Patents by Inventor Eric Chen-Li Sheng

Eric Chen-Li Sheng 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: 9026810
    Abstract: Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, Matthew Robert Ward
  • Patent number: 8843344
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature variation during burn-in testing. In one embodiment, power consumed by an integrated circuit under test is measured. An ambient temperature associated with the integrated circuit is measured. A desired junction temperature of the integrated circuit is achieved by adjusting a body bias voltage of the integrated circuit. By controlling temperature of individual integrated circuits, temperature variation during burn-in testing can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Publication number: 20140013127
    Abstract: Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, Matthew Robert Ward
  • Patent number: 8370658
    Abstract: Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, Matthew Robert Ward
  • Patent number: 7834648
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature dissipation during burn-in testing are described. Devices under test are each subject to a body bias voltage. The body bias voltage can be used to control junction temperature (e.g., temperature measured at the device under test). The body bias voltage applied to each device under test can be adjusted device-by-device to achieve essentially the same junction temperature at each device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Publication number: 20100257389
    Abstract: Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, Matthew Robert Ward
  • Publication number: 20090316750
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature variation during burn-in testing. In one embodiment, power consumed by an integrated circuit under test is measured. An ambient temperature associated with the integrated circuit is measured. A desired junction temperature of the integrated circuit is achieved by adjusting a body bias voltage of the integrated circuit. By controlling temperature of individual integrated circuits, temperature variation during burn-in testing can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Publication number: 20090289654
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature variation during burn-in testing. In one embodiment, power consumed by an integrated circuit under test is measured. An ambient temperature associated with the integrated circuit is measured. A desired junction temperature of the integrated circuit is achieved by adjusting a body bias voltage of the integrated circuit. By controlling temperature of individual integrated circuits, temperature variation during burn-in testing can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Patent number: 7595652
    Abstract: A plurality of devices under test are each subject to a body bias voltage during burn-in testing. The body bias voltage reduces leakage current associated with the devices under test. A test controller can access a store of information including leakage current as a function of body bias voltage and can select a body bias voltage that corresponds to the minimum leakage current in the store of information. A voltage supply coupled to the test controller can provide the body bias voltage corresponding to the minimum leakage current to the devices under test during the burn-in testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Patent number: 7565259
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature variation during burn-in testing. In one embodiment, power consumed by an integrated circuit under test is measured. An ambient temperature associated with the integrated circuit is measured. A desired junction temperature of the integrated circuit is achieved by adjusting a body bias voltage of the integrated circuit. By controlling temperature of individual integrated circuits, temperature variation during burn-in testing can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Patent number: 7562233
    Abstract: Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, Matthew Robert Ward
  • Patent number: 7463050
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature dissipation during burn-in testing are described. Devices under test are each subject to a body bias voltage. The body bias voltage can be used to control junction temperature (e.g., temperature measured at the device under test). The body bias voltage applied to each device under test can be adjusted device-by-device to achieve essentially the same junction temperature at each device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Patent number: 7248988
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature variation during burn-in testing. In one embodiment, power consumed by an integrated circuit under test is measured. An ambient temperature associated with the integrated circuit is measured. A desired junction temperature of the integrated circuit is achieved by adjusting a body bias voltage of the integrated circuit. By controlling temperature of individual integrated circuits, temperature variation during burn-in testing can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Patent number: 7242205
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature dissipation during burn-in testing are described. A plurality of devices under test are each subject to a body bias voltage. The body bias voltage reduces leakage current associated with the devices under test. Accordingly, heat dissipation is reduced during burn-in. The body bias voltage is selected to achieve a desired junction temperature at the devices under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Patent number: 6900650
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature dissipation during burn-in testing are described. Devices under test are each subject to a body bias voltage. The body bias voltage can be used to control junction temperature (e.g., temperature measured at the device under test). The body bias voltage applied to each device under test can be adjusted device-by-device to achieve essentially the same junction temperature at each device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven
  • Patent number: 6897671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing temperature dissipation during burn-in testing are described. A plurality of devices under test are each subject to a body bias voltage. The body bias voltage is selected to substantially minimize leakage current associated with the plurality of devices under test. Accordingly, heat dissipation is reduced during burn-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, David H. Hoffman, John Laurence Niven