Patents by Inventor Alan Alexander

Alan Alexander 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).

  • Patent number: 11966740
    Abstract: A processor comprising: a register file comprising a group of operand registers for holding data values, each operand register being a fixed number of bits in length for holding a respective data value of that length; and processing logic comprising floating point logic for performing floating point operations on data values in the register file, the floating point logic is configured to process the fixed number of bits in the respective data value according to a floating point format comprising a set of mantissa bits and a set of exponent bits. The processing logic is operable to select between a plurality of different variants of the floating point format, at least some of the variants having a different size sets of mantissa bits and exponent bits relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Graphcore Limited
    Inventors: Mrudula Gore, Alan Alexander
  • Publication number: 20240118894
    Abstract: A processing device comprises a register configured to store a count value indicating a number of times overflow events have resulted from arithmetic operations performed by the processing device. An execution unit of the device, in response to performing an arithmetic operation having a result which extends beyond one of the predefined limit values for the floating-point format, stores a result value that is within the predefined limit values, and cause the count value to be incremented. The count value provides a performant way of determining the number of overflow events that have occurred during the arithmetic processing performed by the execution unit. The count value provides a metric that provides a measure of the inaccuracy imparted into the results of the application processing by overflow events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Alan ALEXANDER, Dominic MASTERS
  • Publication number: 20240093795
    Abstract: A check valve may include: a check seat defining a flow path; a clapper assembly hingedly connected to the check seat and configured to obstruct the flow path, including: a clapper and a seal retainer detachably mounted to the clapper; a first extension extending from the clapper assembly in an upstream direction and having a roller; a cam arm rotatable relative to the clapper assembly and configured to engage with the roller; and a torsion spring operatively connected to the cam arm so as to apply a biasing force to the cam arm in the upstream direction. The biasing force may be imparted to the clapper assembly via the cam arm and roller, so that the clapper assembly obstructs the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Luis Fernando Prieto, Alan Long Thien Du, Pui Yuen Ng, Arturo Gomez, Adrian Alexander Filip
  • Publication number: 20240093796
    Abstract: A spring stop arrangement for a check valve may include: a check seat defining a flow path; a clapper assembly connected to the check seat and configured to obstruct the flow path, the clapper assembly including: a clapper; and a seal retainer detachably mounted to the clapper; a cam arm connected to the check seat, the cam arm including a stopper; and a torsion spring operatively connected to the cam arm so as to apply a biasing force to the cam arm against the direction of fluid flow. When the seal retainer is dismounted from the clapper, the stopper may be configured to contact the check seat so as to prevent rotation of the cam arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Edward Barry Knoles, Luis Fernando Prieto, Alan Long Thien Du, Pui Yuen Ng, Arturo Gomez, Adrian Alexander Filip
  • Publication number: 20240093239
    Abstract: Described herein are methods, compositions, and systems derived from uncultivated microorganisms useful for gene editing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Brian THOMAS, Christopher BROWN, Audra DEVOTO, Cristina BUTTERFIELD, Lisa ALEXANDER, Daniela S.A. GOLTSMAN, Justine ALBERS, Alan BROOKS, Greg COST, Morayma TEMOCHE-DIAZ, Cindy CASTELLE, Rebecca LAMOTHE
  • Publication number: 20240085241
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a meta-optics lens having a point spread function. The meta-optics lens is configured to receive light associated with a scene and output transformed light. At least one value of at least one mathematical property of the transformed light is dependent upon a set of wavelengths associated with the transformed light. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to receive a representation of the transformed light. The processor is further configured to determine the at least one value of the at least one mathematical property of the transformed light using the representation of the transformed light. The processor is further configured to determine spectrum information associated with the scene based on the at least one value and the point spread function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Alan ZHAN, Shane Alexander COLBURN, Arka MAJUMDAR
  • Patent number: 11928523
    Abstract: A multi-tile processing unit in which the tiles in the processing unit may be divided between two or more different external sync groups for performing barrier synchronisations. In this way, different sets of tiles of the same processing unit each sync with different sets of tiles external to that processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: GRAPHCORE LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Knowles, Daniel John Pelham Wilkinson, Alan Alexander, Stephen Felix, Richard Osborne, David Lacey, Lars Paul Huse
  • Publication number: 20240070195
    Abstract: Techniques relating to streaming video are disclosed. These techniques include identifying one or more streaming video sessions for one or more users based on a plurality of events relating to streaming video for the one or more users. The techniques further include storing data for the one or more streaming video sessions in an electronic database, based on the plurality of events, identifying a plurality of metadata relating to the events, and determining, based on a threshold value, a time to store at least a portion of the plurality of metadata in the electronic database, the time occurring after the storing the data for the one or more streaming video sessions. The techniques further include responding to a query for metrics relating to the one or more streaming video sessions by aggregating at least a portion of the stored data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Philip Alan KENDALL, Robert John PICKERILL, Samuel James Alexander HALLIDAY
  • Publication number: 20230281013
    Abstract: A processing device comprising a plurality of operand registers, wherein a first subset of the operand registers are configured to store state information for a plurality of bins, comprising a range of values and a bin count associated with each respective bin, wherein a second subset of the operand registers is configured to store a vector of floating-point values; and an execution unit configured to execute a first instruction taking the state information for the plurality of bins and the vector of floating-point values as operands, and in response to execution of the first instruction, for each of the floating-point values: identify based on an exponent of the respective floating-point value, each one of the plurality of bins for which the respective floating-point value falls within the associated range of values; and increment the bin count associated with the identified bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Alan ALEXANDER, Simon KNOWLES, Godfrey Da Costa, Badreddine NOUNE
  • Publication number: 20230281015
    Abstract: A processing device comprising: a control register configured to store a scaling factor; at least one execution unit configured to execute instructions to perform arithmetic operations on input floating-point numbers provided according to a first floating-point format, wherein each of the input floating-point numbers provided according to the first floating-point format comprises a predetermined number of bits, wherein the at least one execution unit is configured to, in response to execution of an instance of a first of the instructions: perform processing of a first set of the input floating-point numbers to generate a result value, the result value provided in a further format and comprising more the predetermined number of bits, enabling representation of a greater range of values than is representable in the first floating-point format; and apply the scaling factor specified in the control register to increase or decrease an exponent of the result value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Alan ALEXANDER, Simon KNOWLES, Stephen FELIX, Carlo LUSCHI, Badreddine NOUNE, Mrudula GORE, Godfrey DA COSTA, Edward ANDREWS, Dominic MASTERS
  • Publication number: 20230273791
    Abstract: A hardware module is provided in an execution unit and is responsive to execution of multiple instances of a new type of instruction to perform a plurality of reductions in parallel. The hardware module comprises: a first accumulator storing first state associated with a first of the reductions; and a second accumulator storing second state associated with a second of the reductions. Upon execution of each of the multiple instances of the first type of instruction: an input value for the respective instance is provided to a first processing circuit of the hardware module such that the first processing circuit performs a first type of operation to update the first state; and the same input value is provided to the second processing circuit of the hardware module such that the second processing circuit performs a second type of operation to update the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Alan ALEXANDER, Mrudula GORE
  • Publication number: 20230244488
    Abstract: By providing a mode indication, an execution unit is operable to operate in two separate modes, each of which cause the execution unit to perform calculations by interpreting the same bit string (the first of the bit strings) as representing one of two different values. When operating in the first mode, the first of the bit string represents an undefined value, in other words a NaN. When operating in the second mode, the first of the bit strings represents a negative zero. Hence, the same string of bits can represent either a NaN or a negative zero depending upon the mode of operation of the processor. Since it is not necessary to reserve more than one bit string to represent these two special values, the remaining combinations of bits are available to represent other values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Alan ALEXANDER
  • Publication number: 20230214255
    Abstract: A processing device comprising: at least one execution unit configured to interleave execution of a plurality of worker threads, wherein each of the worker threads is configured to execute a same set of code to perform operations on a different set of data held in an input buffer of a memory of the processing device and output the results data to an output buffer. An instruction is executed so as to cause a plurality of operand registers, each of which is associated with one of the worker threads, to be populated with one or more variables enabling each worker to determine where in the input buffer is located its set of input data and where to store its results data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Alan ALEXANDER, Stephen FELIX, Edward ANDREWS, Godfrey DA COSTA
  • Publication number: 20230214116
    Abstract: A new type of instruction and a control register for the new type of instruction are provided to handle data that may be misaligned in memory. A first part of data (which may be misaligned in memory) is loaded into a first set of registers by loading a first atom containing the first part of data into registers. The pack instruction is executed by an execution unit to place part of data (whose length and starting position are indicated by second and third values in a control register) from one set of registers into an identified location (identified by a first value in the control register) in another set of registers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Alan ALEXANDER, Edward ANDREWS, Peter HEDINGER
  • Publication number: 20230029217
    Abstract: A multi-tile processing unit in which the tiles in the processing unit may be divided between two or more different external sync groups for performing barrier synchronisations. In this way, different sets of tiles of the same processing unit each sync with different sets of tiles external to that processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Simon KNOWLES, Daniel John Pelham WILKINSON, Alan ALEXANDER, Stephen FELIX, Richard OSBORNE, David LACEY, Lars Paul HUSE
  • Publication number: 20220107805
    Abstract: A processor comprising: a register file comprising a group of operand registers for holding data values, each operand register being a fixed number of bits in length for holding a respective data value of that length; and processing logic comprising floating point logic for performing floating point operations on data values in the register file, the floating point logic is configured to process the fixed number of bits in the respective data value according to a floating point format comprising a set of mantissa bits and a set of exponent bits. The processing logic is operable to select between a plurality of different variants of the floating point format, at least some of the variants having a different size sets of mantissa bits and exponent bits relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Mrudula GORE, Alan ALEXANDER
  • Patent number: 8790499
    Abstract: A process kit for a sputtering chamber comprises a deposition ring, cover ring, and a shield assembly, for placement about a substrate support in a sputtering chamber. The deposition ring comprising an annular band with an inner lip extending transversely, a raised ridge substantially parallel to the substrate support, an inner open channel, and a ledge radially outward of the raised ridge. A cover ring at least partially covers the deposition ring, the cover ring comprising an annular plate comprising a footing which rests on a surface about the substrate support, and downwardly extending first and second cylindrical walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Donny Young, Alan Alexander Ritchie, Ilyoung (Richard) Hong, Kathleen A. Scheible
  • Patent number: 8689197
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of optimizing an executable program to improve instruction cache hit rate when executed on a processor. A method of predicting instruction cache behavior of an executable program is also disclosed. According to further aspects of the present invention, there is provided a software development tool product comprising code which when executed on a computer will perform the method of optimizing an executable program. A linker product and a computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Icera, Inc.
    Inventors: David Alan Edwards, Alan Alexander
  • Patent number: 8647484
    Abstract: A sputtering chamber has a sputtering target comprising a backing plate and a sputtering plate. The backing plate has a groove. The sputtering plate comprises a cylindrical mesa having a plane, and an annular inclined rim surrounding the cylindrical mesa. In one version, the backing plate comprises a material having a high thermal conductivity and a low electrical resistivity. In another version, the backing plate comprises a backside surface with a single groove or a plurality of grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Alexander Ritchie, Donny Young, Ilyoung (Richard) Hong, Kathleen A. Scheible, Umesh Kelkar
  • Patent number: 8285979
    Abstract: A method, chip and computer program product for booting from a secondary boot source. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) retrieving primary boot code from an on-chip primary boot source on the same chip as a processor, the primary boot code comprising at least a boot discovery algorithm for determining the location of an external secondary boot source external to said chip, (2) executing the primary boot code on the processor, including the boot discovery algorithm, thus operating the processor to check each of a plurality of locations to determine the location of the external secondary boot source, (3) retrieving the secondary boot code from the determined location and (4) continuing the booting of the processor by executing the secondary boot code on the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Icera Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Alexander, Philippe Guasch