Abstract: An accelerated thermal stress cycle test which can be conducted in a significantly reduced test time compared to the conventional test is provided. The test is carried out in a cluster of reaction chambers that includes a CVD chamber and a cool-down chamber such that a pre-processed wafer can be heated from room temperature to at least 350° C. in an inert gas in about 2 min., and then cooled down to not higher than 70° C. in a cool-down chamber in less than 30 sec. The heating and cooling steps can be repeated between 3 and 7 times to reveal any defect formation caused by the thermal stress cycle test. Typical defects are metal film peeling from insulating dielectric material layer or void formation.

Abstract: A temperature-sensing device of a mobile terminal is provided. The device comprises a pulse amplitude module (PAM), a mobile station modem (MSM) having ground and temperature-sensing terminals for controlling the PAM, and an electrical circuit. The circuit comprises first and second conductors, each having first and second ends. The first end of the first conductor is connected to the ground terminal, the first end of the second conductor is connected to the temperature-sensing terminal, and the second ends of the first and second conductors are connected to each other to form a junction. With the conductors oppositely charged and the junction situated adjacent to the PAM, the temperature difference between the junction and the MSM generates an electromotive force due to the Seebeck effect.

Abstract: A temperature sensor for temperature measurement in the gap between ceramic hot plates and radiant heating elements has at least one sensor element (3), which is at least partially enclosed by a trough-shaped protective housing (1) made of heat-resistant ceramic. The sensor element (3) provided with electrical connection lines is arranged in the region of one end or at the tip of the protective housing (1), while the electrical connection lines (4) are guided out through the other end of the protective housing. A temperature-dependent electrical measuring resistor with a resistive layer is used as the sensor element (3), wherein the resistive layer has at least one metal from the platinum metal group. The measuring resistor is fixed in the end region (20) of the protective housing (1) using a ceramic grout or is secured against falling out by capping it with a mica cover (7). At the other end of the protective housing the electrical connection lines (4) are constructed as plug contacts.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of interleaving a source data stream using an interleaver pattern in a transmitter. A mother interleaver pattern and an interleaver parameter are accessed. The mother interleaver pattern is modified using said interleaver parameter. Then, the modified interleaver pattern is applied in the transmitter for interleaving the source data stream. The interleaver parameter used by the transmitter for modifying said mother interleaver pattern differs from the interleaver parameter used simultaneously by at least one other transmitter that transmits data at the same time on the same channel. The invention further provides a corresponding deinterleaving method. By decorrelating the interleaver processes in the different streams, the inter-stream interference is reduced.

Abstract: Based on the MAP criterion, a category of optimal timing estimators is disclosed. These estimators work with known or unknown channel information, and with received information bits over frequency-selective, slowly fading channels. A sub-optimal timing estimator with a k-taps, multiplication-free, finite impulse response (FIR) filter is also disclosed, where k equals 22 when the Barker sequence of length 11 is employed. The sub-optimal estimator is robust with respect to frequency offset impairment. Using simulations, the disclosed timing estimators are demonstrated to be effective. However, in the special case of timing estimation without channel information, in a multi-path channel with a long delay spread, it is disclosed that it is more effective to estimate the received carrier phases and amplitudes of multi-paths before timing estimation.

Abstract: There is provided a channel estimation apparatus for estimating a radio channel environment by multiplying a currently received bit signal of a pilot signal and previously received bit signals by weights, and summing the weighted currently received bit signal and the weighted previously received bit signals in a CDMA mobile communication system receiving the pilot signal comprised of a stream of bits having given bit values, and a power control signal comprised of power control bits. In the channel estimation, a predictor predicts a next bit signal succeeding the currently received bit signal, multiplies the predicted next bit signal by a weight, and generates a weighted next bit signal. A summer sums the weighted next bit signal from the predictor, the weighted currently received bit signal and the previously received bit signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating multipath interference in a digital signal correlator forms values representative of magnitude or power of a correlation response between a digital signal and a pseudorandom reference code. The earliest peak in the correlation response is then selected as the correct peak to compute a time delay.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) has a circuit that performs the acquisition for the low chip rate option of the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Time Division Duplex (TDD) standard as formulated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The present invention implements the detection of the basic SYNC code; the determination of the midamble used and the detection of the superframe timing based on SYNC code modulation sequence. This enables reading of a full Broadcast Channel (BCH) message.

Abstract: A receiver receives elements of a signal sequence. A state generator generates a sequence of addresses to translate between a pseudonoise sequence and a Walsh sequence. A storage medium, coupled to the receiver and the state generator, stores each element of the signal sequence at a given address according to the sequence of addresses.

Abstract: VDSL (Very-high-data-rate Digital Subscriber Line) technology uses at least one downlink frequency band (D1, D2) for conveying information from a data network to a subscriber's transceiver unit. At some sites VDSL technology cannot be used because no standardized uplink frequency band (U1, U2) is usable. The invention solves this problem by using at least one non-VDSL uplink frequency band (N1) for conveying information from the subscriber's transceiver unit to the data network.

Abstract: A technique is described for reliably determining whether a direct digital connection exists between a transmitting server modem and a receiving client modem. Such a determination is an essential part of the training procedure for modems that conform to ITU-T Recommendation V.90 but is also applicable to other data communications configurations and equipment. In some configurations in accordance with the present invention, segments of a modem training signal, L1 L2, are used to make the determination.

Abstract: A method for measuring with a maximum error E the phase of a substantially sinusoidal signal, of angular frequency &ohgr;=2&pgr;/T, sampled with a sampling period T/r, in which the phase is calculated as the time at which a straight line crossing two consecutive samples located on either side of a median value of the signal reaches said value, including the step of selecting number r from a range included between a value r0 and a value equal to from two to three times value r0, such that: 1 E ≥ max t ∈ [ - T r0 , 0 ] ⁢ [ t - T r0 · round ⁡ ( G · sin ⁢   ⁢ ω ⁢   ⁢ t ) round ⁡ ( sin ⁡ [ G · ω · t + 2 ⁢ π r0 ] ) - round ⁡ ( G · sin ⁢   ⁢ ω ⁢   ⁢ t ) ]

Abstract: A device and method for generating a set of filter coefficients is provided. Sequences of samples of a first and second signal are received where the second signal includes a certain component that is correlated to the first signal. A first set of filter coefficients is generated on the basis of the first and second signals. A set of performance data elements are generated to evaluate the performance of a filter using the first set of coefficients, each performance data element being associated to a respective frequency band selected from a set of frequency bands. Following this, a set of correction signals is generated including a correction signal for each frequency band for which the associated performance data element is indicative of an unsatisfactory performance. A second set of filter coefficients is generated on the basis of the first signal, the second signals and the set of correction signals. The second set of filter coefficients is then released in a format suitable for use by a filter.

Abstract: An adaptive equalizer for amplitude-modulation (AM) signal received by over-the-air radio transmission comprises feed-forward finite-impulse-response (FIR) filtering and further comprises infinite-impulse-response (IIR) filtering for feeding back decisions. The echo content of baseband signal demodulated from the AM signal is measured for initially determining the reception channel impulse response (CIR) in the time-domain. Thereafter, the CIR is updated by decision feedback. Periodically, the CIR is normalized with respect to the strength of a cursor component thereof. The strengths of longer-delay post-echoes in the normalized CIR are used to determine the weighting coefficients of the IIR filtering, which suppresses the longer-delay post-echoes. The pre-echo and short-delay post-echo portion of the normalized CIR is convolved with the normalized CIR to generate a synthetic normalized CIR.

Abstract: A method of determining a quantization parameter for video compression. A block characteristic for blocks in a video frame is quantized and then used to obtain a candidate quantization parameter. With the candidate quantization parameter, a number of bits for the blocks in the video frame is summed, producing a candidate bit rate. If the candidate bit rate is greater than a predetermined bit rate threshold, the candidate quantization parameter is set as the quantization parameter.

Abstract: An MPEG conversion system for converting digital video signals transferred from a digital video camera to a personal computer into MPEG data and saving into a data storage apparatus is disclosed. When an intermediate working area for the conversion is entirely occupied, the camera is stopped. After the position of the tape at this time is read and memorized, the tape is rewound to a prescribed position. When the working area has a vacancy, the camera is started and, when the tape exactly reaches the memorized position, the writing of the digital video signals into the working area is resumed. The digital video signals are then converted into MPEG data. Images of a high quality are produced without frame drops or excessive occupation of the disk space even when a low speed personal computer is used. MPEG data can be obtained automatically by leaving the apparatus standing without manipulation for a prescribed time.

Abstract: A process for encoding digital video signals organized in frames comprises the operations of dividing said frames into blocks starting from macroblocks subjected to motion-compensation and applying to said blocks a discrete cosine transform in such a way as to generate respective sets of coefficients. The said sets of coefficients are then assembled by being organized into sets of vectors by means of masking. Once the variance of the vectors has been detected, the vectors themselves are quantized on a number of available bits by means of a pyramid vector quantizer, associating to the vectors respective quantization pyramids having given sizes according to the variance detected and to the number of available bits. Finally, the vectors are encoded with respective codewords.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of supplementing a digital picture with a shorter delay time and less calculations. The padding method is applied to a picture having a great motion, and results in producing a prediction signal with small errors. The present invention also provides an apparatus using the same method. To be more specific about the method, in a digital picture data including picture information indicating an object, a picture is resolved into a plurality of regions adjoining with each other, and each of the insignificant sample value of a region containing the boundary of the object shape is supplemented (padded) by the values obtained from transforming of the significant pixels near to the insignificant pixels.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively protecting motion information of multimedia data. The multimedia data is initially examined to determine whether the motion information of the current multimedia data unit is lost or corrupted. The multimedia data is then examined to determine whether the motion information is important enough to adversely affect reliable prediction of that information if that the motion information of the current multimedia data unit is lost or corrupted. The motion information is selectively protected if the motion information is determined to be important enough.

Abstract: The process is characterized in that it performs the inverse operations (26, 27, 28) of the successive coding operations, in an inverse order, coefficient by coefficient rather than block by block.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital motion video sequence at a plurality of bit rates uses a transitional coding source when switching between bitstreams having different bit rates during transmission of a video sequence. The transitional data may be frames coded using reconstructed frames reconstructed for a first bitstream using the characteristics of the second bitstream. These “low bit rate insert frames,” or LBIFs, contain the image characteristics of a signal coded at the lower bit rate. With a bitstream having a higher bit rate being periodically coded using an LBIF, a point of image continuity between the two bitstreams is provided. Thus, switching from one bitstream to the other at this point in the video sequence minimizes the production of artifacts caused by differences in bit rate. In another embodiment of the invention, a separate set of transitional data is created, taking the form of “switch” frames, or S-frames.

Abstract: When repeatedly performing compression and encoding of video data, automatically detecting a previous picture type at an encoder side and performing the compression and encoding by matching GOP phases.

Abstract: A method for video navigation. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of video presentation whereby multiple users can each view and navigate cropped windows of a live-captured or stored video sequence in compressed form. A video sequence is captured from a stationary camera. An uncompressed version and compressed version following a compression format are captured. In response to user requests, cropped windows can be navigated from one location to another within the dimensions of the video sequence. For each cropped window, data from the compressed and compressed versions are combined to generate a portion of the video sequence that is in the same compression format. Whenever possible, data from the compressed version is used, and data from the uncompressed version is substituted when necessary to generate each portion of video sequence. Transmission of each portion of video sequence to the various requesting client devices occurs contemporaneously.

Abstract: Different combinations of global motion parameters are estimated for a current frame interpolated to derive local motion vectors for individual image blocks. Image blocks in a reference frame identified by the local motion vectors are compared to the image blocks in the current frame. The estimated global motion parameters that provide the best match between the image blocks in the current frame and the reference frame are selected for encoding the current frame. Selected sub regions of temporally consecutive image frames can be used in order to release the computational burden for global motion estimation and provide more robust global motion estimation results. A data truncation method can also be used to remove bias caused by foreground moving objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding video includes selecting a prediction motion vector for a current block of a current image frame from respective motion vectors of two or more neighbor blocks of the current block. Then the current block and a neighbor block corresponding to said prediction motion vector are checked to determine whether they are motion correlated. Checking motion correlation includes determining that the difference between the best correlation from the correlation of the current block with one or more neighbor blocks and the correlation of the neighbor block with a block in the previous image frame at a location defined by the prediction motion vector fulfils a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: An MPEG decoding system selectively decodes MPEG enhanced streams, based on a select identification of an enhancement region of a series of image frames. MPEG blocks within the enhancement region are decoded with the enhancement-layer, while blocks outside the enhancement region are decoded at the base-layer. Additionally, the user is provided the option of displaying the series of images in a window that is selectively sized to contain only the enhancement region, or the enhancement region surrounded by a base-layer region, or a custom sized window that may include all or some of the enhancement and base-layer regions.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting encoded video signals using a variable rate modulation scheme. In one embodiment a transmitter is provided comprising a system for partitioning the video into a plurality of streams; a system for determining a priority for each of a plurality of streams of encoded video data; and a system for assigning a different modulation rate to each stream of encoded video data based on the determined priority. Specifically, a lower, more robust, modulation is preferably used for higher priority streams, and a higher, less robust, modulation is preferably used for lower priority streams in such a way that an average rate is maintained.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of detecting blocking artifacts (10) from video data coded and then decoded according to a block coding technique. Said method comprises the steps of calculating a first discrete transformation (1) of a first video data segment (11), calculating a second discrete transformation (2) of a second video data segment (12), said second segment being adjacent to the first segment, and calculating a discrete transformation (4) of a concatenated video data segment (13) corresponding to the concatenation (3) of the first and second segments. It also comprises a step of calculating (5) a blocking artifact level (17) from the content of the first and segments of transformed video data (14, 15), and the concatenated segment of transformed video data (16). In this way a very precise blocking artifact detection method is obtained, able to be used in a post-processing or coding of the video data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing efficient and accurate electronic data transmission of information on a data bus in the presence of noise. Data signals are received on a plurality of input lines by a spacial derivative encoder. The spacial derivative encoder encodes the signals and transmits them to a receiver having a spacial derivative decoder. The spacial derivative decoder then decodes the signals. Minimal overhead is required as for n input lines only n+1 lines are needed to transmit each of the encoded signals.

Abstract: In a MIMO communication system (100) with limited power for each antenna, a method, apparatus and a processor (420) provide for determining bin energy level allocation to each OFDM frequency bin at each transmit antenna. An estimate of a solution vector including elements of the allocation bin energy level to each OFDM frequency bin at each antenna is determined. An error function based on the determined solution vector is also determined. An error magnitude is determined based on the determined error function. The error magnitude is compared to an error threshold. The processor (420) accepts the estimate of the solution vector with the elements of the allocation bin energy level when the error magnitude is less than the error threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing cross-talk in a communication system propagating respective sets of in-phase and quadrature signals by processing at least one set of I and Q signals according to a respective pre-coding matrix and adapting the pre-coding matrix in response to differences between expected received signals and actual received signals.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for encoding digital data to be communicated by a sending station, such as a base transceiver station of a cellular communication system. Space-time diversity is provided pursuant to the encoding, thereby to facilitate communication of data upon communication channels susceptible to fading conditions. A systematic and recursive space-time coder includes a coset selecting coder for forming coset addressing values used in connection to a multi-dimensional constellation. The coset addressing values are used by a signal entity selector to select a multi-dimensional constellation entity.

Abstract: A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity.

Abstract: A system for and method of modulating and demodulating a communication signal using differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) can include, upon receiving an inbound communication signal, demodulating the inbound communication signal by obtaining Pi/4 differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) symbols, translating the Pi/4 DQPSK symbols into quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) symbols, and mapping the QPSK symbols to a pair of bits. Upon initiating an outbound communication signal, the system and method can include modulating the outbound communication signal by obtaining communication bits indicative of the outbound communication signal, translating the communication bits to three communication bits, and mapping the translated bits to DQPSK symbols.

Abstract: Method and System for Utilization of an Outer Decoder in a Broadcast Services Communication System is described. Information to be transmitted is provided to a systematic portion of a plurality of transmit buffers and encoded by an outer decoder communicatively coupled to the transmit buffer. The resulting redundant bits are provided to a parity portion of each transmit buffer. The content of the transmit buffers, is multiplexed and encoded by an inner decoder to improve protection by adding redundancy. The receiving station recovers the transmitted information by an inverse process. Because a decoding complexity depends on the size of a systematic portion of the transmit buffer, reasoned compromise between a systematic portion size and number of transmit buffers yields decreased decoding complexity.

Abstract: A programmable waveform generator forms a composite transmission signal containing multiple information signals using a reduced number of hardware components to modulate the phase and amplitude of the carrier signal. A signal generator develops baseband direct sequence spread spectrum digital bit streams from corresponding input data signals. The values of the digital bit steams are used to simultaneously control states of phase modulators and variable attenuators which modulate the phase and amplitude of the in-phase and quadrature carrier components. The programmable waveform generator can be used to implement an interplex modulator producing a constant-envelope composite signal with fewer phase modulators and attenuators.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for encoding digital data to be communicated by a sending station, such as a base transceiver station of a cellular communication system. Space-time diversity is provided pursuant to the encoding, thereby to facilitate communication of data upon communication channels susceptible to fading conditions. Systematic and recursive encoders are configured to permit concatenation of multiple encoded data in such a way as to comply with an equal eigenvalue condition.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, a circuit to encode binary digital signals so as to reduce EMI emissions during signal transmission across a bus or interconnect includes circuitry to apply a pseudo-random pattern of binary digital signals to encode selected binary digital signals so as to reduce the harmonic content of the selected binary digital signals.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a transmitter section for a mobile device includes a predistorter for predistorting an input signal input to a modulation section. Predistortion values may be selected from a look-up table in response to a fed back signal from the output of the modulation section. A delay between the input signal and the fed back signal may be determined in two stages: a coarse delay estimation for determining a whole number of sample cycles, and a fine delay estimation for determining a fraction of a sample cycle to be added to the coarse delay estimation value.

Abstract: Precision inphase/quadrature up-down converter structures generally neither requiring trimming at the time of fabrication nor calibration during use. The converters use four mixers arranged to down convert to provide Q, I, {overscore (I)}and Q baseband signals (or up convert Q, I, {overscore (I)} and Q baseband signals), the combination of which signals has a very substantially reduced unwanted image frequency content. The use of an increased number of mixers in effect shifts the primary errors from absolute gain and phase errors, to gain and phase error mismatches between elements in replicated circuits, which mismatches can be held to a minimum in circuits replicated in a single integrated circuit.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for measuring the performance of a communications channel is disclosed which includes receiving a signal from the communications channel, filtering the signal, estimating a bias introduced by the filtering of the signal, and computing a parameter of the communications channel as a function of the estimated bias. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: In a response calibration method, a stimulus signal having a non-zero bandwidth is coupled to a receiver through a signal path that introduces distortion to the stimulus signal. The receiver acquires a first digital representation of the stimulus signal at an output of the signal path with the receiver adjusted to a first spectral position, and acquires a second digital representation of the stimulus signal at the output of the signal path with the receiver adjusted to a second spectral position that is shifted from the first spectral position by a predetermined frequency offset. The frequency response of the receiver when the receiver adjusted to the first spectral position is equated to the frequency response of the receiver when the receiver is adjusted to the second spectral position.

Abstract: A signal to noise ratio estimator and method for a received signal which includes a communication component and a noise component is disclosed. One embodiment is an in-service, blind, decision-directed estimator for a CPFSK communication signal. A preferred embodiment determines the power of a communication signal component by combining the received signal with a signal that is a delayed complex conjugate of the received signal and then removing the real component of the combined signal.

Abstract: A signal-balancing system and technique. The technique includes analyzing imbalance conditions of an I-Q network, deriving a set of I-Q imbalance coefficients from the analyzed imbalance conditions, and decomposing time domain samples of an input signal into frequency components. The technique also includes removing the effects of I-Q imbalance in the frequency components of the input signal by using the set of I-Q imbalance coefficients. The technique further includes converting the resulting imbalance-removed frequency components of the input signal back into time domain samples.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing a received signal including receiving the signal to provide a sequence of symbols associated with the received signal in respective ones of a plurality of symbol positions. A known block of the sequence of symbols containing known symbol values and an unknown block of the sequence of symbols containing unknown symbol values are identified. A desired demodulation type is determined for use in demodulating the unknown block based on the known symbol values. An interferer signal characteristic discontinuity location in the unknown block is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for combining pilot symbols and Transmit Parameter Signalling (TPS) channels within an OFDM frame. The method uses Differential Space-Time Block Coding to encode a fast signalling message at an OFDM transmitter. At an OFDM receiver, the encoded fast signalling message can be decoded using differential feedback to recover information about the channel responses that would normally be carried by pilot symbols. In wireless data transmission employing adaptive modulation and coding, an instantaneous channel quality measurement, independent of the origin of interference for example, neighboring-cell interference, white thermal noise, or residual Doppler shift is provided. Using the correlation between a signal which has been symbol de-mapped, and one which has also been soft decoded and re-encoded, a channel quality indicator is produced. Another embodiment uses TPS data as pilot symbols by decoding TPS and then re-encoding.

Abstract: Interference reduction is achieved within a communication device using a low complexity antenna array. In at least one embodiment, phase and magnitude values associated with an antenna element within a low complexity array are dynamically adjusted during device operation in a manner that enhances a predetermined quality criterion (e.g., SINR).

Abstract: A digital front-end for a wireless communication system incorporates gain control, signal detection, frame synchronization and carrier frequency offset (CFO) estimation and correction features configured for use with multiple receive antennas. The digital front-end may be applied to a wireless communication system in which transmitted signals carry a repeated signal pattern, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. An example of a repeated signal pattern is the preamble of a signal transmitted according to the IEEE 802.11a wireless local area network (WLAN) standard. The signal detection, frame synchronization, and CFO estimation techniques make use of signals received from multiple antenna paths to provide enhanced performance. The gain control feature may be configured to adjust the gain in steps. The frame synchronization technique may operate as a function of gain control, handling the input signal differently before and after gain adjustment.

Abstract: A digital filter and filtering method uses a rate of change limit and an acceleration limit to significantly attenuate high bandwidth noise signals with minimal phase lag, while simultaneously passing low bandwidth signals substantially uncorrupted. The filter uses two memory states making it computationally efficient.

Abstract: Apparatus for signaling that a predetermined time value has elapsed.