Patents by Inventor Ray Bittner

Ray Bittner 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: 11822899
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing block floating-point (BFP) operations, including in implementations of neural networks. All or a portion of one or more matrices or vectors can share one or more common exponents. Techniques are disclosed for selecting the shared common exponents. In some examples of the disclosed technology, a method includes producing BFP representations of matrices or vectors, at least two elements of the respective matrices or vectors sharing a common exponent, performing a mathematical operation on two or more of the plurality of matrices or vectors, and producing an output matrix or vector. Based on the output matrix or vector, one or more updated common exponents are selected, and an updated matrix or vector is produced having some elements that share the updated common exponents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bittner, Alessandro Forin
  • Patent number: 11707059
    Abstract: A tree stand includes a ladder portion having first and second rails, a tree-engaging member configured to engage a tree, and a mechanism being selectively variable in length operatively interconnecting the member and the first and second rails and controlling the distance between the member and the first and second rails. A platform is pivotably connected to the first and second rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Doran Ray Bittner
  • Patent number: 11107548
    Abstract: Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Zorn, Ray Bittner, Darko Kirovski, Karthik Pattabiraman
  • Publication number: 20200342950
    Abstract: Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin Zorn, Ray Bittner, Darko Kirovski, Karthik Pattabiraman
  • Patent number: 10748640
    Abstract: Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Zorn, Ray Bittner, Darko Kirovski, Karthik Pattabiraman
  • Publication number: 20200159493
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing block floating-point (BFP) operations, including in implementations of neural networks. All or a portion of one or more matrices or vectors can share one or more common exponents. Techniques are disclosed for selecting the shared common exponents. In some examples of the disclosed technology, a method includes producing BFP representations of matrices or vectors, at least two elements of the respective matrices or vectors sharing a common exponent, performing a mathematical operation on two or more of the plurality of matrices or vectors, and producing an output matrix or vector. Based on the output matrix or vector, one or more updated common exponents are selected, and an updated matrix or vector is produced having some elements that share the updated common exponents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bittner, Alessandro Forin
  • Publication number: 20200146278
    Abstract: A tree stand includes a ladder portion having first and second rails, a tree-engaging member configured to engage a tree, and a mechanism being selectively variable in length operatively interconnecting the member and the first and second rails and controlling the distance between the member and the first and second rails. A platform is pivotably connected to the first and second rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Doran Ray Bittner
  • Patent number: 10552935
    Abstract: A system may include a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The system may further include a bus interface that is external to the FPGA, and that is configured to transfer data directly between the GPU and the FPGA without storing the data in a memory of a central processing unit (CPU) as an intermediary operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bittner, Erik S. Ruf
  • Patent number: 10528321
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing block floating-point (BFP) operations, including in implementations of neural networks. All or a portion of one or more matrices or vectors can share one or more common exponents. Techniques are disclosed for selecting the shared common exponents. In some examples of the disclosed technology, a method includes producing BFP representations of matrices or vectors, at least two elements of the respective matrices or vectors sharing a common exponent, performing a mathematical operation on two or more of the plurality of matrices or vectors, and producing an output matrix or vector. Based on the output matrix or vector, one or more updated common exponents are selected, and an updated matrix or vector is produced having some elements that share the updated common exponents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bittner, Alessandro Forin
  • Publication number: 20190343109
    Abstract: A collapsible, portable tree stand assembly for use by hunters, outdoorsmen or a similar user for positioning the user at a suitable elevation above the ground upon the trunk of a tree or similar vertical support. The tree stand assembly includes an extension ladder having an upper and a lower ladder section, a folding frame member adapted to forcibly contact said tree at one end thereof and to be pivotally attached to the upper end of the upper ladder section, a generally planar seat member pivotally attached to the folding frame member, a generally planar foot platform pivotally attached to the upper ladder section below the upper end of the upper ladder section and a folding support strut attached at one end thereof to the foot platform and at the other end thereof to the upper end of the upper ladder section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventor: Doran Ray Bittner
  • Publication number: 20190318799
    Abstract: Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin Zorn, Ray Bittner, Darko Kirovski, Karthik Pattabiraman
  • Publication number: 20190065954
    Abstract: In a data center, neural network evaluations can be included for services involving image or speech recognition by using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other parallel processor. The memory bandwidth limitations of providing weighted data sets from an external memory to the FPGA (or other parallel processor) can be managed by queuing up input data from the plurality of cores executing the services at the FPGA (or other parallel processor) in batches of at least two feature vectors. The at least two feature vectors can be at least two observation vectors from a same data stream or from different data streams. The FPGA (or other parallel processor) can then act on the batch of data for each loading of the weighted datasets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Ray A. BITTNER, JR., Frank Torsten Bernd SEIDE
  • Patent number: 10140572
    Abstract: In a data center, neural network evaluations can be included for services involving image or speech recognition by using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other parallel processor. The memory bandwidth limitations of providing weighted data sets from an external memory to the FPGA (or other parallel processor) can be managed by queuing up input data from the plurality of cores executing the services at the FPGA (or other parallel processor) in batches of at least two feature vectors. The at least two feature vectors can be at least two observation vectors from a same data stream or from different data streams. The FPGA (or other parallel processor) can then act on the batch of data for each loading of the weighted datasets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray A. Bittner, Jr., Frank Torsten Bernd Seide
  • Publication number: 20180174268
    Abstract: A system may include a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The system may further include a bus interface that is external to the FPGA, and that is configured to transfer data directly between the GPU and the FPGA without storing the data in a memory of a central processing unit (CPU) as an intermediary operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bittner, Erik S. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20180157465
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing block floating-point (BFP) operations, including in implementations of neural networks. All or a portion of one or more matrices or vectors can share one or more common exponents. Techniques are disclosed for selecting the shared common exponents. In some examples of the disclosed technology, a method includes producing BFP representations of matrices or vectors, at least two elements of the respective matrices or vectors sharing a common exponent, performing a mathematical operation on two or more of the plurality of matrices or vectors, and producing an output matrix or vector. Based on the output matrix or vector, one or more updated common exponents are selected, and an updated matrix or vector is produced having some elements that share the updated common exponents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bittner, Alessandro Forin
  • Patent number: 9978461
    Abstract: Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Zorn, Ray Bittner, Darko Kirovski, Karthik Pattabiraman
  • Patent number: 9928567
    Abstract: A system may include a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The system may further include a bus interface that is external to the FPGA, and that is configured to transfer data directly between the GPU and the FPGA without storing the data in a memory of a central processing unit (CPU) as an intermediary operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ray Bittner, Erik S. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20170323689
    Abstract: Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin Zorn, Ray Bittner, Darko Kirovski, Karthik Pattabiraman
  • Patent number: 9760770
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards loading parallel memories (e.g., in one or more FPGAs) with multidimensional data in an interleaved manner such that a multidimensional patch/window may be filled with corresponding data in a single parallel read of the memories. Depending on the position of the patch, the data may be rotated horizontally and/or vertically, for example, so that the data in each patch is consistently arranged in the patch regardless of from which memory each piece of data was read. Also described is leveraging dual ported memory for multiple line reads and/or loading one part of a buffer while reading from another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Hiroshi Eguro, Ray A. Bittner, Jr., George E. Smith, Shawn Michael Swilley, Rehan Ahmed
  • Patent number: 9666303
    Abstract: Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Zorn, Ray Bittner, Darko Kirovski, Karthik Pattabiraman