Abstract: System and method for muting an output terminal of an electronic device. In one embodiment, the process for can include receiving one or more signals received by the controller over the first terminal, detecting a mute control signal from the controller and controlling the state of a switch coupled to the output terminal to ground the output terminal based on detecting the mute control signal.

Abstract: An audio receiver's output clock is synchronized based on a number of input and output audio samples measured over a predetermined sample period. In one embodiment, a sample difference may be determined by subtracting the measured number of input audio samples from the measured number of output audio samples. This sample difference may then be compared to a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, if the absolute value of the sample difference is less than the predetermined threshold, no adjustment to the output clock may be needed. When the absolute value of the sample difference is greater than the predetermined threshold, the output clock rate may be adjusted either upwards or downwards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for correcting image data of an image sensor. In on embodiment, a method includes receiving sensor data including image data having at least one artifact and smear sensitive data, detecting motion of one or more light sources associated with the artifact and characterizing the motion of the one or more light sources to provide a motion characteristic. The method may further include correcting at least a portion of the image data based on the smear sensitive data and the motion characteristic of the one or more light sources, wherein the correcting is responsive to vertical motion and non-vertical motion of the one or more light sources.

Abstract: A technique for modifying data of an image, such as can be implemented in a still camera or video recorder in order to correct for defects in its optical and/or electronic systems, includes generating data to modify the image as a function of radial position across it. A variation of the intensity across an image (lens shading) that appears in data from a two-dimensional detector is an example of an application of the technique. In order to make modifications to the data, positions of a two-dimensional raster scan pattern of an image sensor are converted to radial positions and this is then used to generate the modification data. The modification data is generated on the fly, at the same rate as the image data is being acquired, so that the modification takes place without slowing down data transfer from the image sensor.

Abstract: The invention provides techniques to implement unique identifier for an integrated chip and how this ID can be employed to enhance the security of content in personal video recorder type systems. The storage device can be a hard disk, a removable storage medium or any other type of storage medium. An integrated circuit (IC) within the personal video recorder stores a unique identifier that is used in for encryption and decryption of data stored on the storage device. Several embodiments are disclosed herein that maintain the secrecy of the unique ID such that it is not easily accessible thereby defeating the security scheme.

Abstract: A clock-signal generating unit for generating an output clock signal with a controlled duty cycle based on an input clock signal. The clock-signal generating unit comprises one or more delay lines arranged to generate a plurality of mutually delayed output signals at different positions within the delay line based on the input clock signal. A control unit is arranged to detect a position within one of the delay lines, the output signal of which has a delay, with respect to the input clock signal, that is essentially equal to one period of the input clock signal, and generate an output signal that indicates the detected position. A selection unit is arranged to generate a delayed clock signal that has a delay, with respect to a signal associated with the input clock signal, that is essentially equal to a period of the clock signal multiplied with said duty cycle based on output signals from one of the delay lines and the output signal of the control unit.

Abstract: A system for identifying transmission parameters of an OFDM signal transmitted according to a transmitter clock includes a first correlator to receive and correlate samples of the signal sampled according to a receiver clock and provide a first metric indicative of whether the signal has a first transmission mode, a plurality of additional correlators, operable in parallel with the first correlator, to receive and correlate the samples of the signal sampled according to the receiver clock and provide a plurality of additional metrics indicative of whether the signal has a second transmission mode and whether the receiver clock is aligned with or displaced by at least one sample over one OFDM symbol relative to the transmitter clock, and a processor. The processor receives the metrics, and determines whether the signal has the first or second transmission mode and whether the receiver clock is aligned or displaced by the at least one sample relative to the transmitter clock.

Abstract: Systems and methods of eliminating or reducing interference resulting from harmonics of local oscillator frequencies of mixers are shown. In one embodiment, a determination is made as to a zone or zones within an intermediate frequency band associated with undesired spurs. Inter-tuner spurs and intra-tuner spurs may be identified such that frequency information of the identified spurs may be utilized to define a plurality of exclusion zones. Local oscillator frequencies may subsequently be efficiently selected in view of the exclusion zone information. Embodiments may also determine a score for identified spurs which may be used to optimally select from within a set of spur-generating local oscillator frequencies.

Abstract: A local method uses a cascade of multiple nonlinear edge preserving filters, and nonlinear pixel point operations, to calculate the pixel gain. Multiple low-pass filters are used, being applied to surrounding neighborhoods of the current pixel of narrow and of wide extent. The number of filter stages may be determined based on the image content. The coefficients used to combine a gray level image extracted from the input image with the ascending scale regions can be automatically extracted from high-pass filtered images of the ascending scale regions. Multiplying each color component of the input image by one or more pixel dependent gain or attenuation factors, using a nonlinear mapping function that can lighten shadow regions as well as darken bright regions, generates the output image.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding apparatus are presented that perform dynamic range compensation (DRC) and noise reduction (NR) together on a pixel-by-pixel basis, adjusting the noise reduction parameters in response to the dynamic range compensation decisions. By such a modification of image noise reduction parameters based on the dynamic range compensation gain or, more generally, other such factors, these techniques make it possible to perform DRC on noisy images, achieving an image with low and uniform noise levels.

Abstract: System and method for operating a motor using a single general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of a controller. In one embodiment, a control circuit may include a first terminal coupled to a GPIO pin of a controller. The first terminal can be configured to receive, and output, at least one or more signals. The control circuit may include a plurality of elements coupled to the first terminal, and motor driver circuit output terminal, such that the control circuit may be configured to output one more control signals to the motor driver circuit output terminal for control the motor driver circuit. Motor driver control signals may be based, at least in part, on one or more signals received from the first terminal.

Abstract: A system includes a filter and a tuner formed on an integrated circuit. The filter receives an input signal comprising a first number of channels and communicates an intermediate output signal comprising a second number of channels less than the first number of channels. The tuner is coupled to the filter and receives the intermediate output signal and communicates an output signal comprising a third number of channels less than the second number of channels.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying data of an image that can be implemented in a digital camera, video image capturing device and other optical systems are provided to correct for Image image shading variations appearing in data from a two-dimensional photo-sensor. These variations can be caused by imperfect lenses, non-uniform sensitivity across the photo-sensor, and internal reflections within a housing of the optical system, for example. In order to correct for these variations, a small amount of modification data is stored in a small memory within the camera or other optical system, preferably separate correction data for each primary color. Image data from individual pixels are corrected on the fly by interpolating individual pixel corrections from the stored modification data, at the same rate as the image data is being acquired, so that the correction takes place without slowing down data transfer of picture data from the image sensor.

Abstract: An image capture system is presented where the dynamic range of photo imaging devices, such as a still or video camera, is increased by varying sensor exposure time on a pixel-by-pixel basis under digital camera processor control. The systems photo sensors are continuously illuminated without reset over the exposure interval. In addition to being interrogated at the end of the exposure interval, the pixels are also non-destructively interrogated at one or more intermediate times during the interval. At each interrogation, the image capture system determines individually whether the pixels have saturated and if not, the parameter value is recorded; if the pixel has saturated, the previously stored value from the preceding interval is maintained. To produce the final sensor value for the whole exposure interval, the data for pixels that reached the saturation level are adjusted to compensate for their shortened exposure.

Abstract: A software plug-in module extends the functionality of a standard printer driver. For example, the plug-in facilities the ability to provide a customizable user interface. The plug-in also facilitates the use of multiple forms of color management and half-tone screening. Further, the plug-in provides a system and method for determining the status of a printing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating the slice level of a pulse detector monitors the quality of the detected pulse signal to determine and optimize slice level. The method practiced may include two parts, including a coarse stage and a fine stage. The method practiced may further include a continuous adjustment mode of operation.

Abstract: Data of updated or new advertising messages are loaded into a non-volatile memory of a digital camera in the course of it being recycled. The user of the camera therefore receives the updated or new advertising messages as a part of recycling the camera. There are a number of ways the advertising message can be displayed on a picture preview screen of the camera and/or reproduced by a loudspeaker on the camera. The advertising message can either be displayed along with a picture acquired by the camera or at separate times.

Abstract: An image processing system that can receive compressed image data corresponding to a representation of an image and process that image data in an order that is independent of the order in which that image data was compressed. A first pass decoding identifies certain information pertaining to the coded units within the compressed image data. Based upon that information, the coded units in the compressed image data may be decoded in an order that is different than the order in which they were encoded, and portions of the image may be rotated by a multiple of 90° independently of other portions of the image, thereby reducing the amount of memory needed to decompress and rotate the compressed image data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a high definition capture engine comprising an on-the-fly scaler to perform horizontal and vertical scaling as needed, prior to storage of the data in a buffer.

Abstract: A method of displaying an image. The method includes acts of receiving pixel data and pixel timing and control signals corresponding to the image, and formatting the pixel data based on a selected communication standard and a transmitter bit rate that corresponds to a number of pixel data bits to be transmitted each transmitter clock cycle.