STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160124541 | CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE CIRCUIT FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE SCREEN - A capacitive discharge circuit includes a line having a capacitance, a switched capacitor circuit including a capacitor, a switched circuit coupled to the line, and a voltage regulator coupled between the switched capacitor circuit and the switched circuit. A controller operates the switched capacitor circuit and switched circuit to in a first phase, charge the capacitor by coupling the capacitor between a common mode and a power supply, and in a second phase, discharge the capacitor by coupling the voltage regulator in series with the capacitor between the power supply node a ground. The controller is also configured to in a third phase, charge the capacitor by coupling the capacitor between the common mode and the power supply, and in a fourth phase, share charge between the line and the capacitor by coupling the voltage regulator and the capacitor in series between the line and the ground. | 05-05-2016 |
20160117047 | MULTIPLE CONTROLLER COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR ACTIVE STYLUS DATA ACQUISITION - An electronic device may include a first controller associated with some channels of a digitizer having channels configured to receive a signal from a stylus, and with each channel having a direction. A second controller may be associated with channels of the digitizer not associated with the first controller. The first controller may scan for the signal at each channel associated with the first controller, and based on acquisition of the signal at a given channel associated with the first controller, calculate a property of the signal. The first controller may send the calculated property and the direction of the given channel to the second controller. The first controller and the second controller may scan for the signal at each channel having the direction of the given channel, at acquisition intervals based upon the calculated property. | 04-28-2016 |
20160077625 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN WITH ADAPTIVE TOUCH SENSING THRESHOLD BASED ON SHARPNESS OF THE CAPACITIVE DATA - A capacitive touch system generates data indicative of sensed capacitance measured at capacitive sensing nodes of a capacitive touch panel. A signal processing circuit is coupled to receive the data indicative of sensed capacitance from the capacitive touch system. The signal processing circuit operates to fit a parabolic curve to the data indicative of sensed capacitance. A sharpness of the fit parabolic curve is indicative of whether touch versus hover interaction with the capacitive touch panel. A touch detection threshold is as a function of the determined sharpness. The set touch detection threshold is then applied against the data indicative of sensed capacitance in order to make a touch detection. | 03-17-2016 |
20160064055 | EVENT CONTROLLED DECODING CIRCUIT - A waveform generator circuit includes a memory with address locations storing output waveform defining data bits. An address counter generates an address for sequentially addressing the address locations in the memory. The memory responds by sequentially outputting the output waveform defining data bits at the addressed locations. An output circuit receives the waveform defining data bits output from the memory and operates to generate an output signal waveform having logic state values dependent on the sequentially output waveform defining data bits. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062546 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY SYSTEM INCLUDING CIRCUITRY TO ADDRESS DISPLAY PERTURBATIONS INDUCED BY PANEL SENSING - A video display includes a video display panel and a video display drive circuit configured to control a display on condition. A touch screen includes a touch screen panel (mounted on top of the video display panel) and a touch panel control and sense circuit configured to operate the touch screen panel in a self-capacitance mode. The touch panel control and sense circuit includes sense drive circuits configured to generate sense drive signals for application to sense lines of the touch screen panel. A controller controls actuation of the sense drive circuits so that the sense drive signals are synchronized to the display on condition. In an implementation, the leading edges of the sense drive signals are synchronized to the display on condition. In another implementation, a window is synchronized to the display on condition and the leading edges of the sense drive signals exhibit jitter within the window. | 03-03-2016 |
20160048234 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN AND AN ACTIVE STYLUS - An active stylus is capacitively coupled to a capacitive touch panel for communication. The active stylus operates in a wait mode to receive initial communications from the panel. In response to such receipt, the active stylus synchronizes to a repeating communications frame implementing time division multiplexing. Communications from the active stylus to the panel include: information communications; synchronization communications and communications specific for columns and/or rows of the panel. Communications from the panel to the active stylus may be addressed uniquely to the stylus or commonly to a group of styluses. | 02-18-2016 |
20150338950 | TOUCH SCREEN FOR STYLUS EMITTING WIRELESS SIGNALS - A touch screen device is configured with rows of conductors capable of receiving wireless signals from a stylus. When the stylus touches the touch screen, the stylus emits multiple wireless signals in different directions. The conductors receiving the emitted wireless signals provide the signals to circuitry that filters, amplifies, and digitizes the wireless signals, as received at each conductor. The magnitude of each conductor's received wireless signal is computed, and the computed magnitudes are used to determine the location of the stylus on the touch screen surface. The stylus is assumed to be closer to conductors receiving stronger signals than those receiving weaker signals. | 11-26-2015 |
20150317008 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN INCLUDING A FIRST SENSOR PATTERN FOR MUTUAL SENSING AND A SECOND SENSOR PATTERN FOR SELF SENSING - A capacitive touch panel includes a first sensor pattern and second sensor pattern. The first sensor pattern supports mutual-capacitance detection and the second sensor pattern supports self-capacitance detection. The first sensor pattern includes row conductors and column conductors which intersect each other at mutual-capacitance sensing locations. The second sensor pattern includes island conductors. The island conductors are grouped in clusters of conductors, each cluster providing a self-capacitance sensing location. Control circuitry coupled to the first and second sensor patterns functions to make touch/hover position detections by sensing changes in capacitance at the mutual-capacitance and self-capacitance nodes. The row and column conductors include openings, and the island conductors are positioned in vertical alignment with corresponding openings in the conductors. | 11-05-2015 |
20150286297 | TOUCH SCREEN WITH PALM REJECTION IN THE PRESENCE OF CHARGER NOISE - A touch screen device having a touch screen panel and a method for operating a touch screen device are provided. The method includes monitoring, during a noise monitoring phase, channel signals of a first set of channels and a second set of channel of the touch screen panel, detecting a stylus signal in response to a channel signal greater than a stylus threshold and less than a palm threshold, selecting the first set of channels when the stylus signal is detected on at least one channel of the first set of channels and is not detected on the second set of channels, and selecting the second set of channels when the stylus signal is detected on at least one channel of the second set of channels and is not detected on the first set of channels. | 10-08-2015 |
20150277649 | METHOD, CIRCUIT, AND SYSTEM FOR HOVER AND GESTURE DETECTION WITH A TOUCH SCREEN - According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch controller is adapted to be coupled to a touch screen and to a motion sensor. The touch controller is operable in response to a signal from the motion sensor indicating a first motion to switch from a hover event sensing mode of operation to a gesture event sensing mode of operation. In one embodiment, the touch controller is operable in the hover event sensing mode of operation to detect a first hover event and is thereafter operable, in response to the signal from the motion sensor indicating a first motion has occurred, to switch to the gesture event sensing mode of operation and detect a first gesture event. | 10-01-2015 |
20150277587 | SECURE PAIRING METHOD, CIRCUIT AND SYSTEM FOR AN INTELLIGENT INPUT DEVICE AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method of pairing an intelligent input device with an electronic device includes transmitting a start pairing identifier and receiving a unique identifier that identifies the intelligent input device. The method further includes authenticating the unique identifier using authentication information stored in the electronic device and transmitting a pairing successful identifier responsive to the unique identifier being authenticated to thereby pair the intelligent input device and the electronic device. | 10-01-2015 |
20150268757 | CROSS-SHAPED TOUCHSCREEN PATTERN - A capacitive sensing structure comprises a plurality of first sensors electrically coupled to each other in a first direction, each first sensor comprising: a first arm extending along the first direction, and a second arm extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and bisecting the first arm to form open regions at least partially defined by the first and second arm; a plurality of second sensors electrically coupled to each other in the second direction, each second sensor comprising: a first arm extending along the second direction, and a second arm extending along the first direction and bisecting the first arm to form open regions at least partially defined by the first and second arm; and a plurality of single electrically conductive and electrically floating structures, each disposed within open regions of adjacent first and second sensors. | 09-24-2015 |
20150256330 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHASE ERROR COMPENSATION IN SYNCHRONIZED DEVICES - A system and method for compensating for detected phase errors during communications between synchronized devices. In an embodiment, the two devices may be a touch screen device and a synchronized stylus device. To this end, the touch screen device includes a controller configured to receive data signals from the stylus at specific time intervals. The touch screen device generates an internal control signal for receiving the incoming data signals at an expected frequency. The touch screen device further includes circuitry for measuring differences in the time a data signal is actually received against when the data signal was expected to be received and determines a time difference (e.g., a phase error). Then, the internal control signal may be adjusted to compensate for the accumulated phase error. Such a measurement and compensation helps ensure that communications remain in synchronization without having to reestablish synchronization through a cumbersome synchronization process. | 09-10-2015 |
20150256329 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN DEVICES - A system and method for synchronizing two devices in communication with each other. When communication between the two devices is to be established, a synchronization process may be invoked. In an embodiment, a first device may initiate sending synchronization signals having rising edge and falling edge pairs. The second device may include a controller configured to receive the synchronization signals. However, noise may inhibit the ability of the controller to correctly receive and/or interpret the synchronization signals. Noise may cause detection components to falsely detect noise as a synchronization signal or may cause detection components to miss detection of an actual synchronization signal. A window generator may be used to generate comparison windows for the controller to detect synchronization signals. Further, the detection window duration and start times may be adjusted based on previously detected (or undetected) synchronization signals in order to compensate for noise overshadowing synchronization signals. | 09-10-2015 |
20150253799 | TEMPERATURE INSENSITIVE TRANSIENT CURRENT SOURCE - A current source includes a first current path including a first current mirror transistor and an input current source coupled in series, a second current path including a second current minor transistor, wherein control terminals of the first and second current minor transistors are connected, a first circuit configured to provide a controlled auxiliary current in the second current path, and a second circuit configured to provide a controlled output current in the second current path when or after the auxiliary current has reached steady state. The current source may include one or more cascode transistors in the first current path and one or more cascode transistors in the second current path. The first circuit may be activated before the second circuit is activated. | 09-10-2015 |
20150117793 | RECURSIVE DE-BANDING FILTER FOR DIGITAL IMAGES - A method and apparatus are provided for filtering banding noise in a signal representative of an image. The method includes detecting, by a banding noise detector, banding noise in a neighborhood of a current pixel of the image, determining, by an adaptive filter weight decision unit, a number of banding steps in the neighborhood of the current pixel, determining, by the adaptive filter weight decision unit, a difference between a current pixel value and a previous output value, selecting, by the adaptive filter weight decision unit, a filter weight based on the number of banding steps, the difference between the current pixel value and the previous output value, and the detected banding noise, and filtering, by a recursive filter, the current pixel value according to the selected filter weight. | 04-30-2015 |
20150117782 | BANDING NOISE DETECTOR FOR DIGITAL IMAGES - A method and apparatus are provided for detecting banding noise in a digital signal representative of an image. The method includes determining, by a banding noise detector, a count of increment steps in pixel values and a count of decrement steps in pixel values along a filter direction in a neighborhood of a current pixel of the image, checking, by the banding noise detector, if the count of increment steps or the count of decrement steps in the neighborhood of a current pixel exceeds a step threshold value, and classifying, by the banding noise detector, the current pixel as being located in the banding noise zone if the count of increment steps or the count of decrement steps does not exceed the step threshold value. | 04-30-2015 |
20150081936 | IIC BUS START-STOP DETECTION CIRCUIT - A start/stop condition detection circuit is coupled to receive the SDA and SCL signals from an IIC Bus. The circuit generates a first signal in response to an edge of the SDA signal and generates an inversion of the first signal as a second signal in response to an opposite edge of the SCL signal. The first and second signals are logically combined to generate an output signal. The particular directions of the edges of the SDA and SCL signals that the circuit is response to determines whether the output signal is indicative of a start condition detection or a stop condition detection. | 03-19-2015 |
20150039956 | TEST MUX FLIP-FLOP CELL FOR REDUCED SCAN SHIFT AND FUNCTIONAL SWITCHING POWER CONSUMPTION - A new flip-flop cell that is more efficient in scan chain configuration includes a multiplexer, storage element (e.g., a flip-flop), an inverter, and multiple logic gates. The flip-flop cell is configured to receive both a test signal and a data input signal and select one of the two to pass to the storage element based on a scan enable signal that indicates either a capture mode or a scan shift mode. In capture mode, the data input signal is passed to the storage element, and the internal outputs of the flip-flop are supplied to the logic gates. Based on the internal outputs and scan enable signal, the logic gates disable either one of two outputs of the flip-flop cell. In capture mode, a test flip-flop cell output is disabled. In scan shift mode, a standard function flip-flop cell output is disabled. | 02-05-2015 |
20150036238 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPEED CONTROL OF VOICE COIL MOTOR RETRACT OPERATION DEPENDENT UPON AVAILABLE POWER - The back EMF (B | 02-05-2015 |
20140340450 | INK JET PRINTHEAD DEVICE WITH COMPRESSIVE STRESSED DIELECTRIC LAYER - An ink jet printhead device includes a substrate and at least one first dielectric layer above the substrate. A resistive layer is above the at least one first dielectric layer. An electrode layer is above the resistive layer and defines first and second electrodes coupled to the resistive layer. At least one second dielectric layer is above the electrode layer and contacts the resistive layer through the at least one opening. The at least one second dielectric layer has a compressive stress magnitude of at least 340 MPa. | 11-20-2014 |
20140312919 | CONFIGURABLE ANALOG FRONT-END FOR MUTUAL CAPACITANCE SENSING AND SELF CAPACITANCE SENSING - Capacitance sensing circuits and methods are provided. A dual mode capacitance sensing circuit includes a capacitance-to-voltage converter having an amplifier and an integration capacitance coupled between an output and an inverting input of the amplifier, and a switching circuit responsive to mutual mode control signals for a controlling signal supplied from a capacitive touch matrix to the capacitive to voltage converter in a mutual capacitance sensing mode and responsive to self mode control signals for controlling signals supplied from the capacitive touch matrix to the capacitance-to-voltage converter in a self capacitance sensing mode, wherein the capacitance sensing circuit is configurable for operation in the mutual capacitance sensing mode or the self capacitance sensing mode. | 10-23-2014 |
20140307840 | DIGITAL IIR FILTER WITH ADJUSTABLE FILTER WEIGHTS BASED ON MEASURED CHANGES IN THE PROCESSED DATA - A digital filter receives a sequence of input signal values. A filtering block performs a filtering operation on sequence of input signal values that is controlled by filter coefficients. A control block also receives the sequence of input signal values. The control block evaluates detected changes over time with respect to the sequence of input signal values and selects values for the filter coefficients based on the detected changes. The detected change over time provides an indication of the whether the sequence of input signal values is changing signal state. If so, the filter coefficients are selected to emphasize signal response time over signal noise filtering for the filtering operation. Otherwise, the filter coefficients are selected to emphasize signal noise filtering over signal response time for the filtering operation. | 10-16-2014 |
20140306921 | MULTIPLE ROW RECEIVING LINE PATTERN FOR IN-CELL TOUCHSCREEN PANELS - An in-cell touchscreen panel includes columns of transmit electrodes and rows of sensing electrodes, wherein each row of sensing electrodes comprises a first subset of sensing electrodes coupled to control circuitry via a first subset of receiving traces and a second subset of sensing electrodes coupled to the control circuitry via a second subset of receiving traces. To enable multi-touch functionality, the in-cell touchscreen panel operates in a scanning mode where capacitance is measured at each node where the sensing electrodes intersect the transmit electrodes. During the scanning mode, the control circuitry senses the first and second subsets of receiving traces while applying drive signals to pairs of transmit electrodes. After a drive signal has been applied to each of the transmit electrodes, each of the nodes are measured to detect a capacitance. This capacitance is indicative of a user touch on the in-cell touchscreen panel. | 10-16-2014 |
20140300601 | CONTRAST ADJUSTED ANAGLYPH - Methods and apparatus for enabling contrast adjustment to anaglyph images are described. Compensation techniques are employed to reduce ghosting artifacts that would otherwise be introduced by contrast adjustments to input images used to generate anaglyphs. The compensation techniques are applicable to various anaglyph imaging processes. | 10-09-2014 |
20140295931 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL GESTURE RECOGNITION SYSTEM, CIRCUIT, AND METHOD FOR A TOUCH SCREEN - A touch controller is coupled to a touch screen and detects a first gesture at a first point on the touch screen. The first gesture includes physical contact of the touch screen by a user device at the first point. The touch controller detects a second gesture that is associated with movement of the user device from the first point to a second point on the touch screen. The second gesture includes detecting movement of the user device within a sensing range from the first point to the second point. The sensing range corresponds to an orthogonal distance from a surface of the touch screen. The touch controller detects a third gesture at the second touch point. The third gesture includes physical contact of the touch screen at the second touch point. Upon detecting the first, second and third gestures the touch controller performs a corresponding action. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294307 | CONTENT-BASED ASPECT RATIO DETECTION - A system for determining an aspect ratio of image content based on an analysis of the content. In an embodiment, an analyzer is configured to receive a data input corresponding to an image in a stream of images that constitute a video sequence of images. The analyzer is further configured to determine a mathematical representation of the image content based on a power spectrum analysis of vertical components of the image in comparison to a power spectrum analysis of horizontal components of the image. Based on this comparison of the vertical frequency components to the horizontal frequency components, a determination about the original aspect ratio of the image may be determined. This determination may be used by a video processor to correctly apply aspect ratio conversion for final image output. | 10-02-2014 |
20140292705 | METHOD & CIRCUIT FOR PARASITIC CAPACITANCE CANCELLATION FOR SELF CAPACITANCE SENSING - Apparatus and methods to measure capacitance changes for a touch-sensitive capacitive matrix are described. Charge-removal circuits and measurement techniques may be employed to cancel deleterious effects of parasitic capacitances in the touch-sensitive capacitive matrix. Capacitively switching a supply during timed charge removal may be used to cancel unwanted effects due to clock jitter. The apparatus and methods can improve signal-to-noise characteristics, sensitivity, and/or dynamic range for capacitive measurements relating to touch-sensitive capacitive devices. | 10-02-2014 |
20140289807 | RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN A PROCESSOR - A processor system is arranged to execute user selected applications. A manager module is configured to detect a user selection of an application and configured to initiate a launch process. A supervisor module is configured to intercept the launch process initiated by the manager module and detect whether the application is a trusted application or an untrusted application. Trusted applications have a privilege to access resources without authorization, and untrusted applications do not have the privilege. The supervisor module has the privilege to access the resources. When the application is untrusted, the application is launched in a container, and at least one of the resources is delivered to the untrusted application in the container. | 09-25-2014 |
20140289748 | LAUNCHING MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS IN A PROCESSOR - A supervisor module manages multiple user selected applications. A first one of the multiple applications is launched in a first container. Allocation of a first process identifier by the first one of the multiple applications in the first container is detected. The first process identifier is unique within the first container. A first unique identifier is allocated to the first one of the multiple applications. The launch of a second one of the multiple applications is delayed but subsequently launched if the first unique identifier has been allocated to the first one of the multiple applications. A second unique identifier is allocated to the second one of the multiple applications. The first and second unique identifiers uniquely identify the respective first and second ones of the multiple applications within the supervisor module. | 09-25-2014 |
20140289736 | MANAGING MULTIPLE SYSTEMS IN A COMPUTER DEVICE - Resources of multiple systems are managed in a computer device. A first processing system having a set of dedicated resources also has a resource manager to manage at least one of the resources. The first processing system is prevented from directly accessing the resources without authorization. A second processing system, connected to the set of dedicated resources, has a supervisor application to grant control to individual resources to the resource manager of the first processing system. A computer program is executed in the first processing system. The supervisor application grants control of at least one resource to the resource manager of the first processing system in a way that is transparently to the computer program executing in the first processing system. | 09-25-2014 |
20140247517 | REGULATING DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN A HARD DISK DRIVE FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS - Applicant has recognized and appreciated the desirability of powering an actuator using power drawn from one or both of an energy storage device and a spindle motor. In some embodiments, following a loss of external power to a hard disk drive, the hard disk drive (or one or more components thereof) determines whether to provide the actuator with power drawn from the spindle motor or to provide the actuator with power drawn from the spindle motor and from the energy storage device. In some embodiments, the hard disk drive (or the component(s) thereof) may additionally or alternatively determine whether to charge the energy storage device using power drawn from the spindle motor. In some embodiments, the drive may make the determinations based on an amount of power that the actuator is to consume at a time and an amount of power that the spindle motor can provide at the time. | 09-04-2014 |
20140200890 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND CIRCUITS FOR SPEAKER DEPENDENT VOICE RECOGNITION WITH A SINGLE LEXICON - Embodiments reduce the complexity of speaker dependent speech recognition systems and methods by representing the code word (i.e., the word to be recognized) using a single Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) which is adapted from a Universal Background Model (UBM). Only the parameters of the GMM need to be stored. Further reduction in computation is achieved by only checking the GMM component that is relevant to the keyword template. In this scheme, keyword template is represented by a sequence of the index of best performing component of the GMM of the keyword model. Only one template is saved by combining the registration template using Longest Common Sequence algorithm. The quality of the word model is continuously updated by performing expectation maximization iteration using the test word which is accepted as keyword model. | 07-17-2014 |
20140197880 | SINGLE LAYER SENSOR PATTERN - A single ITO layer design for a touchscreen panel incorporates a matrix of sensor cells formed from a single ITO layer of capacitive sensor pads, sensor bars, force lines and sense lines. Columns of multiplexed force lines are connected to rows of sensor pads to form force trees such that the force line of the end pair of sensor pads has a wide track, with the force lines of each subsequent pair of sensor pads having a reduced track width. Disposed between the columns of force trees, the matrix of sensor cells also includes columns of sensor bars connected to control circuitry via sense lines. The control circuitry applies a signal to the force trees to generate capacitance between rows of sensor pads and adjacent sensor bars. The control circuitry senses changes in the capacitance and resolves the location of a user touch in the matrix of sensor cells. | 07-17-2014 |
20140195232 | Methods, systems, and circuits for text independent speaker recognition with automatic learning features - Embodiments provide a method and system of text independent speaker recognition with a complexity comparable to a text dependent version. The scheme exploits the fact that speech is a quasi-stationary signal and simplifies the recognition process based on this theory. The modeling allows the speaker profile to be updated progressively with the new speech sample that is acquired during usage time. | 07-10-2014 |
20140191978 | BORDERLESS TOUCH PANEL DESIGN - A borderless touchscreen panel includes a first conductive layer having rows of capacitive sensors and receiving traces, and a second conductive layer having columns of sensor bars and transmitting traces. The capacitive sensors are coupled to control circuitry via the receiving traces, and the sensor bars are coupled to the control circuitry via the transmitting traces. Peripheral sensor bars are disposed over the receiving traces such that the receiving traces can be routed within an active portion of the borderless touchscreen panel without obstructing its touch-detection capabilities. Furthermore, the receiving traces are comprised of a transparent material such as indium tin oxide, and therefore do not obstruct the display capabilities of the active portion. Thus, there is no need for an inactive border region since the receiving traces are disposed within the active portion without obstructing either the touch-detection or display capabilities of the borderless touchscreen panel. | 07-10-2014 |
20140145661 | BACK EMF DETECTION IN A BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR USING A VIRTUAL CENTER TAP CIRCUIT - A first input of a differential circuit is coupled to a coil tap for a first phase of a multi-phase brushless DC motor. The first phase is associated with an electrically floating coil. A second input of the differential circuit is coupled to a virtual center tap. A divider circuit is coupled between coil taps for other phases of the multi-phase brushless DC motor to define a virtual center tap. The other phases are phases actuated for motor operation when the first phase is electrically floating. The coil tap for the first phase is electrically isolated from the virtual center tap. The differential circuit performs a comparison of the voltage at the coil tap for the first phase to the voltage at the virtual center tap to generate a back EMF signal. | 05-29-2014 |
20140140423 | PILOT PATTERN FOR OBSERVATION-SCALAR MIMO-OFDM - In an embodiment, a transmitter includes a transmission path configurable to generate first pilot clusters in response to a matrix, each first pilot cluster including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position and a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols, the matrix having a dimension related to a number of cluster positions in each of the first pilot clusters. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to estimate the responses of these channels more accurately than conventional receivers. | 05-22-2014 |
20140128004 | CONVERTING SAMPLES OF A SIGNAL AT A SAMPLE RATE INTO SAMPLES OF ANOTHER SIGNAL AT ANOTHER SAMPLE RATE - In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a determiner, converter, adapter, and modifier. The determiner is configured to generate a representation of a difference between a first frequency at which a first signal is sampled and a second frequency at which a second signal is sampled, and the converter is configured to generate a second sample of the first signal at a second time in response to the representation and a first sample of the first signal at a first time. The adapter is configured to generate a sample of a modifier signal in response to the second sample of the first signal, and the modifier is configured to generate a modified sample of the second signal in response to a sample of the second signal and the sample of the modifier signal. For example, such an apparatus may be able to reduce the magnitude of an echo signal in a system having an audio pickup (e.g., a microphone) near an audio output (e.g., a speaker). | 05-08-2014 |
20140117950 | VOLTAGE REGULATOR CIRCUIT - A voltage regulator circuit includes a differential amplifier stage. The gate terminal of a first n-channel MOSFET is coupled to an output of the differential amplifier stage. A resistor is coupled between the drain terminal and gate terminal of the first n-channel MOSFET. The drain terminal of the first n-channel MOSFET drives the gate of a second n-channel MOSFET whose drain terminal is at the input of a current mirror circuit. An output of the current mirror circuit forms the regulated voltage output. A feedback circuit is coupled between the regulated voltage output and one input of the voltage regulator circuit. Another input of the voltage regulator circuit is configured to receive a reference voltage. | 05-01-2014 |
20140111443 | System and Method for a Touch Panel - In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a touch panel includes operating a slave touch panel controller by receiving a synchronization signal from a master touch panel controller of a display driver circuit, and polling a plurality of receive inputs coupled to outputs of an in-cell touch module based on an predetermined pattern. | 04-24-2014 |
20140103476 | METHOD FOR MAKING IMAGE SENSORS USING WAFER-LEVEL PROCESSING AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES - A method of making image sensor devices may include forming a sensor layer including image sensor ICs in an encapsulation material, bonding a spacer layer to the sensor layer, the spacer layer having openings therein and aligned with the image sensor ICs, and bonding a lens layer to the spacer layer, the lens layer including lens in an encapsulation material and aligned with the openings and the image sensor ICs. The method may also include dicing the bonded-together sensor, spacer and lens layers to provide the image sensor devices. Helpfully, the method may use WLP to enhance production. | 04-17-2014 |
20140092054 | HYBRID STYLUS FOR USE IN TOUCH SCREEN APPLICATIONS - A touch screen system is configured to sense a proximate or actual touch made to a touch screen panel. In response thereto, an RF transmitter is actuated to emit RF energy. A stylus receives the emitted RF energy and includes an RF energy harvesting circuit that powers an enable circuit. The enable circuit generates an enable signal. The stylus responds to the enable signal by performing a sensing operation. The information collected in the sensing operation is then communicated over an RF communications link back to the touch screen system. The sensing operation preferably is a pressure sensing operation for detecting an applied pressure at an end of the stylus resulting from contact with the touch screen panel. | 04-03-2014 |
20140092053 | INFORMATION DISPLAY ORIENTATION CONTROL USING PROXIMITY DETECTION - A display screen is configured to display information with a selectable one of many information display orientations. A touch screen panel of a touch screen system is positioned to overlie the display screen. The touch screen system operates to make a proximate touch detection, for example by a body part or stylus. A controller receives the proximate touch information from the capacitive touch screen system and interprets the proximate touch information to determine an indication from a user of a selection of an information display orientation for the display screen. The controller then controls the display screen to present information in accordance with the user selected information display orientation. The user selected information display orientation via the proximate touch detection will over-ride any other selected information display orientation such as a selection made in response to an orientation identified by an accelerometer or other gravity influenced sensor. | 04-03-2014 |
20140092050 | COMPENSATION FOR VARIATIONS IN A CAPACITIVE SENSE MATRIX - A readout device for a capacitive sense matrix includes a computer readable storage medium configured to store capacitance data. The capacitance data represents capacitance values of the capacitive sense matrix. The readout device also includes a readout circuit configured to receive a signal from the capacitive sense matrix, the readout circuit being configured based upon the capacitance data. Also described are a readout method and a method of compensating for variations in capacitance. | 04-03-2014 |
20140078096 | CONFIGURABLE ANALOG FRONT-END FOR MUTUAL CAPACITANCE SENSING AND SELF CAPACITANCE SENSING - Capacitance sensing circuits and methods are provided. A dual mode capacitance sensing circuit includes a capacitance-to-voltage converter having an amplifier and an integration capacitance coupled between an output and an inverting input of the amplifier, and a dual mode switching circuit responsive to mutual mode control signals for a controlling signal supplied from a capacitive touch matrix to the capacitance-to-voltage converter in a mutual capacitance sensing mode and responsive to self mode control signals for controlling signals supplied from the capacitive touch matrix to the capacitance-to-voltage converter in a self capacitance sensing mode, wherein the capacitance sensing circuit is configurable for operation in the mutual capacitance sensing mode or the self capacitance sensing mode. | 03-20-2014 |
20140077823 | HIGH SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO CAPACITIVE SENSING ANALOG FRONT-END - Capacitance sensing circuits and methods are provided. The capacitance sensing circuit includes a capacitance-to-voltage converter configured to receive a signal from a capacitance to be sensed and to provide an output signal representative of the capacitance, an output chopper configured to convert the output signal of the capacitance-to-voltage converter to a sensed voltage representative of the capacitance to be sensed, an analog accumulator configured to accumulate sensed voltages during an accumulation period of NA sensing cycles and to provide an accumulated analog value, an amplifier configured to amplify the accumulated analog value, and an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the amplified accumulated analog value to a digital value representative of the capacitance to be sensed. The analog accumulator may include a low pass filter having a frequency response to filter wideband noise. | 03-20-2014 |
20140069513 | MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE WITH BENDABLE MEMBRANE HAVING VALVE PASSAGEWAYS TO PROVIDE ENHANCED FLUIDIC MOBILITY CONTROL AND RELATED METHODS - A microfluidic device may include a substrate having a cavity therein, and a bendable membrane within the cavity and having a plurality of spaced apart valve passageways therein. The bendable membrane may be bendable between a first position with the valve passageways being opened, and a second position with the valve passageways being closed. The microfluidic device may further include an actuator configured to bend the bendable membrane between the first and second positions. | 03-13-2014 |
20140049502 | TOUCH FILTERING THROUGH VIRTUAL AREAS ON A TOUCH SCREEN - According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch controller includes a touch frame processing component adapted to receive sensor signals containing information about a touch point on a touch screen. The touch frame processing component processes the sensor signals to generate touch information associated with each touch point. A touch coordinate processing component is coupled to receive touch information from the touch frame processing component and includes virtual area parameters that define a plurality of virtual areas on the touch screen. The touch coordinate processing component is operable to identify which one of the plurality of virtual areas contains the current touch point and to report or filter the current touch point as a function of the identified virtual area. | 02-20-2014 |
20140049501 | SENSELINE DATA ADJUSTMENT METHOD, CIRCUIT, AND SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE DETECTION OF FALSE TOUCHES IN A TOUCH SCREEN - A touch controller processes a captured data frame and detects the presence of touch points in the data frame. The data frame includes a plurality of digital capacitance values organized as groups of sense line data and the touch controller determines for each digital capacitance value in a group of sense line data the difference between the digital capacitance value and an associated no-touch threshold to generate a baseline delta value for each digital capacitance value in the group. The touch controller selects the minimum baseline delta and adjusts each digital capacitance value in the group by the minimum baseline delta to generate adjusted sense line data. The touch control generates adjusted sense line data for each group of sense line data in the data frame and thereafter processes the groups of adjusted sense line data to detect the presence of touch points in the data frame. | 02-20-2014 |
20140035861 | TOUCH SCREEN PANEL WITH SLIDE FEATURE - A touch screen having a capacitive touch-sensitive pad overlaying a display area incorporates one or more slide features each having conductive plates. The conductive plates are located outside the display area of the touch screen and are powered via one or more connections to existing touch sensor circuitry comprising the touch-sensitive pad. The slide features of the touch screen do not obstruct a user's view of the display screen and, when compared to conventional touch screen slide features, reduce the circuitry required for detecting and/or processing a slide touch. | 02-06-2014 |
20140035602 | ITO PATTERN FOR CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN APPLICATIONS - A capacitive sensing structure is formed from first electrically conductive sensor structures electrically coupled to each other in a first direction, and second electrically conductive sensor structures electrically coupled to each other in a second direction. Each first electrically conductive sensor structure includes a first diamond-shaped central region with electrically coupled first finger structures extending away therefrom. Each second electrically conductive sensor structure includes a second diamond-shaped central region with electrically conducting second finger structures extending away therefrom. Each second finger structure extends between two adjacent ones of the first finger structures. Floating structures may be included within an opening formed in the first diamond shaped central region. Floating structures may further be included between the first and second finger structures. | 02-06-2014 |
20140028609 | TOUCH MOTION DETECTION METHOD, CIRCUIT, AND SYSTEM - A touch controller includes a touch frame processing (TFP) component that receives sensor signals containing information about a touch point on a touch screen. The TFP component processes the sensor signals to generate touch information associated with each touch point. The touch information includes a location and the association of one of a touch-in, touch-out, and touch-motion event. A touch coordinate processing (TCP) component receives touch information from the TFP component and determines whether to report the touch information associated with a current touch point. The TCP component determines a difference between the location of the current touch point and a previously detected touch point and assigns a motion status to each touch event and reports the touch information when the difference is greater than a motion tolerance and when less than the motion tolerance selectively blocks or reports the touch information as a function of the corresponding motion status. | 01-30-2014 |
20140009430 | COMBINING TOUCH SCREEN AND OTHER SENSING DETECTIONS FOR USER INTERFACE CONTROL - A touch sensitive display includes a capacitive touch sensor configured to output capacitance values. A motion sensor makes a motion detection and generates a motion signal including a motion value indicative of sensed motion detection. A touch detection circuit is coupled to receive the capacitance values and motion values. The touch detection circuit processes the capacitance values to make a hovering detection and a touching detection with respect to the display. The touch detection circuit further generates an output signal including the motion value correlated in time with each of the hovering detection and touching detection. The output signal may be processed as a user interface control signal. The output signal may also be processed to determine an impulsive strength of the touching detection as a function of an elapsed time between hover and touch and the measured motion values. | 01-09-2014 |
20140004905 | DIRECTIONAL CAPACITIVE PROXIMITY SENSOR WITH BOOTSTRAPPING | 01-02-2014 |
20140002108 | CAPACITIVE PROXIMITY SENSOR WITH ENABLED TOUCH DETECTION | 01-02-2014 |
20130322784 | 2D RINGING AND OVERSHOOT CONTROL IN IMAGE RESCALING - The methods and systems of this invention allow for independent adaptive control of ringing and overshoot effects in 2-dimensional array interpolation processes, including in image and video rescaling and analysis. The methods and systems can use either a column-wise or a row-wise interpolation, or a combination thereof. Each uses a respective preliminary interpolation of data, followed by ringing and/or overshoot control. Controllable parameters allow variability in the amount of ringing and/or overshoot retained in the interpolated data. The ringing and overshoot controls apply a local analysis of the data to adjust the preliminary interpolation results. The methods may be repeated iteratively, for example, to obtain a desired rescaling of an image data array. | 12-05-2013 |
20130250178 | PHASE MOTION DETECTOR FOR BASEBAND YC SEPARATION - Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a motion detection system for video signal processing that includes a luminance motion detector, a chroma motion detector, and a smoothness detector. These systems and methods may also include a phase motion detector, a baseband YC separation circuitry for video signal processing, a chip for video signal processing, and a video signal processing system used in an electronic article. | 09-26-2013 |
20130170666 | ADAPTIVE SELF-CALIBRATION OF SMALL MICROPHONE ARRAY BY SOUNDFIELD APPROXIMATION AND FREQUENCY DOMAIN MAGNITUDE EQUALIZATION - Methods and apparatus for self-calibration of small-microphone arrays are described. In one embodiment, self-calibration is based upon a mathematical approximation for which a detected response by one microphone should approximately equal a combined response from plural microphones in the array. In a second embodiment, self-calibration is based upon matching gains in each of a plurality of Bark frequency bands, and applying the matched gains to frequency domain microphone signals such that the magnitude response of all the microphones in the array approximates an average magnitude response for the array. The methods and apparatus may be implemented in hearing aids or small audio devices and used to mitigate adverse aging and mechanical effects on acoustic performance of small-microphone arrays in these systems. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170520 | TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR IMAGE SENSORS - An integrated temperature sensor provides an output current proportional to temperature rising from a zero value at a selectable reference temperature. The reference temperature can be selected by varying resistive values in the sensor's circuit. The temperature sensor can be manufactured at low cost and fully integrated on a chip using CMOS technology, and may be used for low-power applications. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169456 | TESTING OF ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS - Complete testing of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can be carried out using digital signals and at high speeds. Circuit elements are added to an ADC so that a first phase of testing may be carried out using a limited number of analog test voltages. The ADC may then be reconfigured using added circuit elements to disable conventional analog-to-digital conversion. A digital signal may then be applied to the ADC to rapidly test all switching elements used in analog-to-digital conversion. According to some implementations, testing times for ADCs may be reduced from hours to milliseconds. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169312 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING INPUT CURRENT SPIKE FOR DRIVE CIRCUITRY - A circuit includes a plurality of logic gates and a drive circuit. The plurality of logic gates are coupled between a first supply node and a second supply node. Each logic gate has at least one input and consumes a short circuit current during a logic state transition. The drive circuit is coupled to the inputs of the plurality of logic gates to deliver a copy of an input signal to each logic gate, wherein the input signal copies arrive at the inputs of the logic gates at substantially different times. The circuit may be incorporated in a touch screen panel and a display. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169295 | LEAKAGE CURRENT COMPENSATION CIRCUIT - Circuitry is described for compensating leakage currents in capacitive sensing circuits. A single active leakage compensation circuit may sense a representative leakage current and drive a plurality of output transistors, each of which provides a compensating current to a respective capacitive sensing circuit. The leakage compensation circuit may sense current flow through a device substantially equivalent to a device exhibiting leakage current in a capacitive sensing circuit, and in response, provide a signal to drive one or more output transistors to supply approximately equivalent currents to a plurality of circuit nodes. For embodiments having multiple similar capacitive sensors and capacitive sensing circuits, only one transistor need be added to each capacitive sensing circuit to compensate for leakage current. | 07-04-2013 |
20130168898 | COMPENSATING MOLD PLUNGER FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MANUFACTURE - A device and method for manufacturing integrated circuit packaging using a mold plunger with position compensation in a manufacturing setting. In an embodiment, a compensating mold plunger, which may be used during the manufacture of an integrated circuit package, engages a die set on a carrier and within a bushing. This may be done to inject a mold compound on top of the die/carrier. If the bushing that is housing the die/carrier tandem is misaligned with the plunger in any lateral direction, the amount of pressure may be compromised. A compensating mold plunger includes a flexible portion that allows for the head of the plunger to properly engage the die/carrier despite any possible misalignments. Further, different die/carrier combinations may also be used with a compensating mold plunger because the pressure and force applied may be uniform inside a bushing despite the contents of the bushing. | 07-04-2013 |
20130161806 | WINDOW CLAMP TOP PLATE FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGING - A device and method for minimizing the forces that may compromise a lead frame mount to a support structure in an integrated circuit die package during various packaging method steps. When a window clamp is used to provide pressure during a lead frame bonding step or during a wire bonding step during packaging, the vertical force applied by the window clamp may be transferred in lateral direction by the physical contour of the top plate of the support structure. By changing the physical contour of the top plate of the support structure, such as by disposing a specific kind of contoured protrusion, one may minimize or eliminate the lateral forces that act against achieving a solid bond of the lead frame to the support structure. Further, during wire bonding, the same minimization or elimination of lateral forces lead to improved wire bonding. | 06-27-2013 |
20130160518 | RELATIVE HUMIDITY SENSOR AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATION THEREOF - A device having an integrated circuit that includes a relative humidity sensor as well as a memory element for storing calibration information for the relative humidity sensor. Because of the nature of fabrication of an integrated circuit for a relative humidity sensor, variances in the creation of electronic components therein may lead to a need to calibrate the sensor after assembly. Such calibration information may be ascertained at the time of fabrication and stored in a memory component disposed on the integrated circuit chip. By storing the calibration information, which may be determined at the time of fabrication, one does not need to determine such calibration information later at assembly or store the already determined calibration information in a remote location until assembly if it was, in fact, ascertained at fabrication. Then, at assembly, one needs only to read the calibration information in order to calibrate the relative humidity sensor. | 06-27-2013 |
20130148814 | AUDIO ACQUISITION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Audio acquisition systems and methods to determine a direction of arrival of an audio signal are disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a continuous sampling stage configured to receive audio information and to generate one or more correlations from the received audio information, and a processing stage configured to receive the one or more correlations and to generate direction of arrival information for the audio information. In another embodiment, a method includes generating audio signals from an ambient acoustic environment, and performing beamforming on the generated audio signals. The method further includes calculating signal-to-interference ratios from the beamformed signals, forming correlations between the signal-to-interference ratios and audio sampling angles, selecting at least one correlation based upon predetermined selection criteria, and determining a direction of arrival for the audio signals. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147741 | INTERLACE ROW SCAN - A touch screen panel is operated with an interlaced scanning pattern. All of the even rows are scanned first, followed by all of the odd rows. The interlacing method reduces the chance of a slow response due to a missed scan by 50%. The interlacing method can expanded to scan every other 3rd line or 4th line for further improvement in performance. | 06-13-2013 |
20130139587 | TUNABLE HUMIDITY SENSOR WITH INTEGRATED HEATER - A capacitive humidity sensor includes a first electrode, a humidity sensitive dielectric layer, and a second electrode. The humidity sensitive dielectric layer is between the first and the second electrodes. The humidity sensitive dielectric layer is etched at selected regions to form hollow regions between the first and second electrodes. | 06-06-2013 |
20130128122 | GENERAL BANDING AND CODEC BANDING ARTIFACT REMOVAL - A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying and removing banding artifacts (i.e., false contours) resulting from insufficient bit depth caused by digital image quantization, conversion, and/or compression. This method includes: explicitly identifying texture block and flat block; de-termination of filter window sizes with the consideration of handling transitions between texture block and flat block; de-banding filtering with edge protection; and noise shaping according to de-banding filter result. | 05-23-2013 |
20130121424 | MOTION COMPENSATED DE-BLOCKING - Digital noise removal methods and systems for picture quality improvement on next generation high quality set-top-box and digital TV SOCs is disclosed with particular to a de-blocking method and system that is effective on on-grid and off-grid blocky artifacts generated by lossy video compression standards. Blocky artifacts are filtered by extracting motions vectors for a current pixel block, calculating off-grid positions based on the extracted motion vectors, and applying de-blocking filtering along the calculated off-grid positions. The methods and systems can further skip filtering on-grid blocky artifacts to be filtered by an on-grid de-blocking filter known in the art. | 05-16-2013 |
20130111555 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURITY USING A SIBLING SMART CARD | 05-02-2013 |
20130093085 | DUAL INTERLOCK HEATSINK ASSEMBLY FOR ENHANCED CAVITY PBGA PACKAGES, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A semiconductor package is provided, including a laminate substrate with an aperture sized to receive a semiconductor die. Through-holes in the substrate are filled with a thermally conductive adhesive. A first heat spreader is attached to the by the adhesive, and a semiconductor die is positioned in the aperture with a back face in thermal contact with the heat spreader. Wire bonds couple the die to electrical traces on the substrate. A second heat spreader is attached by the adhesive to the substrate over the die, directly opposite the first heat spreader. A portion of the second heat spreader is encapsulated in molding compound. Openings in the second heat spreader admits molding compound to fill the space around the die between the heat spreaders. Heat is transmitted from the die to the first spreader, and thence, via the through-holes and conductive paste, to the second heat spreader. | 04-18-2013 |
20130069805 | LOW EMI KEYPAD CIRCUITRY - Disclosed is keypad circuitry operable to detect a pressed key while reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). The keypad circuitry is operable to reduce EMI in two ways: a) reducing the voltage swing occurring at the row circuitry and column circuitry of the keypad, and b) reducing the number of signal transitions by restricting the signal transitions to occurring at the column and row corresponding to a pressed key. By limiting signal transitions to occurring only at the row and column corresponding to a pressed key, fewer signal transitions occur, and thus, less EMI is produced. Additionally, reduced voltage swings at the row circuitry and column circuitry results in reduced EMI. | 03-21-2013 |
20130069218 | HIGH DENSITY PACKAGE INTERCONNECT WITH COPPER HEAT SPREADER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - The integrated circuit packaging techniques of the disclosed embodiments utilize a thermally conductive heat sink to partially enclose an integrated circuit. The heat sink is separated from the integrated circuit by a substrate that is conformally positioned into a recess in the heat sink, enabling the heat sink to transfer thermal energy from the integrated circuit. | 03-21-2013 |
20130063388 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN CONTROLLER IMPLEMENTING A SENSING METHOD FOR IMPROVED NOISE IMMUNITY - A capacitive touch sensor includes horizontal lines vertical lines. Switching circuitry is coupled to the horizontal and vertical lines of the capacitive touch sensor. The switching circuitry is operable in a first mode to configure the horizontal lines as receive lines and the vertical lines as transmit lines for making a cross-capacitance measurement. In one implementation, the switching circuit is further operable in a second mode to configure the horizontal lines as transmit lines and the vertical lines as receive lines for making an additional cross-capacitance measurement. In another implementation, the switching circuit is further operable in a second mode to configure the vertical lines for making a self capacitance measurement. The various capacitance measurements from the first and second modes are algorithmically combined to obtain a total capacitance measurement having a reduced noise component. | 03-14-2013 |
20130044894 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENT SOUND PRODUCTION USING DIRECTIONAL ENHANCEMENT - A system and method for generating virtual microphone signals having a particular number and configuration for channel playback from an intermediate set of signals that were recorded in an initial format that is different from the channel playback format. In one embodiment, an initial set of intermediate are Bark-banded such that each intermediate signal may lead to a corresponding power spectral density (PSD) signal representative of the initial intermediate signal. Further, one may generate cross-correlations signals for each pair of intermediate signals. Next, from the PSDs and cross correlations, one may more efficiently calculate corresponding channel signals to be used for playback on respective channel speakers. Thus, the PSDs of each channel signal may be generated at chosen angles (as well as other design factors). Further, each channel signal may also be further modified with a corresponding cancellation signal that further enhances the resultant signal in each channel. | 02-21-2013 |
20130041620 | SPINDLE SPEED DETECTION THROUGH CURRENT SENSING DURING BOOST BRAKING - A circuit includes a comparator having input terminals configured to be coupled across a drive transistor adapted to drive a phase of a motor. The comparator senses a drive current of the motor phase, said sensed drive current represented by a periodic signal whose period is indicative of motor speed. A motor speed calculation circuit receives the periodic signal and processes the periodic signal to determine a speed of the motor. | 02-14-2013 |
20130022091 | RECOVERING DATA FROM A SECONDARY ONE OF SIMULTANEOUS SIGNALS, SUCH AS ORTHOGONAL-FREQUENCY-DIVISION-MULTIPLEXED (OFDM) SIGNALS, THAT INCLUDE A SAME FREQUENCY - An embodiment of a receiver includes a channel estimator and a data-recovery unit. The channel estimator is configured to determine a characteristic of a channel over which a first signal, which is received simultaneously with a second signal, propagated, the first and second signals respectively having first and second components that include approximately a frequency. And the data-recovery unit is configured to recover data from the first signal in response to the determined channel characteristic. For example, such a receiver may be able to receive simultaneously, and over the same channel space, orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals that include one or more of the same subcarrier frequencies, and to recover data from one or more of the OFDM signals despite the frequency overlap. A receiver with this capability may allow an increase in the effective bandwidth of the channel space, and thus may allow more devices to simultaneously share the channel space. | 01-24-2013 |
20130012016 | ENHANCING METAL/LOW-K INTERCONNECT RELIABILITY USING A PROTECTION LAYER - A protection layer is coated or otherwise formed over the interconnect structure. The interconnect structure includes a metal line (such as top and bottom metal layers connected by a metal via) and a low-K material. The protection layer includes a vertically aligned dielectric or other material dispersed with carbon nanotubes. The protection layer could include one or multiple layers of carbon nanotubes, and the carbon nanotubes could have any suitable dispersion, alignment, and pattern in each layer of the protection layer. Among other things, the carbon nanotubes help to reduce or prevent damage to the interconnect structure, such as by reducing or preventing the collapse of the low-K material or delamination between the metal line and the low-K material. | 01-10-2013 |
20130002957 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LOCAL VIDEO DETECTOR FOR MIXED CADENCE SEQUENCE - Aspects of the invention are directed towards an apparatus and method for detecting local video pixels in mixed cadence video. The local video detector comprises a comb detector that is adaptive to the contour of moving objects and local contrast, a motion detector that is robust to false motion due to vertical details, and a fader value estimator that provides a video confidence value to a fader that combines film mode and video mode processing results. The coupling of the local video detector to a film mode detector increases the robustness, accuracy, and efficiency of local film/video mode processing as compared to the prior art. | 01-03-2013 |
20130002886 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INVERSE TELECINE WITH LOCAL VIDEO DE-INTERLACING - The present invention relates to systems and methods for inverse telecine or video de-interlacing for picture quality improvement on set-top-box and TV products. The system comprises a film mode detector at the picture or sequence level, a global mixed video and film content detector at the region, picture, or sequence level on top of the detected film content, and a local video content detector at pixel level on top of the detected mixed video and film content. Inverse telecine processing is applied on detected film content fading in with a locally de-interlaced local video content. The invention further provides an apparatus and method for globally detecting mixed video and film content at region, picture, or sequence level. Such apparatus and method comprise a plurality of detectors for robustness and increased detection accuracy. | 01-03-2013 |
20130002316 | RESET PULSE ENCODING AND DECODING SCHEME WITH NO INTERNAL CLOCK - An integrated circuit (IC) provides a reset function. The IC receives a command that is defined by a first sequence of counts of signal transitions of a first signal during windows of a second signal and provides a reset function when it is determined that the command is received. A device including the IC and a system including the device are provided. | 01-03-2013 |
20120300866 | SIMULTANEOUS TRANSMISSION OF SIGNALS, SUCH AS ORTHOGONAL-FREQUENCY-DIVISION-MULTIPLEXED (OFDM) SIGNALS, THAT INCLUDE A SAME FREQUENCY - An embodiment of a transmitter includes detection, generating, and transmission stages. The detection stage is configured to detect a first signal having a first component that includes a frequency, and the generating stage is configured to generate a data component that includes approximately the frequency in response to the detection of the first signal. The transmission stage is configured to transmit a second signal having the data component while the detection stage is detecting the first signal. For example, two or more such transmitters (e.g., two or more smart phones) may simultaneously transmit OFDM signals on the same subcarrier frequencies and over the same channel space. By allowing the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals on the same frequencies and over the same channel space, such a transmitter may increase the effective bandwidth of the channel space, and thus may allow more devices to simultaneously share the same channel space. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300140 | PATTERNED CONDUCTIVE LAYERS FOR SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - An ITO sensor design and method for making the same is optimized to minimize noise from an LCD. The design includes a two layer sensor design having a transmitter line (Tx) placed in a first layer and a receiver line (Rx) placed in a second layer in a diamond-shaped pattern. The diamond shape maximizes the sensitivity of the sensor. | 11-29-2012 |
20120287974 | RECOVERING DATA FROM A PRIMARY ONE OF SIMULTANEOUS SIGNALS, SUCH AS ORTHOGONAL-FREQUENCY-DIVISION-MULTIPLEXED (OFDM) SIGNALS, THAT INCLUDE A SAME FREQUENCY - An embodiment of a receiver includes signal- and data-recovery units. The signal-recovery unit is configured to recover a first component of a first signal that is received simultaneously with a second signal having a second component, the first and second components including approximately a frequency. And the data-recovery unit is configured to recover data from the first signal in response to the recovered first component. For example, such a receiver may be able to receive simultaneously, and over the same channel space, multiple orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals that include one or more of the same subcarrier frequencies, and to recover data from one or more of the OFDM signals despite the frequency overlap. A receiver with this capability may allow an increase in the effective bandwidth of the channel space, and thus may allow more devices (e.g., smart phones) to simultaneously share the same channel space. | 11-15-2012 |
20120286135 | LOW DROP-OUT REGULATOR WITH DISTRIBUTED OUTPUT NETWORK - Disclosed is a low drop-out voltage regulator circuit with a distributed output network coupled to a pixel array for use in image sensor circuitry. The regulator circuit comprises voltage regulating circuitry and a distributed output network, wherein the distributed output network comprises drive transistors disposed along and connected between a supply track and an output track. The spatial distribution of the drive transistors improves heat dissipation within the regulator circuit, and a combination of low current flow and regulated output voltage reduces IR drop across the output track. The improved heat dissipation increases device lifespan and performance, whereas the reduction in IR drop across the output track provides better pixel response, readout uniformity, and image quality. | 11-15-2012 |
20120235254 | METHOD OF FORMING A DIE HAVING AN IC REGION ADJACENT A MEMS REGION - A method that includes forming a first layer having a first dopant concentration, the first layer having an integrated circuit region and a micro-electromechanical region and doping the micro-electromechanical region of the first layer to have a second dopant concentration is presented. The method includes forming a second layer having a third dopant concentration overlying the first layer, doping the second layer that overlies the micro-electromechanical region to have a fourth dopant concentration, forming a micro-electromechanical structure in the micro-electromechanical region using the first and second layers, and forming active components in the integrated circuit region using the second layer. | 09-20-2012 |
20120170864 | PERCEPTUAL BLOCK MASKING ESTIMATION SYSTEM - Systems and methods are disclosed for determining the perceptibility of noise in a block of images and/or video. The systems and methods may compute a mask value for the block using a block masking generator. The mask value may indicate the perceptibility of noise in the block. The mask value may be computed using a normalized activity value and/or a texture value for the block. The normalized activity value may indicate the relative activity in the block as compared to the activity in the image and/or video. The texture value may indicate the strength and/or number of edges in the block. | 07-05-2012 |
20120168909 | RADIATION HARDENED BIPOLAR INJUNCTION TRANSISTOR - A method for integrating a bipolar injunction transistor in a semiconductor chip includes the steps of forming an intrinsic base region of a second type of conductivity extending in the collector region from a main surface through an intrinsic base window of the sacrificial insulating layer, forming an emitter region of the first type of conductivity extending in the intrinsic base region from the main surface through an emitter window of the sacrificial insulating layer, removing the sacrificial insulating layer, forming an intermediate insulating layer on the main surface, and forming an extrinsic base region of the second type of conductivity extending in the intrinsic base region from the main surface through an extrinsic base window of the intermediate insulating layer | 07-05-2012 |
20120165635 | COMPENSATING FOR TEMPERATURE DRIFTS DURING GLUCOSE SENSING - Temperature variations in a patient's body can lead to inaccurate glucose readings. To compensate for changes in temperature, the temperature at a glucose sensing site can be sensed using a thermocouple. A compensated glucose level can be determined based on the temperature and the sensed glucose level. A glucose sensing device is described that includes a glucose sensor having a working electrode and a thermocouple having a junction positioned proximate the working electrode, with both the glucose and temperature sensors including the same metals. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163622 | NOISE DETECTION AND REDUCTION IN AUDIO DEVICES - Methods and apparatuses for detection and reduction of wind noise in audio devices are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes acquiring and transforming the audio signals. Correlations from the transformed audio signals are computed. A cross correlation index is compared to a predetermined value to determine if a wind noise spectral content is present. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes an audio processing unit to receive non-decomposed audio signals, and an audio decomposition unit to receive the non-decomposed audio signals and to generate decomposed audio signals. A wind noise spectrum estimation unit receives non-decomposed audio signals and decomposed audio signals and identifies wind noise spectral components in at least one of the non-decomposed and decomposed audio signals. A wind noise spectrum reduction unit receives the wind noise spectral components and removes the wind noise spectral components from at least one of the non-decomposed and the decomposed audio signals. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162439 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXOTIC CADENCE DETECTION - Aspects of the invention are directed towards an apparatus and method for detecting conventional and exotic cadences in video sequences. The cadence detector includes a motion auto-correlation unit using the inter-frame/field motion information to detect the cadence and a motion cross-correlation unit using the inter-frame/field motion information and the detected cadence to determine the cadence phase. The cadence detector also may include a reset signal generator to generate a reset signal to control the motion auto-correlation unit and the motion cross-correlation unit. The exotic cadence detector is robust and may support many cadences with reduced cadence detection latency as compared to the prior art. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161949 | ACUATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING AN ELECTRICALLY DEFORMABLE MATERIAL - Actuation systems and devices using an electrically deformable material are disclosed. In the embodiments, a bidirectional actuator assembly includes a first unit including an electrically deformable material coupleable to an activation voltage and configured to provide a displacement in a first direction when the activation voltage is applied to the first unit. A second unit is serially electrically coupled to the first unit and includes an electrically deformable material coupleable to the activation voltage and configured to provide a displacement in a second direction that is different from the first direction when the activation voltage is applied to the second unit. A unidirectional actuator assembly includes at least one unit including an electrically deformable material coupleable to an activation voltage, wherein the electrically deformable material provides a displacement in a selected direction when the activation voltage is applied to the at least one unit. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161851 | HIGH BANDWIDTH SWITCH DESIGN - An analog switch includes a transistor having a current path between an input and an output, a gate coupled to a control terminal, and a bulk terminal, and a switched bulk control circuit coupled to the control terminal, the bulk terminal, and ground to reduce an equivalent capacitance seen from a source terminal or drain terminal of the transistor towards the bulk terminal of the transistor. The bulk control circuit includes an all-NMOS bulk control circuit if an NMOS transistor switch is used. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161846 | CAPACITIVE TO VOLTAGE SENSING CIRCUIT - A circuit for converting a measured variable capacitance to an output voltage signal includes a charge amplifier circuit selectively coupled to an integrator circuit. The charge amplifier circuit, in one implementation, is configured as a high pass filter. In another implementation, the charge amplifier circuit is configured as a combination high pass and low pass filter. The charge amplifier circuit is selectively coupled to the integrator circuit when the circuit forces a switch in voltage across a measurement capacitor. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161794 | SYNC SIGNAL GENERATOR FOR A CAPACITIVE SENSOR - A sync signal generator for a capacitive sensor includes a charge amplifier having an input for coupling to an inactive receive line in the capacitive sensor, a first comparator having a first input for receiving a first threshold voltage, a second input coupled to an output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a first sync signal, and a second comparator having a first input for receiving a second threshold voltage, a second input coupled to the output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a second sync signal. The charge amplifier includes an operational amplifier having a feedback circuit including a capacitor and a switch. The first threshold voltage is provided by a first digital-to-analog converter, and the second threshold voltage is provided by a second digital-to-analog converter. | 06-28-2012 |
20120155783 | DIRECTIONAL ANTI-ALIASING FILTER - A directional anti-aliasing filter circuit includes an input node and an output node, a directional anti-aliasing filter having an input coupled to the input node, an adaptive gain control having an input coupled to an output of the directional anti-aliasing filter, a summer having a first input coupled to an output of the adaptive gain control, a second input coupled to the input node, and an output coupled to the output node, a texture detector for providing a texture adjust signal to the directional anti-aliasing filter and a texture adaptive gain signal to the adaptive gain control, an edge detector for providing an edge direction signal to the directional anti-aliasing filter, and a corner detector for providing a corner adaptive gain signal to the adaptive gain control. | 06-21-2012 |
20120155588 | CLOCK RESYNCHRONIZATION CIRCUIT AND METHOD - A control circuit receives a first clock signal at a first frequency, a frequency division signal specifying a divisor number, and a second clock signal at a second frequency (higher than the first frequency). The control circuit includes a phase control block that defines non-overlapping portions of a pulse of the second clock to include center, left and right portions. A determination is then made as to whether an edge of the first clock is located within the center portion. In response to such a determination, a number of periods of the second clock signal which occur within one or more periods of the first clock signal is compared to a number derived from the divisor number to generate a frequency selection signal indicative of that comparison. A controlled oscillator circuit generates the second clock signal at the second frequency, wherein the second frequency is specified by the frequency selection signal. To the extent the edge of the first clock is located within either the left or right portions, phase adjustment is made to move the edge towards the center portion. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154275 | USER CONTROLLED DEVICE FOR SENDING CONTROL SIGNALS TO AN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE, IN PARTICULAR USER CONTROLLED POINTING DEVICE SUCH AS MOUSE OR JOYSTICK, WITH 3D-MOTION DETECTION - A user controlled device, movable into a plurality of positions of a three-dimensional space, includes a MEMS acceleration sensor to detect 3D movements of the user controlled device. The device, such as a mouse, sends control signals correlated to the detected positions to an electrical appliance, such as a computer system. A microcontroller processes the output signals of the MEMS acceleration sensor to generate the control signals, such as screen pointer position signals and “clicking” functions. | 06-21-2012 |
20120153991 | COMPARATOR WITH OFFSET COMPENSATION AND IMPROVED DYNAMIC RANGE - A comparator having first and second stages can provide component offset compensation and improved dynamic range. The first stage can receive first and second input signals and produce first and second output signals. The second stage can be coupled to the first stage to receive the first and second output signals at first and second input terminals of the second stage. The second stage can provide a voltage to the first and second terminals that differs from the supply voltage by less than a voltage of a diode drop. The comparator is operable to receive input voltages that reach the supply voltage. | 06-21-2012 |
20120153973 | ON-CHIP MEASUREMENT OF CAPACITANCE FOR MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) ACTUATOR CIRCUIT - A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator circuit and method. The circuit includes a current mirror, a voltage divider having an interior contact and coupled between the mirror output and a potential, an operational amplifier having an input coupled to the interior contact and a switch having input/output contacts separately coupled to the amplifier output and the mirror input and having a switch control. The amplifier output can be coupled to a digital control circuit which can be coupled to the switch control contact and to a digital to analog circuit (DAC) which can be coupled to the digital control circuit and to another amplifier input. An enable signal at the switch control couples the switch input/output contacts together. The capacitance of a MEMS capacitor coupled to the mirror output is determined by measurement of time for the amplifier output to switch from one level to another following a change in DAC output potential. | 06-21-2012 |
20120146825 | CYCLIC DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER (DAC) WITH CAPACITOR SWAPPING - A cyclic digital-to-analog converter includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. Switching circuitry is selectively configurable to connect the first and second capacitors is at least two modes of operation, wherein a first mode uses the first capacitor during conversion of a bit as a sampling capacitor and uses the second capacitor during conversion of that bit as a holding capacitor, and wherein a second mode uses the second capacitor during conversion of a bit as a sampling capacitor and uses the first capacitor during conversion of that bit as a holding capacitor. A controller swaps converter operation between the first and second modes based on the bit values of a digital word to be converted. If adjacent bits of the digital word to be converted have different logical values, the converter swaps from the first mode to the second mode (or from the second mode to the first mode). Otherwise, the converted remains in the current first or second mode. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146657 | SHORT-CIRCUIT DETECTION FOR TOUCH PANELS - A short circuit detection module for a touch panel includes first and second short circuit detection circuits. The first short circuit detection circuit is coupled to a first conductive line of the touch panel. The first short circuit detection circuit is configured to drive the first conductive line with a first signal having a first logic level. The second short circuit detection circuit is coupled to second, adjacent, conductive line of the touch panel. The second short circuit detection circuit is configured to drive the second conductive line with a second signal having a second logic level that is complementary to the first logic level. | 06-14-2012 |
20120133836 | FRAME LEVEL QUANTIZATION ESTIMATION - A frame level noise estimate for an image can be determined. An image processor includes a high pass filter unit configured to perform high-pass spatial filtering of image data for first and second frames to produce high-pass spatially filtered information for the first frame and the second frame. A cumulative histogram generator is configured to analyze the high-pass spatially filtered information for the first frame and the second frame to produce a first cumulative histogram for the first frame and a second cumulative histogram for the second frame. A comparator is configured to determine a difference value between the first and second cumulative histograms. A mapping unit is configured to determine an estimated noise value based on the difference value. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133391 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR ADDING DITHER TO VERTICAL DROOP COMPENSATION USING LINEAR FEEDBACK SHIFT REGISTERS - Vertical dithering is performed for vertical droop compensation in image processing using Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSRs). Line memories are not used. A compensation circuit includes a signature reload input signal coupled to the input of five LFSRs. Each LFSR includes a signature store. The output of each LFSR provides a sequence output signal that is gated with a corresponding enable signal in a first logic circuit. The output of all of the first logic circuits are combined in a second logic circuit to provide a control signal output. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133284 | SYSTEM FOR REPROGRAMMING POWER PARAMETERS FOR LIGHT EMITTING DIODES - According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) modules in series are monitored. When an LED module is detected as failing or operating inadequately, a bypass switch removes the particular LED module from the series and the voltage provided to the series is modified. When the LED modules are detected as having too high of a temperature, the current provided to the LED modules is limited. | 05-31-2012 |
20120120001 | CHARGE AMPLIFIER FOR MULTI-TOUCH CAPACITIVE TOUCH-SCREEN - A circuit for measuring the cross-capacitance of a touch-screen sensor includes a charge amplifier having an input for coupling to the touch-screen sensor and an output for providing a voltage pulse, and a measurement delay chain having an input coupled to the output, and an output for providing a digitized output signal of the voltage pulse width, which is proportional to the value of the cross-capacitance. | 05-17-2012 |
20120114080 | DETERMINING RESPONSES OF RAPIDLY VARYING MIMO-OFDM COMMUNICATION CHANNELS USING OBSERVATION SCALARS - In an embodiment, a channel estimator includes first, second, and third stages. The first stage is configurable to generate a first observation scalar for a first communication path of a first communication channel, and the second stage is configurable to generate a second observation scalar for a first communication path of a second communication channel. And the third stage is configurable to generate channel-estimation coefficients in response to the first and second observation scalars. For example, such a channel estimator may use a recursive algorithm, such as a Vector State Scalar Observation (VSSO) Kalman algorithm, to estimate the responses of channels over which propagate simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) that suffer from inter-carrier interference (ICI) due to Doppler spread. Such a channel estimator may estimate the channel responses more accurately, more efficiently, with a less-complex algorithm, and with less-complex software or circuitry, than conventional channel estimators. | 05-10-2012 |
20120114069 | PILOT PATTERN FOR OBSERVATION SCALAR MIMO-OFDM - In an embodiment, a transmitter includes first and second transmission paths. The first transmission path is configurable to generate first pilot clusters each including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position, and the second transmission path is configurable to generate second pilot clusters each including a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to use a recursive algorithm, such as a Vector State Scalar Observation (VSSO) Kalman algorithm, to estimate the responses of these channels. | 05-10-2012 |
20120114053 | DETERMINING A RESPONSE OF A RAPIDLY VARYING OFDM COMMUNICATION CHANNEL USING AN OBSERVATION SCALAR - In an embodiment, a channel estimator includes first and second stages. The first stage is configurable to generate an observation scalar for a communication path of a communication channel, and the second stage is configurable to generate channel-estimation coefficients in response to the first observation scalar. For example, such a channel estimator may use a recursive algorithm, such as a VSSO Kalman algorithm, to estimate the response of a channel over which propagates an OFDM signal that suffers from ICI due to Doppler spread. Such a channel estimator may estimate the channel response more accurately, more efficiently, with a less-complex algorithm, and with less-complex software or circuitry, than conventional channel estimators. Furthermore, such a channel estimator may be able to dynamically account for changes in the number of communication paths that compose the channel, changes in the delays of these paths, and changes in the signal-energy levels of these paths. | 05-10-2012 |
20120112817 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITANCE SENSING - A capacitance-to-digital converter for an extended range of capacitances includes a reference capacitor and one or more offset capacitors. Electrical charge accumulated in the offset capacitors is used to at least partially cancel the charge accumulated in a sensed capacitance to facilitate matching with a charge accumulated in the reference capacitor. The residual charge is passed to an integrator, the output from which is quantized and used to control switching of the capacitors. Immunity to tonal external noises and improved conversion speed are achieved by controlling the capacitor switching with a spread spectrum clock. The capacitance-to-digital converter may be used, for example, for sensing of the capacitances of capacitive elements in touch and proximity displays or other user interfaces. | 05-10-2012 |
20120112803 | PROCESS, TEMPERATURE, PART AND SETTING INDEPENDENT RESET PULSE ENCODING AND DECODING SCHEME - A method of generating a reset signal for an integrated circuit without a dedicated reset pin includes calibrating a first clock pulse from a clock signal, measuring a second clock pulse from the clock signal, measuring a third clock pulse from the clock signal, and generating an internal reset signal if the first clock pulse width is longer than a predetermined minimum clock pulse width, if the second clock pulse is within an expected first value range, and if the third clock pulse is within an expected second value range. | 05-10-2012 |
20120105713 | LOW PROFILE CHIP SCALE MODULE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME - A low profile chip scale module and method of making of the same. The low profile chip scale module includes embedded SMD and integrated EM shielding. An adhesive layer is arranged on a substrate, e.g., chip carrier. Dies and SMDs are arranged on the adhesive layer. An etched frame and molding is attached to the substrate. Inputs/outputs (I/O) are formed and the substrate is coated with a dielectric material. Metal lines and connections among bond pads are formed and another layer of dielectric material is applied as a protective layer. The substrate is cut into various predetermined sizes and a lens is attached to form the chip scale module. | 05-03-2012 |
20120098973 | AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY SELECTION FOR PEAKING - An automatic frequency selection circuit includes a base filter for receiving a video input, a peaking filter for receiving the video input, a first energy computation unit coupled to an output of the base filter, a second energy computation unit coupled to an output of the peaking filter, an automatic frequency control unit to compare relative measured energies of the first and second energy computation units and to output a temporarily stable selected frequency for a targeted attenuation, and a frame delay feedback unit for receiving the temporarily stable selected frequency coupled to the peaking filter. | 04-26-2012 |
20120092358 | Noise-robust edge enhancement system and method for improved image sharpness - A system for edge enhancement includes an input unit to receive an input signal Yin, a vertical enhancement unit to perform a vertical enhancement of an edge of the input signal Yin to generate an output YEV, and a horizontal enhancement unit to perform a horizontal enhancement of the edge of the input signal Yin to generate an output YEH. The system also includes a local gradient analysis unit to generate a local gradient direction GradDir and a local gradient magnitude GradMag based at least partly upon the input signal Yin, and a mixer to generate an output Yout by mixing the output YEV with the output YEH using the local gradient direction GradDir. The system further includes an output unit to output the output Yout. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092201 | System and method for compact cyclic digital to analog converter - A system for implementing a cyclic digital to analog converter (c-DAC) is capable of supporting a large size liquid crystal display. The system includes an upper DAC stage configured to output a first voltage between a lower voltage supply (HVDD) and an upper voltage supply (AVDD). The system also includes a lower DAC stage configured to output a second voltage between the lower voltage supply (HVDD) and a ground. The upper DAC stage includes a single PMOS switch and the lower DAC stage includes a single NMOS switch. | 04-19-2012 |
20120085748 | CLOSED LOOP TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED CIRCUIT TO IMPROVE DEVICE STABILITY - An integrated circuit is provided having an active circuit. A heating element is adjacent to the active circuit and configured to heat the active circuit. A temperature sensor is also adjacent to the active circuit and configured to measure a temperature of the active circuit. A temperature controller is coupled to the active circuit and configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor. The temperature controller operates the heating element to heat the active circuit to maintain the temperature of the active circuit in a selected temperature range. | 04-12-2012 |
20120074592 | WAFER-LEVEL PACKAGING METHOD USING COMPOSITE MATERIAL AS A BASE - An electronic package that includes a composite material base. In one embodiment the electronic package is an expanded wafer-level package. The composite material base is composed of woven strands and polymer material. In one embodiment the composite material base is composed of woven fiberglass strands and an epoxy material. In various embodiments the package includes an electronic circuitry layer on one or another face of the composite material base. In other embodiments conductive vias connect the circuitry layers, including a redistribution layer. In yet another embodiment an electronic package is mounted on the composite material base and electrically couples to the circuit of the expanded wafer-level package. The package having the composite material base is mechanically stronger and can be made thinner than a package that relies on an encapsulant material for structure, and resists cracking. | 03-29-2012 |
20120070145 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SHIELDING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES FROM LIGHT - The present disclosure is directed to a camera module that includes at least a semiconducting die, an image-sensing circuit, a lens, a lens aperture, and a coating that adheres to an exterior surface of the camera module. The coating is opaque to light and prevents light from accessing the camera other than through the lens aperture. The opaque coating is applied as a fluid and is cured. In one embodiment, a mask material is selectively applied to exterior surfaces of the semiconducting die, electrical interconnect layers, glass layers, the lens body, or the lens aperture. After applying the opaque coating, the selectively applied mask material is removed. Methods of selectively applying a mask material include applying a conformable and peelably releasable dope-like material, placing an array of joined, selectively shaped rigid masks over an array of assemblies, and applying a conformable mask material that is heat-expandable. | 03-22-2012 |
20120058255 | CARBON NANOTUBE-CONDUCTIVE POLYMER COMPOSITES, METHODS OF MAKING AND ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM - Electrically conductive polymer materials, such as mixtures of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) are combined with functionalized carbon nanotubes to form composites that exhibit increased electrical conductivity. Functionalized or non-functionalized carbon nanotubes combined with the same electrically conductive polymer materials are combined with non-conductive polymers to increase the electrical conductivity of the non-conductive polymer. The functionalized carbon nanotubes are functionalized with carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups. The resulting materials are useful in methods of forming electrically conductive films and electrically conductive features. | 03-08-2012 |
20120056821 | METHOD TO PARAMETERIZE AND RECOGNIZE CIRCULAR GESTURES ON TOUCH SENSITIVE SURFACES - A method to parameterize and recognize circular gestures on touch sensitive surfaces includes dividing the touch sensitive surface into four quadrants, detecting a transition from a first quadrant into a second quadrant, time-stamping and tracking each detected quadrant transition, and computing the time between quadrant transitions so that the circular speed and direction of the circular gestures on the touch sensitive surface can be detected. The detected direction can be either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction. | 03-08-2012 |
20120045008 | PILOT PATTERN FOR MIMO OFDM - In an embodiment, a transmitter includes a transmission path that is configurable to generate first pilot clusters each including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position and a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to estimate the responses of these channels more accurately than conventional receivers. | 02-23-2012 |
20120035936 | INFORMATION REUSE IN LOW POWER SCALABLE HYBRID AUDIO ENCODERS - A system and method of reusing information in low power scalable hybrid audio encoders. The system and method provides a transform coder and parameterization of high frequency spectrum (SBR). | 02-09-2012 |
20120028397 | ULTRA-THIN QUAD FLAT NO-LEAD (QFN) PACKAGE - An ultra-thin Quad Flat No-Lead (QFN) semiconductor chip package having a leadframe with lead terminals formed by recesses from both the top and bottom surfaces and substantially aligned contact areas formed on either the top or bottom surfaces. A die is electrically connected to the plurality of lead terminals and a molding compound encapsulates the leadframe and die together so as to form the ultra-thin QFN package. Accordingly, the substantially aligned contact areas are exposed on both the top and bottom surfaces of the package. The present disclosure also provides an ultra-thin Optical Quad Flat No-Lead (OQFN) semiconductor chip package, a stacked semiconductor module comprising at least two QFN semiconductor chip packages, and a method for manufacturing an ultra-thin Quad Flat No-Lead (QFN) semiconductor packages. | 02-02-2012 |
20120001643 | SENSING PHASE SEQUENCE TO SUPPRESS SINGLE TONE NOISE - A noise suppression method for a capacitance-to-voltage converter varies a sequence of sensing signal edges during a plurality capacitance measurements to produce a number of noise responses. The sensing signal edges are varied in a repetitive rising and falling edge pattern for each sequence. Three or more such sequences can be used, and the sequence with the highest noise is eliminated and the others are averaged. The noise suppression method can be implemented during calibration and then used for a number of normal acquisitions. The noise suppression method can be applied to capacitance-to-voltage converters having monitoring and integration phases. | 01-05-2012 |
20110316812 | IMAGE SENSOR CONTROL OVER A VARIABLE FUNCTION OR OPERATION - A device has a variable function or operation. An image sensor system is provided for the device. The image sensor system is responsive to light rays indicative of whether an object is present on an imaging window. For example, the image sensor system may be of the frustrated total internal reflection type, the light rays detected by the image sensor system comprising reflected light from the window at locations where the object is not present. The image sensor system outputs image information indicative of the detection of the light rays. A processing circuit processes the image information to detect the presence of the object on the imaging window. A control signal is generated by the processing circuit in response to that detected presence, the control signal causing the variable function or operation of the device to vary in response to the detected presence and/or movement of the object. | 12-29-2011 |
20110261550 | USE OF CONDUCTIVE PAINT AS A METHOD OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE SHIELDING ON SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - A conductive paint electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield for an electronic module or device. The conductive paint is composed of metal particles suspended in a fluidic carrier. In one embodiment, the conductive paint is sprayed onto exterior surfaces of an electronic module or device from a spray gun. The sprayed conductive paint is cured to remove the fluidic carrier, leaving a metal film coated to the outside of the module or device. In one embodiment used with electronic packages in array form, grooves are cut into an encapsulation material of a module so that the shield protection includes sidewalls of the package. In another embodiment used with camera modules, masking is used to selectively shield portions of the module. In a further embodiment, the shield is electrically connected to a ground conductor of a circuit of the electronic module. | 10-27-2011 |
20110242052 | MULTIPLE TOUCH LOCATION IN A THREE DIMENSIONAL TOUCH SCREEN SENSOR - A touch screen capable of correctly identifying multiple touches employs multiple active line arrays oriented to provide multi-dimensional data. Three arrays of capacitance based active lines are each distinctly oriented to form a plurality of intersections. A first and second array are generally oriented perpendicularly while a third array is oriented to bisect the resulting matrix such that the active lines of the third array also intersect the existing vertices. As a result of a touch each active line array identifies the location of the touch from three distinct directions. Ambiguity from dual touch scenarios existing in dual array systems is removed by providing an additional reference. | 10-06-2011 |
20110241843 | BATTERY-LESS OPERATED BI-STABLE DISPLAY BY WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION - Updating content of e-paper ESL device(s) otherwise in a powered-down state is disclosed. One or more e-paper ESL devices need only be turned on when it is desired or needed to change and update content displayed. Transmission of a wireless energy burst having a magnetic resonating power coupling characteristic powers up the e-paper ESL device from a powered-down to powered-up state. The content of the e-paper ESL device can then be changed in accordance with data and instructions transmitted with the wireless energy burst. | 10-06-2011 |
20110234528 | SAMPLE AND HOLD CAPACITANCE TO DIGITAL CONVERTER - A circuit for converting charge measured from a touch screen into a digital signal can include a sample and hold circuit. The sample and hold circuit can sample and integrate a charge from a capacitive sense matrix, and hold a voltage signal representing the measured charge. A sigma delta converter can convert the voltage into a digital value. | 09-29-2011 |
20110221580 | MINIMIZATION OF POWER CONSUMPTION OF REMOTE CONTROLLED APPLIANCES - Power consumption of an appliance under remote control is minimized. The appliance receives a wireless energy burst having a wireless magnetic resonating power coupling characteristic transmitted by a remote control device. The appliance is powered up from a powered-down state to a standby mode if the appliance is in the powered-down state when the wireless energy burst is received and the energy burst is of sufficient energy to activate a switched mode power supply of the appliance. | 09-15-2011 |
20110216906 | ENABLING 3D SOUND REPRODUCTION USING A 2D SPEAKER ARRANGEMENT - The perception of 3D sound positioning can be achieved using a 2D arrangement of speakers positioned around the listener. The disclosed techniques can enable listeners to perceive sounds as coming from above and/or below them, without the need for positioning speakers above and/or below the listener. In some embodiments, elevation information can be included in the X and Y horizontal components of the 2D ambisonics encoding. The X and Y components can be decoded using 2D ambisonics decoding. Suitable filtering may be performed on the decoded sound information to enhance the listener's perception of the elevation information encoded in the X and Y components. | 09-08-2011 |
20110210808 | SWITCH WITH INCREASED MAGNETIC SENSITIVITY - Switches that are actuated through exposure to a magnetic field are described. Such switches include conductive portions that are electrically separate from one another when in an open switch configuration. A mobile element of a switch includes one or more anchoring members that are in electrical contact with one of the conductive portions. The mobile element also has a beam that is attached to the one or more anchoring members. The beam can be attached to the one or more anchoring members by flexures. In some cases, the beam includes a plurality of strips. The beam has an end portion that is configured to move toward the other conductive portion when exposed to an external force, such as a magnetic field. When the mobile element electrically contacts the other conductive portion of the substrate, an electrical pathway is established between the conductive portions, giving rise to a closed switch configuration. Various configurations of anchoring members may significantly decrease initial upward beam deformation upon manufacture of the mobile element, resulting in an increased sensitivity upon exposure to a magnetic field. Methods for manufacturing switches that exhibit increased sensitivity to magnetic fields are also disclosed. Switches described can be formed using semiconductor manufacturing techniques. Methods described also include forming a beam that is attached to one or more anchoring members where an end portion of the beam moves in a substantially downward direction upon exposure to a magnetic field of sufficient intensity. | 09-01-2011 |
20110198559 | CNT DEVICES, LOW-TEMPERATURE FABRICATION OF CTN AND CNT PHOTO-RESISTS - A method is provided for growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis at a low temperature. The method includes preparing a catalyst by placing the catalyst between two metal layers of high chemical potential on a substrate, depositing such placed catalyst on a surface of a wafer, and reactivating the catalyst in a high vacuum at a room temperature in a catalyst preparation chamber to prevent a deactivation of the catalyst. The method also includes growing carbon nanotubes on the substrate in the high vacuum in a CNT growth chamber after preparing the catalyst. | 08-18-2011 |
20110181787 | IMAGE DETAILS PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT - The appearance of image details can be preserved and/or enhanced by applying contrast adaptive gain to the high spatial frequency component of the luminance information. The image details in bright and/or dark regions can be further boosted by applying a local mean adaptive gain. The contrast transfer mapping curve for luminance contrast enhancement can be re-scaled to account for the applied gain. The re-scaling may be performed from frame to frame of displayed video. The re-scaling may be temporally controlled for subsequent frames to make the re-scaling change gradually to prevent flickering. | 07-28-2011 |
20110176696 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING BASS EFFECT IN AUDIO SIGNALS - The quality of music output from audio systems is improved by simulating the effect of low frequency signals in the human ear. This thus allows listeners to perceive the lower frequency signals, even though the speakers may be incapable of providing such low frequency outputs. Method and systems provided for processing enhancing bass effect in audio signals. Said method and systems result in the bass enhancement being computationally less intensive. The bass effect enhancement techniques described are based on the response of sine and cosine transfer functions and on the directional independence of low frequency components. The human ear is unable to resolve directions from low frequency components. The bass effect enhancement technique alternatively is based on response of an exponential transfer function. | 07-21-2011 |
20110170940 | Drop Away Toothpaste Tube/Brush - A dispensing toothbrush includes a removable insert tooth paste tube for self application. This One for All design allows easy storage of tooth paste within the brush itself. It is simpler and different than other dispensing designs in that the tooth paste is not traveling through the length of a hollow tube to the bristles. The user simply unscrews the tube by twisting the cap off the bottom allowing self application. The user squeezes the flexing tube applying the toothpaste to the bristles. Storage of the toothpaste in the brush for subsequent self application is the major difference from other U.S. Patents. Again as in the other design, safety is a major concern with any dispensing toothbrush and this design allows for cleaning the brush the same as with any non-dispensing toothbrush. | 07-14-2011 |
20110157853 | FAN-OUT WAFER LEVEL PACKAGE WITH POLYMERIC LAYER FOR HIGH RELIABILITY - A polymeric layer encompassing the solder elements of a ball grid array in an electronics package. The polymeric layer reinforces the solder bond at the solder ball-component interface by encasing the elements of the ball grid array in a rigid polymer layer that is adhered to the package structure. Stress applied to the package through the ball grid array is transmitted to the package structure through the polymeric layer, bypassing the solder joint and improving mechanical and electrical circuit reliability. In one embodiment of a method for making the polymeric layer, solder elements bonded to external pads on a structure of the package are submerged in a fluidic form of the polymeric layer. The fluidic form is solidified and then a portion of the resulting polymeric layer is removed to make the solder elements accessible for mounting the package to a printed circuit board or other external circuit. | 06-30-2011 |
20110157452 | FAN-OUT WAFER LEVEL PACKAGE FOR AN OPTICAL SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - An optical sensor package has a transparent substrate with a redistribution layer formed on a face thereof, which includes a window and a plurality of electrically conductive traces. A semiconductor substrate, including an optical sensor and a plurality of contact terminals on a face thereof, is positioned on the transparent substrate in a face-to-face arrangement, with the optical sensor directly opposite the window, and with each of the contact terminals electrically coupled to a respective one of the electrically conductive terminals. The transparent substrate has larger overall dimensions than the semiconductor substrate, so that one or more edges of the transparent substrate extend beyond the corresponding edges of the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of solder balls are positioned on the face of the transparent substrate, each in electrical contact with a respective one of the electrically conductive terminals. The solder balls and the semiconductor substrate are at least partially encapsulated in an encapsulating layer formed on the face of the transparent substrate, which has been planarized to expose upper portions of the solder balls, as contact pads of the optical sensor package. | 06-30-2011 |
20110157436 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RINGING AND HALO CONTROL - A system is disclosed for reducing artifacts in images and video, such as ringing or halo artifacts. The system may include an edge detector and a gain controller. The edge detector may create an edge image used by the gain controller to create a gain image, and the gain image may be used to reduce artifacts in an image. The gain controller may, for a current pixel in the edge image, compute the maximum value of the edge image over a window containing the current pixel. The gain controller may also perform averaging to determine a maximum edge value and a current edge value, and may also use a ratio of the current edge value and the maximum edge value to determine a gain to be applied to a pixel of an image. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156803 | METHOD FOR GENERATING MULTIPLE INCREMENTAL OUTPUT VOLTAGES USING A SINGLE CHARGE PUMP CHAIN - A method and apparatus for generating multiple voltage level outputs from a single series of charge pump stages. The apparatus includes a plurality of voltage output circuits electrically connected in series. A selected number of the voltage output circuits include voltage output nodes that are available to be connected to loads. A control component in each voltage output circuit regulates operation of the charge pump stages within that circuit to provide a voltage level at the voltage output node regulated independently of other voltage output circuits in the series. The method and apparatus has the advantage of reducing the number of charge pump stages required to achieve a plurality of different voltage output levels. In another embodiment, the method and apparatus recycles charge within the apparatus by transferring charge between voltage output circuits through a load. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156794 | GATE CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR HIGH BANDWIDTH SWITCH DESIGN - An analog switch configuration includes a gate control circuit coupled between an input of a switch and a gate of the switch. The gate control circuit passes voltage changes on the input of the switch to the gate of the switch to decrease the influence the inherent gate to input capacitance has on the bandwidth of the switch. By reducing the change in voltage across the inherent capacitance, the current through the capacitance in decreased as well as its influence on the bandwidth of the configuration. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156712 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TESTING MAGNETIC SWITCHES AT WAFER-LEVEL STAGE OF MANUFACTURE - A testing mechanism for testing magnetically operated microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches at a wafer level stage of manufacture includes an electromagnetic fixture configured to be received in a standard probe ring. The electromagnetic fixture is rotatable, relative to the probe ring, to permit adjustment of orientation of a generated magnetic field relative to the MEMS devices of a subject wafer. The testing mechanism also includes a probe card with probes positioned to contact test pads on the subject wafer. During operation, the probe card is positioned over the wafer to be tested, with the test probes in electrical contact with respective contact pads of the wafer, and the electromagnetic fixture is positioned above the probe card. An electrical potential is applied across the switches on the subject wafer, and the electromagnetic fixture is energized at selected levels of power and duration. Current flow across each switch is measured to determine one or more of: open circuit contact resistance, closed circuit contact resistance, response time, response to switching magnetic field, frequency response, current capacity, critical dimensions, critical angles of magnetic field orientation, etc. Wafer level testing enables rejection of non-compliant switches before the cutting and packaging levels of manufacture. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156250 | FLIP-CHIP FAN-OUT WAFER LEVEL PACKAGE FOR PACKAGE-ON-PACKAGE APPLICATIONS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A flip-chip fan-out wafer level package for package-on-package applications includes a semiconductor die with solder bumps on an upper surface in a flip chip configuration. The die is inverted, with an upper surface facing an upper side of a redistribution layer, with the solder bumps in electrical contact with respective chip contact pads of the redistribution layer. The redistribution layer includes conductive traces that place each of the solder bumps in electrical contact with one or both of one of a plurality of upper redistribution contact pads and one of a plurality of lower redistribution contact pads. Each of the plurality of upper redistribution contact pads has an upper solder ball in electrical contact therewith. The die and the upper solder balls are at least partially encapsulated in a layer of mold compound positioned on the upper surface of the redistribution layer, and whose lateral dimensions are defined by the lateral dimensions of the redistribution layer. The layer of mold compound has a back-ground surface at which a portion of each of the upper solder balls is exposed, for electrical contact with an upper package. Each of the lower redistribution contact pads has a lower solder ball a coupled thereto. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156240 | RELIABLE LARGE DIE FAN-OUT WAFER LEVEL PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A fan-out wafer level package includes a semiconductor die with contact pads positioned on a top surface. A fan-in redistribution layer positioned over the die includes contact pads in electrical communication with the first contact pads of the die. A buffer layer positioned over the fan-in layer includes a plurality of vias, in electrical contact with the contact pads of the fan-in layer. A fan-in redistribution layer is positioned over the buffer layer and includes contact pads on a surface opposite the buffer layer, in electrical communication with the vias. The semiconductor die, fan-in layer, and buffer layer are encapsulated in a molding com-pound layer. Solder contacts, for electrically connecting the semiconductor device to a electronic circuit board, are positioned on contact pads of the fan-out layer. The buffer layer has a substantial thickness, to reduce and distribute shear stresses resulting from thermal mismatch of coefficients of thermal expansion of the semiconductor die and a circuit board. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156239 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A FAN-OUT EMBEDDED PANEL LEVEL PACKAGE - A method for manufacturing a fan-out embedded panel-level package. Film having an adhesive on each side is applied to the non-active face of a plurality of semiconductor die while the die are still in wafer form. The die are singulated from the wafer and placed on a carrier, using the adhesive on the unused side of the film to attach the die to the carrier. Encapsulant material is dispensed onto the carrier adjacent to the die, providing an exposed surface on the encapsulant material approximately even with the active faces of the die. Elements of the redistribution layer such as conductors and fan-out pads are applied to this surface. A solder ball array is placed on the fan-out pads and then the die are re-singulated by cutting through the encapsulation material and the carrier, yielding individual electronic packages. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156236 | THERMALLY ENHANCED EXPANDED WAFER LEVEL PACKAGE BALL GRID ARRAY STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A thermally enhanced expanded wafer level ball grid array package. The expanded wafer level ball grid array package includes an integrated thermally conductive heat dissipater. In one embodiment the heat dissipater is positioned in close proximity to a non-active face of a die and is separated from the non-active face by a thermal interface material. In another embodiment the heat dissipater includes legs that displace the heat dissipater a short distance from the non-active die face, with the intervening space occupied by encapsulation material. In yet another embodiment, the thermal interface material exists between the non-active die face and the heat dissipater, but extends beyond the edge of the semiconductor die to also cover a portion of the encapsulation material. Methods for making the various embodiments of the expanded wafer level ball grid array package are also shown. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156234 | SELF REPAIRING IC PACKAGE DESIGN - An integrated circuit package comprises a molding compound covering a semiconductor die. A healing substance is on the surface of the semiconductor die at an interface of the molding compound and the semiconductor die. The healing compound comprises a catalyst and a plurality of microcapsules containing a sealing compound. If the molding compound becomes delaminated from the semiconductor die the microcapsules rupture and spill the sealing compound. When the sealing compound is spilled and contacts the catalyst the sealing compound and catalyst polymerize and fasten the molding compound to the semiconductor die. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156230 | MULTI-STACKED SEMICONDUCTOR DICE SCALE PACKAGE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - A multi-stack semiconductor dice assembly has enhanced board-level reliability and integrated electrical functionalities over a common package foot-print. The multi-stack semiconductor dice assembly includes a bottom die having a stepped upper surface. The stepped upper surface includes a base region and a stepped region, which is raised relative to the base region. The base region includes a plurality of attachment structures that are sized and shaped to receive electrically conductive balls. An upper die is stacked above the bottom die. The upper die includes a plurality of attachment structures that are sized and shaped to receive electrically conductive balls and are arranged to align with the attachment structures of the bottom die. Electrically conductive balls are attached to the attachment structures of the bottom die and the attachment structures of the upper die. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156175 | METHOD OF FORMING A DIE HAVING AN IC REGION ADJACENT A MEMS REGION - A method that includes forming a first layer having a first dopant concentration, the first layer having an integrated circuit region and a micro-electromechanical region and doping the micro-electromechanical region of the first layer to have a second dopant concentration is presented. The method includes forming a second layer having a third dopant concentration overlying the first layer, doping the second layer that overlies the micro-electromechanical region to have a fourth dopant concentration, forming a micro-electromechanical structure in the micro-electromechanical region using the first and second layers, and forming active components in the integrated circuit region using the second layer. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156033 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACING DIE AT UNIT LEVEL - A method and system for tracing die at unit level, comprising: assigning a first identification to a support member including a plurality of die support units; generating a second identification corresponding to a die support unit, the second identification including the first identification and a coordinate of the die support unit within the support member; correlating the second identification to a third identification of a die; attaching the die to the die support unit to generate a packaged die; and assigning the second identification to the packaged die. | 06-30-2011 |
20110150242 | ADAPTIVE LOUDNESS LEVELLING FOR DIGITAL AUDIO SIGNALS - A time-domain method of adaptively levelling the loudness of a digital audio signal is proposed. It selects a proper frequency weighting curve to relate the volume level to the human auditory system. The audio signal is segmented into frames of a suitable duration for content analysis. Each frame is classified to one of several predefined states and events of perceptual interest is detected. Four quantities are updated each frame according to the classified state and detected event to keep track of the signal. One quantity measures the long-term loudness and is the main criterion for state classification of a frame. The second quantity is the short-term loudness that is mainly used for deriving the target gain. The third quantity measures the low-level loudness when the signal is deemed to not contain important content, giving a reasonable estimate of noise floor. A fourth quantity measures the peak loudness level that is used to simulate the temporal masking effect. The target gain to maintain the audio signal to the desired loudness level is calculated by a volume leveller, regulated by a gain controller that simulates the temporal masking effect to get rid of unnecessary gain fluctuations, ensuring a pleasant sound. | 06-23-2011 |
20110147191 | METHODS OF USING A CONDUCTIVE COMPOSITE MATERIAL - Composite materials having conductive properties are described for use in testing circuits and in manufacturing electrical switches. The composite materials described, when in an unstressed state, generally behave as insulators. However, when sufficient mechanical pressure is applied to portions of the composite materials, the portions to which the mechanical pressure is applied become increasingly conductive. Methods for testing a PCB using composite material switches are also disclosed. A sheet that includes a composite material may be used to test electrical functionality of various regions on a PCB by way of local pressure application. The sheet may be easily applied to and removed from the PCB. Additionally, in forming an electrical switch, a voltage applied to one or more actuating elements may be used to provide mechanical pressure to a composite material that is disposed between two conductive members. Application of a sufficient voltage allows for portions of the composite material to transition from an insulator to a conductor for providing an electrical pathway. | 06-23-2011 |
20110129024 | ACCOUNTING FOR INTER-CARRIER INTERFERENCE IN DETERMINING A RESPONSE OF AN OFDM COMMUNICATION CHANNEL - In an embodiment, a channel estimator includes first and second stages. The first stage is operable to generate a respective one-dimensional array of first channel-estimation coefficients for each communication path of a communication channel, and the second stage is operable to generate a multi-dimensional array of second channel-estimation coefficients in response to the first channel-estimation coefficients. For example, such a channel estimator may estimate the response of a channel over which propagates an orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signal that suffers from inter-carrier interference (ICI) due to Doppler spread. Such a channel estimator may estimate the channel response more efficiently, and with a simpler algorithm, than conventional channel estimators. Furthermore, such a channel estimator may be able to dynamically account for changes in the number of communication paths that compose the channel, for changes in the delays of these paths, or the portions of the transmitted symbol energy carried by these paths. | 06-02-2011 |
20110099021 | CONTENT FEATURE-PRESERVING AND COMPLEXITY-SCALABLE SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MODIFY TIME SCALING OF DIGITAL AUDIO SIGNALS - A time-domain system and method of modifying the time scale of digital audio signals includes a pre-processor. The pre-processor forms a synthesized signal for processing with minimum computation and that has optional features to give preference to certain audio channels and/or frequency bands, a mechanism of adaptively characterizing the temporal features of the synthesized signal by its normalized power and zero-crossing count, and a mechanism of identifying a segment of the synthesized signal where the time scale can be modified without introducing artifacts or losing content. | 04-28-2011 |
20110089920 | ARCHITECTURE OF CONTROLLING A DUAL POLARITY, SINGLE INDUCTOR BOOST REGULATOR USES AS A DUAL POLARITY SUPPLIES IN A HARDDISK DRIVE DUAL STAGE ACTUATOR (DSA) DEVICE - A dual supply circuit uses a dual feedback control, single inductor, dual polarity boost architecture with a low side power FET for end of current recirculation sensing. A dual feedback system tracks the output voltage variations and a low side power FET end of current recirculation sensing utilizes the internal current limit sensing system. Logic defining the state of operations allows the regulator to operate in both single and dual mode to cater to wide application ranges. The positive boost regulator can be operated in a buck mode making the output voltage constant with high input supply. | 04-21-2011 |
20110057715 | HIGH BANDWIDTH SWITCH DESIGN - An analog switch includes a transistor having a current path between an input and an output, a gate coupled to a control terminal, and a bulk terminal, and a switched bulk control circuit coupled to the control terminal, the bulk terminal, and ground to reduce an equivalent capacitance seen from a source terminal or drain terminal of the transistor towards the bulk terminal of the transistor. The bulk control circuit includes an all-NMOS bulk control circuit if an NMOS transistor switch is used. | 03-10-2011 |
20110032021 | T SWITCH WITH HIGH OFF STATE ISOLATION - An analog T switch is disclosed which has high isolation in the off state. The analog T switch can include series-connected NMOS transistors having separate gate control. The gates of the NMOS transistors can be isolated from one another to improve off state isolation of the analog T switch. The analog switch can include series-connected PMOS transistors having separate gate control. The gates of the PMOS transistors can be isolated from one another to improve off state isolation of the analog T switch. The analog T switch can include a substrate voltage control circuit that controls the voltage of the substrate regions in which the PMOS transistors are formed. The substrate voltage control circuit can isolate the substrate regions of the PMOS transistors from one another in the off state to improve off state isolation of the analog T switch. | 02-10-2011 |
20110006411 | Simplified multichip packaging and package design - A multichip integrated circuit apparatus includes first and second integrated circuit die mounted on opposite sides of a leadframe die paddle, with at least one of the integrated circuit die extending further toward the leads than does the die paddle. With this arrangement, the active circuit areas of both integrated circuit die can face in the same direction, and can be wire bonded to the same surfaces of the leads. This avoids wire bonding complications that are often encountered in multichip integrated circuit package designs. | 01-13-2011 |
20100327421 | IC PACKAGE DESIGN WITH STRESS RELIEF FEATURE - A protective structure is provided on a substrate to which a semiconductor die is attached. The protective structure surrounds the die and reduces the thermo-mechanical stresses to which the die is subject. The die is protected against cracking, warping, and delamination. | 12-30-2010 |
20100315372 | TOUCH COORDINATE CALCULATION FOR A TOUCH-SENSITIVE INTERFACE - A touch sensitive interface includes a plurality of touch pads that can each register an impedance change indicating a contact. For each contact a plurality of touch pads is identified and within that plurality of associated touch pads one or more seed points is located. Each seed point possesses an input value greater than the input value at each neighboring touch pad. From each seed point within the plurality of touch pads associated with a contact, a region of touch pads is identified. A centroid of each formed region can then be determined to ascertain a touch coordinate. | 12-16-2010 |
20100309139 | TOUCH TRACKING ON A TOUCH SENSITIVE INTERFACE - A method tracks a plurality of touch points across successive frames of a touch sensitive input device to determine a trajectory. Each touch point on a frame of a touch sensitive input device is correlated with another distinct touch point on a subsequent frame of the same touch sensitive input device. The correlation is based on examining in the subsequent frame an area surrounding each touch point on the previous frame. Touch points identified within this search area are prioritized based on a projected trajectory through the prior touch point based on historical data. | 12-09-2010 |
20100297813 | Semiconductor package with position member - The present disclosure provides a very thin semiconductor package including a leadframe with a die-attach pad and a plurality of lead terminals, a die attached to the die-attach pad and electrically connected to the lead terminals via bonding wires, a position member disposed upon the die and/or die-attach pad, and a molding material encapsulating the leadframe, the die, and the position member together to form the semiconductor package. The method for manufacturing a very thin semiconductor package includes disposing a first position member on one side of the die-attach pad of a leadframe, attaching a die onto the opposite side of the die-attach pad, optionally disposing a second position member on top of the die, electrically connecting the die to the lead terminals of the leadframe, and encapsulating the leadframe, the die, and the position member(s) together to form the very thin semiconductor package. | 11-25-2010 |
20100208899 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING BASS EFFECT IN AUDIO SIGNALS - The quality of music output from audio systems is improved by simulating the effect of low frequency signals in the human ear. This thus allows listeners to perceive the lower frequency signals, even though the speakers may be incapable of providing such low frequency outputs. A method is provided for processing enhancing bass effect in audio signals. The method also results in the bass enhancement being computationally less intensive. The bass effect enhancement techniques are based on the response of sine and cosine transfer functions and on the directional independence of low frequency components. The human ear is unable to resolve directions from low frequency components. The bass effect enhancement technique alternatively is based on the response of an exponential transfer function. | 08-19-2010 |
20100187651 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME - Aspects of the invention are directed towards an integrated circuit package and method of forming the same, and more particularly to a redistributed chip packaging for an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit package includes an integrated circuit having a protective material on at least a portion of the integrated circuit. A lead frame is coupled to the integrated circuit and a conductive layer is also coupled to the interconnect. A solder ball is coupled to the conductive layer and a passivation layer is on the conductive layer. Active and passive components are electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. | 07-29-2010 |
20100171575 | MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM - The invention relates to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and more particularly, to MEMS switches using magnetic actuation. The MEMS switch may be actuated with no internal power consumption. The switch is formed in an integrated solid state MEMS technology. The MEMS switch is micron and/or nanoscale, very reliable and accurate. The MEMS switch can be designed into various architectures, e.g., a cantilever architecture and torsion architecture. The torsion architecture is more efficient than a cantilever architecture. | 07-08-2010 |
20100167471 | REDUCING WARPAGE FOR FAN-OUT WAFER LEVEL PACKAGING - Fan-out wafer level packaging includes an integrated circuit having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, and a bond pad defined on the top surface. A layer of encapsulant substantially surrounds the side surfaces of the integrated circuit, the layer of encapsulant having a height substantially equal to a height of the integrated circuit. A bump is spaced apart from the integrated circuit, and a redistribution layer electrically couples the bond pad of the integrated circuit to the bump. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165209 | System and method for phase motion detection for YC separation - A system, apparatus and method are disclosed for separating a current frame of a composite video signal into a luminance signal and a chroma signal. A relative chroma correlation value is generated using a plurality of lines of the current frame. A weighted sum of inter-line pixel differences of the current frame is generated using the relative chroma correlation value. A frame difference signal is generated by subtracting a previous frame of the composite video signal from the current frame. A detected motion signal is generated that corresponds to motion detected in the current frame. The weighted sum of inter-line pixel differences, the frame difference signal, and the detected motion signal are combined to generate the chroma signal. The chroma signal is subtracted from the current frame to generate the luminance signal. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165207 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MOTION DETECTION FOR TEMPORAL MOSQUITO NOISE REDUCTION IN VIDEO SEQUENCES - Apparatus and methods of motion detection for mosquito noise reduction in video sequences are provided. In one aspect, a method of motion detection in a sequence of digital images classifies a pixel of a plurality of pixels of a current image frame represented by a digital video input signal as a motion or non-motion pixel. A motion value for the pixel is calculated based on the classification of the pixel. The motion value is mapped to a coefficient of a temporal filter based on a control curve. A digital video output signal is generated based on the coefficient. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165204 | System and process for image rescaling using adaptive interpolation kernel with sharpness and overshoot control - Provided are a digital video rescaling system, a method of rescaling video images, and a chip comprising a computer executable medium embedded therein computer executable instructions for rescaling video images. | 07-01-2010 |
20100164905 | METHOD OF IMPROVED COMPUTATION OF TOUCH COORDINATES FOR FOUR-WIRE RESISTIVE TOUCH SCREENS - A method for calculating coordinates and touch pressure on a four-wire resistive touch screen includes applying a voltage gradient across a flexible resistive sheet in a touch screen and measuring the voltage where the screen comes in contact with another screen via analog to digital couplings to the other screen. The touch pressure is acquired by applying a higher voltage potential to one resistive sheet and a lower voltage potential to the other sheet so that current flows between the sheets at the point of contact between the sheets. A voltage on each sheet is then measured at the point of contact shared by the sheets. The measured voltages are used to calculate the touch pressure. | 07-01-2010 |
20100141636 | EMBEDDING AND TRANSMITTING DATA SIGNALS FOR GENERATING A DISPLAY PANEL - Row propagation delay is the duration it takes for a signal to travel the length of a row in a flat panel display matrix. Row propagation delay compensation modifies when column voltages are applied to each column in a flat panel matrix by substantially matching the delay for its position relative to the length of the row. A ternary signal generated by the timing controller with embedded clock and data information is buffered at the timing controller and transmitted to each column driver as required to substantially match row propagation delay while minimizing system interconnects and column driver circuitry. | 06-10-2010 |
20100140810 | CHIP PACKAGE WITH COPLANARITY CONTROLLING FEATURE - A chip package includes a substrate, an integrated circuit proximate a top surface of the substrate, and a cap comprising encapsulant that encapsulates the integrated circuit on at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate. The chip package further includes at least one extension feature positioned on at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate. The at least one extension feature also comprises the encapsulant and extends from the cap to a perimeter of the substrate. | 06-10-2010 |
20100140788 | MANUFACTURING FAN-OUT WAFER LEVEL PACKAGING - Fan-out wafer level packaging includes an integrated circuit having a top surface, a bottom surface and a bond pad defined on the top surface, and a substrate having a cavity. An adhesive layer is positioned between a top surface of the cavity and the bottom surface of the integrated circuit, and a bump is positioned proximate a top surface of the fan-out wafer level packaging, the bump spaced apart from the integrated circuit. A redistribution layer is configured to electrically couple the bond pad of the integrated circuit to the bump. | 06-10-2010 |
20100129549 | MATERIAL FOR GROWTH OF CARBON NANOTUBES - Systems and methods for creating carbon nanotubes are disclosed that comprise a growing a nanotube on a tri-layer material. This tri-layer material may comprise a catalyst and at least one layer of Ti. This tri-layer material may be exposed to a technique that is used to grow a nanotube on a material such as a deposition technique. | 05-27-2010 |
20100127568 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A POWER SWITCH ARRAY WITH ADJUSTABLE CURRENT RATING POWER SWITCHES - An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing a power switch array with adjustable current rating power switches. A plurality of current rating power switches is provided that connects a power supply unit to a plurality of device ports. A power switch array controller is provided that adjusts an adjustable current rating in each of the plurality of adjustable current rating power switches. Each of the plurality of adjustable current rating power switches is adjustable to a selected number of current values. The power switch array controller dynamically adjusts the current ratings in the adjustable current power switches as required by the current requirements of the device ports. | 05-27-2010 |
20100098198 | RECOVERY OF DATA FROM A MULTI CARRIER SIGNAL - In an embodiment, a multi-carrier signal (e.g., an OFDM signal) is received over a channel. Indicators of interference and the channel response at a carrier frequency of the signal are determined, and compared. If the indicator of interference has a particular relationship to the indicator of the channel response, then a data value transmitted at the carrier frequency is recovered from a data value received at the carrier frequency according to a particular data-recovery algorithm. Because the particular data-recovery algorithm may be faster than a conventional data-recovery algorithm, recovering one or more data values with the particular algorithm may increase the speed at which data is recovered from a multicarrier signal as compared to using a conventional data-recovery algorithm. | 04-22-2010 |
20100091898 | RECOVERY OF DATA FROM A MULTI CARRIER SIGNAL - In an embodiment, a multi-carrier signal (e.g., an OFDM signal) is received over a channel. First indicators of interference and channel response at a carrier frequency of the signal are determined and compared. If the first indicator of the interference has a relationship to the first indicator of the channel response, then a data value transmitted at the carrier frequency is recovered from a data value received at the carrier frequency according to a first algorithm. If, however, the first indicator of the interference does not have a first relationship to the first indicator of the channel response, then second indicators of interference and the channel response at the carrier frequency are determined and compared. If the second indicator of the interference has a second relationship to the second indicator of the channel response, then the data value transmitted at the carrier frequency is recovered from the data value received at the carrier frequency according to a second algorithm. Because first and second data-recovery algorithms may be faster than a conventional data-recovery algorithm, recovering one or more data values with the first or second algorithms may increase the speed at which data is recovered from a multicarrier signal as compared to using a conventional data-recovery algorithm exclusively. | 04-15-2010 |
20100086085 | Method and system for estimating the speed of a mobile device in a network - A method for estimating the speed of a mobile device in a network is provided that includes selecting a correlation length from a plurality of possible correlation lengths. A correlation result is generated based on the selected correlation length. A speed estimate is generated for the mobile device based on the correlation result. | 04-08-2010 |
20100066701 | MULTIPLE TOUCH LOCATION IN A THREE DIMENSIONAL TOUCH SCREEN SENSOR - A touch screen capable of correctly identifying multiple touches employs multiple active line arrays oriented to provide multi-dimensional data. Three arrays of capacitance based active lines are each distinctly oriented to form a plurality of intersections. A first and second array are generally oriented perpendicularly while a third array is oriented to bisect the resulting matrix such that the active lines of the third array also intersect the existing vertices. As a result of a touch each active line array identifies the location of the touch from three distinct directions. Ambiguity from dual touch scenarios existing in dual array systems is removed by providing an additional reference. | 03-18-2010 |
20100053097 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SENSOR SYSTEM - A method of matrix sensing using delay-based capacitance sensing, including using X-axis lines as active lines for capacitance measurements and using Y-axis lines as a disturbance to identify the location of a touch in a key matrix is disclosed. A sensing signal is applied to the X-axis lines, and a disturbance signal is applied to the Y-axis lines. If a location is touched, cross-capacitance is reduced, which is measured by sweeping data along the X-axis lines. | 03-04-2010 |
20100051354 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SENSOR SYSTEM - A method of matrix sensing using delay-based capacitance sensing, including using X-axis lines as active lines for capacitance measurements and using Y-axis lines as a disturbance to identify the location of a touch in a key matrix is disclosed. A sensing signal is applied to the X-axis lines, and a disturbance signal is applied to the Y-axis lines. If a location is touched, cross-capacitance is reduced, which is measured by sweeping data along the X-axis lines. | 03-04-2010 |
20100002331 | ADAPTIVE SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFICATION OF BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR BACK-EMF - A disk drive power system is described. The system is operable such that during power interruption, the system taps electric power by rectifying the back-EMF generated across each winding of a DC motor and supplying power to a voice-coil motor to park a read/write head safely away from an associated magnetic disk surface. | 01-07-2010 |
20090299082 | EPOXY FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON NANOTUBES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME - The invention relates to epoxy functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and methods of forming the same, and more particularly to inclusion of the epoxy functionalized CNTs as fillers in electronic applications, e.g., semiconductor devices and device packaging. More particularly, CNT-based epoxy resin composites are employed as materials for electronic packaging applications and the inclusion of CNTs as fillers chemically linked to epoxy resin macromolecules. The resulting materials showed improved chemical-physical features in terms of mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. | 12-03-2009 |
20090276227 | FAST SYNTHESIS SUB-BAND FILTERING METHOD FOR DIGITAL SIGNAL DECODING - In order to reproduce audio signals which have been compressed or encoded for storage or transmission using, for example, MPEG audio encoding, a synthesis sub-band filter is employed which performs an inverse modified discrete cosine transform. The computational cost of the IMDCT implementation is reduced by pre-calculating arrays of sum and difference data. The arrays of sum and difference data are then used in two separate transform calculations, the results of which can be used in the generation of pulse code modulation audio data. | 11-05-2009 |
20090262247 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR IMAGE RESCALING WITH EDGE ADAPTIVE PHASE CONTROL IN INTERPOLATION PROCESS - A video image processing system is described that generates the interpolated video images with sharp and jaggedness-free edges. A method of video image processing is also described that interpolates video images to generate the video images with sharp and jaggedness-free edges. The video image processing system receives and makes input image data available for further processing; analyzes the local features of the input image data; filters the input image data before performing interpolation process; modifies the phase value adaptive to the local edge distance; rescales the input image data in horizontal interpolation using the modified phase value; and rescales the horizontally interpolated image data in vertical interpolation using modified phase value. | 10-22-2009 |
20090185062 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SCANNING AN ARRAY OF SENSORS - Aspects of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for scanning an array of sensors. More particularly, the invention is directed towards scanning an array of sensors to accurately determine actuated sensors on a contact-sensitive surface. In one embodiment, three sets of sensing lines can be incorporated into the sensing area for ghost-free detection of up to two keys. Further in other embodiments, n sets of sensing lines can be incorporated into the sensing area for ghost free detection of up to n−1 keys. | 07-23-2009 |
20090123002 | System and method for providing step size control for subband affine projection filters for echo cancellation applications - A system and method for Acoustic Echo Cancellation. The system and method include a subband affine projection filter and a variable step size controller configured to cancel an estimated echo from a near-end signal. The system and method also include a divergence detector adapted to reset the subband affine projection filter in response to determining a divergence is occurring. Additionally, the system and method include a double talk detector adapted to transmit a signal to mask an output signal when double talk is detected. | 05-14-2009 |
20090115740 | INTERRUPT REDUCTION METHOD IN TOUCH SCREEN CONTROLLER - Integration of a FIFO memory, FIFO threshold and a timer, along with the other components of a touch screen system allows the number of interrupts to the touch screen controller to be reduced while allowing all point data to be acquired and preserved. In the first touch-detect event, an interrupt is issued to inform the host. The touch screen controller then automatically acquires data as long as touch is detected without host intervention. A FIFO threshold defines the minimum number of data points in FIFO memory before it issues an interrupt to inform the host that data is ready to be fetched. The timer is started once touch is detected. On every single data acquired, the timer is reset. In the event where touch is no longer detected, the timer keeps on counting until the time-up limit is reached. In this event, the touch screen controller will issue an interrupt informing the host the pen is lifted. The host then checks whether there is still data left in FIFO memory to be read. | 05-07-2009 |
20090034351 | NON-VOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF HANDLING A DATUM READ FROM A MEMORY CELL - A memory device includes a pre-charge transistor for connecting/disconnecting the input line of a global data line driver to a supply voltage line. To reduce the flow of current through the pre-charge transistor even in a stand-by state, the pre-charge transistor is turned on when, at a same time, an enabling signal of a page buffer is asserted, and a low voltage functioning mode is selected and the memory device is not in a stand-by state. Alternatively, the memory device may be in a stand-by state but the datum read from the memory is high. The pre-charge transistor is securely turned off in all other cases. | 02-05-2009 |
20080219244 | Speech codec selection for improved voice quality in a packet based network - A method of improving voice quality in a packet based network. The method includes receiving an incoming call from a first endpoint and matching capabilities between the first endpoint and the second endpoint. The method also includes completing the incoming call if the capabilities match and tracking the packet loss associated with the network. The method also includes negotiating the voice quality based on the tracking and the capabilities. Also described is a devices and system for a similar method. | 09-11-2008 |
20080204292 | Output Architecture for LCD Panel Column Driver - In one embodiment consistent with the present invention, a digital to analog converter (DAC) circuit operates over an upper range and a lower range. An upper voltage node is designated AVDD; a middle voltage node is designated HVDD; and a lower voltage node designated ground. An upper DAC stage has at least one NMOS transistors that produces an output to an upper range output node when the output is in the upper range. A lower DAC stage has at least one PMOS transistors that produces an output to a lower range output node when the output is in the lower range. A body bias control circuit couples the body of the upper NMOS transistor to a voltage source equal to HVDD−Vbe and connects the body of the lower PMOS transistor to voltage source equal to HVDD+Vbe. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 08-28-2008 |
20080203380 | CNT devices, low-temperature fabrication of CTN and CNT photo-resists - A method is provided for growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis at a low temperature. The method includes preparing a catalyst by placing the catalyst between two metal layers of high chemical potential on a substrate, depositing such placed catalyst on a surface of a wafer, and reactivating the catalyst in a high vacuum at a room temperature in a catalyst preparation chamber to prevent a deactivation of the catalyst. The method also includes growing carbon nanotubes on the substrate in the high vacuum in a CNT growth chamber after preparing the catalyst. | 08-28-2008 |
20080199014 | Low power downmix energy equalization in parametric stereo encoders - A method and audio device are presented that preserve mono energy during downmixing of a hybrid coding process of an audio signal. The method includes calculating a stereo scaling factor in a group level that is definable within a stereo band. The method may also include updating the stereo scaling factor using an update rate and synchronizing the update rate of a spatial parameter during a fast changing transient portion of the signal. A number of groups in a first stereo band may be greater than a number of groups in a second stereo band, and the first stereo band may be a lower frequency band than the second band or may be perceptually more important than the second band. | 08-21-2008 |
20080198499 | Continuous mode velocity control of voice coil motor - A method of controlling the velocity of a voice coil motor (VCM), including sensing a voltage difference between the VCM and a sense resistor and driving a velocity control loop (VCL) based on the voltage difference. There is also a control loop circuit, including a current output connected to drive a voice coil motor, the voice coil motor producing a back electromagnetic field (BEMF) voltage. The circuit also includes a sense resistor connected to the BEMF output, and a BEMF resistive network comprising a first resistor and a second resistor. The circuit also includes a velocity control loop (VCL) connected to control the voltage output according to a voltage difference between (i) a junction of the sense resistor and the current output and (ii) a junction of the first resistor and the second resistor. | 08-21-2008 |