Patents by Inventor Travis R. Hebig

Travis R. Hebig 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: 20140084980
    Abstract: A clock system includes a local clock buffer adapted to receive a variable global clock signal. The local clock buffer produces a first local clock signal from the variable global clock signal. The clock system includes a pulse width logic control circuit in operable communication with the local clock buffer. The pulse width logic control circuit may be adapted to limit the first local clock signal pulse width to be less than the variable global clock signal pulse width during a slow mode. The pulse width logic control circuit may be adapted to expand the first local clock signal pulse width to be greater than the variable global clock signal pulse width during a fast mode. The limited and expanded first local clock signals may signal a local evaluation circuit to address a memory line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chad A. Adams, Derick G. Behrends, Travis R. Hebig
  • Patent number: 8675427
    Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing delay correction in static random access memory (SRAM), and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The SRAM circuit includes a precharge enable signal coupled between precharge near and precharge far signals and wordline near and wordline far signals of the SRAM. A precharge pull down device is coupled between the precharge far signal and ground and is controlled responsive to the precharge enable signal to decrease a time delay of the falling transition of the precharge far signal. A respective word line pull up device is coupled between a respective wordline far signal and a voltage supply rail and is controlled responsive to the precharge enable signal to increase wordline voltage level upon a rising transition of the wordline far signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8669800
    Abstract: A method and circuits for implementing power saving self powering down latch operation, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A master slave latch includes a virtual power supply connection. At least one connection control device is coupled between the virtual power supply connection and a voltage supply rail. A driver gate applies a power down signal driving the at least one connection control device to control the at least one connection control device during a self power down mode. The driver gate combines a self power down input signal and a latch data output signal to generate the power down signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach
  • Publication number: 20140063986
    Abstract: An SRAM includes a first SRAM column having first SRAM cells and a first local evaluation logic coupled to a global bit line and a second SRAM column having second SRAM cells and a second local evaluation logic coupled to the same global bit line. The first SRAM column is selected with a first write line and the second SRAM column is selected with a second write line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter T. Freiburger, Travis R. Hebig
  • Publication number: 20140063916
    Abstract: An SRAM includes a first SRAM column having first SRAM cells and a first local evaluation logic coupled to a global bit line and a second SRAM column having second SRAM cells and a second local evaluation logic coupled to the same global bit line. The first SRAM column is selected with a first column select line and the second SRAM column is selected with a second column select line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter T. Freiburger, Travis R. Hebig
  • Publication number: 20130326111
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for performing search operations in a content addressable memory (CAM) array are provided. A system for searching a CAM includes a circuit that selectively activates a main-search of a two stage CAM search while a pre-search of the two stage CAM search is still active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Igor ARSOVSKI, Daniel A. DOBSON, Travis R. HEBIG, Reid A. WISTORT
  • Patent number: 8578304
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing multiple mask lithography timing variation mitigation for a multiple mask polysilicon (PC) process. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) library includes at least one circuit device for a first mask, and at least one circuit device for a second mask. Critical hold time paths and critical setup time paths are identified in a circuit design. For critical hold time paths, circuit devices in the critical hold time paths are placed on a single mask of either the first mask or the second mask. For critical setup time paths, path delays are reduced by providing a mixture of circuit devices on the first mask and the second mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach
  • Publication number: 20130258758
    Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) includes a column of SRAM memory cells. The SRAM may include a circuit to copy a value stored in any SRAM memory cell in a column of SRAM memory cells to any SRAM memory cell in the column of SRAM memory cells in a single cycle of the SRAM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20130235681
    Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing delay correction in static random access memory (SRAM), and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The SRAM circuit includes a precharge enable signal coupled between precharge near and precharge far signals and wordline near and wordline far signals of the SRAM. A precharge pull down device is coupled between the precharge far signal and ground and is controlled responsive to the precharge enable signal to decrease a time delay of the falling transition of the precharge far signal. A respective word line pull up device is coupled between a respective wordline far signal and a voltage supply rail and is controlled responsive to the precharge enable signal to increase wordline voltage level upon a rising transition of the wordline far signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20130222031
    Abstract: A method and circuits for implementing power saving self powering down latch operation, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A master slave latch includes a virtual power supply connection. At least one connection control device is coupled between the virtual power supply connection and a voltage supply rail. A driver gate applies a power down signal driving the at least one connection control device to control the at least one connection control device during a self power down mode. The driver gate combines a self power down input signal and a latch data output signal to generate the power down signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach
  • Patent number: 8520429
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip has an SRAM (static random access memory). The SRAM includes a data dependent write assist circuit which, on writes, reduces a supply voltage on one of a cross coupled inverter pair in an SRAM cell, thereby making it easier to overcome the one of the cross coupled inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20130187706
    Abstract: A tamper resistant electronic device includes multiple eFuses that are individually blown in each instance the electronic device is tampered with. For example an eFuse is blown when the electronic device is subjected to a temperature that causes solder reflow. Since it is anticipated that the electronic device may be tampered with in an acceptable way and/or an acceptable number of instances, functionality of the electronic device is altered or disabled only after a threshold number of eFuses are blown. In certain implementations, the threshold number is the number of anticipated acceptable tamper events. Upon a tamper event an individual eFuse is blown. If the total number of blown eFuses is less than the threshold, a next eFuse is enabled so that it may be blown upon a next tamper event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Travis R. Hebig, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert E. Meyer, III, Steven R. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20130175631
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip has shapes on a particular level that are small enough to require a first mask and a second mask, the first mask and the second mask used in separate exposures during processing. A circuit on the semiconductor chip requires close tracking between a first and a second FET (field effect transistor). For example, the particular level may be a gate shape level. Separate exposures of gate shapes using the first mask and the second mask will result in poorer FET tracking (e.g., gate length, threshold voltage) than for FETs having gate shapes defined by only the first mask. FET tracking is selectively improved by laying out a circuit such that selective FETs are defined by the first mask. In particular, static random access memory (SRAM) design benefits from close tracking of six or more FETs in an SRAM cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20130141986
    Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing column redundancy steering for memories with wordline repowering, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. Each respective data column receives a precharge signal applied to an associated precharge function. An inverting multiplexer is provided in a precharge path after the wordline repowering having inputs coupled to the respective precharge functions before and after the wordline repowering. The inverting multiplexer passes the precharge signal from the precharge function before the wordline repowering or from the precharge function after the wordline repowering. The inverting multiplexer is controlled by the redundancy steering control signal that activates redundancy steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chad A. Adams, Travis R. Hebig
  • Patent number: 8451668
    Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing column redundancy steering for memories with wordline repowering, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. Each respective data column receives a precharge signal applied to an associated precharge function. An inverting multiplexer is provided in a precharge path after the wordline repowering having inputs coupled to the respective precharge functions before and after the wordline repowering. The inverting multiplexer passes the precharge signal from the precharge function before the wordline repowering or from the precharge function after the wordline repowering. The inverting multiplexer is controlled by the redundancy steering control signal that activates redundancy steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chad A. Adams, Travis R. Hebig
  • Patent number: 8427894
    Abstract: A method and a dynamic Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) circuit for implementing single bit redundancy with any bit decode, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The SRAM circuit includes a plurality of bitline columns and a pair of redundancy columns respectively coupled to a respective merged bit column select and redundancy steering multiplexer. Each merged bit column select and redundancy steering multiplexer receives a respective select signal input. A select signal generation circuit receives a redundancy steering signal and a respective one-hot bit select signal, generating the respective select signal input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Peter T. Freiburger, Travis R. Hebig, Jayson K. Wittrup
  • Patent number: 8395963
    Abstract: A circuit and method erase at power-up all data stored in a DRAM chip for increased data security. All the DRAM memory cells are erased by turning on the transistors for the DRAM storage cells simultaneously by driving the wordlines of all the cells to an activated state. With all the devices turned on, the data stored in the memory cells is erased as the voltage of all the cells connected to a common bitline coalesce to a single value. In a preferred embodiment, the wordlines are all turned on simultaneously during a power on reset period. Preferably a power on reset signal is used to drive each logic gate of the pre-decoder portion of the address decoder in order to assert all the wordlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8344782
    Abstract: A delay circuit receives a data input having an input transition and that generates a data output having an output transition. The delay circuit is powered by a voltage source having a voltage. A first delay element is configured to generate a first data signal with a first edge that has a relatively constant delay relative to the input transition irrespective of the voltage of the voltage source. A second delay element is configured to generate a second data signal with a second edge that has a delay relative to the input transition as a function of the voltage of the voltage source. A selection element causes the output transition at the data output to correspond to a latest selected one of the first edge and the second edge. The delay circuit may be employed in a pulse generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120281457
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip has an SRAM (static random access memory). The SRAM includes a data dependent write assist circuit which, on writes, reduces a supply voltage on one of a cross coupled inverter pair in an SRAM cell, thereby making it easier to overcome the one of the cross coupled inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Michael Launsbach, Daniel M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120147661
    Abstract: A circuit and method erase at power-up all data stored in a DRAM chip for increased data security. All the DRAM memory cells are erased by turning on the transistors for the DRAM storage cells simultaneously by driving the wordlines of all the cells to an activated state. With all the devices turned on, the data stored in the memory cells is erased as the voltage of all the cells connected to a common bitline coalesce to a single value. In a preferred embodiment, the wordlines are all turned on simultaneously during a power on reset period. Preferably a power on reset signal is used to drive each logic gate of the pre-decoder portion of the address decoder in order to assert all the wordlines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derick G. Behrends, Todd A. Christensen, Travis R. Hebig, Daniel M. Nelson