Abstract:
The present invention relates a method for controlling a loss of reliability of a non-volatile memory (NVM) included in an Integrated Circuit Card (ICC). The method comprises the steps of -determining whether the NVM is reliable or not at the Operative System (OS) side of said ICC, and -generating an event associated with the reliability of the NVM at the OS side for an application of said ICC, if the NVM is determined to be unreliable.
Abstract:
A receiver is disclosed for time synchronization and frequency offset correction using a training sequence with a periodic structure (like e.g.in HIPERLAN/2,DVD or DAB). To this purpose the auto-correlation of the received signal is calculated. Coarse time synchronization is performed by analysing the amplitude and/or phase of the auto-correlation signal, e.g. to detect peaks or some characteristic jumps in the amplitude or the phase curve. Fine time synchronization is performed by cross-correlation signal. If the difference of the results of coarse and fine time synchronization exceeds a certain threshold, a 'synchronization failure'' signal is outputted. The frequency offset correction is carried out in two steps: first from the auto-correlation of short training sequence the sign (direction) of the frequency offset is determined, then from the auto-correlation of long training sequence the accurate frequency offset is obtained.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a coupling structure for coupling optical radiation, i.e., light, between an optical fibre and an optical device, e.g., a laser diode or a photodiode, said coupling structure comprising an optical through-via which guides the optical radiation to or from the optical fibre. According to the invention, light exiting the fibre travels through a guidance channel so as it remains substantially confined to a narrow optical path that mimics the fibre core. Conversely, light enters the fibre after having travelled through the guidance channel. The guidance channel comprises a first core region, the “channel core”, having first refractive index surrounded by a second region, the “channel cladding” having a second refractive index smaller than the first refractive index. The coupling structure including the guidance channel is preferably made of semiconductor-based material, more preferably of silicon-based material. The guidance channel comprises preferably silicon oxide. The coupling structure further comprises a fibre drive-in element, which facilitates insertion and alignment of the optical fibre to the guidance channel.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a disc drive system that includes a digital signal processor for processing information sectors read from a CD media. The digital signal processor is configured to parse the information sectors into data frames and subcode frames. A data auto-start unit for triggering a data transfer to a buffer memory when a desired data frame is detected. A subcode auto-start unit for triggering a subcode transfer to the buffer memory when a desired subcode frame is detected. Preferably, the desired data frame and the desired subcode frame have a same MSF. The disc drive system further includes a buffer manager having a plurality of counters that are configured to track the number of data frames and the number of subcode frames being transferred to the buffer memory, and releasing a block including one of the data frames and one of the subcode frames when the counters indicate that the block is complete.
Abstract:
A modified MOSFET structure comprises an integrated field effect rectifier connected between the source and drain of the MOSFET to shunt current during switching of the MOSFET. The integrated FER provides faster switching of the MOSFET due to the absence of injected carriers during switching while also decreasing the level of EMI relative to discrete solutions. The integrated structure of the MOSFET and FER can be fabricated using N-, multi-epitaxial and supertrench technologies, including 0.25µm technology. Self-aligned processing can be used.
Abstract:
A rectifier building block has four electrodes: source, drain, gate and probe. The main current flows between the source and drain electrodes. The gate voltage controls the conductivity of a narrow channel under a MOS gate and can switch the RBB between OFF and ON states. Used in pairs, the RBB can be configured as a three terminal half-bridge rectifier which exhibits better than ideal diode performance, similar to synchronous rectifiers but without the need for control circuits. N-type and P-type pairs can be configured as a full bridge rectifier. Other combinations are possible to create a variety of devices.
Abstract:
A rectifier building block has four electrodes: source, drain, gate and probe. The main current flows between the source and drain electrodes. The gate voltage controls the conductivity of a narrow channel under a MOS gate and can switch the RBB between OFF and ON states. Used in pairs, the RBB can be configured as a three terminal half-bridge rectifier which exhibits better than ideal diode performance, similar to synchronous rectifiers but without the need for control circuits. N-type and P-type pairs can be configured as a full bridge rectifier. Other combinations are possible to create a variety of devices.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an image sensor device consisting of a substrate which is especially developed using CMOS technology, and has an integrated semiconductor structure (ASIC) and an optically active thin layer structure which is arranged on the same and consists respectively of at least one layer of doped and undoped amorphous silicon. In the horizontal plane, spatially adjacent image elements (pixels) are respectively formed, said image elements respectively comprising an optoelectronic converter for converting incident light into an electrical current which is proportional to the incident light quantity, in addition to a charge-coupled memory which is associated with the optoelectronic converter. The charge state of said charge-coupled memory can be varied according to the incident light on the associated optoelectronic converter. The aim of the invention is to further develop one such image sensor device in such a way that image distortions resulting from the movement of objects can be avoided. To this end, the charge-coupled memory is a condenser (Cint) into which the photocurrent produced by the optoelectronic converter is integrated during a pre-determined period of measurement, and a switching means (Tstop) which can be controlled by a common control device is provided in each image element. Said switching means can be commonly controlled for all image elements of the image sensor device.
Abstract:
An Nth-order shaping coder with multi-level quantization and dithered quantizer. The coder (500) is inherently stable and produces a purely white quantization error spectrum. In one exemplary embodiment, the coder is first order, and an improved dither scheme is employed including applying a M-times, e.g. M=2, sample-and-hold to the dither sequence, effectively holding a constant dither for multiple clock cycles. This advantageously results in a reduction of instances where the quantizer jumps over two quantization intervals in one clock cycle without first passing through zero for one clock cycle. Methods for implementing the shaping coder are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A resonant power converter (220) for ultra-efficient radio frequency transmission and associated methods is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention is digitally actuated and uses a combination of a noise-shaped encoder (222), a charging switch (224), and a high-Q resonator (204) coupled to an output load (206), typically an antenna or transmission line. Energy is built up in the electric and magnetic fields of the resonator, which, in turn, delivers power to the load (206) with very little wasted energy in the process. No active power amplifier is required. The apparatus (220) can be used in literally any RF signal application (wireless or otherwise), including for example cellular handsets, local- or wide-area network transmitters, or even radio base-stations.