Patents by Inventor Dean Liu

Dean Liu 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: 20030215041
    Abstract: A calibration and adjustment system for post-fabrication control of a delay locked loop bias-generator is provided. The calibration and adjustment system includes an adjustment circuit operatively connected to the bias-generator, where the adjustment circuit is controllable to facilitate a modification of a voltage output by the bias-generator. Such control of the voltage output by the bias-generator allows a designer to achieve a desired delay locked loop performance characteristic after the delay locked loop has been fabricated. A representative value of the amount of adjustment desired in the bias-generator output may be stored and subsequently read to adjust the delay locked loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Brian W. Amick, Dean Liu, Pradeep Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20030214333
    Abstract: An adjustment and calibration system for post-fabrication treatment of a phase locked loop charge pump is provided. The adjustment and calibration system includes at least one adjustment circuit, to which a phase locked loop charge pump output is responsive, and a storage device that selectively stores control information (1) associated with a state of the adjustment circuit and/or (2) from a tester that writes such control information to the storage device, where the control information stored in the storage device is subsequently selectively read out in order to adjust the adjustment circuit to a state corresponding to the control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Brian W. Amick, Dean Liu, Pradeep Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20030215262
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shutter system for electrophotographic machines that effectively reduces the impact of ambient light on the photoreceptor, or image-bearing member. The shutter system of the present invention utilizes a shutter member that substantially covers the cartridge chamber when in a closed position. Preferably, the shutter member is disposed at the opening of the cartridge chamber. The shutter member is held in place by one or more support brackets and is biased to the closed position by one or more springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: AETAS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Dean Liu
  • Publication number: 20030214280
    Abstract: A calibration and adjustment system for post-fabrication control of a delay locked loop charge pump current is provided. The calibration and adjustment system includes an adjustment device that varies an amount of charge pump current. Such control of the charge pump current in a delay locked loop allows a designer to achieve a desired delay locked loop operating characteristic after the delay locked loop has been fabricated. A representative value of the amount of adjustment desired in the charge pump current may be stored and subsequently read to adjust the delay locked loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Brian W. Amick, Pradeep Trivedi, Dean Liu
  • Publication number: 20030214362
    Abstract: A calibration and adjustment system for post-fabrication control of a phase locked loop bias-generator is provided. The calibration and adjustment system includes an adjustment circuit operatively connected to the bias-generator, where the adjustment circuit is controllable to facilitate a modification of a voltage output by the bias-generator. Such control of the voltage output by the bias-generator allows a designer to achieve a desired phase locked loop performance characteristic after the phase locked loop has been fabricated. A representative value of the amount of adjustment desired in the bias-generator output may be stored and subsequently read to adjust the phase locked loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Brian W. Amick, Pradeep Trivedi, Dean Liu
  • Patent number: 6650157
    Abstract: A delay locked loop that uses a differential push/pull buffer is provided. The differential push/pull buffer of the DLL is used to create a buffered output that closely follows the characteristics of the buffer's input over a range of temperature, power supply noise operating conditions, and process (manufacturing) variations. Further, an integrated circuit that contains a delay locked loop that uses a differential push/pull buffer is provided. Further, a delay locked loop with means for buffering a delayed signal is provided. Further, a method for buffering a delayed clock signal using a differential push/pull buffer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Amick, Claude Gauthier, Dean Liu
  • Publication number: 20030201841
    Abstract: A phase locked loop that includes a receiver that is adjustable to substantially match delay of a system clock and a feedback clock at an input of the phase locked loop is provided. The receiver employs system clock path circuitry to input the system clock and feedback clock path circuitry to input the feedback clock, where current flow and load resistances associated with the system clock path circuitry and current flow and load resistances associated with the feedback clock path circuitry are responsive to one or more bias signals that are adjustable using one or more adjustment circuits that are operatively connected to the receiver. The control of the one or more bias signals via the one or more adjustment circuits facilitates the generation of substantially delay matched system and feedback clocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Brian Amick, Pradeep Trivedi, Dean Liu
  • Publication number: 20030201809
    Abstract: A charge pump design that facilitates post-fabrication control of delay locked loop charge pump current is provided. The charge pump includes an adjustment device responsive to user controlled signals that are varied to achieve a desired amount of charge pump current. Such control of the charge pump current in a delay locked loop allows a designer to achieve a desired DLL performance characteristic after the DLL has been fabricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Brian Amick, Dean Liu, Pradeep Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20030201808
    Abstract: A post-silicon technique for adjusting a current of a charge pump in a phase locked loop is provided. The technique involves use of an adjustment circuit operatively connected to the charge pump, where the adjustment circuit is controllable to facilitate an internal biasing of the charge pump. Such control of the charge pump current in a phase locked loop allows a designer to achieve desired PLL performance characteristics after the PLL has been fabricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Brian Amick, Pradeep Trivedi, Dean Liu
  • Patent number: 6639439
    Abstract: A method for reducing voltage variation in the power supply system of a phase locked loop has been developed. The method includes powering up a phase locked loop and activating or inserting a shunting resistance across the power supply terminals. The shunting resistance is inserted in parallel with the phase locked loop, and is controllable such that the resistance can be selectively switched ‘on’ and/or ‘off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Pradeep R. Trivedi, Dean Liu, Brian Amick
  • Patent number: 6617699
    Abstract: A 120 degree bump placement layout for an integrated circuit power grid is provided. This layout improves integrated circuit performance and reliability and gives an integrated circuit designer added flexibility and uniformity in designing the integrated circuit. Further, a patterned bump array for a top metal layer of an integrated circuit having a plurality of 120 degree bump placement structures is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhakar Bobba, Tyler Thorp, Dean Liu
  • Patent number: 6618845
    Abstract: A method for verifying on-chip decoupling capacitance by formulating and solving a linear problem. Further, a software tool for determining decoupling capacitance on a computer chip using a linear problem. Further, a method for designing an integrated circuit such that there is enough decoupling capacitance on the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler J. Thorp, Pradeep R. Trivedi, Dean Liu
  • Patent number: 6618277
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing power supply noise in the power supply system of a clock driver has been developed. The apparatus includes a clock driver with a power supply system connected to the clock driver and a shunting resistor connected across the power supply system in parallel with the clock driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Brian W. Amick, Tyler J. Thorp, Pradeep R. Trivedi, Dean Liu
  • Patent number: 6614287
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for post-fabrication calibration and adjustment of a delay locked loop leakage current is provided. The calibration and adjustment system includes an adjustment circuit that adjusts a leakage current offset circuit to compensate for the leakage current of a capacitor. The capacitor connects to a control voltage of the delay locked loop. Such control of the leakage current in the delay locked loop allows a designer to achieve a desired delay locked loop operating characteristic after the delay locked loop has been fabricated. A representative value of the amount of adjustment desired in the leakage current may be stored and subsequently read to adjust the delay locked loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Pradeep Trivedi, Brian W. Amick, Dean Liu
  • Publication number: 20030163277
    Abstract: A method for estimating accuracy of an on-chip temperature sensor is provided. A representative power supply waveform having noise is input into a simulation of the on-chip temperature sensor and the accuracy of the on-chip temperature sensor is estimated from the simulation. A computer system for estimating accuracy of an on-chip temperature sensor is also provided. A computer-readable medium having instructions adapted to input a representative power supply waveform having noise into a simulation of an on-chip temperature sensor and estimate accuracy of the on-chip temperature sensor from the simulation is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Brian Amick, Claude Gauthier, Dean Liu, Pradeep Trived
  • Patent number: 6611573
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dividing a signal's frequency by a non-integer value is provided. Further, a method and apparatus for dividing a signal's frequency by a non-integer value by counting phases of the signal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep R. Trivedi, Tyler J. Thorp, Dean Liu
  • Publication number: 20030155964
    Abstract: An apparatus that uses a linear voltage regulator to reject power supply noise in a temperature sensor is provided. Further, a method for using a linear voltage regulator to reject power supply noise in a temperature sensor is provided. Further, a method and apparatus that uses a differential amplifier with a source-follower output stage as a linear voltage regulator for a temperature sensor is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Spencer Gold, Dean Liu, Kamran Zarrineh, Brian Amick, Pradeep Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20030158683
    Abstract: An integrated circuit that uses electrical fuses to store calibration information of a thermal monitoring device residing on the integrated circuit is provided. Such an integrated circuit allows a service processor of a computer system to query the integrated circuit for calibration information so that an accurate actual temperature measurement may be determined. Further, a method for reading and storing temperature calibration information on-chip is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Spencer Gold, Dean Liu, Kamran Zarrineh, Brian Amick, Pradeep Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20030155903
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that uses the difference between two nodal voltages, such as a temperature-independent voltage and a temperature-dependent voltage, to determine the actual temperature at a point on an integrated circuit is provided. Further, a method and apparatus that converts a difference between nodal voltages in an integrated circuit from an analog to a digital quantity on the integrated circuit such that the difference in voltage may be used by an on-chip digital system is provided. Further, a method and apparatus for quantifying a difference in voltage between a first node and a second node of a temperature sensor is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Brian Amick, Spencer Gold, Dean Liu, Kamran Zarrineh, Pradeep Trivedi
  • Publication number: 20030154454
    Abstract: A method for estimating jitter in a delay locked loop is provided. The estimation is determined from a simulation that uses a representative power supply waveform having noise as an input. Further, a computer system for estimating jitter in a delay locked loop is provided. Further, a computer-readable medium having recorded thereon instructions adapted to estimate jitter in a delay locked loop is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Claude Gauthier, Brian Amick, Dean Liu, Pradeep Trivedi