Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080269926 | AUTOMATIC VOLUME AND DYNAMIC RANGE ADJUSTMENT FOR MOBILE AUDIO DEVICES - A mobile audio device (for example, a cellular telephone, personal digital audio player, or MP3 player) performs Audio Dynamic Range Control (ADRC) and Automatic Volume Control (AVC) to increase the volume of sound emitted from a speaker of the mobile audio device so that faint passages of the audio will be more audible. This amplification of faint passages occurs without overly amplifying other louder passages, and without substantial distortion due to clipping. Multi-Microphone Active Noise Cancellation (MMANC) functionality is, for example, used to remove background noise from audio information picked up on microphones of the mobile audio device. The noise-canceled audio may then be communicated from the device. The MMANC functionality generates a noise reference signal as an intermediate signal. The intermediate signal is conditioned and then used as a reference by the AVC process. The gain applied during the AVC process is a function of the noise reference signal. | 10-30-2008 |
20090086982 | CROSSTALK CANCELLATION FOR CLOSELY SPACED SPEAKERS - A technique for canceling acoustic crosstalk is provided including a pre-processing filter and a crosstalk cancellation device. The pre-processing filter may be configured to obtain first and second channel signals and compensate or adjust the first and/or second channel signals for anticipated subsequent stage distortion by the crosstalk cancellation device. The crosstalk cancellation device maybe configured to receive the compensated first and second channel signals from the pre-processing filter. The crosstalk cancellation device then modifies the first channel signal to cancel anticipated acoustic crosstalk from the second channel signal, and modifies the second channel signal to cancel acoustic crosstalk from the first channel signal. The modified first channel signal is then transmitted over a first speaker and the modified second channel signal is transmitted over a second speaker. The first and second speakers may be closely spaced, yet provide a widened stereo image of the first and second channel signals. | 04-02-2009 |
20090136044 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A DISTINCT PERCEPTUAL LOCATION FOR AN AUDIO SOURCE WITHIN AN AUDIO MIXTURE - In accordance with a method for providing a distinct perceptual location for an audio source within an audio mixture, a foreground signal may be processed to provide a foreground perceptual angle for the foreground signal. The foreground signal may also be processed to provide a desired attenuation level for the foreground signal. A background signal may be processed to provide a background perceptual angle for the background signal. The background signal may also be processed to provide a desired attenuation level for the background signal. The foreground signal and the background signal may be combined into an output audio source. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136063 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN INTERFACE TO A PROCESSING ENGINE THAT UTILIZES INTELLIGENT AUDIO MIXING TECHNIQUES - A method for providing an interface to a processing engine that utilizes intelligent audio mixing techniques may include receiving a request to change a perceptual location of an audio source within an audio mixture from a current perceptual location relative to a listener to a new perceptual location relative to the listener. The audio mixture may include at least two audio sources. The method may also include generating one or more control signals that are configured to cause the processing engine to change the perceptual location of the audio source from the current perceptual location to the new perceptual location via separate foreground processing and background processing. The method may also include providing the one or more control signals to the processing engine. | 05-28-2009 |
20090304214 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SURROUND SOUND USING SPEAKERS AND HEADPHONES - A mobile device may include at least one processor configured to generate a first set and second set of processed audio signals for use in a surround sound system. The mobile device may also include at least one output port adapted to provide the first set of processed audio signals for use in the surround sound system to at least two speakers. The mobile device may also include an output port adapted to provide the second set of processed audio signals for use in the surround sound system to headphone speakers. | 12-10-2009 |
20100331048 | M-S STEREO REPRODUCTION AT A DEVICE - Mid-side (M-S) encoded audio is reproduced by a device that includes a multi-channel digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The DAC has a first channel input receiving a digitized mid audio signal, a first channel output providing an analog mid audio signal, a second channel input receiving a digitized side audio signal and a second channel output providing an analog side audio signal. The DAC may also include a third channel for receiving a digitized second side audio signal. The second side audio signal is phase inverted. The device may be a handheld wireless communication device, such as a cellular phone, and may also include transducers for outputting M-S encoded sound in response to the analog mid and side audio signals. | 12-30-2010 |
20110106825 | DATA SEARCHING USING SPATIAL AUDITORY CUES - Spatial auditory cues are produced while a user searches a database for stored information. The spatial auditory cues assist the user in quickly locating stored information by producing sounds that are perceived at specific physical locations in space around the user as the search proceeds. Each location may be associated with different information. Thus, using the techniques disclosed herein, a user can more easily recall stored information by remembering the locations of sound produced by particular spatial auditory cues. The spatial auditory cues may be used in conjunction with a visual search interface. A method of producing auditory cues includes receiving a search action at a user interface included in a device, translating the search action into a spatial auditory cue corresponding to a specific location within a space, and rendering the spatial auditory cue as an audio output signal. | 05-05-2011 |
20120020480 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED ACOUSTIC IMAGING - Methods, systems, and apparatus for using a psychoacoustic-bass-enhanced signal to drive an array of loudspeakers are disclosed. | 01-26-2012 |
20120128160 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL SOUND CAPTURING AND REPRODUCING WITH MULTI-MICROPHONES - Systems, methods, apparatus, and machine-readable media for three-dimensional sound recording and reproduction using a multi-microphone setup are described. | 05-24-2012 |
20120128166 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR HEAD TRACKING BASED ON RECORDED SOUND SIGNALS - Systems, methods, apparatus, and machine-readable media for detecting head movement based on recorded sound signals are described. | 05-24-2012 |
20120128175 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR ORIENTATION-SENSITIVE RECORDING CONTROL - Systems, methods, apparatus, and machine-readable media for orientation-sensitive selection and/or preservation of a recording direction using a multi-microphone setup are described. | 05-24-2012 |
20120179456 | LOUDNESS MAXIMIZATION WITH CONSTRAINED LOUDSPEAKER EXCURSION - An original loudness level of an audio signal is maintained for a mobile device while maintaining sound quality as good as possible and protecting the loudspeaker used in the mobile device. The loudness of an audio (e.g., speech) signal may be maximized while controlling the excursion of the diaphragm of the loudspeaker (in a mobile device) to stay within the allowed range. In an implementation, the peak excursion is predicted (e.g., estimated) using the input signal and an excursion transfer function. The signal may then be modified to limit the excursion and to maximize loudness. | 07-12-2012 |
20120259626 | INTEGRATED PSYCHOACOUSTIC BASS ENHANCEMENT (PBE) FOR IMPROVED AUDIO - Psychoacoustic Bass Enhancement (PBE) is integrated with one or more other audio processing techniques, such as active noise cancellation (ANC), and/or receive voice enhancement (RVE), leveraging each technique to achieve improved audio output. This approach can be advantageous for improving the performance of headset speakers, which often lack adequate low-frequency response to effectively support ANC. | 10-11-2012 |
20120294446 | BLIND SOURCE SEPARATION BASED SPATIAL FILTERING - A method for blind source separation based spatial filtering on an electronic device includes obtaining a first source audio signal and a second source audio signal. The method also includes applying a blind source separation filter set to the first source audio signal and to the second source audio signal to produce a spatially filtered first audio signal and a spatially filtered second audio signal. The method further includes playing the spatially filtered first audio signal over a first speaker to produce an acoustic spatially filtered first audio signal and playing the spatially filtered second audio signal over a second speaker to produce an acoustic spatially filtered second audio signal. The acoustic spatially filtered first audio signal and the acoustic spatially filtered second audio signal produce an isolated acoustic first source audio signal at a first position and an isolated acoustic second source audio signal at a second position. | 11-22-2012 |
20120316869 | GENERATING A MASKING SIGNAL ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device for generating a masking signal is described. The electronic device includes a plurality of microphones and a speaker. The electronic device also includes a processor and executable instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device obtains a plurality of audio signals from the plurality of microphones. The electronic device also obtains an ambience signal based on the plurality of audio signals. The electronic device further determines an ambience feature based on the ambience signal. Additionally, the electronic device obtains a voice signal based on the plurality of audio signals. The electronic device also determines a voice feature based on the voice signal. The electronic device additionally generates a masking signal based on the voice feature and the ambience feature. The electronic device further outputs the masking signal using the speaker. | 12-13-2012 |
20130154930 | GESTURE CONTROLLED AUDIO USER INTERFACE - A user interface, methods and article of manufacture each for selecting an audio cue presented in three-dimensional (3D) space are disclosed. The audio cues are audibly perceivable in a space about a user, where each of the audio cues may be perceived by the user as a directional sound at a distinct location from other audio cues in the space. Selection of a specific audio cue is made based on one or more user gestures. A portable electronic device may be configured to present the audio cues perceived by a user and detect certain user gestures to select audio cues. The audio cue selection can be used to control operation of the portable device and/or other associated devices. | 06-20-2013 |
20130156198 | AUTOMATED USER/SENSOR LOCATION RECOGNITION TO CUSTOMIZE AUDIO PERFORMANCE IN A DISTRIBUTED MULTI-SENSOR ENVIRONMENT - A wireless device is provided that makes use of other nearby audio transducer devices to generate a surround sound effect for a targeted user. To do this, the wireless device first ascertains whether there are any nearby external microphones and/or loudspeaker devices. An internal microphone for the wireless device and any other nearby external microphones may be used to ascertain a location of the desired/targeted user as well as the nearby loudspeaker devices. This information is then used to generate a surround sound effect for the desired/targeted user by having the wireless device steer audio signals to its internal loudspeakers and/or the nearby external loudspeaker devices. | 06-20-2013 |
20130158856 | NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDSCAPING - A navigational system generates audio cues that are perceived in a three-dimensional space, allowing users to aurally perceive the locations of mapped objects such as landmarks. The audio cues can be produced alone, or in some applications, produced in conjunction with a visual navigational map display to improve the overall efficacy of the system. The audio navigation system includes a positioning system to determine the location of a user, a memory to store hierarchically-organized information about one or more objects, and a processor to render an audio signal based on the hierarchically-organized information. The audio signal is rendered into an audio space corresponding to the user, so as to allow user perception of the location of at least one of the objects relative to the location of the user. The objects may be landmarks in the vicinity of the user. | 06-20-2013 |
20130159552 | HANDLING IMPAIRED WIRELESS CONNECTION IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A wireless communication system and related techniques and apparatuses are disclosed that predict future disconnections or other connection impairments with end-user portable devices in advance so that service interruptions can be handled more gracefully. The system can predict the loss of service based on user-usage information associated with the portable device, such as the current GPS location of the device, its direction and velocity of travel, a user calendar, user habits and other information, such as the time of day, weather conditions, or wireless network coverage maps. An impairment handling method is selected that alters the content presented by the portable device. The impairment handling method is executed by the system upon detecting the impairment of the wireless connection so that the content is altered during occurrence of the impairment. The alteration of the content is done to mitigate the user-perceived effect of the impairment. | 06-20-2013 |
20130251155 | DATA SEARCHING USING SPATIAL AUDITORY CUES - Spatial auditory cues are produced while a user searches a database for stored information. The spatial auditory cues assist the user in quickly locating stored information by producing sounds that are perceived at specific physical locations in space around the user as the search proceeds. Each location may be associated with different information. Thus, using the techniques disclosed herein, a user can more easily recall stored information by remembering the locations of sound produced by particular spatial auditory cues. The spatial auditory cues may be used in conjunction with a visual search interface. A method of producing auditory cues includes receiving a search action at a user interface included in a device, translating the search action into a spatial auditory cue corresponding to a specific location within a space, and rendering the spatial auditory cue as an audio output signal. | 09-26-2013 |
20130259238 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR GESTURAL MANIPULATION OF A SOUND FIELD - Gesture-responsive modification of a generated sound field is described. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259254 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A DIRECTIONAL SOUND FIELD - A system may be used to drive an array of loudspeakers to produce a sound field that includes a source component, whose energy is concentrated along a first direction relative to the array, and a masking component that is based on an estimated intensity of the source component in a second direction that is different from the first direction. | 10-03-2013 |
20130315402 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL SOUND COMPRESSION AND OVER-THE-AIR TRANSMISSION DURING A CALL - A method for encoding multiple directional audio signals using an integrated codec by a wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device records a plurality of directional audio signals. The wireless communication device also generates a plurality of audio signal packets based on the plurality of directional audio signals. At least one of the audio signal packets includes an averaged signal. The wireless communication device further transmits the plurality of audio signal packets. | 11-28-2013 |
20130317830 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL SOUND COMPRESSION AND OVER-THE-AIR TRANSMISSION DURING A CALL - A method for encoding three dimensional audio by a wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device detects an indication of a plurality of localizable audio sources. The wireless communication device also records a plurality of audio signals associated with the plurality of localizable audio sources. The wireless communication device also encodes the plurality of audio signals. | 11-28-2013 |
20130339011 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR PITCH TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS - Systems, methods, and apparatus for pitch trajectory analysis are described. Such techniques may be used to remove vocals and/or vibrato from an audio mixture signal. For example, such a technique may be used to pre-process the signal before an operation to decompose the mixture signal into individual instrument components. | 12-19-2013 |
20140016784 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR BACKWARD-COMPATIBLE AUDIO CODING - Systems, methods, and apparatus for backward-compatible coding of a set of basis function coefficients that describe a sound field are presented. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023196 | SCALABLE DOWNMIX DESIGN WITH FEEDBACK FOR OBJECT-BASED SURROUND CODEC - In general, techniques are described for grouping audio objects into clusters. In some examples, a device for audio signal processing comprises a cluster analysis module configured to group, based on spatial information for each of N audio objects, a plurality of audio objects that includes the N audio objects into L clusters, where L is less than N, wherein the cluster analysis module is configured to receive information from at least one of a transmission channel, a decoder, and a renderer, and wherein a maximum value for L is based on the information received. The device also comprises a downmix module configured to mix the plurality of audio objects into L audio streams, and a metadata downmix module configured to produce, based on the spatial information and the grouping, metadata that indicates spatial information for each of the L audio streams. | 01-23-2014 |
20140023197 | SCALABLE DOWNMIX DESIGN FOR OBJECT-BASED SURROUND CODEC WITH CLUSTER ANALYSIS BY SYNTHESIS - In general, techniques are described for grouping audio objects into clusters. In some examples, a device for audio signal processing comprises a cluster analysis module configured to, based on a plurality of audio objects, produce a first grouping of the plurality of audio objects into L clusters, wherein the first grouping is based on spatial information from at least N among the plurality of audio objects and L is less than N. The device also includes an error calculator configured to calculate an error of the first grouping relative to the plurality of audio objects, wherein the error calculator is further configured to, based on the calculated error, produce a plurality L of audio streams according to a second grouping of the plurality of audio objects into L clusters that is different from the first grouping. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025386 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR AUDIO OBJECT CLUSTERING - Systems, methods, and apparatus for grouping audio objects into clusters are described. | 01-23-2014 |
20140133665 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR REPRESENTING A SOUND FIELD IN A PHYSICAL SPACE - Methods and apparatuses for representing a sound field in a physical space are provided and described as embodied in a system that includes a sound transducer array along with a touch surface-enabled display table. The array may include a group of transducers (multiple speakers and/or microphones). The array may be configured to perform spatial processing of signals for the group of transducers so that sound rendering (in configurations where the array includes multiple speakers), or sound pick-up (in configurations where the array includes multiple microphones), may have spatial patterns (or sound projection patterns) that are focused in certain directions while reducing disturbances from other directions. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136203 | DEVICE AND SYSTEM HAVING SMART DIRECTIONAL CONFERENCING - Some implementations provide a method for identifying a speaker. The method determines position and orientation of a second device based on data from a first device that is for capturing the position and orientation of the second device. The second device includes several microphones for capturing sound. The second device has movable position and movable orientation. The method assigns an object as a representation of a known user. The object has a moveable position. The method receives a position of the object. The position of the object corresponds to a position of the known user. The method processes the captured sound to identify a sound originating from the direction of the object. The direction of the object is relative to the position and the orientation of the second device. The method identifies the sound originating from the direction of the object as belonging to the known user. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136981 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR PROVIDING TANGIBLE CONTROL OF SOUND - Methods and apparatuses for providing tangible control of sound are provided and described as embodied in a system that includes a sound transducer array along with a touch surface-enabled display table. The array may include a group of transducers (multiple speakers and/or microphones) configured to perform spatial processing of signals for the group of transducers so that sound rendering (in configurations where the array includes multiple speakers), or sound pick-up (in configurations where the array includes multiple microphones), have spatial patterns (or sound projection patterns) that are focused in certain directions while reducing disturbances from other directions. Users may directly adjust parameters related to sound projection patterns by interacting with the touch surface while receiving visual feedback by exercising one or more commands on the touch surface. The commands may be adjusted according to visual feedback received from the change of the display on the touch surface. | 05-15-2014 |
20140146970 | COLLABORATIVE SOUND SYSTEM - In general, techniques are described for forming a collaborative sound system. A headend device comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The processors may be configured to identify mobile devices that each includes a speaker and that are available to participate in a collaborative surround sound system. The processors may configure the collaborative surround sound system to utilize the speaker of each of the mobile devices as one or more virtual speakers of this system and then render audio signals from an audio source such that when the audio signals are played by the speakers of the mobile devices the audio playback of the audio signals appears to originate from the one or more virtual speakers of the collaborative surround sound system. The processors may then transmit the processed audio signals rendered to the mobile device participating in the collaborative surround sound system. | 05-29-2014 |
20140146983 | IMAGE GENERATION FOR COLLABORATIVE SOUND SYSTEMS - In general, techniques are described for image generation for a collaborative sound system. A headend device comprising a processor may perform these techniques. The processor may be configured to determine a location of a mobile device participating in a collaborative surround sound system as a speaker of a plurality of speakers of the collaborative surround sound system. The processor may further be configured to generate an image that depicts the location of the mobile device that is participating in the collaborative surround sound system relative to the plurality of other speakers of the collaborative surround sound system. | 05-29-2014 |
20140146984 | CONSTRAINED DYNAMIC AMPLITUDE PANNING IN COLLABORATIVE SOUND SYSTEMS - In general, techniques are described for performing constrained dynamic amplitude panning in collaborative sound systems. A headend device comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The processors may be configured to identify, for a mobile device participating in a collaborative surround sound system, a specified location of a virtual speaker of the collaborative surround sound system and determine a constraint that impacts playback of audio signals rendered from an audio source by the mobile device. The processors may be further configure to perform dynamic spatial rendering of the audio source with the determined constraint to render audio signals that reduces the impact of the determined constraint during playback of the audio signals by the mobile device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140233917 | VIDEO ANALYSIS ASSISTED GENERATION OF MULTI-CHANNEL AUDIO DATA - In general, techniques are described for capturing multi-channel audio data. A device comprising one or more processors may be configured to implement the techniques. The processors may analyze captured audio data to identify audio objects, and analyze video data captured concurrent to the capture of the audio data to identify video objects. The processors may then associate at least one of the audio objects with at least one of the video objects, and generate multi-channel audio data from the audio data based on the association of the at least one of audio objects with the at least one of the video objects. | 08-21-2014 |
20140269212 | ULTRASOUND MESH LOCALIZATION FOR INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS - In general, techniques are described for locating a user using an ultrasound mesh. The techniques may be performed by an interactive system comprising one or more processors. The processors may be configured to determine an amplitude of a first ultrasound signal emitted by one or more transducers and received by a microphone. This first ultrasound signal may be of a first frequency. The processors may then determine an amplitude of a second ultrasound signal emitted by the one or more transducers and received by the microphone. The second ultrasound signal may be of a second frequency different from the first frequency. The processors may be further configured to determine a location of the microphone relative to the one or more transducers based at least on the determined amplitude of the first ultrasound signal and the determined amplitude of the second ultrasound signal. | 09-18-2014 |
20140355795 | FILTERING WITH BINAURAL ROOM IMPULSE RESPONSES WITH CONTENT ANALYSIS AND WEIGHTING - A device comprising one or more processors is configured to apply adaptively determined weights to a plurality of channels of the audio signal to generate a plurality of adaptively weighted channels of the audio signal. The processors are further configured to combine at least two of the plurality of adaptively weighted channels of the audio signal to generate a combined signal. The processors are further configured to apply a binaural room impulse response filter to the combined signal to generate a binaural audio signal. | 12-04-2014 |
20140355796 | FILTERING WITH BINAURAL ROOM IMPULSE RESPONSES - A device comprising one or more processors is configured to determine a plurality of segments for each of a plurality of binaural room impulse response filters, wherein each of the plurality of binaural room impulse response filters comprises a residual room response segment and at least one direction-dependent segment for which a filter response depends on a location within a sound field; transform each of at least one direction-dependent segment of the plurality of binaural room impulse response filters to a domain corresponding to a domain of a plurality of hierarchical elements to generate a plurality of transformed binaural room impulse response filters, wherein the plurality of hierarchical elements describe a sound field; and perform a fast convolution of the plurality of transformed binaural room impulse response filters and the plurality of hierarchical elements to render the sound field. | 12-04-2014 |
20150160022 | NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDSCAPING - A vehicle includes a positioning system configured to determine a position. The vehicle includes a memory configured to store information associated with one or more landmarks. The information includes an audio icon associated with a landmark, and the landmark is located at a landmark location. The vehicle includes a processor configured to retrieve the audio icon based on the position and to render an audio signal based on the audio icon into a three-dimensional audio space within the vehicle. The vehicle further includes two or more transducers configured to output a spatial auditory sound in the three-dimensional audio space based on the audio signal. The spatial auditory sound enables perception of the landmark location relative to a location within the vehicle. | 06-11-2015 |
20160005408 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL SOUND COMPRESSION AND OVER-THE-AIR-TRANSMISSION DURING A CALL - A method for encoding three dimensional audio by a wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device detects an indication of a plurality of localizable audio sources. The wireless communication device also records a plurality of audio signals associated with the plurality of localizable audio sources. The wireless communication device also encodes the plurality of audio signals. | 01-07-2016 |
20160035356 | EDITING OF HIGHER-ORDER AMBISONIC AUDIO DATA - In general, techniques are described for editing of higher-order ambisonic audio data. A device comprising a memory and one or more processors may be configured to perform the techniques. The memory may be configured to store spherical harmonic (SH) basis functions. The one or more processors may be configured to manipulate the SH basis functions associated with higher order ambisonics coefficients to alter a direction of an audio object represented by the higher order ambisonics coefficients. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035386 | EDITING OF HIGHER-ORDER AMBISONIC AUDIO DATA - In general, techniques are described for audio editing of higher-order ambisonic audio data. A device comprising a memory and one or more processors may be configured to perform the techniques. The memory may be configured to store a higher order ambisonic (HOA) representation of the audio object. The one or more processors may be configured to add a source tail to the HOA representation of the audio object by storing one or more spherical harmonic (SH) basis functions associated with the audio object to a buffer. | 02-04-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080213952 | SHALLOW TRENCH ISOLATION PROCESS AND STRUCTURE WITH MINIMIZED STRAINED SILICON CONSUMPTION - A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The strained material is formed after the trench is formed. The process can be utilized on a compound semiconductor layer above a box layer. | 09-04-2008 |
20080237803 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING STRUCTURE WITH FRACTIONAL DIMENSION OF THE MINIMUM DIMENSION OF A LITHOGRAPHY SYSTEM - A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided including processing a wafer having a spacer layer and a structure layer, the spacer layer is over the structure layer. The method continues including forming a first sidewall spacer from the spacer layer, forming a structure strip from the structure layer below the first sidewall spacer, forming a masking structure over and intersecting the structure strip, and forming a vertical post from the structure strip below the masking structure. | 10-02-2008 |
20090047770 | METHOD OF FORMING ISOLATION REGIONS FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The liner for the trench is formed from a semiconductor or metal layer which is deposited in a low temperature process which reduces germanium outgassing. The low temperature process can be a ALD process. | 02-19-2009 |
20100019351 | VARACTORS WITH ENHANCED TUNING RANGES - A varactor may have a first terminal connected to a gate. The gate may be formed from a p-type polysilicon gate conductor. The gate may also have a gate insulator formed from a layer of insulator such as silicon oxide. The gate insulator may be located between the gate conductor and a body region. Source and drain contact regions may be formed in a silicon body region. The body region and the source and drain may be doped with n-type dopant. The varactor may have a second terminal connected to the n-type source and drain. A control voltage may be used to adjust the level of capacitance produced by the varactor between the first and second terminals. A positive control voltage may produce a larger capacitance than a negative control voltage. Application of the negative control voltage may produce a depletion layer in the p+ polysilicon gate layer. | 01-28-2010 |
20100079200 | PROCESS/DESIGN METHODOLOGY TO ENABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE LOGIC AND ANALOG CIRCUITS USING A SINGLE PROCESS - A method for improving analog circuits performance using a circuit design using forward bias and a modified mixed-signal process is presented. A circuit consisting plurality of NMOS and PMOS transistors is defined. The body terminal of the NMOS transistors are coupled to a first voltage source and the body terminal of the PMOS transistors are coupled a second voltage source. Transistors in the circuit are selectively biased by applying the first voltage source to the body terminal of each selected NMOS transistor and applying the second voltage source to the body terminal of each selected PMOS transistor. In one embodiment, the first voltage source and the second voltage source are modifiable to provide forward and reverse bias to the body terminal of the transistors. | 04-01-2010 |
20100127331 | ASYMMETRIC METAL-OXIDE-SEMICONDUCTOR TRANSISTORS - Mixed gate metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors are provided. The transistors may have an asymmetric configuration that exhibits increased output resistance. Each transistor may be formed from a gate insulating layer formed on a semiconductor. The gate insulating layer may be a high-K material. Source and drain regions in the semiconductor may define a transistor gate length. The gate length may be larger than the minimum specified by semiconductor fabrication design rules. The transistor gate may be formed from first and second gate conductors with different work functions. The relative sizes of the first and gate conductors in a given transistor control the threshold voltage for the transistor. A computer-aided design tool may be used to receive a circuit design from a user. The tool may generate fabrication masks for the given design that include mixed gate transistors with threshold voltages optimized to meet circuit design criteria. | 05-27-2010 |
20100127332 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TRANSISTORS - Metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors are provided. A metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor may be formed on a semiconductor substrate. Source and drain regions may be formed in the substrate. A gate insulator such as a high-K dielectric may be formed between the source and drain regions. A gate may be formed from multiple gate conductors. The gate conductors may be metals with different workfunctions. A first of the gate conductors may form a pair of edge gate conductors that are adjacent to dielectric spacers. An opening between the edge gate conductors may be filled with the second gate conductor to form a center gate conductor. A self-aligned gate formation process may be used in fabricating the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor. | 05-27-2010 |
20120235662 | VERY LOW VOLTAGE REFERENCE CIRCUIT - A low-voltage reference circuit may have a pair of semiconductor devices. Each semiconductor device may have an n-type semiconductor region, an n+ region in the n-type semiconductor region, a metal gate, and a gate insulator interposed between the metal gate and the n-type semiconductor region through which carriers tunnel. The metal gate may have a work function matching that of p-type polysilicon. The gate insulator may have a thickness of less than about 25 angstroms. The metal gate may form a first terminal for the semiconductor device and the n+ region and n-type semiconductor region may form a second terminal for the semiconductor device. The second terminals may be coupled to ground. A biasing circuit may use the first terminals to supply different currents to the semiconductor devices and may provide a corresponding reference output voltage at a value that is less than one volt. | 09-20-2012 |
20140035151 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS USING DOUBLE PATTERNING PROCESSES - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. One method includes creating a master pattern layout including first and second adjacent cells. The first adjacent cell has a first border pin with a first routing line. The second adjacent cell has a second border pin with a second routing line. The first and second routing lines overlap to define an edge-edge stitch to couple the first and second border pins. The master pattern layout is decomposed into sub-patterns. | 02-06-2014 |
20140258960 | INTEGRATING OPTIMAL PLANAR AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR DESIGN LAYOUTS - An approach and apparatus are provided for optimizing and combining different semiconductor technologies into a single graphic data system. Embodiments include generating a planar semiconductor layout design, generating a three-dimensional (e.g., FinFET) semiconductor layout design, and combining the planar design and the FinFET design in a common graphic data system. | 09-11-2014 |
20140346651 | CHARGE DAMAGE PROTECTION ON AN INTERPOSER FOR A STACKED DIE ASSEMBLY - An apparatus relating generally to an interposer is disclosed. In such an apparatus, the interposer has a plurality of conductors and a plurality of charge attracting structures. The plurality of charge attracting structures are to protect at least one integrated circuit die to be coupled to the interposer to provide a stacked die. The plurality of conductors include a plurality of through-substrate vias. | 11-27-2014 |
20150318029 | Integrated Circuits with Asymmetric and Stacked Transistors - Asymmetric transistors may be formed by creating pocket implants on one source-drain terminal of a transistor and not the other. Asymmetric transistors may also be formed using dual-gate structures having first and second gate conductors of different work functions. Stacked transistors may be formed by stacking two transistors of the same channel type in series. One of the source-drain terminals of each of the two transistors is connected to a common node. The gates of the two transistors are also connected together. The two transistors may have different threshold voltages. The threshold voltage of the transistor that is located higher in the stacked transistor may be provided with a lower threshold voltage than the other transistor in the stacked transistor. Stacked transistors may be used to reduce leakage currents in circuits such as memory cells. Asymmetric transistors may also be used in memory cells to reduce leakage. | 11-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110120673 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF THERMAL TRANSFER AND/OR STORAGE - Systems, methods, and computer-implemented embodiments consistent with the inventions herein are directed to storing and/or transferring heat. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a system for transferring/storing heat comprised of a heat exchange/storage apparatus including a chamber, and a heat input device adapted to heat/provide a vapor into the chamber. Other exemplary implementations may include one or more features consistent with a heat output device through which a working medium/fluid passes, a thermal storage medium located within the chamber, and/or a heat exchange system that delivers a heat exchange medium/fluid to the thermal storage medium. | 05-26-2011 |
20110162829 | Systems and Methods of Thermal Transfer and/or Storage - Systems, methods, and computer-implemented embodiments consistent with the inventions herein are directed to storing and/or transferring heat. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a system for transferring/storing heat comprised of a heat exchange/storage apparatus including a chamber, and a heat input device adapted to heat/provide a vapor into the chamber. Other exemplary implementations may include one or more features consistent with a heat output device through which a working medium/fluid passes, a thermal storage medium located within the chamber, and/or a heat exchange system that delivers a heat exchange medium/fluid to the thermal storage medium. | 07-07-2011 |
20120241122 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LATENT HEAT (PHASE CHANGE) THERMAL STORAGE AND ASSOCIATED HEAT TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE - In various embodiments, phase change and heat exchange methods between heat collection, heat transfer, heat exchange, heat storage, and heat utility systems are described. In certain embodiments, the heat transfer fluids/heat exchange fluids, heat storage media, and working media in the system are all phase change materials with transition temperatures close to each other and in decreasing order and perform their respective function through phase changes within a relatively narrow temperature range. Methods to control heat transfer rate, heat exchange and/or heat charging/discharging rate between heat collection, thermal energy storage and heat utility apparatus at will are provided. Methods of controlling such systems are also provided. | 09-27-2012 |
20150316289 | SOLAR SPECTRUM SELECTIVE ABSORPTION COATING AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD - A solar spectrum selective absorption coating is disclosed. The coating includes, from the substrate to the air interface: substrate | 11-05-2015 |
20150316290 | SOLAR SPECTRUM SELECTIVE ABSORPTION COATING AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD - A solar spectrum selective absorption coating is disclosed. The coating includes, from the substrate to the air interface: substrate | 11-05-2015 |
20160046495 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AND PACKAGING OF HIGH PERFORMANCE THERMAL INSULATOR AEROGELS - In various embodiments, novel methods of fabricating and/or packaging aerogels are provided. | 02-18-2016 |
20160064176 | COOLING MECHANISM FOR HIGH-BRIGHTNESS X-RAY TUBE USING PHASE CHANGE HEAT EXCHANGE - A mechanism for cooling the anode of an x-ray tube using a phase change material to transfer heat away from the anode. The x-ray tube is joined to a sealed heat exchange chamber which contains a liquid metal as a liquid to vapor phase change material (L-V PCM). The back side of the anode is exposed to an interior of the heat exchange chamber, and a jet sprayer inside the heat exchange chamber sprays a liquid of the metal onto the back side of the heated anode. The L-C PCM evaporates on that surface to carry away the heat, and the vapor then condenses back into the liquid on the cool surfaces of the heat exchange chamber. The surfaces of the heat exchange chamber may be cooled by convection cooling. Optionally, pipes containing a circulating cooling fluid may be provide inside the heat exchange chamber. | 03-03-2016 |
20160102854 | COOLING MECHANISM FOR LED LIGHT USING 3-D PHASE CHANGE HEAT TRANSFER - Novel 3-D super-thermal conducting heat management design and delayed cooling using phase change materials are adopted to lower the temperature inside LEDs and other devices. The cooling mechanism uses a fin structure with hollow fins to dissipate heat to the environment. The hollow space inside the fins is connected to an interior chamber, where a liquid to vapor phase change material (L-V PCM) is provided to transfer heat from the LED chips to the surface of the hollow fins. The LED chips are mounted on an evaporator located at the bottom of the chamber. A liquid reservoir is provided, and the evaporator surface is hydrophilic with an additional wick structure to transport the L-V PCM liquid to the evaporator surface. The fins are parallel to each other and are either parallel or perpendicular to the evaporator surface. This structure has superior performance and is inexpensive to manufacture. | 04-14-2016 |
20160104925 | A COOLING MECHANISM FOR BATTERIES USING L-V PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS - A 3-D “phase change heat exchange” structure and method are used in a rechargeable battery to dissipate heat from surfaces of the battery cells and lower the temperature inside the battery cells. The battery cells are placed inside an enclosure and spaced apart from each other with free spaces in between. A liquid to vapor phase change material (L-V PCM) is provided inside the enclosure. A hydrophilic thin film or wick or fiber structure is provided on the cell surfaces to help form a thin liquid layer of the L-V PCM over cell surfaces. During operation, the L-C PCM is evaporated at the cell surfaces and condenses back to a liquid either on the battery enclosure or in an external heat exchanger, and drips back on top of the cells. The designs extend the battery life and improve the battery performance significantly. | 04-14-2016 |