Patents by Inventor Keith Ford

Keith Ford 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).

  • Publication number: 20050092514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cables made of twisted conductor pairs. More specifically, the present invention relates to twisted pair communication cables for high-speed data communications applications. A twisted pair including at least two conductors extends along a generally longitudinal axis, with an insulation surrounding each of the conductors. The conductors are twisted generally longitudinally along the axis. A cable includes at least two twisted pairs and a filler. At least two of the cables are positioned along generally parallel axes for at least a predefined distance. The cables are configured to efficiently and accurately propagate high-speed data signals by, among other functions, limiting at least a subset of the following: impedance deviations, signal attenuation, and alien crosstalk along the predefined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Kenny, Stuart Reeves, Keith Ford, John Grosh, Spring Stutzman, Roger Anderson, David Wiekhorst, Fred Johnston
  • Patent number: 6674682
    Abstract: A method for providing at least 2 Meg of SRAM cells having a maximum average operating current of approximately 9.43 mA comprising the steps of (A) providing an address path configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 2.38 mA, (B) providing one or more sense amplifiers configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 0.91 mA, (C) providing one or more bitlines configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 0.94 mA and (D) providing a Q path configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 0.61 mA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Keith A. Ford, Iulian C. Gradinariu, Bogdan I. Georgescu, Sean B. Mulholland, John J. Silver, Danny L. Rose
  • Patent number: 6662315
    Abstract: An asynchronous memory device includes parallel test circuitry configured to interface with a single-ended output data path of the memory device and, in some cases, to provide a measure of a slowest cell access time for the memory device. The parallel test circuitry may include first circuitry configured to receive logic signals from a plurality of cells of the memory device and to provide first output signals indicative of logic states of the plurality of cells; and second circuitry configured to receive the first output signals and to produce a second output signal indicative of the logic states of the first output signals therefrom. For example, the first circuitry and the second circuitry may be configured as a wired NAND and wired NOR combination. In some cases, one or more of the cells may be included within a redundant row or column of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Iulian C. Gradinariu, John J. Silver, Keith A. Ford, Sean B. Mulholland
  • Patent number: 6629185
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first bus, a second bus, a memory and one or more interconnections. The memory may be connected to the first bus and the second bus and may be configured to transfer data over the first bus and the second bus. The one or more interconnections may be connected between one or more data lines of the first bus and the second bus to control a bit-width of the first and second buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: John Silver, Iulian Gradinariu, Keith Ford, Sean Mulholland
  • Patent number: 6535437
    Abstract: A circuit comprising a memory array and a logic circuit. The memory array may be configured to read or write data in response to (i) one or more enable signals and (ii) one or more control signals. The logic circuit may be configured to generate the enable signals in response to one or more address signals. De-assertion of one or more of the enable signals generally reduces current consumption in the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: John J. Silver, Iulian C. Gradinariu, Bogdan I. Georgescu, Keith A. Ford, Sean B. Mulholland, Danny L. Rose
  • Patent number: 6530040
    Abstract: An asynchronous memory device includes parallel test circuitry configured to interface with a single-ended output data path of the memory device and, in some cases, to provide a measure of a slowest cell access time for the memory device. The parallel test circuitry may include first circuitry configured to receive logic signals from a plurality of cells of the memory device and to provide first output signals indicative of logic states of the plurality of cells; and second circuitry configured to receive the first output signals and to produce a second output signal indicative of the logic states of the first output signals therefrom. For example, the first circuitry and the second circuitry may be configured as a wired NAND and wired NOR combination. In some cases, one or more of the cells may be included within a redundant row or column of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Iulian C. Gradinariu, John J. Silver, Keith A. Ford, Sean B. Mulholland
  • Publication number: 20020191470
    Abstract: A method for providing at least 2 Meg of SRAM cells having a maximum average operating current of approximately 9.43 mA comprising the steps of (A) providing an address path configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 2.38 mA, (B) providing one or more sense amplifiers configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 0.91 mA, (C) providing one or more bitlines configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 0.94 mA and (D) providing a Q path configured to consume a maximum average operating current of approximately 0.61 mA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Keith A. Ford, Iulian C. Gradinariu, Bogdan I. Georgescu, Sean B. Mulholland, John J. Silver, Danny L. Rose
  • Patent number: 6493283
    Abstract: A circuit comprising a plurality of groups of memory cells and a control circuit. The plurality of groups of memory cells may each (i) have a first and a second bitline and (ii) configured to read and write data to one or more of the plurality of groups of memory cells. The control circuit may be configured to select an active group of the plurality of groups in response to one or more control signals. The control circuit may be implemented within the groups of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Keith A. Ford, Iulian C. Gradinariu, Bogdan I. Georgescu, Sean B. Mulholland, John J. Silver, Danny L. Rose
  • Patent number: 6324107
    Abstract: An asynchronous memory device includes parallel test circuitry configured to provide a measure of a slowest bit access time for the device. The parallel test circuitry may include first circuitry configured to receive logic signals from a plurality of cells of the device and to provide first output signals indicative of logic states of the plurality of cells. The parallel test circuitry may also include second circuitry configured to receive the first output signals and to produce second output signals indicative of logic states of the first output signals therefrom. The parallel test circuitry may be the same circuitry used in the read path of the memory device, and may be configured such that the second output signals are produced at the slowest bit access time. The plurality of cells tested may include a redundant cell of the device. Such redundancy is transparent to the test circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Allan, John J. Silver, Keith A. Ford
  • Patent number: 6323701
    Abstract: A circuit for addressing leakage. The circuit may have a variable supply stage having an active load in parallel with a switch transistor where the active load and the switch transistor are coupled to a decoupling capacitor. The circuit may also have a leakage detect stage having a leak device coupled to a critical node. An embodiment of the circuit may have a supply node; an input node; an output node; a buffer stage where the buffer stage supply node is coupled to a variable supply stage output, the buffer stage input is coupled to the input node and the buffer stage output is coupled to the output node; a leakage detect stage where the leakage detect stage supply node is coupled to the supply node and the leakage detect stage input is coupled to the input node; and a variable supply stage where the variable supply stage supply node is coupled to the supply node and the variable supply stage input is coupled to the leakage detect stage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Iulian C. Gradinariu, Keith A. Ford
  • Patent number: 6249464
    Abstract: A circuit comprising a memory array and a logic circuit. The memory array may be configured to read or write data in response to (i) one or more enable signals and (ii) a global signal. The logic circuit may be configured to generate the enable signals in response to one or more address signals. De-assertion of the enable signals generally reduces current consumption in the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: John J. Silver, Julian C. Gradinariu, Bogdan I. Georgescu, Keith A. Ford, Sean B. Mulholland, Danny L. Rose
  • Patent number: 6163495
    Abstract: A circuit comprising a first and second bitline, a plurality of groups of memory cells and a control circuit. The first and second bitlines may each be configured to read and write to one or more of the plurality of groups of memory cells. Each of the plurality of bitline pairs may be interdigitated. The control circuit may be configured to select an active group of said plurality of groups in response to one or more control signals. The control circuit may be implemented within the groups of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Keith A. Ford, Iulian C. Gradinariu, Bogdan I. Georgescu, Sean B. Mulholland, John J. Silver, Danny L. Rose
  • Patent number: 6111800
    Abstract: An asynchronous memory device includes parallel test circuitry configured to provide a measure of a slowest bit access time for the device. The parallel test circuitry may include first circuitry configured to receive logic signals from a plurality of cells of the device and to provide first output signals indicative of logic states of the plurality of cells. The parallel test circuitry may also include second circuitry configured to receive the fist output signals and to produce second output signals indicative of logic states of the first output signals therefor The parallel test circuitry may be the same circuitry used in the read path of the memory device, and may be configured such that the second output signals are produced at the slowest bit access time. The plurality of cells tested may include a redundant cell of the device. Such redundancy is transparent to the test circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Allan, John J. Silver, Keith A. Ford
  • Patent number: 5675542
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise in a memory bit-line pull-up circuit. The memory bit-line pull-up circuit includes a first reference line, a second reference line, a first capacitor, a gating device, and a pull-down circuit. The circuit may further include a load transistor coupled between the first reference line and a first voltage conduit, which generally maintains the voltage on the first reference line at Vcc-Vt, and a second capacitor and the load transistor providing a pull-up path for the voltage on the first reference line when Vcc increases and the first capacitor. The pull-down circuit provides a pull-down path for the voltage on the first reference line when Vcc decreases. The first capacitor provides a pull-up path for the voltage on the second reference line. A first gating device couples a bit-line to the first reference line. The circuit further including a second gating device to couple a bit-line bar to the first reference line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Keith A. Ford