Abstract: Operating a remote control to identify a user by receiving touch pad input from at least one touch sensitive element of the remote control that has a plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input corresponds to the user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input is at least partially processed by processing circuitry of the remote control and transmitted to a multimedia system console via a communications interface of the remote control for processing of the at least partially processed touch pad input to identify the user via pattern recognition. At least partially processing the touch pad input can be by identifying at least one finger orientation, at least one finger spacing, at least one finger width, a plurality of finger knuckle/joint locations, and/or a plurality of finger lengths based upon the touch pad input.

Abstract: An article of clothing includes a clothing fabric and a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into the clothing fabric. A bio-medical includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, a processing module, a functional module, a die, and an IC package. The die supports the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module. The IC package houses the die and includes a mechanism for adhering to the clothing fabric.

Abstract: The present invention provides several scalable integrated circuit high density capacitors and their layout techniques. The capacitors are scaled, for example, by varying the number of metal layers and/or the area of the metal layers used to from the capacitors. The capacitors use different metallization patterns to form the metal layers, and different via patterns to couple adjacent metal layers. In embodiments, optional shields are included as the top-most and/or bottom-most layers of the capacitors, and/or as side shields, to reduce unwanted parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: A game controller with a communications interface includes a touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements, and processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry enacts touch pad configuration settings that correlate subsets of the plurality of touch sensitive elements to produce distinct user input locations. The processing circuitry receives touch pad input from the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry processes the touch pad input to determine user input directions based upon the touch pad configuration settings, and then transmits the touch pad input directions via the communications interface for use as gaming input.

Abstract: There are disclosed herein various implementations of a system-in-package with integrated socket. In one such implementation, the system-in-package includes a first active die having a first plurality of electrical connectors on a top surface of the first active die, an interposer situated over the first active die, and a second active die having a second plurality of electrical connectors on a bottom surface of the second active die. The interposer is configured to selectively couple at least one of the first plurality of electrical connectors to at least one of the second plurality of electrical connectors. In addition, a socket encloses the first and second active dies and the interposer, the socket being electrically coupled to at least one of the first active die, the second active die, and the interposer.

Abstract: There are disclosed herein various implementations of semiconductor packages having a selectively conductive film interposer. In one such implementation, a semiconductor package includes a first active die having a first plurality of electrical connectors on a top surface of the first active die, a selectively conductive film interposer situated over the first active die, and a second active die having a second plurality of electrical connectors on a bottom surface of the second active die. The selectively conductive film interposer may be configured to serve as an interposer and to selectively couple at least one of the first plurality of electrical connectors to at least one of the second plurality of electrical connectors.

Abstract: One implementation of present disclosure includes a semiconductor package stack. The semiconductor package stack includes an upper package coupled to a lower package by a plurality of solder balls. The semiconductor package stack also includes a lower active die situated in a lower package substrate in the lower package. The lower active die is thermally coupled to a heat spreader in the upper package by a thermal interface material. An upper active die is situated in an upper package substrate in the upper package, the upper package substrate being situated over the heat spreader. The thermal interface material can include an array of aligned carbon nanotubes within a filler material. The heat spreader can include at least one layer of metal or metal alloy. Furthermore, the heat spreader can be connected to ground or a DC voltage source. The plurality of solder balls can be situated under the heat spreader.

Abstract: There are disclosed herein various implementations of a shield interposer situated between a top active die and a bottom active die for shielding the active dies from electromagnetic noise. One implementation includes an interposer dielectric layer, a through-silicon via (TSV) within the interposer dielectric layer, and an electromagnetic shield. The TSV connects the electromagnetic shield to a first fixed potential. The electromagnetic shield may include a grid of conductive layers laterally extending across the shield interposer. The shield interposer may also include another electromagnetic shield connected to another fixed potential.

Abstract: An article of clothing includes a clothing fabric and a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into the clothing fabric. A bio-medical includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, a processing module, a functional module, a die, and an IC package. The die supports the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module. The IC package houses the die and includes a mechanism for adhering to the clothing fabric.

Abstract: A system includes bio-medical units and an electromagnetic signal generating unit. A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, a wireless communication module, a processing module, and a functional module that performs physical therapy function and generates physical therapy data. The electromagnetic signal generating unit that includes at least one signal generating module and a plurality of near field communication (NFC) modules. The signal generating module generates one or more signals and an NFC module converts the one or more signals into a component of electromagnetic signal, which the power harvesting module converts into a supply voltage that powers the other modules of the bio-medical unit.

Abstract: An exemplary implementation of the present disclosure includes a testable semiconductor package that includes an active die having interface contacts and dedicated testing contacts. An interposer is situated adjacent a bottom surface of the active die, the interposer providing electrical connections between the interface contacts and a bottom surface of the testable semiconductor package. At least one conductive medium provides electrical connection between at least one of the dedicated testing contacts and a top surface of the testable semiconductor package. The at least one conductive medium can be coupled to a package-top testing connection, which may include a solder ball.

Abstract: There are disclosed herein various implementations of semiconductor packages having an interposer configured for magnetic signaling. One exemplary implementation includes a die transmit pad in an active die for transmitting a magnetic signal corresponding to a die electrical signal produced by the active die, and an interposer magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) pad in the interposer for receiving the magnetic signal. A sensing circuit is coupled to the interposer MTJ pad for producing a receive electrical signal corresponding to the magnetic signal. In one implementation, the sensing circuit is configured to sense a resistance of the interposer MTJ pad and to produce the receive electrical signal according to the sensed resistance.

Abstract: A semiconductor package may include a substrate, and a semiconductor interposer having a cavity and a plurality of through semiconductor vias. The semiconductor interposer is situated over the substrate. An intra-interposer die is disposed within the cavity of the semiconductor interposer. A thermally conductive adhesive is disposed within the cavity and contacts the intra-interposer die. Additionally, a top die is situated over the semiconductor interposer. In one implementation, the semiconductor interposer is a silicon interposer. In another implementation, the semiconductor interposer is flip-chip mounted to the substrate such that the intra-interposer die disposed within the cavity faces the substrate. In yet another implementation, the cavity in the semiconductor interposer may extend from a top surface of the semiconductor interposer to a bottom surface of the semiconductor interposer and a thermal interface material may be disposed between the intra-interposer die and the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated communications system. Comprising a substrate having a receiver disposed on the substrate for converting a received signal to an IF signal. Coupled to a VGA for low voltage applications and coupled to the receiver for processing the IF signal. The VGA includes a bank pair having a first bank of differential pairs of transistors and a second bank of differential pairs of transistors. The bank pair is cross-coupled in parallel, the IF signal is applied to the bank pair decoupled from a control signal used to control transconductance output gain of the bank pair over a range of input voltages. A digital IF demodulator is disposed on the substrate and coupled to the VGA for low voltage applications, for converting the IF signal to a demodulated baseband signal. And a transmitter is disposed on the substrate operating in cooperation with the receiver to establish a two way communications path.

Abstract: An exemplary implementation of the present disclosure includes a programmable interposer having top and bottom interface electrodes and conductive particles interspersed within the programmable interposer. The conductive particles are capable of forming an aligned configuration between the top and bottom interface electrodes in response to application of an energy field to the programmable interposer so as to electrically connect the top and bottom interface electrodes. The conductive particles can have a conductive outer surface. Also, the conductive particles can be spherical. The conductive particles can be within a bulk material in an interface layer in the programmable interposer, and the bulk material can be cured to secure programmed paths between the top and bottom interface electrodes.

Abstract: There are disclosed herein various implementations of semiconductor packages including a bridge interposer. One exemplary implementation includes a first active die having a first portion situated over the bridge interposer, and a second portion not situated over the bridge interposer. The semiconductor package also includes a second active die having a first portion situated over the bridge interposer, and a second portion not situated over the bridge interposer. The second portion of the first active die and the second portion of the second active die include solder balls mounted on a package substrate, and are configured to communicate electrical signals to the package substrate utilizing the solder balls and without utilizing through-semiconductor vias (TSVs).

Abstract: There are disclosed herein various implementations of semiconductor packages including an interposer without through-semiconductor vias (TSVs). One exemplary implementation includes a first active die situated over an interposer. The interposer includes an interposer dielectric having intra-interposer routing traces. The first active die communicates electrical signals to a package substrate situated below the interposer utilizing the intra-interposer routing traces and without utilizing TSVs. In one implementation, the semiconductor package includes a second active die situated over the interposer, the second active die communicating electrical signals to the package substrate utilizing the intra-interposer routing traces and without utilizing TSVs. Moreover, in one implementation, the first active die and the second active die communicate chip-to-chip signals through the interposer.

Abstract: An exemplary implementation of the present disclosure includes a stacked package having a top die from a top reconstituted wafer situated over a bottom die from a bottom reconstituted wafer. The top die and the bottom die are insulated from one another by an insulation arrangement. The top die and the bottom die are also interconnected through the insulation arrangement. The insulation arrangement can include a top molding compound that flanks the top die and a bottom molding compound that flanks the bottom die. The top die and the bottom die can be interconnected through at least the top molding compound. Furthermore, the top die and the bottom die can be interconnected through a conductive via that extends within the insulation arrangement.

Abstract: A game controller with a communications interface, at least one touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements, and processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry enacts touch pad configuration settings that correlate subsets of the plurality of touch sensitive elements to respective distinct user input locations. The processing circuitry receives touch pad input from the at least one touch sensitive pad. The touch pad input corresponds to a user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The processing circuitry processes the touch pad input to determine user input directions based upon the touch pad configuration settings, and then transmits the touch pad input directions to a game console via the communications interface for use as gaming input.

Abstract: Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems provide power and data communications over the same communications link, where a power source device (PSE) provides DC power (for example, 48 volts DC) to a powered device (PD). The DC power is transmitted simultaneously over the same communications medium with the high speed data from one node to the other node. The PSE typically includes a controller that controls the DC power provided to the PD at the second node of the communications link. The PSE controller measures the voltage, current, and temperature of the outgoing and incoming DC supply lines to characterize the power requirements of the PD. In addition, the PSE controller may detect and validate a compatible PD, determine a power classification signature for the validated PD, supply power to the PD, monitor the power, and reduce or remove the power from the PD when the power is no longer requested or required.