Abstract: A system comprising first input means for receiving a transport stream from an external source, second input means for receiving an input from a memory, means for connecting the first and second input means to an interface which is arranged to provide an output stream to a decoder. The second input means is arranged to provide an output to the interface in such a form that the interface does not distinguish between the output from the first and second input means.

Abstract: Methods and device for in-system firmware update in an information output device are provided. In one aspect, a method of firmware update in a display device receives a set of data in an image format through a video signal input channel of an input port of the display device. The set of data is converted from the image format to an instruction set format that is different from the image format. A first set of instructions that is used to operate the display device is updated with the set of data in the instruction set format.

Abstract: An image sensor array of active pixel elements is arranged in rows and columns. Each column has an output circuit for reading out pixel image signals. The output circuit includes a pair of sample capacitors, a switching circuit operable based upon pixel switches for applying pixel voltages to the pair of sample capacitors. At least one optically masked pixel is provided so that output image signals obtained therefrom represent substantially only the column fixed pattern noise (FPN). An image processing circuit records the column FPN for each column from the optically masked pixels, records the image signal from the sensor array of active pixels, and subtracts the column FPN column-wise from the image signal.

Abstract: Connection ports for interconnecting functional modules in an integrated circuit are described. The connection ports provide enhanced functionality based around a common port primitive. This simplifies port design and selection and also allows a common packet protocol to be used for communication of packets across the packet router. In particular, there is improved functionality of target ports which allow out of order requests to be dealt with and out of order responses to be generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the demultiplexing of a digital data stream in a receiver so as to retain only those parts of the digital data stream required by the receiver. Such demultiplexing is particularly useful when applied to a receiver circuit in a television system having a digital set-top-box. A memory in the receiver stores packet identifiers of data packets required by the receiver, which are stored in the memory under the control of a first control circuit. A second control circuit extracts packet identifiers from incoming data packets in an input digital data stream. A third control circuit receives the extracted packet identifier and determines whether this matches one of the packet identifiers stored in the memory. A match signal is set by the third control circuit to the second control circuit responsive to a match. The second control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of shadows in noisy images includes capture of an image, subdivision of the image into a plurality of pixels, definition of a square odd matrix for every pixel having said pixel in the center, application of an algorithm to the matrixes of every pixel, and displaying of an error map of the image. The algorithm is a contour algorithm that includes the operations of =computation of the averages for each corner of the matrix, computation of the averages for the top, bottom, left and right sides, computation of the maximum variance between these eight averages, and comparison with a present value (max variance).

Abstract: A computer navigation device includes a movement sensor and a trigger device activated by a timer. The computer navigation device periodically transmits to a host computer a pre-defined signal corresponding with the signal that would otherwise be generated by the movement sensor on detection of specific movements of the computer navigation device.

Abstract: An interpolation filter for interpolating a digital signal includes a cascade of template filters, each having an identical template transfer function A(z), which is arranged to receive and filter an input sequence representing the digital signal sampled at an input sampling rate. Ancillary circuitry is coupled to the cascade so as to produce first and second phase outputs. A multiplexer is arranged to multiplex the phase outputs in order to generate an output sequence having an output sampling rate equal to twice the input sampling rate.

Abstract: A removable wafer expander for die bonding equipment for a singularized wafer supported by a flexible sticky substrate, the removable wafer expander provided with a first ring member to be coupled with a second ring member for remote expansion of the flexible sticky substrate therebetween before the mounting of the wafer expander onto the die bonding equipment.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a power supply ripple rejection circuit having an input connected to a supply voltage reference, and an output connected to an output voltage reference. The power supply ripple rejection circuit reduces the affect of variance in the supply voltage reference on the output voltage reference.

Abstract: A dual mode radio frequency (RF) front end circuit includes a first transformer for conversion between a balanced and an unbalanced RF signal and a second transformer for conversion between a balanced and an unbalanced RF signal. A first switch is configured to selectively electrically connect to one of the first transformer, the second transformer and an RF transmit port. A second switch is configured to selectively electrically connect the first switch and a filter to one of the input and the output port of an amplifier. The first switch is connected to the input port of the amplifier when the filter is connected to the output port of the amplifier, and the first switch is connected to the output port of the amplifier when the filter is connected to the input Port of the amplifier. The first and the second switch cooperatively selectively connect one of the first transformer, the second transformer and the RF transmit port to the amplifier and the filter.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) front end circuit includes a transformer coupled to a switch. The transformer converts a balanced transmit signal to an unbalanced transmit signal and converts an unbalanced receive signal to a balanced receive signal. The switch is configured to operate in first and second states. In the first state, the switch receives the unbalanced transmit signal from the transformer and transfers the unbalanced transmit signal to an amplifier and receives an amplified transmit signal from the amplifier and transfers the amplified transmit signal to a band pass filter. In the second state, the switch receives a filtered receive signal from the band pass filter and transfers the filtered receive signal to the transformer.

Abstract: Very small size true directional couplers have a coupling coefficient that is independent on load VSWR. The coupler uses coupled inductors with a compensation circuit including a resistor and a capacitor, or just a capacitor. Wideband operation is suitable for many portable applications such as power detection and control for GSM, DCS-PCS, CDMA/WCDMA, Bluetooth, and WLAN systems.

Abstract: A method for image compression of a set of image data includes performing a quantization operation on the image data. The quantization operation may include controlling a compression factor by applying a scaled quantization level obtained by multiplying a first quantization level by a gain factor. The gain factor may be updated as a function of a bit per pixel value of a compressed image. The update operation may include an iterative procedure including at least one iteration step that provides for updating a current gain factor as a function of a previous gain used for performing a previous compression step and as a function of a ratio of the bit per pixel value of the compressed image at the previous compression step to a target bit per pixel value. The method may be used in Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image processing and digital still cameras.

Abstract: A camera module may include a mount and a barrel coupled to the mount. One of the barrel and the mount may include a polycarbonate material and the other of the barrel and the mount may include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material.

Abstract: Digital data is transmitted in a block-based hyperframe that consists of N frames. Each frame carries multiplexed data from one or more user data channels and a control channel. Control channel information is unequally allocated among the N frames, the amount of information carried in each frame varying according to the frame's position in the hyperframe. All of the user data channels except one carry a predetermined number of transmission units in each frame. The excepted user data channel carries a calculated amount needed to round out the particular frame. Following multiplexing, a block encoder defines the frames and adds error detection or error correction information. The number of frames per hyperframe and the total number of transmission units for the control channel are available to a receiver, which can then demultiplex the hyperframe.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an array of digital pixels, a first frame store for storing reference data, and a second frame store for storing image data. The reference and image data are combine to cancel an off-set of the pixels in the array. A re-set and a calibration phase are performed while a shutter is closed to obtain reference data during a calibration phase. A comparator measures an off-set time to gather information on the off-set of the pixels. During or after an exposure phase a conversion time is measured representative of the illumination on the pixel. During the calibration phase the off-set is measured. This digital technique requires a much smaller voltage swing on the pixel, and known techniques and can be performed in a shorter time. This increases the overall frame rate of the image sensor since the time taken for the reset and calibration phases is less than the time taken for the exposure phase.

Abstract: An optical pointing device includes a variable frame rate controller to reduce power consumption. Frame rate can be varied through analog devices by varying the reference current, or through digital devices by varying the length of time between successive frames. The variable frame rate controller can accept input from various measurements such as velocity of the device, or a spatial frequency of the surface on which the device is situated.

Abstract: A method for digital communication includes generating time-domain symbols having a predetermined symbol duration in accordance with a discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulation scheme. A cyclic extension is added to each of the time-domain symbols so as to form data blocks having a block length that is not an integer multiple of the symbol duration. A training pattern is generated on one or more tones of the DMT modulation scheme, wherein the training pattern is periodic over a sequence of the data blocks with a period equal to the symbol duration. The sequence of the data blocks is transmitted over a communication channel to a receiver, which processes the training pattern so as to determine a response of the channel to the one or more tones.

Abstract: Very small size true directional couplers have a coupling coefficient that is independent on load VSWR. The coupler uses coupled inductors with a compensation circuit including a resistor and a capacitor, or just a capacitor. Wideband operation is suitable for many portable applications such as power detection and control for GSM, DCS-PCS, CDMA/WCDMA, Bluetooth, and WLAN systems.