Abstract:
A Content Addressable Memory (CAM) cell is disclosed having an physical implementation of transistors for improving the semiconductor substrate area utilization of the CAM cell and the CAM array. The CAM cell comprises a first and second memory circuit and a compare circuit. The compare circuit of six transistors formed over two active regions. The local interconnect between the compare circuit and the first memory circuit formed of a polysilicon region. The local interconnect between the compare circuit and the second memory circuit formed of polysilicon and conductive regions.
Abstract:
Counter-clockwise and clockwise quadrant transitions are detected and accumulated with respect to a received complex signal over a certain time period. These transitions may then be compared in order to obtain information indicative of both a magnitude and phase of a frequency offset error. Additionally, zero-crossings of the received complex signal over the same certain time period are detected and accumulated. The accumulated crossings provide information indicative of frequency offset magnitude. The determined magnitude and phase of the frequency offset error may then be used to adjust a local oscillator frequency to provide for improved receiver performance.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for disabling the scan output of flip-flops contained within an integrated circuit. Registers within the integrated circuit form a serial shift register chain when in the test mode of operation. The registers contain therein flip-flops, each of the flip-flops having at least one data input, a scan test input, a data output, and a scan output. The flip-flop is capable of storing either the signal appearing on the at least one data input or the signal appearing on the scan test input, based on the mode of operation of the flip-flop The flip-flop includes a circuit coupled between the data output and the scan output for selectively disabling the scan output from following the value of the data output. Consequently, the scan output is enabled to output the logic value stored in the flip-flop when the flip-flop is in the test mode of operation and is disabled from outputting the logic value stored in the flip-flop when the flip-flop is in the normal mode of operation. When the scan output is disabled from following the data output, the scan output is driven to a predetermined logic value.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit die having an active area that must remain exposed after packaging is secured by a compliant die attachment by which the integrated circuit die is held in position within a transfer mold during encapsulation. The compliant die attachment may comprise a flexible, compressible tape having pressure-sensitive adhesive, alone or with a rigid substrate support, or a compliant adhesive preferably applied only around a periphery of the die attach area. Deformation of the compliant die attachment under mold clamping pressure allows complete contact of the mold with the active area, preventing bleeding of the encapsulating material under the edge of a mold portion onto the active area.
Abstract:
A packet switch capable of receiving fixed size data cells from N input ports and transmitting the fixed size data cells to N output ports. The packet switch comprises: 1) a frame deserializer for receiving the data cells as serial bits from the N input ports and transmitting the data cells as parallel bits in data frames containing a plurality of data cells, wherein each of the plurality of data cells in each data frame are destined for a common output port; 2) a frame serializer for receiving the data frames and transmitting the plurality of data cells in the data frames as serial bits to the N output ports; and 3) a shared buffer coupling the frame deserializer and the frame serializer for receiving and buffering the data frames from the frame deserializer and transmitting the buffered data frames to the frame serializer.
Abstract:
An image processing system and method for smoothing irregularities from 3D image information that was reconstructed from a plurality of 2D views of a scene, and particularly from homogeneous surfaces of objects in a scene. The method defines a window that overlaps a plurality of pixels of one of a plurality of 2D image views of a scene. Each pixel is associated with predefined 3D depth information, and further is associated with a matching curve. A subject pixel is located within the plurality of pixels overlapped by the window. The method calculates an average 3D depth information associated with the plurality of pixels overlapped by the window, and assigns the calculated average 3D depth information to the 3D depth information of the subject pixel, if the calculated average 3D depth information is within an error region of a matching curve associated with the subject pixel.
Abstract:
A thermally-enhanced ball grid array package structure is provided that includes an integrated circuit chip, a heat spreader and a substrate. The integrated circuit chip has a specified surface area. The heat spreader is coupled to the integrated circuit chip. The substrate is coupled to the heat spreader. The substrate has a specified surface area. The heat spreader covers a specified portion of the surface area of the substrate that is greater than the surface area of the integrated circuit chip. The heat spreader is operable to dissipate heat from the integrated circuit chip over the specified portion of the surface area of the substrate.
Abstract:
A system and method is disclosed for providing mechanical planarization of a sequential build up substrate for an integrated circuit package. A planarization plate is placed in contact with an uneven external surface of a dielectric layer that covers underlying functional circuit elements and filler circuit elements. A heating element in the planarization plate flattens protruding portions of the external surface of the dielectric layer to create a flat external surface on the dielectric layer. After the flat external surface of the dielectric layer has cooled, it is then covered with a metal conductor layer. The method of the present invention increases the number of sequential buildup layers that may be placed on a sequential buildup substrate.
Abstract:
A circular buffer storing packets for processing by one or more network processors employs an empty buffer address register identifying where a next received packet should be stored, a next packet address register identifying the next packet to be processed, and a packet-processing address register within each network processor identifying the packet being processed by that network processor. The n-bit addresses to the buffer are mapped or masked from/to the m-bit packet-processing address registers by software, allowing the buffer size to be fully scalable. A dedicated packet retrieval instruction supported by the network processor(s) retrieves a new packet for processing using the next packet address register and copies that into the associated packet-processing address register for use in subsequent accesses. Buffer management is thus independent of the network processor architecture.
Abstract:
To improve the performance of DSL modems, a DSL duplexing ratio for a new communication is selected according to the communications needs of an application. A required upstream and downstream bit rate for application communications is determined. From the ratio of these bit rates, a desired duplexing ratio is calculated. The operation of the modem is then adapted to choose a duplexing ratio that approximates the desired duplexing ratio for the application. To optimize modem operation, the size and position of the upstream and downstream bandwidths used for transmission are intelligently selected when the bit rate necessary for making the transmission is less than the total available bandwidth provided by the chosen duplexing ratio. By intelligently selecting a minimum number of subcarriers for Digital Multi-tone (DMT) signal transmission, a reduction in line driver power consumption is effectuated. Additionally, by intelligently selecting the position of the used bandwidth within the total available bandwidth, near-end crosstalk (NEXT) noise may be minimized.