Patents by Inventor Joseph H. Underwood

Joseph H. Underwood 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: 8381161
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method identifies at least one proprietary geometric figure from a plurality of geometric figures within a design data layout format file. The proprietary geometric figure in the design data layout format file may be replaced with a placeholder geometric figure. Cell names and connection names associated with the proprietary geometric figure are renamed from a netlist file that defines electrical connections between the geometric figures with obfuscating names. A modified design data layout format file may be generated that includes the placeholder geometric figure and a modified netlist file including the obfuscating names. The modified file enables IC designers to complete their design and checking activities, but inhibits reverse-engineering of the proprietary geometric & netlist data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Andersen, Oded Katz, Rina Kipnis, Lansing D. Pickup, Christopher B. Reynolds, Joseph H. Underwood
  • Publication number: 20090110081
    Abstract: An encode control strategy is provided for variable bit rate encoding of a sequence of video frames in a single pass. The control strategy includes determining whether a video frame has a complexity level statistically outside a defined range from a complexity level of at least one preceding frame of the sequence of video frames, and if so, determining a new average bit rate target for the video frame. The new average bit rate for the video frame is determined employing at least one of spatial complexity and temporal complexity of the video frame. The new average bit rate target for the video frame is used to set frame level bit rate control parameter(s), and the video frame is encoded using the set frame level bit rate control parameter(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles E. BOICE, Krishna C. RATAKONDA, Joseph G. SCHAEFER, Joseph H. UNDERWOOD
  • Patent number: 7512181
    Abstract: An encode control strategy is provided for variable bit rate encoding of a sequence of video frames in a single pass. The control strategy includes determining whether a video frame has a complexity level statistically outside a defined range from a complexity level of at least one preceding frame of the sequence of video frames, and if so, determining a new average bit rate target for the video frame. The new average bit rate for the video frame is determined employing at least one of spatial complexity and temporal complexity of the video frame. The new average bit rate target for the video frame is used to set frame level bit rate control parameter(s), and the video frame is encoded using the set frame level bit rate control parameter(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Boice, Krishna C. Ratakonda, Joseph G. Schaefer, Joseph H. Underwood
  • Patent number: 7503023
    Abstract: A method of locating a short circuit of a shorted circuit path in a circuit layout includes receiving a connecting stack of the circuit layout, receiving the circuit layout defining the connecting stack, receiving at least four virtual probe locations, identifying shortest paths between the at least four virtual probes, and outputting an intersection of the shortest paths, the intersection including the location of the short circuit. According to the method, the connecting stack includes interconnecting paths representing conductive traces of a circuit design, the at least four virtual probe locations exist on the interconnecting stack on at least two different nodes along the shorted circuit path, and the shortest paths are identified between pairs of the at least four probes and are between the at least two different nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sean T. Kainuma, Michael K. Kerr, Raymond H. Kim, Joseph H. Underwood
  • Patent number: 7474701
    Abstract: An encode control strategy is provided for variable bit rate encoding of a sequence of video frames in a single pass. The control strategy includes determining whether a video frame has a complexity level statistically outside a defined range from a complexity level of at least one preceding frame of the sequence of video frames, and if so, determining a new average bit rate target for the video frame. The new average bit rate for the video frame is determined employing at least one of spatial complexity and temporal complexity of the video frame. The new average bit rate target for the video frame is used to set frame level bit rate control parameter(s), and the video frame is encoded using the set frame level bit rate control parameter(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Boice, Krishna C. Ratakonda, Joseph G. Schaefer, Joseph H. Underwood
  • Publication number: 20080225943
    Abstract: An encode control strategy is provided for variable bit rate encoding of a sequence of video frames in a single pass. The control strategy includes determining whether a video frame has a complexity level statistically outside a defined range from a complexity level of at least one preceding frame of the sequence of video frames, and if so, determining a new average bit rate target for the video frame. The new average bit rate for the video frame is determined employing at least one of spatial complexity and temporal complexity of the video frame. The new average bit rate target for the video frame is used to set frame level bit rate control parameter(s), and the video frame is encoded using the set frame level bit rate control parameter(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles E. Boice, Krishna C. Ratakonda, Joseph G. Schaefer, Joseph H. Underwood
  • Patent number: 6194905
    Abstract: An apparatus/method is provided for temporarily electrically contacting leads of an integrated circuit component on a multi-component board under test. A flexible circuit member having a plurality of contacts is used to connect to respective leads of the circuit component. A clamp mechanism imparts a clamping force to the flexible circuit member to clamp the flexible circuit member against the leads of the integrated circuit component, thereby ensuring that the plurality of contacts are in electrical contact with their respective leads. A resilient member is disposed between the flexible circuit member and the clamp mechanism for distributing and partially absorbing the clamping force imparted by the clamp mechanism in order to account for imperfections in and tolerances of the surface mount leads of the integrated circuit component. The plurality of contacts include dendritic surfaces to enhance electrical connection thereof to the respective leads of the integrated circuit component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Pivnichny, Joseph H. Underwood
  • Patent number: 6107812
    Abstract: An apparatus/method is provided for temporarily electrically contacting leads of an integrated circuit component on a multi-component board under test. A flexible circuit member having a plurality of contacts is used to connect to respective leads of the circuit component. A clamp mechanism imparts a clamping force to the flexible circuit member to clamp the flexible circuit member against the leads of the integrated circuit component, thereby ensuring that the plurality of contacts are in electrical contact with their respective leads. A resilient member is disposed between the flexible circuit member and the clamp mechanism for distributing and partially absorbing the clamping force imparted by the clamp mechanism in order to account for imperfections in and tolerances of the surface mount leads of the integrated circuit component. The plurality of contacts include dendritic surfaces to enhance electrical connection thereof to the respective leads of the integrated circuit component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Pivnichny, Joseph H. Underwood