Patents by Inventor Daniel R. Shepard

Daniel R. Shepard 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).

  • Publication number: 20140158963
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of incorporating a non-volatile memory into a CMOS process that requires four or fewer masks and limited additional processing steps. The present invention is an epi-silicon or poly-silicon process sequence that is introduced into a standard CMOS process (i) after the MOS transistors' gate oxide is formed and the gate poly-silicon is deposited (thereby protecting the delicate surface areas of the MOS transistors) and (ii) before the salicided contacts to those MOS transistors are formed (thereby performing any newly introduced steps having an elevated temperature, such as any epi-silicon or poly-silicon deposition for the formation of diodes, prior to the formation of that salicide). A 4F2 memory array is achieved with a diode matrix wherein the diodes are formed in the vertical orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Shepard, Mac D. Apodaca, Thomas Michael Trent, James Juen Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140131830
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for forming a memory array includes forming a plurality of rows and columns of hardmask material, etching holes in the one or more layers of insulating material using the combined masking properties of the rows of hardmask material and the columns of hardmask material, and forming memory cells in the holes. The corners of the holes can be rounded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8451024
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic driver circuits, and more particularly, to low power electronic driver circuits having low manufacturing costs. The present invention is a circuit design that utilizes two transistor types that can be manufactured together thereby reducing the number of processing steps and masks and resulting in lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8358525
    Abstract: A high density memory device is fabricated three dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8358526
    Abstract: In one aspect, an electronic memory array includes overlapping, generally parallel sets of conductors, and includes storage elements near each point of overlap. One set of conductors has a non-negligible resistance. An address path for each storage element traverses a portion of one each of the first and second sets of conductors and a selectable resistance element. All storage element address paths have substantially equivalent voltage drops across the corresponding storage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8351238
    Abstract: An electronic circuit such as a latch or a sequencer includes a plurality of transistors, all of the transistors being either NMOS transistors or PMOS transistors, and dissipates less than or approximately the same amount of power as an equivalent CMOS circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8325557
    Abstract: A memory device having a plurality of storage locations disposed along a plurality of generally parallel lines includes, connected to the lines, a decoder circuit for selecting one line, and, connected to each line, a line-disabling circuit for selectively preventing the line from being energized during line selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8325556
    Abstract: A memory-array decoder operably coupled to a memory array comprising a sequence of rows and receiving as input a plurality of address bits includes first and second decoder stages. The first decoder stage selects one or more first rows by decoding a first subset of the address bits, and the second decoder stage selects one or more second rows based on locations, within the sequence, of one or more third rows different from the one or more second rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20120086473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic driver circuits, and more particularly, to low power electronic driver circuits having low manufacturing costs. The present invention is a circuit design that utilizes two transistor types that can be manufactured together thereby reducing the number of processing steps and masks and resulting in lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: DANIEL R. SHEPARD
  • Patent number: 8116109
    Abstract: A high-density memory device is fabricated three-dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel R. Shepard, Thomas A. Langdo, Arthur J. Pitera
  • Patent number: 8035416
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic driver circuits, and more particularly, to low power electronic driver circuits having low manufacturing costs. The present invention is a circuit design that utilizes two transistor types that can be manufactured together thereby reducing the number of processing steps and masks and resulting in lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8000129
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for three-terminal field-emitter triode devices, and memory arrays utilizing the same. In other embodiments, the field-emitter devices include a volume-change material, capable of changing a measurable electrical property of the devices, and/or three-dimensional memory arrays of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 7933133
    Abstract: A high-density memory device is fabricated three-dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Shepard, Thomas A. Langdo, Arthur J. Pitera
  • Patent number: 7916530
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an addressable storage matrix includes a first plurality of intersection points, at least some of which are bridged by two-terminal non-linear elements that exhibit a threshold below which current flow is significantly lower than if the threshold is exceeded, as well as, disposed at each intersection point bridged by a non-linear element, a programmable material in series with the non-linear element and determining a bit state for the corresponding intersection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20110019468
    Abstract: A high-speed, low-power memory device comprises an array of non-linear conductors wherein the storage, address decoding, and output detection are all accomplished with diodes or other non-linear conductors. In various embodiments, the row and column resistors are switchable between a high resistance when connected to a row or column that is non-selected, and a low resistance when connected to the selected row and column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20110019455
    Abstract: A high density memory device is fabricated three dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 7826244
    Abstract: A high density memory device is fabricated three dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 7813157
    Abstract: A high-speed, low-power memory device comprises an array of non-linear conductors wherein the storage, address decoding, and output detection are all accomplished with diodes or other non-linear conductors. In various embodiments, the row and column resistors are switchable between a high resistance when connected to a row or column that is non-selected, and a low resistance when connected to the selected row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: RE41733
    Abstract: A read-only data storage and retrieval device is presented having no moving parts and requiring very low power. Addressing can be accomplished sequentially where the address increments automatically or can be accomplished randomly. High density storage is achieved through the use of a highly symmetric diode matrix that is addressed in both coordinate directions; its symmetry makes the Dual-addressed Rectifier Storage (DRS) Array very scaleable scalable, particularly when made as an integrated circuit. For even greater storage flexibility, multiple digital rectifier storage arrays can be incorporated into the device, one or more of which can be made removable and interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: RE42310
    Abstract: A read-only data storage and retrieval device is presented having no moving parts and requiring very low power. Addressing can be accomplished sequentially where the address increments automatically or can be accomplished randomly. High density storage is achieved through the use of a highly symmetric diode matrix that is addressed in both coordinate directions; its symmetry makes the Dual-addressed Rectifier Storage (DRS) Array very scaleable, particularly when made as an integrated circuit. For even greater storage flexibility, multiple digital rectifier storage arrays can be incorporated into the device, one or more of which can be made removable and interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard