Abstract: An apparatus includes a metal frame, a switching power circuit, and at least one semiconductor die implementing a communication interface. The metal frame includes a plurality of external pads, and a plurality of base pads coupled to selected external pads. The switching power circuit is mounted to selected base pads and includes an input terminal, an output terminal, an energy storage device mounted to a first subset of the base pads and coupled to the output terminal, and a switching element mounted to a second subset of the base pads and coupled to the input terminal and the energy storage element. The at least one semiconductor die provides a control signal to the switching device to control an output voltage present at the output terminal.

Abstract: A signal acquisition circuit detects a wanted signal in a composite signal containing the wanted signal and an unwanted signal, where the highest frequency in the unwanted signal is higher than the highest frequency in the wanted signal. A sensor captures the composite signal and an analog-to-digital converter samples and converts the composite signal to digital format, and a filter subtracts the unwanted signal from the composite signal. The sampled signal contains a first component containing the sum of the wanted signal and the unwanted signal sampled at a first rate at least equal to the Nyquist rate for the wanted signal but less than a second rate that is at least equal to the Nyquist rate for the unwanted signal, and a second component containing the unwanted signal sampled at the second rate.

Abstract: Zoom motor noise in a camera audio recording is reduced by detecting activity of the zoom motor, transforming a audio signal into the frequency domain during zoom motor activity, and scaling the frequency domain signal during zoom motor activity in each of a series of frequency bins by a scaling factor derived from a pre-stored zoom motor noise spectrum to produce a processed audio signal in the frequency domain. The processed audio signal is then transformed back to the time domain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a bipolar transistor. The method includes doping a silicon layer with a first type of dopant and performing a first implant process to implant dopant of a second type opposite the first type in the silicon layer. The implanted dopant has a first dopant profile in the silicon layer. The method also includes performing a second implant process to implant additional dopant of the second type in the silicon layer. The additional implanted dopant has a second dopant profile in the silicon layer different than the first dopant profile. The method further includes growing an insulating layer formed over the silicon layer by consuming a portion of the silicon layer and the first type of dopant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-linear echo canceller and method for cancelling echo during full duplex communication in a hands free communication system. An input signal from a far-end talker and an input signal from the output from an echo canceller are received. K spectral subbands are created for each input signal. The spectral echo residual power at each subband is estimated and compared to a clean signal power to calculate a signal to echo ratio. Gains are calculated based on each calculated ratio and non-linear echo is cancelled based on the calculated gains.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for accessing data. The method includes defining a first portion of a memory for receiving data and providing a memory request to transfer data from a source to the first portion of the memory defined to receive the data. The method further includes transferring a portion of data from the source to the first portion of the memory, wherein the size of the portion of the data substantially corresponds to the size of the first portion of the memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming an optically triggered switch. Embodiments of the method include forming a silicon layer, forming one or more trenches in the silicon layer, and forming one or more silicon diodes in the silicon layer. Embodiments of the method also include forming a first thyristor in the silicon layer such that the first thyristor is physically and electrically isolated from the silicon diode(s) by the trench(es). The first thyristor is configured to turn on in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by the silicon diode(s).

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in a speech signal involves converting the speech signal to the frequency domain using a fast fourier transform (FFT), creating a subset of selected spectral subbands, determining the appropriate gain for each subband, and interpolating the gains to match the number of FFT points. The converted speech signal is then filtered using the interpolated gains as filter coefficients, and an inverse FFT performed on the processed signal to recover the time domain output signal.

Abstract: A power converter controller is operable to control power provided to a load circuit coupled between a first voltage supply terminal and a first switching element by controlling the first switching element and to control power provided to an energy storage element coupled to the first switching element. The energy storage element is operable to provide a power supply. A first control terminal couples to a control input of the first switching element. A first load terminal couples to the first switching element and the charge storing element. A second switching element couples between the first load terminal and a second voltage supply terminal.

Abstract: To perform timing synchronization in an asynchronous packet network, remote timestamps representative of a transmitter clock at a transmitter are received over a packet network. These are compared with local timestamps representative of the timing of a local oscillator at the receiver to produce an estimate of the offset between the transmitter clock and the local oscillator at the receiver. This estimate is then used to generate update values for a digital controlled oscillator producing the output clock at the receiver. The system operates in a feedforward configuration wherein the local oscillator at the receiver serves as one input to the offset estimator.

Abstract: A method of recovering timing information in a packet network, involves detecting quiet periods in the packet network when network packet delay variation (PDV) is low. A frequency prediction unit is trained during the quiet periods to learn output clock variations of a timing recovery unit to permit the frequency prediction unit to predict frequency update values for a local oscillator during non quiet periods taking into account the historical output clock variations during quiet periods. The output of the frequency prediction unit is used as the active frequency update values during non quiet periods.

Abstract: A communication system includes a bus, first and second devices coupled to the bus, and a handshaking unit. The bus includes at least one data line and control lines. The data line is coupled between the first and second devices. The handshaking unit is coupled to the control lines of the bus and is adapted to determine if the first and second devices are capable of completing a data transfer and enable the first and second devices to facilitate the data transfer. A method for interfacing first and second devices coupled to a bus is provided. The bus has at least one data line coupled to the first and second devices and control lines. The method includes determining if the first and second devices are capable of completing a data transfer based on the control lines; providing handshaking signals on the control lines to enable the first and second devices; and transferring the data over the data line in response to the handshaking signals.

Abstract: A timing source is provided for sending timing information via a packet network. The source comprises a clock for generating the timing information and a packet-forming section for forming a sequence of packets for transporting the timing information to a destination node. A time-stamping section inserts into each packet of the sequence a transmission time derived from the clock and acts as an output section for forwarding the packets to the network at the respective transmission times. In one mode, the packet forming section forms all of the packets of the sequence with the largest size which the packet network is capable of transporting. In another mode, the packets of the sequence have a distribution of sizes which may be fixed or which may vary in response to traffic conditions.

Abstract: A phase locked loop includes a digital controlled oscillator and a number of phase detectors, each having a first input connected to a reference source and a second input coupled to the output of the digital controlled oscillator, and an output for producing a phase error signal. A loop filter coupled to the output of each phase detector has an output and a feedback input. An adjustment unit for derives an adjustment signal for the digital controlled oscillator from one or more of the loop filters by selecting or combining output signals from the loop filters taking into account the stability of said reference sources. The adjustment signal for the digital controlled oscillator produced by the adjustment unit is coupled to each of the feedback inputs of the loop filters. This arrangement results in hitless reference switching.

Abstract: There is provided an opto-electrical assembly. The assembly comprises an optical carrier and one or more optical elements and possibly also electrical elements, such as optical flip-chip die, attached to the optical carrier, and configured for electrical and optical communication with the optical carrier. The assembly further comprises a flexible electrical and optical connectors attached to the optical carrier, and configured to provide electrical and optical communication between the one or more optical and electrical elements and further circuitry. Wherein the flexible connectors are configured to allow for relative movement of the optical carrier and further circuitry during use of the assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a method of providing an opto-electrical assembly. The method comprises attaching a second electrical element to a carrier using a second attachment region at a second attaching temperature. The second attaching temperature is associated with the melting temperature of the second attachment region, such as the melting temperature of solder or the like. The carrier already comprises a first opto-electrical element having been attached to the carrier using a first attachment region at a first attaching temperature, whereby the first attaching temperature is associated with the melting temperature of the first attachment region. The method is provided such that the second attachment region has a lower melting temperature than the first attachment region such that the second attaching temperature is lower than the first attaching temperature.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, disclosed is a carrier assembly for an optical device, the carrier assembly comprising in combination: a glass substrate with an optical die thereon; and a silicon carrier attached to the glass carrier. During manufacture, a number of optical dies can be attached on the glass substrate using self-alignment of AuSn solder bumps using gaseous flux at about 300 deg C. The glass carrier can be mounted to the silicon carrier to form an optical device carrier assembly comprising micromechanical guide holes to facilitate a optical fiber connection, using self-alignment of SnAg solder bumps using gaseous flux at about 250 deg C. Each individual optical device can be tested at a wafer scale. The resulting optical device assembly can be diced to form individual optical devices having a carrier assembly that exhibits the traits of both a silicon carrier and a glass carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carrier assembly for and a method of manufacturing an optical device. The method comprises providing a silicon substrate; attaching a number of optical dies on the silicon substrate to form an optical device carrier assembly; providing a corresponding number of through holes in the silicon substrate to permit the passage of light therethrough and further providing guide holes in the silicon substrate to present means for passive alignment of an external optical connection; and dicing the optical device carrier assembly to form individual optical devices. Preferably, the step of attaching a number of optical dies comprises using self-alignment of solder bumps using gaseous flux, the through holes are dry etched into the silicon substrate, and/or the volume between the optical die and silicon substrate is filled with a transparent polymer. Preferably, the transparent polymer is silicone rubber or epoxy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protection circuit coupled to a tip lead and a ring lead in a subscriber line interface circuit formed on a silicon substrate. The protection circuit includes first and second diodes formed on the silicon substrate and coupled to the tip lead and the ring lead, respectively. The first and second diodes are configured to provide a path from the tip lead or the ring lead to ground in response to a positive voltage at the tip lead or the ring lead. The protection circuit also includes a silicon-controlled rectifier formed on the silicon substrate and configured to provide, in response to a negative voltage at the tip lead or the ring lead, a path from the tip lead or the ring lead to ground via the silicon-controlled rectifier.

Abstract: To reduce noise in an input signal that may contain speech, first an estimate of the noise level in the signal is obtained. The level of the input signal is then compared with the noise level estimate signal to determine whether speech is dominant. Less aggressive noise reduction is applied to the input signal when speech is dominant than when only noise is present.