Abstract: An integrated circuit, which is formed on a semiconductor substrate and which comprises front-end-of-line processed electronic elements and a back-end-of-line processed wiring on top of the electronic elements. The wiring interconnects the electronic elements. The integrated circuit further comprises a highly UV-absorbing layer between the electronic elements and the wiring.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure a semiconductor substrate comprising an active region with an uncovered top side is provided, at least one STI trench adjoining the active region is formed, and an STI divot is formed in the insulating filling. The at least one STI trench comprises an insulating filling extending to above the top side of the active region and the divot adjoins the active region and uncovers an edge of the uncovered top side of the active region. A hydrogen termination of the uncovered top side of the active region is formed and a heat treatment in a hydrogen atmosphere is carried out in order to form a rounding from the edge of the active region in such a way that the top side of the active region continuously merges into the STI divot.

Abstract: An integrated post-amplifier and laser driver assembly is provided that is implemented as a single integrated circuit and is configured to implement various effects, such as polarity control, concerning data signals received by an optical transceiver in conjunction with which the integrated post-amplifier and laser driver assembly is employed. The data signal polarity control is implemented, both in the post-amplifier assembly and the laser driver assembly, by an amplifier that changes the polarity of the data signal by modifying a relationship between first and second propagation paths of the data signal. The data signal polarity control is typically performed in response to a multiplexed digital control signal received at a digital control interface of the integrated post-amplifier and laser driver assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with optoelectronic modules. In one example, an optoelectronic transceiver includes a data transmit line coupled to an optical source, and a data receive line coupled to an optical detector. In addition, a serial bus is provided that is distinct from both the data transmit line and the data receive line. A microprocessor is coupled to the serial bus and corresponds to a serial address. Finally, an optical driver of the optoelectronic transceiver is coupled to the optical source, and the microprocessor provides a control signal for adjusting a swing amplitude of the optical driver in accordance with one or more commands received by the microprocessor via the serial communication bus.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the reverse-bias voltage of an avalanche photodiode in a transceiver or receiver. The controller includes memory for storing information related to the avalanche photodiode, and analog to digital conversion circuitry for receiving an analog signal corresponding to the temperature of the avalanche photodiode, converting the received analog signal into a digital value, and storing the digital value in a predefined location within the memory. Control circuitry in the controller controls the operation of the avalanche photodiode and a temperature lookup table store in the memory. A serial interface enables a host device to read from and write to locations within the memory. The invention also controls the reverse-bias voltage of an avalanche photodiode in a transceiver or receiver.

Abstract: A cylinder head cover, particularly for covering a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, having a plurality of functional elements such as an oil filling connection and at least one oil separation device mounted thereon. The cylinder head cover is formed by a bottom shell and a top shell, with the functional elements each being formed from two segments. One segment is integrally arranged on the bottom shell, and the second segment is integrally arranged on the top shell. The two shells are interconnected by communicating sealing contours. Essential functional parts of the oil separation device are provided on the bottom shell and on the top shell. Preferably the functional elements include a cyclone which separates entrained oil from gases in the cylinder head cover and includes a cup arranged on the bottom shell and an immersion tube arranged on the top shell.

Abstract: An EMI shielding mechanism for use with an electronic module, such as an opto-electronic transceiver module, is disclosed. The EMI shielding mechanism includes a plurality of shielding tabs disposed on an outside face of the module. When the module is fully disposed in a port of a host device, the shielding tabs contact an edge of the port, thus reducing the amount of EMI radiation emitted form that edge. The shielding tabs are angled so that when the module is fully disposed in the port, a portion of the shielding tabs is inside the port and a portion is outside of the port. The angled shielding tabs provide a spring force which assists a user to extract the module from the port.

Abstract: An integrated post-amplifier and laser driver assembly is provided that is implemented as a single integrated circuit and includes a plurality of amplifiers or other control devices or circuits configured to implement various effects concerning data signals received and/or transmitted by a transceiver in conjunction with which the integrated post-amplifier and laser driver assembly is employed. A digital control interface is included in the integrated post-amplifier and laser driver assembly and is configured to receive a control signal from an external digital controller. A glue logic module, and associated digital to analog controllers, of the integrated post-amplifier and laser driver assembly parse the control signal and generate and transmit corresponding analog signals to one or more of the amplifiers so as to implement processing of a data signal received from the optical receiver, as well as the control of data transmission by way of a suitable transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for setting the AC and DC bias levels of a laser diode in an optoelectronic transceiver so as to control the device's extinction ratio. An optical output of the transceiver is looped back to an optical input of the transceiver. The method includes setting a DC bias level for the laser diode, setting an AC bias level for the laser diode to each of a predefined sequence of AC bias level settings, and receiving from the transceiver a sequence of optical output power measurements, the sequence of optical output power measurements including an average optical output power measurement corresponding to each of the AC bias level settings in the predefined sequence. From the received sequence of optical output power measurements preferred AC and DC bias level settings are determined and stored in the transceiver so as to control the AC and DC bias levels of the laser diode.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns optical packages such as may be used in optical transceivers and transmitters. In one example, an optical package includes a header assembly having a base portion to which is attached a header structure that is split into first and second portions that are separated from each other by a space. The header structure further includes one or more electrical leads extending through the base portion and into one of the first and second portions of the header structure. An active temperature control device is included in the optical package and resides in the space between the first and second portions of the header structure. Finally, an optical element, such as a laser, is provided that is arranged for thermal communication with the active temperature control device so that operation of the optical element can be controlled by way of the active temperature control device.

Abstract: An EMI shielding mechanism for use with an electronic module, such as an opto-electronic transceiver module, is disclosed. The EMI shielding mechanism includes a plurality of shielding tabs disposed on an outside face of the module. When the module is fully disposed in a port of a host device, the shielding tabs contact an edge of the port, thus reducing the amount of EMI radiation emitted form that edge. The shielding tabs are angled so that when the module is fully disposed in the port, a portion of the shielding tabs is inside the port and a portion is outside of the port. The angled shielding tabs provide a spring force which assists a user to extract the module from the port.

Abstract: A method for compensating for wavelength drift in a fiber-optic laser transmitter includes 1) controlling a temperature within the optoelectronic assembly at a defined level; 2) driving the optoelectronic assembly to emit light, wherein the emitted light has a wavelength that is within a channel of operation, the channel of operation including a range of wavelengths centered around a channel center wavelength; 3) accessing from memory within the optoelectronic assembly a control value associated with the temperature of the optoelectronic assembly at defined points within an operational lifetime of the optoelectronic assembly; and 4) recalculating the defined level by reference to the control value, whereby a wavelength of the optoelectronic assembly is maintained within the channel of operation despite an expected drift of wavelength.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating oil from crankcase ventilation gases of an internal combustion engine having at least two oil separators in the form of cyclones connected in parallel and traversed by the crankcase ventilation gases. The apparatus is equipped with a control valve that divides the volumetric flow of the crankcase ventilation gases into at least two subflows, depending on the magnitude of the volumetric flow, and conducts the subflows to the at least two oil separators. A control piston releases or blocks access of the gases to additional cyclones depending on the dynamic pressure of the crankcase gas.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a multi-channel laser emitter in an optoelectronic transceiver or an optoelectronic transmitter for a first wavelength includes monitoring the wavelength of optical signals from the laser emitter while varying its temperature as well as other operating conditions, and then storing calibration information in the memory of a microprocessor. The initial values of the calibrating procedure are reset and the calibrating procedure is repeated to obtain calibration information for a next desired wavelength.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a multi-channel laser emitter in an optoelectronic transceiver or an optoelectronic transmitter for a first wavelength includes monitoring the wavelength of optical signals from the laser emitter while varying its temperature as well as other operating conditions, and then storing calibration information in the memory of a microprocessor. The initial values of the calibrating procedure are reset and the calibrating procedure is repeated to obtain calibration information for a next desired wavelength.

Abstract: One example of a method for operating a transceiver includes selecting a first operating wavelength from a set of operating wavelengths. Next, a first control value is accessed that corresponds to the first operating wavelength. The first control value also corresponds to a first operating temperature of the transceiver, and the first operating temperature resides within a range of about 30° C. to about 50° C. Finally, the transceiver is operated substantially at the first operating temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an improvement in the ability of test systems to test bit processing capacities of electronic devices, and in particular an improvement in their ability to measure a signal propagation delay through an object connected to an optoelectronic device. The present invention includes determining for how long after a specific bit or bit group is transmitted by an optical transceiver the bit or bit group is received at the other end of the object connected to the optical transceiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a dielectric on a semiconductor body having the following steps that are to be performed successively: provision of a semiconductor body, application of a dielectric layer on at least parts of a first surface of the semiconductor body in such a way as at least partly to form an interface between the dielectric layer and the semiconductor body, and thermal annealing of the semiconductor body and the dielectric layer. The method according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that temporally prior to the annealing, for the purpose of improving the saturation and the electrical properties, fluorine-containing particles are introduced into regions of the semiconductor body and/or of the dielectric layer which adjoin the interface. The present invention furthermore relates to a corresponding semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A system and method for testing the jitter tolerance and signal attenuation tolerance of an optoelectronic device is disclosed. The system includes a generation circuit, delay circuit and comparison circuitry. A first sequence of bits is generated, delayed, and sent to the optoelectronic device. The optoelectronic device receives the bits and retransmits them as a second sequence to the comparison circuitry, which compares the two bit sequences to determine a bit error rate. The bit error rate is then used to determine the jitter tolerance and, in an alternate embodiment, the signal attenuation tolerance of the optoelectronic device being tested.

Abstract: A cup holder, especially for a motor vehicle, has a box-like pedestal (12) that has a placement surface (14) on its top, and a box-like cover (16) that is arranged over the pedestal. The side surfaces of the pedestal serve as a guide for the cover, the cover having a recess (18) that is concentric with the placement surface (14).