Patents by Inventor Charles R. Erickson

Charles R. Erickson 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).

  • Patent number: 5410194
    Abstract: According to the present invention hardware is provided in a user configurable logic integrated circuit chip to allow a user to select multiple storage functions such as D, T, JK, to receive multiple input signals and generate a storage input signal using a function such as OR or MUX, along with parallel load and asynchronous load options. A relatively small hardware area can offer these functions, which are commonly used, and can leave general purpose logic for other more complex functions, thus increasing the amount of logic which a user may implement in a given silicon area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip M. Freidin, Charles R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5331220
    Abstract: Power or ground voltage can fluctuate when many high capacitance terminals of an integrated circuit device move simultaneously from one logic state to another. This occurs particularly after release of a global high impedance state of output buffers where output signals have been passively driven to a selected logic state. To prevent supply and ground voltage variations, the buffers are provided with means for operating in a slow response (high slew) mode. A slew rate control circuit moves the buffer to slow response mode in response to the high impedance signal. When the slew rate control circuit receives a signal ending the high impedance state of the buffer, it applies a delay to this signal, and after the delay time allows the buffer to move to a fast response mode. The slow buffer response and resulting slow voltage change when high capacitance terminals move to a new logic state prevents fluctuation of power or ground voltage in response to simultaneous switching of many terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry M. Pierce, Charles R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5321704
    Abstract: The present invention provides a means and method of generating a long error checking polynomial remainder having the ability to detect errors with high reliability and inserting only a subset of the polynomial remainder periodically into a data stream, then at the receiving end recalculating the polynomial remainder and checking the inserted subset for errors. The polynomial has the property that the current remainder value is a function of all data previously transmitted in a transmission session. The subset transmitted also preferably has this property. A longer subset of the polynomial remainder, or the full polynomial remainder, may be inserted less frequently, and is preferably sent and tested at the end of the transmission session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Erickson, Philip M. Freidin
  • Patent number: 5140193
    Abstract: A structure especially useful in a configurable logic array includes a plurality of conductive interconnect lines located along the perimeter of a logic array chip. Lines running from exterior pins or pads can be used by a programmable interconnect circuit to control signals applied to these interconnect lines. In particular, both the signal and the complement of the signal can be used by the programmable interconnect to control application of a supply voltage to an interconnect line. A second supply voltage is applied through a resistor to the interconnect line with the result that the interconnect line will carry a logical signal representing a logical function, for example AND, of a selected set of input signals or their complements. Lines running from points interior to the configurable logic array chip may also contribute to the signal generated on an interconnect line. In one embodiment, bidirectional programmable interconnect circuits allow the input pins to function as either input or output pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross H. Freeman, deceased, Khue Duong, Hung-Cheng Hsieh, Charles R. Erickson, William S. Carter
  • Patent number: 4106090
    Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) is utilized in combination with external memories and input/output devices to form a Microcomputer System. The CPU is a 16-bit fixed word length processor monolithically integrated onto a single semiconductor chip which uses two's complement arithmetic for computations. The CPU includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), accumulators, data path multiplexers, program counter means, and programmable logic arrays to control operation of the processor.The processor of this invention is capable of using a homogeneous memory, wherein instructions and data are both stored in the same memory. In the disclosed embodiment, 15 of the 16-bits are used for addressing the memory. Thus, the processor is capable of directly addressing 32,768 16-bit words in the memory.An external 16-bit bus is used to interconnect the external memory and input/output devices with the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Charles R. Erickson, Hemraj K. Hingarh, Robert Moeckel, Dan Wilnai