Abstract: A ring oscillator clock frequency measuring circuit includes a reference clock count timer and a ring oscillator clock count timer. The reference clock count timer starts its counting of a reference clock signal in response to a start instruction fed from a CPU, and outputs an overflow signal when its counting reaches a preset value. The ring oscillator clock count timer starts its counting of pulses of a ring oscillator clock signal in response to the start instruction fed from the CPU, and continues its counting until the reference clock count timer generates the overflow signal. The frequency of the ring oscillator clock signal is obtained from the count value of the ring oscillator clock count timer. This makes it possible to measure the frequency of the ring oscillator clock signal at high accuracy, and to reduce the current consumption by operating the CPU based on the ring oscillator clock signal after the measurement.

Abstract: When a level of an input signal is suddenly changed to a low level (or a high level), a driving p-channel MOS transistor of a weak driving performance (or a driving n-channel MOS transistor of a weak driving performance) is turned on to control an output-stage n-channel MOS transistor (or an output-stage p-channel MOS transistor) to output an output signal gradually level-changing, and a through-rate correcting n-channel MOS transistor of a middle driving performance (or a through-rate correcting p-channel MOS transistor of a middle driving performance) is turned on to control the output-stage n-channel MOS transistor (or the output-stage p-channel MOS transistor) to output the output signal, of which the level is immediately and sharply changed in its level change beginning period and is successively and smoothly changed in the entire level change period.

Abstract: An arrangement for polishing a semiconductor wafer is disclosed. The arrangement includes a plurality of preassembled polishing pad assemblies which can be selectively coupled to, and decoupled from, an actuating mechanism for rotating the polishing pad assemblies. An associated method of polishing a semiconductor wafer is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus having a first filter means for adjusting an input signal based on past data output from the apparatus. In addition, a summing means is used to sum signals from the first filter means and from a second filter means to produce a sum signal. The apparatus includes a symbol detection means for generating an output signal from the sum signal. The second filter means provides adjustments in the output signal based on the peaks and plurality of past signals generated by the symbol detection means. A control means is included for controlling the filtering properties of both the first and second filter means, wherein the control means controls the filtering properties based on the past output signals from the symbol detection means.

Abstract: A system and method for providing row redundancy for BISR of high density memory arrays without a timing penalty decreases capacitance of the memory array bitlines at least during accessing of rows of redundant memory of a memory array. In this manner, the amount of time required to access the redundant memory is limited so that no timing penalty is incurred by the memory.

Abstract: Silicon nitride gate insulators for digital transistors and silicon dioxide gate insulators for analog transistors of a hybrid integrated circuit (IC) are formed in a single integrated fabrication process. A first area of a silicon substrate of the IC is exposed while a second area is initially covered by a silicon dioxide layer. A layer of silicon nitride is formed on the exposed first area while the initial silicon dioxide layer inhibits the formation of silicon nitride on the second area. Thereafter the initial silicon dioxide layer is removed from the second area to allow a new silicon dioxide layer to be formed there from the exposed silicon substrate. The silicon dioxide layer shields against the adverse influences from silicon nitride formation and permits the initial silicon dioxide layer to be removed by etching. The silicon nitride layer shields against the adverse influences of oxidizing new silicon dioxide layer.

Abstract: A cordless power transmission system can transmit and receive power stably without malfunctions. A power transmission terminal transmits default power to an electrical appliance by diffractive electromagnetic waves. The electrical appliance transmits its own unique data and required power intensity data to the power transmission terminal by diffractive electromagnetic waves. A network host assigns an ID to the electrical appliance. Under the control of the network host, the power transmission terminal transmits the assigned ID data and the power with the required intensity to the electrical appliance by rectilinear electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: A system and method of optimizing a circuit design. The design may be coded in register transfer language (RTL) code. First the design code representing an integrated circuit design to be optimized is retrieved and sequentially searched for decision constructs. As each decision construct is encountered, it is checked to determine whether both branches drive a common output in response to a common select signal. If so, a determination is made whether the decision construct includes a common arithmetic operation in said both branches, and so, may be optimized. A construct library for a corresponding optimized construct and the selected decision construct is replaced with an optimized construct. After all of the decision constructs are checked, the optimized design code is stored, replacing the original design code. The optimized RTL design code has an identical logic function to the original retrieved RTL code.

Abstract: A loop filter, method of generating a control signal and a phase-locked loop circuit employing the loop filter or the method. In one embodiment, the loop filter includes a capacitor having a charge rate proportional to a current therethrough and configured to provide an output signal therefrom. The loop filter also includes a current bypass circuit, coupled to the capacitor, configured to reduce the current through the capacitor and thereby reduce the charge rate of the capacitor.

Abstract: A power distribution system for distributing external power across a die is disclosed, wherein the die has multiple sides, and a plurality of power bond pads located along each of the sides for receiving an external power signal. The system and method include patterning a plurality of straight power lines that form a single-layer power mesh diagonally across the die to connect the power bond pads that are located on two different sides of the die. As an alternative to the first embodiment, the diagonal power lines are patterned in a stair-step configuration for ease of manufacturing.

Abstract: A data processing system comprising a block move engine, a memory, a register and a reader. The block move engine may be configured to process data. The memory may be configured to store data in the form of a linked list comprising a plurality of items of control data. The register may be associated with the block move engine and configured to control the block move engine, in response to the control data. The reader may be configured to read the control data from the memory and apply the control data to the register.

Abstract: Method for producing an NMOS, PMOS or CMOS semiconductor device with reduced substrate current and increased device lifetime. A source-gate-drain device is fabricated having a moderately doped source region, a lightly doped source region, a gate or channel region, a lightly doped drain region, and a moderately doped drain region, arranged consecutively in that order, with the channel region adjacent to the gate having opposite electrical conductivity type to the electrical conductivity type of the source and drain regions. The source region and drain region are formed by ion implantation with ion kinetic energies of 40 keV or more, to increase the width and depth of charge carrier flow in these regions and to thereby reduce the substrate current associated with the device to less than one &mgr;Amp/&mgr;m.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for self timing a memory circuit to compensate for sense amplifier imbalance. The self timing mechanism comprises two self timed sense amplifiers. A first self timed sense amplifier reads a first state and a second self timed sense amplifier reads a second state. The control logic deactivates the real sense amplifiers in response to the slower of the two self timed sense amplifiers. Thus, even if there is a layout or processing variance, which causes the sense amplifiers to have a non-zero offset voltage and favor a certain output state when the inputs are equal, the real sense amplifiers are able to read the states of the memory cell.

Abstract: A solder mask is placed on a substrate but this solder mask is used to control solder spread but merely helps to protect traces that are distant from the bond pads. The solder mask has an opening that is preferably greater than the area of a die to be attached; this opening exposes both the bond pads and at least portions of traces proximate to the bond pads. The portions of the traces that are proximate to the bond pads are oxidized, thereby preventing solder from flowing onto these portions of the traces during the solder reflow process.

Abstract: A test fixture for a ball grid array package is disclosed that includes a test ball grid array package having a plurality of coarse pitch contacts formed on a coarse pitch surface of the test ball grid array package and a plurality of wafer bumps formed on a fine pitch surface of the test ball grid array package and an interposer coupled to the plurality of wafer bumps formed on the fine pitch surface of the test ball grid array package for coupling to a plurality of wafer bumps formed on a fine pitch surface of a subject ball grid array package.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a control signal in response to an output signal. The control signal may comprise a peak value of the output signal. The second circuit may be configured to generate a phase adjustment signal in response to the control signal. The third circuit may be configured to generate a second clock signal in response to the phase adjustment signal and a first clock signal. The second clock signal may clock the output signal.

Abstract: A method for reducing the coupling capacitance between adjacent electrically conductive interconnect lines of an integrated circuit. An electrically conductive layer is deposited and etched to produce electrically conductive interconnect lines having negatively sloped sidewalls. An insulating layer is deposited on the electrically conductive interconnect lines using a directional deposition to create a void between and directly adjacent electrically conductive interconnect lines. The void has a substantially lower dielectric constant than the material of the insulating layer, which reduces the coupling capacitance between adjacent electrically conductive interconnect lines.

Abstract: A clock tree deskew circuit dynamically minimizes skew in clock signals that synchronize operation of synchronized circuit components of an integrated circuit. The clock tree deskew circuit reduces the clock tree skew in repeated intervals over a period of time. The clock tree deskew circuit is then turned off to prevent unnecessary further adjustments to the clock signals, but can be turned back on when conditions change that alter the clock tree skew. The clock signals are paired together in a continuous loop such that each clock signal is the first clock signal of the pair when paired with the next clock signal and is the second clock signal when paired with the one before it. The clock tree deskew circuit detects the absolute skew between each pair of the clock signals. The clock tree deskew circuit adjusts the first clock signal of each pair toward the second clock signal of the pair to reduce the skew between the two clock signals.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of register logic circuits, a core circuit, a memory circuit, and a plurality of logic circuits. The register logic circuits may each be configured to generate a first logic signal in response to (i) an input data signal, (ii) a second logic signal, (iii) a first clock signal and (iv) a second clock signal. The core circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of data signals and a first control signal in response to the first logic signals and a second control signal. The memory may be configured to present the second control signal to the core circuit. The logic circuits may each be configured to present the second logic signal in response to the first logic signal and the data signals. An embedded FPGA core may be enabled to provide an interconnect to a chip. Additionally, software may enable a wide variety of features including bug fixes and product variations, all without changing the silicon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accommodating irregular memory write word widths allow for writing to multiple rows in a memory so as to reduce or eliminate holes in the address read space. First and second memory blocks are provided that include a first bitcell selectable by a first write bitline and a second bitcell selectable by a second write bitline. Where a write word width is not equal to a read word width and is not some factor of a power of two times the read word width, the column decode to read out the entire word is not a power of two, and holes in the read address space will exist. When the write address is even, a first range of bits is written to the first block on a first write bitline, a second range of bits is written to the second block on the first write bitline, and a third range of bits is written to the first block on a second write bitline.