Patents by Inventor Kenneth R. Knowles

Kenneth R. Knowles 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: 10541688
    Abstract: A ring oscillator circuit is disclosed. The ring oscillator in one embodiment includes an odd number of inverters connected in a loop fashion, a current mirror having a drain of a first transistor connected to the inverters, and a self-biased inverter connected to a drain of a second transistor of the current mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Knowles, Daniel Pirkl
  • Publication number: 20190173474
    Abstract: A ring oscillator circuit is disclosed. The ring oscillator in one embodiment includes an odd number of inverters connected in a loop fashion, a current mirror having a drain of a first transistor connected to the inverters, and a self-biased inverter connected to a drain of a second transistor of the current mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: KENNETH R. KNOWLES, DANIEL PIRKL
  • Patent number: 7414466
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing offset voltage drifts in a charge amplifier circuit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a charge amplifier circuit and a bias current compensation circuit. The bias current compensation circuit supplies bias current to lower any offset voltage drift at the output of the charge amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Russell Blumen, Kenneth R. Knowles
  • Publication number: 20070296496
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing offset voltage drifts in a charge amplifier circuit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a charge amplifier circuit and a bias current compensation circuit. The bias current compensation circuit supplies bias current to lower any offset voltage drift at the output of the charge amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Arthur Russell Blumen, Kenneth R. Knowles
  • Patent number: 7099187
    Abstract: A read/write circuit for accessing chalcogenide non-volatile memory cells is disclosed. The read/write circuit includes a chalcogenide storage element, a voltage limiting circuit, a current-to-voltage converter, and a buffer circuit. The voltage limiting circuit, which is coupled to the chalcogenide storage element, ensures that voltages across the chalcogenide storage element will not exceed a predetermined value during a read operation. During a read operation, the current-to-voltage converter, which is coupled to the voltage limiting circuit, converts a current pulse read from the chalcogenide storage element to a voltage pulse. By sensing the voltage pulse from the current-to-voltage converter, the buffer circuit can determine a storage state of the chalcogenide storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Li, Kenneth R. Knowles, David C. Lawson
  • Patent number: 6965521
    Abstract: A read/write circuit for accessing chalcogenide non-volatile memory cells is disclosed. The read/write circuit includes a chalcogenide storage element, a voltage limiting circuit, a current-to-voltage converter, and a buffer circuit. The voltage limiting circuit, which is coupled to the chalcogenide storage element, ensures that voltages across the chalcogenide storage element will not exceed a predetermined value during a read operation. During a read operation, the current-to-voltage converter, which is coupled to the voltage limiting circuit, converts a current pulse read from the chalcogenide storage element to a voltage pulse. By sensing the voltage pulse from the current-to-voltage converter, the buffer circuit can determine a storage state of the chalcogenide storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: BAE Systems, Information and Electronics Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Li, Kenneth R. Knowles, David C. Lawson
  • Patent number: 6944041
    Abstract: A circuit for accessing a chalcogenide memory array is disclosed. The chalcogenide memory array includes multiple subarrays with rows and columns formed by chalcogenide storage elements. The chalcogenide memory array is accessed by discrete read and write circuits. Associated with a respective one of the subarrays, each of the write circuits includes an independent write 0 circuit and an independent write 1 circuit. Also associated with a respective one of the subarrays, each of the read circuits includes a sense amplifier circuit. In addition, a voltage level control module is coupled to the read and write circuits to ensure that voltages across the chalcogenide storage elements within the chalcogenide memory array do not exceed a predetermined value during read and write operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Li, Kenneth R. Knowles, David C. Lawson
  • Patent number: 6703858
    Abstract: An SEU immune logic architecture includes a dual path logic gate coupled to a dual to single path converter. A first and a second logic element within the dual path logic gate are functionally and possibly structurally equivalent, and are coupled to receive input signals spanning redundant input signal sets. A given logic structure within the first logic element may receive specified input signals within a particular input signal set, while an analogous logic structure within the second logic element may receive corresponding input signals within the counterpart input signal set. A radiation induced transient pulse that affects one input signal may affect an output signal asserted by one logic structure; however, since the transient pulse doesn't affect a corresponding input signal applied to the analogous logic structure, the dual path logic gate may output at least one correctly valued signal when a transient pulse occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Knowles
  • Patent number: 6642802
    Abstract: A dual path ring oscillator core includes three dual path inverters, each having a first inverter and a second inverter. Within the first inverter, one transistor is coupled to a first output of a previous dual path inverter, while another transistor is coupled to a second output of the previous dual path inverter. Within the second inverter, one transistor is coupled to the second output of the previous dual path inverter, while another transistor is coupled to the previous dual path inverter's first output. A first and a final dual path inverter are analogously coupled. A transient pulse will not propagate through successive dual path inverter stages. A dual to single path converter is coupled to receive signals output by the final dual path inverter. If a transient signal appears at a dual to single path converter input, stray output node capacitance maintains a correct output signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Knowles, Nandor G. Thoma
  • Patent number: 6640311
    Abstract: A circuit includes a signal generator and a discriminator. The signal generator generates a plurality of reference signals where a majority of the reference signals have the same phase. The discriminator generates a regulated signal that has the same phase as the majority of the reference signals. Therefore, if an environmental disturbance such as a single-event transient (SET) shifts the phase or phases of a minority of the reference signals, the discriminator maintains the regulated signal at a stable frequency and phase by generating the regulated signal with reference to the undisturbed majority of the reference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Knowles
  • Patent number: 6614257
    Abstract: An SEU immune logic architecture includes a dual path logic gate coupled to a dual to single path converter. A first and a second logic element within the dual path logic gate are functionally and possibly structurally equivalent, and are coupled to receive input signals spanning redundant input signal sets. A given logic structure within the first logic element may receive specified input signals within a particular input signal set, while an analogous logic structure within the second logic element may receive corresponding input signals within the counterpart input signal set. A radiation induced transient pulse that affects one input signal may affect an output signal asserted by one logic structure; however, since the transient pulse doesn't affect a corresponding input signal applied to the analogous logic structure, the dual path logic gate may output at least one correctly valued signal when a transient pulse occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronics Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Knowles
  • Publication number: 20030117221
    Abstract: A dual path ring oscillator core includes three dual path inverters, each having a first inverter and a second inverter. Within the first inverter, one transistor is coupled to a first output of a previous dual path inverter, while another transistor is coupled to a second output of the previous dual path inverter. Within the second inverter, one transistor is coupled to the second output of the previous dual path inverter, while another transistor is coupled to the previous dual path inverter's first output. A first and a final dual path inverter are analogously coupled. A transient pulse will not propagate through successive dual path inverter stages. A dual to single path converter is coupled to receive signals output by the final dual path inverter. If a transient signal appears at a dual to single path converter input, stray output node capacitance maintains a correct output signal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Knowles, Nandor G. Thoma
  • Patent number: 6522208
    Abstract: An oscillator includes an oscillator circuit that receives a control signal having a signal level. The oscillator circuit generates an oscillator signal having a frequency that is proportional to the signal level and that is within a frequency range. A compensation circuit stabilizes the oscillator circuit such that the frequency range includes first and second predetermined frequencies. Thus, such an oscillator can be used to generate an oscillator signal having a first frequency in one application and having a second frequency in another application. The compensation circuit stabilizes the frequency range of the oscillator signal so that it includes the first and second frequencies over broad ranges of operating conditions such as temperature and supply voltage and over broad ranges of component characteristics such as gate dielectric thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Knowles
  • Publication number: 20020175713
    Abstract: An SEU immune logic architecture includes a dual path logic gate coupled to a dual to single path converter. A first and a second logic element within the dual path logic gate are functionally and possibly structurally equivalent, and are coupled to receive input signals spanning redundant input signal sets. A given logic structure within the first logic element may receive specified input signals within a particular input signal set, while an analogous logic structure within the second logic element may receive corresponding input signals within the counterpart input signal set. A radiation induced transient pulse that affects one input signal may affect an output signal asserted by one logic structure; however, since the transient pulse doesn't affect a corresponding input signal applied to the analogous logic structure, the dual path logic gate may output at least one correctly valued signal when a transient pulse occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Knowles
  • Publication number: 20020017924
    Abstract: An SEU immune logic architecture includes a dual path logic gate coupled to a dual to single path converter. A first and a second logic element within the dual path logic gate are functionally and possibly structurally equivalent, and are coupled to receive input signals spanning redundant input signal sets. A given logic structure within the first logic element may receive specified input signals within a particular input signal set, while an analogous logic structure within the second logic element may receive corresponding input signals within the counterpart input signal set. A radiation induced transient pulse that affects one input signal may affect an output signal asserted by one logic structure; however, since the transient pulse doesn't affect a corresponding input signal applied to the analogous logic structure, the dual path logic gate may output at least one correctly valued signal when a transient pulse occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Knowles