Patents by Inventor James A. McCall

James A. McCall 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: 9219623
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus to self-determine equalization parameters for a channel. An initiator sends an equalization insensitive signal (EIS) to a responder on channel to be equalized and begins a count. A responder responds with an EIS. When the initiator receives the response EIS the count is terminated. The count, which constitutes a measure of delay in the channel, may be used to determine desirable equalization parameters for the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. McCall, Klaus Ruff, David Shykind, Santanu Chaudhuri
  • Publication number: 20150309726
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for a memory device to concurrently receive and process signals each based on a different respective reference voltage level. In an embodiment, an input/output (I/O) interface of a memory device includes receiver circuits each to process a respective signal received via a corresponding signal line of a bus. In response to one or more configuration commands, a first receiver circuit is configured to process a first signal based on a first reference voltage level and a second receiver circuit is configured to process a second signal based on a second reference voltage level. In another embodiment, a memory controller sends the one or more configuration commands to such a memory device based on an evaluation of voltage swing characteristics each corresponding to a different respective signal line of a bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. MCCALL, Kuljit S. BAINS
  • Patent number: 9152257
    Abstract: An output driver includes control logic configured to switch on a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit to provide an output impedance for a logic low on a transmission line. The output driver includes a variable pull-up resistor. The control logic is configured to switch on the pull-up circuit to a first value of impedance to drive a logic high on the transmission line. The control logic is configured to switch on the pull-up circuit to a second value of impedance and to switch on the pull-down circuit to provide the output impedance to drive a logic low on the transmission line. The system could alternatively be configured for the inverse to switch on a combination of pull-up and pull-down circuits for a logic high, where the pull-down circuit is switched on for a logic low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. McCall, Kuljit S. Bains, Derek M. Conrow, Aaron Martin
  • Patent number: 9153296
    Abstract: Described herein are a method and an apparatus for dynamically switching between one or more finite termination impedance value settings to a memory input-output (I/O) interface of a memory in response to a termination signal level. The method comprises: setting a first termination impedance value setting for a termination unit of an input-output (I/O) interface of a memory; assigning the first termination impedance value setting to the termination unit when the memory is not being accessed; and switching from the first termination impedance value setting to a second termination impedance value setting in response to a termination signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. McCall, Kuljit S. Bains
  • Publication number: 20150279444
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for providing termination for a plurality of chips of a memory device. In an embodiment, a memory device is an integrated circuit (IC) package which includes a command and address bus and a plurality of memory chips each coupled thereto. Of the plurality of memory chips, only a first memory chip is operable to selectively provide termination to the command and address bus. Of the respective on-die termination control circuits of the plurality of memory chips, only the on-die termination control circuit of the first memory chip is coupled via any termination control signal line to any input/output (I/O) contact of the IC package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: George Vergis, Kuljit S. Bains, James A. McCall, Ge Chang
  • Patent number: 9024665
    Abstract: Described is an integrated circuit (IC) which comprises: an input-output (I/O) pad for coupling to a transmission line; a voltage mode driver coupled to the I/O pad, the voltage mode driver having a pull-up driver and a pull-down driver; and a current mode driver coupled to the I/O pad, the current mode driver operable to function in parallel to the voltage mode driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Derek M. Conrow, Aaron Martin, James A. McCall
  • Publication number: 20150095547
    Abstract: Provided are a device, system, and method for mapping memory controller connectors to memory connectors. A memory is programmed to transmit for each of a plurality of the memory data connectors, a pattern on the memory data connectors that has a first value for a selected memory data connector of the memory data connectors and a different value from the first value for the memory data connectors other than the selected memory data connector. For each of the memory data connectors, a read command is issued to read the pattern on the memory data connectors. a device data connector receiving the first value in the read pattern is mapped to the selected memory data connector transmitting the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Kuljit S. Bains, James A. Mccall
  • Publication number: 20150066819
    Abstract: I/O parameters are adjusted based on a number of errors detected in a received training signal. A controller device sends the training signal while a memory device is in a training mode. The memory device samples the training signal and the system causes an adjustment to at least one I/O parameter based on a detected number of errors. Either the controller or the memory device can perform the error detection, depending on the configuration of the system. Either an I/O parameter of the controller or an I/O parameter of the memory device can be adjusted, depending on the configuration of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher P. Mozak, James A. Mccall
  • Patent number: 8972685
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for exchanging information from a memory controller to a memory device via a command/address bus. In an embodiment, the memory device samples a first portion of a command during a first sample period and samples a second portion of the command during a second sample period, the first portion and second portion exchanged via the command/address bus. The first sample period and the second sample period are concurrent with, respectively, a first transition of a clock signal and a second transition of the clock signal. In another embodiment, a mode of the memory device determines a relationship between the first transition and the second transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kuljit S. Bains, James A. McCall
  • Publication number: 20150002408
    Abstract: A transmission line interface circuit includes a voltage regulator to control a voltage swing of the transmission line interface circuit for signal transmission. The transmission line interface circuit includes complementary driver elements, including a p-type driver element to pull up the transmission line in response to a logic high, and an n-type driver element to pull down the transmission line in response to a logic low. The voltage regulator is coupled between one of the driver elements and a respective voltage reference to reduce a voltage swing of the transmission line interface circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER P. MOZAK, RITESH B. TRIVEDI, JAMES A. MCCALL, AARON MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20140372815
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods to reduce power delivery noise for partial writes are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor and a memory control logic to insert one or more dummy unit intervals into data in a write operation when a number of state transitions between adjacent unit intervals exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: KULJIT S. BAINS, JAMES A. MCCALL, PETE D. VOGT, MICHAEL GUTZMANN
  • Publication number: 20140266320
    Abstract: Described is an integrated circuit (IC) which comprises: an input-output (I/O) pad for coupling to a transmission line; a voltage mode driver coupled to the I/O pad, the voltage mode driver having a pull-up driver and a pull-down driver; and a current mode driver coupled to the I/O pad, the current mode driver operable to function in parallel to the voltage mode driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Derek M. Conrow, Aaron Martin, James A. McCall
  • Publication number: 20140184523
    Abstract: An output driver includes control logic configured to switch on a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit to provide an output impedance for a logic low on a transmission line. The output driver includes a variable pull-up resistor. The control logic is configured to switch on the pull-up circuit to a first value of impedance to drive a logic high on the transmission line. The control logic is configured to switch on the pull-up circuit to a second value of impedance and to switch on the pull-down circuit to provide the output impedance to drive a logic low on the transmission line. The system could alternatively be configured for the inverse to switch on a combination of pull-up and pull-down circuits for a logic high, where the pull-down circuit is switched on for a logic low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: JAMES A. MCCALL, Kuljit S. Bains, Derek M. Conrow, Aaron Martin
  • Publication number: 20140179354
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for obtaining data describing one or more customer contacts of a user from a third-party content provider; matching the one or more customer contacts to respective additional third-party content associated with the one or more customer contacts; deriving geographic location information for one or more of the customer contacts based on the additional third-party content; receiving a geographic location of the user; determining one or more contact opportunities based on the geographic location of the user, the geographic location information for the one or more customer contacts, and one or more presentation criteria; and providing data describing the one or more contact opportunities to a user device for presentation, wherein the data is presented on a user interface of the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Ian David Robert Fisher, Daniel William James McCall, John Jacob Ellenich
  • Publication number: 20140181992
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a user login request originating from a user device, the user login request including a user identifier; authenticating, based on the user identifier, the user as having access to information associated with a particular tenant of a plurality of tenants; identifying a tenant specified theme associated with the particular tenant of a plurality of tenant themes, the theme being specified by the tenant for use in presenting data to authenticated users; obtaining data associated with the particular tenant; and providing the data associated with the particular tenant to the user device for presentation, wherein the data is presented on a user interface of the user device, the data being formatted based on the identified tenant theme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Alexander Janson, Ian David Robert Fisher, Christopher Michael O'Connor, Daniel William James McCall, John Jacob Ellenich
  • Publication number: 20140181390
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for exchanging information from a memory controller to a memory device via a command/address bus. In an embodiment, the memory device samples a first portion of a command during a first sample period and samples a second portion of the command during a second sample period, the first portion and second portion exchanged via the command/address bus. The first sample period and the second sample period are concurrent with, respectively, a first transition of a clock signal and a second transition of the clock signal. In another embodiment, a mode of the memory device determines a relationship between the first transition and the second transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Kuljit S. Bains, James A. McCall
  • Publication number: 20140150257
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a circuit board is described herein. The method may include adding a resin, forming first and second fiberglass fibers, and forming first and second signal line traces capable of transmitting electrical signals. In some examples, a ratio between fiberglass and resin material near the first signal line trace is similar to a ratio between fiberglass and resin material near the second signal line trace. In some examples, the first and second fiberglass fibers diagonally cross near the first and second signal line traces. In some examples, the first and second fiberglass fibers cross near the first and second signal line traces in a zig-zag pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: David Shykind, James McCall
  • Patent number: 8673391
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a circuit board is described herein. The method may include adding a resin, forming first and second fiberglass fibers, and forming first and second signal line traces capable of transmitting electrical signals. In some examples, a ratio between fiberglass and resin material near the first signal line trace is similar to a ratio between fiberglass and resin material near the second signal line trace. In some examples, the first and second fiberglass fibers diagonally cross near the first and second signal line traces. In some examples, the first and second fiberglass fibers cross near the first and second signal line traces in a zig-zag pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: David Shykind, James A. McCall
  • Publication number: 20130227838
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a circuit board is described herein. The method may include adding a resin, forming first and second fiberglass fibers, and forming first and second signal line traces capable of transmitting electrical signals. In some examples, a ratio between fiberglass and resin material near the first signal line trace is similar to a ratio between fiberglass and resin material near the second signal line trace. In some examples, the first and second fiberglass fibers diagonally cross near the first and second signal line traces. In some examples, the first and second fiberglass fibers cross near the first and second signal line traces in a zig-zag pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: David Shykind, James McCall
  • Patent number: 8415002
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a circuit board which may include the steps of forming a circuit board with horizontal and vertical fiberglass fibers, rotating the circuit board, and cutting the circuit board so that the horizontal and vertical fiberglass fibers form a non-right angle with a cut line of the circuit board. The circuit board may have a plurality of conductive traces located thereon which pass by areas of higher fiberglass-to-resin material and lower fiberglass-to-resin material to assist in reducing differential to common mode conversion between signals in the plurality of conducive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. McCall, David Shykind