Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Marvell International Limited

Legerity, Inc.

Yi Cheng

William Lo

Thomas J Runaldue

Calvin Fang

Zhenhua Liu

Steven C Lam

Leechung Yiu

Kris Martin Holt

Richard J Markle

Colin D Nayler

Boon-Aik Ang

Bin Guo

Qingsu Wang

Gerald W Barnett

Oikwan Tsang

Richard Bruce Patty

Chris A Nauert

Dennis Lau

Hung Duy Vo

R Michael Greig

Michael J Gatto

Thomas Jefferson Ronaldue

Zhen-Hua Liu

Willaim Lo

Phil Keller

A physical layer device comprises a transmitter of a first network device that transmits an autonegotiation signal to a second network device. A receiver of the first network device receives a received signal from the second network device. An autonegotiation controller autonegotiates link parameters for a link between the first network device and the second network device, monitors autonegotiation pulses in the autonegotiation signal relative to autonegotiation pulses in the received signal received during a window, and selectively blinds autonegotiation based on the monitoring.

Method and apparatus for autonegotiation between network devices

A first network device comprises first and second transformers that communicate with a second network device. A switch selectively connects power to the first and second transformers. A physical layer device communicates with the first and second transformers and includes a signal generator, a detector, and a controller that communicates with the switch, the signal generator and the detector. The signal generator generates a test signal comprising n sub-pulses, where n is an integer greater than 2. When the detector detects j pulses that are greater than a predetermined threshold, 1&#x2266;j&#x3c;n, the controller supplies power to the second network device, where j is an integer.

Method and apparatus for detecting and supplying power by a first network device to a second network device

A first network device supplies power to a second network device in communication therewith. The first network device comprises a physical layer device which includes a pulse generator to generate a test signal comprising n sub-pulses to be transmitted to the second network device, wherein in n being greater than 2. A detector is responsive to the second network device, and a controller is in communication with the detector and the pulse generator. When the detector detects j pulses which are greater than a predetermined threshold, 1&#x2266;j&#x3c;n, the controller, responsive to the detector, enables power to be transmitted to the second network device.

A first network device is provided in communications with a second network device comprising a physical layer device. The physical layer device comprises a transmitter to transmit an autonegotiation signal to the second network device, a receiver to receive a received signal from the second network device, and a controller comprising an autonegotiation controller to set a highest common data rate between the first network device and the second network device. The autonegotiation controller compares the autonegotiation signal and the received signal and selectively prevents the autonegotiation when the autonegotiation signal is the same as the received signal.

An apparatus and method of a programmable hysteresis comparator capable of producing a digital signal in response to differential input signals is disclosed. In one embodiment, the programmable hysteresis comparator includes a hysteresis offset programmable circuit that is operable to selectively provide a hysteresis offset in response to a programmable hysteresis offset control signal. The programmable hysteresis comparator further includes a comparator circuit, which is capable of receiving differential input signals. The hysteresis comparator is operable to output a digital signal in response to differential input signals and the hysteresis offset.

Simplified comparator with digitally controllable hysteresis and bandwidth

A circuit for measuring signal output of a transducer includes an amplifier having a differential input and a single ended output referenced to a fixed potential. One transducer terminal is coupled through a source follower to an input terminal of the differential input and the other transducer terminal is coupled through a source follower and a resistive element to the other input terminal of the differential input whereby the transducer terminals are isolated from the fixed potential. A voltage to current converter converts the voltage at the single ended output to an output current that is applied to an input branch of a current mirror. A first output branch of the current mirror supplies a current equal to the converter output current to one terminal of the differential input. A second output branch of the current mirror supplies a current equal to the converter output current to the other terminal of the differential input. A third output branch of the current mirror supplies a multiple of the converter output current to a resistive element having a terminal connected to the fixed potential.

Method and apparatus for measuring an output signal of a floating transducer

A physical layer transceiver of a home network station connected to a telephone medium has an architecture enabling adaptation of detection circuitry based on received network signals to enable reliable recovery of data signals. The physical layer transceiver includes an input amplifier that amplifies network signals according to one of 128 gain settings set by a receiver gain control signal. A signal conditioning circuit includes an envelope detector configured for outputting an envelope of the amplified received signal, and an energy detector configured for outputting an energy signal of the amplified received signals. The envelope signal and the energy signal are supplied to slicer threshold circuits, configured for outputting noise, peak, data event and energy event signals based on noise threshold, peak threshold, data transition threshold, and energy threshold signals, respectively. A digital controller controls the input amplifier gain and the threshold values, and adjusts the gain and threshold values based on the noise event signal and the peak event signal within an access ID (AID) interval. Hence, the receiver can be optimized on a per-packet basis for receiving network signals by adjusting the receiver portion during the AID preamble phase of the data packet. Gain control may also be used by the digital controller on the transmitter portion to selectively adjust the output gain for optimizing transmission to a destination home network station.

Physical layer transceiver architecture for a home network station connected to a telephone line medium

A transmitter within a line driver circuit is configured to supply data pulses over existing residential wiring. The transmitter is implemented in a CMOS integrated circuit. The transmitter comprises three stages: a front-end digital/analog convertor (DAC), an intermediate DAC, and a current amplifier. The first stage dictates whether the output signal is in high power mode or low power mode. The intermediate DAC, as the second stage, controls the waveform shape and tunes the edge rate, thereby outputting a positive current signal and a negative current signal. The final stage amplifies these current signals to yield current signals having a desired waveform shape, power mode, and edge rate.

Apparatus and method for a PHY transmitter with programmable power mode control in CMOS

In the present invention a semiconductor integrated circuit is described to perform signal detection in a data communication system. The circuit is configured such that the capacitors used in high pass filter and a low pass filter are CMOS capacitors. The capacitors are formed from transistors where the gate is one terminal of the capacitor and the source and drain connected together form the second terminal of the capacitor. The source and drain that are connected together are connected to a voltage bias in the circuit which prevents the capacitors from being in a &ldquo;floating&rdquo; circuit configuration. The signal detection is done in one stage where a high pass filter is in the source of the input transistors and a low pass filter is in the drain of the input transistors. A comparator connects to the drain circuitry of the input transistors which supplies and offset voltage to the comparator. The input signal must be of a specific frequency to be conducted through the filters and of specific amplitude to overcome the offset. The simplicity requires far few devices than previous signal detectors and facilitates the ability to handle high frequency signals.

CMOS integrated signal detection circuit with high efficiency and performance

A transmitter within a line driver circuit is configured to supply data signals in compliance with the Multilevel Transmission-3 (MLT-3) protocol for high speed data communication. The transmitter comprises a pre-driver system and a final driver. The pre-driver system comprises a plurality of individual pre-drivers that are in parallel. A zero drive logic designates any number of individual pre-drivers as zero drive types, such that these designated zero drive pre-drivers are turned ON during a zero signaling state. The partially turned ON pre-driver system, during the zero state, permits the final driver to rapidly output positive and negative signals in accord with the MLT-3 protocol.

Apparatus and method for slew rate control of MLT-3 transmitter using zero drive

A filter has a transfer function. The filter includes a signal input for receiving an input signal and a signal output operatively coupled to the signal input for providing an output signal. A ratio of the output signal to the input signal is equal to the filter's transfer function. The filter also includes a set of control inputs, wherein each control input in the set of control inputs is adapted for providing a digital signal. Each selectable transconductive load in a set of selectable transconductive loads has a transconductance and is operatively coupled to the signal output and a control input in the set of control inputs. The transfer function is set in response to a digital signal provided by at least one control signal in the set of control signals. Each selectable transconductive load is selected in response to at least one control signal in the set of control signals. Accordingly, the value for the transfer function is further dependent upon transconductances provided by selectable transconductive loads that are selected.

Digitally controlled transmission line equalizer

An optimum equalizer setting is determined for a signal equalizer in a network receiver by successively setting the equalizer to different predetermined settings, detecting timing correlation results between the equalized signal and a recovered clock in a digital phase locked loop, and determining a normalized distribution result for each of the predetermined equalizer settings based on the timing correlation results. The equalizer setting having the minimum normalized distribution result can then be selected as the optimum equalizer setting. Use of the correlation result from the phase locked loop enables the equalizer controller determining the optimum equalizer setting to determine the setting using a closed-loop setting. Hence, the equalizer controller can effectively determine the equalizer setting that causes the minimum amount of jitter in the phase locked loop.

Apparatus and method for determining an optimum equalizer setting for a

A CMOS device for generating a waveformn envelope is provided in a network that uses a twisted pair medium, such as a telephone line, to connect stations. The CMOS device receives analog signals representing pulsed data signals sent over the telephone line and generates an envelope waveform for the received analog signal. The envelope waveform can then be used to detect the arrival of data, as opposed to noise on the network.

Apparatus and method for generating an envelope for data signals using

In a semiconductor process which utilizes a plasma within a process tool chamber, a method of using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) to monitor a particular parameter of the process is disclosed. A first wavelength present in the plasma is determined which varies highly in intensity depending on the particular parameter by observing a statistically significant sample representing variations of the particular parameter. A second wavelength of chemical significance to the process is also determined which is relatively stable in intensity over time irrespective of variations of the particular parameter, also by observing a statistically significant sample representing variations of the particular parameter. These two wavelengths may be determined from test wafers and off-line physical measurements. Then, the intensity of the first and second wavelengths present in the plasma is measured on-line during normal processing within the process tool chamber, and the ratio between the first and second wavelength's respective intensities generates a numeric value which is correlated to the particular parameter. As an example, such a method may be used to generate a reliable alarm signal indicating the presence of etch stop conditions within a plasma oxide etcher, as well as to indicate the oxide etch rate.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Yi Cheng