Abstract: Several system diagnostic and network management tools are disclosed that, as a primary goal, support the consumer's ability to self diagnose and solve an existing problem. A non-intrusive diagnostic tool is provided that exposes system parameters of a consumer system for remote analysis by qualified personnel. Important data parameters of a given radio receiver are preferably predetermined and gathered directly at the receiver. Then, they are uploaded via the Internet from a removable memory placed into an Internet terminal (e.g., PC), or through a temporary docking station connected to an Internet terminal. This leads toward quick and efficient problem resolution with a properly informed customer service representative that is crucial to enriching the consumer's experience. The data collected relating to relevant system parameters may be used by service providers to enhance or even in some cases enable services.

Abstract: In described embodiments, a package inverted-F antenna is disclosed. The inverted-F antenna (IFA) is printed on a semiconductor package, and conductive bonding material is applied to leads of the IFA and terminal pads of a substrate when bonding the package to the substrate holding a semiconductor die. Wire leads couple the output terminals of the die to the terminal pads and, hence, the IFA.

Abstract: The audio signals associated with different co-located groups of talkers in a teleconference are detected (e.g., by comparing the voiceprint for the current talker group with stored voiceprints corresponding to all of the co-located teleconference participants) and processed using different and appropriate automatic gain control (AGC) levels, where each group has a corresponding stored AGC level. Depending on the embodiment, each group may have one or more participants.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape measure having a tape, housing, and an input, has an OLED strip overlaid on top of the tape. The housing contains a programmable controller and a rolled-up portion of the tape. A specified fraction of the length of the linear target is provided to the controller using the input. The tape may be extracted from the housing to generate an exposed portion of the tape corresponding to the total length of a linear target. The controller receives information indicative of the total length of the linear target. The controller controls the OLED strip to show, i.e., light up along the tape, a fractional portion corresponding to the specified fraction of the linear target.

Abstract: In described embodiments, turn-on time for active portions of an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) device is improved by storing energy in a corresponding capacitor bank through a bidirectional device from a certain node in the device during an active state, continuing to store the energy when the device enters a Low Power Idle (LPI) state, and then allowing the energy to return to the node through the bidirectional device when the device returns to an active state. During active mode, the bidirectional device controls the capacitor bank so as to charge relatively slowly to store energy, and when the device transitions to LPI, the charge is maintained in the capacitor bank. When the device returns to the active state, the bidirectional device allows the capacitor bank to discharge relatively rapidly to the node, thereby improving the turn-on time of the circuit elements coupled to the node.

Abstract: In described embodiments, elements of a wireless home network employ learned power security for the network. An access point, router, or other wireless base station emits and receives signals having corresponding signal strengths. Wireless devices coupled to the base station through a radio link are moved through the home network at boundary points of the home and the signal strength is measured at each device and communicated to the base station. Based on the signal strength information from the emitted signals measured at the boundary points and/or from measured signal strength information of signals received from the boundary points, the base station determines a network secure area. The base station declines permission of devices attempting to use or join the home network that exhibit signal strength characteristics less than boundary values for the network secure area.

Abstract: In described embodiments, automatic de-emphasis setting is provided for driving a capacitive backplane. Line impedance and line length of a transmission (TX) device are measured that form a load impedance of a driver. For some exemplary embodiments, the line impedance is predominantly a line capacitance, and such embodiments detect this capacitance. Measured line impedance is converted to a control signal (such as, for example, a three bit digital control signal) which automatically sets the de-emphasis of the TX stage. With the amount of capacitance and the length of the transmission line, the appropriate de-emphasis settings might be determined, and such de-emphasis setting be applied by the transmitter to the driver to compensate for transmission line effects.

Abstract: Disclosed is an audio device that adjusts the cadence of played songs. A user sensor determines cadence data based on movement of the user. A desired cadence is determined based on the cadence data received from the sensor. The cadence of songs is determined by low pass filtering digital representations of the songs and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the songs. An adjustment of the period (T) of the songs is then determined such that the adjustment of the period (T) of the songs results in the songs having the desired cadence. The period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs are then adjusted.

Abstract: In described embodiments, a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) structure incorporates a white light emitting diode (LED) structure for backlighting. White LEDs are formed behind each TFT cell, allowing for display “black” as a function of a nematic layer, on the TFT substrate, while increasing intensity of the LED LCD backlight structure. A lens structure might be formed between the LEDs and the TFT substrate to reduce a number of LED sources for a given backlight intensity.

Abstract: Disclosed is an audio device that adjusts the cadence of played songs. All songs in a playlist may be adjusted to match the cadence of a particular song. First, the desired cadence of a reference song is determined by low pass filtering a digital representation of the reference song and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the reference song. The cadence of subsequent songs is then determined by low pass filtering digital representations of the subsequent songs and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs. An adjustment of the period (T) of the subsequent songs is then determined such that the adjustment of the period (T) of the subsequent songs results in the subsequent songs having the desired cadence (i.e., the cadence of the reference song). The period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs are then adjusted.

Abstract: An optical-disc writer writes extrinsic data to an optical disc. Extrinsic data can be written as (i) embedded marks (e.g., pits and lands) located outside the conventional readable area of a disc and/or (ii) alternative marks, such as surface marks located on a surface of the disc. In an optical-disc player having a disc-reading subsystem and a read controller, the disc-reading subsystem reads and relays the extrinsic data to the read controller, which controls the operations of the player based on the extrinsic data. For example, the writer prints extrinsic data, e.g., a barcode, on the surface of a software installation disc. The disc is inserted in the player and installation is commenced. The read controller instructs the disc-reading subsystem to read the extrinsic information. If the read controller determines that the extrinsic data was successfully read, then installation proceeds; otherwise, installation is halted.

Abstract: A system for communicating over an optical communications link is provided that uses at least one display pixel of a display device to transmit optical information bits and at least one sensor pixel of the display device to receive optical information bits. To transmit optical information bits, a controller of the display device causes the transmitter display pixel to switch between at least first and second optical display conditions to produce a modulated optical signal representative of one or more information bits. To receive optical information bits, the controller reads the electrical sense signal produced by the receiver sensor pixel and interprets the electrical sense signal read from the receiver pixel as corresponding to one or more information bits.

Abstract: A memory circuit includes an operational memory and a monitor circuit comprising a circuit element in the operational memory and/or a circuit element substantially identical to a corresponding circuit element in the operational memory. The monitor circuit is operative to measure at least one functional characteristic of the operational memory. A control circuit coupled to the monitor circuit is operative to generate a control signal which varies as a function of the measured characteristic of the operational memory. The memory circuit further includes a programmable voltage source coupled to the operational memory which is operative to generate at least a voltage and/or a current supplied to at least a portion of the operational memory which varies as a function of the control signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape measure having a tape, housing, and an input, has an OLED strip overlaid on top of the tape. The housing contains a programmable controller and a rolled-up portion of the tape. A specified fraction of the length of the linear target is provided to the controller using the input. The tape may be extracted from the housing to generate an exposed portion of the tape corresponding to the total length of a linear target. The controller receives information indicative of the total length of the linear target. The controller controls the OLED strip to show, i.e., light up along the tape, a fractional portion corresponding to the specified fraction of the linear target.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system for entering end user information into an electronic device. The system includes a display unit with a touchscreen having a plurality of locations. The touchscreen is configured to detect the presence of an end user object proximal to one of the touchscreen locations and to detect when an end user object makes contact with one of the touchscreen locations. The system also includes a controller configured to generate an audible sound indicative of the touchscreen location to which an end user object is proximal in response to the display unit detecting the presence of the end user object proximal to the touchscreen location. The controller also is configured to generate contact location information indicative of the touchscreen location with which an end user object makes contact in response to the display unit detecting the contact of the end user object on the touchscreen location.

Abstract: An optical-disc player having a reader and a controller. The reader derives out-of-band information from surface marks of an optical disc, where the controller controls operations of the reader based on the derived information. The controlled operations may involve the reading and rendering of embedded data of the optical disc. For example, a person writes the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” on the surface of a DVD with a marker and inserts the DVD in a DVD player. The DVD player scans the surface of the DVD and sends the resulting image data to an optical character recognition (OCR) module. The OCR module outputs a text file containing the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” to a controller (e.g., Microsoft HDi runtime). In response, the controller sets the playback language to Spanish and the screen format to widescreen.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a housing and a fastener, such as a clip (101, 201) for fastening the apparatus (100, 200) to an article of clothing. The housing (102, 202) has a recess (103, 203) formed therein, such that at least a portion of the fastener is adapted to fit within the recess. The fastener is adapted to travel slidably within the recess (103, 203) between a first position in which the fastener enables the apparatus (100, 200) to be fastened to an external object and a second position in which the fastener is stowed away.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is operative to facilitate power sharing with at least a second electronic device coupled thereto. The portable electronic device includes a battery power source, a first port adapted for connection to a first network connection and a second port adapted for connection to a second network connection. An input stage in the portable electronic device is connected to the first port. The input stage is operative to supply power received from the first network connection through the first port to the battery power source for recharging the battery power source. The portable electronic device further includes an output stage connected to the second port. The output stage is operative to supply power from the battery power source to the second network connection through the second port.

Abstract: An attached protective cover of a USB device, a USB device and a method of wirelessly transmitting data. In one embodiment, the attached protective cover of a USB device includes a cap with an associated antenna and is configured to protect a USB plug of the USB device. Additionally, the cap includes a link configured to provide a physical connection between the cap and a body of the USB device and an electrical connection between the antenna and a wireless connection system included within the body.

Abstract: A manufacturing method, in which two device bars are bonded prior to facet coating to form a stacked bar pair. In one embodiment, each of the device bars has a p-side and an n-side, each side having a plurality of bonding pads, with at least some bonding pads located at the p-side of the first device bar adapted for mating with the corresponding bonding pads located at the p-side of the second device bar. Solder material deposited onto the p-side bonding pads adapted for mating is liquefied in a reflow oven, wherein surface tension of the liquefied solder self-aligns the device bars with respect to each other and keeps them in alignment until the solder is solidified to form a solder bond between the mated bonding pads. Two or more instances of the bonded bar pair are further stacked such that bonding pads located at the n-sides of adjacent bar pairs are mated in a relatively tight fit.