Patents by Inventor Mian Z. Smith

Mian Z. Smith 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: 8237425
    Abstract: To improve noise rejection, a native (or undoped) NMOS transistor is used as a source follower in place of a conventional common source PMOS transistor in a voltage regulator circuit. The native transistor has a threshold voltage of approximately 0 volts which allows the maximum voltage output of the regulator to be higher by one threshold voltage of a conventional NMOS transistor than might be obtained from a voltage regulator that used a conventional NMOS transistor. Alternatively, a depletion transistor can be used to provide even higher output. In another illustrative embodiment, a conventional bandgap reference circuit is modified by replacing a common source transistor connected to the output of an op amp with a native MOS transistor connected as a source follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mian Z. Smith, Joseph Michael Ingino
  • Patent number: 7619451
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for compensating for phase and timing delays in clock signals generated by phase-locked loops and delay-locked loops on integrated circuits. Circuit elements coupled in a feedback loop of a locked circuit can compensate for the timing and phase delays between an input pin and an output pin. Other circuit elements coupled in the feedback loop of a locked circuit can compensate for the delay between an input pin and a destination circuit element. Still other circuit elements coupled in an input reference path of a locked circuit preserve a timing relationship between input clock and input data signals. A clock signal and a data signal received at a destination circuit element have the same phase and timing relationship that exists between the input clock and input data signals at input pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Tri Hoang, Sergey Shumarayev, Kazi Asaduzzaman, Wanli Chang, Mian Z. Smith, Kang-Wei Lai, Leon Zheng
  • Patent number: 7602255
    Abstract: A feedback loop, such as a phase-locked loop, on an integrated circuit has a detector, a charge pump, and a loop filter. The charge pump adjusts its output current in response to variations in a process of the integrated circuit to reduce variations in the loop bandwidth. The charge pump also adjusts its output current in response to variations in a resistance of a resistor in the loop filter to reduce variations in the loop bandwidth. The charge pump can also adjust its output current in response to variations in a temperature of the integrated circuit to reduce variations in the loop bandwidth. A delay-locked loop on an integrated circuit has a phase detector and a charge pump. The charge pump adjusts its output current in response to variations in the temperature and the process of the integrated circuit to reduce changes in the loop bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Kang-Wei Lai, Ninh D. Ngo, Kazi Asaduzzaman, Mian Z. Smith, Wanli Chang, Tim Tri Hoang
  • Patent number: 7276943
    Abstract: A programmable logic device includes configurable phase-locked loop (PLL) circuitry that outputs multiple clock signals having programmable phases and frequencies. Each output signal is programmably selectable for use as an external clock, internal global clock, internal local clock, or combinations thereof. The PLL circuitry has programmable frequency dividing, including programmable cascaded frequency dividing, and programmable output signal multiplexing that provide a high degree of clock design flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory W. Starr, Wanli Chang, Kang Wei Lai, Mian Z. Smith, Richard Chang
  • Patent number: 7193443
    Abstract: Various embodiments for differential output circuits with reduced transistor sizes and reduced DC currents provide efficient and flexible differential driver circuits. AC current boosting enables the switching transistors that drive the output nodes to be smaller in size. The AC current boost circuitry is shared by both switching current paths in the differential output circuit to reduce size and parasitic effects. Similarly, DC current circuitry is also shared by both switching current paths. The AC boost circuit and the DC bias circuit are made programmable to enable the output circuit to support multiple I/O standards with different specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mian Z. Smith, Gregory Starr
  • Patent number: 7098707
    Abstract: A programmable logic device includes configurable phase-locked loop (PLL) circuitry that outputs multiple clock signals having programmable phases and frequencies. Each output signal is programmably selectable for use as an external clock, internal global clock, internal local clock, or combinations thereof. The PLL circuitry has programmable frequency dividing, including programmable cascaded frequency dividing, and programmable output signal multiplexing that provide a high degree of clock design flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory W. Starr, Wanli Chang, Kang Wei Lai, Mian Z. Smith, Richard Chang