Patents Assigned to ZiLOG, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6642112
    Abstract: Non-oxidizing spacer densification method for producing semiconductor devices, such as MOSFET devices, and that may be implemented during semiconductor fabrication with little or substantially no polycide adhesion loss experienced during spacer densification. The method may be implemented to provide good polycide adhesion characteristics with reduced process complexity over conventional methods by eliminating the need for additional process steps such as metal silicide encapsulation or polysilicon surface treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett D. Lowe, John A. Smythe, Timothy K. Carns
  • Patent number: 6643760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a memory architecture allowing for instructions of variable length to be stored without wasted memory spaces. Instructions of one, two, and three bytes can all be retrieved in a single fetch. The exemplary embodiment divides the memory block into two ×16 memories having some special addressing circuitry. This structure logically arranges the memory into a number of rows, each of four byte-wide columns. To the first of these ×16 memories, the full address is provided. If the address is within the two columns of the second ×16 memory, the full address is also provided to the second ×16 memory. If the address is to the first of the ×16 memories, the second ×16 memory instead receives the portion of the address specifying the row with one added to it. This results in a dual row access with the last one or two bytes of 3-byte instruction being supplied by the row above the first byte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLog, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Troutman, Russell B. Lloyd, Randal Q. Thornley
  • Patent number: 6636122
    Abstract: A filter using analog to digital conversion, digital filtering and oversampling noise reshaping is disclosed. Application of such a filter to a frequency locked oscillator is disclosed. Application of such a filter to an oscillator having a capability to synchronize with an external stimulus is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoliy V. Tsyrganovich
  • Publication number: 20030128988
    Abstract: An Improved Infrared Signal Communication System and Method Including Transmission Means Having Automatic Gain Control is disclosed. Also disclosed is system and method that adjusts signal transmission power in response to incident signal power amplitude. The preferred system includes a control signal loop within the signal receiving system, and the system further includes a signal transmitting system that is responsive to the control signal loop. The preferred system includes manual, semi-automatic and automatic modes of operation. Still further, the preferred method includes at least two Ir-enabled appliances “stepping” each other “down” in transmit power in response to directives issued by the other Ir-enabled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: T. Allan Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6590682
    Abstract: An Improved Infrared Signal Communication System and Method Including Transmission Means Having Automatic Gain Control is disclosed. Also disclosed is system and method that adjusts signal transmission power in response to incident signal power amplitude. The preferred system includes a control signal loop within the signal receiving system, and the system further includes a signal transmitting system that is responsive to the control signal loop. The preferred system includes manual, semi-automatic and automatic modes of operation. Still further, the preferred method includes at least two Ir-enabled appliances “stepping” each other “down” in transmit power in response to directives issued by the other Ir-enabled appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: T Allan Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6576405
    Abstract: A photolithographic method for manufacturing a CMOS semiconductor device having retrograde twin well with high aspect ratio (of thickness of the photoresist to width of the mask line or thickness of the resulting structure to its own width) is disclosed. The method is applicable for high energy implantation or other processes requiring thick photoresists with high aspect ratios, with one embodiment comprising the following: (a) forming a thick film of positive photoresist on a silicon substrate (b) prebaking (softbaking) the thick film using non-typical conditions (c) exposing the thick film using UV light (d) post exposure baking (PEB) the thick film using non-typical conditions (e) developing the exposed, thick film (f) stabilizing the thick film using non-typical conditions According to this method, a thick film of photoresist with high aspect ratios can be accurately and advantageously formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Buffat, Jean L. Adams
  • Patent number: 6573141
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for improving the quality of thin oxides formed upon a semiconductor body. The etch and pre-clean processes are performed in situ, taking place in a single apparatus. This reduces the amount of handling of the wafers, their exposure to clean room air, and time delays between clean and oxidation. This results in both a higher yield and greater reliability. In addition, it reduces equipment requirements. The etch, employing a buffered oxide etchant, resist strip, and pre-clean, all occur in a single apparatus without transfer, yielding better results, despite the inherently dirty nature of the resist strip, than the traditional technique of transferring to a new apparatus for each of these steps. The improvements are particularly important for thin oxides such as the tunnel oxides of EEPROMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernice L. Kickel, John A. Smythe, III
  • Patent number: 6574682
    Abstract: The present invention provides for data flow enhancement in processor architectures having one or more caches by allowing DMA-type transfers to and from these caches. Specific examples allow such direct transfers between a peripheral logic device and the cache memory, or between either the main memory or a special memory and the cache memory. This is done by the processor reserving a portion of cache for the direct transfer, which is then carried out by a DMA-type controller. While this transfer is occurring, the processor is able to carry out other tasks and access the unreserved portion of cache in the normal manner. In the preferred embodiment, the transfer is performed by a cycle stealing technique. Once the transfer is complete, the reserved portion of the cache may be accessed by the processor. The size of the reservable portion may either be fixed or dynamically determined by the operating system based on factors such as task flow management and data transfer rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen H. Chan
  • Patent number: 6564334
    Abstract: A memory mapped programmable output generator, capable of producing events such as creating complex waveforms, triggering analog to digital and digital to analog conversions, and generating processor interrupts is disclosed. These events are considered high speed since they are timed relative to a high-speed clock and require minimal processor over head. The event generator may be embodied as either a peripheral to a microcontroller or as a separate circuit. In its preferred embodiment, the output generator is a peripheral device on a microcontroller and uses a dedicated programmable, reloadable timer which is inaccessible to other blocks. Events are loaded in a serial format, where only one event is active at a given time. These events are sequenced through address pointers associated with each event. Once a given event is completed, the output generator loads the next event from a next address pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis G. Zattiero, David L. Durlin, Gyle D. Yearsley
  • Patent number: 6529248
    Abstract: A method and/or apparatus is capable of performing high accuracy digital level restoration with a high degree of noise immunity provided by a passive clamping stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoliy V. Tsyrganovich
  • Patent number: 6522091
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a technique that allows the amplitudes of vertical correction signal components to be adjusted independently. When the amplitude of each of the vertical correction signal components are set, they will not have to be readjusted when the amplitudes of the other vertical correction signal components are set. This greatly simplifies the process of setting the amplitudes of the vertical correction signal components, saving time and increasing the accuracy of the settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoliy V. Tsyrganovich
  • Patent number: 6502181
    Abstract: A controller for executing instructions has one the order of five addressing modes and can allow executing of processes concurrently in multiple modes. A specific embodiment can effectively run legacy code written for the Z80 micoprocessor without requiring recompiling of code. An optional embodiment includes autonomous Multiply/Accumulator Engine (MAC) optimized to perform sum-of-products (SOP) operations with little controller overhead, making the invention capable of more effectively handling a number of processing tasks, particularly tasks related to digital signal processing (DSP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig MacKenna, Gyle Yearsley
  • Patent number: 6449075
    Abstract: A Method and System for Enabling Wireless Data Communications with Electronic Devices having Disparate Operating Systems is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system that compares the Infrared or RF communications configuration of an electronic appliance to a target profile, and then uploads the target configuration profile to the appliance, if necessary. The preferred device and system perform a functional testing on the wireless communications system of the electronic appliance, including the transceiver hardware and all device drivers and software stacks. Furthermore, the device of the present invention is able to adopt the target configuration from an electronic appliance by downloading it from one or more appliances. Still further, the device of the present invention is able to communicate with two or more electronic appliances simultaneously. The device and system of the present invention are operable independent of the BIOS of the electronic appliance(s) to be configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Watson, T. Allan Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6436195
    Abstract: Deposited dielectric layers for a semiconductor device are typically formed in a chemical vapor deposition. Often a hydrogen by-product is formed. Especially in a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, the hydrogen by-product can form free radicals that are introduced into the dielectric layers. The hydrogen free radicals can affect the stability of the threshold and breakdown voltage of MOSFET transistors. Deuterium introduced into the CVD chamber competes to enter the dielectric layer with the hydrogen. The deuterium prevents some of the hydrogen free radicals from entering the dielectric layer and thus increases MOSFET reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: ZiLOG, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Smythe, John E. Berg
  • Patent number: 6424384
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a signal uses a low pass filtering in a first direction to produce a signal with a low component and a alias component and then uses a filtering in a second direction to produce a component of a separated signal. The filter has applications in television signal decoding and has other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoliy V. Tsyrganovich
  • Patent number: 6407779
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel universal remote control system. Specifically, the remote control system according to the present invention provides the following features: bidirectional communications between the remote control and at least one of the audio/video devices; dual communication mode; automatic communication mode selection; loading and processing electronic program guide in the remote control; soft graphical user interface in the remote control; expanding the television set functions by the remote control; calibration handshake between the remote control and the audio/video device; updating the remote control; lost beacon signal in the remote control; handwriting recognition mechanism, and voice recognition mechanism in the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: William S. Herz
  • Patent number: 6359425
    Abstract: A circuit for regulating a current provided by a power supply to drive a load in response to an input signal, is provided. The circuit contains a current source that has a specified current value and is coupled to the power supply. In addition, the circuit also comprises a controller that generates a reference voltage and is coupled to the current source. Furthermore, the circuit also includes a comparator that compares the reference voltage and a voltage at a node. To this node, controller is coupled. In addition, the load is coupled between the node and the power supply. In response to the input signal, the controller regulates the current to drive the load. This current has a first current-value that is proportional to the specified current value of the current source when the voltage at the node is greater than the reference voltage and a second current value that is based on the power supply when the voltage at the node is less than the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Mihai C. Manolescu
  • Patent number: 6349122
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for synchronizing and tracking an input data stream and for generating a synchronous clock therefrom, comprising means for generating a plurality of clock signals oscillating at substantially the same frequency, but with different phases; a plurality of delay lines having a common data input for receiving said input data stream, each delay line having multiple delay elements connected in series and having a common clock input for receiving one of said clock signals for clocking data of said data stream along said delay line in a direction away from said common data input; means for detecting which of said plurality of delay lines said data from said data stream is propagating therein; and means for generating the synchronous clock based on one of said clock signals that clocks the delay line that data from said data stream is propagating therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert R. Woodman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6339368
    Abstract: A circuit for automatically driving a mechanical device at its resonance frequency is provided. To do so, the circuit detects non-resonance driving conditions of the mechanical device being coupled to and driven by such circuit. Based on such detection, the circuit generates a signal to drive the device at its resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Leith
  • Patent number: 6323091
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which ROM programming ion implantation is performed by utilizing the same mask as used for implanting dopant in MOS transistors. The ROM programming ion implantation is conducted under the same conditions as the MOS transistor forming step. Only a single mask needs to be modified for the programming, thus reducing cost and complexity of manufacturing the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventors: Sungkwon Lee, Timothy K. Carns