Patents by Inventor Jean Barbier

Jean Barbier 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: 20020089349
    Abstract: A number of enhanced logic elements (LEs) are provided to form a FPGA. Each enhanced LE comprises a multiple input-single output truth table, and a complementary pair of master-slave latches having a data, a set and a reset input. Each enhanced LE further comprises a plurality of multiplexers and buffers, and control logic. Additionally, the improved FPGA further comprises a network of crossbars, a context bus, a scan register, and a plurality of trigger circuitry. As a result, each LE may be individually initialized, its signal state frozen momentarily, the frozen state be read, trace data be output, and trigger inputs be conditionally generated. Furthermore, the enhanced LEs may be used for “level sensitive” as well as “edge sensitive” circuit design emulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Oliver LePape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 6388465
    Abstract: A number of enhanced logic elements (LEs) are provided to form a [FPGA] reconfigurable integrated circuit (IC). Each enhanced LE comprises a multiple input-single output truth table, and a complementary pair of master-slave latches having a data, a set and a reset input. Each enhanced LE further comprises a plurality of multiplexers and buffers, and control logic. Additionally, the improved [FPGA] IC may further comprise[s] a scalable network of crossbars, a context bus, a scan register, and/or a plurality of trigger circuitry. As a result, each LE may be individually initialized, its signal state frozen momentarily, the frozen state be read, trace data be output, and trigger inputs be conditionally generated, making the IC particularly suitable for circuit design emulation. Furthermore, the enhanced LEs may be used for “level sensitive” as well as “edge sensitive” circuit design emulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier LePape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 6161342
    Abstract: A civil engineering structure having an arched wall including a plurality of curve shaped elements. Each element bears against one or more other similar elements and has a recess arranged in an outer face for casting a concrete assembly capping piece and reinforcements. Each element also includes at least one rigid bearing piece fastened to the element and has, at a free end of the rigid bearing piece, a surface with a non-planar profile. The rigid bearing piece comes to bear against a similar piece of another element located opposite it. The two rigid bearing pieces have complementary profiles making it possible for them to be wedged vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Samflo
    Inventors: Laurent Jean Barbier, Alberto Antonio Melo Ferreira
  • Patent number: 6057706
    Abstract: A number of enhanced logic elements (LEs) are provided to form a FPGA. Each enhanced LE comprises a multiple input-single output truth table, and a complementary pair of master-slave latches having a data, a set and a reset input. Each enhanced LE further comprises a plurality of multiplexers and buffers, and control logic. Additionally, the improved FPGA further comprises a network of crossbars, a context bus, a scan register, and a plurality of trigger circuitry. As a result, each LE may be individually initialized, its signal state frozen momentarily, the frozen state be read, trace data be output, and trigger inputs be conditionally generated. Furthermore, the enhanced LEs may be used for "level sensitive" as well as "edge sensitive" circuit design emulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier LePape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 5999725
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracing any node in an emulator, including hidden nodes of a circuit design, includes maintaining a correspondence between physically observable nodes and hidden nodes of the circuit design being emulated. The correspondence identifies how values of the hidden nodes are to be determined based on corresponding ones of the physically observable nodes. The value of a hidden node is determined by obtaining the values of the corresponding physically observable nodes and identifying the value of the hidden node based on the correspondence between the corresponding physically observable nodes and the hidden node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier Lepape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 5907697
    Abstract: A scalable multi-level multi-stage network topology is employed to interconnect reconfigurable logic elements within the special purpose FPGA, inter-FPGA, inter-logic boards, and inter-backplanes. More specifically, under the presently preferred embodiment, an on-chip 3-stage inter-logic element crossbar network is provided to each special purpose FPGA for interconnecting the reconfigurable logic elements and the I/O pins of the special purpose FPGA. A two level three-stage inter-FPGA hybrid crossbar network is provided to interconnect the special purpose FPGAs and I/O pins of the logic board. The two-level three-stage inter-FPGA hybrid crossbar network consists of two stages of programmable crossbars and one stage of one or more special purpose FPGAs used for interconnection only. The exact number of special purpose FPGAs to be used for interconnection only on a particular logic board is dependent on the specific circuit design being emulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier Lepape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 5790832
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracing any node in an emulator, including hidden nodes of a circuit design, includes maintaining a correspondence between physically observable nodes and hidden nodes of the circuit design being emulated. The correspondence identifies how values of the hidden nodes are to be determined based on corresponding ones of the physically observable nodes. The value of a hidden node is determined by obtaining the values of the corresponding physically observable nodes and identifying the value of the hidden node based on the correspondence between the corresponding physically observable nodes and the hidden node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier Lepape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 5777489
    Abstract: A number of enhanced logic elements (LEs) are provided to form a FPGA. Each enhanced LE comprises a multiple input-single output truth table, and a complementary pair of master-slave latches having a data, a set and a reset input. Each enhanced LE further comprises a plurality of multiplexers and buffers, and control logic. Additionally, the improved FPGA further comprises a network of crossbars, a context bus, a scan register, and a plurality of trigger circuitry. As a result, each LE may be individually initialized, its signal state frozen momentarily, the frozen state be read, trace data be output, and trigger inputs be conditionally generated. Furthermore, the enhanced LEs may be used for "level sensitive" as well as "edge sensitive" circuit design emulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier LePape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 5754827
    Abstract: An emulation system is constituted with a plurality of FPGAs having on-chip integrated debugging facilities, distributively disposed on a plurality of circuit boards. Each FPGA's on-chip integrated debugging facilities include in particular, a scan register for outputting trace data, and comparison circuitry for generating inputs for a plurality of system triggers. Correspondingly, each board is provided with a plurality of trace memory for recording the trace data, and summing circuitry for generating partial sums for the triggers. The relative memory location within a clock cycle of trace data where the output of a LE will be recorded is predeterminable. Additionally, a system sync memory is provided for storing a plurality of sync patterns to facilitate reconstitution of trace data of a trace session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier LePape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 5574388
    Abstract: A scalable multi-level multi-stage network topology is employed to interconnect reconfigurable logic elements within the FPGA, inter-FPGA, interlogic boards, and inter-backplanes. More specifically, under the presently preferred embodiemnt, an on-chip 3-stage inter-logic element crossbar network is provided to each FPGA for interconnecting the reconfigurable logic elements and the I/O pins of the FPGA. A two level two-stage inter-FPGA crossbard network is provided to interconnect the FPGAs and I/O pins of the logic board. A two-level two-stage inter-board crossbar network is provided to interconnect the logic boards or I/O boards for interconnecting the logic elements to external devices. Finally, a single-stage inter-backplane network and a number of PCBs are provided to interconnect multi-backplanes to form a multi-crate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Olivier LePape, Frederic Reblewski
  • Patent number: 4019939
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the manufacture of textile or wire-reinforced hoses, the components of which are placed while the inner tube is supported by a mandrel.According to this invention, the mandrel is made of a congealable fluid which is introduced inside the tube and then cooled and solidified during manufacturing steps wherein the formed assembly will resist mechanical stresses which would not be endured by the sole constituents of the hose. The mandrel is thereafter brought back to a liquid form to be drained off.The invention is applicable to the manufacture of medium and high pressure hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Jean Barbier, Paul Cachon