Patents by Inventor Richard F. Pang

Richard F. Pang 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: 7916532
    Abstract: A memory array and method for performing a write operation in a memory array that eliminates parasitic coupling between selected and unselected bitlines and protects memory cells on unselected bitlines. A memory array (100); has a plurality of memory cells (148, 150,152, 154), each of which is coupled to a unique array bitline (104, 106, 108,110). A unique recovery transistor (138; 140, 142, 144) coupled to each array bitline (104, 106, 108, 110). The recovery transistors (140, 144) on odd bitlines (140, 144) are coupled to a first and second voltage (128, 144), while the recovery transistors on even bitlines are coupled, to a first and third voltage (128, 126). During a write operation, each recovery transistor coupled to an unselected bitline is active during a write operation and a recovery operation, while each recovery transistor coupled; to selected bitline is active during a recovery operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Emil Lambrache, Duncan Curry, Richard F. Pang
  • Publication number: 20100014354
    Abstract: A memory array and method for performing a write operation in a memory array that eliminates parasitic coupling between selected and unselected bitlines and protects memory cells on unselected bitlines. A memory array (100); has a plurality of memory cells (148, 150,152, 154), each of which is coupled to a unique array bitline (104, 106, 108,110). A unique recovery transistor (138; 140, 142, 144) coupled to each array bitline (104, 106, 108, 110). The recovery transistors (140, 144) on odd bitlines (140, 144) are coupled to a first and second voltage (128, 144), while the recovery transistors on even bitlines are coupled, to a first and third voltage (128, 126). During a write operation, each recovery transistor coupled to an unselected bitline is active during a write operation and a recovery operation, while each recovery transistor coupled; to selected bitline is active during a recovery operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Emil Lambrache, Duncan Curry, Richard F. Pang
  • Patent number: 7304890
    Abstract: A byte select circuit of a memory cell array wherein each column of the memory cell array has two byte select lines. A first byte select line is coupled to the even numbered rows in the column and a second byte select line is coupled to the odd numbered rows in the column. The second byte select line is configured to be driven to a low voltage level when the first byte select line is driven to a high voltage level, thereby minimizing or eliminating any parasitic voltage coupling between adjacent rows of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Emil Lambrache, Duncan Curry, Richard F. Pang
  • Patent number: 7295466
    Abstract: A memory array and method for performing a write operation in a memory array that eliminates parasitic coupling between selected and unselected bitlines and protects memory cells on unselected bitlines. A memory array has a plurality of memory cells, each of which is coupled to a unique array bitline. A unique recovery transistor is coupled to each array bitline. The recovery transistors on odd bitlines are coupled to a first and second voltage, while the recovery transistors on even bitlines are coupled to a first and third voltage. During a write operation, each recovery transistor coupled to an unselected bitline is active during a write operation and a recovery operation, while each recovery transistor coupled to a selected bitline is active during a recovery operation. The first voltage is sufficient to prevent parasitic coupling between the selected bitlines and the unselected bitlines during the write operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Emil Lambrache, Duncan Curry, Richard F. Pang
  • Patent number: 7224610
    Abstract: Increasing levels of integration in successive generations of semiconductor memory products are possible through minimal metal-one layout pitches. An optimal bitline layout pitch in metal-one greatly exceeds an ability to match the pitch in a layout of a corresponding array of bitline-coupling-control latches. One latch controlling coupling for two bitlines alleviates the layout problem. In order for one latch to control coupling of two bitlines a logical segregation of the addressing of even and odd bitlines is necessary along with an additional odd or even bitline selection device in series with the selection device managed by the coupling control latch. With the use of a logical-to-physical address mapping and even-odd bitline selection, a single coupling control latch is able to manage one of two bitlines at a time. One latch serving two bitlines makes possible a bitline pitch attaining a maximum layout density possible for a fabrication process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Emil Lambrache, Duncan Curry, Richard F. Pang
  • Patent number: 4970406
    Abstract: A reset circuit incorporated into a latch circuit which comprising a follow portion and a hold portion and generates an output signal at an output terminal in response to an input data signal and a clock signal. A reset signal is applied, via a diode, to the output terminal which causes the output terminal to immediately assume the state of the reset signal without any intervening gate delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Gazelle Microcircuits, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Fitzpatrick, Gary R. Gouldsberry, Yat-Sum Chan, Richard F. Pang
  • Patent number: 4897836
    Abstract: A multiplexing type circuit includes circuit portions having input and output leads associated therewith, to allow testing of the individual circuit portions, and further includes laser programmable fuses which allow selective disconnection of certain input and output leads as chosen to disconnect circuit portions from the overall circuit as appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Gazelle Microcircuits, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Fitzpatrick, Yat-Sum Chan, Richard F. Pang, Gary R. Gouldsberry
  • Patent number: 4871931
    Abstract: An improved logic circuit is disclosed, of the type in which one or more input signals, generated by one or more input signal generator circuits, are referenced to a threshold voltage, determined by a threshold voltage generator circuit, to determine whether said one or more input signals are in a high or low state. In this improved logic circuit, the time constants of the input signal generator circuits are matched with those of the threshold voltage generator circuit so that any power supply perturbations commonly applied to the input signal generator circuits and threshold voltage generator circuit, such as due to the switching on or off of output loads, will result in these circuits having substantially identical frequency responses and amplitude versus time responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Gazelle Microcircuits, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Fitzpatrick, Gary R. Gouldsberry, Yat-Sum Chan, Richard F. Pang