Patents Examined by Linh My Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7126401
    Abstract: A delay device has series-connected multiplexers in a differential form. First connections of the multiplexers are connected to the output of an upstream multiplexer. Second inputs of the multiplexers are connected to the input connection to which the signal to be delayed can be supplied. A control signal controls the switch setting of one of the multiplexers such that its output is connected to the input of the delay device. The other multiplexers have the other switch setting. In consequence, a specific delay time is set for the delay device. The multiplexers have four current paths which are coupled in pairs. One of the current path pairs can be decoupled from the current source via a transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Patrick Heyne, Musa Saglam
  • Patent number: 7123077
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit has an input stage, an output stage and multiple boosting stages coupled between the input stage and the output stage. The boosting stages are driven by four phase clock signals. Each boosting stage has two branch charge pumps, wherein each branch charge pump at least has a main pass transistor, a pre-charge transistor, two substrate transistors and capacitors. The substrate transistors and the main pass transistor are operated in association with the four phase clock signals to keep a potential of the body of the main pass transistors at a low level thus mitigating the body effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Ememory Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Hsiang Chiu, Wu-Chang Chang
  • Patent number: 7123064
    Abstract: Techniques are presented for creating a second clock signal by using a first clock signal. For instance, an output is determined that corresponds to a phase relationship between the first and second clock signals. A value, corresponding to a given one of a plurality of delays, is selected based at least partially on the output. The given delay is created, by using the value, on the first clock signal to produce the second clock signal, whereby the given delay creates a phase shift between the first and second clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Parag Parikh
  • Patent number: 7123069
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit device, into which a first signal and a second signal are input, wherein a first switching array is provided, by means of which it is determined which of the two signals, is the first to change its state. The circuit device may also have a second switching array, which emits an output signal, which when the first signal first has changed its state, changes its state in reaction to a change in the state of the first signal, and, when the second signal first has changed its state, changes its state in reaction to a change in the state of the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies, AG
    Inventor: Alessandro Minzoni
  • Patent number: 7119582
    Abstract: A phase detector and phase detection method for a sync pulse generator operable in a clock synchronizer that effectuates data transfer between first circuitry disposed in a first clock domain and second circuitry disposed in a second clock domain. The first clock domain is operable with a first clock signal and the second clock domain is operable with a second clock signal. At least one first flip flop is operable to sample the first clock signal with a rising edge of the second clock signal and at least one second flip flop is operable to sample the first clock signal with a falling edge of the second clock signal. The sampling produces transitions indicative of the coincident rising edges between the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventor: Richard W. Adkisson
  • Patent number: 7119592
    Abstract: A delay locked loop circuit has a quantifier for obtaining a measured delay quantity based on a time delay between an external signal and an internal signal. Based on the measured delay quantity, a delay controller controls a correction delay quantity applied to a signal path of the external signal to synchronize the external and internal signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Cooper
  • Patent number: 7119589
    Abstract: A delay lock loop circuit for delaying a reference clock to lock a delayed clock. The delay lock loop circuit includes a clock divider for dividing a frequency of the reference clock by N to generate a frequency-divided clock, a programmable delay circuit electrically coupled to the clock divider for delaying the frequency-divided clock to generate the delayed clock, a 180° phase detector electrically coupled to the programmable delay circuit for detecting a phase change of the delayed clock, and a delay lock loop controller electrically coupled to the programmable delay circuit and the 180° phase detector for programming the programmable delay circuit to lock the delayed clock according to the phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Mediatek Incorporation
    Inventor: Jui-Hsing Tseng
  • Patent number: 7116142
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately tuning the speed of an integrated circuit, i.e. a computer chip, using a built-in sense circuit and controller are provided. The sense circuit is provided in association with a monitored path. The sense circuit includes a variable delay element coupled to a controller. A data signal from the monitored path is provided to the sense circuit which adds an amount of delay as determined by the controller to the data signal. The delayed data signal and the original data signal are compared to determine if their values match. If they match, then the amount of delay added by the variable delay element is increased. If they do not match, then a previous amount of delay, prior to the mismatch, is output as the slack of the monitored path. The slack may then be used to tune the speed of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank David Ferraiolo, James Stephen Fields, Jr., Norman Karl James, Bradley David McCredie
  • Patent number: 7116141
    Abstract: A frequency multiplier circuit comprising a delay line receiving at one end thereof a reference clock for generating clock tap outputs from respective ones of a plurality of period matched delay elements; a clock combining circuit responsive to pairs of tap outputs for generating a rising and falling edge of an output clock pulse from respective ones of the pairs whereby the output clock period is less than the input clock period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul W. Demone
  • Patent number: 7116145
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit including a lock detection function is disclosed. The phase-locked loop circuit comprises a lock detection circuit. The lock detection circuit includes a lock-detection-start-signal generator, a lock-detection-clock generator, and a lock-detection-signal generator. The lock-detection-start-signal generates a lock detection start signal when the pulse width of an up signal and a down signal reaches a predetermined value. The lock-detection-clock generator generates a lock detection clock signal on the basis of the up signal and the down signal. The lock-detection-signal generator counts the lock detection clock signal, and generates the lock detection signal. The phase-locked loop circuit is capable of discriminating the operating regions thereof and outputting a lock detection signal when the locking of phase is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-Seok Kim, Phil-Jae Jeon
  • Patent number: 7113011
    Abstract: A timing source for a pulse generator is disclosed, which timing source includes an input for receiving a reference clock output at a reference operating frequency. An edge generator is provided for generating a plurality of clock edges from an edge of the reference clock during one period thereof, with the spacing of the plurality of clock edges being a multiple of a predetermined divisor. As such, the resolution of such spacing emulates a higher clock frequency than the reference operating frequency. A selector then selects one of the plurality of clock edges from a reference one thereof to define the width of a pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ka Y. Leung, Kafai Leung
  • Patent number: 7113014
    Abstract: A low-power, synchronous pulse width modulator utilizes a first clock signal at a first frequency to generate a pulse-width modulated signal at the first frequency without requiring a second over sampling clock signal that has a substantially higher frequency by selecting taps from a phase shifting structure to synthesize the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: James Thomas Doyle
  • Patent number: 7113012
    Abstract: A skew delay compensator is provided including at least two communication interfaces, at least two conductors connected to the communication interfaces, adjustable delay lines connected to the communication interfaces detecting means for measuring propagation delay indicative parameters of the at least two conductors, means for automatic adjustment of at least one adjustable delay line on the basis of the measured propagation delay indicative parameters so that the mutual delay between the at least two conductors is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: Bhavik Amin
  • Patent number: 7113010
    Abstract: The invention refers to a clock distortion detection method, and a clock distortion detector including a first input for receiving a first clock signal, a second input for receiving a second clock signal, and at least one mirror delay element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alessandro Minzoni
  • Patent number: 7113015
    Abstract: A tuning circuit for setting a signal propagation time on a signal line in an integrated circuit, particularly a DRAM circuit, has a transistor and a capacitor. A control connection of the transistor is connected to a control unit for the purpose of switchably connecting the capacitor to the signal line through the transistor in order to set the signal propagation time on the signal line on the basis of application of a control signal, generated in the control unit, to the control connection on the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Lenart Hauptner, Volker Kilian, Richard Roth, Stefan Sommer
  • Patent number: 7109767
    Abstract: A digital delay-locked loop has been discovered having a reduced area as compared to typical register-controlled delay-locked loops (RDLLs) used to control strobe delay lines that provide delay to strobe signals driving asynchronous FIFOs. This result is achieved by reducing ratio computation (i.e. gear logic) circuitry of the RDLL. A master delay line receives a control code to delay a reference clock by one clock period. A slave delay line receives the control code to delay a strobe signal by a predetermined fraction of the clock period. The master delay line may include individual sections responsive to the control code which effectively delay a signal by a portion of the clock period, the delay having a fixed relationship to a delay associated with individual sections of the slave delay line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian W. Amick, Aparna Ramachandran, Dong J. Yoon, Tri K. Tran, Gajendra P. Singh, Claude R. Gauthier
  • Patent number: 7109773
    Abstract: A blender circuit configured to receive a first signal having a first signal phase and a second signal having a second signal phase. The first and second signals have a similar frequency and the first and second signal phases are separated by a time delay. The blender circuit includes a first, second and third circuits. The first circuit is configured to receive the first signal and to generate a plurality of first intermediate signals that are independent of the time delay between the first and second signals. The second circuit is configured to receive the second signal and to generate a plurality of second intermediate signals that are independent of the time delay between the first and second signals. The third circuit is configured to receive the first plurality and second plurality of intermediate signals and to generate plurality of out signals. Each of the plurality of out signals have different signal phases that are spaced in time relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alessandro Minzoni
  • Patent number: 7109769
    Abstract: A PWM signal generator comprises a pulse width indication signal generator outputting a pulse width indication signal, and a pulse width adjustment portion receiving the pulse width indication signal. The pulse width adjustment portion outputs an adjusted pulse width data which corresponds to the pulse width indication signal when the pulse width indicated by the pulse width indication signal is equal to or wider than a predetermined width. The pulse width adjustment portion accumulates the pulse width indicated by the pulse width indication signal when the pulse width indicated by the pulse width indication signal is narrower than the predetermined width. The pulse width adjustment portion outputs the adjusted pulse width data which corresponds to a sum data of the pulse width accumulated in the pulse width adjustment portion when the sum of the pulse width becomes equal to or wider than the predetermined width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Goto, Isao Shime
  • Patent number: 7106112
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a power-up signal in a semiconductor memory device includes a signal generator for generating the power-up signal from a supply voltage in response to a first control signal, a temperature sensing block for sensing a circumference temperature and enabling one of a plurality of second control signals in response to the circumference temperature, and a selection block for receiving the plurality of divided voltages and outputting one of the plurality of divided voltages to the signal generator as the first control signal in response to a corresponding second control signal, wherein the divided voltages are generated by dividing a supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Ji-Eun Jang
  • Patent number: 7106114
    Abstract: A delay time adjusting method adjusts a delay time of an input signal so that a phase of the input signal and a phase of an output signal match each other. The delay time adjusting method comprises the step of delaying the phase of the output signal until a phase difference between the phase of the input signal and the phase of the output signal becomes N periods, where N is an integer other than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Nobutaka Taniguchi