Patents by Inventor Debra M. Bell

Debra M. Bell 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: 20100237916
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a delay line configured to apply a delay to an input signal to provide an output signal; an input circuit configured to provide the input signal based on a first signal, such that the cycle time of the input signal is different from a cycle time of the first signal; an output circuit configured to provide a second signal based on the output signal, the second signal having a cycle time different from a cycle time of the output signal; and a controller configured to adjust the delay to control a timing relationship between the first signal and the second signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Paul A. Silvestri
  • Patent number: 7729197
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a delay line configured to apply a delay to an input signal to provide an output signal; an input circuit configured to provide the input signal based on a first signal, such that the cycle time of the input signal is different from a cycle time of the first signal; an output circuit configured to provide a second signal based on the output signal, the second signal having a cycle time different from a cycle time of the output signal; and a controller configured to adjust the delay to control a timing relationship between the first signal and the second signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Paul A. Silvestri
  • Publication number: 20090190420
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a delay line configured to apply a delay to an input signal to provide an output signal; an input circuit configured to provide the input signal based on a first signal, such that the cycle time of the input signal is different from a cycle time of the first signal; an output circuit configured to provide a second signal based on the output signal, the second signal having a cycle time different from a cycle time of the output signal; and a controller configured to adjust the delay to control a timing relationship between the first signal and the second signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Paul A. Silvestri
  • Patent number: 7519850
    Abstract: A system unit including a processor unit and an input storage unit. The processor unit generates an input signal and a clock signal. The input storage unit receives the input signal and the clock signal. The input storage unit processes the clock signal to generate an input buffer enable signal. The input buffer enable signal changes from an inactive state to an active state a short time interval before at least one of the transitions of the clock signal. A method includes receiving a clock signal having a plurality of transitions at an input buffer unit, enabling the input buffer unit before each of the plurality of transitions, and disabling the input buffer unit after each of the plurality of transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Aaron M. Schoenfeld
  • Patent number: 7489587
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a delay locked loop having a delay line for delaying an input signal. The input signal is generated from a first signal. A delay controller controls the delay line to adjust the timing relationship between the first signal and an internal signal. The delay locked loop also includes cycle control circuitry for controlling the cycle time of the signal entering the delay line and the cycle time of the signal exiting the delay line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Paul A. Silvestri
  • Patent number: 7423462
    Abstract: Clock capturing synchronization circuitry first generates a synchronized clock signal from a reference clock signal, then captures the synchronized clock signal, and continues to output a synchronized clock signal after the reference clock signal is removed. The clock capturing synchronization circuitry also reduces input referred jitter in the synchronized clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian J Drexler, Debra M Bell, Tyler J Gomm, Seong-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7423463
    Abstract: Clock capturing synchronization circuitry first generates a synchronized clock signal from a reference clock signal, then captures the synchronized clock signal, and continues to output a synchronized clock signal after the reference clock signal is removed. The clock capturing synchronization circuitry also reduces input referred jitter in the synchronized clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian J Drexler, Debra M Bell, Tyler J Gomm, Seong-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7414444
    Abstract: Clock capturing synchronization circuitry first generates a synchronized clock signal from a reference clock signal, then captures the synchronized clock signal, and continues to output a synchronized clock signal after the reference clock signal is removed. The clock capturing synchronization circuitry also reduces input referred jitter in the synchronized clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian J Drexler, Debra M Bell, Tyler J Gomm, Seong-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7378891
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a delay locked circuit having multiple paths. A first path measures a timing of a first clock signal during a measurement. A second path generates a second clock signal based on the first clock signal. The delay locked circuit periodically performs the measurement to adjust a timing relationship between the first and second clock signals. The time interval between one measurement and the next measurement is unequal to the cycle time of the first clock signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler J. Gomm, Debra M. Bell
  • Patent number: 7372768
    Abstract: The present invention allows for the reduction in power consumption of memory devices. A memory device in one embodiment prohibits address signal propagation on internal address buses based upon a function being performed by the memory. As such, some, all or none of the externally provided address signals are allowed to transition past address buffer circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Greg A. Blodgett
  • Patent number: 7368965
    Abstract: Clock capturing synchronization circuitry first generates a synchronized clock signal from a reference clock signal, then captures the synchronized clock signal, and continues to output a synchronized clock signal after the reference clock signal is removed. The clock capturing synchronization circuitry also reduces input referred jitter in the synchronized clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian J Drexler, Debra M Bell, Tyler J Gomm, Seong-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7319728
    Abstract: A delay locked loop includes a delay line for delaying an input signal generated from an external signal. A delay controller controls the delay line to keep the external and internal signals synchronized. The delay locked loop also includes cycle control circuitry for controlling the cycle time of the signal entering the delay and the cycle time of the signal exiting the delay line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Paul A. Silvestri
  • Patent number: 7212057
    Abstract: A delay locked circuit has multiple paths for receiving an external signal. One path measures a timing of the external signal during a measurement. Another path generates an internal signal based on the external signal. The delay locked circuit periodically performs the measurement to keep the external and internal signals synchronized. The time interval between one measurement and the next measurement is unequal to the cycle time of the external signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler J. Gomm, Debra M. Bell
  • Patent number: 7155630
    Abstract: A system unit including a processor unit and an input storage unit. The processor unit generates an input signal and a clock signal. The input storage unit receives the input signal and the clock signal. The input storage unit processes the clock signal to generate an input buffer enable signal. The input buffer enable signal changes from an inactive state to an active state a short time interval before at least one of the transitions of the clock signal. A method includes receiving a clock signal having a plurality of transitions at an input buffer unit, enabling the input buffer unit before each of the plurality of transitions, and disabling the input buffer unit after each of the plurality of transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Aaron M. Schoenfeld
  • Patent number: 7123541
    Abstract: The present invention allows for the reduction in power consumption of memory devices. A memory device in one embodiment prohibits address signal propagation on internal address buses based upon a function being performed by the memory. As such, some, all or none of the externally provided address signals are allowed to transition past address buffer circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Greg A. Blodgett
  • Patent number: 7095261
    Abstract: Clock capturing synchronization circuitry first generates a synchronized clock signal from a reference clock signal, then captures the synchronized clock signal, and continues to output a synchronized clock signal after the reference clock signal is removed. The clock capturing synchronization circuitry also reduces input referred jitter in the synchronized clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian J Drexler, Debra M Bell, Tyler J Gomm, Seong-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7072433
    Abstract: A digital delay locked loop (DLL) includes a coarse delay segment and fine delay segment. The coarse delay segment includes a coarse delay range. The fine delay segment includes a fine delay range. The coarse delay segment and the fine delay segment apply a coarse delay and a fine delay to an external clock signal to generate an internal clock signal. To keep the external and internal clock signals synchronized, the DLL adjusts the fine delay or coarse delay by increasing or decreasing the fine delay or the coarse delay. The coarse delay is adjusted only when the fine delay is at a minimum or maximum delay of the fine delay range and an increase or decrease in delay is needed respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell
  • Patent number: 7064992
    Abstract: A memory device is configured to conserve electrical current by disabling the address lines provided to a memory bank when the address is not needed, such as during periods of automatic precharge. Because address data need not be provided while the memory bank is in an automatic precharge mode, the current used to keep the address lines active during this time may be conserved by suitably disabling the address lines for the duration of the automatic precharge. Disabling the various address lines may be accomplished by, for example, interposing an enabling element such as a field effect transistor within the address bus driver circuits leading to each memory bank, and by providing a suitable control signal to the enabling element to activate and deactivate the address line as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M Bell, Adrian J Drexler
  • Patent number: 6956785
    Abstract: A memory device is configured to conserve electrical current by disabling the address lines provided to a memory bank when the address is not needed, such as during periods of automatic precharge. Because address data need not be provided while the bank is in an automatic precharge mode, the current used to keep the address lines active during this time may be conserved by suitably disabling the address lines for the duration of the automatic precharge. Disabling the various address lines may be accomplished by, for example, interposing a enabling element such as a field effect transistor within the address bus driver circuits leading to each bank, and by providing a suitable control signal to the enabling element to activate and deactivate the address line as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Adrian J. Drexler
  • Patent number: 6937530
    Abstract: A delay locked loop (DLL) that applies an amount of delay to an external clock signal to generate multiple delayed signals. One of the delayed signals is selected as an internal clock signal. The multiple delayed signals have different delays in relation to the external clock signal. If a change in operating condition of the DLL occurs, such as a change in the supply voltage during an operational mode of the memory device such as an ACTIVE, a READ or a REFRESH mode, the DLL immediately selects another delayed signal among the multiple delayed signals as a new internal clock signal to compensate for the change before a phase detector of the DLL detects the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell