U.S. patent application number 15/466638 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-28 for enable and disable comparator voltage reference.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC. Invention is credited to Seth M. Prentice, Julie Lynn Stultz.
Application Number | 20180184221 15/466638 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46126670 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180184221 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Prentice; Seth M. ; et
al. |
June 28, 2018 |
ENABLE AND DISABLE COMPARATOR VOLTAGE REFERENCE
Abstract
This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods
to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory
detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device
having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device
accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory
detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The
comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory
information from the mobile device accessory and to determine
activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device
accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive
connection information indicative of mobile device accessory
connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of
the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection
information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
Inventors: |
Prentice; Seth M.; (Auburn,
ME) ; Stultz; Julie Lynn; (Scarborough, ME) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC |
Phoenix |
AZ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Fairchild Semiconductor
Corporation
Phoenix
AZ
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170201843 A1 |
July 13, 2017 |
|
|
Family ID: |
46126670 |
Appl. No.: |
15/466638 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14689247 |
Apr 17, 2015 |
9635453 |
|
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15466638 |
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|
|
13302644 |
Nov 22, 2011 |
9014388 |
|
|
14689247 |
|
|
|
|
61416245 |
Nov 22, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72527 20130101;
H04R 1/06 20130101; H04M 1/05 20130101; H04M 1/6058 20130101; H04R
1/1091 20130101; H04R 3/00 20130101; H04R 29/001 20130101; H04R
5/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 29/00 20060101
H04R029/00; H04R 5/04 20060101 H04R005/04; H04M 1/60 20060101
H04M001/60; H04M 1/725 20060101 H04M001/725 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A system comprising: an accessory detection device, including: a
comparator having a first input and a reference input, wherein the
first input is configured to receive mobile device accessory
information from a mobile device accessory; and a switch configured
to receive connection information indicative of a mobile device
accessory connection to an audio jack, the switch having a first
state and a second state, wherein the switch is configured to
couple the reference input of the comparator to a supply voltage in
the first state and to isolate the reference input of the
comparator from the supply voltage in a second state using the
connection information to reduce leakage current from the supply
voltage through a reference circuit coupled to the reference input
of the comparator.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the switch is configured to
ground the reference input in the second state.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first input of the comparator
is configured to receive mobile device accessory information from a
data terminal of the audio jack.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the switch is configured to
isolate the reference input of the comparator from the supply
voltage in response to the connection information indicating that
the mobile device accessory is not coupled to the audio jack.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein the switch is configured to
couple the reference input of the comparator to the supply voltage
in response to the connection information indicating that the
mobile device accessory is coupled to the audio jack.
7. The system of claim 2, including a mobile device, the mobile
device including the accessory detection circuit and the audio
jack, wherein the audio jack is configured to receive an audio plug
of the mobile device accessory.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the audio jack includes a 4-pole
audio jack configured to receive a 4-pole audio plug, the 4-pole
audio jack including left audio terminal, a right audio terminal, a
ground terminal, and a data terminal, wherein the connection
information is different than the mobile device accessory
information.
9. The system of claim 2, wherein the reference circuit includes a
resistor divider having first and second resistors, the first
resistor configured to be coupled between the supply voltage and
the reference input of the comparator, the second resistor
configured to be coupled between the reference input of the
comparator and the reference voltage.
10. The system of claim 9, including: an integrated circuit, the
integrated circuit including the comparator and the switch, wherein
the reference circuit is external to the integrated circuit.
11. The system of claim 2, wherein the switch includes a p-channel
MOSFET (PMOS) device.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the PMOS device includes an
electrostatic-discharge (ESD) PMOS device having a channel width at
least 500 times greater than a channel length and a source-contact
to gate spacing and a drain-contact to gate spacing at least 3
times greater than the channel length to provide a desired current
density and ESD robustness.
13. The system of claim 2, wherein the comparator is configured to
determine activation of a send/end key of a mobile device accessory
using the received mobile device accessory information.
14. A method comprising: receiving connection information
indicative of mobile device accessory connection to an audio jack
of a mobile device; receiving mobile device accessory information,
different from the connection information, from the mobile device
accessory at a first input of a comparator; coupling a reference
input of the comparator to a supply voltage using a switch in a
first state and isolating the reference input of the comparator
from the supply voltage using the switch in a second state to
reduce leakage current from the supply voltage through a reference
circuit coupled to the reference input of the comparator; and
controlling the state of the switch using the connection
information.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the isolating the reference
input of the comparator from the supply voltage using the switch in
the second state includes grounding the reference input.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the isolating the reference
input of the comparator includes in response to the connection
information indicating that the mobile device accessory is not
coupled to the audio jack.
17. The method of claim 14, including coupling the reference input
of the comparator to the supply voltage in response to the
connection information indicating that the mobile device accessory
is coupled to the audio jack.
18. The method of claim 14, including selectively providing a
determinable reference voltage to the reference input of the
comparator using a resistor divider coupled to the switch, the
resistor divider including first and second resistors having first
and second resistance values, the reference voltage determinable as
a function of the first and second resistance values.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the reference circuit includes
a resistor divider having first and second resistors, and wherein
isolating the reference input of the comparator from the supply
voltage using the switch in the second state includes to reduce
leakage current from the supply voltage through the resistor
divider.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the isolating the reference
input of the comparator includes using a p-channel MOSFET (PMOS)
device.
21. The method of claim 14, wherein the isolating the reference
input of the comparator using the PMOS device includes using an
electrostatic-discharge (ESD) PMOS device having a channel width at
least 500 times greater than a channel length and a source-contact
to gate spacing and a drain-contact to gate spacing at least 3
times greater than the channel length to provide a desired current
density and ESD robustness.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/689,247, filed Apr. 17, 2015, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/302,644, filed
on Nov. 22, 2011, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/416,245, filed on Nov.
22, 2010 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety,
the benefit of priority of each of which is claimed hereby, and
each of which are incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, etc.) can include
various accessories. For example, mobile devices with audio jacks
can be configured to be coupled to a headset having at least one of
a headphone, a speaker, a microphone, or a send/end key. In an
example, the mobile device can include a comparator configured to
identify when the send/end key is activated on the headset. In
certain examples, activating the send/end key can reduce the
microphone bias to ground or increase the microphone bias to a full
microphone bias voltage level. In an example, a voltage divider can
be used to set the comparator threshold level to identify the
send/end key activation. In many devices, the resistors used for
the voltage divider are connected to a supply that is normally
enabled, even if the headset is not connected, creating excess
current draw.
Overview
[0003] This document discusses, among other things, systems and
methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The
accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a
mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a
mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the
accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch.
The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory
information from the mobile device accessory and to determine
activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device
accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive
connection information indicative of mobile device accessory
connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of
the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection
information, for example, to reduce leakage current.
[0004] This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject
matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to
provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention.
The detailed description is included to provide further information
about the present patent application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale,
like numerals may describe similar components in different views.
Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent
different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate
generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various
embodiments discussed in the present document.
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates generally an example of a system
including an accessory detection device.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates generally an example of a system
including an accessory detection device and an external resistor
divider.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates generally an example of a system
including an accessory detection device, a baseband processor, an
audio codec, an applications processor, and an audio jack.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates generally an example of a logic diagram
for an accessory detection device.
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates generally an example of a standard PMOS
device.
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates generally an example of a PMOS device
designed for electrostatic discharge (ESD) robustness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The present inventors have recognized, among other things,
systems and methods to detect connection of one or more mobile
device accessories to a mobile device, for example, to an audio
jack of the mobile device or one or more other inputs or outputs.
In an example, an accessory detection device (e.g., a circuit
configured to be placed inside of the mobile device) can include a
comparator and a microphone switch with an external voltage
reference pin. In an example, the accessory detection device can
include enable/disable circuitry that can recognize when the
voltage reference is or is not required. When the voltage reference
is not required, a switch can isolate the detection device from a
supply voltage, in certain examples eliminating excess leakage
current and increasing the battery life of the mobile device. In an
example, integrating a standard PMOS gate to isolate the detection
device from the supply voltage can introduce electrostatic
discharge (ESD) concerns. Accordingly, in certain examples, the
detection device can include a customized PMOS cell configured to
increase ESD robustness while maintaining functionality.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates generally an example of a system 100
including a comparator 105, a switch 110, and a resistor divider
including first and second resistors 111, 112. In an example, the
comparator 105 can be configured to receive a reference voltage at
a reference input (+) and mobile device accessory information, such
as information from a microphone pin of a mobile device accessory
(e.g., a headset, etc.), at a microphone input (J_MIC), to compare
the mobile device accessory information to the reference voltage
and to provide an indication of a send/end key activation using the
comparison (e.g., using a send/end key (S/E) output).
[0014] In an example, the switch 110 can be configured to receive
connection information indicative of mobile device accessory
connection to the audio jack, for example, at a control input
(CTRL) and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a
supply voltage (VDD) using the connection information. In an
example, the switch 110 can include a metal-oxide field-effect
transistor (MOSFET), such as a p-type MOSFET (PMOS) device, and in
certain examples, as described below, the PMOS or other device can
include an ESD PMOS device configured to alleviate ESD concerns
found in typical PMOS devices.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates generally an example of a system 200
including an accessory detection device 101 and an external
resistor divider including first and second resistors 111, 112. In
an example, the detection device 101 can include a comparator 105
and a switch 110. In an example, the switch 110 can include a PMOS
device or other switch configured to isolate a supply voltage (VDD)
from the external resistor divider and the comparator 105. In an
example, an integrated circuit (IC) can include the detection
device 101 and not the external resistor divider, such as to allow
a determinable reference voltage at a reference input (REF) of the
comparator using the first and second resistors 111, 112.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates generally an example of a system 300
including an accessory detection device 101, a baseband processor
130, an audio codec 131, an applications processor 132, and an
audio jack 125.
[0017] In an example, the audio jack 125 can include four
terminals, such as: (1) left audio (L); (2) right audio (R); (3)
ground (GND); and (4) a data terminal. In an example, the data
terminal can be configured to receive mobile device accessory
information, such as a microphone input (Mic). In other examples,
the data terminal can be configured to receive or provide other
accessory information, such as providing video data out, etc.
[0018] In certain examples, the audio jack 125 can be configured to
receive an audio plug 135, such as a 4-pole audio plug. In other
examples, the audio jack 125 can be configured to receive one or
more other types of audio plugs, or the audio jack 125 and audio
plug 135 can be replaced with one or more other type of
input/output (IO).
[0019] In an example, when a headset is plugged into the audio jack
125, a baseband processor 130 can enable the detection device 101,
for example, using an enable input (EN) and an enable circuit 115,
and can close a microphone switch 116, connecting a microphone pin
(MIC) to a microphone input (J_MIC), such as by using a select
(SEL) input, which can enable the detection device 101 to provide a
voltage reference at a reference supply voltage (R_VDD) for the
comparator 105, such as through an external resistor divider (e.g.,
the first and second resistors 111, 112) configured to provide a
determinable (e.g., user determinable, etc.) reference voltage to
the comparator 105.
[0020] In the example of FIG. 3, a microphone line between the
audio codec 131 and the detection device 101 can be pulled to a
microphone bias (MIC_Bias) level through a microphone resistor
(R.sub.MIC, e.g., typically 2.2k.OMEGA.). In an example, a headset
microphone (e.g., a JFET type microphone, etc.) can represent a
load of .about.2k.OMEGA., creating a microphone bias level of
.about.MIC_Bias/2. In an example, if a send/end (S/E) key is
activated (e.g., pushed) on the headset, the connection to the
microphone can be open allowing the microphone bias to increase to
or near the full microphone bias voltage potential. The microphone
bias can pass the reference voltage on the comparator 105 and the
send/enable (S/E) output pin on the detection device 101 can be
updated, communicating an S/E key activation to the baseband
processor 130.
[0021] In an example, the circuitry (e.g., the switch 110) and the
reference voltage (REF) on the comparator 105 can be required only
when a headset is plugged in. If a video switch (VID) is selected,
for example, from an applications processor 132, or the detection
device 101 is disabled, the reference supply voltage (R_VDD) can be
disabled using the switch 110, eliminating excess current through
the external resistor divider (e.g., the first and second resistors
111, 112), etc.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates generally an example of a timing diagram
400 of a detection device, such as that illustrated in the example
of FIG. 3, disclosing an example relationship between a supply
voltage (VDD) 141, an enable signal (EN) 142, a reference supply
voltage (R_VDD) 143, a select signal (SEL) 144, a microphone signal
(MIC) 145, a comparator output (COMP) 146, and a video enable
signal (VID) 147 with reference to time. In an example, at 166, the
detection device can be enabled and the MIC switch can be selected.
In an example, at 167, the detection device can be enabled, and the
VID switch can be selected. In an example, at 168, the detection
device can be disabled. Table 1, below, provides an example
operation.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 EN SEL MIC VID R_VDD S/E 0 X 3-State 3-State
GND H 1 1 J_MIC Open VDD Active 1 0 Open J_MIC GND H
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates generally an example of a standard PMOS
device 500.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates generally an example of a p-type
metal-oxide field-effect transistor (PMOS) device 600 designed for
electrostatic discharge (ESD) robustness. The PMOS device 600
between the supply voltage (VDD) and a reference supply voltage
(R_VDD) can provide ESD robustness while still meeting application
requirements (e.g., for the example illustrated in FIG. 3). In an
example, the PMOS device 600 includes increased source metal 170
and increased drain metal 171 in comparison to the standard PMOS
device 500 of FIG. 5. In certain examples, the channel lengths and
widths are increased with respect to the example illustrated in
FIG. 5. Further, the number of stripes has increased, as well as
the source contact to gate spacing (SCGS) 172 and the drain contact
to gate spacing (DCGS) 173, greatly increasing the current density
in the PMOS device 500. Table 2 illustrates example changes for
each of the parameters referenced above.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Parameter Standard PMOS ESD PMOS Channel
Length 0.35 um 0.50 um Channel Width 80 um 400 um Number of Stripes
4 12 SCGS/DCGS Spacing 0.30 um 1.80 um Current Density 6.40 ma 57.0
mA
[0025] Although certain examples above are illustrated with respect
to a mobile device, an audio jack, and a headset, the subject
matter disclosed herein is likewise applicable to any comparator
configured to compare a received signal to a reference voltage
supplied using a supply voltage. In an example, the supply voltage
can be isolated or coupled to the comparator using information
about the received signal, or using information about a device
providing the received signal.
Additional Notes
[0026] In Example 1, a system includes an accessory detection
device configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio
jack, wherein the audio jack is configured to be coupled to a
mobile device accessory having a send/end key. The accessory
detection device can include a comparator configured to receive
mobile device accessory information from the mobile device
accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the
received mobile device accessory information and a switch
configured to receive connection information indicative of a mobile
device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a
reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the
connection information.
[0027] In Example 2, Example 1 can optionally include the audio
jack, wherein the audio jack includes a 4-pole audio jack
configured to receive a 4-pole audio plug, the 4-pole audio jack
including left audio terminal, a right audio terminal, a ground
terminal, and a data terminal, wherein the switch is optionally
configured to receive connection information using the ground
terminal of the 4-pole audio jack, and wherein the connection
information is optionally different than the mobile device
accessory information.
[0028] In Example 3, the comparator of any one or more of Examples
1-2 is optionally configured to receive mobile device accessory
information using the data terminal.
[0029] In Example 4, the switch of any one or more of Examples 1-3
is optionally configured to isolate the reference input of the
comparator from the supply voltage in response to the connection
information indicating that the mobile device accessory is not
coupled to the audio jack.
[0030] In Example 5, the switch of any one or more of Examples 1-4
is optionally configured to couple the reference input of the
comparator to the supply voltage in response to the connection
information indicating that the mobile device accessory is coupled
to the audio jack.
[0031] In Example 6, any one or more of Examples 1-5 optionally
includes a resistor divider configured to receive a voltage from
the switch and to provide a reference voltage to the reference
input of the comparator.
[0032] In Example 7, any one or more of Examples 1-6 optionally
includes an integrated circuit (IC) including the comparator and
the switch, and the comparator of any one or more of Examples 1-6
is optionally configured to receive a determinable reference
voltage at the reference input using an external resistor divider
and the switch.
[0033] In Example 8, any one or more of Examples 1-7 optionally
includes the external resistor divider, including first and second
resistors having first and second resistance values, wherein the IC
of any one or more of Examples 1-7 optionally includes a switch
output and a reference input, wherein the first resistor of any one
or more of Examples 1-7 is optionally coupled between the switch
output and the reference input, wherein the second resistor of any
one or more of Examples 1-7 is optionally coupled between the
reference input and a voltage level, and wherein the switch of any
one or more of Examples 1-7 is optionally configured to selectively
provide the supply voltage to the external resistor divider to
provide the determinable reference voltage to the reference input
of the comparator as a function of the first and second resistance
values and the supply voltage.
[0034] In Example 9, the mobile device accessory of any one or more
of Examples 1-8 optionally includes at least one of a 4-pole mobile
device headset having a send/end key or a 4-pole audio/video
interface configured to provide audio or video output from the
mobile device to an external display.
[0035] In Example 10, the switch of any one or more of Examples 1-9
optionally includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect
transistor (MOSFET).
[0036] In Example 11, the switch of any one or more of Examples
1-10 optionally includes a p-channel MOSFET (PMOS) device.
[0037] In Example 12, the PMOS device of any one or more of
Examples 1-11 optionally includes an electrostatic-discharge (ESD)
PMOS device having a channel width at least 500 times greater than
a channel length and a source-contact to gate spacing and a
drain-contact to gate spacing at least 3 times greater than the
channel length to provide a desired current density and ESD
robustness.
[0038] In Example 13, any one or more of Examples 1-12 can include
receiving connection information indicative of mobile device
accessory connection to an audio jack of a mobile device, receiving
mobile device accessory information, different from the connection
information, from the mobile device accessory at a comparator,
determining activation of a send/end key of the mobile device
accessory using the comparator and the mobile device accessory
information, and isolating a reference input of the comparator from
a supply voltage using the connection information and a switch.
[0039] In Example 14, the receiving connection information of any
one or more of Examples 1-13 optionally includes receiving
connection information from a ground terminal of a 4-pole audio
jack configured to receive a 4-pole audio plug of the mobile device
accessory.
[0040] In Example 15, the isolating the reference input of the
comparator of any one or more of Examples 1-14 optionally includes
in response to the connection information indicating that the
mobile device accessory is not coupled to the audio jack.
[0041] In Example 16, any one or more of Examples 1-15 optionally
includes coupling the reference input of the comparator to the
supply voltage in response to the connection information indicating
that the mobile device accessory is coupled to the audio jack.
[0042] In Example 17, any one or more of Examples 1-16 optionally
includes selectively providing a determinable reference voltage to
the reference input of the comparator using a resistor divider
coupled to the switch, the resistor divider optionally including
first and second resistors having first and second resistance
values, the reference voltage determinable as a function of the
first and second resistance values.
[0043] In Example 18, the isolating the reference input of the
comparator of any one or more of Examples 1-17 using the switch
optionally includes using a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect
transistor (MOSFET).
[0044] In Example 19, the isolating the reference input of the
comparator using the MOSFET of any one or more of Examples 1-18
optionally includes using a p-channel MOSFET (PMOS) device.
[0045] In Example 20, the isolating the reference input of the
comparator using the PMOS device of any one or more of Examples
1-19 optionally includes using an electrostatic-discharge (ESD)
PMOS device having a channel width at least 500 times greater than
a channel length and a source-contact to gate spacing and a
drain-contact to gate spacing at least 3 times greater than the
channel length to provide a desired current density and ESD
robustness. In other examples, one or more other ranges can be
provided to provide a desired current density and ESD robustness,
with space and cost tradeoffs.
[0046] In Example 21, a system or apparatus can include, or can
optionally be combined with any portion or combination of any
portions of any one or more of Examples 1-20 to include, means for
performing any one or more of the functions of Examples 1-20, or a
machine-readable medium including instructions that, when performed
by a machine, cause the machine to perform any one or more of the
functions of Examples 1-20.
[0047] The above detailed description includes references to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed
description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific
embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These
embodiments are also referred to herein as "examples." All
publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this
document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as
though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of
inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so
incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated
reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this
document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this
document controls.
[0048] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used, as is
common in patent documents, to include one or more than one,
independent of any other instances or usages of "at least one" or
"one or more." In this document, the term "or" is used to refer to
a nonexclusive or, such that "A or B" includes "A but not B," "B
but not A," and "A and B," unless otherwise indicated. In the
appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as
the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising"
and "wherein." Also, in the following claims, the terms "including"
and "comprising" are open-ended, that is, a system, device,
article, or process that includes elements in addition to those
listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within
the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the
terms "first," "second," and "third," etc. are used merely as
labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on
their objects.
[0049] The above description is intended to be illustrative, and
not restrictive. For example, although the examples above have been
described relating to p-type devices, one or more examples can be
applicable to n-type devices. In other examples, the
above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be
used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used,
such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the
above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37
C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the
nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the
understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the
scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed
Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline
the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an
unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather,
inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a
particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are
hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim
standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the
invention should be determined with reference to the appended
claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such
claims are entitled.
* * * * *