Patents by Inventor W. Bradley Vest

W. Bradley Vest 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).

  • Programmable control circuit for grounding unused outputs
    Patent number: 6363505
    Abstract: A circuit for programmably grounding (or coupling to the positive rail) unused outputs to improve noise immunity of the circuit. The circuit of the present invention achieves, for example, programmable grounding of an output via already existing test signal paths, without introducing delays in speed critical output signal paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: W. Bradley Vest, Krishna Rangasayee
  • Reducing I/O noise when leaving programming mode
    Patent number: 6242941
    Abstract: An integrated circuit contains circuitry to operate in such a fashion to reduce output noise when switching output circuits from a programming mode to a user mode. In an implementation, the integrated circuit (125) is configurable in the programming mode with user configuration data. In the user mode, the integrated circuit will operate with the functionality as defined by the user during the programming mode. When switching from the programming mode to the user mode, each output (210) of the integrated circuit will switch to its user mode value. In order to minimize switching noise, the outputs are released to their user mode values not all at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: W. Bradley Vest, Mark W. Fiester, Myron W. Wong, John C. Costello, Robert R. N. Bielby, Krishna Rangasayee