Patents Represented by Attorney James L. Clingan
  • Patent number: 8341372
    Abstract: A system has an emulation memory having a plurality of sectors for storing information. A controller calculates a number of addresses used divided by a number of valid records in a predetermined address range of the emulation memory. An amount of remaining addresses in a currently used space of the emulation memory which have not been used to store information is calculated. A determination is made whether the calculation is greater than a first predetermined number and whether the amount of remaining addresses is greater than a second predetermined number. If both the fraction is greater than the first predetermined number and the amount of remaining addresses is greater than the second predetermined number, any subsequent update requests are responded to using the currently used space of the emulation memory. Otherwise a compression of the emulation memory is required by copying valid data to an available sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross S. Scouller, Frank K. Baker, Jr., Venkatagiri Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 8318577
    Abstract: Forming a capacitor structure includes forming a first dielectric layer over a conductive region, wherein the first dielectric layer has a first conductive layer at a top surface of the first dielectric layer; forming a first opening in the first dielectric layer over the conductive region, wherein the first opening exposes a first sidewall of the first conductive layer; forming a second conductive layer within the first opening, wherein the second conductive layer contacts the first sidewall of the first conductive layer; removing a portion of the second conductive layer from the bottom of the first opening; forming an insulating layer within the first opening; removing a portion of the insulating layer from the bottom of the first opening; extending the first opening through the first dielectric layer to expose the conductive region; and filling the first opening with a conductive material, wherein the conductive material contacts the conductive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Hall, Mehul D. Shroff
  • Patent number: 8321170
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a transducer and transducer circuitry and additional elements useful in testing the transducer and transducer circuitry. A first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal are for being directly connected to an external power supply terminal. A power bus is connected to the first power supply terminal. A logic function is for determining if the second power supply terminal is receiving power and if an automatic calibration test of the transducer and transducer circuitry has been run. An automatic calibration is for running an automatic calibration test on the transducer and transducer circuitry if the logic means determines that the second power supply terminal is receiving power and the automatic calibration test of the transducer and transducer circuitry has not been run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter S. Schultz, Sung-Jin Jo
  • Patent number: 8318545
    Abstract: A method of making a mounted gallium nitride (GaN) device includes obtaining a device structure comprising a silicon layer, a silicon carbide (SiC) layer over the silicon layer, and a GaN layer over the SiC layer. The GaN layer is processed to form an active layer of active devices and interconnect over the GaN layer. After the step of processing the GaN layer, a gold layer is formed on the silicon layer. The device structure is attached to a heat sink structure using the gold layer. The mounted GaN device includes the SiC layer over the polysilicon layer and the GaN layer over the SiC layer. The active layer is over the GaN layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Abdo, Monte G. Miller, Lakshminarayan Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8318549
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is attached to a package substrate. The integrated circuit is electrically connected to the package substrate using a plurality of bond wires connected between a plurality of bond posts and a plurality of bond pads. A first plurality of the bond pads are along a first side of the integrated circuit and coupled to a first plurality of the bond posts with a first plurality of the bond wires. A second plurality of the bond pads are along a second side of the integrated circuit and coupled to a second plurality of the bond posts with a second plurality of the bond wires. Mold compound is injected through a plurality of openings in the package substrate. A first opening is between the first plurality of bond posts and the first side. A second opening is between the second plurality of bond posts and the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hess, Chu-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 8319550
    Abstract: A programmable-gain amplifier has a first input node coupled to receive a first input signal and a control input coupled to receive a gain select signal. The programmable-gain amplifier includes a differential amplifier having a first input and a first output and a plurality of capacitors. A first terminal of each of the plurality of capacitors is coupled to the first input of the differential amplifier, and a second terminal of each of the plurality of capacitors is coupled to the first input node during a sampling phase of the programmable-gain amplifier and selectively coupled to the first output of the differential amplifier, based on the gain select signal, during a gain phase of the programmable-gain amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ammisetti V. Prasad, James R. Feddeler
  • Patent number: 8310300
    Abstract: A charge pump includes a first counter and a pump stage. The first counter has a control input for receiving a control signal, and an output for providing a first count value. The first count value is incremented in response to the control signal being a first logic state and the first count value is decremented in response to the control signal being a second logic state. The pump stage has a variable capacitor. The variable capacitor has a control input coupled to the output of the first counter for receiving the first count value. The capacitance value of the variable capacitor is changed in response to the first count value changing. The capacitance value is for determining a ramp-up rate of an output voltage at an output of the charge pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Cook, Jeffrey C. Cunningham, Karthik Ramanan
  • Patent number: 8310877
    Abstract: A method and memory are provided for determining a read reference level for a plurality of non-volatile memory cells. The method includes: performing a program operation of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells; determining a program level of a least programmed memory cell of the plurality of memory cells; performing an erase operation of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells; determining an erase level of a least erased memory cell of the plurality of memory cells; determining an operating window between the program level and the erase level; and setting the read reference level to be a predetermined offset from the erase level if the operating window is determined to compare favorably to a predetermined value. The memory includes registers for storing the program level and the erase level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Cunningham, Thomas D. Cook, Stephen F. McGinty, Ronald J. Syzdek
  • Patent number: 8307714
    Abstract: A dual port pressure sensor has a lead frame having a flag having a first opening and a second opening. The lead frame has a flag having a first opening and a second opening. An encapsulant holds the lead frame. The encapsulant is over a top of the flag and a bottom of the flag is uncovered by the encapsulant. A first opening in the encapsulant is aligned with and larger than the first opening in the flag, and a second opening in the encapsulant is aligned with the second opening in the flag. A pressure sensor transducer is attached to the bottom of the flag and covers the first opening in the flag and provides an electrically detectable correlation to a pressure differential based on a first pressure received on its top side and a second pressure received on its bottom side. An integrated circuit is attached to the bottom of the flag and is electrically coupled to the pressure sensor. A lid forming an enclosure with the bottom of the flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Hooper, William G. McDonald
  • Patent number: 8294483
    Abstract: A testing system includes a tester probe and a plurality of integrated circuits. Tests are broadcast to the plurality of integrated circuits using carrierless ultra wideband (UWB) radio frequency (RF). All of the plurality of integrated circuits receive, at the same time, test input signals by way of carrierless UWB RF and all of the plurality of integrated circuits run tests and provide results based on the test input signals. Thus, the plurality of integrated circuits are tested simultaneously which significantly reduces test time. Also the tests are not inhibited by physical contact with the integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Lucio F. C. Pessoa, Perry H. Pelley, III
  • Patent number: 8291417
    Abstract: A method includes storing a first transaction entry to a first software configurable storage location, storing a second transaction entry to a second software configurable storage location, determining that a first transaction indicated by the first transaction entry has occurred, determining that a second transaction indicated by the second transaction entry has occurred subsequent to the first transaction, and, in response to determining that the first transaction occurred and the second transaction occurred, storing at least one transaction attribute captured during at least one clock cycle subsequent to the second transaction. The first and second software configurable storage locations may be located in a trace buffer, where the at least one transaction attribute is stored to the trace buffer and overwrites the first and second transaction attributes. Each transaction entry may include a dead cycle field, a consecutive transaction requirement field, and a last entry field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Xu, Jen-Tien Yen
  • Patent number: 8289773
    Abstract: A method for erasing a non-volatile memory includes: performing a first pre-erase program step on the non-volatile memory; determining that the non-volatile memory failed to program correctly during the first pre-erase program step; performing a first soft program step on the non-volatile memory in response to determining that the non-volatile memory failed to program correctly; determining that the non-volatile memory soft programmed correctly; performing a second pre-erase program step on the non-volatile memory in response to determining that the non-volatile memory soft programmed correctly during the first soft program step; and performing an erase step on the non-volatile memory. The method may be performed using a non-volatile memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Eguchi, Jon S. Choy, Richard K. Glaeser, Chen He, Peter J. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8284593
    Abstract: A multi-port memory is operated according to a method. Data is written, in a first mode, to a storage node of a memory cell from a first port through a first conductance. The first mode is characterized by a power supply voltage being applied at a power node at a first level. Data is written, in a second mode, to the storage node of the memory cell simultaneously from the first port through the first conductance and a second port through a second conductance. The second mode is characterized by the power supply voltage being applied at the power node at a second level different from the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Russell, Shayan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8264393
    Abstract: A converter (200) adapted to convert an analog input signal into a digital output signal includes an analog input terminal (205) for receiving the analog input signal, a Redundant Signed Digit (RSD) stage (210) coupled to the analog input terminal, and a digital section (220). The RSD stage is configured to receive the analog input signal at the analog input terminal, produce a first number of bits at a digital output from the analog input signal during a first half of a first clock cycle, provide a residual feedback signal of the analog input signal at the analog input terminal during a second half of the first clock cycle, and produce a second number of bits at the digital output from the residual feedback signal during a first half of a second clock cycle, the second number of bits less than the first number of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Garrity, Brandt Braswell, Mohammad Nizam U. Kabir
  • Patent number: 8264295
    Abstract: A switched varactor circuit for use at least one operating frequency comprises a first resistive element having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to receive a switching voltage; a hetero-junction bipolar transistor (HBT) having a base terminal, a first conducting terminal, and a second conducting terminal, wherein the base terminal of the HBT is coupled to a second terminal of the resistive element, and wherein the first conducting terminal is coupled to a first circuit node; and a first varactor having an anode coupled to the second conductive terminal of the HBT and a cathode coupled to a second circuit node, and wherein a capacitance value at the first circuit node is a function of the switching voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Vishal P. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 8263463
    Abstract: A split gate nonvolatile memory cell on a semiconductor layer is made by forming a gate dielectric over the semiconductor layer. A first layer of gate material is deposited over the gate dielectric. The first layer of gate material is etched to remove a portion of the first layer of gate material over a first portion of the semiconductor layer and to leave a select gate portion having a sidewall adjacent to the first portion. A treatment is applied over the semiconductor layer to reduce a relative oxide growth rate of the sidewall to the first portion. Oxide is grown on the sidewall to form a first oxide on the sidewall and on the first portion to form a second oxide on the first portion after the applying the treatment. A charge storage layer is formed over the first oxide and along the second oxide. A control gate is formed over the second oxide and adjacent to the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Taeg Kang, Brian A. Winstead
  • Patent number: 8259427
    Abstract: A power transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a first power supply terminal and a second current electrode as an output of the circuit. A driver control circuit is coupled between a first and a second internal power supply node and is coupled to a control electrode of the power transistor. A first switch selectively couples the first power supply terminal to the first internal power supply node. A second power supply terminal is coupled to the second internal power supply node. A diode has an anode coupled to the second internal power supply node. A second switch is coupled between the diode and the output of the circuit such that, when the circuit is in active mode, it selectively couples the cathode of the diode to the output of the circuit based on whether or not the second power supply terminal is coupled to an external ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Thierry Sicard
  • Patent number: 8250319
    Abstract: An emulated electrically erasable memory system includes a random access memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory (NVM). A write access to the RAM is received which provides first write data and a first address, where the first write data is stored in the RAM at the first address, and a currently filling sector of the NVM is updated to store both the first write data and the first address as a first record. In response to the write access, based on whether there are any remaining active records in an oldest filled sector of the NVM, a portion of an erase process or a transfer of up to a predetermined number of active records from the oldest filled sector to the currently filling sector is performed. The predetermined number of active records is less than a maximum number of total records that may be stored within the oldest filled sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross S. Scouller, Daniel L. Andre, Stephen F. McGinty
  • Patent number: 8247869
    Abstract: A transistor including a source region, drain region, channel region, drift region, isolation region, a first gate structure over the channel region, and a second gate structure over the isolation region is provided. The drift region includes a first portion located under the isolation region and a second portion located laterally adjacent to the isolation region. The first gate structure is separated by a first separation space from the second gate structure. The first separation space is located over a portion of the second portion of the drift region and a portion of the isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongning Yang, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8242564
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure having a transistor region and an optical device region includes a transistor in a first semiconductor layer of the semiconductor structure, wherein the first semiconductor layer is over a first insulating layer, the first insulating layer is over a second semiconductor layer, and the second semiconductor layer is over a second insulating layer. A gate dielectric of the transistor is in physical contact with a top surface of the first semiconductor layer, and the transistor is formed in the transistor region of the semiconductor structure. A waveguide device in the optical device region and a third semiconductor layer over a portion of the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Spencer, Jill C. Hildreth, Robert E. Jones