Patents by Inventor Robert L. Bailey

Robert L. Bailey 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: 8151231
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing and/or analyzing the operations and logical states of an integrated circuit. The logical state of various flip-flops within the ASIC may be determined at a specified time. The embodiment may store these flip-flop states in a computer-readable data structure, such as a file or database. By repeating this process and incrementing or decrementing the time with each repetition, a more complete picture of the ASIC's operation may be captured. Additionally, the embodiment may graphically display the flip-flop states, for example as a graph or waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Bailey, Brian D. Howard
  • Patent number: 7707466
    Abstract: A memory device includes a latch component including a first input configured to receive a functional data bit associated with a functional operation, a second input configured to receive a memory test/repair data bit associated with a memory test operation, and a latch comprising a data input and a data output and select logic configured to selectively connect one of the first input or the second input to the data input of the latch based on a mode of operation of the memory device. A method includes operating a memory device in a first mode associated with a memory test operation and in a second mode associated with a functional operation. The method further includes storing a memory test/repair data bit at a latch component of the memory device in the first mode and storing a functional data bit at the latch component in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Gupta, Robert L. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20100045643
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing and/or analyzing the operations and logical states of an integrated circuit. The logical state of various flip-flops within the ASIC may be determined at a specified time. The embodiment may store these flip-flop states in a computer-readable data structure, such as a file or database. By repeating this process and incrementing or decrementing the time with each repetition, a more complete picture of the ASIC's operation may be captured. Additionally, the embodiment may graphically display the flip-flop states, for example as a graph or waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Bailey, Brian D. Howard
  • Patent number: 7634587
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that includes an I/O descriptor cache that is accessed by a bus mastering I/O controller. The I/O descriptor cache stores descriptors that describe data to be transferred during corresponding I/O operations. The system also includes an I/O controller configured to control one or more I/O devices. This I/O controller is configured to access I/O descriptors stored in the I/O descriptor cache without having to access the main memory, thereby conserving I/O bandwidth and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Ferguson, Robert L. Bailey, Brian D. Howard, Lesley B. Wynne
  • Patent number: 7577930
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing and/or analyzing the operations and logical states of an integrated circuit. The logical state of various flip-flops within the ASIC may be determined at a specified time. The embodiment may store these flip-flop states in a computer-readable data structure, such as a file or database. By repeating this process and incrementing or decrementing the time with each repetition, a more complete picture of the ASIC's operation may be captured. Additionally, the embodiment may graphically display the flip-flop states, for example as a graph or waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Bailey, Brian D. Howard
  • Publication number: 20090169977
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and responding to forces influencing batteries of electronic devices are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Sfarzo, Robert L. Bailey, Bradley L. Spare
  • Publication number: 20080209283
    Abstract: A memory device includes a latch component including a first input configured to receive a functional data bit associated with a functional operation, a second input configured to receive a memory test/repair data bit associated with a memory test operation, and a latch comprising a data input and a data output and select logic configured to selectively connect one of the first input or the second input to the data input of the latch based on a mode of operation of the memory device. A method includes operating a memory device in a first mode associated with a memory test operation and in a second mode associated with a functional operation. The method further includes storing a memory test/repair data bit at a latch component of the memory device in the first mode and storing a functional data bit at the latch component in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Ravi Gupta, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7337258
    Abstract: Devices are assigned to different buses at development time as well as dynamically during operation, based on actual performance. At development time, bus assignment can be determined based on experiments and direct observation of how devices behave in various configurations. At run time, load on each bus is preferably measured periodically, and when it is uneven, devices are reallocated to different buses. In an alternative embodiment, a user can specify a preference for using more or fewer buses in order to optimize operation for efficiency or lower power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L Bailey, Brian D Howard, Lesley B Wynne
  • Patent number: 6991134
    Abstract: The device to store, sift and measure flour has a container that is generally rectangular in cross section, and that is relatively tall in relation to its horizontal dimensions. A sifting mechanism divides the container roughly in half vertically, and a measuring mechanism is disposed just below the sifting mechanism. Flour is stored in the upper portion of the container, and sifted and measured flour is received into the lower portion of the container, preferably into a removable drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6654898
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus that provide stable clock generation within a functional integrated circuit are disclosed. The functional integrated circuit provides a function other than clock generation, such as a peripheral or interrupt control. Typically, the clock generation is phase-lock loop (PLL) based. The functional integrated circuit also typically provides power savings modes to conserve power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Bailey, Brian D. Howard, Michael F. Culbert
  • Patent number: 6449672
    Abstract: An arbiter arbitrates between PCI agents within an ASIC. The ASIC interfaces with an external PCI bus. In operation, the arbiter receives request signals from the PCI agents, and in response thereto, generates a single external request signal. Once the grant is received by the ASIC, the arbiter will route it to a selected PCI agent. The selected agent then gains access to the PCI bus and all other agents are locked out until the transaction is completed. The arbiter is implemented in such a way that there is a minium delay between the generation of the request by any agent and the request sent out by the ASIC. This is performed by ORing all requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. O'Connor, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5951669
    Abstract: A computer system in which interrupt signals are serially transmitted from an input/output (I/O) controller is disclosed. The I/O controller initially receives the interrupt signals and then serially transmits them to an interrupt controller where the received interrupt signals are managed. According to the invention, the sequencing by which the interrupt signals are serially transmitted is controlled such that it largely conforms to the sequencing by which the received interrupt signals are processed at the interrupt controller, thereby controlling and reducing latency. The interrupt controller can be a separate integrated circuit chip or integral to another integrated circuit chip of the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Bailey, Lesley A. Bird, James D. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5933154
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for interleaving display frame buffers for use by multi-panel display(s) is disclosed. The system provides a data addressing transformation apparatus for converting CPU addresses for pixel positions of the multiple panels of display screen(s) to corresponding memory addresses so as to enable multiple video frame buffers to be interleavably stored in and retrieved from a single video memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Howard, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5929868
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for interleaving display frame buffers is disclosed. The system includes a processor providing CPU addresses for peripheral (access, a display system, a single memory system for storing multiple frame buffers, data buses for transferring image information and a video controller for processing the image information received and for converting CPU addresses into memory addresses for accessing the memory system. The multiple frame buffers stored in the memory system in accordance with the present invention provide either overlay images for a display or separate images for separate displays or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Howard, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5854641
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for rotating images on a computer system is disclosed. The system includes a processor for accessing an image frame buffer using a set of CPU addresses, a memory for storing the frame buffer, a controller for directing the pixel data of the frame buffer to a display device using a set of controller addresses. The two sets of addresses are not necessarily the same. In fact, numerous advantages could be had from manipulating those two sets of addresses resulting in image rotation operations for the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Howard, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5815043
    Abstract: An improved ring oscillator in which frequency drift is controlled to provide reasonable accuracy is disclosed. The improved ring oscillator eliminates the frequency drift due processing variances. The ring oscillator provided by the invention incurs substantially less frequency drift than a conventional ring oscillator, but the frequency of the ring oscillator is still dependent on temperature and voltage changes. The improved ring oscillator according to the invention is particularly suited for operating as a localized oscillator that is used to facilitate periodic refreshing of DRAM within a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Wing Hong Chow, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5625386
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for interleaving display frame buffers is disclosed. The system includes a processor providing CPU addresses for peripheral access, a display system, a single memory system for storing multiple frame buffers, data buses for transferring image information and a video controller for processing the image information received and for converting CPU addresses into memory addresses for accessing the memory system. The multiple frame buffers stored in the memory system in accordance with the present invention provide either overlay images for a display or separate images for separate displays or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Howard, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5461649
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting the state of a state machine from an unstable clock signal. The apparatus of one embodiment includes a state register having an input and a first output which provides an output signal corresponding to the state of the state machine and a set or reset input coupled, through a logic circuit, to the first output. The logic circuit is coupled to receive a signal indicating the unstable state of the clock signal. The logic circuit is coupled to receive a signal indicating the unstable state of the clock signal. The logic circuit feeds back the output from the first output to the set or reset input to maintain the state in the state register while the clock signal is unstable. An embodiment of the method comprises storing a state in a state register, receiving a first signal indicating an unstable state of the clock signal and feeding back the output from the state register to the set or reset input while the first signal indicates the unstable clock exits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Apple Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Bailey, Mary B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5257350
    Abstract: A computer having a video circuit which is configured by a monitor identification signal is described. The self-configuring circuit permits connection to a variety of monitor types without the need for a separate video card or other dedicated circuitry compatible with the specific monitor type. The computer automatically senses the type of the monitor to which it is coupled, then configures its internal circuitry to provide compatible video signals to the monitor. The invented computer includes a central processing unit (CPU) for executing a program to provide video data for display on the monitor. The data is stored in the computer in a random-access memory (RAM). The monitor provides an identification signal to the video circuit which then provides both the appropriate video timing signals and the video data to the monitor for display thereon. The identification signal is used to configure the video circuitry in accordance with the requirements of the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Howard, Robert L. Bailey
  • Patent number: RE38471
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for rotating images on a computer system is disclosed. The system includes a processor for accessing an image frame buffer using a set of CPU addresses, a memory for storing the frame buffer, a controller for directing the pixel data of the frame buffer to a display device using a set of controller addresses. The two sets of addresses are not necessarily the same. In fact, numerous advantages could be had from manipulating those two sets of addresses resulting in image rotation operations for the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Howard, Robert L. Bailey