Patents by Inventor Dirk Pfaff

Dirk Pfaff 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: 11962441
    Abstract: A multi-tap Differential Feedforward Equalizer (DFFE) configuration with both precursor and postcursor taps is provided. The DFFE has reduced noise and/or crosstalk characteristics when compared to a Feedforward Equalizer (FFE) since DFFE uses decision outputs of slicers as inputs to a finite impulse response (FIR) unlike FFE which uses actual analog signal inputs. The digital outputs of the tentative decision slicers are multiplied with tap coefficients to reduce noise. Further, since digital outputs are used as the multiplier inputs, the multipliers effectively work as adders which are less complex to implement. The decisions at the outputs of the tentative decision slicers are tentative and are used in a FIR filter to equalize the signal; the equalized signal may be provided as input to the next stage slicers. The bit-error-rate (BER) of the final stage decisions are lower or better than the BER of the previous stage tentative decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Wei-Li Chen, Po-Hsiang Lan, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20220360476
    Abstract: A multi-tap Differential Feedforward Equalizer (DFFE) configuration with both precursor and postcursor taps is provided. The DFFE has reduced noise and/or crosstalk characteristics when compared to a Feedforward Equalizer (FFE) since DFFE uses decision outputs of slicers as inputs to a finite impulse response (FIR) unlike FFE which uses actual analog signal inputs. The digital outputs of the tentative decision slicers are multiplied with tap coefficients to reduce noise. Further, since digital outputs are used as the multiplier inputs, the multipliers effectively work as adders which are less complex to implement. The decisions at the outputs of the tentative decision slicers are tentative and are used in a FIR filter to equalize the signal; the equalized signal may be provided as input to the next stage slicers. The bit-error-rate (BER) of the final stage decisions are lower or better than the BER of the previous stage tentative decisions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Wei-Li Chen, Po-Hsiang Lan, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11398933
    Abstract: A multi-tap Differential Feedforward Equalizer (DFFE) configuration with both precursor and postcursor taps is provided. The DFFE has reduced noise and/or crosstalk characteristics when compared to a Feedforward Equalizer (FFE) since DFFE uses decision outputs of slicers as inputs to a finite impulse response (FIR) unlike FFE which uses actual analog signal inputs. The digital outputs of the tentative decision slicers are multiplied with tap coefficients to reduce noise. Further, since digital outputs are used as the multiplier inputs, the multipliers effectively work as adders which are less complex to implement. The decisions at the outputs of the tentative decision slicers are tentative and are used in a FIR filter to equalize the signal; the equalized signal may be provided as input to the next stage slicers. The bit-error-rate (BER) of the final stage decisions are lower or better than the BER of the previous stage tentative decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Wei-Li Chen, Po-Hsiang Lan, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20220158878
    Abstract: An optimized pulse shaping clock data recovery system is provided that includes a slicer configured to receive a signal and provide an initial set of tentative decisions to a decision feedforward equalizer, where the decision feedforward equalizer provides a fully equalized output signal. The slicer may be incorporated as part of decision feedback equalizer to provide better quality tentative decisions. The clock data recovery system also receives the first output signal that is partially equalized in such a way as to optimally shape it for a clock to sample it at an ideal location by providing an adjustment signal to the analog to digital controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Rolando Ramirez, Wei-Li Chen, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Fan-ming Kuo
  • Patent number: 11240075
    Abstract: An optimized pulse shaping clock data recovery system is provided that includes a slicer configured to receive a signal and provide an initial set of tentative decisions to a decision feedforward equalizer, where the decision feedforward equalizer provides a fully equalized output signal. The slicer may be incorporated as part of decision feedback equalizer to provide better quality tentative decisions. The clock data recovery system also receives the first output signal that is partially equalized in such a way as to optimally shape it for a clock to sample it at an ideal location by providing an adjustment signal to the analog to digital controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Rolando Ramirez, Wei-Li Chen, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Fan-ming Kuo
  • Publication number: 20210218605
    Abstract: An optimized pulse shaping clock data recovery system is provided that includes a slicer configured to receive a signal and provide an initial set of tentative decisions to a decision feedforward equalizer, where the decision feedforward equalizer provides a fully equalized output signal. The slicer may be incorporated as part of decision feedback equalizer to provide better quality tentative decisions. The clock data recovery system also receives the first output signal that is partially equalized in such a way as to optimally shape it for a clock to sample it at an ideal location by providing an adjustment signal to the analog to digital controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Rolando Ramirez, Wei-Li Chen, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Fan-ming Kuo
  • Publication number: 20210160107
    Abstract: A multi-tap Differential Feedforward Equalizer (DFFE) configuration with both precursor and postcursor taps is provided. The DFFE has reduced noise and/or crosstalk characteristics when compared to a Feedforward Equalizer (FFE) since DFFE uses decision outputs of slicers as inputs to a finite impulse response (FIR) unlike FFE which uses actual analog signal inputs. The digital outputs of the tentative decision slicers are multiplied with tap coefficients to reduce noise. Further, since digital outputs are used as the multiplier inputs, the multipliers effectively work as adders which are less complex to implement. The decisions at the outputs of the tentative decision slicers are tentative and are used in a FIR filter to equalize the signal; the equalized signal may be provided as input to the next stage slicers. The bit-error-rate (BER) of the final stage decisions are lower or better than the BER of the previous stage tentative decisions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Wei-Li Chen, Po-Hsiang Lan, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10911272
    Abstract: A multi-tap Differential Feedforward Equalizer (DFFE) configuration with both precursor and postcursor taps is provided. The DFFE has reduced noise and/or crosstalk characteristics when compared to a Feedforward Equalizer (FFE) since DFFE uses decision outputs of slicers as inputs to a finite impulse response (FIR) unlike FFE which uses actual analog signal inputs. The digital outputs of the tentative decision slicers are multiplied with tap coefficients to reduce noise. Further, since digital outputs are used as the multiplier inputs, the multipliers effectively work as adders which are less complex to implement. The decisions at the outputs of the tentative decision slicers are tentative and are used in a FIR filter to equalize the signal; the equalized signal may be provided as input to the next stage slicers. The bit-error-rate (BER) of the final stage decisions are lower or better than the BER of the previous stage tentative decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Wei-Li Chen, Po-Hsiang Lan, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10904044
    Abstract: An optimized pulse shaping clock data recovery system is provided that includes a slicer configured to receive a signal and provide an initial set of tentative decisions to a decision feedforward equalizer, where the decision feedforward equalizer provides a fully equalized output signal. The slicer may be incorporated as part of decision feedback equalizer to provide better quality tentative decisions. The clock data recovery system also receives the first output signal that is partially equalized in such a way as to optimally shape it for a clock to sample it at an ideal location by providing an adjustment signal to the analog to digital controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Rolando Ramirez, Wei-Li Chen, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Fan-ming Kuo
  • Patent number: 10868506
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes exemplary line drivers for use in an exemplary wireline transmission device. In some situations, the exemplary line drivers are electrically connected to a wireline communication channel to transmit information. The exemplary line drivers prevent charge sharing with the wireline communication channel. The exemplary line drivers disclosed herein charge various circuit nodes to various logical values, such as a logical zero or a logical one, to prevent charge sharing with the wireline communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventors: Xin Jie Wang, Dirk Pfaff
  • Publication number: 20200252248
    Abstract: An optimized pulse shaping clock data recovery system is provided that includes a slicer configured to receive a signal and provide an initial set of tentative decisions to a decision feedforward equalizer, where the decision feedforward equalizer provides a fully equalized output signal. The slicer may be incorporated as part of decision feedback equalizer to provide better quality tentative decisions. The clock data recovery system also receives the first output signal that is partially equalized in such a way as to optimally shape it for a clock to sample it at an ideal location by providing an adjustment signal to the analog to digital controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Rolando Ramirez, Wei-Li Chen, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh, Fan-ming Kuo
  • Publication number: 20200252247
    Abstract: A multi-tap Differential Feedforward Equalizer (DFFE) configuration with both precursor and postcursor taps is provided. The DFFE has reduced noise and/or crosstalk characteristics when compared to a Feedforward Equalizer (FFE) since DFFE uses decision outputs of slicers as inputs to a finite impulse response (FIR) unlike FFE which uses actual analog signal inputs. The digital outputs of the tentative decision slicers are multiplied with tap coefficients to reduce noise. Further, since digital outputs are used as the multiplier inputs, the multipliers effectively work as adders which are less complex to implement. The decisions at the outputs of the tentative decision slicers are tentative and are used in a FIR filter to equalize the signal; the equalized signal may be provided as input to the next stage slicers. The bit-error-rate (BER) of the final stage decisions are lower or better than the BER of the previous stage tentative decisions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Chaitanya Palusa, Rob Abbott, Wei-Li Chen, Po-Hsiang Lan, Dirk Pfaff, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20200067470
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes exemplary line drivers for use in an exemplary wireline transmission device. In some situations, the exemplary line drivers are electrically connected to a wireline communication channel to transmit information. The exemplary line drivers prevent charge sharing with the wireline communication channel. The exemplary line drivers disclosed herein charge various circuit nodes to various logical values, such as a logical zero or a logical one, to prevent charge sharing with the wireline communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Jie WANG, Dirk PFAFF
  • Patent number: 10498301
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes exemplary line drivers for use in an exemplary wireline transmission device. In some situations, the exemplary line drivers are electrically connected to a wireline communication channel to transmit information. The exemplary line drivers prevent charge sharing with the wireline communication channel. The exemplary line drivers disclosed herein charge various circuit nodes to various logical values, such as a logical zero or a logical one, to prevent charge sharing with the wireline communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Jie Wang, Dirk Pfaff
  • Publication number: 20190334492
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes exemplary line drivers for use in an exemplary wireline transmission device. In some situations, the exemplary line drivers are electrically connected to a wireline communication channel to transmit information. The exemplary line drivers prevent charge sharing, with the wireline communication channel. The exemplary line drivers disclosed herein charge various circuit nodes to various logical values such as a logical zero or a logical one, to prevent charge sharing with the wireline communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Jie WANG, Dirk Pfaff
  • Patent number: 8754685
    Abstract: A circuit includes a delay line and a delay locked loop. The circuit is configured to receive a delay parameter and a clock signal. The delay locked loop is configured to generate a pair of control codes based on a frequency of the clock signal and a frequency of an oscillator of the delay locked loop. The delay locked loop is configured to determine a difference between the frequency of the clock signal and the frequency of the oscillator based on a phase of an output of the oscillator and a phase of the clock signal after the output of the oscillator and the clock signal are aligned. The delay line is configured to receive an input signal and generate an output signal delayed from the input signal by a time delay that corresponds to a delay line control code calculated from the pair of control codes and the delay parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Muhammad Nummer, Dirk Pfaff
  • Publication number: 20140145771
    Abstract: A circuit includes a delay line and a delay locked loop. The circuit is configured to receive a delay parameter and a clock signal. The delay locked loop is configured to generate a pair of control codes based on a frequency of the clock signal and a frequency of an oscillator of the delay locked loop. The delay locked loop is configured to determine a difference between the frequency of the clock signal and the frequency of the oscillator based on a phase of an output of the oscillator and a phase of the clock signal after the output of the oscillator and the clock signal are aligned. The delay line is configured to receive an input signal and generate an output signal delayed from the input signal by a time delay that corresponds to a delay line control code calculated from the pair of control codes and the delay parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Muhammad NUMMER, Dirk PFAFF
  • Patent number: 8218705
    Abstract: A novel interpolating phase detector for use in a multiphase PLL is described comprising an array of individual phase comparators, all operating at essentially the same operating point which permits the circuits to be designed simultaneously for high speed and for low power consumption. Two adjacent phase outputs of a multi-phase VCO may be selected and interpolated in between, by selectively attaching a variable number of phase comparators to each phase output and summing their phase error outputs. By varying the number of phase comparators attached to each phase output, interpolation can be achieved with high linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Diablo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Gholamreza Yousefi Moghaddam, Dirk Pfaff, Sivakumar Kanesapillai
  • Patent number: 7902886
    Abstract: A multi reference phase locked loop (MPLL) generates a high speed clock frequency and phase locks it to a lowest common reference frequency derived from a selected one of at least two reference clocks. One of the reference clocks is a system reference clock in a FBDIMM system, another may be a forwarded clock in an AMB2. A prescaler reduces the frequency of at least the forwarded clock to the lowest common reference frequency which is the frequency of the system reference clock. A PLL at the core of the MPLL may be locked to the forwarded clock or the system reference clock for generating a high speed clock. A feedback divider generates the feedback clock for the PLL as well as other clocks required in the system. Furthermore, the MPLL provides a number of clocking modes, including modes to facilitate testing and powering down of sections of the circuitry for conserving power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Diablo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk Pfaff, Claus Reitlingshoefer, Stephen Robert Hobbs
  • Patent number: 7796652
    Abstract: Where high speed communication between a host and memory devices is carried over serial bit lanes, memory buffers are required for converting buffering the serial bit lanes, and for converting between serial and parallel formats. In addition, jitter, wander, and skew between the bit lanes need to be accommodated. The invention discloses a programmable asynchronous FIFO with the integrated ability to convert blocks of bits from serial to parallel as well as inserting bits from a parallel bus into the serial bit stream. The invention provides very low latency and can be implemented in low power technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Diablo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Reitlingshoefer, Dirk Pfaff, Riccardo Badalone