Abstract: A method of designing a modular package: determining a package outline of a modular package assembly from package outline design data; determining seating plane and overall package length characteristics of the assembly from seating plane and package length design data; the design tool calculating minimum package height of the modular package assembly from the seating plane and package length design data; designing the dimensions and configuration of one or more subassemblies from subassembly design data; defining dimensions and configuration of a plurality of mechanical layers of a protective modular package cover given the defined package outline, the seating plane, overall package length, the minimum package height, and the subassemblies; defining an adhesive deposition strategy to join mechanical layers of the cover; designing the cover in accordance with the dimensions and configuration of the mechanical layers; and incorporating the assembly and the adhesive deposition strategy into a manufacturing asse

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to switching of stations STA, access points APs and PCPs that are communicating through a wireless link from one frequency band to another. One embodiment is directed to switching of stations STA that are communicating through a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) link from one frequency band to another. A multiband element may be added to a TDLS discovery request and TDLS discovery response frames to allow each of the stations communications through a TDLS to determine if the other station has multiband capability. In one embodiment, a pairwise transient key (PTK) is created for both a current band in which the stations STA are communicating and a new band over which the stations may communicate in the future. In this way there is no need to calculate a new pairwise transient key PTK for the new frequency band.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting and recovering encoded data streams across Physical Medium Attachments (PMA) are provided. The data stream includes a plurality of data blocks. The method of transmitting includes tagging at least some of the plurality of data blocks in the data stream. The method also includes splitting the data stream into first and second lanes of data blocks. The method further includes transmitting the first lane of data blocks to a first PMA and the second lane of data blocks to a second PMA.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.

Abstract: The invention discloses frame-based, on-demand spectrum contention methods and systems to share spectrum resources in cognitive radio networks in general and in Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs) having overlapping service areas in particular. As demand for increased spectrum usage arises, frames within synchronized superframes are allocated, on a frame-by-frame basis, based on independently chosen, equiprobable random numbers generated for each base station contending for transmission/reception use of the frames.

Abstract: A unified contention based protocol is implemented in which a source station within a basic service set selects the protection methodology for data transmission on the communication medium. Utilizing EDCA as a medium access method and maintaining that each transmission opportunity has multiple slots, the source station is provided with the opportunity to select a protection methodology based on the protection environment, which enables transmission opportunity protection without direct PCP involvement.

Abstract: A leakage power control vector is loaded into existing test scan chain elements for application to circuit elements of a circuit in which the leakage currents are to be controlled. The vector is designed to configure the circuit elements into states in which leakage currents are reduced. A multiplexer selects the power control vector for loading into the scan chain elements, and a clock generator clocks the configuration vector into the scan chain elements. A sleep mode detector may be provided to configure the multiplexer to select the power control vector and to operate the clock generator to clock the power control vector into the scan chain elements when a sleep mode of the circuit is detected.

Abstract: Method form via chain and serpentine/comb test structures in kerf areas of a wafer. The via chain test structures comprise a first via chain and a second via chain in a first kerf area. The via chain test structures are formed such that geometrically shaped portions of the first via chain and geometrically shaped portions of the second via chain alternate along the length of the first kerf area. The methods perform relatively low (first) magnification testing to identify a defective geometrically shaped portion that contains a defective via structure. The methods then perform relatively high (second) magnification testing only within the defective geometrically shaped portion. The first magnification testing is performed at a lower magnification relative to the second magnification testing.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing power distribution in a closed system. In an electronic device, one may apply a plurality of driving algorithms for components that provide different variations functionality. Thus, each component may be operated according to one of several different algorithms depending on the level and manner of functionality needed. In this manner, the overall system may be optimized for any number of operating modes such that each component may conserve electrical power usage while still providing the needed functionality for specific components during each operating mode. Such an optimization assessment may be a function of an economic model applied to the system whereby functionality and components are assigned specific values and costs based on the required functionality for any given task. Thus, the amount of power available may be allocated in an efficient manner based on a cost-benefit analysis.

Abstract: A method for computing the alignment sticky bit in floating-point operations is provided. The method includes computing a pre-computed sticky bit. A significand is aligned based on an alignment counter. A shifter sticky OR is computed. The alignment sticky bit is computed based on the pre-computed sticky bit by ORing the pre-computed sticky bit and the shifter sticky OR when the alignment counter comprises a value greater than or equal to a predefined value.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, motion compensated interpolation is performed by locating full frame conceal and reveal areas, determining intermediate frame occlusion areas of an interpolated frame of the displayable output by locating intermediate frame conceal areas based on projected locations of pixels within the full frame conceal areas using primary forward motion vectors and information about a time slot for the interpolated frame, and by locating intermediate frame reveal areas based on projected locations of pixels within the full frame reveal areas using primary backward motion vectors and information about the time slot for the interpolated frame. The intermediate frame conceal areas are then modified by projecting locations of pixels using secondary forward motion vectors and the intermediate frame reveal areas are modified by projecting locations of pixels using secondary backward motion vectors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with overlapping contacts is provided. In one aspect, the semiconductor device includes a dielectric layer; a first contact located in the dielectric layer; and a second contact located in the dielectric layer adjacent to the first contact, wherein a portion of the second contact overlaps a top surface of the first contact.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) architectures for spectrum access networks are provided. Embodiments of the invention generally provide a radio frequency (RF) architecture for customer premise equipment (CPE) for use in, for example, IEEE 802.22 wireless regional area networks (WRANs). In some embodiments, the CPE RF architecture includes two receive chains with a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna, respectively. The CPE RF architecture facilitates opportunistic out-of-band spectrum sensing and WRAN signal receiving that are performed in parallel with data transmission.

Abstract: A parallel deblocking filtering method, and deblocking filter processor performing such deblocking, for removing edge artifacts created during video compression. The method includes loading luma samples for a macroblock. Filtering is performed on a set of vertical edges of the macroblock using information in the luma samples, with vertical edge filtering occurring concurrently with the loading of the luma samples. The method also includes filtering a set of horizontal edges of the macroblock using information in the luma samples. The horizontal edge filtering occurs in parallel with vertical edge sampling and with loading operations. The use of parallel and concurrent operations significantly enhances the efficiency of the deblocking method. Storing of filtered samples is also performed in the method, and this storing is performed concurrently with some loading operations as well as filtering operations. Edge filtering includes performing filtering to the H.264 standard and its deblocking filtering algorithm.

Abstract: The trend toward moving to digital content is progressing and expanding every day. With that trend comes the availability of a multitude of content from many content sources. There is a need for this content to be distributed to multiple destinations, and there is a further need to have the content synchronized among those multiple destinations. Embodiments described herein detail a method of synchronizing this content in an asynchronous environment, such as a powerline network, including using a PHY timing flag that is used to compensate for PHY-to-channel-to-PHY delays.

Abstract: When two loudspeakers play the same signal, a “phantom center” image is produced between the speakers. However, this image differs from one produced by a real center speaker. In particular, acoustical crosstalk produces a comb-filtering effect, with cancellations that may be in the frequency range needed for the intelligibility of speech. Methods for using phase decorrelation to fill in these gaps and produce a flatter magnitude response are described, reducing coloration and potentially enhancing dialogue clarity. These methods also improve headphone compatibility and reduce the tendency of the phantom image to move toward the nearest speaker.

Abstract: A method that includes forming an opening between at least one first electrode and a second electrode by forming a recess in a first electrode layer, the recess having sidewalls that correspond to a surface of the at least one first electrode, forming a first sacrificial layer on the sidewalls of the recess, the first sacrificial layer having a first width that corresponds to a second width of the opening, forming a second electrode layer in the recess that corresponds to the second electrode, and removing the first sacrificial layer to form the opening between the second electrode and the at least one first electrode.

Abstract: Solder joint reliability in an integrated circuit package is improved. Each terminal of a quad, flat, non-leaded integrated circuit package is formed having portions that define a solder slot in the bottom surface of the terminal. An external surface of the die pad of the integrated circuit package is also formed having portions that define a plurality of solder slots on the periphery of the die pad. When solder is applied to the die pad and to the terminals, the solder that fills the solder slots increases the solder joint reliability of the integrated circuit package.

Abstract: A secure Universal Serial Bus (USB) storage device includes a memory controller capable of storing data in and retrieving data from a memory. The secure USB storage device also includes a USB secure microcontroller capable of authorizing access to the memory through the memory controller to thereby secure the memory. The USB secure microcontroller is also capable of protecting the data stored in the memory to thereby secure contents of the memory. The USB secure microcontroller could include an SPI interface and/or a GPIO interface emulating one or more of an SPI interface and an MMC interface to the memory controller. The memory controller could include an SPI interface and/or an MMC interface to the USB secure microcontroller. The secure USB storage device may be enumerated by a USB host controller under one or more device classes.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for displaying enabling the transmission, formatting, and display of multimedia data after a hot plug event during a start-up dead period. In particular, approaches for transmission, formatting, and display of multimedia data in the absence or non-operation of a hot plug detect system or signal, so that multimedia information can be displayed in a proper format even during the dead period when no hot plug detect signal is received.