Patents by Inventor Robert Thomas Bailis

Robert Thomas Bailis 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: 7047464
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC includes a standard cell. The standard cell includes a plurality of logic functions. The ASIC also includes at least one bus coupled to at least a portion of the logic functions and a plurality of internal signals from the plurality of logic functions. Finally, the ASIC includes a field programmable (FP) function coupled to the at least one bus and at least a portion of the plurality of internal signals. The FP function provides access to internal signals for observation and control. An ASIC using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) function within a standard cell design is utilized to create an internal-to-the-ASIC bridging of internal signals to observe and control of the internal signals of the ASIC. By the placement of logic, which expresses a test program, into the FPGA function that manipulates the I/O pins and/or other functional entities of interest, the ASIC function and/or surrounding logic can be easily verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Patent number: 6806730
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC comprises a standard cell, the standard cell including a plurality of logic functions. The ASIC further includes at least one FPGA interconnect coupled to at least a portion of the logic functions. The FPGA interconnect can be configured to select a particular logic function of the plurality of logic functions. An ASIC in accordance with the present invention allows “field selection” of functions that are connected to the internal bus(es) and to external I/O. In addition, functional block connections made with internal buses can be significantly wider and faster than buses brought on chip via external chip I/Os. Further, the ASIC reduces cost because selective bus connections can be made internal to the chip, thus eliminating the need for external pins. Finally, the ASIC reduces the cost of the packaged component by allowing the chip to be packaged in a lower pin count package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Patent number: 6668361
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC includes a standard cell, the standard cell including a plurality of logic functions. The ASIC also includes an input/output (I/O) configuration function coupled to at least a portion of the logic functions. The ASIC further includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) function coupled to the I/O configuration function. The FPGA function controls the I/O configuration function based upon a configuration file. A system in accordance with the present invention reduces the cost and time associated with the timing analysis activities during development. An FPGA function within the ASIC is utilized to control the I/O characteristics such as delay, termination and/or slew rate for the I/O pin mapping. Different I/O configurations will be provided by the FPGA function depending on the environment the ASIC is used in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Patent number: 6593771
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising a standard cell is disclosed. The standard cell includes a plurality of logic functions; at least a portion of the logic functions requiring initialization. The circuit includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) cell coupled to the at least a portion of the plurality of logic functions. The at least a portion of the plurality of logic functions are initialized by the FPGA cell. In a method and system in accordance with the present invention, an on-chip Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) cell is configured to implement the required application-specific function initializations. The FPGA cell could be wired directly to each of the registers within the functional blocks requiring initialization. These registers would also be wired to the processor bus allowing software access for normal operation after initialization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Publication number: 20030110429
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC includes a standard cell. The standard cell includes a plurality of logic functions. The ASIC also includes at least one bus coupled to at least a portion of the logic functions and a plurality of internal signals from the plurality of logic functions. Finally, the ASIC includes a field programmable (FP) function coupled to the at least one bus and at least a portion of the plurality of internal signals. The FP function provides access to internal signals for observation and control. An ASIC using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) function within a standard cell design is utilized to create an internal-to-the-ASIC bridging of internal signals to observe and control of the internal signals of the ASIC. By the placement of logic, which expresses a test program, into the FPGA function that manipulates the I/O pins and/or other functional entities of interest, the ASIC function and/or surrounding logic can be easily verified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Publication number: 20030110453
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC includes a standard cell, the standard cell including a plurality of logic functions. The ASIC also includes an input/output (I/O) configuration function coupled to at least a portion of the logic functions. The ASIC further includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) function coupled to the I/O configuration function. The FPGA function controls the I/O configuration function based upon a configuration file. A system in accordance with the present invention reduces the cost and time associated with the timing analysis activities during development. An FPGA function within the ASIC is utilized to control the I/O characteristics such as delay, termination and/or slew rate for the I/O pin mapping. Different I/O configurations will be provided by the FPGA function depending on the environment the ASIC is used in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Publication number: 20030107399
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC comprises a standard cell, the standard cell including a plurality of logic functions. The ASIC further includes at least one FPGA interconnect coupled to at least a portion of the logic functions. The FPGA interconnect can be configured to select a particular logic function of the plurality of logic functions. An ASIC in accordance with the present invention allows “field selection” of functions that are connected to the internal bus(es) and to external I/O. In addition, functional block connections made with internal buses can be significantly wider and faster than buses brought on chip via external chip I/Os. Further, the ASIC reduces cost because selective bus connections can be made internal to the chip, thus eliminating the need for external pins. Finally, the ASIC reduces the cost of the packaged component by allowing the chip to be packaged in a lower pin count package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Publication number: 20030110430
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC includes a standard cell. The standard cell includes a plurality of logic functions and at least one bus coupled to at least a portion of the logic functions. The standard cell also includes a plurality of internal signals from the plurality of logic functions and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) function coupled to the at least one bus and at least a portion of the plurality of internal signals. The FPGA function includes a debug client function that observes and manipulates the at least one bus and the plurality of internal signals. A system and method in accordance with the present invention utilizes a debug function within a standard cell design to create an internal-to-the-ASIC debugging (software, hardware or both) function. The system and method is provided by connection of internal buses and signals of interest to a debug client function within the FPGA function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Publication number: 20030110306
    Abstract: A system on a chip (SOC) integrated circuit is disclosed. The SOC integrated circuit includes a plurality of logic functions. The logic functions include a plurality of base functions and a plurality of peripheral functions. The SOC integrated circuit includes at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA) cell that is coupled to the plurality of peripheral functions. The FPGA cell can then be configured to selectively enable the plurality of peripheral functions. Accordingly, one or more FPGA cells are provided on an SOC. The FPGA cells can then be selectively configured to enable one or more peripheral chip functions. Because FPGAs are customized “in the field”, i.e., in a specific customer application, one SOC part number containing all peripheral functions can be used to satisfy multiple customer markets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Publication number: 20030107398
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising a standard cell is disclosed. The standard cell includes a plurality of logic functions; at least a portion of the logic functions requiring initialization. The circuit includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) cell coupled to the at least a portion of the plurality of logic functions. The at least a portion of the plurality of logic functions are initialized by the FPGA cell. In a method and system in accordance with the present invention, an on-chip Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) cell is configured to implement the required application-specific function initializations. The FPGA cell could be wired directly to each of the registers within the functional blocks requiring initialization. These registers would also be wired to the processor bus allowing software access for normal operation after initialization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Patent number: 6545501
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ASIC comprises a standard cell. The standard cell includes a plurality of logic functions. The ASIC further includes a field programmable (FP) logic function for coupling the plurality of logic functions together via a plurality of input and output stages. The FP logic function can be programmed for field repair of at least one of the plurality of the logic functions. A method and system in accordance with the present invention utilizes a distributed field programmable logic block in conjunction with standard cells to provide for field repair and improved redundancy. To describe the features of the present invention in more detail, refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Charles Edward Kuhlmann, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Ann Marie Rincon
  • Patent number: 6443003
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring changes in mass air flow is described that uses one or more thermoelectric devices, each of which serves both as a heating element and as a differential temperature sensor. The thermoelectric device or devices are sandwiched between two surface plates. The sensor operates the device or devices in constant current or in pulsed current mode. The operation in constant current mode involves passing the current through one thermoelectric device to create a temperature differential between the two surfaces. A second thermoelectric device generates a voltage in response to the differential, the voltage being proportional to the air flow rate. In another embodiment, the device contains a single thermoelectric device that operates in a pulsed mode, first to create a temperature differential using an applied current, and then to measure the voltage. When the voltage reaches zero, the cycle is repeated. The cycle time determines the air flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Bailis
  • Patent number: 6434652
    Abstract: A device that enables a card to be hot-plugged into a socket on a processor-base machine includes a signal bus arbitrator, a signal bus switch, a power bus switch, a cover plate switch, status signals and a controller. The controller monitors the status signals and other signals from the cover plate switch and the signal bus arbitrator to generate control signals that activate the power bus switch and the signal bus switch to control power and signal transmitting facilities at the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Thomas Lee Bonds, Jr., Roy Lee Draughn, Alvin Dean Genzlinger, David John Jensen, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Brian Scott Oakley, Michael James Ward
  • Patent number: 6373712
    Abstract: A frame for inserting and/or removing circuit cards from the housing of a machine includes a circuit card carrier connected to a locking CAM slide that is disposed to move within the channel of an actuator bar. A slot with a locking feature is fabricated on the locking CAM slide. A pin extending from a surface of the actuator bar into the channel coacts with the locking mechanism to lock the actuator bar relative to the locking CAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Thomas Lee Bonds, Jr., David John Jensen, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Brian Scott Oakley
  • Patent number: 6125417
    Abstract: A device that enables a card to be hot-plugged into a socket on a processor-base machine includes a signal bus arbitrator, a signal bus switch, a power bus switch, a cover plate switch, status signals and a controller. The controller monitors the status signals and other signals from the cover plate switch and the signal bus arbitrator to generate control signals that activate the power bus switch and the signal bus switch to control power and signal transmitting facilities at the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Thomas Lee Bonds, Jr., Roy Lee Draughn, Alvin Dean Genzlinger, David John Jensen, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Brian Scott Oakley, Michael James Ward
  • Patent number: 6053760
    Abstract: The device includes a universal carrier plate with openings for cooling attached circuit boards and openings for coacting with brackets to mount different size circuit boards. A positioning mechanism is connected to the universal carrier plate and rides on tracks in the housing to position the carrier plate and its attached circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Bailis, Thomas Lee Bonds, Jr., David John Jensen, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Brian Scott Oakley