Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Kerns

Kevin J. Kerns 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: 8091052
    Abstract: A method for optimizing post-layout array for accelerated transistor level simulation is provided. In some embodiments of the present invention, a post-layout array of cells having a plurality array lines is optimized by forming array line models for the array lines of the post-layout array of cells. Ideal sub-arrays are formed with the cells of the post-layout array. The ideal sub-array can be simulated using conventional techniques such as HAR or SOFA. Furthermore, some embodiments of the present invention also detect and optimize parasitic capacitors to facilitate formation of the ideal sub-arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal J Rewienski, Kevin J Kerns
  • Patent number: 8060355
    Abstract: A method of providing simulation results includes detecting any power net and rail in a circuit netlist. The circuit can be divided into net-partitioned blocks. Using these net-partitioned blocks, a topological analysis can be performed to identify cuttable/un-cuttable devices and synchronization requirements. Then, the circuit can be re-divided into rail-partitioned blocks. Using these rail-partitioned blocks, a sparse solver can identify potential partitions, but eliminate fill-ins as determined by the topological analysis. A cost function can be applied to the potential partitions as well as the identified cuttable/un-cuttable devices to determine final cut points in the circuit and dynamic inputs to the final blocks. Simulation can be performed on the final blocks and simulation results can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Kerns, Mayukh Bhattacharya, Svetlana Rudnaya, Kiran Gullapalli
  • Publication number: 20090113356
    Abstract: A method for optimizing post-layout array for accelerated transistor level simulation is provided. In some embodiments of the present invention, a post-layout array of cells having a plurality array lines is optimized by forming array line models for the array lines of the post-layout array of cells. Ideal sub-arrays are formed with the cells of the post-layout array. The ideal sub-array can be simulated using conventional techniques such as HAR or SOFA. Furthermore, some embodiments of the present invention also detect and optimize parasitic capacitors to facilitate formation of the ideal sub-arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal J. Rewienski, Kevin J. Kerns
  • Publication number: 20090030665
    Abstract: A method of providing simulation results includes detecting any power net and rail in a circuit netlist. The circuit can be divided into net-partitioned blocks. Using these net-partitioned blocks, a topological analysis can be performed to identify cuttable/un-cuttable devices and synchronization requirements. Then, the circuit can be re-divided into rail-partitioned blocks. Using these rail-partitioned blocks, a sparse solver can identify potential partitions, but eliminate fill-ins as determined by the topological analysis. A cost function can be applied to the potential partitions as well as the identified cuttable/un-cuttable devices to determine final cut points in the circuit and dynamic inputs to the final blocks. Simulation can be performed on the final blocks and simulation results can be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Kerns, Mayukh Bhattacharya, Svetlana Rudnaya, Kiran Gullapalli
  • Patent number: 7324363
    Abstract: A memory array can be optimized for SPICE simulation by modeling the memory array as a collection of boundary elements that track the cell states of memory cells connected to a particular array terminal. By maintaining a cell state distribution for each boundary element, the simulation behavior at the array terminal associated with that boundary element can be accurately determined by modeling each unique cell state, multiplying the results by the corresponding quantities from the cell state distribution, and then adding the results to obtain final values for the array terminal. This allows accurate simulation results to be achieved without needing to simulate each cell independently. Furthermore, by removing any references to unoccupied cell states (e.g., by removing such states from the cell state distribution and/or eliminating model equations for such states), the memory and cpu usage requirements during the simulation can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Kerns, Zhishi Peng