Patents Examined by Wambach
  • Patent number: 6937688
    Abstract: A state machine, a counter, and related method for gating redundant triggering clocks according to the initial states is provided. The state machine includes a plurality of state units and a clock gating circuit. Each of the state unit is triggered by a clock to generate a corresponding varying state, and the clock gating circuit is capable of selectively withholding a triggering clock to at least one state unit according only to an initial state, such that the selected state unit(s) will not be triggered by the triggering clock while the rest of the state units are triggered by the triggering clock to update their corresponding states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: VIA Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Huei Chen, Shan-Ting Hong
  • Patent number: 6937687
    Abstract: A bi-directional shift register circuit comprising, a plurality of shift register stages, each having an input and an output terminal, and a bi-directional shift controller circuit associated with each of said shift register stages is disclosed. The bi-directional shift controller circuit comprises a first input connected to a output terminal of a first shift register stage and a second input connected to a output terminal of a second shift register stage. Means to apply a first and a second control voltage, wherein said first and second control voltage are different, and a combinatorial circuit responsive to said first and second control voltages to apply an indication of an input received from either said first shift register or said second shift register to said corresponding shift register input terminal. The combinatorial circuit configuration is that of a NOR gate or a NAND gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Jian-Shen Yu
  • Patent number: 6931091
    Abstract: A gray code is produced from a minimum of gate logic by making available and monitoring master outputs of master-slave latch pairs, where the latch pairs are arranged to form a cascading chain of toggle flip-flop stages. The least significant bit through one less than the most significant bit in the gray code is supplied by the master latch outputs and the most significant gray code bit is supplied by the slave latch output of the last toggle stage in the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Heimbigner
  • Patent number: 6925139
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated circuit comprising a first clock circuit delivering a first clock signal, a second clock circuit delivering a second clock signal, a first counting circuit for delivering a time base signal using a clock signal and a counting value, and means for applying the first clock signal and a first counting value to the first counting circuit, so as to produce a first time base signal. According to the present invention, the integrated circuit comprises means for producing a second time base signal using the second clock signal and a second counting value, and means for calibrating the second counting value such that it is equal or proportional to the number of periods of the second clock signal occurring during a determined time interval equal to a period or to a whole number of periods of the first time base signal. Application particularly to the management of a timer in a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Sandrine Lendre, Franck Roche, Olivier Plourde
  • Patent number: 6922456
    Abstract: A system and method for performing counting operations for a plurality of components is disclosed. A memory stores a plurality of counts from different components. The memory is coupled to a counter and the plurality of counts are accessible to the adder for adding addends to the plurality of counts. A count engine controls the adding of the addends to the plurality of counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Greenlaw, Paul O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6919794
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling the random character of a bit flow, including an input shift register receiving the bit flow and having its outputs exploited in parallel, at least one element for comparing at least a partial content of the input register with predetermined patterns, a plurality of counters in a number at most equal to the number of predetermined patterns, and an element for detecting the exceeding of at least one threshold by one of the counters, the result of this detection conditioning the state of a word or bit indicative of the random or non-random character of the bit flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Bardouillet, William Orlando, Alexandre Malherbe, Claude Anguille
  • Patent number: 6917662
    Abstract: A fast latch including: a NAND stage adapted to receive a clock signal and a data input signal; a clocked inverter stage, a first input of the clocked inverter stage coupled to the output of the NAND stage and a second input of the clocked inverter stage coupled to the clock signal; a first inverter stage, a first input of the first inverter stage coupled to an output of the clocked inverter and a second input of the first inverter stage coupled to a reset signal; and a second inverter stage, having an output, an input of the second inverter stage coupled to an output of the first inverter stage. The fast latch is suitable for use in frequency divider circuits also described. A homologue of frequency dividers using the fast latch, a unique 3/4 divider and a 2 divider not using the fast latch are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Austin, Ram Kelkar, Pradeep Thiagarajan
  • Patent number: 6914956
    Abstract: A shift register includes a plurality of pulse generation portions for generating a series of pulse signals in response to a level change of inputted clock signals, and a plurality of shift pulse generation units. The plurality of shift pulse generation units has a predetermined shift pulse generation unit, with the predetermined shift pulse generation unit having a status signal generation circuit for outputting a first status signal to common wiring to which both of an earlier shift pulse generation unit and a later shift pulse generation unit are connected, and a clock supply circuit for supplying a clock signal to the pulse generation portion which belongs to the predetermined shift pulse generation unit. In addition, there is a first period in which the clock supply circuit supplies the clock signal to the pulse generation portion which belongs to the predetermined shift pulse generation unit and a second period in which the clock signal is not supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Somei Kawasaki, Masami Iseki
  • Patent number: 6909767
    Abstract: Circuit for selecting a second set of binary inputs according to the number of high input signals applied to a first input set. A first subcircuit has the first input set, logic generating control output signals, each control output signal represents whether the first input set has exactly a predetermined number of high input signals. Each control output signal corresponds to a different predetermined number of high input signals. A second subcircuit has a second input set, a set of control inputs for receiving control output signals from the first subcircuit, and logic including a plurality of switches including one or more pass gates. Each switching component switches to connect or isolate one of the second input set to a common output. The control inputs control the switches. The first and second subcircuits are configured such that only one switch can be switched to connect at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Arithmatica Limited
    Inventor: Benjamin Earle White
  • Patent number: 6907098
    Abstract: A Gray code counter includes a holding circuit, first and second conversin circuit and an operation circuit. The holding circuit stores gray code signals and outputs the stored gray code signals in response to a clock signal. The first conversion circuit receives the gray code signals from the holding circuit and converts the received gray code signals into first binary code signals. The operation circuit applies a logical operation to the first binary code signals so as to generate second binary code signals. The second conversion circuit receives the second binary code signals and converts the received second binary code signals into the gray code signals. The second conversion circuit outputs the gray code signals to the holding circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6904114
    Abstract: A ones counter that accepts a binary input word of ones and zeros and provides a binary output word indicative of the number of ones within the input word. A two-dimensional array is built with a plurality of like cells connected in a regular manner with the first row of the array determining the least significant bit of the output word and each subsequent row determining the output word's next most significant bit. The first row of the array contains approximately one-half the number of cells as bits in the input word with each subsequent row of the array containing approximately one-half the number of cells of the preceding row with the final row containing a single cell that determines the most significant bit of the binary output word. The ones-count output word is computed asynchronously without clocking circuits or data storage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventors: J. Barry Shackleford, David Kent Cullers
  • Patent number: 6904115
    Abstract: A current register unit. A first transistor of a first type, second to sixth transistors of a second type, and first and second capacitors are provided, and an image current signal is stored in the current register unit when a control signal is at a first logic level, and the image current signal is output by the current register unit when the control signal is at a second logic level. An image display device that utilizes the current register unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Yen-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 6904116
    Abstract: A shift register includes bidirectional register units, a direction switching section, a register unit selecting section, and a shift clock supply section. The bidirectional register units are cascaded through first input/output terminals for data shifting and perform data shifting operation. The bidirectional register units have second input/output terminals which separately and directly input/output data. The direction switching section switches the shifting directions of the bidirectional register units. The register unit selecting section selects one of the bidirectional register units and inputs/outputs data through the second input/output terminal. The shift clock supply section supplies shift clocks to the bidirectional register units ranging from the bidirectional register unit selected by the register unit selecting section to the last-stage bidirectional register unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6898261
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring event occurrences, e.g., from an event signal, where a register and a counter are employed. In one embodiment, the register is designed to have a capture bit for capturing the occurrence of a monitored event. The shifting of the stored information within the capture bit to other bit locations within the register is controlled by a shift rate signal operating at a particular interval time period. At the expiration of the interval time period, the stored information in the capture bit is shifted within the register, where the capture bit is now free to detect the next occurrence of the monitored event. Since the register has a finite number of bit locations, as the captured information exists and/or enters the register, a counter is triggered to record the number of occurrences of monitored events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hillery C. Hunter, Ravi Nair
  • Patent number: 6895069
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for counting the rotation frequency of a numeral wheel of a meter to be used for a remote metering system. A light reflection tape is coated on one of low placed numeral wheels. A light sensor unit has an opaque case formed with first and second holes in which an infrared ray emitter and an infrared ray sensor are located, respectively. The light sensor unit is fixedly mounted on the ceiling of a rectangular shaped housing which is detachably coupled with a meter to cover the front of the meter. A portion of the housing over numeral wheels and a front plate of the meter is transparent. The transparent portion of the housing has an infrared ray rejection function to prevent infrared rays from entering into the housing. In place of employing such housing, a light shield may be used to shield a space between the light sensor unit and the light reflection tape coated numeral wheel from outer light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Chois T&M Corp.
    Inventor: Joo Young Kim
  • Patent number: 6895070
    Abstract: The counter circuit comprises the initial value single port RAM having N initial value registers allocated for memorizing N initial values, the counter register single port RAM having N counter registers allocated for memorizing N counting values, and the control circuit for performing a counting operation for each counter register. The control circuit performs the counting operation for each counter register on a time division basis by using a single arithmetic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Yuji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6891916
    Abstract: A shift register having a built-in level shifter includes a buffer outputting a shift pulse using a first clock signal and a first supply voltage via voltages at first and second nodes; a first controller controlling the voltage of the first node via the start pulse and the second node; and a second controller controlling the second node voltage using the first and second supply voltage via the start pulse and the second clock signal. The level shifter includes a third controller forming a current path between third supply voltage input line and first supply voltage input line controlling a third node using the first supply voltage and a third supply voltage via the voltage of the second node and two of first to fourth clock signals; and an output part outputting the level-shifted shift pulse using the first and third supply voltage via the voltage at the third node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Deok Park, Du Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 6891915
    Abstract: 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Axel Clausen, Moritz Harteneck, Petyo Penchev
  • Patent number: 6891917
    Abstract: A shift register device includes transistor pass gates and latches connected in series and disposed along a data bit line, each latch connected to a corresponding transistor pass gate. Each transistor pass gate is controlled by a separate control signal input line that a provides a signal to the transistor pass gate connected to it. The signals are provided in a staggered time pattern beginning with a latch disposed last in succession, shifting data from one position to the next succeeding position. Each latch is capable of storing one bit of data. The shift register utilizes less silicon space while reducing the amount of power consumed during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Johnny Chan, Jeff Ming-Hung Tsai, Philip S. Ng
  • Patent number: 6888913
    Abstract: A frequency generating circuit utilizes a quad modulus prescaler in which two control signals are used to select the prescaler modulus. The modulus control signals are generated by a multistage counter in which two independent counting stages are used to generate the first and second modulus control signals. The first modulus control signal is at a first logic level when the associated counter is at a non-zero value and is at a second logic level when the associated counter reaches zero. The second modulus control signal is generated by a second counter and has a first logic value when the second counter is in a non-zero state and a second logic value when the second counter reaches zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Brett C. Walker