Abstract: An integrated circuit capable of supporting a plurality of host processor families includes a host processor belonging to a first processor family; a reconfigurable processor core coupled to the host processor, the reconfigurable processor core having a core portion processing instructions belonging to a second host processor family; and a processor type select circuit to configure the integrated circuit to process instructions belonging to one of the first or second host processor family instruction set.

Abstract: A facing targets sputtering device for semiconductor fabrication includes an air-tight chamber in which an inert gas is admittable and exhaustible; a pair of target plates placed at opposite ends of said air-tight chamber respectively so as to face each other and form a plasma region therebetween; a pair of magnets respectively disposed adjacent to said target plates such that magnet poles of different polarities face each other across said plasma region thereby to establish a magnetic field of said plasma region between said target plates; a substrate holder disposed adjacent to said plasma region, said substrate holder adapted to hold a substrate on which an alloyed thin film is to be deposited; and a back-bias power supply coupled to the substrate holder.

Abstract: An apparatus compensates for voltage and temperature variations on an integrated circuit with: a voltage sensor having a digital voltage output; a temperature sensor having a digital temperature output; a register coupled to the voltage sensor and the temperature sensor, the register adapted to concatenate the digital voltage output and the temperature output into an address output; and a memory device having an address input coupled to the address output of the register, the memory device being adapted to store one or more corrective vectors.

Abstract: A low power reconfigurable processor core includes one or more processing units, each unit having a clock input that controls the performance of the unit; a wireless transceiver transmitting and receiving at a frequency based on a wireless clock input; and a controller having a plurality of clock outputs each coupled to the clock inputs of the processing units and the wireless clock input, the clock outputs being generated from a common master clock.

Abstract: A self-calibrating integrated circuit includes a processor having at least one analog function used with the processor; one or more sensors adapted to sense one or more environmental parameters of the at least one analog function; and a solid state memory being configured to store the one or more environmental parameters of the at least one analog function.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for securing a wireless communication medium are disclosed. The apparatus uses a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. The method includes determining a SIM card insertion and if so, accessing SIM data and transmitting the SIM data to a base station for comparison with a local copy of authorized user data file; granting mobile unit access to base station if the information matches and otherwise indicating an access failure.

Abstract: An interface circuit that conforms to multiple bus standards includes a first interface circuit conforming to a first bus standard; a second interface circuit conforming to a second bus standard; and a common set of pins coupled to the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit, the common set of pins being user selectable to communicate with a host computer bus in accordance with either the first bus standard or the second bus standard.

Abstract: In one aspect, a semiconductor fabrication system includes an air-tight housing in which an inert gas is admittable and exhaustible; and a plurality of deposition chambers positioned within the system.

Abstract: A facing targets sputtering device for semiconductor fabrication includes an air-tight chamber in which an inert gas is admittable and exhaustible; a pair of target plates placed at opposite ends of said air-tight chamber respectively so as to face each other and form a plasma region therebetween; a pair of magnets respectively disposed adjacent to said target plates such that magnet poles of different polarities face each other across said plasma region thereby to establish a magnetic field of said plasma region between said target plates; a substrate holder disposed adjacent to said plasma region, said substrate holder adapted to hold a substrate on which an alloyed thin film is to be deposited; and a back-bias power supply coupled to the substrate holder.

Abstract: A non-volatile two terminal programmable logic element and associated methods for charging and discharging are disclosed. The logic element includes one input and one output terminal, a first capacitor region, a second capacitor region, and a floating gate (transistor-type) structure. The first capacitor region does not permit tunneling. The second capacitor region permits tunneling between its respective electrodes when a predetermined voltage, substantially higher than the normal operating voltage is applied. The source is connected to the input terminal and one electrode of the first capacitor region. The drain is connected to the output terminal and one electrode of the second capacitor region. The floating gate is connected to the other electrodes of the first and second capacitor regions. A programmable logic device constructed from these elements and associated methods of programming and erasing such a device are also shown.

Abstract: A non-volatile two terminal programmable logic element and associated methods for charging and discharging are disclosed. The logic element includes one input and one output terminal, a first capacitor region, a second capacitor region, and a floating gate (transistor-type) structure. The first capacitor region does not permit tunneling. The second capacitor region permits tunneling between its respective electrodes when a predetermined voltage, substantially higher than the normal operating voltage is applied. The source is connected to the input terminal and one electrode of the first capacitor region. The drain is connected to the output terminal and one electrode of the second capacitor region. The floating gate is connected to the other electrodes of the first and second capacitor regions. A programmable logic device constructed from these elements and associated methods of programming and erasing such a device are also shown.

Abstract: A non-volatile two terminal programmable logic element and associated methods for charging and discharging are disclosed. The logic element includes one input and one output terminal, a first capacitor region, a second capacitor region, and a floating gate (transistor-type) structure. The first capacitor region does not permit tunneling. The second capacitor region permits tunneling between its respective electrodes when a predetermined voltage, substantially higher than the normal operating voltage is applied. The source is connected to the input terminal and one electrode of the first capacitor region. The drain is connected to the output terminal and one electrode of the second capacitor region. The floating gate is connected to the other electrodes of the first and second capacitor regions. A programmable logic device constructed from these elements and associated methods of programming and erasing such a device are also shown.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of erasing memory cells while preventing overerasure of the memory cells is disclosed. By applying a large voltage across the floating gate of the memory cells, charge is removed from the floating gate. Once sufficient charge is removed from the floating gates of the memory cells to render them erased, a stop transistor halts the erasure process, thus preventing the overerasure of memory cells.