Patents by Inventor Ann Chen Wu
Ann Chen Wu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11750180Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a self-biased divider for a clock in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the clock includes a VCO that generates a clock signal that is output to the self-biased divider. However, because the VCO may generate an analog clocking signal (e.g., a low amplitude sine wave of unknown common mode) to reduce jitter, the amplitude can vary which means it may not sufficiently track CMOS parameters. The clocking signals generated by the self-biased divider are used as feedback signals for DC biasing (or DC leveling). In this manner, the divider is referred to a self-biased divider since signals generated by the divider are used to perform DC biasing/leveling.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Strom, Grant P. Kesselring, Andrew D. Davies, Ann Chen Wu
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Publication number: 20230073824Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a self-biased divider for a clock in an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the clock includes a VCO that generates a clock signal that is output to the self-biased divider. However, because the VCO may generate an analog clocking signal (e.g., a low amplitude sine wave of unknown common mode) to reduce jitter, the amplitude can vary which means it may not sufficiently track CMOS parameters. The clocking signals generated by the self-biased divider are used as feedback signals for DC biasing (or DC leveling). In this manner, the divider is referred to a self-biased divider since signals generated by the divider are used to perform DC biasing/leveling.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: James STROM, Grant P. KESSELRING, Andrew D. DAVIES, Ann Chen WU
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Patent number: 11527953Abstract: A phase locked loop having a charge pump is described. The charge pump relies on close matching of FETs (Field Effect Transistor) electrical parameters to FETs in a current reference circuit. To achieve close matching of FET electrical performance, FEOL (Front End Of Line), comprising all FET shapes, of the current pump is identical in shapes and layout to the current reference circuit. BEOL (Back End Of Line) differs between the charge pump and the current reference circuit. The charge pump and the current reference circuit are arranged in a row. A shield circuit having FEOL shapes and layout identical to the current pump may be placed at each end of the row.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: James Strom, John Borkenhagen, Ann Chen Wu, Erik Unterborn, Grant P. Kesselring
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Publication number: 20220261654Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to using a trained machine learning model to generate predicted circuit data for a circuit design, and computing an objective function using the predicted circuit data. Optimization of the objective function is performed to generate an optimal solution, and the optimal solution is mapped to the circuit design.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2021Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Chai Wah Wu, ANN CHEN WU, JAMES STROM
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Patent number: 10969422Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may include a method and structure for determining a failure in a guard ring of a chip. The method may include measuring a current frequency of oscillation of a crack check circuit located within a guard ring. The method may include comparing the frequency to a baseline frequency of oscillation of the crack check circuit. The current frequency and baseline frequency may be normalized using a set of bypass lines. The method may include determining there is a failure of the guard ring based on the difference between the normalized frequency of oscillation and the baseline normalized frequency of oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Grant P. Kesselring, James D. Strom, Ann Chen Wu
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Patent number: 10778146Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having an operating frequency dependent on a total capacitance of selectable tuning capacitors can be fabricated within an integrated circuit (IC). The VCO can include active electronic devices fabricated within a set of lower layers of the IC and selectable tuning capacitors having electrically conductive structures separated by dielectric material fabricated within a set of upper layers of the IC. The upper layers of the IC are located above the set of lower layers of the IC. The VCO can also include a set of interconnect structures configurable to select a total capacitance of the selectable tuning capacitors by electrically interconnecting the first portion of the VCO to capacitors of the at least one selectable tuning capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Grant P. Kesselring, James Strom, Scott Trcka, Ann Chen Wu
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Patent number: 10644709Abstract: A differential charge pump circuit for use in a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a reference current, two sense amplifiers, a common mode control amplifier, and an h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit is coupled to the reference current and the common mode control amplifier. The reference current drives a first portion of the h-bridge circuit and the common mode control amplifier controls a second portion of the h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit also includes first and second nodes. The circuit controls a voltage at the first node so that it is substantially equal to a voltage at the second node for a plurality of voltages at the second node.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James D. Strom, Grant P. Kesselring, Ann Chen Wu, Scott R. Trcka
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Publication number: 20190386614Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having an operating frequency dependent on a total capacitance of selectable tuning capacitors can be fabricated within an integrated circuit (IC). The VCO can include active electronic devices fabricated within a set of lower layers of the IC and selectable tuning capacitors having electrically conductive structures separated by dielectric material fabricated within a set of upper layers of the IC. The upper layers of the IC are located above the set of lower layers of the IC. The VCO can also include a set of interconnect structures configurable to select a total capacitance of the selectable tuning capacitors by electrically interconnecting the first portion of the VCO to capacitors of the at least one selectable tuning capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Grant P. Kesselring, James Strom, Scott Trcka, Ann Chen Wu
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Publication number: 20190353697Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may include a method and structure for determining a failure in a guard ring of a chip. The method may include measuring a current frequency of oscillation of a crack check circuit located within a guard ring. The method may include comparing the frequency to a baseline frequency of oscillation of the crack check circuit. The current frequency and baseline frequency may be normalized using a set of bypass lines. The method may include determining there is a failure of the guard ring based on the difference between the normalized frequency of oscillation and the baseline normalized frequency of oscillation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2018Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Grant P. Kesselring, James D. Strom, Ann Chen Wu
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Publication number: 20190305782Abstract: A differential charge pump circuit for use in a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a reference current, two sense amplifiers, a common mode control amplifier, and an h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit is coupled to the reference current and the common mode control amplifier. The reference current drives a first portion of the h-bridge circuit and the common mode control amplifier controls a second portion of the h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit also includes first and second nodes. The circuit controls a voltage at the first node so that it is substantially equal to a voltage at the second node for a plurality of voltages at the second node.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: James D. STROM, Grant P. KESSELRING, Ann Chen WU, Scott R. TRCKA
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Patent number: 10361707Abstract: A system and apparatus relating to a differential charge pump circuit for use in a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit. A differential charge pump circuit can include a reference current, two sense amplifiers, a common mode control amplifier, and an h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit is coupled to the reference current and the common mode control amplifier. The reference current drives a first portion of the h-bridge circuit and the common mode control amplifier controls a second portion of the h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit also includes first and second nodes. The nodes are inputs to one of the sense amplifiers. The differential charge pump circuit is configured to control a voltage at the first node so that it is substantially equal to a voltage at the second node for a plurality of voltages at the second node. The differential charge pump circuit can also include a transistor with a gate coupled to an output of a sense amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James D. Strom, Grant P. Kesselring, Ann Chen Wu, Scott R. Trcka
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Publication number: 20190165795Abstract: A system and apparatus relating to a differential charge pump circuit for use in a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit. A differential charge pump circuit can include a reference current, two sense amplifiers, a common mode control amplifier, and an h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit is coupled to the reference current and the common mode control amplifier. The reference current drives a first portion of the h-bridge circuit and the common mode control amplifier controls a second portion of the h-bridge circuit. The h-bridge circuit also includes first and second nodes. The nodes are inputs to one of the sense amplifiers. The differential charge pump circuit is configured to control a voltage at the first node so that it is substantially equal to a voltage at the second node for a plurality of voltages at the second node. The differential charge pump circuit can also include a transistor with a gate coupled to an output of a sense amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: James D. STROM, Grant P. KESSELRING, Ann Chen WU, Scott R. TRCKA
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Publication number: 20150025693Abstract: A structure and method for temperature control includes determining a schedule for a climate control device needed for an inside temperature to reach a desired temperature, determining a perceptual temperature factor based on at least the schedule and the inside temperature, adjusting the desired temperature based on the perceptual temperature factor, and after the adjusting the desired temperature, repeating the determining the schedule.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ann Chen Wu, Chai Wah Wu