Patents by Inventor Andy T. Nguyen

Andy T. Nguyen 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: 6924684
    Abstract: Phase shifter circuits and methods use counters to define the positions of the output clock edges. A plurality of counters are each clocked by a count clock relatively much faster than the input clock. A first counter counts for one input clock period, and a delay value is determined based at least in part on the counted value. In some embodiments, the delay value has a maximum value that depends on the counted value. The delay value is provided to a second counter, which counts from zero to the delay value and generates a pulse one delay value after the beginning of the input clock period. A third counter running at the same clock rate generates a pulse after an additional delay. The pulses from the counters are used to provide output clock edges at predetermined times during the input clock cycle. Some circuits also perform a duty cycle correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6914460
    Abstract: Clock doubler circuits and methods use counters to define the positions of the output clock edges. A plurality of counters are each clocked by a count clock relatively much faster than the input clock. A first counter counts for one input clock period, and the counted value is stored. The stored value is divided by two to provide the number of counts in half of the input clock period. The divided value is provided to a second counter that counts from zero to the divided value. Thus, the second counter generates a pulse halfway through the input clock period. Other counters running at the same clock rate can be used to generate pulses at other times in the input clock cycle, as desired. The pulses from the counters are used to provide output clock edges at predetermined times during the input clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6906562
    Abstract: Clock multiplier circuits and methods use counters to define the positions of the output clock edges. A plurality of counters are each clocked by a count clock relatively much faster than the input clock. A first counter counts for one input clock period, and the counted value is stored. The stored value is then divided and added to provide the number of counts in various fractions of the input clock period. The divided and/or added values are provided to a second counter that counts from zero and generates various pulses at desired times throughout the input clock period. The pulses from the second counter are used (sometimes in combination with the input clock signal) to provide output clock edges at predetermined times during the input clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6906571
    Abstract: Phased clock generator circuits and methods that use counters to define the desired positions of the phased output clock edges. A plurality of counters are each clocked by a count clock relatively much faster than the input clock. A first counter counts for one input clock period, and the counted value is stored. The stored value is then divided and added to provide the number of counts in various fractions of the input clock period. The divided and/or added values are provided to a second counter that counts from zero and generates various pulses at desired times throughout the input clock period. The pulses from the second counter are used (sometimes in combination with the input clock signal) to provide phased output clock signals at predetermined times during the input clock cycle. Some embodiments include a duty cycle correction feature. In some embodiments, duty cycle correction is optional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6879202
    Abstract: A digital frequency synthesizer (DFS) circuit adds little additional delay on the clock path. True and complement versions of an input clock signal are provided to a first and second passgates, respectively. Under the direction of a control circuit, the passgates pass selected rising edges of the true clock signal, and selected falling edges of the complement clock signal, to an output clock terminal of the DFS circuit. When neither the true nor the complement clock signal is passed, a keeper circuit retains the value already present at the output clock terminal. In some embodiments, both passgates can be disabled and a ground or power high signal can be applied to the output terminal. Other embodiments include PLDs in which the DFS circuits are employed to allow individual clock control for each programmable logic block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6853698
    Abstract: A ripple counter circuit supports two modes of operation, a user mode and a test mode. In the user mode, the circuit functions as a standard ripple counter, counting in response to first edges (e.g., rising edges) on a clock input signal. In the test mode, the ripple counter circuit alternates between two states. In the first state, the bits all toggle from their initialization values to new values. In the second state, the circuit operates in the same fashion as the user mode. Therefore, the ripple counter circuit counts by one, returning all of the bits to their initialization values. This capability significantly simplifies the testing process, particularly for long ripple counters. Some embodiments of the invention include various control circuits coupled to provide an internal clock signal and/or an initialization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6847241
    Abstract: Delay lock loop (DLL) circuits, systems, and methods providing glitch-free output clock signals. Glitches are eliminated from an output clock signal by using shift registers including a single token bit to select one of many delayed clock signals. A DLL clock multiplexer includes a series of shift registers, each of which selects only one of the many input clock signals at each stage. Thus, only one clock signal is selected at any given time. Delay is added or subtracted from the loop by shifting the token bit within each shift register. The token bit is shifted by a single position at a time. Therefore, no glitching occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy T. Nguyen, Shi-dong Zhou
  • Patent number: 6842043
    Abstract: Level shifter circuits that provide fast operation when changing state while generating little crowbar current. Various embodiments are presented that include some of the following features added to conventional level shifters: additional pull-down transistors coupled to each output node and gated by the associated input signal; additional pull-up transistors coupled to each output node or cross-coupled internal node and gated by the associated input signal; additional pull-up transistors coupled to the cross-coupled internal nodes and gated by the opposing output node; and additional pull-down transistors on the output nodes gated by a low voltage power high. Some of these additional transistors allow the input signal to operate more quickly on the output nodes, causing more rapid transitions on the output signals and reducing crowbar current. The pull-downs gated by the low voltage power high ensure that little or no crowbar current occurs during the power-up sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy T. Nguyen, Shi-dong Zhou, Ronald L. Cline
  • Patent number: 6831481
    Abstract: Area-efficient power-up and enable control circuits useful in PLD interconnection arrays. A control circuit can include a driver circuit, first and second pull-ups, and first and second pull-downs. The driver circuit has an output terminal coupled to a control circuit output terminal. The first and second pull-ups are coupled in series between the control circuit output terminal and power high. The first pull-up has a gate terminal coupled to an enable terminal. The second pull-up has a gate terminal coupled to a pull-up control terminal. The first and second pull-downs are coupled in parallel between the control circuit output terminal and ground. The first pull-down has a gate terminal coupled to the enable terminal. The second pull-down has a gate terminal coupled to a pull-down control terminal. In other embodiments, the first and second pull-ups are coupled in parallel, and the first and second pull-downs are coupled in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy T. Nguyen, Shankar Lakkapragada
  • Patent number: 6809555
    Abstract: Simple, glitch-free phase detector circuits provide add and subtract output signals indicating the phase relationship between two input clock signals. Some embodiments also provide a lock output signal having a lock window, and in some of these embodiments, the size of the lock window is programmable. An optionally delayed version of the feedback clock signal is stored a first time when the input clock signal goes high, then stored a second time after a predetermined delay. In some embodiments, the predetermined delay is programmable. When both stored values are low, the subtract output signal is active. When the first stored value is high, the add output signal is active, regardless of the state of the second stored value. When the first stored value is low and the second stored value is high, the two clocks are synchronized and the phase detector indicates a lock condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6788120
    Abstract: Counter-based duty cycle correction (DCC) circuits and methods. A first counter is periodically enabled to count for one input clock period. After completion of the count, the result is divided by two and stored in a register. Thus, the value stored in the register represents a point halfway through the input clock period. Each time the input clock signal changes from a first state to a second state, an output clock generator also changes the output clock signal from the first state to the second state, and the second counter is enabled. A comparator compares the value in the second counter to the value stored in the register. When the second counter has reached the value stored in the register, the half-way point of the input clock cycle has been reached, and the output clock generator changes the output clock signal from the second state back to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20040155684
    Abstract: A digital frequency synthesizer (DFS) circuit adds little additional delay on the clock path. True and complement versions of an input clock signal are provided to a first and second passgates, respectively. Under the direction of a control circuit, the passgates pass selected rising edges of the true clock signal, and selected falling edges of the complement clock signal, to an output clock terminal of the DFS circuit. When neither the true nor the complement clock signal is passed, a keeper circuit retains the value already present at the output clock terminal. In some embodiments, both passgates can be disabled and a ground or power high signal can be applied to the output terminal. Other embodiments include PLDs in which the DFS circuits are employed to allow individual clock control for each programmable logic block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6744289
    Abstract: A clock divider circuit that adds little additional delay on the clock path. Each rising and falling edge of an input clock signal triggers a pulse from a pulse generator circuit. These pulses are passed to a control circuit. True and complement versions of the input clock signal are provided to a multiplexer circuit. Under the direction of the control circuit, the multiplexer circuit passes selected rising edges of the true clock signal, and selected falling edges of the complement clock signal, to an output clock terminal of the clock divider circuit. When neither the true nor the complement clock signal is passed by the multiplexer, a keeper circuit retains the value already present at the output clock terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy T. Nguyen, Jack Siu Cheung Lo
  • Patent number: 6714057
    Abstract: A digital frequency synthesizer (DFS) circuit adds little additional delay on the clock path. True and complement versions of an input clock signal are provided to a first and second passgates, respectively. Under the direction of a control circuit, the passgates pass selected rising edges of the true clock signal, and selected falling edges of the complement clock signal, to an output clock terminal of the DFS circuit. When neither the true nor the complement clock signal is passed, a keeper circuit retains the value already present at the output clock terminal. In some embodiments, both passgates can be disabled and a ground or power high signal can be applied to the output terminal. Other embodiments include PLDs in which the DFS circuits are employed to allow individual clock control for each programmable logic block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6707331
    Abstract: A one-shot circuit provides a pulse on receipt of a first edge, and removes the pulse after a delay generated by a delay chain. However, a second, opposite edge resets the circuit without an intervening delay chain delay. The delay chain can be implemented using a chain of AND circuits (one-shot high) or OR circuits (one-shot low), each driven by the preceding circuit in the chain and by the input signal. In some embodiments, an output circuit includes a pass gate coupled between the one-shot input and output terminals and a pulldown (one-shot high) or pullup (one-shot low) that provides an inactive value when the pulse is not being applied. The pass gate and pullup or pulldown are controlled by the output of the daisy chain. Other embodiments offer programmable capabilities, such as the ability to correct for process shift by altering the effective delay of the delay chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6683481
    Abstract: A power on reset (POR) generator circuit includes a modified bandgap POR circuit in series with a modified RC POR circuit. During a fast or slow power up, the circuit behaves like a traditional bandgap POR circuit, providing a POR signal when the voltage on an internal node rises higher than a reference voltage. During a fast power up, the capacitor on the bandgap output signal ensures that the POR signal remains active long enough to reset the associated circuitry. During a slow power up, the capacitor prevents glitches in the bandgap output from being passed to the POR output signal. A feedback pulldown optionally included in the bandgap portion of the circuit helps to prevent glitches from reaching the POR output signal by raising the voltage on the internal node after the reference voltage is exceeded. Various embodiments include programmable logic devices and systems that include the described circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Shi-dong Zhou, Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6653873
    Abstract: A driver circuit drives heavily loaded signals at high speeds with a reduced crowbar current. One-shots are used to drive the output pullup and pulldown, thereby minimizing the period when both devices are turned on. One embodiment includes an inverter, a one-shot low, a one-shot high, a pullup, and a pulldown. An input signal drives the inverter and the two one-shots. The inverter output terminal is coupled to the driver output terminal, as are the pullup and pulldown. The one-shot low circuit controls the pullup. The one-shot high circuit controls the pulldown. Another embodiment includes two pre-driver circuits, one controlling an output pullup and the other controlling an output pulldown. Each of the pre-driver circuits is implemented using a one-shot low and a one-shot high, as described above. One such embodiment is an output driver for a PLD, and the one-shots include various programmable options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6628151
    Abstract: A self-regulating ramp up circuit generates a high voltage signal having a slow, smooth ramp up and reduced process and temperature variation. The circuit uses a resistor and a capacitor to control the rate at which the output signal changes state. In one embodiment, an enable signal operating at a low voltage level is shifted to the desired high voltage level using a level shifter. The resulting value is inverted using an inverter operating at the high voltage level and having a resistor in the pulldown path. The circuit output node is coupled to the output node of the inverter through a capacitor, and to the high voltage power supply through a pullup gated by the output node of the inverter. In some embodiments, the ramp up circuit forms a portion of a programmable logic device (PLD), and the capacitor and/or resistor have programmable capacitance/resistance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Shi-dong Zhou, Gubo Huang, Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6600355
    Abstract: A clock generator circuit accepts phased input clock signals having an input clock frequency, and generates from the phased signals an output clock signal having low jitter and a clock frequency created by dividing or multiplying the input clock frequency. In exemplary embodiments having four phased input signals and a duty cycle correction feature, a clock generator circuit provides output clock frequencies of the input clock frequency divided by X/2, where X is an integer. In other embodiments not having duty cycle correction, a clock generator circuit provides output clock frequencies of the input clock frequency divided by X/4. The delay through the clock generator circuit is minimal, and is independent of the divisor. Variations include programmable divisors and multipliers and optional phase shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20030107415
    Abstract: A digital frequency synthesizer (DFS) circuit adds little additional delay on the clock path. True and complement versions of an input clock signal are provided to a first and second passgates, respectively. Under the direction of a control circuit, the passgates pass selected rising edges of the true clock signal, and selected falling edges of the complement clock signal, to an output clock terminal of the DFS circuit. When neither the true nor the complement clock signal is passed, a keeper circuit retains the value already present at the output clock terminal. In some embodiments, both passgates can be disabled and a ground or power high signal can be applied to the output terminal. Other embodiments include PLDs in which the DFS circuits are employed to allow individual clock control for each programmable logic block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen