Patents Examined by Tuan Lam
  • Patent number: 7760847
    Abstract: A counting circuit includes first to fifth flip-flops (FFs) and a logic operation unit. Each of the first to fourth FFs has an initial value based on a preset control signal input through a 4-bit set terminal and outputs a signal according to a clock signal. The fifth FF is coupled to the output terminal of the fourth FF and is configured to output the output signal of the fourth FF synchronously with the clock signal. The logic operation unit logically combines the output signals of the second to fourth FFs and outputs first and second counting signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Mi Sun Yoon, Chul Woo Yang, Sang Oh Lim
  • Patent number: 7759996
    Abstract: Data storage circuits and components of such circuits constructed using nanotube switching elements. The storage circuits may be stand-alone devices or cells incorporated into other devices or circuits. The data storage circuits include or can be used in latches, master-slave flip-flops, digital logic circuits, memory devices and other circuits. In one aspect of the invention, a master-slave flip-flop is constructed using one or more nanotube switching element-based storage devices. The master storage element or the slave storage element or both may be constructed using nanotube switching elements, for example, using two nanotube switching element-based inverters. The storage elements may be volatile or non-volatile. An equilibration device is provided for protecting the stored data from fluctuations on the inputs. Input buffers and output buffers for data storage circuits of the invention may also be constructed using nanotube switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventor: Claude L. Bertin
  • Patent number: 7759989
    Abstract: A time delay circuit for providing a time delay to a reset circuit includes a first circuit, a second circuit, an AND gate and a control signal input. The first circuit includes a first resistor and a first capacitor. The second circuit includes a second resistor and a second capacitor. The AND gate includes a first input, a second input and an output. The first capacitor includes an input coupled to a power source via the first resistor, and an output grounded. The second capacitor includes an input coupled to the control signal input and an output grounded. The first input of the AND gate is coupled to the input of the first capacitor, the second input coupled to the input of the second capacitor, and the output configured for coupling to a integrated circuit to reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jung-Lin Chang
  • Patent number: 7755407
    Abstract: Provided is a variable delay circuit outputting an output signal delayed with respect to an input signal by a designated delay time, including: a delay controller outputting a control voltage according to the delay time; a MOS transistor receiving the control voltage at a gate, and outputs a drain current according to the control voltage; a correction section connected in parallel to a source and a drain of the current controlling MOS transistor, and outputs a correction current on a monotonic decrease as the drain current increases in a range larger than a predetermined boundary current within a normal usage range of the drain current; and a delay element running an output current resulting from adding the correction current to the drain current, between the delay element and an output terminal of the variable delay circuit, in changing a signal value of the output signal according to the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Hasumi, Masakatsu Suda, Satoshi Sudou
  • Patent number: 7756238
    Abstract: A switch set used in a bi-directional shift register circuit includes a plurality of switch devices. Each switch device is controlled by corresponding control signals to switch the direction of the input signal. One of the switch devices includes a first switch unit for transmitting a shift register signal from a previous shift register to a shift register according to a first control signal, a second switch unit for transmitting a shift register signal from a next shift register to the shift register according to a second control signal. The first and the second control signals have the same frequency as the clock signal of the shift register circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 7750727
    Abstract: A voltage generating circuit for outputting a voltage from an output terminal, has a first voltage dividing circuit which is connected between the output terminal and ground; a switch circuit connected between the output terminal and the first voltage dividing circuit; a first voltage detecting circuit which outputs a first pumping signal corresponding to a comparison result; a second voltage dividing circuit which is connected between the output terminal and the ground; a second voltage detecting circuit which outputs a second pumping signal corresponding to a comparison result; a pump circuit that outputs a voltage boosted from a power supply voltage; and a boost circuit which has a capacitive element having one end connected to the voltage dividing resistor of the first voltage dividing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuwagata, Yasuhiko Honda, Yoshihiko Kamata
  • Patent number: 7750696
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a PLL that includes forcing a control voltage input to a voltage controlled oscillator to be a reference voltage and setting a calibration divider coupled to receive an output clock signal from the voltage controlled oscillator such that the calibration divider utilizes one of a plurality of divisors that results in the output clock signal having a high frequency can substantially avoid overshoot and glitch problems associated with conventional PLL calibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanbo Wang, Xiaoqian Zhang, Shubing Zhai
  • Patent number: 7746150
    Abstract: A fail-safe differential receiver having a differential amplifier adapted to receive first and second differential input signals and generate a differential voltage. A peak detector is coupled to the differential amplifier for generating a detect signal and a comparator is coupled to the peak detector for comparing the detect signal to a threshold voltage and providing a comparison signal. A directing circuit is coupled to the differential amplifier for receiving the first and second differential input signals and is coupled to the comparator for receiving the comparison signal. An output amplifier is coupled to the directing circuit. The directing circuit selectively directs the first and second differential input signals to the output amplifier as a function of the value of the comparison signal from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Micrel, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas S. Wong, Uwe Biswurm, Bernd Neumann
  • Patent number: 7746140
    Abstract: A scannable latch is disclosed. The scannable latch includes a dynamic circuit, two cross-coupled NAND gates coupled to the dynamic circuit, and a pair of stacked transistors coupled to the dynamic circuit. One of the stacked transistors is for receiving data signals, and the other stacked transistors is for receiving scan in signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Hoo Dhong, Joel A. Silberman, Osamu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7746155
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a circuit and method for providing a switchable strong pulldown for a power FET in an off state to avoid inadvertent or false turn ons. A strong pulldown is provided to the gate of a power FET to avoid inadvertent turn on during output swings. In other cases, the gate of the power FET is pulled down weakly to reduce EMI and voltage noise in the circuit. In a particular exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a circuit and method for obtaining a strong pulldown on the gate of a power FET in an off state, while providing a weak pulldown during turn on to turn off transitions. The invention avoids false turn ons during fast output transitions while maintaining relatively high EMI protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Eric Labbe
  • Patent number: 7746124
    Abstract: A method of providing bias voltages for input output connections on low voltage integrated circuits. As integrated circuit voltages drop generally so does the external voltages that those circuits can handle. By placing input and output devices, in series, external voltages can be divided between the devices thereby reducing junction voltages seen by internal devices. By using external voltages as part of a biasing scheme for integrated circuit devices, stress created by the differential between external voltages and internal voltages can be minimized. Additionally device wells can be biased so that they are at a potential that is dependant on the external voltages seen by the low voltage integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Janardhanan S. Ajit
  • Patent number: 7746122
    Abstract: Disclosed are an input buffer, and more particularly, a technique that is capable of improving the operation speed of the input buffer by improving response speed with respect to an input signal. The input buffer includes a buffer unit that operates when an activation control signal is activated, compares the voltage of an input signal to a preset reference voltage, and outputs the result of the comparison to an output node, a driving unit that performs driving control on an output of the buffer unit, and outputs an output signal, and a pull-down control unit that outputs a pull-down control signal that has a high pulse for a predetermined time when transition of a potential of the input signal occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Hoe Kwon Jeong
  • Patent number: 7746973
    Abstract: A signal detection circuit comprising: a differential amplifier to which an output voltage of a detection coil of a magnetic sensor is to be applied; a comparator to output a digital signal being at one logic level in a period between two spike-shaped voltages adjacent to each other in the output voltage of the differential amplifier; and a count circuit to perform a count operation in a period during which the comparator outputs the digital signal of the one logic level, the count circuit including a first counter to count a first clock having a predetermined frequency, a second counter to count a second clock being equal in frequency to and different in phase from the first clock, the second counter having the same number of bits as the number of bits of the first counter, and an adder to add count values of the first and the second counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Saito, Yasuhiro Kaneta
  • Patent number: 7738622
    Abstract: A shift register is disclosed, which can prevent a multi-output caused by a coupling phenomenon, the shift register comprising at least two clock transmission lines which transmit at least two clock pulses provided with the phase difference; and a plurality of stages which are supplied with the clock pulses from the clock transmission lines, and output output-signals in sequence, wherein each of the stages comprises a pull-up switching unit which is supplied with the first clock pulse, and outputs the first clock pulse as the output-signal according to a signal state of an enable node; and a noise eliminating unit which responds to the second clock pulse of which phase is prior to that of the first clock pulse supplied to the pull-up switching unit, and supplies a start pulse externally provided or the output-signal provided from the preceding stage to the enable node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Nyuck Cho, Yong Ho Jang
  • Patent number: 7737763
    Abstract: A virtual electronic fuse apparatus and methodology are disclosed that permit the state of an electronic fuse to change from an un-blown state to a blown state and then back to a virtual un-blown state. In one embodiment, the electronic fuse may change from the virtual un-blown state back to a virtual blown state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Christopher Dixon, Michael Wayne Harper
  • Patent number: 7738623
    Abstract: A high-speed shift register circuit is provided. The shift register circuit includes a first transistor supplying a clock signal to a first output terminal, a second transistor discharging the first output terminal, a third transistor supplying the above clock signal to a second output terminal, and a fourth transistor discharging the second output terminal. The gates of the first and third transistors are both connected to a first node, and the gates of the second and fourth transistors are both connected to a second node. The first node is charged by a fifth transistor which is connected between the first node and a first input terminal and which has a gate connected to a second input end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Youichi Tobita
  • Patent number: 7737736
    Abstract: The problem to be solved by of this claimed application is solved by providing an interface circuit and a signal output adjusting method that are capable of adjusting amplitude of a transmission-side signal by taking attenuation of a transmission path into consideration. In a transmission-side circuit part of an interface circuit 100, a repetitive signal 111 having constant amplitude is sent out to a transmission path 123 through an output buffer circuit 117 that is configured of a CML circuit at the time of testing. In a reception-side circuit part 102, a determining circuit 135 compares the amplitude of the input signal 131 with each of a plurality of reference voltages Vref1 to Vrefn in comparators 1321 to 132n to obtain a comparison result. And, a voltage controlling circuit 119 of a transmission-side circuit part 101 makes the setting of the amplitude by appropriately controlling a constant current value of the CML circuit, thereby enabling the low consumption power to be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiharu Sobue
  • Patent number: 7737733
    Abstract: A current-voltage conversion circuit which converts a current to be detected into a voltage, includes a detection resistor, amplifier circuit having a first operational amplifier, and an offset adjusting current source having a third resistor and a fourth resistor which are capable of trimming. The offset adjusting current source causes an offset adjustment current to flow in the offset resistor. The current value of the offset adjustment current is controlled by adjusting the resistance of the third resistor and the fourth resistor. A voltage at a node between the first transistor and the second resistor is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Yokomizo, Yutaka Shibata
  • Patent number: 7738621
    Abstract: A counter with overflow prevention capability includes a counting unit configured to count an output code in response to an input signal and an overflow preventing unit configured to control the counting unit to stop counting the output code when a current value of the output code is a maximum value but a previous value thereof is not the maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Dae-Kun Yoon, Kyung-Hoon Kim, Dae-Han Kwon, Taek-Sang Song
  • Patent number: 7737749
    Abstract: An elastic pipelined latch. The latch includes a control input for configuring the latch into a repeater state or a latch state, a drive component responsive to the control input and for driving an input signal through as an output signal, and a pulse width/inhibit component coupled to the drive component. The latch may further include a reset threshold component coupled to the drive component for inhibiting oscillation of the drive component, and/or a latch component for passing the present state of the input signal to the output signal when configured as the repeater state and for maintaining the previous state of the output signal during transitions of a clock signal when configured as the latch state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Paul Masleid