Abstract: An inorganic solder mask (48) for use as a surface treatment in masking a connection conductor (32) of a semi-conductor chip package (10) against solder wetting when mounting the chip package (10) to a printed wiring board (50) or other substrate. The connection conductor (32) is partially covered by a metallization contact (42) formed from a distinct metal. The inorganic solder mask (46) is applied to an exposed portion (44) of the connection conductor (32) not covered by the metallization contact (42). The metallization contact (42) is not coated by the inorganic solder mask (46). The presence of the inorganic solder mask (46) significantly reduces or prevents wetting of the exposed portion (44) when molten solder is present on the connection conductor (32) without affecting the solidified solder layer (48) formed on the metallization contact (42). As a result, an extraneous mass of solder does not solidify on the exposed portion (44) of the connection conductor (32).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bipolar transistor in a first trench (11) is disclosed wherein only one photolithographic mask is applied which forms a first trench (11) and a second trench (12). A collector region (21) is formed self-aligned in the first trench (11) and the second trench (12). A base region (31) is formed self-aligned on a portion of the collector region (21), which is in the first trench (11). An emitter region (41) is formed self-aligned on a portion of the base region (31). A contact to the collector region (21) is formed in the second trench (12) and a contact to the base region (31) is formed in the first trench (11). The fabrication of the bipolar transistor may be integrated in a standard CMOS process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for suppressing noise in digital signal sequences, and to a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used in particular to smooth and/or improve the signal-to-noise ratio in digital signal processing and in digital image processing. To this end, there is proposed a method for suppressing noise in digital signal sequences, wherein data values W0 of the signal sequence are transformed by evaluating data values Wi from an area around data values W0 to be transformed, characterized in that the number of data values Wi to be evaluated for the transformation of a data value W0 is determined individually for at least some of the data values W0 to be transformed.

Abstract: The present wireless transceiver includes a tuneable narrow band LNA which rejects dramatically any out of band interferers. The tuneable narrow band LNA may be operable over a wide frequency band. A loopback calibration procedure is used to control the tuneable narrow band LNA so as to produce a substantially flat gain characteristic over the band of interest.

Abstract: A method for evaluating, by an radio frequency identification reader (1), a data stream signal (DS) in respect of data and/or collision, comprises comparing the data stream signal (DS) with at least one threshold level, particularly a data bit level and/or a collision level, and evaluating the results of the comparison, wherein both the threshold level and its adaptation speed (?(n)) are adapted in dependence of the course of the data stream signal (DS) and/or the course of said threshold level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device on a substrate layer comprising semiconductor source and drain regions, a semiconductor channel region, a charge storage stack and a control gate; the channel region being fin-shaped having two sidewall portions and a top portion, and extending between the source region and the drain region; the charge storage stack being positioned between the source and drain regions and extending over the fin-shaped channel, substantially perpendicularly to the length direction of the fin-shaped channel; the control gate being in contact with the charge storage stack, wherein—an access gate is provided adjacent to one sidewall portion and separated therefrom by an intermediate gate oxide layer, and—the charge storage stack contacts the fin-shaped channel on the other sidewall portion and is separated from the channel by the intermediate gate oxide layer.

Abstract: In order to further develop a circuit arrangement (100), in particular an integrated circuit, for electronic data processing as well as a method for detecting and/or for registering and/or for signaling the irradiation of at least one non-volatile memory module (10) with at least one light source in order to be capable of securely averting an attack, in particular an E[lectro]M[agnetic] radiation attack, for example a side-channel attack, or in particular a crypto-analysis, for example a current trace analysis or a D[ifferential]P[ower]A[nalysis], such attack or such analysis in particular being targeted on finding out a private key, it is proposed that an access timing for at least one read access to the memory module (10) is generated, in particular that at least one additional read access to the memory module (10) is added in at least one test mode (T), in particular in at least one D[isable]A[ll]W[ordline] mode, this test mode (T) preferably allowing to detect if the memory module (10) is currently expose

Abstract: A method of determining a GPS position fix comprising the steps of: (i) sampling received GPS signals and storing those samples; (ii) conducting preliminary processing of those GPS signal samples to determine the likelihood of being able to obtain a position fix during later, final processing of those GPS signal samples; and (iii) after step (ii), conducting final processing of those GPS signal samples to obtain a position fix.

Abstract: A membrane (2?) for an electroacoustic transducer (1) is disclosed having a first area (A1), a second area (A2), which is arranged for translatory movement in relation to said first area (A1), and a third area (A3), which connects said first (A1) and said second area (A2), wherein local, planar spring constants (psc) along a closed line (L) within said third area (A3) encompassing said second area (A2), are determined in such a way that local, translatory spring constants (tsc) along said line (L) in a direction (DM) of said translatory movement are substantially constant or exclusively have substantially flat, mutual changes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and device for generating a depth map (112) by extracting three-dimensional depth information from the movement vectors of an encoded video bit stream (102) to display two-dimensional video sequences onto three-dimensional displays. In particular, the invention performs depth extraction (110) by means of a post-processing of the movement vectors of the inter-coded macroblocks, which have been already encoded in the video bit stream, thereby significantly reducing the heavy processing requirements associated with conventional motion estimation techniques.

Abstract: A data processing system according to the invention comprises a processor (P) and a memory hierarchy. The highest ranked level therein is a cache coupled to the processor. The memory hierarchy comprises a higher ranked cache (C1) having a cache controller (CC1) operating according to a write allocate scheme, and a lower ranked cache (C2) is coupled to the higher ranked cache (C1) having a cache controller (CC2). The size of the higher ranked cache is smaller than the size of the lower ranked cache. Both caches (C1, C2) administrate auxiliary information (V1, V2) indicating whether data (D1, D2) present therein is valid. The line size of the lower ranked cache (C2) is an integer multiple of the line size of the higher ranked cache (C1). The auxiliary information (V1) in the higher ranked cache (C1) concerns data elements (D1) at a finer granularity than that in the lower ranked cache (C2).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for matched variable resistor structures to electrically measure unidirectional misalignment of stitched masks for etched interconnect layers includes a first test pad and a second test pad for measuring resistance therebetween; a first resistive element electrically connected at a first end to the first test pad; and, a second resistive element electrically connected at a first end to the second test pad. The first resistive element and the second resistive element are electrically connected by a vertical offset. The resistance measured between the first test pad and the second test pad is variable in accordance with an alignment of the first resistive element and the second resistive element relative to the vertical offset. An indicator may optionally provide an indication that the resistive elements are in alignment.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with an increased capability to discharge ESD generated current with a reduced device area. The ESD protection device comprises a grounded gate MOS transistor (1) with a source region (3) and a drain region (4) of a first semiconductor type interposed by a first well region (7) of a second semiconductor type. Second well regions (6) of the first semiconductor type, interposed by the first well region (7), are provided beneath the source region (3) and the drain region (4). Heavily doped buried regions (8,9) of the same semiconductor types, respectively, as the adjoining well regions (6,7) are provided beneath the well regions (6,7).

Abstract: Method of synchronizing the playback of an audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices. The present invention relates to method of synchronizing the playback of an audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices. Said method comprises the steps of: detecting (11) a set of network output devices located in a same neighborhood which are able to play the audio broadcast, selecting (12) at least one network output device from among the set of network output devices, preventing (13) the network output devices of the set other than the at least one selected network output device to play the audio broadcast.

Abstract: An electronic circuit (12, 12?) for a reader device (10, 10?) for contactless communication with a transponder (20) is disclosed. The electronic circuit (12, 12?) comprises a connection (13a, 13b) to an antenna (11) of said reader device (10, 10?), which antenna (11) is designed for receiving a radio signal (TRS) from said transponder (20). Furthermore, it comprises a receiving module (14), which is connected to the antenna connection (13a, 13b) and arranged for processing an input voltage (VI) from said antenna (11) representing said radio signal (TRS). To provide satisfactory operation of the receiving module (14) and to compensate a bad matching of the antenna circuit to the electronic circuit (12, 12?) and/or bad environmental conditions where the reader device (10, 10?) is operated, the electronic circuit furthermore comprises a control module (15, 15?).

Abstract: A driver for a brushless motor (10) is described comprising a static position sensing device (22), a back EMF detector for detecting a back EMF voltage (40), comprising a filter (42). The driver further comprises an output stage (30) with at least three modules (30U, 30V, 30W) for supplying a current to a respective phase coil (11U, 11V, 11W) of the motor (10), and a commutating device (21) for selectively enabling respective modules (30U, 30V, 30W) of the output stage (30) depending on the position ($) of the motor. The selectively enabling is alternated with a commutation frequency (VE). The commutating device (21) is controlled by the static position-sensing device (22) at startup of the motor and by the back EMF detector (40) after the first detected back EMF pulse.

Abstract: A logic module (400) that is capable of implementing data-path and random logic (command Z in block 42) uses control logic for selectively coupling one or more of the input terminals (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 40) to the at least one output terminal (20). The control logic comprises a plurality of logic elements (26, 28, 30, 32) arranged to generate a first set of two-input logic functions (f, (a, b)) and a programmable inverter (36) arranged to generate a second set of two-input logic functions, the second set of two-input logic functions being the complement functions of the first set of two-input logic functions. SRAM memory cells (4 bit memory batch (38)) may be used for configuration purposes, realising a compact logic module or block that is also re-programmable.

Abstract: A portable object connectable package 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81 for an electronic device comprises: —a semiconductor die package 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82 comprising a top surface 2A, 12A, 22A, 32A, 42A, 52A, 62A, 72A, 82A and an opposite bottom surface 2B, 12B, 22B, 32B, 42B, 52B, 62B, 72B, 82B, the bottom surface comprising a plurality of connection elements 3A, 13A, 23A, 33A, 43A, 53A, 63A, 73A, 83A for connecting to a printed circuit board PCB, and—a connector body 4, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84 mechanically supported by the semiconductor die package and comprising a plurality of resilient electrical connecting elements extending over the top surface for contacting with a portable object PO, said circuit comprising a contacting area PO1.

Abstract: To provide a method of transmitting messages, using a transmission protocol having time-slots, that allows the messages to be transmitted in a flexible way, it is proposed that each message has a message identifier assigned to it, that the messages are placed in order in a queue, and that the queue has a set of slot identifiers assigned to it.

Abstract: The method of protecting a secret key from being read by a non-secure software application, comprises a step (94) of recording the secret key as a routine stored in an executable-only memory. The routine having: load instructions to load the secret key into a memory readable by a secure and a non-secure software application, if the routine is called by the secure software application, and control instructions to leave only dummy data instead of the secret key in the readable memory if the software application calling the executable-only routine is the non-secure software application.