Patents by Inventor Kenneth D. Hayes

Kenneth D. Hayes 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: 5194759
    Abstract: A method to minimize disturbance of an already programmed antifuse while programming other antifuses in a circuit includes the steps of determining a preferred order in which to program the antifuses and programming them in the preferred order. High initial programming and soak currents are selected such that the disturb current is small with respect thereto. The magnitude of the disturb current is increased to a value that maintains the antifuse resistance or improves it rather than adversely affect it. Where a circuit node containing a first already programmed antifuse is positioned such that parasitic capacitances may discharge through that antifuse during the programming of a second antifuse, the magnitude of the charge stored at parasitic capacitances associated with the programming path is reduced by reducing the programming voltage when this programming situation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Khaled A. El-Ayat, Kenneth D. Hayes, Theodore M. Speers, Gregory W. Bakker