Patents by Inventor Aaron Willey

Aaron Willey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130037951
    Abstract: A semiconductor package structure includes: a substrate comprising a plurality of power supply balls on a first surface of the substrate, a first metal conductor on a second surface of the substrate and at least one via coupling a power supply ball to the first metal conductor of the substrate; a die, comprising a plurality of bond pads on a first surface of the die, a first metal conductor on a second surface of the die and at least one via coupling a bond pad to the first metal conductor of the die; and a plurality of first wire bonds for coupling the first metal conductor of the substrate to the first metal conductor of the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Aaron Willey, Yantao Ma
  • Patent number: 8373462
    Abstract: A delay lock loop comprising: a first delay loop, for delaying an input signal to generate a first output signal; a second delay loop, for frequency-dividing and delaying the input signal to generate a second output signal, wherein a frequency of the first output signal is higher than which of the second output signal; a phase detector, selectively detecting phases of the input signal, and one of the first delayed output signal and the second delayed output signal, to generate a phase detecting result; and a delay control circuit, for generating a first and a second delay control signal according to the phase detecting result, wherein the first and the second delay control signals are respectively transmitted to the first delay loop and the second delay loop, to control delay amounts of the first delay loop and the second delay loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yantao Ma, Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20130015899
    Abstract: Embodiments of delay lines may include a plurality of delay stages coupled to each other in series from a first stage to a last stage. Each delay stage may include an input transistor receiving a signal being delayed by the delay line. The delay line may include a compensating circuit configured to compensate for a change in a transconductance of the input transistor resulting from various factors. One such compensating circuit may be configured to provide a bias signal at an output node having a magnitude that is a function of a transconductance of a transistor in the compensating circuit. The bias signal may be used by each of the delay stages to maintain the gain of the respective delay stage substantially constant, such as a gain of substantially unity, despite changes in a transconductance of the respective input transistor in each of the delay stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120326786
    Abstract: Embodiments of delay lines may include a plurality of delay stages coupled to each other in series from a first stage to a last stage. Each delay stage may include an input transistor receiving a signal being delayed by the delay line. The delay line may include a compensating circuit configured to compensate for a change in a transconductance of the input transistor resulting from various factors. One such compensating circuit may be configured to provide a bias signal at an output node having a magnitude that is a function of a transconductance of a transistor in the compensating circuit. The bias signal may be used by each of the delay stages to maintain the gain of the respective delay stage substantially constant, such as a gain of substantially unity, despite changes in a transconductance of the respective input transistor in each of the delay stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Willey
  • Patent number: 8334714
    Abstract: Memories, clock generators and methods for providing an output clock signal are disclosed. One such method includes delaying a buffered clock signal by a adjustable delay to provide an output clock signal, providing a feedback clock signal from the output clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle of the buffered clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. An example clock generator includes a forward clock path configured to provide a delayed output clock signal from a clock driver circuit, and further includes a feedback clock path configured to provide a feedback clock signal based at least in part on the delayed output clock signal, for example, frequency dividing the delayed output clock signal. The feedback clock path further configured to control adjustment a duty cycle of the buffered input clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Willey, Yantao Ma
  • Publication number: 20120306554
    Abstract: Clock signal timing cells, clock signal timing circuits, clock circuits, memory devices, systems, and method for altering the timing of a clock signal are disclosed. An example method for altering the timing of an output signal provided responsive to an input clock signal includes adjusting a transition of an edge of the output signal from one voltage level to another based at least in part on a bias signal. An example clock signal timing cell includes an inverter and a bias controlled inverter coupled in parallel to the inverter. The bias controlled circuit is configured to provide an output signal wherein a transition of a clock edge of the output signal between first and second voltage levels is based at least in part on a bias signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yantao Ma, Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120293221
    Abstract: A delay lock loop comprising: a first delay loop, for delaying an input signal to generate a first output signal; a second delay loop, for frequency-dividing and delaying the input signal to generate a second output signal, wherein a frequency of the first output signal is higher than which of the second output signal; a phase detector, selectively detecting phases of the input signal, and one of the first delayed output signal and the second delayed output signal, to generate a phase detecting result; and a delay control circuit, for generating a first and a second delay control signal according to the phase detecting result, wherein the first and the second delay control signals are respectively transmitted to the first delay loop and the second delay loop, to control delay amounts of the first delay loop and the second delay loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Yantao Ma, Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120268171
    Abstract: Memories, clock generators and methods for providing an output clock signal are disclosed. One such method includes delaying a buffered clock signal by a adjustable delay to provide an output clock signal, providing a feedback clock signal from the output clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle of the buffered clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. An example clock generator includes a forward clock path configured to provide a delayed output clock signal from a clock driver circuit, and further includes a feedback clock path configured to provide a feedback clock signal based at least in part on the delayed output clock signal, for example, frequency dividing the delayed output clock signal. The feedback clock path further configured to control adjustment a duty cycle of the buffered input clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Willey, Yantao Ma
  • Patent number: 8283950
    Abstract: Embodiments of delay lines may include a plurality of delay stages coupled to each other in series from a first stage to a last stage. Each delay stage may include an input transistor receiving a signal being delayed by the delay line. The delay line may include a compensating circuit configured to compensate for a change in a transconductance of the input transistor resulting from various factors. One such compensating circuit may be configured to provide a bias signal at an output node having a magnitude that is a function of a transconductance of a transistor in the compensating circuit. The bias signal may be used by each of the delay stages to maintain the gain of the respective delay stage substantially constant, such as a gain of substantially unity, despite changes in a transconductance of the respective input transistor in each of the delay stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120249193
    Abstract: Measurement initialization circuitry is described. Propagation of a start signal through a variable delay line may be stopped by either of two stop signals. One stop signal corresponds to a rising edge of a reference clock signal. A second stop signal corresponds to a falling edge of the reference clock signal. The start signal propagation is stopped responsive to the first to arrive of the first and second stop signals. Accordingly, in some examples, start signal propagation through a variable delay line may be stopped responsive to either a rising or falling edge of the reference clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Willey, Yantao Ma
  • Publication number: 20120182057
    Abstract: Examples of circuits and methods for compensating for power supply induced signal jitter in path elements sensitive to power supply variation. An example includes a signal path coupling an input to an output, the signal path including a delay element having a first delay and a bias-controlled delay element having a second delay. The first delay of the delay element exhibits a first response to changes in power applied thereto and the second delay of the bias-controlled delay element exhibits a second response to changes in the power applied such that the second response compensates at least in part for the first response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Yantao Ma, Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120086488
    Abstract: A differential amplifier may be configured to have a duty cycle and/or gain that is adjustable, such as by adjusting the switch points of circuitry in the differential amplifier. The differential amplifier may alternatively or additionally have a hysteresis function by, for example, using a signal feedback from the output of the amplifier to adjust the switch points of circuitry in the differential amplifier. The differential amplifier may be used for a variety of purposes, such as in an input buffer or delay line, either of which may be used, for example, in a clock generator circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120049817
    Abstract: Current circuits, circuits configured to provide a bias voltage, and methods for providing a bias voltage are described, including a current circuit configured to receive a reference current and having an output at which an output current is provided. One such current circuit includes a first current mirror configured to receive a first portion of the reference current and further configured to mirror the first portion of the reference current to provide a first current. The current circuit further includes a second current mirror configured to receive a second portion of the reference current and receive the first current. The second current mirror is further configured to provide a portion of the first current to the output of the current circuit as the output current and to receive another portion of the first current and mirror the same as the second portion of the reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120038405
    Abstract: Embodiments of delay lines may include a plurality of delay stages coupled to each other in series from a first stage to a last stage. Each delay stage may include an input transistor receiving a signal being delayed by the delay line. The delay line may include a compensating circuit configured to compensate for a change in a transconductance of the input transistor resulting from various factors. One such compensating circuit may be configured to provide a bias signal at an output node having a magnitude that is a function of a transconductance of a transistor in the compensating circuit. The bias signal may be used by each of the delay stages to maintain the gain of the respective delay stage substantially constant, such as a gain of substantially unity, despite changes in a transconductance of the respective input transistor in each of the delay stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20120001663
    Abstract: An input buffer with a reduced sensitivity to an externally generated reference voltage includes: a first input coupled between a first load and ground, the first input being an externally generated reference voltage; a second input coupled between a second load and ground, for generating an output; and a third input coupled in parallel to the first input, the third input being an internally generated reference voltage. The output switches between high and low or vice versa when the second input exceeds a switching point which is an average of the first input and the third input according to the relative size of the first input and the third input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20110248752
    Abstract: Memories, clock generators and methods for providing an output clock signal are disclosed. One such method includes delaying a buffered clock signal by a adjustable delay to provide an output clock signal, providing a feedback clock signal from the output clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle of the buffered clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. An example clock generator includes a forward clock path configured to provide a delayed output clock signal from a clock driver circuit, and further includes a feedback clock path configured to provide a feedback clock signal based at least in part on the delayed output clock signal, for example, frequency dividing the delayed output clock signal. The feedback clock path further configured to control adjustment a duty cycle of the buffered input clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Willey, Yantao Ma
  • Publication number: 20110204981
    Abstract: Bias circuits, amplifiers and methods are provided, such as those for providing bias signals over a range of common mode inputs for an amplifier to output a constant current. One example of a bias circuit is configured to generate a bias signal having a voltage magnitude according to a reference signal. The reference signal is indicative of a common mode input level of an input signal of the amplifier circuit and the bias circuit is further configured to adjust the bias signal over a range of common mode input levels. An amplifier receiving the bias signal is configured to generate an output signal in response to an input signal and drive an output current based on the voltage magnitude of the bias signal provided by the bias circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Jurasek, Aaron Willey
  • Patent number: 7944300
    Abstract: Bias circuits, amplifiers and methods are provided, such as those for providing bias signals over a range of common mode inputs for an amplifier to output a constant current. One example of a bias circuit is configured to generate a bias signal having a voltage magnitude according to a reference signal. The reference signal is indicative of a common mode input level of an input signal of the amplifier circuit and the bias circuit is further configured to adjust the bias signal over a range of common mode input levels. An amplifier receiving the bias signal is configured to generate an output signal in response to an input signal and drive an output current based on the voltage magnitude of the bias signal provided by the bias circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Jurasek, Aaron Willey
  • Publication number: 20110050343
    Abstract: Bias circuits, amplifiers and methods are provided, such as those for providing bias signals over a range of common mode inputs for an amplifier to output a constant current. One example of a bias circuit is configured to generate a bias signal having a voltage magnitude according to a reference signal. The reference signal is indicative of a common mode input level of an input signal of the amplifier circuit and the bias circuit is further configured to adjust the bias signal over a range of common mode input levels. An amplifier receiving the bias signal is configured to generate an output signal in response to an input signal and drive an output current based on the voltage magnitude of the bias signal provided by the bias circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Jurasek, Aaron Willey