Patents by Inventor Hao-Yuan Howard Chou

Hao-Yuan Howard Chou 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: 9501407
    Abstract: A first-in-first-out memory may have first and second memory banks. A write controller may write data into the first and second memory banks. In performing write operations, the write controller may determine whether to write the data into the first bank or the second bank by evaluating a first bank empty flag and a second bank empty flag. When transitioning between writing in the first bank and the second bank, the write controller may latch a write address value indicative of the last location at which valid data was written in a given bank. A read controller may read data from the first and second memory bank. The read controller may determine when to transition between reading in the first bank and reading in the second bank by comparing a current read address to the latched write address value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Ray Ruey-Hsien Hu, Andy L. Lee, David Lewis, Tony Ngai, Haiming Yu, Hao-Yuan Howard Chou
  • Patent number: 9256266
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with memory elements are provided. Data may be loaded into the memory elements using write driver circuitry. The write driver circuitry may be provided with a fixed positive power supply voltage and an time-varying ground power supply voltage that is less than the positive power supply voltage. The time-varying ground power supply voltage may be generated using programmable power supply circuitry. The programmable power supply circuitry may include a pulse generation circuit and a configurable capacitive circuit. The pulse generation circuit may output a pulse signal to the capacitive circuit. In response to receiving the pulse signal, the capacitive circuit may push the time-varying ground power supply voltage to a negative value. The time-varying ground power supply voltage may be driven below zero volts for at least a portion of a write cycle to help improve write margins and increase memory yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Haiming Yu, Wei Zhang, Hao-Yuan Howard Chou, Ray Ruey-Hsien Hu
  • Patent number: 8867303
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with memory elements is provided. The memory elements may be single-port memory cells that are used to provide multiport memory functionality. The integrated circuit may include an arbitration circuit operable to receive memory access requests from at least first and second request generators. The arbitration circuit may be configured to operate in a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode. The arbitration circuit operating in the synchronous mode may perform port selection based on a predetermined logic table. The arbitration circuit operating in the asynchronous mode may execute a memory request as soon as it is received by the arbitration circuit. Requests received while a current memory access is being performed may be put on hold until the current memory access has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Ray Ruey-Hsien Hu, Haiming Yu, Hao-Yuan Howard Chou
  • Patent number: 8483006
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with memory elements are provided. A memory element may include a storage circuit coupled to data lines through access transistors. The access transistors may have gates that are controlled by an address signal. The address signal may be asserted during read/write operations to turn on the access transistors so that read/write data can be passed through the access transistors. The voltage level to which the address signal is raised during read/write operations may be adjusted using programmable voltage biasing circuitry. A number of integrated circuits may be tested during device characterization procedures to determine the amount by which the address signal should be adjusted using the programmable voltage biasing circuit so that the memory elements in the integrated circuits satisfy design criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Hao-Yuan Howard Chou, Wei Zhang, Haiming Yu
  • Publication number: 20130073763
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with memory elements is provided. The memory elements may be single-port memory cells that are used to provide multiport memory functionality. The integrated circuit may include an arbitration circuit operable to receive memory access requests from at least first and second request generators. The arbitration circuit may be configured to operate in a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode. The arbitration circuit operating in the synchronous mode may perform port selection based on a predetermined logic table. The arbitration circuit operating in the asynchronous mode may execute a memory request as soon as it is received by the arbitration circuit. Requests received while a current memory access is being performed may be put on hold until the current memory access has been completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Ray Ruey-Hsien Hu, Haiming Yu, Hao-Yuan Howard Chou
  • Patent number: 7639557
    Abstract: Integrated circuits such as programmable logic device integrated circuits are provided that have memory arrays that may be configured for true dual port operation or simple dual port operation. The memory arrays include memory cells arranged in rows and columns and associated row address lines and data lines. Sense amplifiers and write drivers are used for reading and writing data. Precharge drivers are used to precharge the data lines prior to read operations. Configurable multiplexer circuitry in the array has read paths through which data is provided to the sense amplifiers from the memory cells. The multiplexer circuitry has write paths through which data from the write drivers is written into the memory cells. The read paths and the write paths contain no more than a single pass gate each. Each precharge driver may be connected to a respective one of the data lines with no intervening pass gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Hao-Yuan Howard Chou, Haiming Yu