Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing novel semiconductor package interconnection structure(s) between package substrate and PCB. In various embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises: a substrate; a plurality of posts; a plurality of solder anchor portions; and a plurality of solder balls. Each post is coupled at a proximal end to a conductive point on a layer of the substrate, and has a length extending along its axis between its proximal and distal ends and a width orthogonal to the length. Each solder anchor portion is coupled to the distal end of a corresponding post, and has a width that is larger than the width of a distal end of a pillar portion of the corresponding post. Each solder ball is disposed on and around a corresponding solder anchor portion, the solder balls and corresponding posts forming conductive interconnects between corresponding substrate conductive points and corresponding PCB contact points.

Abstract: An electrical device for transporting electrical signals, wherein the electrical device comprises a plurality of signal wires each configured for transporting electrical signals, and a plurality of shield wires being staggered with respect to each other and each being configured for shielding signal wires with respect to each other, wherein each shield wire is arranged between a respective pair of signal wires and extends only along a subsection of each signal wire of the respective pair.

Abstract: A system and method for improved channel scanning in an HDTV device queries a database with location data input by the user, receiving an ordered list of potential channels associated with the selected location. The system may scan only those potential channels on the ordered list, storing successfully decoded channels in memory. The system may further divide the ordered list into groups based on the relative signal strength of potential channels. If a potential channel of the lowest relative signal strength group cannot be successfully decoded, the system may indicate that scanning is complete.

Abstract: A receiving coil apparatus for use in an electromagnetic energy transfer system includes multiple conductive loops and a switching circuit connected with the conductive loops. The switching circuit is configured to control an electrical center of the receiving coil apparatus as a function of at least one control signal. A controller connected with the switching circuit is configured to generate the control signal for controlling an alignment of the electrical center of the receiving coil apparatus with an electromagnetic field so as to enhance an amount of energy transferred to the receiving coil apparatus from the electromagnetic field.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to illumination-based charging of one or more portable devices. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an illumination-based charging pad includes a platform, a plurality of illumination sources, a plurality of photosensitive detectors, and a controller. The controller performs a scan by activating the illumination sources and detecting reflected illumination from an illuminated surface of at least one portable device disposed upon the platform. The controller determines a set of one or more illumination sources that are at least partially overlaid by the portable device based upon the detected illumination. The controller selects one or more illumination sources for charging the portable device at least partially based upon the set of one or more illumination sources determined to be overlaid by the portable device.

Abstract: A metal substrate with a slot therein forms a slot antenna, the slot having a major axis and a minor axis. A dielectric layer has a plurality of terminals disposed on or in the dielectric layer and the layer is attached on one surface of the substrate. The terminals of a non-linear device, such as a diode, are connected to corresponding terminals of the dielectric layer. The non-linear device is positioned proximate the slot and is substantially aligned with a minor axis of the slot. A transmission line feeds an RF signal to the non-linear device that in turn frequency multiplies the RF signal to an RF signal that is radiated by the slot antenna. The dielectric layer is positioned in the slot such that the radiated RF signal has a desired output power. A protective layer is applied to the other surface of the substrate to cover the slot.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising an image sensor, an orientation sensor, and a user interface, may be operable to capture photographs via the image sensor. Input to the user interface required for triggering a photo capture may depend on an orientation of the electronic device indicated by the orientation sensor. Input required to trigger a photo capture while the orientation sensor indicates a first orientation of the electronic device may be different than input required to trigger a photo capture while the orientation sensor indicates a second orientation of the electronic device.

Abstract: Data transmission method and apparatus utilizing color coding is disclosed. A one-to-one correspondence between a set of eight unique 3-bit data units and a set of eight unique color representations is established for color coding a sequence of 3-bit data units. Transmission of the sequence of 3-bit data units is then facilitated using a sequence of color representations, wherein each one of the sequence of 3-bit data units has a one-to-one correspondence with one of the sequence of color representations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio receiver has a first downconverter, a second downconverter, first and second analog-to-digital converters, and an error detector. The first downconverter downconverts a received RF signal into a first baseband-frequency signal using a first downconversion technique, and the second downconverter downconverts the received signal into a second baseband-frequency signal using a second downconversion technique, different from the first downconversion technique. The first and second analog-to-digital converters convert the first and second baseband-frequency signals into first and second baseband digital signals, respectively. The error detection logic detects errors in at least one of the first and second baseband digital signals based on a comparison of the first baseband digital signal to the second baseband digital signal.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising a first module and a second module. The first module may be configured to send a text message over a wireless network in response to one or more user keystrokes. The first module may generate a body of the text message and a security key to be transmitted along with the body of the text message. The second module may be configured to receive the body of the text message and the security key over the wireless network. The second module compares the security key to a set of known security keys to determine a match. A match indicates whether the text message was generated from a known sender. The first and second modules may be implemented as part of a portable device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for indicating a direction of motion and a scale on a map. The method includes the step of detecting a position, a speed, and a direction of motion. The method also includes the step of calculating a vector based on the position, speed, and direction of motion, the vector including a scale. A further step of the method includes overlaying the vector on the position indicator on the map.

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: An apparatus comprises a direct digital synthesizer, a mixer having first and second input ports and an output port, and a numerically-controlled oscillator. The direct digital synthesizer has a first output coupled to the first input port of the mixer and a second output coupled to a control input of the numerically-controlled oscillator, and the numerically-controlled oscillator has an output coupled to the second input port of the mixer. The mixer provides a quadrature modulated signal at its output port, and the first and second outputs of the direct digital synthesizer control respective portions of the quadrature modulated signal. For example, the first and second outputs of the direct digital synthesizer may control respective amplitude and phase portions of the quadrature modulated signal.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, and one or more embedded devices. A lower surface of the first substrate generally has disposed thereon a plurality of first lines comprising a thin-film conductive material. An upper surface of the second substrate generally has disposed thereon a plurality of second lines comprising the thin-film conductive material. The plurality of second lines is generally arranged orthogonally to the plurality of first lines. The lower surface of first substrate generally faces the upper surface of the second substrate and the substrates are generally separated by a predefined distance. The one or more embedded devices are generally coupled between one or more of the first lines and one or more of the second lines. The embedded devices are generally configured to temporarily electrically connect the respective lines to form a radiating structure during an RF operation.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a switching circuit and a display. The switching circuit may be configured to present an output signal in response to a plurality of input signals. The output signal may be generated in response to an active one of the input signals. A user prompt may appear prior to switching to the active one of the input signals. The user prompt may allow a user to confirm or reject switching to the active input. The display circuit may be configured to display information from the output signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a display and a transceiver. The display has a lateral surface. The lateral surface has disposed thereon a line comprising a thin-film conductive material. The line is patterned to form one or more loops around the display. The transceiver is electrically connected to the line. The line forms a radiating structure during a radio frequency (RF) operation.

Abstract: A user device comprises a housing, a processor, a position sensor coupled to the processor, a camera coupled to the processor and a display coupled to the processor. The position sensor is configured to detect at least one particular type of movement of the user device. The display is viewable through at least a portion of a front surface of the housing. The processor is configured to automatically present on the display at least a portion of an image from the camera responsive to the position sensor detecting a given movement of the particular type.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for spell checking. The method includes the step of generating a geographic based list of words. The method also includes the step of appending the geographic based list of words to a spell check list. A further step of the method includes detecting a change in position. The method also includes the step of generating a new geographic based list of words when a change in position occurs.

Abstract: A method comprises the steps of determining an amount of time between initiating presentation of a first page in a sequence of pages on a display of a user device and receiving a transition command from a user, the transition command causing the display to transition from presentation of the first page to presentation of a second page in the sequence of pages, determining respective amounts of content in the first and second pages, estimating a rate of content consumption based at least in part on the time and the amount of content in the first page, calculating a content transition time based at least in part on the rate of content consumption and the amount of content in the second page, and transitioning from presentation of the second page to presentation of a third page in the sequence of pages based at least in part on the content transition time.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, a second housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, and one or more supports coupling the first housing to the second housing such that the first and second housings are electrically connected and the bottom surface of the first housing overlays the top surface of the second housing. The one or more supports are configurable in at least a first configuration wherein the bottom surface of the first housing and the top surface of the second housing are substantially contiguous with one another and a second configuration wherein the bottom surface of the first housing and the top surface of the second housing are separated by a space.