Patents by Inventor John L. McCollum

John L. McCollum 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: 11544349
    Abstract: A method for implementing a neural network system in an integrated circuit includes presenting digital pulses to word line inputs of a matrix vector multiplier including a plurality of word lines, the word lines forming intersections with a plurality of summing bit lines, a programmable Vt transistor at each intersection having a gate connected to the intersecting word line, a source connected to a fixed potential and a drain connected to the intersecting summing bit line, each digital pulse having a pulse width proportional to an analog quantity. During a charge collection time frame charge collected on each of the summing bit lines from current flowing in the programmable Vt transistor is summed. During a pulse generating time frame digital pulses are generated having pulse widths proportional to the amount of charge that was collected on each summing bit line during the charge collection time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventors: John L. McCollum, Jonathan W. Greene, Gregory William Bakker
  • Publication number: 20220262434
    Abstract: A ReRAM memory array includes ReRAM memory cells and a select circuit having two series-connected select transistors connected in series with a ReRAM device. When ReRAM memory cell(s) are selected for erasing, the bit line coupled to the ReRAM memory cell(s) to be erased is biased at a first voltage potential. The source line coupled to the ReRAM memory cell(s) to be erased is biased at a second voltage potential greater than the first voltage potential, the difference between the first voltage potential and the second voltage potential being sufficient to erase the ReRAM device. The gates of the series-connected select transistors coupled to the ReRAM memory cell(s) to be erased are supplied with positive voltage pulses. The gates of the series-connected select transistors coupled to the ReRAM memory cell(s) unselected for erasing are supplied with a voltage potential insufficient to turn them on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Nguyen, Fethi Dhaoui, John L. McCollum, Fengliang Xue
  • Patent number: 11355187
    Abstract: A method for erasing a ReRAM memory cell that includes a ReRAM device having a select circuit with two series-connected select transistors. The method includes determining if the ReRAM cell is selected for erasing. If the ReRAM cell is selected for erasing, the bit line node is biased at a first voltage potential, the source line node is biased at a second voltage potential greater than the first voltage potential and the gates of the series-connected select transistors are supplied with positive voltage pulses. The difference between the first voltage potential and the second voltage potential is sufficient to erase the ReRAM device in the ReRAM cell. If the ReRAM cell is unselected for erasing, the gate of the one of the series-connected select transistors having its drain connected to an electrode of the ReRAM device is supplied with a voltage potential insufficient to turn it on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Nguyen, Fethi Dhaoui, John L McCollum, Fengliang Xue
  • Publication number: 20210232658
    Abstract: A method for implementing a neural network system in an integrated circuit includes presenting digital pulses to word line inputs of a matrix vector multiplier including a plurality of word lines, the word lines forming intersections with a plurality of summing bit lines, a programmable Vt transistor at each intersection having a gate connected to the intersecting word line, a source connected to a fixed potential and a drain connected to the intersecting summing bit line, each digital pulse having a pulse width proportional to an analog quantity. During a charge collection time frame charge collected on each of the summing bit lines from current flowing in the programmable Vt transistor is summed. During a pulse generating time frame digital pulses are generated having pulse widths proportional to the amount of charge that was collected on each summing bit line during the charge collection time frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventors: John L. McCollum, Jonathan W. Greene, Gregory William Bakker
  • Patent number: 11068341
    Abstract: A method for providing error correction for a memory array includes for each memory word stored in a data memory portion of the memory array having at least one bit error, storing in an error PROM error data identifying a memory address for the data word in the data memory portion, a bit position of each bit error, and correct bit data for each bit error, monitoring memory addresses presented to the data PROM, if a memory address presented to the data memory portion is an identified memory address, reading from the error PROM the bit position of each bit error and the correct bit data for each bit error, and substituting the correct bit data into each identified bit position of a sense amplifier reading data from the data memory portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventor: John L. McCollum
  • Patent number: 11031078
    Abstract: A single-event-upset (SEU) stabilized memory cell includes a latch portion including a cross-coupled latch, and at least one cross coupling circuit path in the latch portion including a first series-connected pair of vertical resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventors: Fengliang Xue, Fethi Dhaoui, Pavan Singaraju, Victor Nguyen, John L. McCollum, Volker Hecht
  • Patent number: 11023559
    Abstract: A user programmable integrated circuit includes a user-programmable routing network including a plurality of interconnect conductors selectively couplable to one another by user-programmable elements. A plurality of matrix vector multipliers, each have a plurality of word lines, each word line coupled to a different first one of the one of the interconnect conductors of the user-programmable routing network, the word lines forming intersections with a plurality of summing bit lines, a programmable Vt transistor at each intersection having a gate connected to the intersecting word line, a source connected to a fixed potential and a drain connected to the intersecting summing bit line. A charge-to-pulse-width converter circuit is associated with each one of the matrix vector multipliers, each having an input coupled to one of the summing bit lines, and a pulse output coupled to a different second one of the interconnect conductors of the user-programmable routing network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventors: John L. McCollum, Jonathan W. Greene, Gregory William Bakker
  • Publication number: 20210125666
    Abstract: A ReRAM memory cell includes a ReRAM device including a solid electrolyte layer disposed between a first ion-source electrode and a second electrode and a select circuit including two series-connected select transistors connected in series with the ReRAM device, each of the two series-connected select transistors having a gate connected to a separate control line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2021
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Nguyen, Fethi Dhaoui, John L McCollum, Fengliang Xue
  • Publication number: 20210073072
    Abstract: A method for providing error correction for a memory array includes for each memory word stored in a data memory portion of the memory array having at least one bit error, storing in an error PROM error data identifying a memory address for the data word in the data memory portion, a bit position of each bit error, and correct bit data for each bit error, monitoring memory addresses presented to the data PROM, if a memory address presented to the data memory portion is an identified memory address, reading from the error PROM the bit position of each bit error and the correct bit data for each bit error, and substituting the correct bit data into each identified bit position of a sense amplifier reading data from the data memory portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventor: John L. McCollum
  • Patent number: 10910050
    Abstract: A ReRAM memory cell includes a ReRAM device including a solid electrolyte layer disposed between a first ion-source electrode and a second electrode and a select circuit including two series-connected select transistors connected in series with the ReRAM device, each of the two series-connected select transistors having a gate connected to a separate control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Nguyen, Fethi Dhaoui, John L. McCollum, Fengliang Xue
  • Publication number: 20210005256
    Abstract: A ReRAM memory cell includes a ReRAM element, a programming circuit coupled to the ReRAM element and defining a programming circuit path in the ReRAM memory cell, and an erase circuit coupled to the ReRAM element and defining an erase circuit path in the ReRAM memory cell. The programming circuit path is separate from the erase circuit path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: John L. McCollum, Fengliang Xue
  • Patent number: 10878905
    Abstract: A ReRAM memory cell includes a ReRAM element, a programming circuit coupled to the ReRAM element and defining a programming circuit path in the ReRAM memory cell, and an erase circuit coupled to the ReRAM element and defining an erase circuit path in the ReRAM memory cell. The programming circuit path is separate from the erase circuit path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: John L. McCollum, Fengliang Xue
  • Patent number: 10872661
    Abstract: A method for programming a resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) cell includes passing a first current through the ReRAM device for a first period of time, the first current selected to create a leakage path through the ReRAM device, and after passing the first current through the ReRAM device passing a second current through the ReRAM device for a second period of time shorter than the first period of time, the second current selected to create a current path having a desired resistance through the leakage path through the ReRAM device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Fengliang Xue, Fethi Dhaoui, Victor Nguyen, John L. McCollum
  • Publication number: 20200327938
    Abstract: A method for programming a resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) cell includes passing a first current through the ReRAM device for a first period of time, the first current selected to create a leakage path through the ReRAM device, and after passing the first current through the ReRAM device passing a second current through the ReRAM device for a second period of time shorter than the first period of time, the second current selected to create a current path having a desired resistance through the leakage path through the ReRAM device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Fengliang Xue, Fethi Dhaoui, Victor Nguyen, John L. McCollum
  • Publication number: 20200327937
    Abstract: A ReRAM memory cell includes a ReRAM device including a solid electrolyte layer disposed between a first ion-source electrode and a second electrode and a select circuit including two series-connected select transistors connected in series with the ReRAM device, each of the two series-connected select transistors having a gate connected to a separate control line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Microchip Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Nguyen, Fethi Dhaoui, John L. McCollum, Fengliang Xue
  • Publication number: 20200286559
    Abstract: A single-event-upset (SEU) stabilized memory cell includes a latch portion including a cross-coupled latch, and at least one cross coupling circuit path in the latch portion including a first series-connected pair of vertical resistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventors: Fengliang Xue, Fethi Dhaoui, Pavan Singaraju, Victor Nguyen, John L. McCollum, Volker Hecht
  • Publication number: 20200242190
    Abstract: A user programmable integrated circuit includes a user-programmable routing network including a plurality of interconnect conductors selectively couplable to one another by user-programmable elements. A plurality of matrix vector multipliers, each have a plurality of word lines, each word line coupled to a different first one of the one of the interconnect conductors of the user-programmable routing network, the word lines forming intersections with a plurality of summing bit lines, a programmable Vt transistor at each intersection having a gate connected to the intersecting word line, a source connected to a fixed potential and a drain connected to the intersecting summing bit line. A charge-to-pulse-width converter circuit is associated with each one of the matrix vector multipliers, each having an input coupled to one of the summing bit lines, and a pulse output coupled to a different second one of the interconnect conductors of the user-programmable routing network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: John L. McCollum, Jonathan W. Greene, Gregory William Bakker
  • Patent number: 10714180
    Abstract: A configuration memory cell includes a latch portion including a cross-coupled latch having complementary output nodes, and a programmable read-only memory (PROM) portion coupled to one of the complementary output nodes of the latch portion, the PROM portion including a programmable and erasable ReRAM device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventors: John L McCollum, Jonathan W. Greene
  • Patent number: 10650890
    Abstract: A method for programming a ReRAM cell including a ReRAM device connected in series with an access transistor includes biasing the ReRAM cell with a programming potential that configures the access transistor in a common-source configuration and applying at least one programming voltage pulse to a gate of the access transistor, the programming voltage pulse having a magnitude selected to limit programming current to a preselected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventor: John L. McCollum
  • Patent number: 10607696
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell includes a first voltage supply node, a second voltage supply node, an output node, a resistive random access memory device having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode connected to the first voltage supply node, at least one p-channel transistor connected between the second electrode of the resistive random access memory device and the output node, at least one n-channel transistor connected between the output node and the second voltage supply node, and an inverter connected between the output node and a gate of the at least one n-channel transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corp.
    Inventor: John L. McCollum