Patents by Inventor Robert Callaghan Taft

Robert Callaghan Taft 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: 11429136
    Abstract: An electronic circuit which is a high speed CMOS logic circuit to divide the frequency of an input signal is provided. The electronic circuit comprises a ring oscillator. The ring oscillator comprises a plurality of gated inverters. At least one of the gated inverters is configured to receive an oscillating signal and a control signal at two complementary inputs. The electronic circuit is configured to be partially gated such that a divide ratio is selectable. By means of clock partial gating, open loop clock buffering and avoiding slow combinatory logic in the data path, a very high speed multi-moduli clock divider is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Vineethraj Rajappan Nair
  • Publication number: 20210356984
    Abstract: An electronic circuit which is a high speed CMOS logic circuit to divide the frequency of an input signal is provided. The electronic circuit comprises a ring oscillator. The ring oscillator comprises a plurality of gated inverters. At least one of the gated inverters is configured to receive an oscillating signal and a control signal at two complementary inputs. The electronic circuit is configured to be partially gated such that a divide ratio is selectable. By means of clock partial gating, open loop clock buffering and avoiding slow combinatory logic in the data path, a very high speed multi-moduli clock divider is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Vineethraj Rajappan Nair
  • Patent number: 11177251
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes an electronic device, an input/output terminal, and a protection device. The electronic device includes a signal terminal to receive an input signal. The input/output terminal is configured to receive the input signal from a source external to the electronic circuit. The protection device is coupled to the electronic device and to the input/output terminal. The protection device is configured to protect the electronic device from voltage of the input signal exceeding a threshold. The protection device includes a first semiconductor region, a first contact, and a second contact. The first contact connects the first semiconductor region to the input/output terminal. The second contact connects the first semiconductor region to the signal terminal of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Tobias Hoehn, Karim Thomas Taghizadeh Kaschani
  • Patent number: 11106236
    Abstract: An electronic circuit which is a high speed CMOS logic circuit to divide the frequency of an input signal is provided. The electronic circuit comprises a ring oscillator. The ring oscillator comprises a plurality of gated inverters. At least one of the gated inverters is configured to receive an oscillating signal and a control signal at two complementary inputs. The electronic circuit is configured to be partially gated such that a divide ratio is selectable. By means of clock partial gating, open loop clock buffering and avoiding slow combinatory logic in the data path, a very high speed multi-moduli clock divider is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Vineethraj Rajappan Nair
  • Patent number: 11011508
    Abstract: An electronic device, e.g. an integrated circuit, is formed on a P-type lightly-doped semiconductor substrate having an N-type buried layer. First and second N-wells extend from a surface of the substrate to the buried layer. A first NSD region is located within the first N-well, and a second NSD region is located within the second N-well. A PSD region extends from the substrate surface into the substrate and is located between the first and second NSD regions. A P-type lightly-doped portion of the substrate is located between the N-well and the substrate surface and between the PSD region and the first and second NSD regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mahalingam Nandakumar, Robert Callaghan Taft, Alan Erik Segervall, Muhammad Yusuf Ali
  • Publication number: 20210026397
    Abstract: An electronic circuit which is a high speed CMOS logic circuit to divide the frequency of an input signal is provided. The electronic circuit comprises a ring oscillator. The ring oscillator comprises a plurality of gated inverters. At least one of the gated inverters is configured to receive an oscillating signal and a control signal at two complementary inputs. The electronic circuit is configured to be partially gated such that a divide ratio is selectable. By means of clock partial gating, open loop clock buffering and avoiding slow combinatory logic in the data path, a very high speed multi-moduli clock divider is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Vineethraj Rajappan Nair
  • Patent number: 10833663
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a first set of serially-connected inverters comprising an input port, the first set of serially-connected inverters comprising a first subset of serially-connected inverters, the first subset of serially-connected inverters odd in number and comprising an input port and an output port; a first low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the output port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; a second low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the input port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; and a first differential amplifier comprising a first input port coupled to output port of the first low-pass filter, a second input port coupled to the output port of the second low-pass filter, and an output port coupled to the input port of the first set of serially-connected inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORTED
    Inventors: Michael Schultz, Robert Callaghan Taft
  • Patent number: 10775833
    Abstract: Clock generation for capturing a repetitive signal relative to a clock includes clock circuitry to provide a clock with active and inactive clock edges within a clock period, and signal capture circuitry to capture repetitive signal transitions at an active clock edge, based on pre-defined setup and hold times which determine a setup/hold window. Clock phase adjustment circuitry is configured to adjust clock phase so that the repetitive signal transitions occur within a signal capture window between setup/hold windows. Clock phase adjustment can be based on: aligning the clock inactive edges to the repetitive signal transitions; and/or averaging successive phase comparisons of the clock and the repetitive signal transitions; and/or selectively performing an initial polarity inversion to generate a polarity inverted clock, and then adjusting clock phase of the polarity inverted clock. An example implementation is JESD204B (subclass1) to adjust DEVCLK phase relative to a SYSREF timing reference control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Kramer, Matthew Hansen Childs, Robert Callaghan Taft
  • Publication number: 20200194423
    Abstract: An electronic device, e.g. an integrated circuit, is formed on a P-type lightly-doped semiconductor substrate having an N-type buried layer. First and second N-wells extend from a surface of the substrate to the buried layer. A first NSD region is located within the first N-well, and a second NSD region is located within the second N-well. A PSD region extends from the substrate surface into the substrate and is located between the first and second NSD regions. A P-type lightly-doped portion of the substrate is located between the N-well and the substrate surface and between the PSD region and the first and second NSD regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Mahalingam Nandakumar, Robert Callaghan Taft, Alan Erik Segervall, Muhammad Yusuf Ali
  • Publication number: 20200176440
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes an electronic device, an input/output terminal, and a protection device. The electronic device includes a signal terminal to receive an input signal. The input/output terminal is configured to receive the input signal from a source external to the electronic circuit. The protection device is coupled to the electronic device and to the input/output terminal. The protection device is configured to protect the electronic device from voltage of the input signal exceeding a threshold. The protection device includes a first semiconductor region, a first contact, and a second contact. The first contact connects the first semiconductor region to the input/output terminal. The second contact connects the first semiconductor region to the signal terminal of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan TAFT, Tobias HOEHN, Karim Thomas TAGHIZADEH KASCHANI
  • Patent number: 10593661
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes an electronic device, an input/output terminal, and a protection device. The electronic device includes a signal terminal to receive an input signal. The input/output terminal is configured to receive the input signal from a source external to the electronic circuit. The protection device is coupled to the electronic device and to the input/output terminal. The protection device is configured to protect the electronic device from voltage of the input signal exceeding a threshold. The protection device includes a first semiconductor region, a first contact, and a second contact. The first contact connects the first semiconductor region to the input/output terminal. The second contact connects the first semiconductor region to the signal terminal of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Tobias Hoehn, Karim Thomas Taghizadeh Kaschani
  • Patent number: 10547295
    Abstract: In described examples, an electronic circuit for delaying a signal (received at an input node) includes a delay line with multiple tap locations, a tap line proximate to the delay line and coupled to an output node, and multiple groups of switches. Switches in the groups of switches are severally coupled between tap locations corresponding to the respective group of switches, and the tap line. When the signal is propagated through the delay line, a first number of the switches corresponding to a selected tap location are closed, a second number of the switches corresponding to an adjacent tap location are closed, and the signal is transmitted with a delay through the closed switches, to the tap line, to the output node. The delay includes an average, weighted using the first and second numbers, of delays corresponding to the selected and adjacent tap locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Vineethraj Rajappan Nair
  • Publication number: 20190341915
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a first set of serially-connected inverters comprising an input port, the first set of serially-connected inverters comprising a first subset of serially-connected inverters, the first subset of serially-connected inverters odd in number and comprising an input port and an output port; a first low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the output port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; a second low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the input port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; and a first differential amplifier comprising a first input port coupled to output port of the first low-pass filter, a second input port coupled to the output port of the second low-pass filter, and an output port coupled to the input port of the first set of serially-connected inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael SCHULTZ, Robert Callaghan TAFT
  • Publication number: 20190313938
    Abstract: A circuit includes a plurality of series-coupled delay buffers and a plurality of logic gates. Each logic gate includes first and second inputs. The first input of each logic gate is coupled to a corresponding one of the delay buffers. The circuit also includes a plurality of flip-flops. Each flip-flop includes a data input and a data output. The data input is coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the logic gates and the data output is coupled to the second input of one of the corresponding logic gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Callaghan TAFT
  • Patent number: 10396768
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a first set of serially-connected inverters comprising an input port, the first set of serially-connected inverters comprising a first subset of serially-connected inverters, the first subset of serially-connected inverters odd in number and comprising an input port and an output port; a first low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the output port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; a second low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the input port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; and a first differential amplifier comprising a first input port coupled to output port of the first low-pass filter, a second input port coupled to the output port of the second low-pass filter, and an output port coupled to the input port of the first set of serially-connected inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Schultz, Robert Callaghan Taft
  • Patent number: 10382025
    Abstract: A circuit includes a plurality of series-coupled delay buffers and a plurality of logic gates. Each logic gate includes first and second inputs. The first input of each logic gate is coupled to a corresponding one of the delay buffers. The circuit also includes a plurality of flip-flops. Each flip-flop includes a data input and a data output. The data input is coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the logic gates and the data output is coupled to the second input of one of the corresponding logic gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Robert Callaghan Taft
  • Publication number: 20180337665
    Abstract: In described examples, an electronic circuit for delaying a signal (received at an input node) includes a delay line with multiple tap locations, a tap line proximate to the delay line and coupled to an output node, and multiple groups of switches. Switches in the groups of switches are severally coupled between tap locations corresponding to the respective group of switches, and the tap line. When the signal is propagated through the delay line, a first number of the switches corresponding to a selected tap location are closed, a second number of the switches corresponding to an adjacent tap location are closed, and the signal is transmitted with a delay through the closed switches, to the tap line, to the output node. The delay includes an average, weighted using the first and second numbers, of delays corresponding to the selected and adjacent tap locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Vineethraj Rajappan Nair
  • Patent number: 10116319
    Abstract: A circuit including an amplifier array including an amplifier stage with M amplifiers (M?2), connected to a resistor interpolator (interpolation order N?2) including an input row and at least a second row, each row comprising interpolation resistors connected in series at nodes. The input row including M driven nodes connected to a respective amplifier, and connected in parallel to the second row, with at least some first-row interpolation nodes connected to corresponding second-row interpolation nodes. The resistor interpolator comprising at least one multi-row interpolation cell, with: in the input row, a driven node coupled through first and second interpolation resistors to respective adjacent first and second interpolation nodes; and in the second row, third and fourth interpolation nodes coupled through third and fourth interpolation resistors to an intermediate fifth interpolation node; and with the first and second interpolation nodes connected respectively to the third and fourth interpolation nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Callaghan Taft, Alexander Bodem
  • Publication number: 20180302075
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a first set of serially-connected inverters comprising an input port, the first set of serially-connected inverters comprising a first subset of serially-connected inverters, the first subset of serially-connected inverters odd in number and comprising an input port and an output port; a first low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the output port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; a second low-pass filter comprising an input port coupled to the input port of the first subset of serially-connected inverters, and an output port; and a first differential amplifier comprising a first input port coupled to output port of the first low-pass filter, a second input port coupled to the output port of the second low-pass filter, and an output port coupled to the input port of the first set of serially-connected inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Michael SCHULTZ, Robert Callaghan TAFT
  • Publication number: 20180302067
    Abstract: A circuit includes a plurality of series-coupled delay buffers and a plurality of logic gates. Each logic gate includes first and second inputs. The first input of each logic gate is coupled to a corresponding one of the delay buffers. The circuit also includes a plurality of flip-flops. Each flip-flop includes a data input and a data output. The data input is coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the logic gates and the data output is coupled to the second input of one of the corresponding logic gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Robert Callaghan TAFT