Patents by Inventor Harold Kutz

Harold Kutz 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: 7940202
    Abstract: In one example, a clock generation component is configured to receive a master clock and generate a plurality of clock signals that are shifted relative to one another for a chip having an analog domain and a digital domain. A first selection component is configured to select a first one of the generated clock signals and drive the digital domain according to the first clock signal. A second selection component is configured to select a second one of the generated clock signals that is shifted relative to the first clock signal currently used to drive the digital domain for driving an analog component of the analog domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Timothy Williams
  • Publication number: 20110026519
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device may include a reconfigurable analog signal switching fabric comprising a plurality of global buses that are selectively connected to external pins by pin connection circuits in response to changeable analog routing data, and a plurality of local buses that are selectively connected to analog blocks and/or global buses by routing connection circuits in response to the analog routing data; and at least one processor circuit that executes predetermined operations in response to instruction data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bert Sullam, Harold Kutz, Timothy Williams, James Shutt, Bruce E. Byrkett, Melany Ann Richmond, Nathan Kohagen, Mark Hastings, Eashwar Thiagarajan, Warren Snyder
  • Publication number: 20100281145
    Abstract: A programmable system includes a programmable analog system that is reconfigurable to perform various analog operations, and includes a programmable digital system that is reconfigurable to perform various digital operations. The programmable system also includes a microcontroller capable of reconfiguring and controlling the programmable analog system and the programmable digital system. The programmable digital system is configured to control the programmable analog system autonomously of the microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bert Sullam, Harold Kutz, Monte Mar, Eashwar Thiagaragen
  • Patent number: 7679422
    Abstract: A configurable switched capacitor block includes a switched-capacitor (SC) sampling circuit, a fully differential amplifier, an SC feedback circuit, and a comparator. The SC sampling circuit is coupled to receive an input signal and to selectively generate a sampled signal to a differential input of the amplifier. The SC feedback circuit is coupled between the differential inputs and the differential outputs of the amplifier to selectively control a feedback of the amplifier. The comparator is coupled to the differential outputs of the amplifier to generate an output signal. The configurable switched capacitor block has multiple modes of operation which are selectable by programming the SC sampling circuit and the SC feedback circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Eashwar Thiagarajan, Harold Kutz
  • Patent number: 7586795
    Abstract: A variable reference voltage circuit for performing memory operation on non-volatile memory includes a multi-level voltage source and a selector circuit. The multi-level voltage source generates multiple voltages. The selector circuit includes a selector input and a selector output. The selector input is coupled to the multi-level voltage source to selectively couple any of the multiple voltages to the selector output. The selector output of the selector circuit is coupled to a non-volatile memory array to provide the NV memory array with a selectable program voltage for programming the NV memory array and a selectable erase voltage for erasing the NV memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Mark Rouse, Eric D. Blom
  • Publication number: 20090150688
    Abstract: A method and a system for supplying power to a microcontroller with a single cell. One embodiment of the present invention discloses incorporation of a power supply pump circuit with the microcontroller and their dynamic interaction. The microcontroller sends its power requirements to the power supply pump circuit and in response, the power supply pump circuit controls the operating voltage with optimal efficiency. The dynamic update of power supply pump circuit results in an efficient use of the power supply pump circuit and thus results in a reduction of the number of dry cell batteries to only a single cell. Incorporation of the microcontroller and power supply pump circuit onto a single chip reduces the pin number requirements as well as the space required on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Warren Snyder
  • Publication number: 20080315847
    Abstract: A system includes a controllable voltage generator to generate a power supply voltage. The system also includes a system controller to determine a voltage level associated with the power supply voltage, and prompt the controllable voltage generator to generate the power supply voltage. The system includes a floating gate reference device to generate an absolute voltage reference based, at least in part, on the voltage level associated with the power supply voltage. The system can also include analog circuitry to perform one or more electrical operations responsive to the absolute voltage reference from the floating gate reference device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Warren Snyder, Thurman J. Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20080297388
    Abstract: A system includes an analog-to-digital modulator to convert at least one analog input signal into at least one digital output signal. The system also includes a processing device to set an operational order and a quantization level of the analog-to-digital modulator. The analog-to-digital modulator converts the analog input signal into the digital output signal according to the operational order and the quantization level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eashwar Thiagarajan, Mohandas Palatholmana Sivadasan, Gajender Rohilla, Harold Kutz, Monte Mar
  • Publication number: 20080259070
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) driving system includes a reference voltage generator to generate a plurality of reference voltages. The LCD driving system also includes a plurality of drive buffers to generate drive voltages according to at least one of the reference voltages, and to drive at least a portion of a liquid crystal display to present data according to the drive voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Warren Snyder, Harold Kutz, Timothy Williams, Bert Sullam, David Wright
  • Publication number: 20080259017
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus to reduce power consumption in a passive matrix LCD driver circuit by using a plurality of drive buffers and active power management of sub-blocks in the passive matrix LCD drive circuit. Each drive buffer may operate in a first phase, which may include a high-drive mode to drive an LCD voltage to a threshold voltage level and a low-drive mode to modify the LCD voltage to approximate an input voltage of the drive buffer, and to maintain a constant LCD voltage level. The low-drive buffer consumes less current than the high-drive buffer, thus reducing power consumption. The drive buffer may also operate in a second phase, also a no-drive mode, in which the drive buffer and the bias voltage generator may be completely turned off, to further reduce power consumption. The drive buffer may be used to drive capacitive loads, as well as partially-resistive loads and inductive loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: David Wright, Jason Muriby, Erhan Hancioglu, Harold Kutz
  • Publication number: 20080258804
    Abstract: A system includes a bandgap temperature sensor to generate multiple base-emitter voltages. The system also include a controller to detect the base-emitter voltages generated by the bandgap temperature sensor and to generate a bandgap reference voltage according to the multiple base-emitter voltage signals, the bandgap reference voltage having a voltage level that remains substantially constant relative to environmental temperature variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Harold Kutz
  • Publication number: 20080259998
    Abstract: A system comprises a temperature sensor generate multiple base-emitter voltage signals by sequentially providing various currents to a transistor, and a system controller to determine a differential voltage signal according to the multiple base-emitter voltage signals, the differential voltage signal proportional to an environmental temperature associated with the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Garthik Venkataraman, Harold Kutz, Monte Mar
  • Patent number: 7386740
    Abstract: A method and a system for supplying power to a microcontroller with a single cell. One embodiment of the present invention discloses incorporation of a power supply pump circuit with the microcontroller and their dynamic interaction. The microcontroller sends its power requirements to the power supply pump circuit and in response, the power supply pump circuit controls the operating voltage with optimal efficiency. The dynamic update of power supply pump circuit results in an efficient use of the power supply pump circuit and thus results in a reduction of the number of dry cell batteries to only a single cell. Incorporation of the microcontroller and power supply pump circuit onto a single chip reduces the pin number requirements as well as the space required on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Warren Snyder
  • Patent number: 7375535
    Abstract: A capacitive sensing system (100) can connect groups of capacitive sensors (112-1 to 112-N) to a common node (106) to detect change in capacitance. States of a set of capacitive sensors (112-1 to 112-N) can thus be scanned faster than approaches that scan such sensors one-by-one. Faster scanning can allow for reduced power consumption in applications that only periodically scan the set of capacitive sensors (112-1 to 112-N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Warren Snyder, Tim Williams, Andrew Page
  • Patent number: 7299307
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a programmable logical semiconductor device which is tailored for implementing digital signal processing functions. The programmable logical semiconductor device comprises one or more functional user modules and at least one of the functional user modules is configurable to implement digital signal processing functions. The programmable logical semiconductor device has analog connections that are capable of being coupled to at least one of the functional user modules and to route signals to the functional user module, including an analog signal processor coupled to the analog connection. The programmable logical semiconductor device also has one or more registers coupled to the functional user modules for storing coefficients to configure the functional user modules. One or more of the user modules comprises a switched capacitor filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Early, Harold Kutz
  • Publication number: 20070217271
    Abstract: A variable reference voltage circuit for performing memory operation on non-volatile memory includes a multi-level voltage source and a selector circuit. The multi-level voltage source generates multiple voltages. The selector circuit includes a selector input and a selector output. The selector input is coupled to the multi-level voltage source to selectively couple any of the multiple voltages to the selector output. The selector output of the selector circuit is coupled to a non-volatile memory array to provide the NV memory array with a selectable program voltage for programming the NV memory array and a selectable erase voltage for erasing the NV memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Mark Rouse, Eric Blom
  • Publication number: 20070205815
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit device includes a power on reset (POR) circuit and a stochastic reset circuit configured to control enabling and disabling of the POR circuit. The stochastic reset circuit may have a value from among many possible values. The POR circuit may be enabled during a power up sequence of the device when the value of the stochastic reset during the power up is not a value designated to allow disabling of the POR circuit. The stochastic reset circuit may be configured such that the probability of the POR circuit being disabled during the power up is extremely low. After the power up sequence, the stochastic reset circuit may be controlled to allow disabling of the POR circuit to conserve power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Timothy Williams, Morgan Whately
  • Patent number: 7265595
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit device includes a power on reset (POR) circuit and a stochastic reset circuit configured to control enabling and disabling of the POR circuit. The stochastic reset circuit may have a value from among many possible values. The POR circuit may be enabled during a power up sequence of the device when the value of the stochastic reset during the power up is not a value designated to allow disabling of the POR circuit. The stochastic reset circuit may be configured such that the probability of the POR circuit being disabled during the power up is extremely low. After the power up sequence, the stochastic reset circuit may be controlled to allow disabling of the POR circuit to conserve power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Timothy Williams, Morgan Whately
  • Patent number: 7180342
    Abstract: A frequency doubler circuit with trimmable current control. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a circuit comprising an oscillator with a current source and a frequency doubler circuit coupled to the current source. In one embodiment, the current source is for generating a reference current. In one embodiment, the frequency doubler circuit is operable to receive a first frequency signal for generating a second frequency signal and also receiving the reference current. The frequency doubler circuit, using the reference current, operates to compensate for process variation of capacitance of the frequency doubler circuit and uses the reference current to maintain a known duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James Shutt, Harold Kutz
  • Patent number: 7149316
    Abstract: A microcontroller includes a wide band, high gain amplifier on-chip capable of driving a 32 ohm speaker. The amplifier is controllable by the microcontroller processor to either enable or disable the amplifier and switch between multiple modes of power. In one embodiment, one or more such amplifiers are situated anywhere on the integrated circuit die including at the corners of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Monte Mar