Patents by Inventor John Q. Torode

John Q. Torode 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: 6433645
    Abstract: A programmable circuit for generating a clock signal is disclosed. The present invention provides a clock generator architecture that combines PLL-based clock generator circuitry with an on-chip EPROM in a monolithic clock generator chip. The clock generator allows for electrical configuration of various information including PLL parameters, input thresholds, output drive levels and output frequencies. The various parameters can be configured after the clock generator is fabricated. The parameters can be configured either during wafer sort or after packaging. The clock generator can be erased prior to packaging so programming can be verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Eric N. Mann, John Q. Torode
  • Patent number: 5877656
    Abstract: A programmable circuit for generating a clock signal is disclosed. The present invention provides a clock generator architecture that combines PLL-based clock generator circuitry with an on-chip EPROM in a monolithic clock generator chip. The clock generator allows for electrical configuration of various information including PLL parameters, input thresholds, output drive levels and output frequencies. The various parameters can be configured after the clock generator is fabricated. The parameters can be configured either during wafer sort or after packaging. The clock generator can be erased prior to packaging so programming can be verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Eric N. Mann, John Q. Torode
  • Patent number: 5835401
    Abstract: A method and circuit for hiding a refresh of DRAM cells in a memory device. One embodiment of the circuit includes a selection circuit configured to select a first row of DRAM cells in the memory circuit in response to an active control signal. As a result, data may be read from or written to at least one of the DRAM cells in the first row. The selection circuit is also configured to couple a refresh address to a second row of DRAM cells in the memory circuit in response to an inactive state control signal. The second row of cells is refreshed when the selection circuit accesses the second row. For one embodiment, the DRAM cells are four transistor DRAM cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Green, John Q. Torode, T. J. Rodgers, Shailesh Shah
  • Patent number: 5684434
    Abstract: A programmable circuit for generating a clock signal is disclosed. The present invention provides a clock generator architecture that combines PLL-based clock generator circuitry with an on-chip EPROM in a monolithic clock generator chip. The clock generator allows for electrical configuration of various information including PLL parameters, input thresholds, output drive levels and output frequencies. The various parameters can be configured after the clock generator is fabricated. The parameters can be configured either during wafer sort or after packaging. The clock generator can be erased prior to packaging so programming can be verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor
    Inventors: Eric N. Mann, John Q. Torode