Patents by Inventor Amrinder S. Barn

Amrinder S. Barn 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: 11688486
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory circuit that includes a plurality of sub-arrays. The memory circuit is configured to implement a retention mode according to test information indicating voltage sensitivities for the plurality of sub-arrays. The apparatus also includes a voltage control circuit coupled to a power supply node. The voltage control circuit is configured, in response to activation of the retention mode for the plurality of sub-arrays, to generate, based on the test information, at least two different retention voltage levels for different ones of the plurality of sub-arrays. The at least two different retention voltage levels are lower than a power supply voltage level of the power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shahzad Nazar, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Amrinder S. Barn
  • Publication number: 20220028479
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory circuit that includes a plurality of sub-arrays. The memory circuit is configured to implement a retention mode according to test information indicating voltage sensitivities for the plurality of sub-arrays. The apparatus also includes a voltage control circuit coupled to a power supply node. The voltage control circuit is configured, in response to activation of the retention mode for the plurality of sub-arrays, to generate, based on the test information, at least two different retention voltage levels for different ones of the plurality of sub-arrays. The at least two different retention voltage levels are lower than a power supply voltage level of the power supply node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Shahzad Nazar, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Amrinder S. Barn
  • Patent number: 11094395
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory circuit that includes a plurality of sub-arrays. The memory circuit is configured to implement a retention mode according to test information indicating voltage sensitivities for the plurality of sub-arrays. The apparatus also includes a voltage control circuit coupled to a power supply node. The voltage control circuit is configured, in response to activation of the retention mode for the plurality of sub-arrays, to generate, based on the test information, at least two different retention voltage levels for different ones of the plurality of sub-arrays. The at least two different retention voltage levels are lower than a power supply voltage level of the power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shahzad Nazar, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Amrinder S. Barn
  • Publication number: 20210142863
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory circuit that includes a plurality of sub-arrays. The memory circuit is configured to implement a retention mode according to test information indicating voltage sensitivities for the plurality of sub-arrays. The apparatus also includes a voltage control circuit coupled to a power supply node. The voltage control circuit is configured, in response to activation of the retention mode for the plurality of sub-arrays, to generate, based on the test information, at least two different retention voltage levels for different ones of the plurality of sub-arrays. The at least two different retention voltage levels are lower than a power supply voltage level of the power supply node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Shahzad Nazar, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Amrinder S. Barn
  • Patent number: 10523194
    Abstract: A power switch control circuit is disclosed. A sensor circuit may determine a leakage current of a power switch coupled to a power supply signal and a power terminal of a circuit block. The power switch may be configured to selectively couple or decouple the circuit block from the power supply signal using a switch control signal. The switch control circuit may, in response to receiving a request to open the power switch, determine a target voltage level that is greater than a voltage level of the power supply signal for the switch control signal using the leakage current, and transition the switch control signal from an initial voltage to the target voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jaroslav Raszka, Amrinder S. Barn, Victor Zyuban, Shingo Suzuki, Ajay Kumar Bhatia, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Shahzad Nazar, Greg M. Hess
  • Patent number: 10340900
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first latch including a true storage node and a complement storage node, a discharge circuit, and a second latch. The first latch may pre-charge the true storage node and the complement storage node to a first voltage level using a clock signal. The discharge circuit may, in response to a determination that a scan mode signal is asserted, selectively discharge either the true storage node or the complement storage node based on a value of a scan data signal, and otherwise may selectively discharge either the true storage node or the complement storage node based on a value of a data signal. The second latch may store a value of a data bit based on a voltage level of the true storage node and a voltage level of the complement storage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Amrinder S. Barn, Bo Zhao, Michael A. Dreesen
  • Publication number: 20190097622
    Abstract: A power switch control circuit is disclosed. A sensor circuit may determine a leakage current of a power switch coupled to a power supply signal and a power terminal of a circuit block. The power switch may be configured to selectively couple or decouple the circuit block from the power supply signal using a switch control signal. The switch control circuit may, in response to receiving a request to open the power switch, determine a target voltage level that is greater than a voltage level of the power supply signal for the switch control signal using the leakage current, and transition the switch control signal from an initial voltage to the target voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jaroslav Raszka, Amrinder S. Barn, Victor Zyuban, Shingo Suzuki, Ajay Kumar Bhatia, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Shahzad Nazar, Greg M. Hess
  • Publication number: 20180181193
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first latch including a true storage node and a complement storage node, a discharge circuit, and a second latch. The first latch may pre-charge the true storage node and the complement storage node to a first voltage level using a clock signal. The discharge circuit may, in response to a determination that a scan mode signal is asserted, selectively discharge either the true storage node or the complement storage node based on a value of a scan data signal, and otherwise may selectively discharge either the true storage node or the complement storage node based on a value of a data signal. The second latch may store a value of a data bit based on a voltage level of the true storage node and a voltage level of the complement storage node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Amrinder S. Barn, Bo Zhao, Michael A. Dreesen
  • Patent number: 9324386
    Abstract: A device for comparing voltage levels of a pair of input signals is presented. The device may include a pre-amp circuit and a differential amplifier. The pre-amp circuit may be configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, adjust a voltage level of each of the pair of input signals, and assert a control signal after a pre-determined period of time from the assertion of an enable signal. The differential amplifier may be configured to amplify a voltage difference between the first input signal and the second input signal dependent upon the adjusted voltage level of the pair of input signals in response to the assertion of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Bhatia, Amrinder S Barn
  • Patent number: 9311967
    Abstract: A system, a memory device and a method are contemplated in which the apparatus may include a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of voltage reduction circuits, and control circuitry. The plurality of voltage reduction circuits may be configured to reduce a voltage level of a power supply coupled to the plurality of memory cells. The control circuitry may be configured to select one of the voltage reduction circuits based on one or more operating parameters. The control circuitry may be further configured to activate the selected voltage reduction circuit upon receiving a write command directed towards the memory cells. The control circuitry may be further configured to execute the write command. Upon completion of the write command, the control circuitry may be further configured to de-activate the selected one of the voltage reduction circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Bhatia, Anshul Y. Mehta, Amrinder S. Barn, Greg M. Hess
  • Publication number: 20150348600
    Abstract: A system, a memory device and a method are contemplated in which the apparatus may include a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of voltage reduction circuits, and control circuitry. The plurality of voltage reduction circuits may be configured to reduce a voltage level of a power supply coupled to the plurality of memory cells. The control circuitry may be configured to select one of the voltage reduction circuits based on one or more operating parameters. The control circuitry may be further configured to activate the selected voltage reduction circuit upon receiving a write command directed towards the memory cells. The control circuitry may be further configured to execute the write command. Upon completion of the write command, the control circuitry may be further configured to de-activate the selected one of the voltage reduction circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Bhatia, Anshul Y. Mehta, Amrinder S. Barn, Greg M. Hess
  • Publication number: 20150207462
    Abstract: A device for comparing voltage levels of a pair of input signals is presented. The device may include a pre-amp circuit and a differential amplifier. The pre-amp circuit may be configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, adjust a voltage level of each of the pair of input signals, and assert a control signal after a pre-determined period of time from the assertion of an enable signal. The differential amplifier may be configured to amplify a voltage difference between the first input signal and the second input signal dependent upon the adjusted voltage level of the pair of input signals in response to the assertion of the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Bhatia, Amrinder S. Barn