Patents Assigned to Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.
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Patent number: 8495543Abstract: Techniques are described for generating asynchronous circuits (e.g., in the form of one or more netlists) for implementation, e.g., in integrated circuitry/chips. Embodiments are directed to asynchronous multi-level domino design template and several variants including a mixture of domino and single-rail data logic. The templates can provide high throughput, low latency, and area efficiency. A multi-level domino template is partitioned into pipeline stages in which each stage consists of potentially multiple-levels of domino logic controlled by a single controller that communicates with other controllers via handshaking. Each stage is composed of two parts: a data path and a control path. The data path implements the computational logic, both combinational and sequential using efficient dual-rail domino logic. The control path implements a unique four-phase handshake to ensure correctness and the preservation of logical dependencies between pipeline stages.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignees: University of Southern California, Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Georgios Dimou, Peter A. Beerel, Andrew Lines
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Patent number: 8448105Abstract: Techniques are described for generating asynchronous circuits from any arbitrary HDL representation of a synchronous circuit by automatically clustering the synthesized gates into pipeline stages that are then slack-matched to meet performance goals while minimizing area. Automatic pipelining can be provided in which the throughput of the overall design is not limited to the clock frequency or the level of pipelining in the original RTL specification. The techniques are applicable to many asynchronous design styles. A model and infrastructure can be designed that guides clustering to avoid the introduction of deadlocks and achieve a target circuit performance. Slack matching models can be used to take advantage of fanout optimizations of buffer trees that improve the quality of the results.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignees: University of Southern California, Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Georgios Dimou, Peter A. Beerel, Andrew Lines
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Publication number: 20120230182Abstract: Global ports are supported in multi-switch systems having arbitrary topologies. In some implementations, global ports are implemented in a manner which makes the switch system robust in the face of link failure. In specific Ethernet implementations, global ports enable flooding, learning, forwarding, and link aggregation across the switch system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Robert Southworth, Uri Cummings, Zhi-Hern Loh
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Patent number: 8098574Abstract: Global ports are supported in multi-switch systems having arbitrary topologies. In some implementations, global ports are implemented in a manner which makes the switch system robust in the face of link failure. In specific Ethernet implementations, global ports enable flooding, learning, forwarding, and link aggregation across the switch system.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert Southworth, Uri Cummings, Zhi-Hern Loh
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Patent number: 8086975Abstract: Techniques are described for converting netlists for synchronous circuits such as combinational modules, flip flops (or latches), and clock gating modules, to netlist of asynchronous modules. Processes including algorithms are described that bundle multiple modules in an enable domain, so that they are activated only if the incoming enable token to the enable domain has the UPDATE value. The modules can be clustered inside an enable domain, so that each cluster has a separate controller. The objective function of bundling and clustering can minimize power consumption with respect to a given cycle time. Exemplary embodiments can include a gated multilevel domino template.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignees: University of Southern California, Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Ken Shiring, Peter A. Beerel, Andrew Lines, Arash Saifhashemi
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Patent number: 8051396Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for optimizing a circuit design. A gate level circuit description corresponding to the circuit design is generated. The gate level circuit description includes a plurality of pipelines across a plurality of levels. Using a linear programming technique, a minimal number of buffers is added to selected ones of the pipelines such that a performance constraint is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Peter Beerel, Andrew Lines, Michael Davies
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Publication number: 20110164496Abstract: A shared memory switch and switch fabric architecture are described which employ partitions of the shared memory to implement multiple, independent virtual congestion domains, thereby allowing congestion to be handled for different classes of traffic independently.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Zhi-Hern Loh, Michael Davies, Uri Cummings
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Publication number: 20110080916Abstract: Highly configurable frame processing pipelines are enabled in packet switches in an efficient manner which satisfies stringent area and power requirements. Frame processing pipelines are described that enable dynamic processing of different types of frames on a per frame basis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Michael Davies, Robert Southworth
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Patent number: 7916718Abstract: A shared memory switch and switch fabric architecture are described which employ partitions of the shared memory to implement multiple, independent virtual congestion domains, thereby allowing congestion to be handled for different classes of traffic independently.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Zhi-Hern Loh, Michael Davies, Uri Cummings
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Publication number: 20110029941Abstract: Techniques are described for generating asynchronous circuits (e.g., in the form of one or more netlists) for implementation, e.g., in integrated circuitry/chips. Embodiments are directed to asynchronous multi-level domino design template and several variants including a mixture of domino and single-rail data logic. The templates can provide high throughput, low latency, and area efficiency. A multi-level domino template is partitioned into pipeline stages in which each stage consists of potentially multiple-levels of domino logic controlled by a single controller that communicates with other controllers via handshaking. Each stage is composed of two parts: a data path and a control path. The data path implements the computational logic, both combinational and sequential using efficient dual-rail domino logic. The control path implements a unique four-phase handshake to ensure correctness and the preservation of logical dependencies between pipeline stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Georgios Dimou, Peter A. Beerel, Andrew Lines
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Publication number: 20100325370Abstract: A shared memory is described having a plurality of receive ports and a plurality of transmit ports characterized by a first data rate. A memory includes a plurality of memory banks organized in rows and columns. Operation of the memory array is characterized by a second data rate. Non-blocking receive crossbar circuitry is operable to connect any of the receive ports with any of the memory banks. Non-blocking transmit crossbar circuitry is operable to connect any of the memory banks with any of the transmit ports. Buffering is operable to decouple operation of the receive and transmit ports at the first data rate from operation of the memory array at the second data rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Uri Cummings, Andrew Lines, Patrick Pelletier, Robert Southworth
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Patent number: 7821925Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for assigning data units to a plurality of groups. A key is generated for each of the data units such that the keys corresponding to associated ones of the data units are identical. An initial hash value is generated for each of the keys. A number of techniques are described for then deterministically scrambling the initial hash values such that small bit changes in the keys will typically produce stochastically large changes in the final hash values. The data units are mapped to specific ones of the groups with reference to the scrambled hash values.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: Michael Davies
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Patent number: 7814280Abstract: A shared memory is described having a plurality of receive ports and a plurality of transmit ports characterized by a first data rate. A memory includes a plurality of memory banks organized in rows and columns. Operation of the memory array is characterized by a second data rate. Non-blocking receive crossbar circuitry is operable to connect any of the receive ports with any of the memory banks. Non-blocking transmit crossbar circuitry is operable to connect any of the memory banks with any of the transmit ports. Buffering is operable to decouple operation of the receive and transmit ports at the first data rate from operation of the memory array at the second data rate. Scheduling circuitry is operable to control interaction of the ports, crossbar circuitry, and memory array to effect storage and retrieval of the data segments in the shared memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Fulcrum Microsystems Inc.Inventors: Uri Cummings, Andrew Lines, Patrick Pelletier, Robert Southworth
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Publication number: 20100161892Abstract: A memory is described which includes a main memory array made up of multiple single-ported memory banks connected by parallel read and write buses, and a sideband memory equivalent to a single dual-ported memory bank. Control logic and tags state facilitates a pattern of access to the main memory and the sideband memory such that the memory performs like a fully provisioned dual-ported memory capable of reading and writing any two arbitrary addresses on the same cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Dama, Andrew Lines
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Patent number: 7698535Abstract: An asynchronous circuit is described for processing units of data having a program order associated therewith. The circuit includes an N-way-issue resource comprising N parallel pipelines. Each pipeline is operable to transmit a subset of the units of data in a first-in-first-out manner. The asynchronous circuit is operable to sequentially control transmission of the units of data in the pipelines such that the program order is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Lines, Robert Southworth, Uri Cummings
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Publication number: 20090310616Abstract: Techniques are described for optimizing broadcast and collect primitives in switch fabrics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Uri Cummings, Zhi-Hern Loh
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Publication number: 20090288059Abstract: Techniques are described for generating asynchronous circuits from any arbitrary HDL representation of a synchronous circuit by automatically clustering the synthesized gates into pipeline stages that are then slack-matched to meet performance goals while minimizing area. Automatic pipelining can be provided in which the throughput of the overall design is not limited to the clock frequency or the level of pipelining in the original RTL specification. The techniques are applicable to many asynchronous design styles. A model and infrastructure can be designed that guides clustering to avoid the introduction of deadlocks and achieve a target circuit performance. Slack matching models can be used to take advantage of fanout optimizations of buffer trees that improve the quality of the results.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Georgios Dimou, Peter A. Beerel, Andrew Lines
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Patent number: 7584449Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for optimizing a circuit design. A gate level circuit description corresponding to the circuit design is generated. The gate level circuit description includes a plurality of pipelines across a plurality of levels. Using a linear programming technique, a minimal number of buffers is added to selected ones of the pipelines such that a performance constraint is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2005Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Fulcrum Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Peter Beerel, Andrew Lines, Michael Davies
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Publication number: 20090217232Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for optimizing a circuit design. A gate level circuit description corresponding to the circuit design is generated. The gate level circuit description includes a plurality of pipelines across a plurality of levels. Using a linear programming technique, a minimal number of buffers is added to selected ones of the pipelines such that a performance constraint is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2009Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Peter Beerel, Andrew Lines, Michael Davies
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Publication number: 20080259798Abstract: A shared memory switch and switch fabric architecture are described which employ partitions of the shared memory to implement multiple, independent virtual congestion domains, thereby allowing congestion to be handled for different classes of traffic independently.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: FULCRUM MICROSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Zhi-Hern Loh, Michael Davies, Uri Cummings