Patents by Inventor Bradley Nelson

Bradley Nelson 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: 20080040695
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately modeling an asynchronous interface using expanded logic elements are provided. With the apparatus and method, the logic of an asynchronous interface is reduced to primitive logic elements. These primitive logic elements are expanded by the mechanisms of the present invention to take into consideration whether or not the primitive logic elements themselves may be experiencing a switching or glitch hazard and whether or not the inputs to the primitive logic elements may be based on a switching or glitch hazard from another primitive logic element in the asynchronous interface logic. These expanded logic elements are used in an integrated circuit design to replace the original primitive logic elements in the design. The asynchronous interface may then be simulated with the expanded logic elements providing outputs indicative of whether the actual data output of the expanded logic elements is deterministic or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bing-Lun Chu, Yee Ja, Bradley Nelson, Wolfgang Roesner
  • Publication number: 20070253275
    Abstract: Asynchronous behavior of a circuit is modeled by modifying latches in a netlist to add an extra port to the latches, e.g., a single-port latch is transformed into a dual-port latch. Each input port has an enable line and a data input. The data input in the added port is a feedback line from the latch output, and the enable line in the added port is the logical NOR of all of the original enable lines. By adding this extra latch port in the higher-level model, it becomes possible to introduce assertion logic to ensure that one and only one latch port for a given latch is ever active during the same simulation cycle. The model can then be tested earlier in the design methodology prior to the availability of the post-synthesis netlist. The model can also be used in both simulation and formal or semi-formal verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Yee Ja, Bradley Nelson, Wolfgang Roesner
  • Publication number: 20070244685
    Abstract: A method for modeling metastablilty decay in digital circuit devices includes identifying each latch at a receiving end of an asynchronous clock boundary, enumerating a latch depth for each latch within logical influence of each of the identified receive latches, and inserting fence logic immediately prior to the input of each latch at an enumerated depth, n, wherein n represents a latch depth at which an indeterminate metastable value received at the asynchronous boundary decays to a random logic value. The fence logic converts an identified indeterminate value to a random logic value, and any indeterminate value initially received is allowed to propagate up to the fence logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yee Ja, Bradley Nelson, Raymond Schuppe
  • Publication number: 20070198238
    Abstract: Asynchronous behavior of a circuit is emulated by modifying a netlist to insert additional logic at a driving element such as a latch. The additional logic outputs one of (i) a present output from the driving element, (ii) a delayed output from the driving element, or (iii) a random value, which drives downstream logic. The output of the additional logic is selectively responsive to a user-controlled skew enable input. The invention allows for simpler data skew logic transformations which are applicable to both latches and primary inputs, with no dependencies on any clock net.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Zoltan Hidvegi, Yee Ja, Bradley Nelson
  • Patent number: 7216567
    Abstract: A material removing apparatus includes a frame including a planar base portion and axially spaced front and rear portions. An elongated axle and a plurality of wheels are attached thereto and a plurality of rigid brackets are secured to the axle adjacent to the wheels. A contoured handle is securely mounted to the frame. The apparatus also includes a lifting plate extending forwardly from the bracket end portions and spaced forwardly from the wheels for lifting shingles upwardly and away from a support surface. The plate includes an inner shaft having opposed end portions for defining a fulcrum axis and an outer shaft journaled about the inner shaft and rotatable about the fulcrum axis in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. A mechanism is included for pivoting the plate about a selected arcuate path so that an operator can position the plate between the support surface and the shingles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Bradley A. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20070098020
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements to model an asynchronous interface are disclosed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to generate a skew pattern for a semi-static or time-constrained, asynchronous interface and employ the skew pattern in data transfers during a time interval in which the asynchronous interface. Embodiments may then alter the skew pattern in at the expiration of the time interval. In many embodiments, changes to the skew pattern may be substantially non-deterministic. In other embodiments, changes to the skew pattern may follow a heuristic or other dynamic or pre-determined pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Yee Ja, Bradley Nelson
  • Publication number: 20060190858
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately modeling an asynchronous interface using expanded logic elements are provided. With the apparatus and method, the logic of an asynchronous interface is reduced to primitive logic elements. These primitive logic elements are expanded by the mechanisms of the present invention to take into consideration whether or not the primitive logic elements themselves may be experiencing a switching or glitch hazard and whether or not the inputs to the primitive logic elements may be based on a switching or glitch hazard from another primitive logic element in the asynchronous interface logic. These expanded logic elements are used in an integrated circuit design to replace the original primitive logic elements in the design. The asynchronous interface may then be simulated with the expanded logic elements providing outputs indicative of whether the actual data output of the expanded logic elements is deterministic or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Bing-Lun Chu, Yee Ja, Bradley Nelson, Wolfgang Roesner
  • Publication number: 20060190883
    Abstract: A system and method for unfolding/replicating logic paths to facilitate propagation delay modeling are provided. With the system and method, nets of an integrated circuit design are unfolded and logic of these nets is replicated such that each leg of a fanout can be driven independently from the signal source. In order to unfold the nets, the nets and logic are replicated in the netlist and connected to replicated source and endpoints. These new nets in the netlist may then be driven separately such that a different propagation delay along different nets from the same source may be simulated. In this way, a level of propagation delay may be abstracted into the modeling by driving or delaying each path separately. The transitioning value will then appear to have differing arrival times from the perspective of the sinks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Yee Ja, Bradley Nelson
  • Patent number: 6993729
    Abstract: A statement in at least one hardware definition language (HDL) file specifies a plurality of design entities representing a functional portion of a digital system. The plurality of design entities have an associated plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible latch values, where different sets of latch values for the plurality of configuration latches correspond to different configurations of the functional portion of the digital system. With a statement in the at least one HDL file, a Dial group entity is associated with one of the plurality of design entities. The Dial group entity has a Dial list listing a plurality of Dial entities whose settings collectively control which set of latch values is loaded into the plurality of configuration latches. Membership in the Dial group constrains all instances of the plurality of Dial entities belonging to a particular instance of the Dial group to be set as a group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Nelson, Wolfgang Roesner, Hugh Shen, Derek Edward Williams
  • Publication number: 20060004556
    Abstract: In a hardware definition language (HDL) file among one or more files, one or more design entities containing a functional portion of a digital system are specified. The one or more design entities logically contain a plurality of latches having a respective plurality of different possible latch values that each corresponds to a different configuration of the functional portion of the digital system. With one or more statements in the one or more files, a multi-level Dial tree is defined that includes a selective control Dial (SCDial) entity at an upper level that is associated with at least one design entity. The SCDial entity has a Dial input, a plurality of Dial outputs coupled to inputs of the plurality of lower level Dials, and a mapping table indicating a mapping between each of a plurality of possible input values of the Dial input and a respective one of a plurality of sets of output values for the plurality of Dial outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Nelson, Wolfgang Roesner, Derek Williams
  • Publication number: 20050251773
    Abstract: Method and program product for analyzing an asynchronously clocked system. The system being analyzed has independently clocked subsystems with clock boundaries therebetween. The model identifies a boundary between the two independently clocked subsystems, and identifies behavior at the boundary between the two independently clocked subsystems. and modeling a latch at the boundary between the two independently clocked subsystems with a behavior model, said behavioral model comprising data receiver time delays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Dean Bair, Edward Kaminski, Bradley Nelson
  • Publication number: 20050210855
    Abstract: When harvesting forage in the form of a large round bale, for instance, there are times in which a windrow of forage material lies outside the side boundaries of the bale-forming chamber. This may be due to the windrow being made wide by machinery having driven through it, or by wind, or because of the need to turn the forage harvesting equipment tightly. A wide pickup, notably wider than the width of the bale-forming chamber, provides a solution to this common problem. Dual augers at each end of the wide pickup provide the force to direct the forage into a narrower path, to enter the bale-forming chamber. The orientation and size of the augers permits the pickup header to reside in the same location it would if it was not wider than the baler. Tines or teeth of various rigidities and shapes are provided in the pickup for more effective pickup of the forage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Jerry Bandstra, Bradley Nelson
  • Publication number: 20050149309
    Abstract: According to a method of specifying a trace array for simulation of a digital design, one or more entities within a simulation model are specified with one or more statements in one or more hardware description language (HDL) files. In addition, a trace array for storing data generated through simulation of the simulation model is specified in one or more statements in the one or more HDL files. The HDL files may subsequently be processed to create a simulation model containing at least one design entity and a trace array within the design entity for storing trace data regarding specified signals of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Bradley Nelson, Wolfgang Roesner, Derek Williams
  • Publication number: 20040216075
    Abstract: A statement in at least one hardware definition language (HDL) file specifies a plurality of design entities representing a functional portion of a digital system. The plurality of design entities have an associated plurality of configuration latches each having a plurality of different possible latch values, where different sets of latch values for the plurality of configuration latches correspond to different configurations of the functional portion of the digital system. With a statement in the at least one HDL file, a Dial group entity is associated with one of the plurality of design entities. The Dial group entity has a Dial list listing a plurality of Dial entities whose settings collectively control which set of latch values is loaded into the plurality of configuration latches. Membership in the Dial group constrains all instances of the plurality of Dial entities belonging to a particular instance of the Dial group to be set as a group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Bradley Nelson, Wolfgang Roesner, Hugh Shen, Derek Edward Williams