Patents by Inventor Don E. Ross

Don E. Ross 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: 8209572
    Abstract: Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for testing embedded memories in an integrated circuit are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is an apparatus for testing an embedded memory in an integrated circuit. This exemplary embodiment comprises input logic that includes one or more memory-input paths coupled to respective memory inputs of the embedded memory, a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) controller, and at least one scan cell coupled between the input logic and the MBIST controller. The scan cell of this embodiment is selectively operable in a memory-test mode and a system mode. In memory-test mode, the scan cell can apply memory-test data to the memory inputs along the memory-input paths of the integrated circuit. Any of the disclosed apparatus can be designed, simulated, and/or verified (and any of the disclosed methods can be performed) in a computer-executed application, such as an electronic-design-automation (“EDA”) software tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Don E. Ross, Xiaogang Du, Wu-Tung Cheng, Joseph C. Rayhawk
  • Publication number: 20110145774
    Abstract: Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for testing embedded memories in an integrated circuit are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is an apparatus for testing an embedded memory in an integrated circuit. This exemplary embodiment comprises input logic that includes one or more memory-input paths coupled to respective memory inputs of the embedded memory, a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) controller, and at least one scan cell coupled between the input logic and the MBIST controller. The scan cell of this embodiment is selectively operable in a memory-test mode and a system mode. In memory-test mode, the scan cell can apply memory-test data to the memory inputs along the memory-input paths of the integrated circuit. Any of the disclosed apparatus can be designed, simulated, and/or verified (and any of the disclosed methods can be performed) in a computer-executed application, such as an electronic-design-automation (“EDA”) software tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Don E. Ross, Xiaogang Du, Wu-Tung Cheng, Joseph C. Rayhawk
  • Patent number: 7831871
    Abstract: Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for testing embedded memories in an integrated circuit are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is an apparatus for testing an embedded memory in an integrated circuit. This exemplary embodiment comprises input logic that includes one or more memory-input paths coupled to respective memory inputs of the embedded memory, a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) controller, and at least one scan cell coupled between the input logic and the MBIST controller. The scan cell of this embodiment is selectively operable in a memory-test mode and a system mode. In memory-test mode, the scan cell can apply memory-test data to the memory inputs along the memory-input paths of the integrated circuit. Any of the disclosed apparatus can be designed, simulated, and/or verified (and any of the disclosed methods can be performed) in a computer-executed application, such as an electronic-design-automation (“EDA”) software tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Don E. Ross, Xiaogang Du, Wu-Tung Cheng, Joseph C. Rayhawk
  • Publication number: 20090172486
    Abstract: Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for testing embedded memories in an integrated circuit are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is an apparatus for testing an embedded memory in an integrated circuit. This exemplary embodiment comprises input logic that includes one or more memory-input paths coupled to respective memory inputs of the embedded memory, a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) controller, and at least one scan cell coupled between the input logic and the MBIST controller. The scan cell of this embodiment is selectively operable in a memory-test mode and a system mode. In memory-test mode, the scan cell can apply memory-test data to the memory inputs along the memory-input paths of the integrated circuit. Any of the disclosed apparatus can be designed, simulated, and/or verified (and any of the disclosed methods can be performed) in a computer-executed application, such as an electronic-design-automation (“EDA”) software tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Don E. Ross, Xiaogang Du, Wu-Tung Cheng, Joseph C. Rayhawk
  • Patent number: 7502976
    Abstract: Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for testing embedded memories in an integrated circuit are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is an apparatus for testing an embedded memory in an integrated circuit. This exemplary embodiment comprises input logic that includes one or more memory-input paths coupled to respective memory inputs of the embedded memory, a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) controller, and at least one scan cell coupled between the input logic and the MBIST controller. The scan cell of this embodiment is selectively operable in a memory-test mode and a system mode. In memory-test mode, the scan cell can apply memory-test data to the memory inputs along the memory-input paths of the integrated circuit. Any of the disclosed apparatus can be designed, simulated, and/or verified (and any of the disclosed methods can be performed) in a computer-executed application, such as an electronic-design-automation (“EDA”) software tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventors: Don E. Ross, Xiaogang Du, Wu-Tung Cheng, Joseph C. Rayhawk
  • Publication number: 20040190331
    Abstract: Various new and non-obvious apparatus and methods for testing embedded memories in an integrated circuit are disclosed. One of the disclosed embodiments is an apparatus for testing an embedded memory in an integrated circuit. This exemplary embodiment comprises input logic that includes one or more memory-input paths coupled to respective memory inputs of the embedded memory, a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) controller, and at least one scan cell coupled between the input logic and the MBIST controller. The scan cell of this embodiment is selectively operable in a memory-test mode and a system mode. In memory-test mode, the scan cell can apply memory-test data to the memory inputs along the memory-input paths of the integrated circuit. Any of the disclosed apparatus can be designed, simulated, and/or verified (and any of the disclosed methods can be performed) in a computer-executed application, such as an electronic-design-automation (“EDA”) software tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Don E. Ross, Xiaogang Du, Wu-Tung Cheng, Joseph C. Rayhawk