H04B3/00

METHOD AND CIRCUIT FOR MATCHING IMPEDANCE AND REGULATING VOLTAGE ACROSS A LOW VOLTAGE DEVICE

A circuit for matching impedance and regulating a voltage of a high radio frequency line across a low voltage device that includes a differential input port, the high radio frequency lines, an internally routed line, a singled ended peak detection circuit, and a single-ended programmable variable impedance using a single-ended programmable variable impedance. The differential input port receives a differential high radio frequency signal using driver buffers. The internally routed line boosts the received differential high-frequency RF signal. The single-ended peak detection circuit detects peak voltages of the differential high-frequency RF signal. Depending on the peak value obtained at the output of the single-ended peak detection circuit, the single-ended programmable variable impedance that matches the impedance of each of high radio frequency lines and regulates the voltage of high radio frequency lines across said low voltage device to a pre-defined voltage.

ADVANCED SWITCH NODE SELECTION FOR POWER LINE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
20220070064 · 2022-03-03 ·

An algorithm for the promotion of terminal nodes to switch nodes in a PLC network reduces overall network overhead and collisions, while ensuring the appropriate selection of a switch node and minimizing the number of levels in a PLC network. It also ensures that the terminal nodes with appropriate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are promoted. It is desirable to have a network with fewer levels. The disclosed approach favors the nodes that are closer to the DC to promote them as switch nodes. This is achieved by waiting for a smaller number of PNPDUs for a node that is closer to the DC in comparison to a node that is farther away from the DC.

ADVANCED SWITCH NODE SELECTION FOR POWER LINE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
20220070064 · 2022-03-03 ·

An algorithm for the promotion of terminal nodes to switch nodes in a PLC network reduces overall network overhead and collisions, while ensuring the appropriate selection of a switch node and minimizing the number of levels in a PLC network. It also ensures that the terminal nodes with appropriate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are promoted. It is desirable to have a network with fewer levels. The disclosed approach favors the nodes that are closer to the DC to promote them as switch nodes. This is achieved by waiting for a smaller number of PNPDUs for a node that is closer to the DC in comparison to a node that is farther away from the DC.

Keyless entry utilizing set-back box
11270539 · 2022-03-08 · ·

Techniques are described for keyless entry to a structure (e.g., hotel room) utilizing a set-back box. Registrants (e.g., hotel guest) may scan a barcode from their mobile device to check-in to the structure. Upon scanning the barcode or by other means, a mobile device identifier (e.g., a Bluetooth low-energy address (BLE)) is registered and associated with the checked-in structure. Receiving the registered mobile device identifier, the backend server pushes such to the set-back box associated with (e.g., resides in) the checked-in structure. The set-back box is enabled (e.g., BLE enabled) to actively scan addresses of nearby mobile devices. When the registered mobile device identifier is detected within a predetermined signal strength range (e.g., by using received signal strength indicator (RSSI) levels), the set-back box transmits a command to a smart lock (e.g., via BLE or Wifi or other radio) or to a lock controlling backend processor, to open the lock.

Transmission line transformer and amplifying circuit
11271530 · 2022-03-08 · ·

A first transmission line and a second transmission line that are connected in series to each other are disposed at different positions in a thickness direction of a substrate. A third transmission line is disposed between the first transmission line and the second transmission line in the thickness direction of the substrate. The third transmission line includes a first end portion connected to one end portion of the first transmission line, and a second end portion that is AC-grounded. The first transmission line and the second transmission line are electromagnetically coupled to the third transmission line.

Method and apparatus for an ultrasonic emitter system floor audio unit
11153705 · 2021-10-19 · ·

Methods and systems are provided for audio devices with enhanced directional operations. An example audio device includes an orientation determination circuit configured to determine an orientation of at least a part of a user's body, a first audio output component, a second audio output component, and a controller configured to control the first audio output component and the second audio output component based on the determined orientation. The determined orientation may correspond to a positional nature of the user within a three-dimensional space around the user. The controller may be configured to provide a three-dimensional audio environment according to the user. The three-dimensional audio environment is aligned according to a visual input provided to the user.

DC-COUPLED SERDES RECEIVER
20210320679 · 2021-10-14 ·

A receiver includes a first T-coil circuit at an input of the receiver and configured to receive an input signal, a termination impedance coupled to the first T-coil circuit and configured to match an impedance of a transmission line coupled to the first T-coil circuit, and an amplifier including a first input and a second input and configured to amplify a differential signal at the first and second inputs, a calibration switch coupled to the amplifier and configured to selectively electrically connect or disconnect the first and second inputs of the amplifier, and a first receive switch configured to selectively electrically connect or disconnect a center node of the first T-coil circuit and the amplifier.

IO-link device
11146425 · 2021-10-12 · ·

An IO-link device (20) configured as slave for transmitting/receiving signal data with a master module (19), the IO-link device comprising: a sensor or actuator (11) configured to produce output measurement signals; a first microcontroller (21) operatively coupled to the sensor or actuator and configured to receive the measurement signals and generate data based on the measurement signals, and a transceiving module (22) which comprises a physical layer transceiver (24) configured to receive/transmit signal data from/to the master module (19), and a second microcontroller (23) operatively coupled and in bi-directional communication with the transceiver, wherein the transceiver (24) is configured to receive signal data associated with a request from the master module (19) and transmit signal data associated with the request to the second microcontroller (23) and the second microcontroller (23) is configured to receive the signal data from the transceiver and to execute a device IO-Link protocol stack, the second microcontroller being operatively coupled and in bi-directional communication with the first microcontroller (21) for the transmission of signal data associated with the request to the first microcontroller and to receive data based on measurement signals from the first controller.

Method for source/drain contact formation in semiconductor devices

A semiconductor device includes an n-type FET device and a p-type FET device. The n-type FET device includes a first substrate region, a first gate stack, a first gate spacer over sidewalls of the first gate stack, and an n-type epitaxial feature in a source/drain (S/D) region of the n-type FET device. The p-type FET device includes a second substrate region, a second gate stack, a second gate spacer over sidewalls of the second gate stack, and a p-type epitaxial feature in an S/D region of the p-type FET device. A vertical distance between a bottom surface of the first gate spacer and a lowest point of an upper surface of the n-type epitaxial feature is greater than a vertical distance between a bottom surface of the second gate spacer and a lowest point of an upper surface of the p-type epitaxial feature.

Transmission device and communication system
11115245 · 2021-09-07 · ·

A transmission device of the disclosure includes a first selector configured to select one of a first signal and a second signal, and output the selected signal; a second selector configured to select one of an inversion signal of the first signal, the second signal, and an inversion signal of the second signal, and output the selected signal; a first control signal generator configured to generate a first control signal, a second control signal, and a third control signal, based on the first signal, the second signal, and a third signal; a first driver configured to set a voltage of a first output terminal, based on an output signal of the first selector and the first control signal; and a second driver configured to set a voltage of a second output terminal, based on an output signal of the second selector and the second control signal.