/* combine_8_to_16() utility function to munge to u8s into u16  */
static u16 combine_8_to_16(u8 lower, u8 upper)
/* combine_8_to_16() utility function to munge to u8s into u16  */
static u16 combine_8_to_16(u8 lower, u8 upper)
{
	u16 _lower = lower;
	u16 _upper = upper;
	return _lower | (_upper << 8);
}