Abstract: The present application is directed to a method of selectively positioning sub-resolution assist features (SRAF) in a photomask pattern for an interconnect. The method comprises determining if a first interconnect pattern option will result in improved circuit performance compared with a second interconnect pattern option, where the first option is designed to be formed with SRAF and the second option is designed to be formed without SRAF. If it is determined that the first option will result in improved circuit performance, the first pattern option is selected as a target pattern and one or more SRAF patterns are positioned to facilitate patterning of the first pattern option. If it is not determined that the first option will result in improved performance, the second pattern option is selected as a target pattern.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a first matched transistor comprising: a first source region, a first drain region formed within a first drain well extension, and a first gate electrode having lateral edges about which the first source region and first drain region are laterally disposed. The integrated circuit also includes a second matched transistor comprising: a second source region, a second drain region formed within a second drain well extension, and a second gate electrode having lateral edges about which the second source region and second drain region are laterally disposed. Analog circuitry is associated with the first and second matched transistors, which analog circuitry utilizes a matching characteristic of the first and second matched transistors to facilitate analog functionality. Other devices, methods, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating micromirror position in a digital micromirror device. The system and method adjusts micromirror operating temperature and/or a reset sequence of the micromirror by determining a desired tilt angle, adjusting voltage potentials of signals in a reference reset sequence, and saving the adjusted reset sequence. The adjustments are used to alter a voltage potential difference between micromirrors of the digital micromirror device and respective address lines, thereby allowing for a precise regulation of a tilt angle of the micromirrors. Additionally, the operating temperature of the digital micromirror device may also be controlled to regulate micromirror position. The precise control of the tilt angle of the micromirrors permits the use of digital micromirror devices in systems requiring fine focus and increased focus depth, such as photolithography and holography.

Abstract: One aspect of the inventors' concept relates to a method of forming a semiconductor device. In this method, a gate structure is formed over a semiconductor body. A source/drain mask is patterned over the semiconductor body implanted source and drain regions are formed that are associated with the gate structure. After forming the implanted source and drain regions, a multi-stage implant is performed on the source and drain regions that comprises at least two implants where the dose and energy of the first implant varies from the dose and energy of the second implant. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a transistor device, a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit, and a transistor device. The method for manufacturing the transistor device, among other steps, includes forming a gate structure over a substrate and forming source/drain regions in the substrate proximate the gate structure, the source/drain regions having a boundary that forms an electrical junction with the substrate. The method further includes forming dislocation loops in the substrate, the dislocation loops not extending outside the boundary of the source/drain regions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for allowing a digital signal processor (DSP) in a data processing system to perform high speed division operations. In one embodiment of the invention a division operation is performed in no more than two cycles. In another embodiment of the invention, the division operations are in fractional format. The data processing apparatus comprises a random access memory, a processor (12, 168), and an interface (102) coupling said random access memory (104) to said processor, said interface enables high speed division operations associated with said processor. The interface of the present invention can also be combined with a dual or co-processor system to increase the data processing efficiency.

Abstract: An nth-order oscillator system for providing a resonating signal, a method of generating a resonating signal and a communications system. In one embodiment, the nth-order oscillator system, n being greater than two, includes (1) an amplifier configured to provide an intermediate signal and (2) a feedback loop including an nth-order complex LC tank and configured to generate the resonating signal by feeding back a complex-filtered form of the intermediate signal to the amplifier.

Abstract: A passive entry and immobilizer key for vehicles comprises an integrated front-end circuit (12b) with three battery-supplied receiver channels (14, 16, 18), each connected to an associated external antenna circuit with an inductor-capacitor combination (LR, CR) having a resonant frequency in the very low frequency range. The three antennas are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. An immobilizer transponder (22) is supplied by energy received from an external transponder antenna circuit and stored in a storage capacitor (CL). The transponder antenna circuit includes an inductor-capacitor combination (LR, CR, CL) having a resonant frequency in the low frequency range. The transponder antenna circuit shares at least one inductive component (LR) with the antenna circuit of one of the three receiver channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that can be used to control an output signal, such as for controlling a heater for a hard disk drive. A system can include a pre-driver configured to provide a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal to an output system in response to a control signal and a feedback signal, the output system being configured to provide an output signal for driving a load, the pre-driver comprising a modulator that provides the PWM signal in response to the control signal and a filtered feedback signal. A low pass filter is configured to receive a feedback signal with a voltage corresponding to a voltage of the output signal, wherein the low pass filter provides the filtered feedback signal that controls a frequency of the PWM signal to the modulator, the low pass filter having a bulk driven operational transconductance amplifier.

Abstract: A ceramic header configured to form a portion of an electronic device package includes a mounting portion configured to provide a mounting surface for an electronic device. In addition, the ceramic header includes one or more conductive input-output connectors operable to provide electrical connections from a first surface of the ceramic header to a second surface of the ceramic header. The ceramic header also includes one or more thermally polished surfaces.

Abstract: A process initializes the state of an output memory circuit of a scan cell located at the boundary of a logic circuit within an integrated circuit. Data is scanned into an input memory circuit of the cell while maintaining the cell in a mode providing normal operation of the logic circuit. The cell is placed in a test mode that disables normal operation of the logic circuit. The data scanned into the input memory circuit is transferred into the output memory circuit simultaneous with the placing the cell in the test mode. A transmission gate between the logic circuit and the output memory circuit and a transmission gate between the input memory circuit and the output memory circuit effect the changes between normal operation and test modes.

Abstract: An imaging device capable of capturing depth information or surface profiles of objects is disclosed herein. The imaging device uses an enclosed flashing unit to project a sequence of structured light patterns onto an object and captures the light patterns reflected from the surfaces of the object by using an image sensor that is enclosed in the imaging device. The imaging device is capable of capturing an image of an object such that the captured image is comprised of one or more color components of a two-dimensional image of the object and a depth component that specifies the depth information of the object.

Abstract: In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, color correction based on light intensity in imaging systems may be accomplished by applying a color correction data structure to color component values.

Abstract: A method of wireless transmission for estimating the carrier frequency offset in a base station of a received transmission from a user equipment (UE) accessing a radio access network. The method time de-multiplexes selected symbols of a received sub-frame, computes the frequency-domain symbols received from each antenna through an FFT, de-maps the UEs selected sub-carriers for each antenna, computes metrics associated to a carrier frequency offset hypothesis spanning a searched frequency offset window, repeats these steps on subsequent received sub-frames from the UE over an estimation interval duration, non-coherently accumulates the computed metrics and selects the carrier frequency offset hypothesis with largest accumulated metric amplitude.

Abstract: Stabilization for devices such as hand-held camcoders segments a low-resolution frame into a region of reliable estimation, finds a global motion vector for the region at high resolution, and uses the global motion vector to compensate for jitter.

Abstract: Speckle effect in display system is reduced by utilizing the instability of phase-coherent light and the transmission of the instable phase-coherent light through a multi-mode optical fiber with a suitable length.

Abstract: Inverse discrete cosine transform (type-III DCT), used in video/image and audio coding, is implemented in the form of FFT to lower computational complexity.

Abstract: An example disclosed method to handle a reference voltage change in a digital power supply includes receiving a first value associated with a first reference voltage having a first voltage magnitude at a digital signal processor of a digital power supply, comparing the first reference voltage to an output voltage of the digital power supply, controlling the digital power supply based on the comparison between the first reference voltage and the output voltage, receiving a second value associated with a second reference voltage having a second voltage magnitude, determining that the first voltage magnitude is different than the second voltage magnitude, in response to determining that the second voltage magnitude is different than the first voltage magnitude, determining a voltage profile, and controlling the digital power supply based on the voltage profile.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for transistor matching. In this method, a channel is formed within a first transistor by applying a gate-source bias having a first polarity to the first transistor. The magnitude of a potential barrier in a pocket implant region of the first transistor is reduced by applying a body-source bias having the first polarity to the first transistor. Current flow is facilitated across the channel by applying a drain-source bias having the first polarity to the first transistor. Other methods and circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polyphase electric energy meter is provided that includes a microcontroller with a front end that converts analog current input signals and analog voltage input signals to digital current and voltage samples for processing by the microcontroller. The front end includes separate input channels, each for one of the current input signals with a sigma-delta modulator followed by a decimation filter. The front end further includes a common input channel for all voltage input signals with a multiplexer, an analog-to-digital converter and a de-multiplexer. The separate input channels and the common input channel provide the digital current and voltage samples for processing by the microcontroller.