Exclusive Function (e.g., Exclusive Or, Etc.) Patents (Class 326/52)
  • Patent number: 7482713
    Abstract: A switch controller is described that permits a single AC load to be controlled by DC signals from multiple switches. In one example of the invention, a switch controller includes a switch-state evaluator that receives DC signals from two or more switches and a load controller, responsive to the switch-state evaluator, that controls an AC load. The switch controller changes the state of the load if there is a change in any one of the switches. The switch-state evaluator may be an Exclusive OR integrated circuit, which receives as inputs DC signals from user switches, and a Not OR integrated circuit, which receives as inputs the output signal from the Exclusive OR integrated circuit and DC signals from a disable switch and an override switch. The load controller may be an opto-isolator and a triac.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventor: Richard P. McDonough
  • Publication number: 20090015291
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a method of generating a chip enable signal thereof. The device includes a plurality of memory chips and an interface chip that are stacked. Each of the memory chips includes a control signal setting unit, which sets input signals applied to first and second input nodes as less significant 2-bit control signals of n-bit control signals, performs a logic AND operation on the less significant 2-bit control signals to generate AND operated signals, performs a logic XOR operation on each of the AND operated signals and each bit signal of more significant n?2-bit input signals applied to third to n-th input nodes to set the n?2-bit control signals, outputs the signal applied to the second input node through a first output node, inverts the signal applied to the first input node to output the inverted signal through a second output node, and outputs the more significant n?2-bit input signals through third through n-th output nodes, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Doo-Gon KIM, Youn-Cheul KIM
  • Publication number: 20080297197
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an exclusive-OR (XOR) calculation circuit configured to XOR a plurality of N input signals ranging from a first signal to an Nth signal is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Gil I. Winograd
  • Patent number: 7459936
    Abstract: A fast/slow state machine latch is provided that generates fast and slow select signals for a single toggle, low power multiplexer circuit. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the fast/slow state machine latch includes a first latch with a delayed output, a second latch with an undelayed output, an inverter for coupling the delayed output of the first latch to an input of the second latch, and an exclusive-OR (XOR) gate coupled to the delayed output of the first latch and a data input, an output of the XOR gate coupled to an input of the first latch. A method for incorporating low power multiplexer circuits into a circuit design with minimal input from a circuit designer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Bell, Wilson D. Skipwith, Sebastian T. Ventrone
  • Patent number: 7439770
    Abstract: MTJ cell based logic circuits and MTJ cell drivers having improved operating speeds compared to the conventional art, and operating methods thereof are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-wan Kim, Kee-won Kim, Hyung-soon Shin, Seung-jun Lee, In-jun Hwang, Young-jin Cho
  • Patent number: 7429872
    Abstract: A logic circuit combining an exclusive OR gate and an exclusive NOR gate is provided. The logic circuit includes an NMOS transistor, a PMOS transistor, and first and second inverters. The NMOS transistor has a source connected to a first input signal, a drain connected to a first output signal, and a gate connected to a second input signal. The PMOS transistor has a source connected to the first input signal, a drain connected to a second output signal, and a gate connected to the second input signal. The first inverter receives the first output signal and outputs the second output signal. The second inverter receives the second output signal and outputs the first output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Yeob Chae
  • Patent number: 7408482
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include data inversion circuits therein that are configured to evaluate at least first and second ordered groups of input data in parallel with an ordered group of output data previously generated by the data inversion circuit. The data inversion circuit is further configured to generate inverted versions of the first and second ordered groups of input data as versions of the first and second ordered groups of data in parallel at outputs thereof whenever a number of bit differences between the first ordered group of input data and the ordered group of output data is greater than one-half a size of the first ordered group of input data and a number of bit differences between the second ordered group of input data and the version of the first ordered group of input data is greater than one-half a size of the second ordered group of input data, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-sang Park, Jin-seok Kwak, Seong-jin Jang
  • Patent number: 7403043
    Abstract: A magnetic transistor circuit representing the data ‘1’ and ‘0’ of the binary system comprises a routing line and a magnetic transistor unit. The routing line has a current going through with a first current direction or a second current direction, wherein the first current direction and the second current direction are opposite to represent the data ‘1’ and the data ‘0’ respectively. The magnetic transistor unit couples to the routing line at an output end to control the direction of the current going through the routing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Northern Lights Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Tom Allen Agan, James Chyi Lai
  • Patent number: 7397277
    Abstract: A magnetic transistor circuit has a first and a second magnetic transistor. These two magnetic transistors that work as the ordinary transistors can be turned on or turned off by the control of several metal devices respectively disposed around the magnetic transistors. The EXOR logic function of the binary system can be implemented by the control of these metal devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Northern Lights Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Tom Allen Agan, James Chyi Lai
  • Publication number: 20080163013
    Abstract: Methods, circuits and systems are provided for testing random-access memory (RAM) devices. In one embodiment, one or more test vectors are written to a RAM device. Bit-signals are read from the RAM device one line at a time and are segregated into respective sub-pluralities. Each sub-plurality is tested to determine if there is logical value equality among all of the respective bit-signals. Test signals corresponding to each of the sub-plurality determinations are provided. The test signals are collectively evaluated and an overall equality or non-equality signal is derived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Robert James Landers, Vinay Burjinroppa Jayaram
  • Patent number: 7372296
    Abstract: The configurable logic device provides enhanced flexibility, scalability and area efficient implementation of arithmetic operation on (N?1) bit variables. The device includes a first configurable logic subsystem capable of generating logic OR output in response to functions of N?1 input variables in arithmetic mode, a second configurable logic subsystem capable of generating logic AND output in response to functions of N?1 input variables in arithmetic mode, and a configurable logic block connected at its first input to the output of the first configurable logic subsystem, connected at its second input to the output of the second configurable logic subsystem, connected at its third input to the Nth input variable, and connected at its fourth input to a carry/borrow signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Sicronic Remote KG, LLC
    Inventor: Vivek Kumar Sood
  • Patent number: 7312634
    Abstract: An exclusive-OR circuit may include a NAND gate configured to receive a plurality of input signals and a NOR gate configured to receive the plurality of input signals. The exclusive-OR circuit may also include a switch configured to couple an output signal of the NAND gate to an output node when an output signal of the NOR gate is “LOW”, and a pull-down circuit configured to pull down the output node when the output signal of the NOR gate is “HIGH”. An exclusive-NOR circuit may include a NAND gate configured to receive a plurality of input signals and a NOR gate configured to receive the plurality of input signals. The exclusive-NOR circuit may also include a switch configured to couple an output signal of the NOR gate to an output node when an output signal of the NAND gate is “HIGH”, and a pull-up circuit configured to pull up the output node when the output signal of the NAND gate is “LOW”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-chul Rhee
  • Patent number: 7279936
    Abstract: A logic basic cell, a logic basic cell arrangement, and a logic device. A logic basic cell is provided for forming a logic combination of two data signals in accordance with a logic function that can be selected by means of a plurality of logic selection elements, having four data signal inputs, to which two data signals and the logically complementary data signals thereof can be applied, and having six logic selection elements between the data signal inputs. At a data signal output, the logic combination of the two data signals in accordance with the logic function selected by means of the logic selection elements can be provided as output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jörg Gliese, Tim Schönauer
  • Patent number: 7242219
    Abstract: A circuit for a parity tree is disclosed. In one embodiment, a circuit for a parity tree includes a pull-up circuit, a pull-down circuit, and a cross-couple circuit. The circuit, an XOR/XNOR circuit, includes both an output node and an inverted output node. For a given set of input signals, a pull-up path exists through the cross-couple circuit for one of the output node and the inverted output node, and wherein a pull-down path exists through the cross-couple circuit for the other one of the output node and the inverted output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. Mahurin, Dimitry Patent
  • Patent number: 7231572
    Abstract: A circuit for parametric testing of an integrated circuit includes an integrated circuit having a plurality of input buffers and a plurality of XOR gates. The plurality of XOR gates have a first input that is connected to an output of one of the input buffers and having a second input that is connected to an output of a preceding XOR gate to form an XOR logic tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Iain R. Clark
  • Patent number: 7222202
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for monitoring a set of semaphore registers using a limited-width test bus. Each semaphore register represents a separate hardware resource. The bits in a semaphore register are monitored jointly to determine whether the hardware resource it represents is in use by a software thread. The bits in the same register bit location of all the semaphore registers are monitored jointly to determine the ID number of the software thread currently using the hardware resource. The limited-width test bus comprises of bit lines representing each semaphore registers and bit lines representing the contents of the semaphore registers. Semaphore protocol steps are used in addition to changes monitored by the limited-width test bus to determine current usage of each hardware resource and to identify the ID number of the software thread using a hardware resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jim Sweet
  • Patent number: 7218139
    Abstract: Efficient implementations of arithmetic functions in programmable ICs include carry chain multiplexers driven by dual-output programmable function generators. A function generator having two output signals is programmed to generate both an exclusive OR (XOR) function of first and second input signals and a second function. In some embodiments, the second function is simply the second input signal to the XOR function. In other embodiments, the second function is a different function optionally independent of the first and second input signals. The XOR function output drives the select terminal of a carry multiplexer, which selects between a carry in signal and one of the second input signal and the second function output signal to provide the carry out output signal. The sum or multiplier output value is provided by an XOR gate driven by the XOR function output and by the carry in signal, and can be optionally registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Young, Trevor J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 7187204
    Abstract: It is configured by plurality of NAND circuits connected in series through a plurality of inverters, and a plurality of NOR circuits connected in series through the plurality of inverters. Each of a plurality of source signal lines provided in a pixel portion is connected to one input terminal of a NAND circuit and a NOR circuit, and an output of an inspection is obtained from final lines of the NAND circuit and the NOR circuit connected in series. In this manner, an inspecting circuit which is capable of determining a defect simply and accurately by using a small-scale circuit, and a method thereof are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Tanada
  • Patent number: 7064583
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a circuit that preferentially grants requests. This circuit monitors at least two inputs for request signals and at least two inputs for enable signals, wherein each request signal is associated with a corresponding enable signal. If any enable signal is asserted and only one request signal is asserted, the circuit asserts a grant signal associated with the asserted request signal. Otherwise, if a single enable signal is asserted and multiple request signals are asserted, the circuit preferentially asserts the grant signal of the request signal associated with the asserted enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: SUN Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jo C. Ebergen, Ivan E. Sutherland, Bernard Tourancheau
  • Patent number: 6992506
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include data inversion circuits therein that are configured to evaluate at least first and second ordered groups of input data in parallel with an ordered group of output data previously generated by the data inversion circuit. The data inversion circuit is further configured to generate inverted versions of the first and second ordered groups of input data as versions of the first and second ordered groups of data in parallel at outputs thereof whenever a number of bit differences between the first ordered group of input data and the ordered group of output data is greater than one-half a size of the first ordered group of input data and a number of bit differences between the second ordered group of input data and the version of the first ordered group of input data is greater than one-half a size of the second ordered group of input data, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-sang Park, Jin-seok Kwak, Seong-jin Jang
  • Patent number: 6934308
    Abstract: A precoding-multiplexing circuit is formed by a precoding circuit for carrying out a precoding with respect to n sets of parallel input binary data signals having a bit rate equal to R/n, to obtain n sets of parallel precoded signals, and a time division multiplexer for time division multiplexing the parallel precoded signals obtained by the precoding circuit, in units of one bit, and outputting time division multiplexed output signal having a bit rate equal to R. In this configuration, the encoding is realized by processing electric signals before the time division multiplexing, so that it becomes possible for the preceding circuit to handle signals which are slower than the transmission rate, and therefore it becomes easier to realize the higher transmission rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushige Yonenaga, Mikio Yoneyama, Koichi Murata, Yutaka Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6822885
    Abstract: A high speed latch and compare function providing rapid cache comparison through the use of a dual rail comparison circuit having transmission gate exclusive or (XOR) circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Bunce, John D. Davis, Donald W. Plass
  • Patent number: 6819142
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a differential mode signal into a single ended signal with reduced power consumption. A preferred embodiment comprises a single ended converter (for example, a single ended converter 505) and an output transistor (for example, output transistor 524) that when the single ended converter 505 is in standby may pull the output of the single ended converter 505 to a known logic state (such as high logic or low logic). A single ended buffer (inverting or non-inverting) may be used for output signal compatibility conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Ag
    Inventors: Hans-Heinrich Viehmann, Stefan Lammers
  • Patent number: 6788106
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include data inversion circuits therein that are configured to evaluate at least first and second ordered groups of input data in parallel with an ordered group of output data previously generated by the data inversion circuit. The data inversion circuit is further configured to generate inverted versions of the first and second ordered groups of input data whenever a number of bit differences between the first ordered group of input data and the ordered group of output data is greater than one-half a size of the first ordered group of input data and a number of bit differences between the second ordered group of input data and the inverted version of the first ordered group of input data is greater than one-half a size of the second ordered group of input data, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-seok Kwak, Seong-jin Jang
  • Patent number: 6781412
    Abstract: Each binary carry logic circuit 20 of half adder circuits other than that for the least significant digit comprises a transfer gate 212 turned on when an input bit A2 is active and receiving a carry-in bit *C2 at its data input, and a transistor 23, turned on when the input bit A2 is inactive, connected between a power supply potential VDD and the data output of the transfer gate 212 a signal on which is a carry-out bit *C3. Transfer gates 212 to 214 of binary carry logic circuits other than that for the least significant digit are connected in chain, and are simultaneously on/off controlled by input bits A2 to A4, letting the carry-in bit *C2 from the least significant digit propagate through the transfer gate chain at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shuji Yoshida, Daisuke Miura, Toshio Arakawa, Mitsuaki Nagasaka, Kenji Yoshida, Hiroyuki Honda, Kenji Kobayashi, Masayuki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6772250
    Abstract: An improved data driver, method, and system for driving data with an improved slew rate and eye opening is provided. In one embodiment, the data driver includes a non-precompensating data driver and a precompensating data driver. The non-precompensating driver generates a non-precompensating output data pulse corresponding to input data. The non-precompensating data driver generates a pulse in response to every input data bit received. The precompensating driver generates the precompensating pulse only in response to a transition from one data state to a second data state between consecutive data bits. The precompensating data pulse is shorter in duration than the non-precompensating output data. The output data from the data drive is the sum of the non-precompensating output data pulse and the precompensating output data pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Dreps, Anand Haridass, Bao Gia-Harvey Truong
  • Patent number: 6765410
    Abstract: An exclusive OR (XOR) circuit is provided to perform a logical XOR function on multiple bits that eliminates the XOR function hazard. The XOR circuit performs a logical XOR function on data values that have been encoded to prevent the XOR function hazard from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meneghini
  • Publication number: 20040066213
    Abstract: Integrated circuit devices include data inversion circuits therein that are configured to evaluate at least first and second ordered groups of input data in parallel with an ordered group of output data previously generated by the data inversion circuit. The data inversion circuit is further configured to generate inverted versions of the first and second ordered groups of input data whenever a number of bit differences between the first ordered group of input data and the ordered group of output data is greater than one-half a size of the first ordered group of input data and a number of bit differences between the second ordered group of input data and the inverted version of the first ordered group of input data is greater than one-half a size of the second ordered group of input data, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Jin-seok Kwak, Seong-jin Jang
  • Patent number: 6700413
    Abstract: A symmetric current mode logic with symmetric input loads as well as identical input logic levels at the input terminals so as to prevent phase error due to level adjustment and to further avoid signal surges due to current steering by parallel switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Ming-Chung Chou
  • Patent number: 6686776
    Abstract: A coincidence determining circuit determines whether first and second digital data each consisting of a plurality of bits coincide with one another. The coincidence determining circuit includes a wiring and a plurality of bit comparison circuits corresponding in number to the bits. Each bit comparison circuit includes first and second transistors connected in series between the wiring and a power supply line and third and fourth transistors connected in series between the wiring and the power supply line. The first and second transistors receive a first logical signal of an associated bit of the first digital data and an inverted signal of a second logical signal of an associated bit of the second digital data. The third and fourth transistors receive an inverted signal of the first logical signal and the second logical signal. The four transistors of each bit comparison circuit suppress an increase in circuit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohji Sakata, Hirofumi Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20030117170
    Abstract: An exclusive OR (XOR) circuit is provided to perform a logical XOR function on multiple bits that eliminates the XOR function hazard. The XOR circuit performs a logical XOR function on data values that have been encoded to prevent the XOR function hazard from occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meneghini
  • Patent number: 6566912
    Abstract: A high speed phase detector utilizes an integrated XOR/MUX circuit having a higher bandwidth and lower power than conventional designs. The XOR/MUX circuit combines the functionality of an XOR device in series with a multiplexer in a manner that increases the bandwidth of the function. In a practical implementation, the XOR/MUX circuit includes an XOR arrangement having a plurality of transistors implemented at a first transistor level and a plurality of transistors implemented at a second transistor level. The XOR/MUX circuit also includes transistors implemented at a third transistor level; these transistors are utilized by the multiplexer feature of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Smetana
  • Patent number: 6469541
    Abstract: A digital circuit configured to receive three or more input signals and produce an output signal corresponding to either an XOR or XNOR of the input signals. In one embodiment of the invention, the circuit includes a first section connected in series with a second section to form a three-input XOR or XNOR gate. The first section is a two-input XOR or XNOR circuit having no more than eight transistors, including two transmission gate pairs. The second section is a two-input XOR or XNOR circuit having no more than six transistors, including one transmission gate pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Translogic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dzung Joseph Tran, Mark W. Acuff
  • Publication number: 20020067186
    Abstract: A digital circuit configured to receive three or more input signals and produce an output signal corresponding to either an XOR or XNOR of the input signals. In one embodiment of the invention, the circuit includes a first section connected in series with a second section to form a three-input XOR or XNOR gate. The first section is a two-input XOR or XNOR circuit having no more than eight transistors, including two transmission gate pairs. The second section is a two-input XOR or XNOR circuit having no more than six transistors, including one transmission gate pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Dzung Joseph Tran, Mark W. Acuff
  • Patent number: 6400257
    Abstract: A high performance CMOS comparator circuit is integrated with a bypass function allowing comparing first and second data sets (A & B) with a high data width (more than 30 and illustrated as 48 bits). In many cases, it is often required to compare not only sets A&B but also set A with an additional bypass set, and the preferred circuit embodiment permits this to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yuen H. Chan, Anuj Kohli, John R. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 6356112
    Abstract: A digital circuit configured to receive three or more input signals and produce an output signal corresponding to either an XOR or XNOR of the input signals. In one embodiment of the invention, the circuit includes a first section connected in series with a second section to form a three-input XOR or XNOR gate. The first section is a two-input XOR or XNOR circuit having no more than eight transistors, including two transmission gate pairs. The second section is a two-input XOR or XNOR circuit having no more than six transistors, including one transmission gate pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Translogic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dzung Joseph Tran, Mark W. Acuff
  • Publication number: 20020027447
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing worst-case power consumption. The apparatus includes a first signal that has signal transitions. A circuit path is provided for transmitting a second signal through buffered circuit sections. Logic circuitry is coupled to the circuit path and to the first signal. The logic circuitry uses the first signal to reduce a sum of signal transitions of the second signal as the second signal propagates from one buffered section of the circuit path to another buffered section of the circuit path in order to reduce worst-case power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Edward Hampel, Donald Victor Perino
  • Patent number: 6304104
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing worst-case power consumption. The apparatus includes a first signal that has signal transitions. A circuit path is provided for transmitting a second signal through buffered circuit sections. Logic circuitry is coupled to the circuit path and to the first signal. The logic circuitry uses the first signal to reduce a sum of signal transitions of the second signal as the second signal propagates from one buffered section of the circuit path to another buffered section of the circuit path in order to reduce worst-case power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Edward Hampel, Donald Victor Perino
  • Patent number: 6259274
    Abstract: A clock signal generator enables a clock signal having the same duty ratio as unchanged original duty ratio of original signal whose edge already had become dull to be generated in spite of simple constitution. A first and a second clock signals are outputted through open collector corresponding to respective “H” level and “L” level of an original clock signal. Only a trailing edge together with sharp change of speed of the clock signal is used. An output clock signal whose duty ratio is the same as that of the original clock signal is generated by obtaining exclusive OR of both of these clock signals, while implementing ½-times frequency division to the first and the second clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Endou, Katuhiko Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 6150836
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a programmable logic datapath that may be used in a field programmable device. According to one aspect of the invention, a programmable logic datapath is provided that includes a plurality of logic elements to perform various (Boolean) logic operations. The programmable logic datapath further includes circuitry to selectively route and select operand bits between the plurality of logic elements (operand bits is used hereinafter to refer to input bits, logic operation result bits, etc., that may be generated within the logic datapath). In one embodiment, by providing control bits concurrently with operand bits to routing and selection (e.g., multiplexing) circuitry, the programmable logic datapath of the invention can provide dynamic programmability to perform a number of logic operations on inputs of various lengths on a cycle-by-cycle basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Malleable Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Abbott
  • Patent number: 6057709
    Abstract: An integrated XNOR flip-flop is provided which is faster than conventional XNOR flip-flop combinations. The integrated XNOR flip-flop is faster and uses less area than conventional XNOR flip-flop combinations. The integrated circuit has few gates along the critical path and takes advantage of the set up times inherent in the flip-flop. Accordingly, the integrated XNOR flip-flop is able to perform the same function in an expedient manner. In one illustrative embodiment, a plurality of the integrated XNOR flip-flops are used to compare a tag of a cache memory with an address to determine whether the desired address is available in the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Hesley
  • Patent number: 6043686
    Abstract: In the design of an integrated circuit for comparing serial data signals, the number of transistor elements can be reduced by implementing the comparison gate (12) based on the associated truth table rather than by using a general comparison gate component. Using this method, an exclusive OR gate (22) can be implemented using two transistor elements (221, 222), an exclusive NOR gate (52) can be implemented using two transistor elements (521, 522), an AND gate (62) can be implemented using a single transistor element (621), and an OR gate (72) can be implemented using a single transistor element (721). The reduced number of elements used to implement the comparison gates can provide a transistor element saving in the associated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Masashi Hashimoto, Anjana Ghosh
  • Patent number: 5995420
    Abstract: An integrated XNOR flip-flop is provided which is faster than conventional XNOR flip-flop combinations. The integrated XNOR flip-flop is faster and uses less area than conventional XNOR flip-flop combinations. The integrated circuit has few gates along the critical path and takes advantage of the set up times inherent in the flip-flop. Accordingly, the integrated XNOR flip-flop is able to perform the same function in an expedient manner. In one illustrative embodiment, a plurality of the integrated XNOR flip-flops are used to compare a tag of a cache memory with an address to determine whether the desired address is available in the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Hesley
  • Patent number: 5986538
    Abstract: An N-bit comparator compares two numbers A and B each consisting of N bits to each other and includes: N one-bit comparing circuits for generating a second output of a first level and a first output of a second level which is complementary to the first level if a bit ai (0.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.N-1) of the number A is equal to a bit bi (0.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.N-1) of the number B, for generating the second output of the second level and the first output of the first level if bit ai is greater than bit bi, and for generating the first output of the second level and the second output of the second level if bit ai is less than bit bi; and a final comparing circuit for receiving the first and second outputs of the one-bit comparing circuits and for generating a final comparative result of the two numbers by a comparative result of lower places when upper places of the two numbers are equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-Joong Yoon
  • Patent number: 5973532
    Abstract: The circuit arrangement for generating two signals staggered in time from a clock signal and for measuring their time stagger receives at its input a clock signal, from which it generates an undelayed signal and a signal delayed relative to the undelayed signal. The generated signals appear at a first and second output of the circuit arrangement, respectively. A delay time measuring arrangement comprises a reversible inverter connected between the input of the circuit arrangement and the first output of the circuit arrangement and a NAND gate. The NAND gate receives at one input the delayed signal and at the other input the output signal of the inverter and furnishes an output signal from which the time stagger existing between the undelayed signal and the delayed signal can be precisely determined. The reversible inverter is switchable by a switching signal between a non-inverting condition in a working phase and an inverting condition in a measuring phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Hartmut Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5973507
    Abstract: An exclusive-OR circuit is for use in a delay device outputting a signal delayed from an input signal. The exclusive-OR circuit comprises an odd number of inverters, an even number of inverters, and a two-input selector. In the two-input selector, an inversion control signal for determining whether to invert a signal to be output, is input to one of input terminals via the odd number of inverters, and input to the other of the input terminals via the even number of inverters, and the input signal is supplied to a control terminal as a control signal for determining which of two signals input to the input terminals is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5966029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-bit exclusive-or (XOR) gates (60), including those where N parallel input bits (36, 38) are XORed with one data input bit (52). A modular approach is made using only one basic cell (30) for various implementations with different propagation delays. An N-bit XOR comprises basic cells (30) of adjacent first and second XOR gates (32, 34). Each first XOR gate (32) processes as input two of said N primary input bits (36, 38) and each second XOR gate (34) processes as input bits output bits of first or second XOR gates (32, 34) or the input data bit (52). This structure makes it possible to create an array of identical basic cells which is very suitable for VLSI implementation. There are few lines of connections between the different cells in the cell array which leads to substantial reduction in propagation delay without adding substantial wiring or layout complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Tarrab, Eytan Engel, Natan Baron, Dan Kuzmin
  • Patent number: 5951711
    Abstract: A Hamming distance calculation device (10) includes a bit comparator (12) for determining nonmatching bit positions between two digital words. A current signal is generated for each nonmatching bit position by a nonmatching current generator (14). The current signals created are combined to produce a summed current signal that drives a first reference current comparator (18), a second reference current comparator (20), and an nth reference current comparator (22). The first reference current comparator (18) compares the summed current signal with a reference current signal to produce an output and a select signal that determines a reference current signal used in the second reference current comparator (20). The second reference current comparator (20) compares the summed current signal with a reference current signal as selected by the first reference current comparator (18) and produces an output in response thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Shivaling S. Mahant-Shetti, Vivek G. Pawar
  • Patent number: 5831454
    Abstract: An emitter coupled logic gate (300) avoids the use of stacked transistors by utilizing a single-ended bias input and positive feedback (320) between first and second transistors (304, 306) to achieve an inverter function. The inverter (300) can also be configured as an OR gate (500) by adding a third transistor biased by second single-ended logic input. The OR gate (500) can be configured into an exclusive OR gate (901) by converting another set of single-ended bias inputs into what can be either differential or non-differential outputs (921, 923) to be used as inputs to OR gate (919).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Pierce V. Keating
  • Patent number: 5736868
    Abstract: An exclusive OR/NOR gate circuit which is capable of achieving a low power consumption, a reliable operation, and a fast operation speed, and of being operated irrespective of any kind of process and in accordance with any value of two input signals, that is, being full-swung at a low power, having no necessity of an inverter circuit for an input signal and an additional output circuit by using NOR/NAND gates, and consequently of being adapted to any field requiring a low power and a high efficiency operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hyoung-Gon Kim, Yong-Moo Kwon, Seung-Ho Oh