Patents by Inventor John M. Birkner

John M. Birkner 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: 6150199
    Abstract: In one method for forming amorphous silicon antifuses with significantly reduced leakage current, a film of amorphous silicon is formed in a antifuse via between two electrodes. The amorphous silicon film is deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, preferably in an silane-argon environment and at a temperature between 200 and 500 degrees C., or reactively sputtered in a variety of reactive gases. In another method, an oxide layer is placed between two amorphous silicon film layers. In yet another method, one of the amorphous silicon film layers about the oxide layer is doped. In another embodiment, a layer of conductive, highly diffusible material is formed either on or under the amorphous silicon film. The feature size and thickness of the amorphous silicon film are selected to minimize further the leakage current while providing the desired programming voltage. A method also is described for for forming a field programmable gate array with antifuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph G. Whitten, Richard L. Bechtel, Mammen Thomas, Hua-Thye Chua, Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner
  • Patent number: 6078191
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a logic cell integrated with the programmable configuration network. The logic cell includes four two-input AND gates, two six-input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a delay flipflop. The logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block suitable for implementing most TTL and gate array macrolibrary functions. A considerable variety of functions are realizable with one cell delay, including combinational logic functions as wide as thirteen inputs, all boolean transfer functions for up to three inputs, and sequential flipflop functions such as T, JK and count with carry-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua-Thye Chua
  • Patent number: 5989943
    Abstract: In one method for forming amorphous silicon antifuses with significantly reduced leakage current, a film of amorphous silicon is formed in a antifuse via between two electrodes. The amorphous silicon film is deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, preferably in an silane-argon environment and at a temperature between 200 and 500 degrees C., or reactively sputtered in a variety of reactive gases. In another method, an oxide layer is placed between two amorphous silicon film layers. In yet another method, one of the amorphous silicon film layers about the oxide layer is doped. In another embodiment, a layer of conductive, highly diffusible material is formed either on or under the amorphous silicon film. The feature size and thickness of the amorphous silicon film are selected to minimize further the leakage current while providing the desired programming voltage. A method also is described for for forming a field programmable gate array with antifuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph G. Whitten, Richard L. Bechtel, Mammen Thomas, Hua-Thye Chua, Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner
  • Patent number: 5986468
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a logic cell integrated with the programmable configuration network. The logic cell includes four two-input AND gates, two six-input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a delay flipflop. The logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block suitable for implementing most TTL and gate array macrolibrary functions. A considerable variety of functions are realizable with one cell delay, including combinational logic functions as wide as thirteen inputs, all boolean transfer functions for up to three inputs, and sequential flipflop functions such as T, JK and count with carry-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua-Thye Chua
  • Patent number: 5780919
    Abstract: In one method for forming amorphous silicon antifuses with significantly reduced leakage current, a film of amorphous silicon is formed in a antifuse via between two electrodes. The amorphous silicon film is deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, preferably in an silane-argon environment and at a temperature between 200 and 500 degrees C., or reactively sputtered in a variety of reactive gases. In another method, an oxide layer is placed between two amorphous silicon film layers. In yet another method, one of the amorphous silicon film layers about the oxide layer is doped. In another embodiment, a layer of conductive, highly diffusible material is formed either on or under the amorphous silicon film. The feature size and thickness of the amorphous silicon film are selected to minimize further the leakage current while providing the desired programming voltage. A method also is described for forming a field programmable gate array with antifuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Hua-Thye Chua, Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Ralph G. Whitten, Richard L. Bechtel, Mammen Thomas
  • Patent number: 5726586
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a logic cell integrated with the programmable configuration network. The logic cell includes four two-input AND gates, two six-input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a delay flipflop. The logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block suitable for implementing most TTL and gate array macrolibrary functions. A considerable variety of functions are realizable with one cell delay, including combinational logic functions as wide as thirteen inputs, all boolean transfer functions for up to three inputs, and sequential flipflop functions such as T, JK and count with carry-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua-Thye Chua
  • Patent number: 5717230
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array has a programmable interconnect structure comprising metal signal conductors and metal-to-metal PECVD amorphous silicon antifuses. The metal-to-metal PECVD amorphous silicon antifuses have an unprogrammed resistance of at least 550 megaohms and a programmed resistance of under 200 ohms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Hua-Thye Chua, Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Ralph G. Whitten, Richard L. Bechtel, Mammen Thomas
  • Patent number: 5594364
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a logic cell integrated with the programmable configuration network. The logic cell includes four two-input AND gates, two six input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a delay flipflop. The logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block suitable for implementing most TTL and gate array macrolibrary functions. A considerable variety of functions are realizable with one cell delay, including combinational logic functions as wide as thirteen inputs, all boolean transfer functions for up to three inputs, and sequential flipflop functions such as T, JK and count with carry-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua-Thye Chua
  • Patent number: 5587669
    Abstract: In a field programmable gate array, a plurality of wire segments extend parallel to each other between two logic cells. Some of the wire segments extend to logic cell inputs and others to logic cell outputs. A power wire extends perpendicular to the wire segments and crosses each of the wire segments. Antifuses are disposed to couple the input wire segments to the power wire but no antifuses are disposed between the output wire segments and the power wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua T. Chua
  • Patent number: 5502315
    Abstract: In one method for forming amorphous silicon antifuses with significantly reduced leakage current, a film of amorphous silicon is formed in a antifuse via between two electrodes. The amorphous silicon film is deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, preferably in an silane-argon environment and at a temperature between 200 and 500 degrees C., or reactively sputtered in a variety of reactive gases. In another method, an oxide layer is placed between two amorphous silicon film layers. In yet another method, one of the amorphous silicon film layers about the oxide layer is doped. In another embodiment, a layer of conductive, highly diffusible material is formed either on or under the amorphous silicon film. The feature size and thickness of the amorphous silicon film are selected to minimize further the leakage current while providing the desired programming voltage. A method also is described for for forming a field programmable gate array with antifuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Hua-Thye Chua, Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Ralph G. Whitten, Richard L. Bechtel, Mammen Thomas
  • Patent number: 5430390
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a logic cell integrated with the programmable configuration network. The logic cell includes four two-input AND gates, two six-input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a delay flipflop. The logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block suitable for implementing most TTL and gate array macrolibrary functions. A considerable variety of functions are realizable with one cell delay, including combinational logic functions as wide as thirteen inputs, all boolean transfer functions for up to three inputs, and sequential flipflop functions such as T, JK and count with carry-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua-Thye Chua
  • Patent number: 5416367
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a plurality of logic cells ("modules") integrated with the programmable configuration network. Each logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block. Each logic cell consists essentially of four two-input AND gates, one or two six-input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a D-type flipflop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua T. Chua, William D. Cox
  • Patent number: 5293133
    Abstract: A method for determining an electrical characteristic (such as a resistance) of an antifuse of a programmable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Birkner, David T. Martin, Richard J. Wong
  • Patent number: 5280202
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a logic cell integrated with the programmable configuration network. The logic cell includes four two-input AND gates, two six-input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a delay flipflop. The logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block suitable for implementing most TTL and gate array macrolibrary functions. A considerable variety of functions are realizable with one cell delay, including combinational logic functions as wide as thirteen inputs, all boolean transfer functions for up to three inputs, and sequential flipflop functions such as T, JK and count with carry-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua-Thye Chua
  • Patent number: 5122685
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array includes a programmable routing network, a programmable configuration network integrated with the programmable routing network; and a logic cell integrated with the programmable configuration network. The logic cell includes four two-input AND gates, two six-input AND gates, three multiplexers, and a delay flipflop. The logic cell is a powerful general purpose universal logic building block suitable for implementing most TTL and gate array macrolibrary functions. A considerable variety of functions are realizable with one cell delay, including combinational logic functions as wide as thirteen inputs, all boolean transfer functions for up to three inputs, and sequential flipflop functions such as T, JK and count with carry-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew K. Chan, John M. Birkner, Hua-Thye Chua
  • Patent number: 4933577
    Abstract: An output circuit (50) is provided for a programmable logic array (PLA) integrated circuit. The output circuit (50) includes a flip flop (52) which stores a given output term from the array. The flip flop (52) contains a set input lead (S) and a reset input lead (R). The signals present at the set input, reset input, and clock leads are generated by programmable logic within the PLA. A multiplexer (54) is provided which receives the output data of the flip flop (52) and the signal constituting the input data for the flip flop. The multiplexer provides the data input signal on the multiplexer output lead (60) when both the set and reset input signals are true. However, if either or both the set and reset input signals are false, then the multiplexer (54) provides the Q output signal from the flip flop (52) on the multiplexer output lead (60). The multiplexer output signal is presented to a three-state buffer (62) which in turn drives an output pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Sing Y. Wong, John M. Birkner
  • Patent number: 4862136
    Abstract: A programmable resistor network and a method for forming and programming same. The network includes a plurality of independent programmable resistor arrays in a standard DIP semiconductor package. Each resistor array includes a plurality of parallel connected resistor elements capable of being selectively deleted from the array of applying a programming flow of electricity across a first and second DIP pin. The flow of electricity is of a value sufficient to progressively fuse successive array resistors. The total array resistance value progressively increases as array resistors are selectively deleted. Typically an increasing flow of electricity is applied across the array terminals until the desired array resistance value is obtained. The arrays may be manufactured in such a way that the incremental value between successive resistive elements causes the total array resistance value to increase in any desired manner, e.g. geometrically, arithmetically, and logarithmically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Inventor: John M. Birkner
  • Patent number: 4789951
    Abstract: A programmable array logic cell 60 including a sum-of-products array having a single OR gate 70 for providing a sum signal, and including an XOR gate 80 for combining the sum signal with a product signal provided by an AND gate 78 from selected array input and/or feedback signals. The product signal can be the previous state output signal Q for a JK flip flop configuration, or a forced high or low signal for other configurations for programmable output signal polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Birkner, Danesh M. Tavana, Andrew K. Chan, Sing Y. Wong
  • Patent number: 4554640
    Abstract: A programmable array logic circuit is provided having a programmable AND gate array and having means for connecting individual AND gate outputs to the input of one or the other of a pair of neighboring OR gates. This allows the product terms to be shared between two outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Monolithic Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sing Y. Wong, John M. Birkner
  • Patent number: 4476560
    Abstract: An improved circuit for serial scan diagnosis is provided. A state register in the signal path of the digital system under diagnosis is coupled to a diagnostic shift register. Test data is introduced and removed through the diagnostic shift register through a serial input terminal and serial output terminal. For certain operations the serial input terminal becomes a control terminal whereby a minimum number of control lines is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignees: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Monolithic Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren K. Miller, Michael J. Miller, John M. Birkner