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: An electronically steerable antenna includes at least one driven element, at least one controllable counterpoise element, and a support structure on which the driven element and the controllable counterpoise element are disposed. The controllable counterpoise element has at least one geometric characteristic which can be varied. A radiating angle of the driven element is selectively controlled, at least in part, by modifying the geometric characteristic of the at least one controllable counterpoise element. The counterpoise element may include multiple conductive segments, at least a subset of which may be adapted to be individually electrically connected together so as to modify the radiating angle of the driven,element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an electrical circuit arrangement including a switchably removable bond pad extension test pad that allows improved testing of a corresponding electrical circuit device via enhanced placement of testing probes. The bond pad extension test pad is removably coupled to one of the electrical circuit device's electrical components, e.g., a bond pad. Because the bond pad extension test pad can be disconnected from the electrical component when not testing, the bond pad extension test pad does not contribute additional parasitic effects to the corresponding electrical circuit device. The electrical circuit arrangement automatically detects when a testing voltage is applied to the bond pad extension test pad, then connects the bond pad extension test pad in response to the detection of the applied testing voltage.

Abstract: An integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel, at least one voice coil contiguous with the at least one panel, and at least one magnet proximate to the at least one voice coil, wherein the at least one panel is vibrated in order to generate audio output. Another integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel, at least one magnet contiguous with the at least one panel, and at least one voice coil proximate to the at least one magnet, wherein at least one panel is vibrated in order to generate audio output. Another integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel and an audio transducer for vibrating at least one panel of the at least one display, wherein at least one panel comprises driver circuitry operative to produce at least audio data for presentation by the audio transducer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits for clock signal generation. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide semiconductor devices that include a power source and a phase lock loop circuit. The power source provides a supply voltage to the phase lock loop circuit. The phase lock loop circuit includes and on-chip control voltage source and a voltage controlled oscillator. The on-chip control voltage source is capable of producing a control voltage that varies between a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage. The voltage controlled oscillator receives the control voltage and provides a clock signal with a frequency corresponding to the control voltage. The maximum voltage is greater than the supply voltage. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than double the supply voltage. As another example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than six times the supply voltage.

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: Techniques for processing power transistor devices are provided. In one aspect, the curvature of a power transistor device comprising a device film formed on a substrate is controlled by thinning the substrate, the device having an overall residual stress attributable at least in part to the thinning step, and applying a stress compensation layer to a surface of the device film, the stress compensation layer having a tensile stress sufficient to counterbalance at least a portion of the overall residual stress of the device. The resultant power transistor device may be part of an integrated circuit.

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 integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel, at least one voice coil contiguous with the at least one panel, and at least one magnet proximate to the at least one voice coil, wherein the at least one panel is vibrated in order to generate audio output. Another integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel, at least one magnet contiguous with the at least one panel, and at least one voice coil proximate to the at least one magnet, wherein at least one panel is vibrated in order to generate audio output. Another integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel and an audio transducer for vibrating at least one panel of the at least one display, wherein at least one panel comprises driver circuitry operative to produce at least audio data for presentation by the audio transducer.

Abstract: A reversible fastener is provided for a resealable bag-type container (100) having first and second opposing wall panels (102,104), each of the first and second opposing wall panels having an interior face and an exterior face. The fastener includes first and second closure mechanisms. The first closure mechanism (114) includes first and second complementary interlockable components (116,118) disposed on the interior face of each of the first and second opposing wall panels proximate a top periphery (112) of the first and second opposing wall panels. The second closure mechanism (120) includes first and second complementary interlockable components (122,124) disposed on the exterior face of each of the first and second opposing wall panels proximate a top periphery of the first and second opposing wall panels.

Abstract: The specification describes an improved mechanical electrode structure for MOS transistor devices with elongated runners. It recognizes that shrinking the geometry increases the likelihood of mechanical failure of comb electrode geometries. The mechanical integrity of a comb electrode is improved by interconnecting the electrode fingers in a cross-connected grid. In one embodiment, the transistor device is interconnected with gate fingers on a lower metaliization level, typically the first level metal, with the drain interconnected at a higher metal level. That allows the drain fingers to be cross-connected with a vertical separation between drain and gate comb electrodes. The cross-connect members may be further stabilized by adding beam extensions to the cross-connect members. The beam extensions may be anchored in an interlevel dielectric layer for additional support.

Abstract: A comparator-based driver has a configurable inverter that inverts one of the comparator output signals for application to the gate of a driver transistor used to generate the driver output signal. The configurable inverter can be selectively configured to provide any one of at least two different inverter logic threshold levels. In one possible operational scenario, the configurable inverter is configured such that the inverter logic threshold level is equivalent to the comparator's differential common-mode voltage to provide relatively high driver symmetry. The configurable inverter is then configured to provide a different inverter logic threshold level that is greater than the comparator's differential common-mode voltage to inhibit chattering in the driver output signal.

Abstract: A write head for a magnetic storage system energizes a write coil for a plurality of bit intervals and selectively shutters the magnetic field to alter a magnetic domain of a magnetic storage medium for each bit interval. The position of the shutter may be controlled using a micro-electro mechanical system. Magnetic pole segments provide a loop between the write coil and the magnetic storage medium. Magnetic shielding on the shutter mechanisms controls the reflection of the magnetic fields. In a rewritable magnetic storage system, a first write coil generates a positive magnetic field and a second write coil generates a negative magnetic field. A shutter is associated with each write coil to selectively allow the positive or negative magnetic fields to alter the magnetic domain of the magnetic storage medium. The positive or negative magnetic fields can alter the magnetic domain in a collocated region of the magnetic storage medium to avoid jitter.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits for clock signal generation. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide semiconductor devices that include a power source and a phase lock loop circuit. The power source provides a supply voltage to the phase lock loop circuit. The phase lock loop circuit includes and on-chip control voltage source and a voltage controlled oscillator. The on-chip control voltage source is capable of producing a control voltage that varies between a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage. The voltage controlled oscillator receives the control voltage and provides a clock signal with a frequency corresponding to the control voltage. The maximum voltage is greater than the supply voltage. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than double the supply voltage. As another example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than six times the supply voltage.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprises a first semiconductor optical device and a second semiconductor optical device. The first and second semiconductor optical devices may, for example, be laser diodes or light-emitting diodes. In addition, the optical assembly includes an active cooling device that is in thermal contact with the first and second semiconductor optical devices. Advantageously, the active cooling device is operative to regulate the temperatures of both the first and second semiconductor optical devices.

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: Accurate measurement of a signal at extremely high data rates such as OC192 is accomplished, to provide a high dynamic range. A data receiver comprises a limiting amplifier comprising a plurality of amplifier stages. A peak detector measures a voltage level of an input to the limiting amplifier. An input to the peak detector is connected directly to an input of a first stage of the limiting amplifier. Transmission lines used between the input to the peak detector and the input of the first stage of the limiting amplifier are impedance matched such that the peak detector appears as a load with insignificant capacitance with respect to the extremely high data rate of a signal on the input. Also, a same bias is provided to both the input stage of the limiting amplifier as well as to the peak detector.

Abstract: An apparatus including automatic gain control (AGC) includes at least one variable gain amplifier (VGA) operative to receive an input signal and to generate an amplified signal. A gain of the VGA is controlled as a function of at least a first control signal. The apparatus further includes an AGC circuit coupled to the VGA and being operative to generate the first control signal. The AGC circuit has a bandwidth that is controlled as a function of at least the amplified signal and a second control signal, the second control signal being indicative of a motion of the apparatus.

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.

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.