Patents by Inventor Pierre Maillard

Pierre Maillard 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: 11652481
    Abstract: One example of the present disclosure is an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes an inverter with an input and an output, a clock transmission gate coupled to the output of the inverter; and a plurality of storage cells. The clock transmission gate is coupled to each of the plurality of storage cells, wherein each of the plurality of storage cells comprises a plurality of nodes arranged based on a minimum spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Betty Lau, Yanran Chen, Jun Liu, Martin L. Voogel
  • Publication number: 20230055458
    Abstract: One example of the present disclosure is an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes an inverter with an input and an output, a clock transmission gate coupled to the output of the inverter; and a plurality of storage cells. The clock transmission gate is coupled to each of the plurality of storage cells, wherein each of the plurality of storage cells comprises a plurality of nodes arranged based on a minimum spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Pierre MAILLARD, Betty LAU, Yanran CHEN, Jun LIU, Martin L. VOOGEL
  • Patent number: 10958067
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip having circuitry adapted to detect and unlatch a latched transistor, and methods for operating the same are provided. In one example, an IC chip includes a body, a power rail disposed in the body and coupled to at least one of a plurality of contact pads disposed on the body, and a first core circuit disposed in the body. The first core circuit includes a first current limiting circuit, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) device having a first transistor, a second transistor, and a first latch sensing circuit. The first current limiting circuit is coupled to the power rail. First terminals of the first and second transistors are coupled to the first current limiting circuit. The first latch sensing circuit has a first input terminal coupled to second terminals of the first and second transistors. The first latch sensing circuit also has an output terminal coupled to the first current limiting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Yanran Chen, Michael J. Hart
  • Patent number: 10861848
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide for single event latch-up (SEL) mitigation techniques. In an example, a circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a ballast resistor. The semiconductor substrate comprises a p-doped region and an n-doped region. The first transistor comprises an n+ doped source region disposed in the p-doped region of the semiconductor substrate. The second transistor comprises a p+ doped source region disposed in the n-doped region of the semiconductor substrate. The p+ doped source region, the n-doped region, the p-doped region, and the n+ doped source region form a PNPN structure. The ballast resistor is electrically connected in series with the PNPN structure between a power node and a ground node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hart, James Karp, Mohammed Fakhruddin, Pierre Maillard
  • Publication number: 20200091713
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip having circuitry adapted to detect and unlatch a latched transistor, and methods for operating the same are provided. In one example, an IC chip includes a body, a power rail disposed in the body and coupled to at least one of a plurality of contract pads disposed on the body, and a first core circuit disposed in the body. The first core circuit includes a first current limiting circuit, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) device having a first transistor, a second transistor, and a first latch sensing circuit. The first current limiting circuit is coupled to the power rail. First terminals of the first and second transistors are coupled to the first current limiting circuit. The first latch sensing circuit has a first input terminal coupled to second terminals of the first and second transistors. The first latch sensing circuit also has an output terminal coupled to the first current limiting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Yanran Chen, Michael J. Hart
  • Publication number: 20200066713
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide for single event latch-up (SEL) mitigation techniques. In an example, a circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a ballast resistor. The semiconductor substrate comprises a p-doped region and an n-doped region. The first transistor comprises an n+ doped source region disposed in the p-doped region of the semiconductor substrate. The second transistor comprises a p+ doped source region disposed in the n-doped region of the semiconductor substrate. The p+ doped source region, the n-doped region, the p-doped region, and the n+ doped source region form a PNPN structure. The ballast resistor is electrically connected in series with the PNPN structure between a power node and a ground node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hart, James Karp, Mohammed Fakhruddin, Pierre Maillard
  • Patent number: 10574214
    Abstract: A circuit for storing data in an integrated circuit is described. The circuit comprises an input adapted to receive the data; a memory element coupled to the input, the memory element comprising a storage node for storing the data; at least one node that is separate from the storage node for storing the data; and at least a portion of a dummy transistor coupled to the at least one node that is separate from the storage node for storing the data. A method of storing data in an integrated circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Yanran Chen, Michael J. Hart
  • Patent number: 10366999
    Abstract: Front end circuits that include a FinFET transistor are described herein. In one example, the front end circuit has a FinFET transistor that includes a channel region wrapped by a metal gate, the channel region connecting a source and drain fins. At least one of the source and drain fins have a height (HTOT) and a width W. The height (HTOT) is greater than an optimal height (HOPT), wherein the height HOPT is a height that would optimize speed of a FinFET transistor having the width W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventor: Pierre Maillard
  • Patent number: 10263623
    Abstract: A circuit for storing data in an integrated circuit is described. The circuit comprises an inverter comprising a first transistor having a first gate configured to receive input data and a first output configured to generate a first inverted data output and a second transistor having a second gate configured to receive the input data and a second output configured to generate a second inverted data output; a first pass gate coupled to the first output of the inverter; a second pass gate coupled to the second output of the inverter; and a storage element having an input coupled to receive an output of the first pass gate and an output of the second pass gate. A method of storing data in an integrated circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: XILINX INC.
    Inventors: Yanran Chen, Pierre Maillard, Michael J. Hart
  • Patent number: 10033388
    Abstract: An integrated circuit enables the selection of a circuit. According to one implementation, a plurality of redundant circuits provide a predetermined function and a voltage sensor may be coupled to receive a reference voltage. A selection circuit may be coupled to the voltage sensor and the reference voltage, wherein the selection circuit selects one of the plurality of redundant circuits to be implemented in the integrated circuit based upon a detected voltage of the reference voltage of the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Mini Rawat, Pierre Maillard, Michael J. Hart
  • Patent number: 9825632
    Abstract: A circuit for preventing multi-bit upsets induced by single event transients is described. The circuit comprises a clock generator configured to generate a first clock signal and a second clock signal; a first memory element configured to receive a first input signal and generate a first output signal, the first memory element having a first clock input configured to receive the first clock signal; and a second memory element configured to receive the first output signal and generate a second output signal, the second memory element having a second clock input configured to receive the second clock signal; wherein the first clock signal is the same as the second clock signal. A method of preventing multi-bit upsets induced by single event transients is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Michael J. Hart, Praful Jain, Robert I. Fu
  • Patent number: 9793899
    Abstract: The disclosed IC includes a load circuit and a temperature sensor circuit. The temperature sensor circuit measures temperature of the IC and stores temperature data in a register. An SEL mitigation circuit monitors the IC for a temperature change indicative of an SEL. A temperature change greater than a threshold over a time interval is indicative of an SEL. The SEL mitigation circuit is configured to reduce voltage applied to the IC to a voltage level that clears an SEL in the IC in response to a temperature change exceeding the threshold and to increase voltage applied to the load circuit after the reduction in voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Jue Arver, Michael J. Hart, John K. Jennings
  • Publication number: 20170287919
    Abstract: Front end circuits that include a FinFET transistor are described herein. In one example, the front end circuit has a FinFET transistor that includes a channel region wrapped by a metal gate, the channel region connecting a source and drain fins. At least one of the source and drain fins have a height (HTOT) and a width W. The height (HTOT) is greater than an optimal height (HOPT), wherein the height HOPT is a height that would optimize speed of a FinFET transistor having the width W.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Pierre Maillard
  • Patent number: 9484919
    Abstract: Approaches are disclosed for processing a circuit design to protect against single event upsets. A logic path of the circuit design is selected for redundancy based on a total of failure rates of circuit elements in the logic path being greater than a product of a target reduction in failure rate of the logic path and a failure rate of a voting circuit. The circuit design is modified to include at least three instances of the logic path coupled in parallel and a voting circuit coupled to receive output signals from the instances of the logic path. The modified circuit design is stored in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Praful Jain, Pierre Maillard, James Karp, Michael J. Hart
  • Patent number: 9281807
    Abstract: A master-slave flip-flop implemented in an integrated circuit comprises a master latch coupled to receive data at an input; and a slave latch coupled to an output of the master latch, wherein the slave latch comprises an SEU-enhanced latch, and the master latch is not enhanced for SEU protection. A method of implementing a master-slave flip-flop in an integrated circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Praful Jain, Michael J. Hart, Sundeep Ram Gopal Agarwal, Austin H. Lesea, Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 9236354
    Abstract: A semiconductor package with thermal neutron shielding is disclosed. The semiconductor package includes a substrate and an integrated circuit die disposed on the substrate. The semiconductor package also has a thermal neutron shield including a shielding material. The shielding material includes boron-10 and is configured to inhibit a portion of thermal neutrons that encounter the thermal neutron shield from passing through the thermal neutron shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Jeffrey Barton, Austin H. Lesea
  • Publication number: 20150348915
    Abstract: A semiconductor package with thermal neutron shielding is disclosed. The semiconductor package includes a substrate and an integrated circuit die disposed on the substrate. The semiconductor package also has a thermal neutron shield including a shielding material. The shielding material includes boron-10 and is configured to inhibit a portion of thermal neutrons that encounter the thermal neutron shield from passing through the thermal neutron shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Jeffrey Barton, Austin H. Lesea
  • Patent number: 9183338
    Abstract: In an example, a method of implementing a circuit design for a programmable integrated circuit (IC) begins by identifying combinatorial logic functions of the circuit design. The method maps, according to a first constraint, a first threshold percentage of the combinatorial logic functions onto a first type of lookup tables (LUTs) of the programmable IC in favor of second type of LUTs of the programmable IC, the second type of LUTs being more susceptible to single event upsets than the first type of LUTs. The method generates a first physical implementation of the circuit design for the programmable IC based on the mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Praful Jain, Pierre Maillard
  • Patent number: 7437966
    Abstract: An internal control device for a mechanical gearbox including first and second input clutches which, respectively, control transmission from engine torque towards first and second primary concentric shafts bearing; stationary pinions; two output shafts supporting idle pinions which are driven respectively by the first and second input shafts; and a mechanism for jaw clutching the idle pinions, which are actuated by an assembly of shift forks. All of the gearbox ratios are selected and switched by a common selector including a selector cylinder and a switching carriage which is concentric to the cylinder and which is disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean Pierre Maillard, Michel Raoul
  • Patent number: 4843119
    Abstract: Adhesive product for the bonding of steel, particularly in the automotive sheetwork processes proper to be used on ordinary non-degreased or oiled steel as well as on precoated steels of the electroplated or electrotinned type, even after being regreased, the said adhesive product being polyurethane-based and implementing polyol systems, comprising either one poylol or binary or ternary polyol mixtures or mixtures of more than three polyols modified by reaction with an epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Compagnie Francaise de Produits Industriels
    Inventors: Joseph Schapira, Paul Louis-Gavet, Pierre Maillard