Patents by Inventor Theodore M. Speers

Theodore M. Speers 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: 5804960
    Abstract: A circuit for providing 100% observability and controllability of inputs and outputs of any function circuit module in an array of function circuit modules includes circuitry for placing a test data bit into a selected one of any of the function circuit modules, and circuitry for reading the output of a selected one of any of the function circuit modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Khaled El Ayat, King W. Chan, Theodore M. Speers
  • Patent number: 5614818
    Abstract: A circuit for providing 100% observability and controllability of inputs and outputs of any function circuit module in an array of function circuit modules includes circuitry for placing a test data bit into a selected one of any of the function circuit modules, and circuitry for reading the output of a selected one of any of the function circuit modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Khaled El Ayat, King W. Chan, Theodore M. Speers
  • Patent number: 5528600
    Abstract: A circuit for providing 100% observability and controllability of inputs and outputs of any function circuit module in an array of function circuit modules includes circuitry for placing a test data bit into a selected one of any of the function circuit modules, and circuitry for reading the output of a selected one of any of the function circuit modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Khaled El Ayat, King W. Chan, Theodore M. Speers
  • Patent number: 5194759
    Abstract: A method to minimize disturbance of an already programmed antifuse while programming other antifuses in a circuit includes the steps of determining a preferred order in which to program the antifuses and programming them in the preferred order. High initial programming and soak currents are selected such that the disturb current is small with respect thereto. The magnitude of the disturb current is increased to a value that maintains the antifuse resistance or improves it rather than adversely affect it. Where a circuit node containing a first already programmed antifuse is positioned such that parasitic capacitances may discharge through that antifuse during the programming of a second antifuse, the magnitude of the charge stored at parasitic capacitances associated with the programming path is reduced by reducing the programming voltage when this programming situation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Khaled A. El-Ayat, Kenneth D. Hayes, Theodore M. Speers, Gregory W. Bakker
  • Patent number: 5126282
    Abstract: An already- programmed anti-fuse is DC soaked by passing DC current through the anti-fuse from a DC voltage source applied across the electrodes of the anti-fuse. The anti-fuse resistance is lower when the DC voltage being applied such that the positive end of the voltage source is applied to the electrode having the higher arsenic concentration.An already programmed anti-fuse is AC soaked, by passing alternating current pulses through the anti-fuse from an AC voltage source applied across the anti-fuse electrodes. This AC soak may even be applied following the controlled polarity DC soak disclosed herein. The AC soaked anti-fuse resistance is even lower than DC soaked anti-fuse under the same soak current level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Steve S. Chiang, Esam Elashmawi, Theodore M. Speers, LeRoy Winemberg