Patents by Inventor Joachim Keinert

Joachim Keinert 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: 8972758
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for efficiently recycling a charge from a power domain that is discharging. A side of a discharging power domain normally coupled to a voltage supply is disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is currently disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is connected to a side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply. A side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the ground is disconnected from ground. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to ground is connected to the voltage supply, thereby precharging the precharging power domain with the charge from the discharging power domain that would normally he lost due to leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Barowski, Joachim Keinert, Antje Mueller, Tim Niggemeier
  • Patent number: 8811811
    Abstract: A system for generating an output image is provided. A first camera of a camera pair is configured to record a first portion of a scene to obtain a first recorded image. A second camera of the camera pair is configured to record a second portion of the scene to obtain a second recorded image. Moreover, a central camera is configured to record a further portion of the scene, to obtain a central image. A processor is configured to generate the output image. The first brightness range of the first camera of each camera pair is different from the central-camera brightness range and is different from the first brightness range of the first camera of any other camera pair of the one or more camera pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellscahft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Wetzel, Joachim Keinert, Siegfried Foessel
  • Patent number: 8762919
    Abstract: Fixed outline shaped and modifiable outline shaped random logic macros of an electronic circuit design are manipulated by modifying an outline of a modifiable outline shape macro based on criteria consisting of any one of a macro port weight value, a macro port ordering; a macro rapport constraint or a macro logic depth and placing resulting macros at locations on an integrated circuit (chip).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Juergen Koehl, Thomas Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140082386
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for efficiently recycling a charge from a power domain that is discharging. A side of a discharging power domain normally coupled to a voltage supply is disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is currently disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is connected to a side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply. A side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the ground is disconnected from ground. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to ground is connected to the voltage supply, thereby precharging the precharging power domain with the charge from the discharging power domain that would normally be lost due to leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Barowski, Joachim Keinert, Antje Mueller, Tim Niggemeier
  • Patent number: 8495547
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) design with multiple metal layers containing cells requiring secondary power supply. After placing the cells and stripes of a primary power/ground grid in metal layers of the IC design, specific cells are provided with secondary power stripes in a first metal layer. The secondary power stripes are designed in such a way that each secondary power/ground stripe exhibits a full overlap with a stripe of a corresponding primary power/ground grid in a different metal layer. Subsequently, signals from the IC design are routed, and power vias between the primary power/ground grid stripes and the secondary power/ground stripes are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Douglass T. Lamb, Peter J. Osler
  • Patent number: 8495551
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for performing a detailed routing of a net joining ports in an integrated circuit. Extended port regions are created for the ports of the net of the integrated circuit, the extended port regions being shaped in such a way as to guarantee routing access to the ports. A wire corresponding to the net is then placed and the extended port regions of the ports are trimmed, thus identifying essential port regions required for connecting the wire to the ports and dispensable port regions not required for connecting the wire to the ports. The wiring resources are then updated by releasing the dispensable port regions so that the dispensable port regions no longer constitute parts of the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Thomas Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8463571
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system, method, and storage device simulate a periodic voltage waveform in a network model of the integrated circuit design. The method then determines resultant current values in each segment of nets of the integrated circuit design resulting from the periodic voltage waveform and performs a Fourier transform of the periodic voltage waveform to generate a frequency domain representation of the periodic voltage waveform. The frequency domain representation comprises multiple Fourier terms, each of the Fourier terms is a frequency that is a multiple of the base frequency. Next, the method performs an AC analysis of the resultant voltage at each frequency of the multiple Fourier terms. The AC analysis provides an electrical current value for each of the frequencies of the Fourier terms for each of the nets. This allows the method to compute a root mean square current through each of the nets based on the AC analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Soroush Abbaspour, Ayesha Akhter, Peter Feldmann, Joachim Keinert
  • Publication number: 20130138978
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for efficiently recycling a charge from a power domain that is discharging. A side of a discharging power domain normally coupled to a voltage supply is disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is currently disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is connected to a side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply. A side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the ground is disconnected from ground. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to ground is connected to the voltage supply, thereby precharging the precharging power domain with the charge from the discharging power domain that would normally he lost due to leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Barowski, Joachim Keinert, Antje Mueller, Tim Niggemeier
  • Patent number: 8448124
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for post timing layout modification for performance. The mechanism selectively applies layout modification based on timing analysis at the path level. The mechanism applies stress only to transistors that are in a setup critical path without applying stress to transistors in hold critical paths. The mechanism may use a method to apply stress to improve performance of a transistor in a setup critical path, as long as the stress does not also improve performance of a neighboring transistor in a hold critical path. In some instances, the mechanism may apply stress to improve performance of a transistor in a setup critical path while simultaneously degrading performance of a transistor in a hold critical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Uwe Fassnacht, Veit Gernhoefer, Michael S. Gray, Joachim Keinert
  • Patent number: 8429584
    Abstract: A method for creating a layout for design representation of an electronic circuit with at least one port. The method includes segmenting the at least one port in the design representation into different regions, classifying the different regions of the at least one port according to timing and/or electronic and/or layout characteristics, assigning a priority for each classified region of the at least one port according to rules based on the timing and/or electronic and/or layout characteristics, and routing the design representation by accessing at least one of the classified regions of the port according to an order of the assigned priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Thomas Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8418110
    Abstract: An integrated circuit characterized by a netlist may be routed using a routing priority list that may be created using port obscurity factors. A port obscurity factor may indicate how difficult it may be to route to that port and may be calculated as being inversely proportional to the number of routing tracks that may be connectable to that port. Routing priorities for the nets of the netlist may then be created using the port obscurity factors of the ports in the net. Routing may then be done in the order determined by the routing priority list and the generated layout information stored in a computer useable medium. In some cases, routing may be performed using multiple routing passes where a new routing priority list may be calculated for each routing pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Thomas Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20130074025
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for post timing layout modification for performance. The mechanism selectively applies layout modification based on timing analysis at the path level. The mechanism applies stress only to transistors that are in a setup critical path without applying stress to transistors in hold critical paths. The mechanism may use a method to apply stress to improve performance of a transistor in a setup critical path, as long as the stress does not also improve performance of a neighboring transistor in a hold critical path. In some instances, the mechanism may apply stress to improve performance of a transistor in a setup critical path while simultaneously degrading performance of a transistor in a hold critical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Uwe Fassnacht, Veit Gernhoefer, Michael S. Gray, Joachim Keinert
  • Patent number: 8276105
    Abstract: An automated method and apparatus for positioning gate array circuits in an integrated circuit design. An initial integrated circuit design includes logic cells and gate array fill circuits positioned thereon. The gate array fill circuits are positioned in available space between the adjacent logic cells so as to fill the available space with the maximum gate array fill circuits. A gate array logic element to be positioned in the integrated circuit design, such as may be required by an engineering change to the circuit design, is automatically positioned between adjacent logic cells so as to allow for full utilization of any space remaining between the adjacent logic cells by gate array fill circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Douglass T. Lamb, David W. Lewis, Shyam Ramji
  • Publication number: 20120123725
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system, method, and storage device simulate a periodic voltage waveform in a network model of the integrated circuit design. The method then determines resultant current values in each segment of nets of the integrated circuit design resulting from the periodic voltage waveform and performs a Fourier transform of the periodic voltage waveform to generate a frequency domain representation of the periodic voltage waveform. The frequency domain representation comprises multiple Fourier terms, each of the Fourier terms is a frequency that is a multiple of the base frequency. Next, the method performs an AC analysis of the resultant voltage at each frequency of the multiple Fourier terms. The AC analysis provides an electrical current value for each of the frequencies of the Fourier terms for each of the nets. This allows the method to compute a root mean square current through each of the nets based on the AC analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Soroush Abbaspour, Ayesha Akhter, Peter Feldmann, Joachim Keinert
  • Publication number: 20120060139
    Abstract: An integrated circuit characterized by a netlist may be routed using a routing priority list that may be created using port obscurity factors. A port obscurity factor may indicate how difficult it may be to route to that port and may be calculated as being inversely proportional to the number of routing tracks that may be connectable to that port. Routing priorities for the nets of the netlist may then be created using the port obscurity factors of the ports in the net. Routing may then be done in the order determined by the routing priority list and the generated layout information stored in a computer useable medium. In some cases, routing may be performed using multiple routing passes where a new routing priority list may be calculated for each routing pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Thomas Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8122400
    Abstract: A computer executed method is disclosed which accepts an original circuit with an original logic, accepts a modified circuit, and synthesizes a difference circuit. The difference circuit represents changes that implement the modified circuit's logic for the original circuit. The synthesis may locate an output-side boundary in the original logic in such a manner that the original logic is free of logic changes in between the output-side boundary and the primary output elements of the original circuit. The disclosed synthesis may also locate an input-side boundary in the original logic in such a manner that the original logic is free of logic changes in between the input-side boundary and the primary input elements of the original circuit. A computer program products are also disclosed. The computer program product contains a computer useable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy T. Hopkins, John M. Isakson, Joachim Keinert, Smita Krishnaswamy, Nilesh A. Modi, Ruchir Puri, Haoxing Ren, David L. Rude
  • Publication number: 20110289468
    Abstract: Fixed outline shaped and modifiable outline shaped random logic macros of an electronic circuit design are manipulated by modifying an outline of a modifiable outline shape macro based on criteria consisting of any one of a macro port weight value, a macro port ordering; a macro rapport constraint or a macro logic depth and placing resulting macros at locations on an integrated circuit (chip).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Juergen Koehl, Thomas Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7971171
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromigration analysis method and a system for analyzing one or more nets in a digital integrated circuit design that are at risk of electromigration. The method comprises the steps of providing at least one interconnect between a driver cell and at least one load cell; applying same extracted netlist data for noise and/or timing analysis and for electromigration analysis; modeling the driver cell by a train of trapezoidal voltage pulses transmitted from the driver cell to the one or more load cells through the at least one interconnect; extracting at least a slew rate of a driver voltage signal and/or timing information from a noise and/or timing analysis for the one or more nets; and comparing a locally measured current density in the at least one interconnect to an effective local maximum current density limit of the at least one interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Howard H. Smith, Patrick M. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110154283
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for performing a detailed routing of a net joining ports in an integrated circuit. Extended port regions are created for the ports of the net of the integrated circuit, the extended port regions being shaped in such a way as to guarantee routing access to the ports. A wire corresponding to the net is then placed and the extended port regions of the ports are trimmed, thus identifying essential port regions required for connecting the wire to the ports and dispensable port regions not required for connecting the wire to the ports. The wiring resources are then updated by releasing the dispensable port regions so that the dispensable port regions no longer constitute parts of the ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Thomas Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7962877
    Abstract: A method to reduce the problem complexity maintains a relatively high quality port assignment by abstracting local connections in the macro when performing the port assignment. This is done for netlength, congestion as well as timing. The internal netlist of the macro is abstracted in such a way that the optimization of the external interconnect can be done in an efficient manner. Three levels of abstractions are described. A first level optimizes the top level interconnect, a second level optimizes the top level and macro interconnects, while a third level optimizes the top level timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Keinert, Juergen Koehl, Thomas Ludwig