits. In certain embodiments an ESD protection circuit may include two series resistor-capacitor (RC) circuits. One series RC circuit may have a short time constant and may selectively activate a current shunt between two power rails in response to an ESD event. Accordingly, the ESD circuit may be able to respond to fast ramping ESD events. The other series RC circuit has a longer time constant, and maintains the current shunt in an active state for a sufficient amount of time to allow the ESD event to be completely discharged.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling access to various tiers of functionality of core software are provided. A software developer/vendor can develop a single version of software having one or more limited-access functionalities and provide the single version of the software to various types of customers. Each customer, using the single version of the core software, may develop additional software that utilizes one or more functionalities of the core software as authorized by the software developer/vendor. Access to a certain functionality or set of functionalities by the customer developed software is obtained by adapting the customer developed software to submit a key, provided by the software developer/vendor, to the core software through, for example, an application programming interface (API) of the core software.

Abstract: A method is described that comprises suspending a currently executing thread at a periodic time interval, calculating a next time slot during which the currently executing thread is to resume execution, appending the suspended thread to a queue of threads scheduled for execution at the calculated time slot, and updating an index value of a pointer index to a next sequential non-empty time slot, where the pointer index references time slots within an array of time slots, and where each of the plurality of time slots corresponds to a timeslice during which CPU resources are allocated to a particular thread. The method further comprises removing any contents of the indexed non-empty time slot and appending the removed contents to an array of threads requesting immediate CPU resource allocation and activating the thread at the top of the array of threads requesting immediate CPU resource allocation as a currently running thread.

Abstract: Challenges to the implementation of equalization in the 2.1 environment arise from the constraints imposed by HD audio requirements and Windows® Vista™. A hybrid software hardware solution overcomes many of the challenges by exploiting the software capability for equalization and using a hardware codec to perform the separation into high frequency and low frequency audio streams needed to drive stereo speakers and a subwoofer.

Abstract: A system and method for defringing chromatic aberrations that occur in imaging devices such as scanners. The system comprises shift filters to shift lines in the various color planes together. In addition in each color plane, a spread filter is used to compensate for the unequal point spread functions of each color. Furthermore, the results can be enhanced by filtering in the luminance-chrominance space.

Abstract: A barrier layer can be attached in a semiconductor package to one or more sensitive devices. The barrier layer can be used to obstruct tampering by a malicious agent attempting to access sensitive information on the sensitive device. The barrier layer can cause the sensitive device to become inoperable if physically tampered. Additional other aspects of the protective packaging provide protection against x-ray and thermal probing as well as chemical and electrical tampering attempts.

Abstract: Presently many audio chips suffer from pop issues, which is especially serious for single ended audio drivers. An audio pop is a disturbance in the output caused by a sudden transition of chip power, particularly when a chip is powered on or powered off. Furthermore, compensation networks included in the amplifiers on audio chips for stability offer a significant path for transmitting power disturbances to the output. Hence, circuitry is developed to suppress pops in the output stages of an amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention significantly reduces the chip size of a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) field-effect transistor, which serves as a driver for output impedance drivers, such as, but not limited to, double data rate (DDR2) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM). In an embodiment of the invention, a voltage drop across the driver is a decreased ratio of the supply voltage, e.g., three-tenths of the supply voltage, lower than half of the supply voltage. A smaller voltage drop allows a lower current and a higher impedance to be used in the driver. By having a higher impedance across the driver, the physical area needed for the DDR2 driver is reduced because a transistor with a smaller physical width can be used. A DDR2 driver operating at the decreased ratio is the functional equivalent of the driver operating with the supply voltage or half of the supply voltage, with the added advantage of the reduced area.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a reference voltage can be widely used in audio applications. However, at startup an abrupt start in the reference signal can cause undesirable audible artifacts. A circuit employing feedback of a reference voltage to control the charging of a capacitor which provides the reference voltage can be used to provide a smooth startup to the reference voltage. The circuit contains a differential pair for steering a fixed current source from one path to another as the reference voltage increases. The steered current can then be mirrored into one ore more current mirrors where the newly mirrored current can be squeezed to zero when the difference between a desired reference voltage and the reference voltage approaches zero. This newly mirrored current can be used to charge a capacitor which is used to provide the reference voltage.

Abstract: A circuit comprising an inverter coupled to an input and receiving an input signal. A first pull-down transistor coupled to the inverter, pulling down an output when the input signal is low. A second pull-down transistor coupled to the input, pulling down a complementary output when the input signal is high. A first pull-up transistor coupled to the complementary output, pulling up the output when the input signal is high. A second pull-up transistor coupled to the output, pulling up the complementary output when the input signal is low. A first switch receiving a first control signal, coupled to the complementary output. A first strong pull-up transistor coupled to the first switch, assisting the pull up of the output. A second switch coupled to the output, receiving a second control signal. A second strong pull-up transistor coupled to the second switch, assisting the pull up of the complementary output.

Abstract: An integrated audio codec includes a high-pass filter to prevent damage to personal computer speakers and other components. The audio codec may be compliant with HD audio standards and can operate with generic software drivers. Tuning of the high-pass filter is provided through an external pin-out where either an external capacitor or external resistors provide an ability to tune the high-pass filter. In one implementation, a tuning voltage is digitized into a tuning code used by a digital high-pass filter. In addition, multiplexers can be used to insure only the audio path leading to the speakers is filtered.

Abstract: A battery assisted level shifter comprises a pull up transistor pulling up an output when a received input signal is high, a pull down transistor pulling down the output when the received input signal is low, and a battery element to provide voltage offsets. The battery element can be implemented using one or more pull-up transistors for assisting with pulling up the output. The level shifter can be used in class-D amplifiers, DC-DC power converters and interfaces between circuits having different reference voltages.

Abstract: Disclosed methods and systems measure acoustic responses to training signals activated prior to communication sessions. Profiles related to the acoustic responses are saved and adapted during communication sessions. Training signals may have uniform frequency distributions over a frequency range and may be in response to user inputs, timeouts, or predetermined events. In the next excessive divergence is detected, an adapted profile may be substituted by an original, trained profile.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a circuit comprising a delay to voltage converter for receiving an input signal and generating an output signal that represents a delay metric. A counter for receiving the output signal and generating a binary output as a function of the delay metric.

Abstract: Presently disclosed is method and apparatus for generating a random bit stream by generating a random bit according to a polynomial expression, providing a modification function operative on the polynomial expression, and modifying the polynomial expression by modifying the modification function.

Abstract: Included are embodiments for utilizing a scanning threshold. More specifically, one embodiment of a method includes entering a standby mode, wherein in the standby mode, at least one component of a communications device is shutdown, and wherein in the standby mode, at least one channel is scanned to determine potential interference and monitoring exchanged traffic with the communications device. Some embodiments include determining a relative volume of the exchanged traffic, compared to a predetermined threshold and based on the determination of the relative volume of the exchanged traffic and the predetermined threshold, entering a power save standby mode, wherein in the power save standby mode, scanning of the at least one channel is terminated.

Abstract: A micro electro-mechanical sensor is provided. The micro electro-mechanical sensor includes a substrate, and a conducting plane disposed on the substrate. A conducting via is disposed on the substrate, such as adjacent to the conducting plane. A plurality of ribbon conductors are disposed over the conducting plane and electrically connected to the conducting via, such that the plurality of ribbon conductors form a transducer array in combination with the conducting plane, such as through capacitive coupling that changes in response to changes in the physical shape of the plurality of ribbons.