Abstract: A method for multiplexing reference signal (RS) transmissions from user equipments (UEs), with the RS having a bandwidth larger than the data signal bandwidth (distributed RS) is provided. A transmission time interval (TTI) comprises of one or more sub-frames and each sub-frame comprises of at least two RS transmission periods and a plurality of data signal transmission periods. A distributed RS is transmitted during at least one of the at least two RS transmission periods in at least one of the sub-frames comprising the TTI. During the remaining RS transmission periods, for a UE having a data signal transmission, the RS bandwidth is substantially the same as the data signal bandwidth (localized RS). The total system bandwidth is divided into contiguous, non-overlapping sub-bandwidths, called reference signal multiplexing blocks (RSMBs). Transmission of distributed RS occurs within an RSMB and does not cross over different RSMBs.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with gate self-protection comprises a MOS device and a bipolar device, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a semiconductor layer with electrically active regions in which and on which the MOS device and the bipolar device are formed and electrically inactive regions for isolating the electrically active regions from each other. The MOS device comprises a gate structure and a body contacting structure, wherein the body contacting structure is formed of a base layer deposited in a selected region over an electrically active region of the semiconductor layer, and the body contacting structure is electrically connected with the gate structure. The base layer forming the body contacting structure also forms the base of the bipolar device. The present invention further relates to a method for fabricating such an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method of controlling gate induced drain leakage current of a transistor is disclosed. The method includes forming a dielectric region (516) on a surface of a substrate having a first concentration of a first conductivity type (P-well). A gate region (500) having a length and a width is formed on the dielectric region. Source (512) and drain (504) regions having a second conductivity type (N+) are formed in the substrate on opposite sides of the gate region. A first impurity region (508) having the first conductivity type (P+) is formed adjacent the source. The first impurity region has a second concentration greater than the first concentration.

Abstract: Statistical analysis may be requested for a solar panel system. Each section of the panel may be assigned to a particular slice of an OFDM transmission scheme. The photovoltaic (PV) modules are divided into strings of modules and a spectrum of frequencies is divided into sub-channels. Then each string is assigned into a timeslot data related PV modules is transmitted on a particular sub-channel during the assigned timeslot.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a target is provided. Several emitted pulses of terahertz radiations are emitted from a phased array (which has several transceivers) in consecutive cycles (typically). These emitted pulses are generally configured to be reflected by a target so as to be received by the phased array within a scan range (which includes a digitization window with several sampling periods). Output signals from each of the transceivers are then combined to generate a combined signal for each cycle. The combined signal in each sampling period within the digitization window for emitted pulses is averaged to generate an averaged signal for each sampling period within the digitization window. These averaged signals are then digitized.

Abstract: Coherent analysis of asymmetric aging and statistical process variation. A method of designing a circuit includes preparing an initial netlist of components in the circuit. A plurality of components is selected from the initial netlist by a first statistical process. Further, a process variation netlist is prepared by replacing a plurality of initial operating parameters of the plurality of components with a plurality of process variation operating parameters. A plurality of high stress components is then identified in the process variation netlist and an aged netlist is prepared by replacing a set of operating parameters of the plurality of high stress components with a set of degraded operating parameters. The circuit is simulated using the aged netlist. The method also includes modifying the initial netlist according to a result of simulation and repeating the foregoing steps until a desired circuit performance is obtained.

Abstract: A wireless receiver (74) for receiving signals from a transmitter (72). The transmitter comprises a plurality of transmit antennas (TAT1?, TAT2?) for transmitting the signals, which comprise respective independent streams of symbols. Additionally, interference occurs between the respective streams. The receiver comprises a plurality of receive antennas (RAT1?, RAT2?) for receiving the signals as influenced by a channel effect between the receiver and the transmitter. The receiver also comprises circuitry (80) for multiplying the signals times a conjugate transpose of an estimate of the channel effect and times a conjugate transpose of a linear basis transformation matrix. The receiver also comprises circuitry (84) for selecting the linear basis transformation matrix from a finite set of linear basis transformation matrices. Lastly, the receiver comprises circuitry (88) for removing the interference between the respective streams.

Abstract: Merging sub-resolution assist features includes receiving a mask pattern that includes the sub-resolution assist features. A first sub-resolution assist feature is selected to merge with a second sub-resolution assist feature. A merge bar width of a merge bar is established. A distance between the first sub-resolution assist feature and the second sub-resolution assist feature is determined. A merging technique is determined in accordance with the distance and the merge bar width. The first sub-resolution assist feature and the second sub-resolution assist feature are merged according to the identified merging technique.

Abstract: A process of forming an integrated circuit using a palladium CMP operation in which 25 to 125 ppm aluminum is added to the CMP slurry, allowing a palladium removal rate of at least 80 nanometers per minute at a polish pad pressure less than 9 psi and a surface speed between 1.9 and 2.2 meters per second. The palladium CMP operation may be applied to form a palladium bond pad cap after which an external bond element is formed on the palladium bond pad cap. Alternatively, the palladium CMP operation may be applied to form a palladium interconnect conductor in a first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring performance of one or more solar panels in a photovoltaic array. The system and method includes a number of sensors are configured to measure an output of individual solar panels. A telemetry gateway collects data from the sensors and transmits the collected data to a monitoring system. The monitoring system includes an event signature recognizer; a trend analyzer; and a symmetry analyzer. The monitoring system detects events, trends and solar panel array asymmetry. Additionally, the monitoring system displays realtime graphs, proposed corrective actions, and alerts via a user interface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes pulse width modulation (PWM) circuitry configured to generate a PWM signal based on a feedback voltage associated with current flowing through a load, such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The apparatus also includes a power switch configured to control the current flowing through the load on the PWM signal. The apparatus further includes averaging circuitry configured to provide an average of the feedback voltage to the PWM circuitry. The averaging circuitry is may be configured to provide the feedback voltage to the PWM circuitry during a first phase of operation and to provide the average of the feedback voltage to the PWM circuitry during a second phase of operation. The average of the feedback voltage may be referenced to a reference voltage received by an error amplifier in the PWM circuitry during both the first and second phases of operation.

Abstract: A method and system for performing class loader notification. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising raising a notification during execution of a first method (the notification based on an event), identifying the first method, and invoking a second method based on the identification of the first method in response to the notification.

Abstract: A circuit is designed with a matched filter circuit including a plurality of fingers (700, 702, 704) coupled to receive a data symbol. Each finger corresponds to a respective path of the data symbol. Each finger produces a respective output signal. A plurality of decoder circuits (706, 708, 710) receives the respective output signal from a respective finger of the plurality of fingers. Each decoder circuit produces a respective output signal. A joint detector circuit (1310) is coupled to receive each respective output signal from the plurality of decoder circuits. The joint detector circuit produces an output signal corresponding to a predetermined code.

Abstract: An input signal processing system is described. It comprises a first transconductance device having a first input, second input, and an output, wherein the first input is coupled to receive the input signal; a first resistor coupled to a first input of the first transconductance device, wherein the first resistor converts the input current signal to an input voltage signal; a first voltage-current converter coupled to the output, the second input, the resistor, and a low voltage supply, wherein the first voltage-current converter is operative for converting the input voltage signal to a input current signal; and a low pass filter having an input coupled to the voltage converter for filtering noise from the input current signal.

Abstract: Various semiconductor devices can be formed at the end of a common fabrication process, thereby significantly improving manufacturing flexibility, by selectively wiring bonding different CMOS circuits to different MEMS, which are formed on the same semiconductor die. A semiconductor device that has a number of CMOS circuits and a number of MEMS is formed on the same semiconductor wafer in adjacent regions on the wafer, and then diced such that the CMOS circuits and the MEMS are formed on the same die. After dicing, different CMOS circuits and different MEMS can be selectively connected during the wire bonding step to form the different semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A method of wireless handover in a broadcast network (FIGS. 5 and 8) is disclosed. A wireless receiver (FIG. 4) receives a first signal (N) from a first transmitter (f1). The receiver measures a signal strength (RSSI) of the first signal. The strength of the first signal is compared to a first threshold (T0). The receiver receives a second signal (N+3) from a second transmitter (f3) in response to the step of comparing. The first and the second signals are sent to an application processor (120). The wireless receiver continues to receive the first and second signals until the application processor terminates receiving one of the first and second signals.

Abstract: Various apparatuses, methods and systems for frequency dividing a clock signal are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus including a plurality of multiplexers connected in series with the clock signal, each having a plurality of inputs of different phase delays. The apparatus also includes a delta sigma modulator connected to control inputs on the plurality of multiplexers. The delta sigma modulator is adapted to repeatedly select different ones of the pluralities of inputs of different phase delays in the plurality of multiplexers to change a divide ratio between the clock signal and an output of the plurality of multiplexers. The apparatus also includes a multiplexer usage accumulator connected to the delta sigma modulator to track usage of the plurality of multiplexers.

Abstract: As part of the protocol for Common Public Radio Interface/Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (CPRI/OBSAI) systems, multiple data rates are supported, which are each supported by one or more reference clock frequencies. Traditionally, timing circuits presently used for the physical layer (PHY) paths to determine the data rates for the serial data have been plagued with numerous problems. Here, however, a circuit that performs an automatic rate sense (ARS) of high speed serial signals in a low speed digital domain is provided, which is also relatively easy to implement and robust.

Abstract: A circuit for reducing and offsetting the voltage swing of a differential pre-drive circuit. The circuit includes a first H-bridge of transistors receiving a differential pair of input signals. A swing resister is coupled to the H-bridge for reducing a voltage swing of the differential pair of input signals. The reduced swing is generated as a differential pair of output signals. Also, the differential pre-drive circuit includes an offset resistor that is coupled to the H-bridge. The offset resistor acts to offset the differential pair of output signals. As such, the differential pair of output signals having reduced swing and offset as applied to gates of output transistors in an output stage allow the output transistors to remain in the saturation operating state.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control heat dissipation in hard-disk drives (HDDs) are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a semiconductor die, a ground bump positioned on the die, and a hard-disk drive writer head positioned on the die relative to the ground bump based on a thermal impedance.