Abstract:
The present invention provides techniques for monitoring mobile communications. In one aspect, a method of monitoring mobile telephone usage is provided. The method comprises the step of relaying usage information pertaining to one or more mobile telephones to one or more other mobile telephones.
Abstract:
In described embodiments, turn-on time for active portions of an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) device is improved by storing energy in a corresponding capacitor bank through a bidirectional device from a certain node in the device during an active state, continuing to store the energy when the device enters a Low Power Idle (LPI) state, and then allowing the energy to return to the node through the bidirectional device when the device returns to an active state. During active mode, the bidirectional device controls the capacitor bank so as to charge relatively slowly to store energy, and when the device transitions to LPI, the charge is maintained in the capacitor bank. When the device returns to the active state, the bidirectional device allows the capacitor bank to discharge relatively rapidly to the node, thereby improving the turn-on time of the circuit elements coupled to the node.
Abstract:
In described embodiments, a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) structure incorporates a white light emitting diode (LED) structure for backlighting. White LEDs are formed behind each TFT cell, allowing for display “black” as a function of a nematic layer, on the TFT substrate, while increasing intensity of the LED LCD backlight structure. A lens structure might be formed between the LEDs and the TFT substrate to reduce a number of LED sources for a given backlight intensity.
Abstract:
A manufacturing method, in which two device bars are bonded prior to facet coating to form a stacked bar pair. In one embodiment, each of the device bars has a p-side and an n-side, each side having a plurality of bonding pads, with at least some bonding pads located at the p-side of the first device bar adapted for mating with the corresponding bonding pads located at the p-side of the second device bar. Solder material deposited onto the p-side bonding pads adapted for mating is liquefied in a reflow oven, wherein surface tension of the liquefied solder self-aligns the device bars with respect to each other and keeps them in alignment until the solder is solidified to form a solder bond between the mated bonding pads. Two or more instances of the bonded bar pair are further stacked such that bonding pads located at the n-sides of adjacent bar pairs are mated in a relatively tight fit. The exposed facets in the resulting stack are then spray-coated with one or more reflective materials, with the solder bonds between the p-side bonding pads and the tight fit between the n-side bonding pads protecting those pads from overspray coating.
Abstract:
A circuit for audibly indicating at least one state of a television receiver includes memory operative to store at least one audio file, and a controller. The controller is operative during a power-on interval of the television receiver to forward the at least one audio file to an audio indicating device associated with the television receiver for audibly indicating the at least one state of the television receiver.
Abstract:
Techniques for processing power transistor devices are provided. In one aspect, the curvature of a power transistor device comprising a device film formed on a substrate is controlled by thinning the substrate, the device having an overall residual stress attributable at least in part to the thinning step, and applying a stress compensation layer to a surface of the device film, the stress compensation layer having a tensile stress sufficient to counterbalance at least a portion of the overall residual stress of the device. The resultant power transistor device may be part of an integrated circuit.
Abstract:
In described embodiments, automatic de-emphasis setting is provided for driving a capacitive backplane. Line impedance and line length of a transmission (TX) device are measured that form a load impedance of a driver. For some exemplary embodiments, the line impedance is predominantly a line capacitance, and such embodiments detect this capacitance. Measured line impedance is converted to a control signal (such as, for example, a three bit digital control signal) which automatically sets the de-emphasis of the TX stage. With the amount of capacitance and the length of the transmission line, the appropriate de-emphasis settings might be determined, and such de-emphasis setting be applied by the transmitter to the driver to compensate for transmission line effects.
Abstract:
In described embodiments, turn-on time for active portions of an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) device is improved by storing energy in a corresponding capacitor bank through a bidirectional device from a certain node in the device during an active state, continuing to store the energy when the device enters a Low Power Idle (LPI) state, and then allowing the energy to return to the node through the bidirectional device when the device returns to an active state. During active mode, the bidirectional device controls the capacitor bank so as to charge relatively slowly to store energy, and when the device transitions to LPI, the charge is maintained in the capacitor bank. When the device returns to the active state, the bidirectional device allows the capacitor bank to discharge relatively rapidly to the node, thereby improving the turn-on time of the circuit elements coupled to the node.
Abstract:
In described embodiments, elements of a wireless home network employ learned power security for the network. An access point, router, or other wireless base station emits and receives signals having corresponding signal strengths. Wireless devices coupled to the base station through a radio link are moved through the home network at boundary points of the home and the signal strength is measured at each device and communicated to the base station. Based on the signal strength information from the emitted signals measured at the boundary points and/or from measured signal strength information of signals received from the boundary points, the base station determines a network secure area. The base station declines permission of devices attempting to use or join the home network that exhibit signal strength characteristics less than boundary values for the network secure area.
Abstract:
A comparator-based driver has a configurable inverter that inverts one of the comparator output signals for application to the gate of a driver transistor used to generate the driver output signal. The configurable inverter can be selectively configured to provide any one of at least two different inverter logic threshold levels. In one possible operational scenario, the configurable inverter is configured such that the inverter logic threshold level is equivalent to the comparator's differential common-mode voltage to provide relatively high driver symmetry. The configurable inverter is then configured to provide a different inverter logic threshold level that is greater than the comparator's differential common-mode voltage to inhibit chattering in the driver output signal.