Patents by Inventor Nancy David Dillon

Nancy David Dillon 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: 7353357
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a memory core that includes at least eight banks of dynamic random access storage cells and an internal data bus coupled to the memory core. The internal data bus receives a plurality of data bits from a selected bank of the memory core. The semiconductor memory device further comprises a first interface to receive a read command from external to the semiconductor memory device and a second interface to output first and second subsets of the plurality of data bits. The first subset is output during a first phase of an external clock signal and the second subset is output during a second phase of the external clock signal. The first phase includes a first edge transition and the second phase includes a second edge transition. The second edge transition is an opposite edge transition with respect to the first edge transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Barth, Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Donald C. Stark, Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, Nancy David Dillon, legal representative, John B. Dillon
  • Patent number: 7352234
    Abstract: An output driver circuit and current control technique to facilitate high-speed buses with low noise is used to interface with high-speed dynamic RAMs (DRAMs). The architecture includes the following components: an input isolation block (120), an analog voltage divider (104), an input comparator (125), a sampling latch (130), a current control counter (115), and a bitwise output driver (output driver A 107 and output driver B 111).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, Jr., Nancy David Dillon, legal representative, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecypher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, John B. Dillon
  • Patent number: 7330951
    Abstract: A memory device has interface circuitry and a memory core which make up the stages of a pipeline, each stage being a step in a universal sequence associated with the memory core. The memory device has a plurality of operation units such as precharge, sense, read and write, which handle the primitive operations of the memory core to which the operation units are coupled. The memory device further includes a plurality of transport units configured to obtain information from external connections specifying an operation for one of the operation units and to transfer data between the memory core and the external connections. The transport units operate concurrently with the operation units as added stages to the pipeline, thereby creating a memory device which operates at high throughput and with low service times under the memory reference stream of common applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Barth, Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Donald C. Stark, Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, Nancy David Dillon, legal representative, John B. Dillon, deceased
  • Patent number: 7167039
    Abstract: A method of operating an integrated circuit including an output driver. The method includes storing a value in a register, wherein the value is representative of a voltage swing setting of an output driver. The voltage swing setting of the output driver is adjusted using a counter that holds a count value representing an update to the voltage swing setting. The count value is updated in accordance with a signal that indicates an adjustment to the voltage swing setting. In addition, an integrated circuit memory device comprising an output driver, a register and a counter is provided. The counter updates a count value in response to a signal that indicates a direction to adjust the count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, Jr., Nancy David Dillon, legal representative, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecypher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, John B. Dillon, deceased
  • Patent number: 6975159
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory system that includes an integrated circuit memory device is provided. A value representing an output voltage setting of an output driver of the memory device is stored in a register. The output driver outputs the drive voltage. A signal derived from the drive voltage is compared to a reference signal to generate a signal that indicates an adjustment to the output voltage setting. The output voltage setting of the output driver is adjusted using a counter that holds a count value representing an update to the output voltage setting. The count value is updated in accordance with a signal that indicates the adjustment to the output voltage setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, Jr., Nancy David Dillon, legal representative, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecynher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, John B. Dillon, deceased
  • Patent number: 6975160
    Abstract: A system including an integrated circuit memory device. The integrated circuit device comprises a register to store a value representative of an output voltage setting. A circuit holds a value representative of an adjustment to the output voltage setting. An output driver outputs a drive voltage during a calibration operation, wherein a signal is generated based on a comparison between a signal derived from the drive voltage and a reference voltage. The signal updates the value representative of the adjustment to the output voltage setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, Jr., Nancy David Dillon, legal representative, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William E. Stonecynher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, John B. Dillon, deceased
  • Patent number: 6963956
    Abstract: A memory device has interface circuitry and a memory core which make up the stages of a pipeline, each stage being a step in a universal sequence associated with the memory core. The memory device has a plurality of operation units such as precharge, sense, read and write, which handle the primitive operations of the memory core to which the operation units are coupled. The memory device further includes a plurality of transport units configured to obtain information from external connections specifying an operation for one of the operation units and to transfer data between the memory core and the external connections. The transport units operate concurrently with the operation units as added stages to the pipeline, thereby creating a memory device which operates at high throughput and with low service times under the memory reference stream of common applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Barth, Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Donald C. Stark, Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, Nancy David Dillon, John B. Dillon
  • Patent number: 6870419
    Abstract: An output driver circuit and current control technique to facilitate high-speed buses with low noise is used to interface with high-speed dynamic RAMs (DRAMs). The architecture includes the following components: an input isolation block (120), an analog voltage divider (104), an input comparator (125), a sampling latch (130), a current control counter (115), and a bitwise output driver (output driver A 107 and output driver B 111).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, Jr., Nancy David Dillon, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecypher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, John B. Dillon
  • Publication number: 20040193788
    Abstract: A memory device has interface circuitry and a memory core which make up the stages of a pipeline, each stage being a step in a universal sequence associated with the memory core. The memory device has a plurality of operation units such as precharge, sense, read and write, which handle the primitive operations of the memory core to which the operation units are coupled. The memory device further includes a plurality of transport units configured to obtain information from external connections specifying an operation for one of the operation units and to transfer data between the memory core and the external connections. The transport units operate concurrently with the operation units as added stages to the pipeline, thereby creating a memory device which operates at high throughput and with low service times under the memory reference stream of common applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Barth, Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Donald C. Stark, Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, John B. Dillon, Nancy David Dillon
  • Publication number: 20020196059
    Abstract: An output driver circuit and current control technique to facilitate high-speed buses with low noise is used to interface with high-speed dynamic RAMs (DRAMs). The architecture includes the following components: an input isolation block (120), an analog voltage divider (104), an input comparator (125), a sampling latch (130), a current control counter (115), and a bitwise output driver (output driver A 107 and output driver B 111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, John B. Dillon, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecypher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, Nancy David Dillon
  • Patent number: 6462591
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including an array of memory cells. The memory device includes a first output driver coupled to a first output terminal, and a second output driver coupled to a second output terminal. The memory device further includes a voltage divider coupled between the first and second output terminals, to generate a control voltage based on a voltage level present on the first output terminal and a voltage level present on the second output terminal. The memory device further includes a comparator, coupled to the voltage divider, to compare the control voltage with a reference voltage, wherein an amount of voltage swing of the first output driver is adjusted based on the comparison between the control voltage and the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, Jr., John B. Dillon, by Nancy David Dillon, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecypher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20020095560
    Abstract: A memory device has interface circuitry and a memory core which make up the stages of a pipeline, each stage being a step in a universal sequence associated with the memory core. The memory device has a plurality of operation units such as precharge, sense, read and write, which handle the primitive operations of the memory core to which the operation units are coupled. The memory device further includes a plurality of transport units configured to obtain information from external connections specifying an operation for one of the operation units and to transfer data between the memory core and the external connections. The transport units operate concurrently with the operation units as added stages to the pipeline, thereby creating a memory device which operates at high throughput and with low service times under the memory reference stream of common applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Richard M. Barth, Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Donald C. Stark, Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, John B. Dillon, Nancy David Dillon
  • Publication number: 20020070771
    Abstract: An output driver circuit and current control technique to facilitate high-speed buses with low noise is used to interface with high-speed dynamic RAMs (DRAMs). The architecture includes the following components: an input isolation block (120), an analog voltage divider (104), an input comparator (125), a sampling latch (130), a current control counter (115), and a bitwise output driver (output driver A 107 and output driver B 111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, John B. Dillon, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecypher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, Nancy David Dillon
  • Patent number: 6356975
    Abstract: A memory device has interface circuitry and a memory core which make up the stages of a pipeline, each stage being a step in a universal sequence associated with the memory core. The memory device has a plurality of operation units such as precharge, sense, read and write, which handle the primitive operations of the memory core to which the operation units are coupled. The memory device further includes a plurality of transport units configured to obtain information from external connections specifying an operation for one of the operation units and to transfer data between the memory core and the external connections. The transport units operate concurrently with the operation units as added stages to the pipeline, thereby creating a memory device which operates at high throughput and with low service times under the memory reference stream of common applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Rambus Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard M. Barth, Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Donald C. Stark, Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, John B. Dillon, by Nancy David Dillon
  • Publication number: 20020017929
    Abstract: An output driver circuit and current control technique to facilitate high-speed buses with low noise is used to interface with high-speed dynamic RAMs (DRAMs). The architecture includes the following components: an input isolation block (120), an analog voltage divider (104), an input comparator (125), a sampling latch (130), a current control counter (115), and a bitwise output driver (output driver A 107 and output driver B 111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Garrett, John B. Dillon, Michael Tak-Kei Ching, William F. Stonecypher, Andy Peng-Pui Chan, Matthew M. Griffin, Nancy David Dillon
  • Patent number: RE39153
    Abstract: A socket (14) includes a first bus conductor (22a) having two or more contact regions (24) and a second bus conductor (22b) arranged substantially parallel to the first bus conductor and having two or more contact regions (24). The first and second bus conductors are spaced relative to one another so as to provide a predetermined electrical impedance and may be arranged to carry electrical signals as transmission lines. A dielectric spacer (36) may be disposed between the first and second bus conductors to provide the spacing. Contact regions (24) of the first and second conductors (22a, 22b) may provide compliant coupling regions for the socket (14). The contact regions (24) of the first bus conductor (22a) may be positioned within the socket (14) so as to contact a lead disposed on a first side of a circuit element (16) and the contact regions (24) of the second bus conductor (22b) may be positioned within the socket (14) so as to contact the lead disposed on the second side of the circuit element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Donald V. Perino, James A. Gasbarro, Nancy David Dillon, John B. Dillon