Including Ring Counter Patents (Class 377/46)
  • Patent number: 11289062
    Abstract: Methods and digital circuits provide frequency correction to frequency synthesizers. Dual switched-capacitor voltage detectors connected to an input signal periodically sample the voltage of the input signal, and then determine a fundamental frequency of the input signal from the output of the dual switched-capacitor voltage detectors. The sample period of the dual switched-capacitor voltage detectors is proportional to a time period between a previous pair of voltage peaks detected in the input signal, thereby eliminating harmonic components in the original signal which might otherwise cause errors in frequency estimation without causing unwanted sluggishness in the transient response of the frequency detection process. The time period between the previous pair of detected voltage peaks is used to create a decay signal that initiates a capacitor decay time for each voltage detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SECOND SOUND, LLC
    Inventor: Brian James Kaczynski
  • Publication number: 20130114782
    Abstract: A display panel drive device includes: a ring counter circuit that includes a first ring counter having a plurality of flipflops connected in cascade, configured to operate in synchronization with a first clock signal with a first-stage one of the plurality of flipflops being set by an initial signal, and outputs signals using outputs of the plurality of flipflops; a shift register having a plurality of flipflops connected in cascade, configured to operate in synchronization with a second clock signal lower in frequency than the first clock signal with a first-stage one of the plurality of flipflops being set by the initial signal; and an output section configured to perform a logical operation between one of outputs of the ring counter circuit and one of outputs of the shift register, to generate a scanning line drive signal for a display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: PANASONIC CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130077734
    Abstract: A technique includes driving a node of a stage of a ring counter to a predetermined signal state; and clocking the ring counter to cause the signal state to propagate to at least one additional stage of the ring counter to initialize the ring counter with a reset sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Tufan Karalar, David Huitse Shen
  • Patent number: 7735031
    Abstract: A system that includes a controller for enabling an enumeration operation. The enumeration operation is performed by a controller (110) and logic elements (120) in a system, such that each logic element in the system assigns itself a unique identifier. Each logic element can then be controlled by another source or have a means to communicate with other logic elements in the system. The unique identifier enables greater system flexibility, thereby reducing cost and improving efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie Hornbeck Chickanosky, Kevin William Gorman, Emory D. Keller, Michael Richard Ouellette
  • Publication number: 20080069292
    Abstract: Described is a compact, lower power gated ring oscillator time-to-digital converter that achieves first order noise shaping of quantization noise using a digital implementation. The gated ring oscillator time-to-digital converter includes a plurality of delay stages configured to enable propagation of a transitioning signal through the delay stages during an enabled state and configured to inhibit propagation of the transitioning signal through the delay stages during a disabled state. Delay stages are interconnected to allow sustained transitions to propagate through the delay stages during the enabled state and to preserve a state of the gated ring oscillator time-to-digital converter during the disabled state. The state represents a time resolution that is finer than the delay of at least one of the delay stages. A measurement module determines the number of transitions of the delay stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Matthew Straayer, Michael Perrott
  • Patent number: 7003067
    Abstract: Described are fast synchronous counters with reduced combinatorial logic. In one embodiment, a four-bit shift register is configured in a ring and preset with a data pattern (e.g., 1000). The register is then rapidly shifted into any of four unique states. Combinatorial logic connected to the shift register converts the four unique states into a two-bit binary signal representative of the four states. In the general case, counters in accordance with this embodiment represent N-bit binary numbers using 2N synchronous storage elements. Two or more counters can be combined to produce larger synchronous counters. An up/down counter in accordance with yet another embodiment is connected to a multi-path delay line to create a variable delay circuit. The switching speed of the delay circuit is independent of the number of delay settings. Also advantageous, the delay circuit scales linearly, in terms of power consumption and area, with changes in delay granularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Ahmed Younis
  • Patent number: 6950490
    Abstract: A fault state detector for a ring counter is formed from unit current sources each switched under the control of a different one of the outputs of the ring counter. The currents switched in that manner are passed through a unit resistance to generate a voltage signal proportional to the number of asserted outputs from the ring counter. The voltage signal is compared to boundary reference values for valid states of the ring counter outputs and, if the voltage signal is not between the boundary reference values, a fault state is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yongseon Koh, Jitendra Mohan
  • Patent number: 6826249
    Abstract: Described are fast synchronous counters with reduced combinatorial logic. In one embodiment, a four-bit shift register is configured in a ring and preset with a data pattern (e.g., 1000). The register is then rapidly shifted into any of four unique states. Combinatorial logic connected to the shift register converts the four unique states into a two-bit binary signal representative of the four states. In the general case, counters in accordance with this embodiment represent N-bit binary numbers using 2N synchronous storage elements. Two or more counters can be combined to produce larger synchronous counters. An up/down counter in accordance with yet another embodiment is connected to a multi-path delay line to create a variable delay circuit. The switching speed of the delay circuit is independent of the number of delay settings. Also advantageous, the delay circuit scales linearly, in terms of power consumption and area, with changes in delay granularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Ahmed Younis
  • Patent number: 6826250
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating a divided clock signal. A ring counter is provided with a sequence of output states. During steady-state operation, a different one of the output states is set at a first logical level and each of the remaining output states is set at a second logical level at each successive clock transition in a master clock signal. A gate network uses the respective logical levels of the output states to generate the divided clock signal. An error detection circuit outputs an error detection signal when a number of the output states at the first logical level is other than one, and proceeds to synchronously reset the ring counter when the error condition is detected. A programmable processor further asynchronously resets the ring counter in response to the error detection signal, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Mark H. Groo
  • Patent number: 6795000
    Abstract: A counter circuit is provided which is particularly suitable for controlling cyclical events. The counter consists of a chain of logic elements 160, 167, 164 which sequentially pass a ‘1’ along the chain in response to a clock signal. Each element is also responsive to a respective select signal and, if selected, behaves like a latch, whereas if unselected it behaves as if it were not there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek John Hummerston, Nicola Mary O'Byrne, Michael A. Byrne
  • Patent number: 6661864
    Abstract: A counter circuit includes a plurality of flip flop circuits (FF circuits) sequentially connected for receiving a common clock signal, and two-input logic gates each having an input connected to an output of a corresponding FF circuit and the other input connected to an output of a common FF circuit, and of which output signal is supplied to an FF circuit positioned at the post stage of the corresponding FF circuit. A booby trap is realized by the two-input logic gates. The value input to each of the FF circuits is determined by logical operation of at most two logical values, so that the counter circuit can be adapted to the increasing frequency of a clock signal CLK. Thus, the counter circuit with the booby trap, capable of performing high-speed operation can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Ishiwaki
  • Patent number: 6134291
    Abstract: A droplet emitter with an array of droplet emitting devices constructed such that one flowing liquid is used to create the droplets while a second low acoustic impedance liquid can be used to both make the transfer of acoustic energy to the first liquid more efficient and help maintain a uniform temperature of the droplet emitter array. Both the emission fluid and the low acoustic impedance fluid can be circulated through the droplet emitter to allow for excess heat generated by control electronics to be transferred to the flowing. This prevents for instance excess heat build up within the droplet emitter and allows for higher more accurate droplet emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joy Roy, Babur B. Hadimioglu
  • Patent number: 5526390
    Abstract: A decoded counter employing a shift register and a zero-detect circuit has the ability of returning to a correct state within a limited number of clock cycles if an invalid state is accidentally assumed by the counter. One of the flip-flops is provided with synchronous set while all the other flip-flops of the shift register are provided with synchronous reset. The output of the last flip-flop of the register drives a single set-reset line common to all the flip-flops and the pull-up line of the zero-detect circuit is connected to the input of the first flip-flop of the register. Optionally, one of the flip-flops may be provided with asynchronous set and the others with an asynchronous reset, for initializing the counter in a certain state through a single clear-load line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giona Fucili
  • Patent number: 5373542
    Abstract: A programmable counter composed of D-type flipflops receives a clock pulse having a constant frequency and is configured to generate a count pulse when a count value reaches a programmed number. A ring counter composed of D-type flipflops receives the count pulse from the programmable counter. A coincidence detection and control circuit detects a predetermined count value of the ring counter, and modifies the programmed maximum count number of the programmable counter, so that the maximum count value of the programmable counter can be selected from either an ordinary maximum count number or the predetermined maximum count number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shigemi Sunouchi
  • Patent number: 4914616
    Abstract: As the incrementer of the invention comprises a shift register for its lower order bits, while its higher bit portions are constructed in the same way as a conventional incrementer, the incrementer can give output signals directly to a memory and the like without the necessity of decoding the same, and the incrementer is free from carry propagation delay possibilities, which assures an improved rate of operation of the incrementer as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taketora Shiraishi, Yukihiko Shimazu
  • Patent number: 4727481
    Abstract: An addressing device for a memory, such as a dynamic memory ROM or RAM, addressable by address words at a predetermined clock-period rate. Each address word is made up of first and second address words composed of least significant and most significant bits of the address word respectively. The first and second address words are multiplexed. The device comprises an adding circuit for incrementing the first address words in terms of a predetermined digital signal carrying words that are synchronous with the first address words and for incrementing the second address word in each address word by unity whenever the first word of the address word has bits all equal to "1", and a shift circuit looped across the adding circuit in order to deliver the first and second multiplexed address words to the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme de Telecommunications
    Inventors: Gerard Aguille, Jean-Claude R. Jolivet
  • Patent number: 4641102
    Abstract: A random number generator (RNG) uses an edge-triggered D-type flip-flop with a high frequency square wave having an approximately 50 percent duty cycle connected to a data input terminal and a low frequency square wave connected to a clock input terminal, a five-state counter, five two-input AND gates, five exclusive-OR gates, and five shift registers. An essentially truly random number is generated at the RNG output terminals. Probability biases due to both variations in the 50 percent duty cycle of the data waveform and small amounts of cycle-to-cycle jitter of the clock waveform are effectively removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Coulthart, Robert C. Fairfield, Robert L. Mortenson
  • Patent number: 4535465
    Abstract: A digital clock generator circuit including a series of inverters connected in cascade with the output of the final stage connected to the input of the first stage in a ring counter fashion. Each inverter includes a first circuit to precharge a node, a second circuit to discharge a node upon occurrence of a selected input signal and a third circuit connected to isolate the node from the circuitry output during the precharge interval. The output of the counter is the output of the final stage. The inverter circuits allow for a low power digital counter by allowing a P-MOS or N-MOS fabrication of devices that do not require continuous power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Jerald G. Leach
  • Patent number: 4472818
    Abstract: A data separator for providing data and clock information derived from a floppy disk to a controller includes a synthetic oscillator phase-locked loop which adjusts the phase of the derived clock, thereby to tend to position data inputs within the central portion of their associated half-bit slots. The center frequency of the synthetic oscillator may be modified in accordance with prior phase adjustments to compensate for variations in the speed of the floppy disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Zapisek, John F. Tweedy, Jr., Gus Giulekas
  • Patent number: 4427970
    Abstract: A sequence of or controls pulse-transfer stages supplies or controls pulses between a start limit and a stop limit in the sequence. The device whose position is to be encoded selects and controls a responsive means in a limiting stage. Each stage has a pulse-control device responsive to the selector or in itself incorporates the selector-responsive pulse-control function, being arranged to serve in different embodiments as a start limit or as a stop limit. In one example, the start limit is the initial stage of the sequence and the selected stage is the stop limit. In an alternative, the selected stage is the start limit and a pulse-transfer stage at or near the end of the sequence is the stop limit. An encoding counter counts pulses between the start and stop limits. The pulse-control devices have a prescribed physical arrangement, which is a circle in the case of a shaft position encoder, so that the counter provides a code that represents the position of a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Unimation, Inc.
    Inventor: George C. Devol
  • Patent number: 4403334
    Abstract: A monolithically integrable semiconductor circuit having an input section into which respective electrical signals which are to be evaluated and which have been provided by groups of binary pulses are serially feedable, includes a clock-controlled shift register in the input section, the shift register being operable by shift pulses from the controlling clock thereof. The shift register has a plurality of register cells corresponding in number at least to the number of binary digits of the groups of binary pulses. The semiconductor circuit also includes a logic circuit, at least two of the register cells having an output operatively connected to the logic circuit for controlling the logic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Rosler, Reinhard Gafert
  • Patent number: 4390780
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a timing circuit for a digital display, which circuit includes a series of counters, each having four stages such that each counter will drive the next stage only when it has progressed from zero to seven. By reading out the state of each stage of the respective counters, selected counts can be decoded from only two of the respective stage readouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Ming Wu, Gregory E. Gaertner