Patents by Inventor James M. Shaffer

James M. Shaffer 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: 20130264300
    Abstract: An overhead organizer is disclosed that is used to store items. The overhead organizer according to the invention takes advantage of little-used space near a ceiling to store items. The overhead organizer includes a ceiling mounted unit that is configured to be coupled to a ceiling, a storage unit that holds items to be stored, and one or more than one retractable extender which retractably couples the storage unit to the ceiling mounted unit. The one or more than one retractable extender is retracted and extended with a retractor mechanism. The retractor mechanism can be a double spool constant torque spring. The retractor mechanism extends or retracts the one or more than one retractable extender to adjust the distance between the storage unit and the ceiling. In some embodiments the retractor mechanism is controlled using a wireless remote control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: James M. Shaffer, Yuselys Corzo, Charles Lord
  • Patent number: 6163490
    Abstract: Defective memory is programmed to have a contiguous address space by dividing the logical address space of the memory into a plurality of address sections. The address section containing the address mapped to a defective memory location is identified. The physical memory locations originally mapped to the addresses in the identified address section are remapped to addresses in an address section at one end of the address space. The addresses in the end address section are disabled. Alternatively, spare memory is provided and the addresses in the end address section are remapped to physical locations in the spare memory. A similar remapping procedure is applied to repair defective data paths in a memory. The remapping procedure is applicable to memory devices or memory modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Shaffer, Brent Keeth, Eugene H. Cloud, Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6131255
    Abstract: An apparatus for integrating wafer scale semiconductor integrated circuits and interfacing them with other systems. A wafer, partial wafer, die or plurality of same are mated to a printed circuit board (PCB) which electrically contacts the pads on each die using small conductive pillars. The PCB in turn is connected easily to other electronic systems. The entire apparatus is incorporated into other systems which utilize the dice in the apparatus. The apparatus may be fitted with heating elements and cooling channels to generate the necessary die temperatures for burn-in, testing, and operation. The apparatus is easily adaptable to include more dice in a stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen G. Atkins, Michael S. Cohen, Karl H. Mauritz, James M. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6081463
    Abstract: Defective memory is programmed to have a contiguous address space by dividing the logical address space of the memory into a plurality of address sections. The address section containing the address mapped to a defective memory location is identified. The physical memory locations originally mapped to the addresses in the identified address section are remapped to addresses in an address section at one end of the address space. The addresses in the end address section are disabled. Alternatively, spare memory is provided and the addresses in the end address section are remapped to physical locations in the spare memory. A similar remapping procedure is applied to repair defective data paths in a memory. The remapping procedure is applicable to memory devices or memory modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Shaffer, Brent Keeth, Eugene H. Cloud, Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6049977
    Abstract: A method of forming electrically conductive pillars on a printed circuit board by providing a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical traces and forming a plurality of elongate, electrically conductive pillars of superimposed layers of solder and conductive polymer on the printed circuit board. The elongate, electrically conductive pillars are connected by a first end to the electrical traces of the printed circuit board and extend substantially perpendicularly from the printed circuit board such that a second end of each of the plurality of elongate, electrically conductive pillars lies in substantially a common plane which is substantially perpendicular to and above said printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen G. Atkins, Michael S. Cohen, Karl H. Mauritz, James M. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5831445
    Abstract: An apparatus for wafer scale burn-in and testing of semiconductor integrated circuits and a method for its utilization is disclosed. A wafer is mated to a printed circuit board which electrically contacts the pads on each die using small conductive pillars. Single precise alignment of entire wafer within apparatus allows for testing all the dice on the wafer in parallel, eliminating need to probe each die individually. The apparatus is fitted with heating elements and cooling channels to generate the necessary wafer temperatures for burn-in and testing. The method of utilization eliminates processing of defective dice beyond burn-in and test, thereby increasing throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen G. Atkins, Michael S. Cohen, Karl H. Mauritz, James M. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5815427
    Abstract: A modular circuit includes a memory module that has an array of memory cells, a communication module that has communication circuitry for coupling signals between the array and external circuitry, and an interconnection module that electrically interconnects the array on the memory module and the communication circuitry on the communication module. The memory and communication modules may also be mounted to the interconnection module. Alternatively, the memory and interface modules may be electrically interconnected and mounted to each other, in which case the interconnection module is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene H. Cloud, Brent Keeth, Salman Akram, James M. Shaffer, Alex Closson
  • Patent number: 5798565
    Abstract: An apparatus for integrating wafer scale semiconductor integrated circuits and interfacing them with other systems. A wafer, partial wafer, die or plurality of same are mated to a printed circuit board (PCB) which electrically contacts the pads on each die using small conductive pillars. The PCB in turn is connected easily to other electronic systems. The entire apparatus is incorporated into other systems which utilize the dice in the apparatus. The apparatus may be fitted with heating elements and cooling channels to generate the necessary dice temperatures for burn-in, testing, and operation. The apparatus is easily adaptable to include more dice in a stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen G. Atkins, Michael S. Cohen, Karl H. Mauritz, James M. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5682064
    Abstract: An apparatus for integrating wafer scale semiconductor integrated circuits and interfacing them with other systems. A wafer, partial wafer, die or plurality of same are mated to a printed circuit board (PCB) which electrically contacts the pads on each die using small conductive pillars. The PCB in turn is connected easily to other electronic systems. The entire apparatus is incorporated into other systems which utilize the dice in the apparatus. The apparatus may be fitted with heating elements and cooling channels to generate the necessary dice temperatures for burn-in, testing, and operation. The apparatus is easily adaptable to include more dice in a stacked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen G. Atkins, Michael S. Cohen, Karl H. Mauritz, James M. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5570032
    Abstract: An apparatus for wafer scale burn-in and testing of semiconductor integrated circuits and a method for its utilization. A wafer is mated to a printed circuit board which electrically contacts the pads on each die using small conductive pillars. Single precise alignment of entire wafer within apparatus allows for testing all the dice on the wafer in parallel, eliminating need to probe each die individually. The apparatus is fitted with heating elements and cooling channels to generate the necessary wafer temperatures for burn-in and testing. The method of utilization eliminates processing of defective dice beyond burn-in and test, thereby increasing throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen G. Atkins, Michael S. Cohen, Karl H. Mauritz, James M. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5276834
    Abstract: A spare memory arrangement in which a defective chip in a memory array can be electronically replaced with a spare chip of identical construction. A defective memory chip is first detected and located by a suitable means, such as an error correction code (ECC), check sum, or parity check. A sparer chip is constructed to be actuated upon a read to the defective memory chip to replace the defective chip with a memory spare chip. The sparer chip includes a cross-point memory (CPM) cell having an address register for receiving data from a central processing unit (CPU) and routing the data to and from the spare memory chip. The cross-point memory (CPM) cell is actuated by control input from the (CPU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl H. Mauritz, Thomas W. Voshell, James M. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 5235699
    Abstract: A circuit that controls, calibrates and monitors critical timing parameters in a computer system or network to prevent loss of, or inaccurate data, when transferring this data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Shaffer, Karl H. Mauritz, Henry D. Gerdes, Geary L. Leger
  • Patent number: 5200917
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stacked integrated circuit module 20 which is interchangeable with standard printed circuit boards. Module 20 has two PCBs 22 and 24 and multiple memory ICs 26a-26d mounted on the PCBs. A board alignment support 48 is provided between PCBs 22 and 24 to support the PCBs in a spaced and substantially parallel relation and to provide electrical interfacing between the two PCBs. PCB 22 has an edge connector 44 adapted to be inserted into standard receptacle connectors provided on a mother board. According to this stacked arrangement, memory ICs 26c and 26d are addressable through connector 44, conductive paths formed on PCB 22, board alignment support 48, and conductive paths formed on PCB 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Shaffer, Karl H. Mauritz, Glen Atkins