Intel Corporation

Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.

Key Control Holding, Inc.

Intel Coproration

James E Chandler

John F Zumkehr

Scott J Carter

Arnaud J Forestier

Jeffrey E Smith

Roger A Niederland

Renjeng Chiang

Ray I Chiang

A containment area can be defined by a single cable carrying an asymmetric electromagnetic signal that generates a magnetic field comprising an asymmetric waveform. A single inductor circuit configured to detect a single axis of the magnetic field can detect the asymmetric waveform and determine which direction the inductor is traveling relative to the cable. A human-propelled cart can have a wheel that includes the single inductor circuit and detect whether the cart is being pushed from inside-to-outside the containment area (which may reflect the cart is being stolen or improperly used) or from outside-to-inside (which may reflect the cart is being returned). The cart can include an anti-theft system (e.g., a locking or braking wheel), which can be triggered if the cart is being moved from inside to outside the containment area. The single cable, single inductor system can be less expensive and more efficient than multi-cable, multi-inductor systems.

Direction crossing detector for containment boundary

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for reduced signal level support for memory devices. In some embodiments, a host includes one or more additional electrical contacts to provide a controllable voltage reference to a memory device. The host may also include driver circuitry to provide a driver signal to the memory device. In some embodiments, the driver signal is substantially symmetrical around the controllable voltage reference.

Reduced signal level support for memory devices

The object control and tracking system of the present invention includes a computer, a system controller, and at least one object storage drawer housed within a security cabinet. The system controller provides a bi-directional communication link between the computer and a printed circuit board located within the object storage drawer. The objects are symmetrically shaped acrylic key fobs each containing a touch memory device to store information about as set of keys or other valuable objects associated with the fob. A dress plate, incorporating a plurality of slots for interfacing with the fobs, is within the drawer and provides the mechanical support for the key fobs. The key fobs are generally symmetrically shaped to fit into the slot. The slot spacing is staggered in the array so that it is easier for a user to replace or to locate the key fob if the array is almost fully occupied. The slots of the array are symmetrical in nature so that a user can insert the tongue of the key fob in either orientation into the slots of the array. The top side of a PCB board is in immediate contact with the bottom side of the dress plate. Symmetrical slots are cut through the PCB and are in alignment with the dress panel slots. On the bottom side of the PCB board, each slot contains pairs of downward, vertically extending, biased metal contacts. Each slot incorporates an LED for providing a visual indication to a user of the location of an empty slot or the location of an inserted fob.

Object controlled access and inventory system

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus for calibrating signals. The apparatus includes a receiver pair to receive a differential signal and a reference signal and to generate at least one comparison signal reflecting where a first signal of the differential signal and a second signal of the differential signal cross each other with respect to the reference signal. The second signal is a negative compliment of the first signal. The apparatus further includes a phase detector to determine a phase error based on the at least one comparison signal. The apparatus also includes an edge delay control driver pair to adjust the differential signal based on the phase error.

Calibrated differential voltage crossing

Embodiments of the invention include a memory controller to interface to memory. In one embodiment, the memory controller includes a pull-up calibration terminal to couple to an external pull-up resistor, a pull-down calibration terminal to couple to an external pull-down resistor, a voltage reference node, a first switch coupled between the pull-up calibration terminal and the voltage reference node, and a second switch coupled between the pull-down calibration terminal and the voltage reference node. The first switch and the second switch may be selectively closed to generate an internal voltage reference on the voltage reference node in a normal mode that may be used for comparison with an input signal to receive data.

Internal voltage reference for memory interface

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of driver slices, a portion of the plurality of the driver slices being used to provide a target impedance; a digital matching logic to select the portion of the plurality of the driver slices; and an analog matching circuit to produce a bias voltage to match pull-up and pull-down.

Hybrid compensated buffer design

A device and method for calibrating a slew rate is disclosed. The slew rate may be for a driver of a bi-directional buffer. A driver outputs a signal having a frequency. A receiver is coupled to the driver. A frequency counter measures the frequency of the signal. A calibrated slew rate is determined by the frequency of a waveform of the signal. Different waveforms may be determined for the pull-up and pull-down calibrations.

Method and device for symmetrical slew rate calibration

Methods, apparatus and machine-readable medium to terminate a memory bus line. In some embodiments, the memory bus line is terminated with one or more transistors of an output buffer that are used to drive the memory bus line during a memory write.

Memory bus termination

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of driver slices, a portion of the plurality of the devices being used to provide a target impedance; a digital matching logic to select the portion of the plurality of the driver slices; and an analog matching circuit to produce a bias voltage to match pull-up and pull-down.

Growing community of inventors

Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

James E Chandler