Patents Examined by Patrick O'Neill
  • Patent number: 11398825
    Abstract: A receiving device includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit having a current control oscillator, a phase detector, an integral path, and a proportional path. The current control oscillator can generate an oscillation clock based on a first and second current. The phase detector can acquire a phase detection result based on the oscillation clock and a received signal. The integral path can generate the first current based on an integrated value of the phase detection results and supply the first current to the current control oscillator. The proportional path includes a digital-to-current converter to generate the second current based on the phase detection result and supply the second current to the current control oscillator. The receiving device includes a controller configured to adjust the second current based on frequency-current characteristics of the current control oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatomo Eimitsu
  • Patent number: 11394373
    Abstract: Systems, methods, circuits, and apparatus for managing flip flop circuits are provided. In one aspect, a flip flop circuit includes a first sub-circuit having a first inner node between a first input node and a first output node, a second sub-circuit having a second inner node between a second input node and a second output node, and a third sub-circuit coupled between the first and second inner nodes. The third sub-circuit is configured to be: in an open state to conductively disconnect the first and second inner nodes, and in a close state to conductively connect the first and second inner nodes, such that a first output at the first output node corresponds to a second input at the second input node and a second output at the second output node corresponds to a first input at the first input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shang-Chi Yang, Hui-Yao Kao
  • Patent number: 11393402
    Abstract: An OR logic operation circuit and a driving method, a shift register unit, a gate drive circuit, and a display device are provided. The OR logic operation circuit includes: a first inverter, a second inverter, a first control circuit, and a second control circuit. The first inverter is configured to invert a first control signal, which is received, to output a second control signal; the second inverter is configured to invert a third control signal received to output a fourth control signal; the first control circuit is configured to perform first control on a first node and the output terminal to achieve an OR operation and output a first level of an output signal at the output terminal; and the second control circuit is configured to perform second control on the first node and the output terminal to output a second level of the output signal at the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhidong Yuan, Yongqian Li, Can Yuan, Meng Li
  • Patent number: 11386848
    Abstract: As a scanning line drive circuit of a display device, a shift register having a configuration in which a plurality of unit circuits are connected to each other in multiple stages is used. The unit circuits each include: a plurality of control transistors; an internal node connected to a terminal of one of the plurality of control transistors; and a depletion mode initialization transistor having a first conduction terminal connected directly or through a resistor to the internal node, a second conduction terminal, and a control terminal. One of a power supply voltage and a ground voltage is applied to the second conduction terminal, and the other voltage is applied to the control terminal. The initialization transistor is turned on in a power-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Taya
  • Patent number: 11374581
    Abstract: A technology related to an electronic circuit, specifically, a phase locked loop or a frequency synthesizing apparatus, is disclosed. The frequency synthesizing apparatus includes an injection locked frequency divider and a replica frequency divider having the same circuit configuration as the injection locked frequency divider. A control value required for self-oscillating at a target frequency using the replica frequency divider is determined. When the injection locked frequency divider fails injection locking on a first attempt, the injection locking may be attempted using the determined control value. On the first attempt, the control value of the injection locked frequency divider may be determined and stored in advance according to a temperature and a supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: SKAIChips Co., Ltd., Research & Business Foundation SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kang Yoon Lee, Jong Wan Jo, Young Gun Pu, Byeong Gi Jang, Joon Hong Park, Dong Soo Park, Jae Bin Kim, Yun Gwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11372025
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of oscilloscopes, each oscilloscope having an output port and an input port, a cable connecting the output port of an initial oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes to the input port of a second oscilloscope of the plurality of oscilloscopes, the initial oscilloscope having a processing element to generate a master run clock, the second oscilloscope having a processing element including a phase-locked loop to lock a slave run clock to the master run clock, wherein the processing element of one of the oscilloscopes executes code to cause the processing element to manipulate one of the run clocks to pass trigger information to another of the plurality of oscilloscopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Knierim, Barton T. Hickman, Joshua J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11366160
    Abstract: A circuit includes: a first delay circuit configured to receive a first clock signal; a second delay circuit configured to receive a second clock signal; a delay control circuit, coupled to the first and second delay circuits, and configured to cause the first and second delay circuits to respectively align the first and second clock signals within a noise window; and a loop control circuit, coupled to the first and second delay circuits, and configured to alternately form a first oscillation loop and a second oscillation loop passing through each of the first and second delay circuits so as to determine the noise window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tien-Chien Huang
  • Patent number: 11355489
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a standard cell, which includes first to fourth active areas that are extended in a first direction, first to fourth gate lines that are extended in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction over the first to fourth active areas and are disposed parallel to each other, a first cutting layer that is disposed between the first active area and the second active area and separates the second and third gate lines, a second cutting layer that is disposed between the third active area and the fourth active area and separates the second and third gate lines, a first gate contact that is formed on the second gate line separated by the first cutting layer and the second cutting layer, and a second gate contact that is formed on the third gate line separated by the first cutting layer and the second cutting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byounggon Kang, Subin Jin, Ha-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11347257
    Abstract: An output signal generation circuit includes a first pulse generation circuit configured to receive first information and generate a first pulse signal including the first information, the first pulse signal having a first pulse width that is a minimum pulse width of the first pulse signal, a second pulse generation circuit configured to receive second information and the first pulse signal, and generate a second pulse signal in which the second information is superimposed on the first pulse signal, the second pulse signal having a second pulse width smaller than the first pulse width, and an output circuit configured to output the second pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Matoba, Kazuhiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11349462
    Abstract: A random number generator that includes control circuit, an oscillation circuit, a dynamic header circuit, an oscillation detection circuit and a latch circuit is introduced. The control circuit sweeps a configuration of a bias control signal among a plurality of configurations. The dynamic header circuit generates a bias voltage based on the configuration of the bias control signal. The oscillation circuit generates an oscillation signal based on the bias voltage. The oscillation detection circuit detects an onset of the oscillation signal, and outputs a lock signal. The latch circuit latches the oscillation signal according to a trigger signal to output a random number, wherein the trigger signal is asserted after the lock signal is outputted, and the configuration of bias control signal is locked after the lock signal is outputted. A method for generating a random number and an operation method of a random number generator are also introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Win-San Khwa, Jui-Jen Wu, Jen-Chieh Liu, Elia Ambrosi, Xinyu Bao, Meng-Fan Chang
  • Patent number: 11342904
    Abstract: A true single-phase clock (TSPC) D flip-flop includes four stages. The four stages are serially connected between the input terminal and the output terminal of the TSPC D-type flip-flop. Each stage is selectively equipped with two connecting devices. One of the two connecting devices is a resistive element. The other of the two connecting devices is a short circuit element. When the node between two stages is in the floating state, the voltage change is slowed down by the resistive element. Consequently, the possibility of causing the function failure of the D-type flip-flop is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FARADAY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Liu, Sheng-Hua Chen, Cheng-Hsing Chien
  • Patent number: 11341923
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and provides a shift register unit and a driving method thereof, a gate driving circuit, and a display panel. The shift register unit includes: an input circuit, a charging circuit, an inverter circuit, an output circuit, and a pull-down circuit. The input circuit is connected to a second clock signal terminal, a signal input terminal and a first node. The inverter circuit is connected to the signal input terminal, the second clock signal terminal, a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal and a pull-down node. The output circuit is connected to the pull-up node, the first power supply terminal and an output terminal. The pull-down circuit is connected to the pull-down node, the second power supply terminal, the pull-up node, and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: Hefei BOE Joint Technology Co., Ltd., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhidong Yuan, Pan Xu, Yongqian Li, Can Yuan
  • Patent number: 11342925
    Abstract: A signal generating electric circuit, a signal generating method, a digit-to-time converting electric circuit and a digit-to-time converting method. The signal generating electric circuit includes: a first generating electric circuit configured for, based on a first frequency control word and a reference time unit, generating a periodic first output signal; and a second generating electric circuit configured for, based on a second frequency control word and the reference time unit, generating a periodic second output signal. The first frequency control word includes a first integer part and a first fractional part, the second frequency control word includes a second integer part and a second fractional part, the first integer part is equal to the second integer part, the first fractional part and the second fractional part are not equal, and a period of the first output signal and a period of the second output signal are not equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiangye Wei, Liming Xiu
  • Patent number: 11334787
    Abstract: Disclosed is a neuron circuit in which an overflow signal before fire is retained after the fire. The neuron circuit according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes a synapse element, a synaptic integration unit and a pulse generation unit. The synapse element receives output signals of a pre-neuron circuit and a post-neuron circuit. The synaptic integration unit includes a capacitor charged by the current flowing into the synapse element depending on the output signals of the pre-neuron circuit and the post-neuron circuit. The pulse generation unit generates an output pulse from the charging voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: ByungGook Park, Jeong-Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 11336271
    Abstract: To provide a miniaturized data holding circuit. First and second MOS transistors respectively transmit a data signal and an inverted data signal to inputs of first and second inverting gates that constitute a state holding circuit when a clock signal is at a first level. Fifth and sixth MOS transistors are respectively inserted in a feedback path from an output of the second inverting gate to the input of the first inverting gate and a feedback path from an output of the first inverting gate to the input of the second inverting gate, and respectively transmit the outputs of the second and first inverting gates when the clock signal is at a second signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 11336272
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing a low-power, single-pin retention flip-flop with a balloon latch are described. A flip-flop is connected to a retention latch to store a value of the flip-flop during a reduced power state. A single retention pin is used to turn on the retention latch. During normal mode, the retention latch is pre-charged and a change in the value stored by the flip-flop does not cause the retention latch to toggle. This helps to reduce the power consumed by the circuit during normal mode (i.e., non-retention mode). When the retention signal becomes active, the retention latch gets triggered and the value stored by the flip-flop is written into the retention latch. Later, if the flip-flop is powered down and then powered back up while the circuit is in retention mode, the value in the retention latch gets written back into the flip-flop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vivekanandan Venugopal, Qi Ye
  • Patent number: 11328902
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) generator includes a pulse generator circuit configured to receive input signals indicative of a pulse pattern defining an envelope of a pulse RF signal. The pulse generator circuit stores data values defining power levels and durations of segments of the pulse pattern. The pulse generator generates a pulse modulation control signal responsive to the stored data values, the pulse modulation control signal being indicative of the power level and the duration of each segment of the pulse pattern, the pulse modulation control signal being provided to a control circuit to generate a control signal to adjust the amplitude and to modulate the duration or width of the RF signal to generate the pulse RF signal having the pulse pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: XP Power Limited
    Inventor: Paul Rummel
  • Patent number: 11323123
    Abstract: A circuit for correcting phase interpolator rollover integral non-linearity errors includes a rollover detector circuit for detecting when a rollover event of a phase interpolator has occurred, and a correction circuit that adds a signed predistortion correction to a VCO clock cycle phase fraction value when the rollover detector circuit has detected the interpolator rollover event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Willingham
  • Patent number: 11323124
    Abstract: A clock stretcher includes a DLL that derives delayed versions of an input clock signal, and a combiner that cyclically selects the delayed versions to generate a modified clock signal. The DLL has a phase error because of its finite bandwidth. The clock stretcher measures the phase error and corrects for a glitch in the modified clock signal by using the phase error when phase selection wraparound occurs. The clock stretcher may operate from a power supply that has droops, without intervening voltage regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SambaNova Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Fahim ur Rahman, Mahmood Khayatzadeh, Zuxu Qin, Jin-Uk Shin
  • Patent number: 11316507
    Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for generating PWM signals. Furthermore, a direct-drive method is disclosed in which a PWM signal is generated as a differential signal made up of OUTP and OUTN signals, where OUTP is a copy of OUTN but shifted in time by half a period. The PWM signal is generated by passing each of an input period and an input duty cycle through corresponding sigma-delta circuits to generate a refined period and a refined duty cycle, respectively. In some example cases, a threshold mapper uses a lookup table (LUT) or similar mechanism to select timing thresholds for rise times and fall times for each of the OUTP and OUTN signals, where the timing thresholds are selected based on the refined period and the refined duty cycle. In some example cases, a pulse generator generates the OUTP and OUTN signals based on the timing thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David Hernandez, David Patrick Magee, Mohit Chawla, James Kelly Griffin