Patents Represented by Attorney Michael Wallace
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Method and apparatus for a process, voltage, and temperature variation tolerant semiconductor device
Patent number: 8222954Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce the degradation in performance of semiconductor-based devices due to process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) and/or other causes of variation. Adaptive feedback mechanisms are employed to sense and correct performance degradation, while simultaneously facilitating configurability within integrated circuits (ICs) such as programmable logic devices (PLDs). A voltage-feedback mechanism is employed to detect PVT variation and mirrored current references are adaptively adjusted to track and substantially eliminate the PVT variation. More than one voltage-feedback mechanism may instead be utilized to detect PVT-based variations within a differential device, whereby a first voltage-feedback mechanism is utilized to detect common-mode voltage variation and a second voltage-feedback mechanism produces mirrored reference currents to substantially remove the common-mode voltage variation and facilitate symmetrical operation of the differential device.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.Inventors: Guo Jun Ren, Qi Zhang, Ketan Sodha -
Patent number: 7414430Abstract: A clock distribution network having: a backbone clock signal line configured to provide a differential clock signal; multiple branches coupled to the backbone clock signal line for distributing the differential clock signal to multiple programmable function elements; a first leaf node coupled to a first branch, where the first leaf node is configured to provide the differential clock signal to a first programmable function element; and a second leaf node coupled to a second branch, where the second leaf node is configured to provide a single ended clock signal derived from the differential clock signal to a second programmable function element.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.Inventors: Vasisht Mantra Vadi, Steven P. Young, Atul V. Ghia, Adebabay M. Bekele, Suresh M. Menon
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Patent number: 7379517Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that allow exploitation of the common mode characteristics of a differential transmission network to provide an additional data signal. Signal (MODE) represents either a binary signal or a multi-valued signal to allow signaling of one or more bits of information. The signaling occurs through the variation of the common mode voltage in transmitters (300 and 400) and is detected using differential receiver (600). One embodiment is presented that achieves signaling of an extended run length data sequence to allow continued transmitter/receiver synchronization throughout the transmission of the sequence. In an alternate embodiment, a separate data path is provided to signal the extended run length sequence when a common mode signaling path is not available.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2003Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Xilinx, IncInventor: William C. Black
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Patent number: 7331731Abstract: An oral care toothbrush includes a head mounted to one end of the handle containing a plurality of oral care elements. An oral care accessory is mounted to the opposite end of the handle. An oral care material dispenser is mounted in the head within the cleaning field defined by the oral care elements. The toothbrush is preferably made of small size and of lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, James Kemp, Alan V. Sorrentino, Thomas Mintel
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Patent number: 7324661Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of intra-oral analysis for measuring plaque removal is disclosed. The system includes hardware for real-time image acquisition and software to store the acquired images on a patient-by-patient basis. The system implements algorithms to segment teeth of interest from surrounding gum, and uses a real-time image-based morphing procedure to automatically overlay a grid onto each segmented tooth. Pattern recognition methods are used to classify plaque from surrounding gum and enamel, while ignoring glare effects due to the reflection of camera light and ambient light from enamel regions. The system integrates these components into a single software suite with an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to do an end-to-end run of a patient record, including tooth segmentation of all teeth, grid morphing of each segmented tooth, and plaque classification of each tooth image.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: James Herbert Kemp, Ashit Talukder, James Lambert, Raymond Lam
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Patent number: 7298168Abstract: A method and apparatus to reduce the probability of programmable logic device (PLD) failure due to single event upset (SEU) of configuration memory. A first portion of configuration memory cells are initially programmed with configuration data, leaving a second portion of configuration memory cells that are un-programmed. The programmed and un-programmed configuration memory cells are grouped into voting groups, where each un-programmed configuration memory cell of each voting group is programmed with the identical configuration data as contained within the originally programmed configuration memory cell of each voting group. The logic values of each configuration memory cell of each voting group are monitored by voting circuits, which enforce a triple modular redundancy (TMR) validation policy. The logical validation results are then applied to control points to mitigate PLD configuration memory errors caused by anomalous events such as neutron induced SEUs.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2007Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.Inventor: Glenn C. Steiner
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Patent number: 7284711Abstract: There is an air freshener unit and a combined container and air freshener unit. The air freshener unit is mounted onto the upper portion of the container and is comprised of a first section and a second section. In one embodiment the first section is a holder for a fragrance material and the second section is a cover for the first section. The second section in a first position covers and substantially seals the first section and in a second position allows air to pass through a space between the first section and the second section and deliver the fragrance material to the atmosphere exterior to the air freshener unit. In a second embodiment both the first section and the second section contain fragrance material.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: Kenneth A. Reed, John C. Crawford, Barbara Thomas
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Patent number: 7273327Abstract: An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a releasable material (e.g., an oral medicament) and a tissue cleanser for cleaning the soft tissues and removing odor-causing bacteria from the mouth. In one arrangement, the releasable material is disposed on the surface of the tissue cleanser. In one arrangement, the releasable material is disposed behind the tissue cleanser. In one arrangement, the releasable material is incorporated in the composition of the tissue cleanser.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Chi Shing Wong
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Patent number: 7269872Abstract: A toothbrush head containing a first oscillating or rotating bristle bearing section in combination with a static bristle bearing section fixedly mounted to said head, wherein there are at least two bristles located on said static section which are oriented at different angles to the face thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: Joseph Edward Fattori, John J. Gatzemeyer, Gerardus W. H. Janssen
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Patent number: D552695Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Jeffrey Mayers
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Patent number: D552995Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2007Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Kiat-Cheong Toh
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Patent number: D553502Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2007Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Kiat-Cheong Toh
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Patent number: D553503Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2007Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Kiat-Cheong Toh
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Patent number: D553993Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Kiat-Cheong Toh
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Patent number: D554515Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Kiat-Cheong Toh
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Patent number: D555477Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Jeffrey A. Mayers
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Patent number: D555828Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: Joseph T. Norris, John C. Crawford
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Patent number: D556453Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2006Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: Al A. Sprosta, Wen Jin Xi, Tau Dai
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Patent number: D557504Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
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Patent number: D557505Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein