Patents Assigned to Kepler Computing Inc.
  • Patent number: 11289607
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to ferroelectric materials and semiconductor devices, and more particularly to semiconductor memory devices incorporating doped polar materials. In one aspect, a semiconductor device comprises a capacitor, which in turn comprises a polar layer comprising a crystalline base polar material doped with a dopant. The base polar material includes one or more metal elements and one or both of oxygen or nitrogen, wherein the dopant comprises a metal element that is different from the one or more metal elements and is present at a concentration such that a ferroelectric switching voltage of the capacitor is different from that of the capacitor having the base polar material without being doped with the dopant by more than about 100 mV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Ramamoorthy, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Gaurav Thareja
  • Patent number: 11283453
    Abstract: An adder with first and second majority gates is provided. For a 1-bit adder, output from a 3-input majority gate is inverted and input two times to a 5-input majority gate. Other inputs to the 5-input majority gate are same as those of the 3-input majority gate. The output of the 5-input majority gate is a sum while the output of the 3-input majority gate is the carry. Multiple 1-bit adders are concatenated to form an N-bit adder. The input signals are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors while the second terminals are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a non-linear polar capacitor. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate. A reset mechanism initializes the non-linear polar capacitor before addition function is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Robert Menezes, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Patent number: 11277137
    Abstract: A new class of logic gates are presented that use non-linear polar material. The logic gates include multi-input majority gates. Input signals in the form of digital signals are driven to non-linear input capacitors on their respective first terminals. The second terminals of the non-linear input capacitors are coupled a summing node which provides a majority function of the inputs. The majority node is then coupled driver circuitry which can be any suitable logic gate such as a buffer, inverter, NAND gate, NOR gate, etc. In the multi-input majority or minority gates, the non-linear charge response from the non-linear input capacitors results in output voltages close to or at rail-to-rail voltage levels. Bringing the majority output close to rail-to-rail voltage eliminates the high leakage problem faced from majority gates formed using linear input capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rafael Rios, Neal Reynolds, Ikenna Odinaka, Robert Menezes, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Patent number: 11171115
    Abstract: Described is a packaging technology to improve performance of an AI processing system. An IC package is provided which comprises: a substrate; a first die on the substrate, and a second die stacked over the first die. The first die includes memory and the second die includes computational logic. The first die comprises a ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) having bit-cells. Each bit-cell comprises an access transistor and a capacitor including ferroelectric material. The access transistor is coupled to the ferroelectric material. The FeRAM can be FeDRAM or FeSRAM. The memory of the first die may store input data and weight factors. The computational logic of the second die is coupled to the memory of the first die. The second die is an inference die that applies fixed weights for a trained model to an input data to generate an output. In one example, the second die is a training die that enables learning of the weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Amrita Mathuriya, Ramamoorthy Ramesh
  • Patent number: 11164976
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to ferroelectric materials and semiconductor devices, and more particularly to semiconductor memory devices incorporating doped polar materials. In one aspect, a semiconductor device comprises a capacitor which in turn comprises a polar layer comprising a base polar material doped with a dopant. The base polar material includes one or more metal elements and one or both of oxygen or nitrogen. The dopant comprises a metal element that is different from the one or more metal elements and is present at a concentration such that a ferroelectric switching voltage of the capacitor is different from that of the capacitor having the base polar material without being doped with the dopant by more than about 100 mV. The capacitor stack additionally comprises first and second crystalline conductive oxide electrodes on opposing sides of the polar layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Ramamoorthy, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Gaurav Thareja
  • Patent number: 11165430
    Abstract: A low power sequential circuit (e.g., latch) uses a non-linear polar capacitor to retain charge with fewer transistors than traditional CMOS sequential circuits. The sequential circuit includes a 3-input majority gate having first, second, and third inputs, and a first output. The sequential circuit includes a driver coupled to the first output, wherein the driver is to generate a second output. The sequential circuit further includes an exclusive-OR (XOR) gate to receive a clock and the second output, wherein the XOR gate is to generate a third output which couples to the second input, where the first input is to receive a data, and wherein the third input is to receive the second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Robert Menezes, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Patent number: 11152343
    Abstract: Described is a packaging technology to improve performance of an AI processing system. An IC package is provided which comprises: a substrate; a first die on the substrate, and a second die stacked over the first die. The first die includes memory and the second die includes computational logic. The first die comprises DRAM having bit-cells. The memory of the first die may store input data and weight factors. The computational logic of the second die is coupled to the memory of the first die. In one example, the second die is an inference die that applies fixed weights for a trained model to an input data to generate an output. In one example, the second die is a training die that enables learning of the weights. Ultra high-bandwidth is changed by placing the first die below the second die. The two dies are wafer-to-wafer bonded or coupled via micro-bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Amrita Mathuriya, Debo Olaosebikan
  • Patent number: 11139270
    Abstract: Described is a packaging technology to improve performance of an AI processing system. An IC package is provided which comprises: a substrate; a first die on the substrate, and a second die stacked over the first die. The first die includes memory and the second die includes computational logic. The first die comprises a ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) having bit-cells. Each bit-cell comprises an access transistor and a capacitor including ferroelectric material. The access transistor is coupled to the ferroelectric material. The FeRAM can be FeDRAM or FeSRAM. The memory of the first die may store input data and weight factors. The computational logic of the second die is coupled to the memory of the first die. The second die is an inference die that applies fixed weights for a trained model to an input data to generate an output. In one example, the second die is a training die that enables learning of the weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Amrita Mathuriya, Ramamoorthy Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20210226636
    Abstract: An adder with first and second majority gates. For a 1-bit adder, output from a 3-input majority gate is inverted and input two times to a 5-input majority gate. Other inputs to the 5-input majority gate are same as those of the 3-input majority gate. The output of the 5-input majority gate is a sum while the output of the 3-input majority gate is the carry. Multiple 1-bit adders are concatenated to form an N-bit adder. The input signals are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors while the second terminals are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a non-linear polar capacitor. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate. A reset mechanism initializes the non-linear polar capacitor before addition function is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Robert Menezes, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Guarav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Publication number: 20210202689
    Abstract: Ferroelectric capacitor is formed by conformably depositing a non-conductive dielectric over the etched first and second electrodes, and forming a metal cap or helmet over a selective part of the non-conductive dielectric, wherein the metal cap conforms to portions of sidewalls of the non-conductive dielectric. The metal cap is formed by applying physical vapor deposition at a grazing angle to selectively deposit a metal mask over the selective part of the non-conductive dielectric. The metal cap can also be formed by applying ion implantation with tuned etch rate. The method further includes isotopically etching the metal cap and the non-conductive dielectric such that non-conductive dielectric remains on sidewalls of the first and second electrodes but not on the third and fourth electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Thareja, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Publication number: 20210203326
    Abstract: An adder uses with first and second majority gates. For a 1-bit adder, output from a 3-input majority gate is inverted and input two times to a 5-input majority gate. Other inputs to the 5-input majority gate are the same as those of the 3-input majority gate. The output of the 5-input majority gate is a sum while the output of the 3-input majority gate is the carry. Multiple 1-bit adders are concatenated to form an N-bit adder. The input signals to the majority gates can be analog, digital, or a combination of them, which are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors. The second terminals of the non-ferroelectric capacitors are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a non-linear polar capacitor. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Robert Menezes, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Publication number: 20210202510
    Abstract: Approaches for integrating FE memory arrays into a processor, and the resulting structures are described. Simultaneous integrations of regions with ferroelectric (FE) cells and regions with standard interconnects are also described. FE cells include FE capacitors that include a FE stack of layers, which is encapsulated with a protection material. The protection material protects the FE stack of layers as structures for regular logic are fabricated in the same die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Thareja, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Publication number: 20210203324
    Abstract: An adder with first and second majority gates is provided. For a 1-bit adder, output from a 3-input majority gate is inverted and input two times to a 5-input majority gate. Other inputs to the 5-input majority gate are same as those of the 3-input majority gate. The output of the 5-input majority gate is a sum while the output of the 3-input majority gate is the carry. Multiple 1-bit adders are concatenated to form an N-bit adder. The input signals are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors while the second terminals are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a non-linear polar capacitor. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate. A reset mechanism initializes the non-linear polar capacitor before addition function is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Robert Menezes, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Publication number: 20210203325
    Abstract: A new class of logic gates are presented that use non-linear polar material. The logic gates include multi-input majority gates and threshold gates. Input signals in the form of analog, digital, or combination of them are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors. The second terminals of the non-ferroelectric capacitors are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a capacitor comprising non-linear polar material. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate, which can be driven by any suitable logic gate such as a buffer, inverter, NAND gate, NOR gate, etc. Any suitable logic or analog circuit can drive the output and inputs of the majority logic gate. As such, the majority gate of various embodiments can be combined with existing transistor technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Robert Menezes, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Publication number: 20210202690
    Abstract: Ferroelectric capacitor is formed by conformably depositing a non-conductive dielectric over the etched first and second electrodes, and forming a metal cap or helmet over a selective part of the non-conductive dielectric, wherein the metal cap conforms to portions of sidewalls of the non-conductive dielectric. The metal cap is formed by applying physical vapor deposition at a grazing angle to selectively deposit a metal mask over the selective part of the non-conductive dielectric. The metal cap can also be formed by applying ion implantation with tuned etch rate. The method further includes isotopically etching the metal cap and the non-conductive dielectric such that non-conductive dielectric remains on sidewalls of the first and second electrodes but not on the third and fourth electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Thareja, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Publication number: 20210202507
    Abstract: The memory bit-cell formed using the ferroelectric capacitor results in a taller and narrower bit-cell compared to traditional memory bit-cells. As such, more bit-cells can be packed in a die resulting in a higher density memory that can operate at lower voltages than traditional memories while providing the much sought after non-volatility behavior. The pillar capacitor includes a plug that assists in fabricating a narrow pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Thareja, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Patent number: 11025254
    Abstract: A new class of logic gates are presented that use non-linear polar material. The logic gates include multi-input majority gates and threshold gates. Input signals in the form of analog, digital, or combination of them are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors. The second terminals of the non-ferroelectric capacitors are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a capacitor comprising non-linear polar material. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate, which can be driven by any suitable logic gate such as a buffer, inverter, NAND gate, NOR gate, etc. Any suitable logic or analog circuit can drive the output and inputs of the majority logic gate. As such, the majority gate of various embodiments can be combined with existing transistor technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Robert Menezes, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Patent number: 11018672
    Abstract: A new class of logic gates are presented that use non-linear polar material. The logic gates include multi-input majority gates and threshold gates. Input signals in the form of analog, digital, or combination of them are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors. The second terminals of the non-ferroelectric capacitors are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a capacitor comprising non-linear polar material. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate, which can be driven by any suitable logic gate such as a buffer, inverter, NAND gate, NOR gate, etc. Any suitable logic or analog circuit can drive the output and inputs of the majority logic gate. As such, the majority gate of various embodiments can be combined with existing transistor technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Robert Menezes, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Patent number: 11012076
    Abstract: A new class of logic gates are presented that use non-linear polar material. The logic gates include multi-input majority gates and threshold gates. Input signals in the form of analog, digital, or combination of them are driven to first terminals of non-ferroelectric capacitors. The second terminals of the non-ferroelectric capacitors are coupled to form a majority node. Majority function of the input signals occurs on this node. The majority node is then coupled to a first terminal of a capacitor comprising non-linear polar material. The second terminal of the capacitor provides the output of the logic gate, which can be driven by any suitable logic gate such as a buffer, inverter, NAND gate, NOR gate, etc. Any suitable logic or analog circuit can drive the output and inputs of the majority logic gate. As such, the majority gate of various embodiments can be combined with existing transistor technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Robert Menezes, Yuan-Sheng Fang, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Gaurav Thareja, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Amrita Mathuriya
  • Patent number: 10998025
    Abstract: Described is a low power, high-density non-volatile differential memory bit-cell. The transistors of the differential memory bit-cell can be planar or non-planer and can be fabricated in the frontend or backend of a die. A bit-cell of the non-volatile differential memory bit-cell comprises first transistor first non-volatile structure that are controlled to store data of a first value. Another bit-cell of the non-volatile differential memory bit-cell comprises second transistor and second non-volatile structure that are controlled to store data of a second value, wherein the first value is an inverse of the second value. The first and second volatile structures comprise ferroelectric material (e.g., perovskite, hexagonal ferroelectric, improper ferroelectric).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kepler Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Ramamoorthy Ramesh