Abstract: A device for measuring phase noise, including a sampler to sample an input signal, an input filter to receive an input from the sampler, a noise generator to generate a noise signal, a combiner to receive input from, respectively, the input filter and the noise generator, the combiner to output an integrated noise output measurement. The input filter may operate in either the time domain or the frequency domain. The noise generate may generate a noise signal based on the sampler output, or may generate a noise estimate value based on the sampler output.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for semiconductor processing preclean includes removing an oxide layer from a substrate using anhydrous hydrogen fluoride in combination with water vapor. A system for the preclean may be configured to separate the anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and the water vapor until they are delivered to a common volume near the substrate. Corrosion within components of the system may be limited by purification of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, passivation of components, changing component materials, and heating components. Passivation may be achieved by filling a gas delivery component with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and allowing the anhydrous hydrogen fluoride to remain in the gas delivery component to form a passivation layer. Consistent water vapor delivery may be achieved in part by heating components using heaters.

Abstract: Exemplary processing methods may include depositing a boron-containing material or a silicon-and-boron-containing material on a substrate disposed within a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include etching portions of the boron-containing material or the silicon-and-boron-containing material with a chlorine-containing precursor to form one or more features in the substrate. The methods may also include removing remaining portions of the boron-containing material or the silicon-and-boron-containing material from the substrate with a fluorine-containing precursor.

Abstract: An automatic gain control unit controls the gain applied to an input signal produced by a microphone subject to ambient noise. The automatic gain control circuit continually monitors the signal level of said input signal. A first gain control circuit decreases the gain applied to the input signal in increments of a first size when the input signal exceeds a first predetermined level. A second gain control circuit increases the gain applied to said input signal in increments of a smaller size when the input signal falls below a second predetermined level and in response to the presence of a speech present signal. The second predetermined level is less than said first predetermined level. In one embodiment, the first gain control circuit controls the analog gain of a codec and the second gain control circuit controls the digital gain of the codec.

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.

Abstract: In a method of effecting peak reduction in a DMT signal, a predetermined signature waveform is first produced. This is then subtracted from the DMT signal in the region of a signal peak whenever the DMT signal is above a predetermined maximum level.

Abstract: An automatic gain control unit controls the gain applied to an input signal produced by a microphone subject to ambient noise. The automatic gain control circuit continually monitors the signal level of said input signal. A first gain control circuit decreases the gain applied to the input signal in increments of a first size when the input signal exceeds a first predetermined level. A second gain control circuit increases the gain applied to said input signal in increments of a smaller size when the input signal falls below a second predetermined level and in response to the presence of a speech present signal. The second predetermined level is less than said first predetermined level. In one embodiment, the first gain control circuit controls the analog gain of a codec and the second gain control circuit controls the digital gain of the codec.

Abstract: A method of determining cross channel interference in an Discrete Multitone (DMT) implementation of a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system. The cross channel interference is determined utilizing a residual impulse spectrum after implementation of a Time Equalization (TEQ) algorithm. In one application the cross channel interference value is used in a bit allocation algorithm to improve such that more bits are allocated to the channels with low interference and fewer bits are allocated to those channels having high interference. In this application the bit allocation algorithm is run twice, once before the interference measurement and once after.

Abstract: A zero-delay structure to be used in sub-band echo cancellation systems. In telecommunications, a delay is usually introduced in sub-band decomposition and/or sub-band reconstruction. This invention will help remove this. This structure not only removes the delay but does not sacrifice the performance of the echo canceller. It is to be used in combination with any sub-band-based echo canceller or wavelet echo canceller.

Abstract: In a method of effecting peak reduction in a DMT signal, a predetermined signature waveform is first produced. This is then subtracted from the DMT signal in the region of a signal peak whenever the DMT signal is above a predetermined maximum level.

Abstract: A nonlinear processor (NLP) for selectively removing or reducing residual echo signals from an acoustic echo canceller associated with a telephony terminal is provided. Low level background noise and near end speech signals pass through the NLP structure substantially unaltered. Distortion, background noise above a preset threshold and echo signals including long duration echoes are replaced with a linear combination of previous noise data.

Abstract: A method of determining cross channel interference in an Discrete Multitone (DMT) implementation of a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system. The cross channel interference is determined utilizing a residual impulse spectrum after implementation of a Time Equalization (TEQ) algorithm. In one application the cross channel interference value is used in a bit allocation algorithm to improve such that more bits are allocated to the channels with low interference and fewer bits are allocated to those channels having high interference. In this application the bit allocation algorithm is run twice, once before the interference measurement and once after.

Abstract: An echo canceller comprising a first wavelet decomposition block for decomposing a reference signal into a plurality of reference wavelet packets; a second wavelet decomposition block for decomposing an echo signal into a plurality of echo signal packets; an adaptive filter bank for receiving and filtering the reference wavelet packets and in response generating a plurality of filtered output packets replicating the echo signal packets; a plurality of subtracters for receiving and subtracting respective ones of the filtered output packets from the echo signal packets and in response generating and applying a plurality of error signals to the adaptive filter bank for modifying the transfer function of the adaptive filter bank; and a wavelet reconstruction block for receiving and reconstructing the error signals to form a residual signal from which the echo signal has been cancelled. Optimum wavelet filters for the best echo cancellation are provided, as are two wavelet echo cancellation structures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the electromagnetic dynamic plasticating of polymer materials includes a magnetic moving body which is supported both axially and radially by a magnetic levitation gap. The magnetic body is rotated in non-steady state vibration within an electromagnetic winding and cooperates with a stationary body to form a processing space for the polymer material.