Patents Examined by Thuan Do
  • Patent number: 9298862
    Abstract: A system and method optimizes hardware description generated from a graphical program or model automatically. The system may include a streaming optimizer, a resource sharing optimizer and a delay balancing engine. The streaming optimizer transforms one or more vector data paths in the source model to scalar data paths or to a smaller-sized vector data paths. The resource sharing optimizer may replace multiple blocks of the source model that are functionally equivalent with a single shared block. The streaming and resource sharing optimizers may also configure portions of the modified model to execute at a faster rate. The delay balancing engine may examine the modified model to determine whether any delays or latencies have been introduced. If so, the delay balancing engine may insert one or more blocks into the modified model to correct for any data path misalignment caused by the introduction of the delays or latencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Venkataramani, Kiran Kintali
  • Patent number: 9298875
    Abstract: A method of designing a semiconductor circuit includes generating a model of the semiconductor circuit. The model includes a functional area corresponding to a first block of the semiconductor circuit, and a loading area corresponding to a second block of the semiconductor circuit, wherein the first block is connected to the second block by a signal line. The method further includes extracting, in the functional area, parasitic parameters of the signal line and a device of the first block. The method further includes extracting, in the loading area, parasitic parameters of the signal line, without extracting parasitic parameters of a device of the second block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shaojie Xu, Yukit Tang, Pao-Po Hou, Derek C. Tao, Annie-Li-Keow Lum
  • Patent number: 9298868
    Abstract: A technique for generating pushdown data comprises performing logical pushdown of circuit elements and nets and detecting physical pushdown based on partition boundary crossings. Geometry associated with one logical level may be used as a keep-out region for the same physical layer when generating physical design of a different logical level. The technique may advantageously enable concurrent design in both top-level and low-level physical design phases, thereby reducing overall design cycle time in developing an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Vikas Agrawal, Shrivathsa Bhargavravichandran, Binh Pham, Jay Chen, Sridhar Krishnamurthy, Umang Shah, Chi Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 9292643
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for translating a hierarchical IC layout file into a format that can be used by a mask writer that accepts files having a limited hierarchy. Cover cells of the original IC layout file or a modified file are designated, and the hierarchical file is redefined to include only those designated cover cells. Non-designated cover cells and other geometric data are flattened into the designated cover cells. The hierarchy of the modified file is then redefined to be less than or equal to the hierarchy limit of the mask writing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Emile Y. Sahouria, Weidong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9286426
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus and computer program product for testing a design, the method comprising receiving a design; receiving a description of a scenario, wherein the scenario relates to execution of the design, wherein the scenario is used for verifying the design; translating the scenario to an input for a verification engine, wherein the verification engine is selected from the group consisting of a simulation engine and a formal analysis engine; activating the engine and providing the input to the engine, whereby the engine outputting a result; and displaying the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gabor Bobok, Shlomit Koyfman, Shiri Moran, Ziv Nevo, Gil Shurek
  • Patent number: 9283860
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical charging system for energy accumulators or railway vehicles, comprising position-finding means (A1, A2, A3, A4) of a vehicle (1), at least one electrical energy capturing element (2), identification and positioning means (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6) for identifying and positioning the vehicle (1), and at least one electrical changing zone (Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4), such that by means of associating the identification and positioning means (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6) with respective position-finding means (A1, A2, A3, A4), the presence and configuration of the vehicle (1) is determined, and an area covered by said vehicle (1) corresponding with the electrical charging zones (Z1, Z2, Z3,Z4) to be electrified is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CONSTRUCCIONES Y AUXILIAR DE FERROCARRILES, S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Estevez Irizar, Aitor Gastanares Etxezarreta, Jose Manuel Nicolas Silva, Victor Vigil Varela
  • Patent number: 9286416
    Abstract: A modeling technique is provided. The modeling technique includes inputting tool parameters into a model and inputting basic model parameters into the model. The technique further includes generating a simulated, corrected reticle design using the tool parameters and the basic model parameters. An image of test patterns is compared against the simulated, corrected reticle design. A determination is made as to whether ?1<?1, wherein ?1 represents model vs. exposure difference and ?1 represents predetermined criteria. The technique further includes completing the model when ?1<?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: NIKON CORPORATION, NIKON PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Jacek Tyminski, Raluca Popescu, Tomoyuki Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9278623
    Abstract: A power generation and charging device for continuous running of an electric automobile comprises generators, a charger and a storage battery. The generators are disk generators and are arranged on rims of wheels. The power generation and charging device is provided with the storage battery as same as an automobile-mounted power supply, and current leading-out wires of the generators are connected with the storage battery through the charger and a circuit converter. The original storage battery of the electric automobile is connected with an automobile power supply binding post through the circuit converter. Through the power generation and charging device, a replaced power supply is provided when the electric quantity of the automobile-mounted power supply of the electric automobile is insufficient, and the continuous running mileage of the electric automobile is greatly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Wenji Han
  • Patent number: 9281705
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette case and a method for charging an electronic cigarette through it are provided. The electronic cigarette case comprises a case body having a charging interface, it further comprises a controller, a trigger switch, a charging detection module and an electronic cigarette charging output module, the trigger switch is set close to the charging interface and will be triggered when the electronic cigarette has been inserted into the charging interface, in case the controller has found out that the trigger switch has been triggered, it will control the electronic cigarette charging output module to enter a charging mode; in case the charging detection module has found out that the electronic cigarette has been fully charged, the controller will control the electronic cigarette charging output module to enter an ultra low standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Zhiyong Xiang
  • Patent number: 9281698
    Abstract: A battery pack having a battery management system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the battery pack includes a battery management system, which includes a detector detecting a voltage and a current of each of the battery cells, a current monitor receiving current information detected by the detector, and a controller receiving voltage and current information from the detector and current information from the current monitor, and calculating capacities of the battery cells based on the receive information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jungsoo Son
  • Patent number: 9276436
    Abstract: A wireless charger and a method allow the wireless charger to have enhanced portability and a smaller footprint when not performing the charging function. The wireless charger includes a charging circuit providing power on one or more power lines, a housing for the wireless charger, and a flexible platform that includes a charging surface with two or more contact electrodes. The flexible platform may be unfolded or unrolled for charging a mobile device, and folded up or rolled up to achieve a smaller footprint, when not performing a charging operation. The wireless charger may further includes a data communication circuit for data communication between a power-line network and the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Silicon Spread Corporation
    Inventor: Tao Jing
  • Patent number: 9276415
    Abstract: A charging station which has a battery cell balancing system is disclosed. The charging station includes: a number of balancing charging units, each has: a detecting element for detecting a state of charge of a battery cell; and a charging element for processing charging to the battery cell; a power unit for providing electric power; and a charging control unit, linked to the balancing charging units, and the power unit, for controlling the electric power from the power unit to the charging element to charge the battery cell. The battery cell is linked in serial or parallel with other battery cells in a battery pack. The charging control unit stops the power unit to charge the battery cell when the state of charge of the battery cell detected by the detecting element is full or exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Go-Tech Energy Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Tzu-Wen Soong
  • Patent number: 9275175
    Abstract: A system that visualizes a clock tree for an integrated circuit receives an extracted cell library, an extracted clock netlist including clock headers and interconnects, and simulation results. The system generates an internal data structure for the clock headers, and divides the clock headers into a plurality of levels based on the interconnects. The system then orders the clock headers from a lowest level to a highest level, and displays the ordered clock headers in an untangled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Amit Agarwal, Alexander Korobkov
  • Patent number: 9262575
    Abstract: A method for predicting a condition in a circuit under design includes obtaining a set comprising first static noise margin curve for the circuit and a second static noise margin curve for the circuit, wherein the second static noise margin curve is complementary to the first static noise margin curve, matching the set to a two-dimensional model of a cell, and predicting the condition in accordance with hardware characterization data corresponding to the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajiv V. Joshi, Keunwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 9251305
    Abstract: A method for evaluating structured cells is disclosed. Functions that may be implemented by a candidate structured cell are identified. A cell library having a subset of functions that may be implemented by the structured cell is generated. A system is implemented on a target device using the functions in the cell library. The system on the target device is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Gregg William Baeckler
  • Patent number: 9251304
    Abstract: A design tool can implement phase algebra based design evaluation to efficiently evaluate a circuit design with a compact representation of numerous waveforms without simulating the individual waveforms. Instead of individual waveforms, the phase algebra based design evaluation employs compact representations of a group or set of waveforms. Phase algebra based evaluation constructs representations of a set of waveforms based on relationships among a devised set of functions that account for the various states of a signal over time, including transitions and glitches. A memorized-transition function, referred to herein as an M-function, indicates signal transitions over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gabor Drasny, Gavin B Meil
  • Patent number: 9252614
    Abstract: A vehicle including a battery, a plug receiving portion for receiving a plug for supply an electric power to be charged in the battery or a plug for receiving an electric power discharged from the battery, a lid for closing the plug receiving portion and a light for illuminating the plug receiving portion. In the vehicle, when the state of the vehicle becomes a running mode indicating a state that the running of the vehicle is permitted, the light is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomokazu Masuda, Yusuke Tsutsui, Shogo Hirata
  • Patent number: 9246338
    Abstract: Energy storage arrangement for safely discharging an energy accumulator with electric poles via which the energy accumulator can be at least discharged, an electrically conductive conductor medium in the form of a fluid or fine-grained bulk material or a mixture of both, a reservoir container which is filled with the conductor medium, a collecting container which is provided for accommodating the conductor medium and which encloses the electric poles of the energy accumulator, and a triggerable discharging device, by means of which, in the case of triggering, conductor medium is discharged from the reservoir container into the collecting container such that the electric poles of the energy accumulator are connected to one another in an electrically conductive fashion via the conductor medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: ZENTRUM FUR SONNENENERGIE—UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADEN-WURTTEMBERG GEMEINNUTZIGE STIFTUNG, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Harry Döring, Harald Brazel, Michael Wörz, Olaf Böse, Hans-Georg Schweiger
  • Patent number: 9244783
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include defining a plurality of subsets from a representation of a circuit, and rank-ordering each subset from the plurality of subsets. The process can also include selecting at least one of the subsets for triplication based on the rank-ordering and a triplication condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventor: Michael J. Wirthlin
  • Patent number: 9240586
    Abstract: There is a composition comprising 1 to 17.5 wt. % ionomer composition comprising hydrocarbon ionomer and 50 to 99 wt. % carbon-sulfur composite made from carbon powder having a surface area of about 50 to 4,000 square meters per gram and a pore volume of about 0.5 to 6 cubic centimeters per gram. The composite has 5 to 95 wt. % sulfur compound. There is also a layering comprising a plurality of coatings. Respective coatings in the plurality of coatings comprise respective compositions. The respective coatings comprise at least one ionomer composition comprising hydrocarbon ionomer and at least one carbon-sulfur composite of carbon powder and sulfur compound. There are also electrodes comprising the composition or layering and methods of using such in cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Kostantinos Kourtakis, Brent Wise