Patents by Inventor Norbert Unger

Norbert Unger 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: 10955885
    Abstract: Methods and systems to adjust a resistance between a supply grid and a power-gated grid during an active state of a power-gated circuitry in response to load changes in the circuitry to maintain a relatively consistent IR droop. Subsets of power gates (PGs) may be selectively enabled and disabled based on changes in a load factor, such as a voltage, which may be monitored at a gated power distribution grid and/or proximate to a transistor gate within the power-gated circuitry. The adjusting may be performed to minimize a difference between the monitored voltage and a reference, such as with successive approximation or CMS software. PG subsets may be distributed within one or more layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die and may be selectively enabled/disabled based on location. PGs may be embedded within lower layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die, such as within metal layers of the IC die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zelikson, Vjekoslav Svilan, Norbert Unger, Shai Rotem
  • Patent number: 10536139
    Abstract: A power-gate circuit includes a power-gate transistor operable to switch to decouple a first supply voltage from a second supply voltage during an idle mode, and to couple the first supply voltage to the second supply voltage during a full operational mode. Part of the charge stored at a gate terminal of the power-gate transistor, would have been otherwise flushed to ground while turning on the power-gate transistor, is routed to the rail of the second supply voltage of the logic block. Part of the charge on the rail of the second supply voltage is used to charge the gate terminal of the power-gate transistor to deactivate the power-gate transistor if the logic block goes to the idle mode. Energy is saved both ways because of the charge recycling and the ability to use the power-gate circuit even in cases where the duration of the idle mode may be short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shai Rotem, Norbert Unger, Michael Zelikson
  • Publication number: 20190204886
    Abstract: Methods and systems to adjust a resistance between a supply grid and a power-gated grid during an active state of a power-gated circuitry in response to load changes in the circuitry to maintain a relatively consistent IR droop. Subsets of power gates (PGs) may be selectively enabled and disabled based on changes in a load factor, such as a voltage, which may be monitored at a gated power distribution grid and/or proximate to a transistor gate within the power-gated circuitry. The adjusting may be performed to minimize a difference between the monitored voltage and a reference, such as with successive approximation or CMS software. PG subsets may be distributed within one or more layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die and may be selectively enabled/disabled based on location. PGs may be embedded within lower layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die, such as within metal layers of the IC die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zelikson, Vjekoslav Svilan, Norbert Unger, Shai Rotem
  • Patent number: 10228738
    Abstract: Methods and systems to adjust a resistance between a supply grid and a power-gated grid during an active state of a power-gated circuitry in response to load changes in the circuitry to maintain a relatively consistent IR droop. Subsets of power gates (PGs) may be selectively enabled and disabled based on changes in a load factor, such as a voltage, which may be monitored at a gated power distribution grid and/or proximate to a transistor gate within the power-gated circuitry. The adjusting may be performed to minimize a difference between the monitored voltage and a reference, such as with successive approximation or CMS software. PG subsets may be distributed within one or more layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die and may be selectively enabled/disabled based on location. PGs may be embedded within lower layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die, such as within metal layers of the IC die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zelikson, Vjekoslav Svilan, Norbert Unger, Shai Rotem
  • Publication number: 20180241384
    Abstract: A power-gate circuit includes a power-gate transistor operable to switch to decouple a first supply voltage from a second supply voltage during an idle mode, and to couple the first supply voltage to the second supply voltage during a full operational mode. Part of the charge stored at a gate terminal of the power-gate transistor, would have been otherwise flushed to ground while turning on the power-gate transistor, is routed to the rail of the second supply voltage of the logic block. Part of the charge on the rail of the second supply voltage is used to charge the gate terminal of the power-gate transistor to deactivate the power-gate transistor if the logic block goes to the idle mode. Energy is saved both ways because of the charge recycling and the ability to use the power-gate circuit even in cases where the duration of the idle mode may be short.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Shai Rotem, Norbert Unger, Michael Zelikson
  • Patent number: 9966940
    Abstract: A power-gate circuit includes a power-gate transistor operable to switch to decouple a first supply voltage from a second supply voltage during an idle mode, and to couple the first supply voltage to the second supply voltage during a full operational mode. Part of the charge stored at a gate terminal of the power-gate transistor, would have been otherwise flushed to ground while turning on the power-gate transistor, is routed to the rail of the second supply voltage of the logic block. Part of the charge on the rail of the second supply voltage is used to charge the gate terminal of the power-gate transistor to deactivate the power-gate transistor if the logic block goes to the idle mode. Energy is saved both ways because of the charge recycling and the ability to use the power gate circuit even in cases where the duration of the idle mode may be short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shai Rotem, Norbert Unger, Michael Zelikson
  • Patent number: 9594412
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having an estimation logic to estimate a dynamic capacitance of a processor circuit of a processor during a plurality of processor cycles, a power gate calculator to calculate a control value for a power gate circuit coupled to a load line and between a voltage regulator and the processor circuit based on the dynamic capacitance estimate, and a controller to control an impedance of the power gate circuit based on the control value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Vjekoslav Svilan, Michael Zelikson, Kelvin Kwan, Naveen Neelakantam, Norbert Unger
  • Publication number: 20150224314
    Abstract: A device for stimulating living tissue or nerves by individual or repeated stimulating pulses via stimulating electrodes which stimulate living tissue or nerves by stimulating pulses includes an electrical circuit which regulates the electric voltage or charge on the stimulating electrodes as a function of the electric voltage between the stimulating electrodes and reduces or equalises imbalances of electric charges on the stimulating electrodes. This device is capable of equalizing the electric charge on the stimulating electrodes of a stimulation system. The device and the process for using the device have the advantage that imbalances of electric charges on the stimulating electrodes, and the associated disadvantageous effects on the tissue and on the nerves, are avoided or eliminated. Furthermore, the device has a small space requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Andre ROCKE, Maurits ORTMANNS, Norbert UNGER
  • Publication number: 20150149794
    Abstract: Methods and systems to adjust a resistance between a supply grid and a power-gated grid during an active state of a power-gated circuitry in response to load changes in the circuitry to maintain a relatively consistent IR droop. Subsets of power gates (PGs) may be selectively enabled and disabled based on changes in a load factor, such as a voltage, which may be monitored at a gated power distribution grid and/or proximate to a transistor gate within the power-gated circuitry. The adjusting may be performed to minimize a difference between the monitored voltage and a reference, such as with successive approximation or CMS software. PG subsets may be distributed within one or more layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die and may be selectively enabled/disabled based on location. PGs may be embedded within lower layers of an integrated circuit (IC) die, such as within metal layers of the IC die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zelikson, Vjekoslav Svilan, Norbert Unger, Shai Rotem
  • Patent number: 9037255
    Abstract: A device for stimulating living tissue or nerves by individual or repeated stimulating pulses via stimulating electrodes which stimulate living tissue or nerves by stimulating pulses includes an electrical circuit which regulates the electric voltage or charge on the stimulating electrodes as a function of the electric voltage between the stimulating electrodes and reduces or equalises imbalances of electric charges on the stimulating electrodes. This device is capable of equalizing the electric charge on the stimulating electrodes of a stimulation system. The device and the process for using the device have the advantage that imbalances of electric charges on the stimulating electrodes, and the associated disadvantageous effects on the tissue and on the nerves, are avoided or eliminated. Furthermore, the device has a small space requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: PIXIUM VISION SA
    Inventors: Andre Rocke, Maurits Ortmanns, Norbert Unger
  • Publication number: 20130293282
    Abstract: A power-gate circuit includes a power-gate transistor operable to switch to decouple a first supply voltage from a second supply voltage during an idle mode, and to couple the first supply voltage to the second supply voltage during a full operational mode. Part of the charge stored at a gate terminal of the power-gate transistor, would have been otherwise flushed to ground while turning on the power-gate transistor, is routed to the rail of the second supply voltage of the logic block. Part of the charge on the rail of the second supply voltage is used to charge the gate terminal of the power-gate transistor to de-activate the power-gate transistor if the logic block goes to the idle mode. Energy is saved both ways because of the charge recycling and the ability to use the power gate circuit even in cases where the duration of the idle mode may be short.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Shai Rotem, Norbert Unger, Michael Zelikson
  • Publication number: 20130275782
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having an estimation logic to estimate a dynamic capacitance of a processor circuit of a processor during a plurality of processor cycles, a power gate calculator to calculate a control value for a power gate circuit coupled to a load line and between a voltage regulator and the processor circuit based on the dynamic capacitance estimate, and a controller to control an impedance of the power gate circuit based on the control value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Vjekoslav Svilan, Michael Zelikson, Kelvin Kwan, Naveen Neelakantam, Norbert Unger