Patents by Inventor Steven Oakland

Steven Oakland 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).

  • Publication number: 20080080274
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repairing an integrated circuit of the type comprising of a multitude of memory arrays and a fuse box holding control data for controlling redundancy logic of the arrays. The method comprises the steps of providing the integrated circuit with a control data selector for passing the control data from the fuse box to the memory arrays; providing a source of alternate control data, external of the integrated circuit; and connecting the source of alternate control data to the control data selector. The method comprises the further step of, at a given time, passing the alternate control data from the source thereof, through the control data selector and to the memory arrays to control the redundancy logic of the memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arthur Bright, Paul Crumley, Marc Dombrowa, Steven Douskey, Rudolf Haring, Steven Oakland, Michael Ouellette, Scott Strissel
  • Publication number: 20080062783
    Abstract: A design structure for repairing an integrated circuit of the type comprising of a multitude of memory arrays and a fuse box holding control data for controlling redundancy logic of the arrays. The design structure provides the integrated circuit with a control data selector for passing the control data from the fuse box to the memory arrays; providing a source of alternate control data, external of the integrated circuit; and connecting the source of alternate control data to the control data selector. The design structure further passes the alternate control data from the source thereof, through the control data selector and to the memory arrays to control the redundancy logic of the memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arthur BRIGHT, Paul Crumley, Marc Dombrowa, Steven Douskey, Rudolf Haring, Steven Oakland, Michael Quellette, Scott Strissel
  • Publication number: 20080042712
    Abstract: An edge triggered system is provided having a data and scan input includes a latch device having a clock input and an AND gate, coupled to the latch device, structured and arranged to receive a first clock signal and an inverted clock signal to generate a clock to the clock input. A process for operating an edge triggered system having a data and scan input includes forwarding a first clock signal to an input of an AND gate. The method includes inverting a second clock signal forwarded to another input of the AND gate and generating a clock input for a latch device from the AND gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David LACKEY, Steven OAKLAND, Peter VERWEGEN
  • Publication number: 20080037350
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repairing an integrated circuit of the type comprising of a multitude of memory arrays and a fuse box holding control data for controlling redundancy logic of the arrays. The method comprises the steps of providing the integrated circuit with a control data selector for passing the control data from the fuse box to the memory arrays; providing a source of alternate control data, external of the integrated circuit; and connecting the source of alternate control data to the control data selector. The method comprises the further step of, at a given time, passing the alternate control data from the source thereof, through the control data selector and to the memory arrays to control the redundancy logic of the memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arthur Bright, Paul Crumley, Marc Dombrowa, Steven Douskey, Rudolf Haring, Steven Oakland, Michael Ouellette, Scott Strissel
  • Publication number: 20070283201
    Abstract: A method and circuits for testing an integrated circuit at functional clock frequency by providing a test controller generating control signals that assure proper latching of test patterns in scan chains at tester frequency and propagation of the test pattern through logic circuits being tested at functional clock frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Gary Grise, Steven Oakland, Anthony Polson, Philip Stevens
  • Publication number: 20070258296
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of repairing an integrated circuit of the type comprising of a multitude of memory arrays and a fuse box holding control data for controlling redundancy logic of the arrays. The method comprises the steps of providing the integrated circuit with a control data selector for passing the control data from the fuse box to the memory arrays; providing a source of alternate control data, external of the integrated circuit; and connecting the source of alternate control data to the control data selector. The method comprises the further step of, at a given time, passing the alternate control data from the source thereof, through the control data selector and to the memory arrays to control the redundancy logic of the memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur Bright, Paul Crumley, Marc Dombrowa, Steven Douskey, Rudolf Haring, Steven Oakland, Michael Ouellette, Scott Strissel
  • Publication number: 20070200597
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clock generation circuit for generating a clock-out signal that has a fixed latency with respect to a clock-input signal. When multiple such clock generation circuits are utilized to feed clock signals to different digital logic circuits within an integrated circuit structure, differences in delay time, referred to as skew, are minimized. An embodiment of the clock generation circuit incorporates a waveform generator and a timing-improved deskewer. The waveform generator is clocked by a clock-in signal. The deskewer comprises a flip-flop, a level-sensitive latch, and a multiplexer. The flip-flop and latch are connected in parallel and each receives waveform signals from the waveform generator as well as the clock-in signal in order to generate output signals. The multiplexer gates the flip-flop and latch output signals with the clock-in signal in order to generate the clock-out signal. A testable deskewer for edge-sensitive multiplexer scan designs is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventor: Steven Oakland
  • Publication number: 20070204193
    Abstract: Built-in self-test (BIST) microcontroller integrated circuit adapted for logic verification. Microcontroller includes a plurality of hardware description language files representing a hierarchical description of the microcontroller, the plurality of hardware description language files including a library of circuit design elements, a plurality of library design circuit elements adapted to store a uniquely defined set of input and output signals to enable a logic BIST, and a plurality of latches adapted to store a plurality of values corresponding to a behavioral profile of a test clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Gary Grise, David Lackey, Steven Oakland, Donald Wheater
  • Publication number: 20060248417
    Abstract: A clock selection circuit selectively passes one or more clocks into portions of an integrated circuit for testing. In one mode, the selection circuit passes a functional clock into a section of logic for an at speed test under test program control. In another mode, the selection circuit passes a clock other than the functional clock, such at a reduced frequency, in a test mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Farmer, Gary Grise, David Milton, Steven Oakland, Mark Taylor
  • Publication number: 20060208783
    Abstract: An edge triggered system is provided having a data and scan input includes a latch device having a clock input and an AND gate, coupled to the latch device, structured and arranged to receive a first clock signal and an inverted clock signal to generate a clock to the clock input. A process for operating an edge triggered system having a data and scan input includes forwarding a first clock signal to an input of an AND gate. The method includes inverting a second clock signal forwarded to another input of the AND gate and generating a clock input for a latch device from the AND gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: IBM Corporation (International Business Machines)
    Inventors: David Lackey, Steven Oakland, Peter Verwegen
  • Publication number: 20060190784
    Abstract: A boundary scan register circuit and a method of characterization testing. The boundary scan register circuit, including: a multiplicity of boundary scan cells connected in series, each boundary scan cell having a latch; means for isolating the boundary scan cells into one or more boundary scan segments, each boundary scan segment containing a different set of the boundary scan cells; and means for characterizing signal propagation through each the boundary scan segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pamela Gillis, David Litten, Steven Oakland
  • Publication number: 20060176745
    Abstract: A memory structure configured for supporting multiple test methodologies includes a first plurality of multiplexers configured for selectively coupling at least one data input path and at least one address path between an external customer connection and a corresponding internal memory connection associated therewith. A second multiplexer is configured for selectively coupling an input of a test latch between a functional memory array connection and a memory logic connection coupled to the at least one data input path, with an output of the test latch defining a data out customer connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Eustis, James Monzel, Steven Oakland, Michael Ouellette
  • Publication number: 20060158222
    Abstract: A voltage island architecture wherein the source voltage of each voltage island can be independently turned on/off or adjusted during a scan-based test. The architecture includes a plurality of voltage islands (102, 104), each powered by a respective island source voltage (VDDI1, VDDI2), and a testing circuit (116), coupled to the voltage islands, and powered by a global source voltage (Vg) that is always on during test, wherein each island source voltage may be independently controlled (106, 108) during test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Anne Gattiker, Phil Nigh, Leah Pastel, Steven Oakland, Jody VanHorn, Paul Zuchowski
  • Publication number: 20060041802
    Abstract: A method and circuits for testing an integrated circuit at functional lock frequency by providing a test controller generating control signals that assure proper latching of test patterns in scan chains at tester frequency and propagation of the test pattern through logic circuits being tested at functional clock frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary Grise, Steven Oakland, Anthony Polson, Philip Stevens
  • Publication number: 20050257108
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit chip structure that has a chip level test access port (TAP) controller and a plurality of embedded TAPs connected to the chip level TAP. Because the embedded TAPs have instruction register (IR) lengths that differ from the chip level TAP IR, and the embedded TAP IR lengths may differ from each, the chip level TAP includes a flexible length instruction register architecture adapted to accommodate the different length instruction registers of the embedded TAPs while using a constant length chip level instruction register definition for all IR accesses through the chip level TAP. Further, the invention includes selection logic adapted to actively connect only a single embedded TAP to the chip level TAP at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Grupp, Gary Kunselman, Steven Oakland
  • Publication number: 20050088213
    Abstract: A state saving circuit includes a state saving latch powered by an un-interruptible power supply, and a cut-off control device powered by the un-interruptible power supply that selectively connects the state saving latch to a pair of latch nodes based upon a control signal. The control signal determines whether the state-saving latch is in one of a state saving mode and a state restoring mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Oakland, Douglas Stout
  • Publication number: 20050050415
    Abstract: A method and circuit design for enabling both shift path and scan path functionality with a single port LSSD latch designed for scan path functionality only, without increasing the device's internal real estate and without substantial increase in overall device real estate. The circuit design eliminates the need for additional logic components to be built into the internal circuitry of the device and also eliminates the cost of providing dual port LSSD latches within the device. Implementation of the invention involves providing a unique configuration of low level logic components as input circuitry that is coupled to a pair of single port LSSD latches that operate as the input latches for the device. The low level logic components accomplishes the splitting of scan chain inputs and shift chain inputs to the input latches and thus enables the single ported LSSD latches to operate with similar functionality as dual ported LSSD latches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darren Anand, John Barth, Steven Oakland, Michael Ouellette
  • Publication number: 20050013187
    Abstract: A method and electrical fuse circuit design for reducing the testing time for a semiconductor device manufactured with redundant eFuse circuitry. A two-to-one multiplexer (MUX) is provided at each eFuse circuit in addition to the fuse latch and pattern latch and other logic components the eFuse circuit. Information on which fuse is to be blown is stored in the fuse's pattern latch. The output generated by the pattern latch is ANDed with a program input to provide a select signal for the MUX. Based on the select signal, the MUX allows the shifted “1” to either go to the next latch in the shift chain or bypass the next latch or latches in the shift chain depending on whether the next fuse is to be blown. Accordingly, rather than serially shifting through each fuse latch within the device, the invention enables only those fuse latches associated with fuses that are to be blown to hold up the propagation of the shifted “1” to the next eFuse circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darren Anand, John Barth, Steven Oakland, Michael Ouellette