Patents by Inventor Kevin Williams Gorman

Kevin Williams Gorman 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: 8570820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for selectively repairing an embedded memory module having memory elements in an integrated circuit chip. The method includes performing a plurality of tests on the embedded memory module under operating conditions to identify a plurality of non-operational memory elements in the embedded memory module and, in response to identifying the non-operational memory elements, generating a plurality of corresponding repair solutions. The method further includes storing the plurality of corresponding repair solutions in a non-volatile storage element and determining from a mask a subset of the plurality of repair solutions that should be restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin William Gorman, John Robert Goss, Michael Richard Ouellette, Troy Joseph Perry, Michael Anthony Ziegerhofer
  • Publication number: 20120230136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for selectively repairing an embedded memory module having memory elements in an integrated circuit chip. The method comprises performing a plurality of tests on the embedded memory module under operating conditions to identify a plurality of non-operational memory elements in the embedded memory module and, in response to identifying the non-operational memory elements, generating a plurality of corresponding repair solutions. The method further comprises storing the plurality of corresponding repair solutions in a non-volatile storage element and determining from a mask a subset of the plurality of repair solutions that should be restored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin William Gorman, John Robert Goss, Michael Richard Ouellette, Troy Joseph Perry, Michael Anthony Ziegerhofer
  • Patent number: 7954028
    Abstract: A design structure for implementing redundancy programming in a memory macro of an integrated circuit chip. It is assumed that all fails are row fails until determined to be bitline fails, circuits for implementing a method wherein it is assumed that all fails are row fails until determined to be bitline fails and test patterns are passed back to the failure detecting circuit when a wordline destination of the test patterns has previously been determined to be failing, and the test patterns and resultant patterns are passed between the memory macro and a test engine via logic paths connecting the memory macro to other circuits in said integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Edward Barth, Jr., Kevin William Gorman
  • Patent number: 7735031
    Abstract: A system that includes a controller for enabling an enumeration operation. The enumeration operation is performed by a controller (110) and logic elements (120) in a system, such that each logic element in the system assigns itself a unique identifier. Each logic element can then be controlled by another source or have a means to communicate with other logic elements in the system. The unique identifier enables greater system flexibility, thereby reducing cost and improving efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie Hornbeck Chickanosky, Kevin William Gorman, Emory D. Keller, Michael Richard Ouellette
  • Patent number: 7549098
    Abstract: A method for implementing redundancy programming in a memory macro of an integrated circuit chip. It is assumed that all fails are row fails until determined to be bitline fails, test patterns are passed back to the failure detecting circuit when a wordline destination of the test patterns has previously been determined to be failing, and the test patterns and resultant patterns are passed between the memory macro and a test engine via logic paths connecting the memory macro to other circuits in said integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Edward Barth, Kevin William Gorman
  • Patent number: 7518918
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting embedded memory that has been identified as being defective by a memory controller. The address of the defective memory is provided by the memory controller to Built-In Test (BIST) logic in combination with a Built-In Redundancy Analyzer (BIRA) to replace the defective memory element with a redundant element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Williams Gorman
  • Publication number: 20090052609
    Abstract: A system that includes a controller for enabling an enumeration operation. The enumeration operation is performed by a controller (110) and logic elements (120) in a system, such that each logic element in the system assigns itself a unique identifier. Each logic element can then be controlled by another source or have a means to communicate with other logic elements in the system. The unique identifier enables greater system flexibility, thereby reducing cost and improving efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Valerie Hornbeck Chickanosky, Kevin William Gorman, Emory D. Keller, Michael Richard Ouellette
  • Publication number: 20080170448
    Abstract: A design structure for implementing redundancy programming in a memory macro of an integrated circuit chip. It is assumed that all fails are row fails until determined to be bitline fails, circuit means for implementing a method wherein it is assumed that all fails are row fails until determined to be bitline fails and test patterns are passed back to the failure detecting circuit when a wordline destination of the test patterns has previously been determined to be failing, and the test patterns and resultant patterns are passed between the memory macro and a test engine via logic paths connecting the memory macro to other circuits in said integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: John Edward Barth, Kevin William Gorman
  • Publication number: 20080148114
    Abstract: A method for implementing redundancy programming in a memory macro of an integrated circuit chip. It is assumed that all fails are row fails until determined to be bitline fails, test patterns are passed back to the failure detecting circuit when a wordline destination of the test patterns has previously been determined to be failing, and the test patterns and resultant patterns are passed between the memory macro and a test engine via logic paths connecting the memory macro to other circuits in said integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: John Edward Barth, Kevin William Gorman