Patents by Inventor Michael A. Mullins

Michael A. Mullins 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: 7178072
    Abstract: A method for storing memory test information includes the steps of storing a portion of information related to locations and numbers of failed memory cells detected while testing memory, and updating the stored information as failed memory cells are detected to indicate a first type of memory spare is to be assigned to repair a failed memory cell, a second complementary type of memory spare is to be assigned to repair the failed memory cell, or the memory is not repairable. The first type of memory spare corresponds to one of a row and a column portion of memory and the second complementary type of memory spare corresponds to the other of the row and column portions of memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Mullins, Anthony J. Sauvageau
  • Publication number: 20030005353
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing memory test information are presented. The method includes the steps of storing a portion of information related to locations and numbers of failed memory cells detected while testing memory, and updating the stored information as failed memory cells are detected to indicate a first type of memory spare is to be assigned to repair a failed memory cell, a second complementary type of memory spare is to be assigned to repair the failed memory cell, or the memory is not repairable. The first type of memory spare corresponds to one of a row and a column portion of memory and the second complementary type of memory spare corresponds to the other of the row and column portions of memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Michael A. Mullins, Anthony J. Sauvageau
  • Publication number: 20020196687
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing and repairing memory are presented. The method includes the step of determining if failed memory cells detected in at least a portion of memory must be repaired using only one of a number of types of memory spares or may be repaired using any of the number of types of memory spares. Failed memory cells that must be repaired using only one of the number of types of memory spares are repeatedly repaired, skipping any failed memory cells that may be repaired using any of the number of types of memory spares, until either no new errors that must be repaired are repaired and no failed memory cells are skipped or the memory is determined to not be repairable. At least one of any failed memory cells skipped when repairing failed memory cells that must be repaired is repaired. The steps of determining if failed memory cells must be repaired and repeatedly repairing failed memory cells that must be repaired are repeated whenever at least one skipped failed memory cell is repaired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Anthony J. Sauvageau, Michael A. Mullins
  • Patent number: 5182727
    Abstract: An 8-to-256 address signal decoder is composed of sixteen 4-to-16 output decoders. Each 4-to-16 decoder is subdivided into eight sub-functions having outputs ANDed together using sixteen OR gates. Each 4-input NAND gate of a conventional rectangular decoder is replaced by two input sub-function NANDs feeding an OR gate. The two sub-function NANDs are positioned outside a high density region, whereas the OR gates reside within a high density region below a memory cell array. The sixteen OR gates are distributed in a 4.times.4 array format. Each OR gate column is four basic cells wide, and there are four output lines for each column of OR gates to conform to dense memory cell layout criteria. The array structure requires only one vertical input line per column and one horizontal input line per row to reach each OR gate. Inverting drivers required to complete the 4-to-16 output decoders are arranged in a 4.times.4 array. The position of each inverter corresponds to the OR gate that drives it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Semiconductor America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. McFalls, Jr., Patrick A. Sproule, Michael A. Mullins
  • Patent number: 4970026
    Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor for ferrous and non-ferrous aqueous systems comprising any of (1) a naphthenic oil based sodium salt of a triethanolamine alkylsulfamido carboxylic acid, (2) a paraffinic oil based sodium salt of a triethanolamine alkylsulfamido carboxylic acid, (3) a sodium salt of an alkylsulfamido carboxylic acid, and (4) a synergistic mixture of any two of (1), (2) and (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Drew Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Mullins, Robert W. Mueller, Peter A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4961878
    Abstract: A composition for inhibiting metal corrosion in a closed aqueous cooling system comprising an aqueous mixture of (a) a nitrate, (b) a silicate, (c) an acrylate polymer, (d) an amine oxide and (e) tolyltriazole. A preferred embodiment also includes a molybdate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Drew Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Mullins
  • Patent number: 4806310
    Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor for ferrous and non-ferrous aqueous systems comprising (a) a water soluble phosphonic acid or salt thereof, preferably an amino methylene phosphonic acid; (b) a phosphonocarboxylic acid, preferably a phosphonoalkane carboxylic acid; (c) an azole, preferably benzotriazole or tolyltriazole; and (d) a water soluble molybdate salt, preferably sodium molybdate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Drew Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Mullins, Peter A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4664884
    Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor for ferrous and non-ferrous aqueous systems comprising (a) a water soluble phosphonic acid or salt thereof, preferably an amino methylene phosphonic acid; (b) a phosphonocarboxylic acid, preferably a phosphonoalkane carboxylic acid; and (c) a triazole, preferably benzotriazole or tolyltriazole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Drew Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Mullins, Peter A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4647314
    Abstract: Can containing food are rinsed with an aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium salt and oxyalkylene polymer (homopolymer of oxyethylene or copolymer of oxyethylene and oxypropylene).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Drew Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Mullins, Peter A. Thomas