Patents Assigned to NanoPower Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6333656
    Abstract: Techniques for providing improved memory flip-flops and other logic circuits are described. A flip-flop uses only one p-channel transistor to drive the output node strongly to achieve fast results. To reduce diffusion area, parallel logic is substantially eliminated and only series branches are used, in critical areas. This allows all pull-up transistors and/or all pull-down transistors to be formed from contiguous active areas. The D-to-Q path is reduced, and the clock is used to control the output. The clock becomes the dominant controller of the output when it is located closest to the output. Placing the clock devices closest to the clocked nodes reduces clock skew. The rising D response time and falling D response time are caused to be as close as possible to reduce the overall cycle time. To reduce parasitics in the circuit, complex-gates are used which are asymmetric. Even multiples of series branches per gate are used to share contacts and eliminate breaks in the layout diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: NanoPower Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Schober
  • Patent number: 6252448
    Abstract: Techniques for providing improved memory flip-flops and other logic circuits are described. A flip-flop uses only one p-channel transistor to drive the output node strongly to achieve fast results. To reduce diffusion area, parallel logic is substantially eliminated and only series branches are used, in critical areas. This allows all pull-up transistors and/or all pull-down transistors to be formed from contiguous active areas. The D-to-Q path is reduced, and the clock is used to control the output. The clock becomes the dominant controller of the output when it is located closest to the output. Placing the clock devices closest to the clocked nodes reduces clock skew. The rising D response time and falling D response time are caused to be as close as possible to reduce the overall cycle time. To reduce parasitics in the circuit, complex-gates are used which are asymmetric. Even multiples of series branches per gate are used to share contacts and eliminate breaks in the layout diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: NanoPower Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Schober
  • Patent number: 6222422
    Abstract: A method of generating a symmetrical output signal with a 50% duty cycle. The symmetrical output signal is generated without the need for the input signal to be at twice the frequency of the output signal. By utilizing the differential output of a circuit and cross-coupling this to the inputs of comparators a series of outputs are obtained. These outputs are then used to control a latch device by utilizing only a single edge. Because only a single edge is used to control the low to high and high to low transition, the delay is a fixed constant and the resulting output is a symmetrical output signal with a 50% duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: NanoPower Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ion E. Opris
  • Patent number: 6198324
    Abstract: Techniques for providing improved memory flip-flops and other logic circuits are described. A flip-flop uses only one p-channel transistor to drive the output node strongly to achieve fast results. To reduce diffusion area, parallel logic is substantially eliminated and only series branches are used, in critical areas. This allows all pull-up transistors and/or all pull-down transistors to be formed from contiguous active areas. The D-to-Q path is reduced, and the clock is used to control the output. The clock becomes the dominant controller of the output when it is located closest to the output. Placing the clock devices closest to the clocked nodes reduces clock skew. The rising D response time and falling D response time are caused to be as close as possible to reduce the overall cycle time. To reduce parasitics in the circuit, complex-gates are used which are asymmetric. Even multiples of series branches per gate are used to share contacts and eliminate breaks in the layout diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: NanoPower Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Schober