Patents by Inventor Jose A. Tierno

Jose A. Tierno 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: 8856055
    Abstract: A reconfigurable neural network circuit is provided. The reconfigurable neural network circuit comprises an electronic synapse array including multiple synapses interconnecting a plurality of digital electronic neurons. Each neuron comprises an integrator that integrates input spikes and generates a signal when the integrated inputs exceed a threshold. The circuit further comprises a control module for reconfiguring the synapse array. The control module comprises a global final state machine that controls timing for operation of the circuit, and a priority encoder that allows spiking neurons to sequentially access the synapse array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard V. Brezzo, Leland Chang, Steven K. Esser, Daniel J. Friedman, Yong Liu, Dharmendra S. Modha, Robert K. Montoye, Bipin Rajendran, Jae-sun Seo, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8797084
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for calibrating a mid-voltage node in an integrated circuit including an input-output circuit having charge-recycling stacked voltage domains including at least first and second voltage domains. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting data through the input-output circuit, including transmitting a first portion of the data across the first voltage domain, and transmitting a second portion of the data across the second voltage domain. The method further comprises measuring a specified characteristic of the data transmitted through the input-output circuit; and based on the measured specified characteristic, adjusting a voltage of said mid-voltage node to a defined value. The voltage of the mid-voltage node may be adjusted to accomplish a number of objectives, for example, to achieve a desired trade-off between power and performance, or so that the two voltage domains have the same performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Friedman, Yong Liu, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8773215
    Abstract: There is provided a tank based oscillator. The oscillator includes one or more active devices, one or more passive devices, and a tank circuit decoupled from the active devices using at least one of the one or more passive devices. A coupling ratio between the tank circuit and the one or more active devices is set such that a maximum value of an oscillation amplitude of the tank circuit is limited based upon a breakdown of only the one or more passive devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bodhisatwa Sadhu, Jean-Oliver Plouchart, Scott K. Reynolds, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
  • Publication number: 20140180987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a time-division multiplexed neurosynaptic module with implicit memory addressing for implementing a neural network. One embodiment comprises maintaining neuron attributes for multiple neurons and maintaining incoming firing events for different time steps. For each time step, incoming firing events for said time step are integrated in a time-division multiplexing manner. Incoming firing events are integrated based on the neuron attributes maintained. For each time step, the neuron attributes maintained are updated in parallel based on the integrated incoming firing events for said time step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: John V. Arthur, Bernard V. Brezzo, Leland Chang, Daniel J. Friedman, Paul A. Merolla, Dharmendra S. Modha, Robert K. Montoye, Jae-sun Seo, Jose A. Tierno
  • Publication number: 20140180984
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a time-division multiplexed neurosynaptic module with implicit memory addressing for implementing a universal substrate of adaptation. One embodiment comprises a neurosynaptic device including a memory device that maintains neuron attributes for multiple neurons. The module further includes multiple bit maps that maintain incoming firing events for different periods of delay and a multi-way processor. The processor includes a memory array that maintains a plurality of synaptic weights. The processor integrates incoming firing events in a time-division multiplexing manner. Incoming firing events are integrated based on the neuron attributes and the synaptic weights maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John V. Arthur, Bernard V. Brezzo, Leland Chang, Daniel J. Friedman, Paul A. Merolla, Dharmendra S. Modha, Robert K. Montoye, Jae-sun Seo, Jose A. Tierno
  • Publication number: 20140176198
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for calibrating a mid-voltage node in an integrated circuit including an input-output circuit having charge-recycling stacked voltage domains including at least first and second voltage domains. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting data through the input-output circuit, including transmitting a first portion of the data across the first voltage domain, and transmitting a second portion of the data across the second voltage domain. The method further comprises measuring a specified characteristic of the data transmitted through the input-output circuit; and based on the measured specified characteristic, adjusting a voltage of said mid-voltage node to a defined value. The voltage of the mid-voltage node may be adjusted to accomplish a number of objectives, for example, to achieve a desired trade-off between power and performance, or so that the two voltage domains have the same performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Friedman, Yong Liu, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8704567
    Abstract: Phase locked loop (PLL) architectures are provided such as hybrid PLL architectures having separate digital integrating control paths and analog proportional control paths. An analog proportional control path can be implemented with a charge pump circuit that includes resistors in series with CMOS switches to generate control currents (e.g., Up/Down control currents) which are used to adjust a control voltage applied to a digitally controlled oscillator. A digital integrating control path can be implemented with a series of sigma-delta modulators that operate at different frequencies to convert higher bit data signals to lower bit data signals along the digital integrating control path. A single phase frequency detector may be implemented to generate control signals that separately control the analog proportional and digital integrating control paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herschel A. Ainspan, Mark A. Ferriss, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8704566
    Abstract: Phase locked loop (PLL) architectures are provided such as hybrid PLL architectures having separate digital integrating control paths and analog proportional control paths. An analog proportional control path can be implemented with a charge pump circuit that includes resistors in series with CMOS switches to generate control currents (e.g., Up/Down control currents) which are used to adjust a control voltage applied to a digitally controlled oscillator. A digital integrating control path can be implemented with a series of sigma-delta modulators that operate at different frequencies to convert higher bit data signals to lower bit data signals along the digital integrating control path. A single phase frequency detector may be implemented to generate control signals that separately control the analog proportional and digital integrating control paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herschel A. Ainspan, Mark A. Ferriss, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8675722
    Abstract: Equalization techniques for compensating distortion associated with a communications channel are provided. In one aspect of the invention, a method/apparatus for equalizing an input signal received from a communications channel includes the following steps/operations. At least one sampling is generated from the received input signal based on a clock signal unrelated to a clock signal used to recover data associated with the received input signal. Distortion associated with the communications channel is then compensated for based on at least a portion of the at least one generated sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jose A. Tierno
  • Publication number: 20140070856
    Abstract: Phase locked loop (PLL) architectures are provided such as hybrid PLL architectures having separate digital integrating control paths and analog proportional control paths. An analog proportional control path can be implemented with a charge pump circuit that includes resistors in series with CMOS switches to generate control currents (e.g., Up/Down control currents) which are used to adjust a control voltage applied to a digitally controlled oscillator. A digital integrating control path can be implemented with a series of sigma-delta modulators that operate at different frequencies to convert higher bit data signals to lower bit data signals along the digital integrating control path. A single phase frequency detector may be implemented to generate control signals that separately control the analog proportional and digital integrating control paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herschel A. Ainspan, Mark A. Ferriss, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
  • Publication number: 20140070855
    Abstract: Phase locked loop (PLL) architectures are provided such as hybrid PLL architectures having separate digital integrating control paths and analog proportional control paths. An analog proportional control path can be implemented with a charge pump circuit that includes resistors in series with CMOS switches to generate control currents (e.g., Up/Down control currents) which are used to adjust a control voltage applied to a digitally controlled oscillator. A digital integrating control path can be implemented with a series of sigma-delta modulators that operate at different frequencies to convert higher bit data signals to lower bit data signals along the digital integrating control path. A single phase frequency detector may be implemented to generate control signals that separately control the analog proportional and digital integrating control paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herschel A. Ainspan, Mark A. Ferriss, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8665034
    Abstract: Techniques for improved tuning control of varactor circuits are disclosed. For example, an apparatus comprises a plurality of varactors for tuning a frequency value. The plurality of varactors comprises approximately sqrt(2N) varactors, where N is a number of tuning steps and the plurality of varactors are respectively sized as 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, . . . , approximately sqrt(2N)x, and where x is a unit of capacitance. A given one of the N tuning steps may be represented by more than one combination of varactors. This may be referred to as redundant numbering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Herschel A. Ainspan, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
  • Publication number: 20140049323
    Abstract: A method of forming a circuit includes forming a transimpedance amplifier having a first input node and a second input node. The method also includes forming a feedback circuit having a first transistor having a drain terminal connected to the first input node, a source terminal, and a gate terminal, a second transistor having a drain terminal connected to the second input node, a source terminal, and a gate terminal, and a third transistor having a drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the first transistor and the source terminal of the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Proesel, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Clint L. Schow, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8640070
    Abstract: A plurality of target field programmable gate arrays are interconnected in accordance with a connection topology and map portions of a target system. A control module is coupled to the plurality of target field programmable gate arrays. A balanced clock distribution network is configured to distribute a reference clock signal, and a balanced reset distribution network is coupled to the control module and configured to distribute a reset signal to the plurality of target field programmable gate arrays. The control module and the balanced reset distribution network are cooperatively configured to initiate and control a simulation of the target system with the plurality of target field programmable gate arrays. A plurality of local clock control state machines reside in the target field programmable gate arrays. The local clock control state machines are coupled to the balanced clock distribution network and obtain the reference clock signal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sameh W Asaad, Ralph E Bellofatto, Bernard Brezzo, Charles L Haymes, Mohit Kapur, Benjamin D Parker, Thomas Roewer, Jose A Tierno
  • Patent number: 8629701
    Abstract: A method and system for compensating for offsets when measuring parameters of a phase-locked loop (PLL). In one embodiment, a proportional path in the PLL is temporarily shut off, a measurement is made of a real time-to-zero crossing in the PLL to measure a defined parameter of the PLL, the proportional path is switched on, and the defined loop parameter is adjusted based on this measurement. In one embodiment, the real time-to-zero crossing is measured after introducing a phase step into the PLL between a reference signal and an output signal of the PLL. In an embodiment, two phase steps, having opposite polarities, are successively introduced into the PLL, and the time-to-crossing measurements resulting from these two phase steps may be averaged, and this average is used to determine a loop parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Ferriss, Arun Natarajan, Benjamin Parker, Alexander Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno, Soner Yaldiz
  • Patent number: 8593226
    Abstract: A circuit includes a transimpedance amplifier portion having a first input node and a second input node, and a feedback circuit portion comprising a first transistor having a drain terminal connected to the first input node, a source terminal, and a gate terminal, a second transistor having a drain terminal connected to the second input node, a source terminal, and a gate terminal, and a third transistor having a drain terminal connected to the source terminal of the first transistor and the source terminal of the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Proesel, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Clint L. Schow, Jose A. Tierno
  • Publication number: 20130307588
    Abstract: A method and system for compensating for offsets when measuring parameters of a phase-locked loop (PLL). In one embodiment, a proportional path in the PLL is temporarily shut off, a measurement is made of a real time-to-zero crossing in the PLL to measure a defined parameter of the PLL, the proportional path is switched on, and the defined loop parameter is adjusted based on this measurement. In one embodiment, the real time-to-zero crossing is measured after introducing a phase step into the PLL between a reference signal and an output signal of the PLL. In an embodiment, two phase steps, having opposite polarities, are successively introduced into the PLL, and the time-to-crossing measurements resulting from these two phase steps may be averaged, and this average is used to determine a loop parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Ferriss, Arun Natarajan, Benjamin Parker, Alexander Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno, Soner Yaldiz
  • Patent number: 8570079
    Abstract: There is provided a method for reducing lock time in a phase locked loop. The method includes detecting a saturation condition on a path within the phase locked loop. The method further includes temporarily applying saturation compensation along the path when the saturation condition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Ferriss, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
  • Patent number: 8493113
    Abstract: A method and system for compensating for offsets when measuring parameters of a phase-locked loop (PLL). In one embodiment, a proportional path in the PLL is temporarily shut off, a measurement is made of a real time-to-zero crossing in the PLL to measure a defined parameter of the PLL, the proportional path is switched on, and the defined loop parameter is adjusted based on this measurement. In one embodiment, the real time-to-zero crossing is measured after introducing a phase step into the PLL between a reference signal and an output signal of the PLL. In an embodiment, two phase steps, having opposite polarities, are successively introduced into the PLL, and the time-to-crossing measurements resulting from these two phase steps may be averaged, and this average is used to determine a loop parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Ferriss, Arun Natarajan, Benjamin Parker, Alexander Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno, Soner Yaldiz
  • Patent number: 8476945
    Abstract: Phase profile generator systems and methods are disclosed. A system includes a signal generator, a target phase trajectory module, an error detector and a control loop filter. The signal generator is configured to generate an output signal. In addition, the target phase trajectory module is configured to track a target phase trajectory and determine a next adjustment of the output signal to conform the output signal to a portion of the target phase trajectory. Further, the error detector is configured to determine an error between the output signal and a current target phase trajectory value that precedes the portion of the target phase trajectory, where the determination of the error is independent of the next adjustment of the output signal. Moreover, the control loop filter is configured to control the signal generator in accordance with both the next adjustment and the error to generate a phase profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Elad, Daniel J. Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno