Patents by Inventor David E. Schmitt

David E. Schmitt 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: 9997218
    Abstract: A system for dual mode operation having power saving and active modes in a stacked circuit topology having logic preservation is provided. The system includes a pre-charge circuit and a sleep mode control circuit for providing a signal to disable a plurality of circuit elements and switching a mode of the system, the sleep mode control circuit being coupled to the pre-charge circuit and further being coupled to a logic function circuit, wherein the plurality of circuit elements comprise logic gates and transistor devices. The system also includes a keeper circuit coupled to the global bitline, and the logic function circuit coupled to a solar bitline, wherein the logic function circuit preserves a state of the solar bitline, the state of the global bitline determines the state of the solar bitline. The system includes an effective pull-up transistor coupled to the sleep mode control circuit and the logic function circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul A. Bunce, Yuen H. Chan, John D. Davis, Silke Penth, David E. Schmitt, Tobias Werner, Brian J. Yavoich
  • Publication number: 20180005674
    Abstract: A system for dual mode operation having power saving and active modes in a stacked circuit topology having logic preservation is provided. The system includes a pre-charge circuit and a sleep mode control circuit for providing a signal to disable a plurality of circuit elements and switching a mode of the system, the sleep mode control circuit being coupled to the pre-charge circuit and further being coupled to a logic function circuit, wherein the plurality of circuit elements comprise logic gates and transistor devices. The system also includes a keeper circuit coupled to the global bitline, and the logic function circuit coupled to a solar bitline, wherein the logic function circuit preserves a state of the solar bitline, the state of the global bitline determines the state of the solar bitline. The system includes an effective pull-up transistor coupled to the sleep mode control circuit and the logic function circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: PAUL A. BUNCE, YUEN H. CHAN, JOHN D. DAVIS, SILKE PENTH, DAVID E. SCHMITT, TOBIAS WERNER, BRIAN J. YAVOICH
  • Patent number: 9792967
    Abstract: A memory array can include a global evaluation circuit, a local evaluation circuit for evaluating a voltage level of a local bit line and a wake transistor configured to connect an output of the local evaluation circuit to a global bit line (GBL) of the global evaluation circuit. The global evaluation circuit can include a holding circuit. The wake transistor can be turned on in response to a read signal, and remain on while the GBL is precharged to a logical “high” voltage. Memory cells connected to the at least one local bit line can be addressed, and the local bit line can be pulled to a logical “low” voltage for a first time period. The GBL can be pulled to a logical low voltage for a second time period, and the holding circuit polarity can be reversed during a third time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Bunce, Yuen H. Chan, John D. Davis, Silke Penth, David E. Schmitt, Tobias Werner, Brian J. Yavoich
  • Patent number: 9786339
    Abstract: A system for dual mode operation having power saving and active modes in a stacked circuit topology having logic preservation is provided. The system includes a pre-charge circuit and a sleep mode control circuit for providing a signal to disable a plurality of circuit elements and switching a mode of the system, the sleep mode control circuit being coupled to the pre-charge circuit and further being coupled to a logic function circuit, wherein the plurality of circuit elements comprise logic gates and transistor devices. The system also includes a keeper circuit coupled to the global bitline, and the logic function circuit coupled to a solar bitline, wherein the logic function circuit preserves a state of the solar bitline, the state of the global bitline determines the state of the solar bitline. The system includes an effective pull-up transistor coupled to the sleep mode control circuit and the logic function circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul A. Bunce, Yuen H. Chan, John D. Davis, Silke Penth, David E. Schmitt, Tobias Werner, Brian J. Yavoich
  • Patent number: 9761289
    Abstract: A memory array can include a global evaluation circuit, a local evaluation circuit for evaluating a voltage level of a local bit line and a wake transistor configured to connect an output of the local evaluation circuit to a global bit line (GBL) of the global evaluation circuit. The global evaluation circuit can include a holding circuit. The wake transistor can be turned on in response to a read signal, and remain on while the GBL is precharged to a logical “high” voltage. Memory cells connected to the at least one local bit line can be addressed, and the local bit line can be pulled to a logical “low” voltage for a first time period. The GBL can be pulled to a logical low voltage for a second time period, and the holding circuit polarity can be reversed during a third time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Bunce, Yuen H. Chan, John D. Davis, Silke Penth, David E. Schmitt, Tobias Werner, Brian J. Yavoich
  • Publication number: 20170243619
    Abstract: A system for dual mode operation having power saving and active modes in a stacked circuit topology having logic preservation is provided. The system includes a pre-charge circuit and a sleep mode control circuit for providing a signal to disable a plurality of circuit elements and switching a mode of the system, the sleep mode control circuit being coupled to the pre-charge circuit and further being coupled to a logic function circuit, wherein the plurality of circuit elements comprise logic gates and transistor devices. The system also includes a keeper circuit coupled to the global bitline, and the logic function circuit coupled to a solar bitline, wherein the logic function circuit preserves a state of the solar bitline, the state of the global bitline determines the state of the solar bitline. The system includes an effective pull-up transistor coupled to the sleep mode control circuit and the logic function circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: PAUL A. BUNCE, YUEN H. CHAN, JOHN D. DAVIS, SILKE PENTH, DAVID E. SCHMITT, TOBIAS WERNER, BRIAN J. YAVOICH
  • Patent number: 9711244
    Abstract: It is provided a memory circuit comprising n inputs; n+1 columns, wherein each column is connected to a plurality of memory cells; wherein the i-th (1?i?n?1) column is configured to be conductive connectable to the i-th input or to the (i+1)-th input or neither to the i-th input nor to the (i+1)-th input; a first FET and a second FET in series configured for connecting the i-th column to a defined voltage level; wherein a first gate signal renders the first FET conductive, if the i-th column is not in conductive connection with the i-th input; wherein a second gate signal renders the second FET conductive, if the i-th column is not in conductive connection with the (i+1)-th input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yuen H. Chan, Silke Penth, David E. Schmitt, Tobias Werner
  • Publication number: 20090102289
    Abstract: A technique for selecting a voltage source from multiple voltage sources includes receiving a first voltage at an input of a first inverter, which includes a first supply node coupled to a second voltage and a second supply node coupled to a common node. The second voltage is received at an input of a second inverter, which includes a third supply node coupled to the first voltage and a fourth supply node coupled to the common node. An output of the first inverter is coupled to the input of the second inverter and an output of the second inverter is coupled to the input of the first inverter. One of the first and second voltages is provided at an output node based on respective signal levels at the outputs of the first and second inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony G. Aipperspach, David E. Schmitt