Patents by Inventor Clemenz Portmann

Clemenz Portmann 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: 7149856
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory control device comprises a master device including a frequency detector, a memory channel, and a memory device coupled to the master device via the memory channel. The memory device includes a decoder designed to receive a control signal from the master device. A clock recovery and alignment circuit receives the control signal from the decoder and adjusts the operating frequency of the memory device in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Publication number: 20040168036
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory control device comprises a master device including a frequency detector, a memory channel, and a memory device coupled to the master device via the memory channel. The memory device includes a decoder designed to receive a control signal from the master device. A clock recovery and alignment circuit receives the control signal from the decoder and adjusts the operating frequency of the memory device in response to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Patent number: 6594326
    Abstract: A synchronization circuit for gradually shifting the phase domain of a control signal to permit synchronization of a signal with a clock signal in a different phase domain in a system with a single frequency, but arbitrary phase relationship. The present invention allows a control signal in the phase domain of an internal clock to be synchronized with an external clock, when the phase domain of the external clock differs substantially from that of the internal clock. In synchronizing the control signal to the external clock, the present invention avoids the generation of runt pulses while providing a control signal synchronized to the external clock in the least amount of time feasible (i.e., with the lowest latency time). Because the present invention has no failure modes due to timing relationships, MTBF is infinite for failures caused by such relationships and therefore need not be a concern. This also implies that no risk is posed to the proper operation of the circuits driven thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, John B. Dillon
  • Patent number: 6553452
    Abstract: A synchronous dynamic random access memory device having an array of dynamic memory cells. The memory device includes input receiver circuitry to sample a value that is representative of a range of temperatures. In addition, the memory device includes a programmable register, coupled to the input receiver circuitry, to store the value that is representative of the range of temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Patent number: 6513103
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory system comprises a master device and a slave device. A memory channel couples the master device to the slave device such that the slave device receives the system operating information from the master device via the memory channel. The slave device further includes means for tuning circuitry within the slave device such that the performance of the memory system is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Publication number: 20020087820
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the performance of a memory system is provided. A memory control device comprises a master device including a frequency detector, a memory channel, and a memory device coupled to the master device via the memory channel. The memory device includes a decoder designed to receive a control signal from the master device. A clock recovery and alignment circuit receives the control signal from the decoder and adjusts the operating frequency of the memory device in response to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Richard M. Barth, Paul G. Davis, Ely K. Tsern
  • Patent number: 6205191
    Abstract: A synchronization circuit for gradually shifting the phase domain of a control signal to permit synchronization of a signal with a clock signal in a different phase domain in a system with a single frequency, but arbitrary phase relationship. The present invention allows a control signal in the phase domain of an internal clock to be synchronized with an external clock, when the phase domain of the external clock differs substantially from that of the internal clock. In synchronizing the control signal to the external clock, the present invention avoids the generation of runt pulses while providing a control signal synchronized to the external clock in the least amount of time feasible (i.e., with the lowest latency time). Because the present invention has no failure modes due to timing relationships, MTBF is infinite for failures caused by such relationships and therefore need not be a concern. This also implies that no risk is posed to the proper operation of the circuits driven thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Clemenz Portmann, John B. Dillon
  • Patent number: 6133773
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adjustable phase interpolator is provided. The adjustable phase interpolator includes a phase interpolator circuit that has a voltage input and a voltage output. The adjustable phase interpolator further includes a controllable capacitive load coupled to either the input or the output of the phase interpolator circuit. The controllable capacitive load is designed to add or subtract capacitance to the adjustable phase interpolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Rambus Inc
    Inventors: Bruno Werner Garlepp, Pak Shing Chau, Kevin S. Donnelly, Clemenz Portmann, Donald C. Stark, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Leung Yu, Benedict Chung-Kwong Lau, Roxanne Vu