Abstract: The disaster recovery techniques, for presentment of a company's bills, statements or the like, provide electronic document presentment in the event of a disaster that impacts the company's print mail delivery operation or other existing mailing system(s). Files containing electronic documents are received, from a system associated with the print mail delivery operation, and the documents are stored in a database. Preferably, the systems use the company's existing data files. The files may be converted to a format compatible with one or more electronic delivery methodologies, if necessary. The disaster recovery systems present notice and/or data from the documents to the company's customers electronically, for example as e-mail (notice or message containing some or all of the document data), as a document attachment to an e-mail, via a web site, and possibly via telephone voice announcement.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a data signal comprising a plurality of bits. The method further includes generating a clock signal. A plurality of samples is acquired from the data signal at a sampling rate determined by the clock signal and it is determined whether a transition point from a first bit in the plurality of bits to a second bit in the plurality of bits occurs within the plurality of samples. If it is determined that the transition point occurs within the plurality of samples, a state machine comprising a plurality of states transitions from a first state to a second state. If the second state indicates a non-zero amount of phase displacement between the clock signal and the data signal, the clock signal is adjusted to correlate with the data signal.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, an apparatus includes a first transistor connected at the gate to a first input signal voltage and a second transistor connected at the gate to a second input signal voltage. The apparatus further includes a deactivation element coupled to the transistors, the deactivation element being operable to deactivate the first and second transistors by selectively transmitting a deactivation current to a first terminal of the first transistor and a second terminal of the second transistor thereby raising a voltage on the first and second terminals to a value large enough to deactivate the first and second transistors. In particular embodiments, activating the first or second transistor transmits a signal from the apparatus and deactivating the first and second transistors prevents the signal from being transmitted from the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are on-chip global electrical signaling systems and methods employing differential current-mode sensing having reduced delay and energy dissipation compared to conventional inverter repeaters. The present inventions can be used for point-to-point connections as well as N-to-1 connections.

Abstract: Disclosed are multiphase oscillators comprising a plurality of delay stages serially coupled in a loop by a plurality of nodes, with the loop being folded to provide two concentric rings of delay stages with equal numbers of allocated nodes. A second plurality of negative-resistance elements are provided, each element having a first output coupled to a node on the first concentric ring and a second output coupled to a node on the second concentric ring. Each such output switches between first and second voltage levels, and provides a negative resistance to a signal coupled to it during at least a portion of the transition between voltage levels. The outputs of an element switch to opposite voltage levels. With this construction, a high-voltage pulse propagates around the loop of delay stages, with a low-voltage pulse propagating behind it. Also disclosed are circuits to control the direction of pulse propagation.

Abstract: Disclosed are keeper circuits for electronic circuits that selectively maintain the voltage level of an intermediate circuit node at a desired level. In one exemplary embodiment, a keeper transistor either provides current or drains current from the intermediate node to maintain the desired voltage level in response to a signal to do so. The keeper circuit works against a leakage current that either drains current from the node or supplies current to the node. A current-setting transistor is coupled in series with the keeper transistor to set the maximum current through the keeper circuit to a value that is related to this leakage current, preferably tracking the leakage current. With this construction, the current-setting transistor is able to track variations in the leakage current caused by variations in the manufacturing process, and thereby provide dynamic leakage compensation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a memory architecture where current sense amplifiers are used instead of voltage sense amplifiers, and where the memory cells normally disposed along a single bit line are divided between two half bit lines. Each half bit line is coupled to a respective input of the current sense amplifier. When one of the memory cells is selected for reading, it couples a current related to its stored data state to the half bit line that it is coupled to. During this operation, a reference current is generated on the other half bit line. Also disclosed are novel current sense amplifiers.

Abstract: Techniques, including a system and method, are disclosed for conditionally pre-charging a memory circuit, for example a flip-flop, and thus reducing power consumption. In an embodiment a method for reducing power consumption in a memory circuit, including, a pre-charged stage coupled to an evaluation stage by at least an internal node, is provided. The method includes setting an input of the pre-charged stage to a first high logic level. Next, responsive to the setting of the input, the internal node is set to a low logic level within a first transparency window. Then responsive to the setting of the internal node, the evaluation stage changes the output of the evaluation stage to a second high logic level within the first transparency window. Lastly, when the input remains at the first high-logic level, the internal node is maintained at the low logic level through at least a second transparency window.

Abstract: A system and method, for converting a voltage input from a low voltage source to a voltage output at a high voltage source using a domino logic circuit design. An embodiment provides a low to high voltage conversion system. The system includes: a pull-up transistor coupled to a high voltage source for charging a node, when a precharge signal is received; a low voltage source used for setting an input voltage; a pull-down network for discharging the node depending, at least in part, on the input voltage; and an output voltage determined from the node.

Abstract: An improved multi-port memory cell circuit which has a smaller number of write lines and/or transistors than conventional multi-port memory cells, and hence occupies a smaller area, is provided. The reduced area memory cell circuit includes: word lines associated with each bit line of a set of bit lines; a first word line for selecting a subset of the set of bit lines; a second word line for selecting a bit line of the subset of bit lines; and a memory cell for storing a bit value on the selected bit line.

Abstract: A Symmetric Pulse Generator Flip-Flop (SPG-FF). The flip-flop comprises two pulse generator stages that each respond to one particular transition of an input clock signal. Thus, the flip-flop is triggered on both the rising and falling edge of the clock signal to capture an input data signal. The outputs of the generator stages are combined to form a flip-flop output.

Abstract: A Symmetric Pulse Generator Flip-Flop (SPG-FF). The flip-flop comprises two pulse generator stages that each respond to one particular transition of an input clock signal. Thus, the flip-flop is triggered on both the rising and falling edge of the clock signal to capture an input data signal. The outputs of the generator stages are combined to form a flip-flop output.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques, including a system and method, for improving speed in a flip-flop, having a pre-charged stage coupled to an evaluation stage. In one exemplary embodiment delay is reduced by using a conditional rather than an unconditional keeper, where the conditional keeper has the function of a keeper only under certain conditions. In some embodiments there is a conditional keeper in either the pre-charged stage or the evaluation stage or both stages. Another embodiment provides for the combining of the evaluation stage with one or more external logic functions.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of electronic circuit design, and in particular to techniques for reducing hazards in a digital logic circuit, for example, a digital logic flip-flop circuit. In an embodiment of the present invention a method for reducing hazards in a flip-flop, including, a pre-charged stage coupled to an evaluation stage by at least an internal node, is provided. First, the pre-charged stage sets the internal node based on a data input. The evaluation stage is prevented from evaluating the internal node for a predetermined time period. After the predetermined time period, the internal node is evaluated by the evaluation stage to determine an output of the flip-flop.

Abstract: An improved multi-port memory cell circuit which has a smaller number of write lines and/or transistors than conventional multi-port memory cells, and hence occupies a smaller area, is provided. The reduced area memory cell circuit includes: word lines associated with each bit line of a set of bit lines; a first word line for selecting a subset of the set of bit lines; a second word line for selecting a bit line of the subset of bit lines; and a memory cell for storing a bit value on the selected bit line.

Abstract: A system and method, for converting a voltage input from a low voltage source to a voltage output at a high voltage source using a domino logic circuit design. An embodiment provides a low to high voltage conversion system. The system includes: a pull-up transistor coupled to a high voltage source for charging a node, when a precharge signal is received; a low voltage source used for setting an input voltage; a pull-down network for discharging the node depending, at least in part, on the input voltage; and an output voltage determined from the node.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of electronic circuit design, and in particular to techniques for reducing hazards in a digital logic circuit, for example, a digital logic flip-flop circuit. In an embodiment of the present invention a method for reducing hazards in a flip-flop, including, a pre-charged stage coupled to an evaluation stage by at least an internal node, is provided. First, the pre-charged stage sets the internal node based on a data input. The evaluation stage is prevented from evaluating the internal node for a predetermined time period. After the predetermined time period, the internal node is evaluated by the evaluation stage to determine an output of the flip-flop.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques, including a system and method, for improving speed in a flip-flop, having a pre-charged stage coupled to an evaluation stage. In one exemplary embodiment delay is reduced by using a conditional rather than an unconditional keeper, where the conditional keeper has the function of a keeper only under certain conditions. In some embodiments there is a conditional keeper in either the pre-charged stage or the evaluation stage or both stages. Another embodiment provides for the combining of the evaluation stage with one or more external logic functions.

Abstract: Techniques, including a system and method, are disclosed for conditionally pre-charging a memory circuit, for example a flip-flop, and thus reducing power consumption. In an embodiment a method for reducing power consumption in a memory circuit, including, a pre-charged stage coupled to an evaluation stage by at least an internal node, is provided. The method includes setting an input of the pre-charged stage to a first high logic level. Next, responsive to the setting of the input, the internal node is set to a low logic level within a first transparency window. Then responsive to the setting of the internal node, the evaluation stage changes the output of the evaluation stage to a second high logic level within the first transparency window. Lastly, when the input remains at the first high-logic level, the internal node is maintained at the low logic level through at least a second transparency window.

Abstract: A wrist pad is provided including a flexible removable wrap with a top extent and a bottom extent. At least one sleeve is mounted on the bottom extent of the wrap. A rigid element includes at least one portion defining a periphery of a cylinder and a sphere. Such rigid element is removably situated within the sleeve during use.