Patents by Inventor Vikram Santurkar

Vikram Santurkar 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: 7355440
    Abstract: A programmable logic device (PLD) having minimal leakage current for inactive logic blocks is provided. The PLD includes an array of logic blocks. Among the array of logic blocks, one of the array of logic blocks monitors the level of activity of each of the remaining logic blocks. The level of activity may be monitored by observing the input and output pin of the logic blocks. The PLD further includes a plurality of driven wires defining a routing pattern between the array of logic blocks. When one of the array of logic blocks detect inactivity in any one of the remaining logic blocks for a certain duration, the one of the array logic blocks transmits a signal invoking a sleep mode for the inactive logic blocks. A sleep transistor with a threshold voltage level that is capable minimizing the leakage current is associated with each of the remaining block. The gate of the sleep transistor receives the signal transmitted by one of the array logic blocks and the signal switches off the sleep transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Santurkar, Hyun Mo Yi, Christopher F. Lane
  • Publication number: 20080061818
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for calibrating on-chip termination impedances on integrated circuits. An on-chip termination (OCT) calibration circuit generates calibration codes that selectively control the conductive states of a set of transistors coupled in parallel. The OCT calibration circuit selects a calibration code that causes the impedance of the transistors to be near a matching impedance. The selected calibration code controls an on-chip termination impedance at a pin. According to some embodiments, the OCT calibration circuit compares a signal from the transistors to two or more reference signals to improve the tolerance range of the calibrated on-chip termination impedance. According to other embodiments, the OCT calibration circuit selects a calibration code based on a signal from the transistors after an extra transistor is turned on by a control signal. The control signal is not used to control the on-chip termination impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Vikram Santurkar, Hyun Yi
  • Publication number: 20070252617
    Abstract: An embodiment of this invention pertains to a versatile and flexible logic element and logic array block (“LAB”). Each logic element includes a programmable combinational logic function block such as a lookup table (“LUT”) and a flip-flop. Within the logic element, multiplexers are provided to allow the flip-flop and the LUT to be programmably connected such that either the output of the LUT may be connected to the input of the flip-flop or the output of the flip-flop may be connected to the input of the LUT. An additional multiplexer allows the output of the flip-flop in one logic element to be connected to the input of a flip-flop in a different logic element within the same LAB. Output multiplexers selects between the output of the LUT and the output of the flip-flop to generate signals that drive routing lines within the LAB and to routing lines external to the LAB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: David Lewis, Paul Leventis, Andy Lee, Henry Kim, Bruce Pedersen, Chris Wysocki, Christopher Lane, ALexander Marquardt, Vikram Santurkar, Vaughn Betz
  • Patent number: 7262634
    Abstract: Reduced voltage swing signal path circuitry is provided that lowers the internal signaling power consumption of the interconnection resources of a programmable logic device. The reduced voltage swing signal path circuitry includes a reversed routing driver circuitry to limit the voltage range of the output signal of the driver circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Lane, Vikram Santurkar
  • Patent number: 7218133
    Abstract: An embodiment of this invention pertains to a versatile and flexible logic element and logic array block (“LAB”). Each logic element includes a programmable combinational logic function block such as a lookup table (“LUT”) and a flip-flop. Within the logic element, multiplexers are provided to allow the flip-flop and the LUT to be programmably connected such that either the output of the LUT may be connected to the input of the flip-flop or the output of the flip-flop may be connected to the input of the LUT. An additional multiplexer allows the output of the flip-flop in one logic element to be connected to the input of a flip-flop in a different logic element within the same LAB. Output multiplexers selects between the output of the LUT and the output of the flip-flop to generate signals that drive routing lines within the LAB and to routing lines external to the LAB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Lewis, Paul Leventis, Andy L. Lee, Henry Kim, Bruce Pedersen, Chris Wysocki, Christopher F. Lane, Alexander Marquardt, Vikram Santurkar, Vaughn Timothy Betz
  • Publication number: 20070008004
    Abstract: An interconnect circuit includes a driver circuit and a receiver circuit. The receiver circuit couples to the driver circuit. The driver circuit is configured to receive an input signal and to derive from the input signal a limited swing driver output signal. The receiver circuit is configured to derive from the limited swing driver output signal a limited swing receiver output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Vikram Santurkar, Ravi Thiruveedhula
  • Patent number: 7161381
    Abstract: A programmable logic device (PLD) includes a first memory block and at least a second memory block, where the two memory blocks have different memory sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivas Reddy, David Jefferson, Christopher F. Lane, Vikram Santurkar, Richard Cliff
  • Publication number: 20060158220
    Abstract: Reduced voltage swing signal path circuitry is provided that lowers the internal signaling power consumption of the interconnection resources of a programmable logic device. The reduced voltage swing signal path circuitry includes a reversed routing driver circuitry to limit the voltage range of the output signal of the driver circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Christopher Lane, Vikram Santurkar
  • Patent number: 6965249
    Abstract: A programmable logic device and associated method is provided with repairable regions. In one aspect, general routing interconnect lines are segmented within repairable regions. In another aspect, IO bus lines and associated circuitry are provided that accommodate redundancy in a staggered segmented architecture. In another aspect, a dedicated routing architecture between particular logic regions accommodates shifting to define and utilize repairable regions. Principles of other aspects are illustrated and described in the context of several exemplary embodiments of aspects of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Lane, Ketan Zaveri, Hyun Yi, Giles Powell, Paul Leventis, David Jefferson, David Lewis, Triet Nguyen, Vikram Santurkar, Michael Chan, Andy Lee, Brian Johnson, David Cashman
  • Patent number: 6937064
    Abstract: An embodiment of this invention pertains to a versatile and flexible logic element and logic array block (“LAB”). Each logic element includes a programmable combinational logic function block such as a lookup table (“LUT”) and a flip-flop. Within the logic element, multiplexers are provided to allow the flip-flop and the LUT to be programmably connected such that either the output of the LUT may be connected to the input of the flip-flop or the output of the flip-flop may be connected to the input of the LUT. An additional multiplexer allows the output of the flip-flop in one logic element to be connected to the input of a flip-flop in a different logic element within the same LAB. Output multiplexers selects between the output of the LUT and the output of the flip-flop to generate signals that drive routing lines within the LAB and to routing lines external to the LAB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Lewis, Paul Leventis, Andy L. Lee, Henry Kim, Bruce Pedersen, Chris Wysocki, Christopher F. Lane, Alexander Marquardt, Vikram Santurkar, Vaughn Betz
  • Publication number: 20050127944
    Abstract: An embodiment of this invention pertains to a versatile and flexible logic element and logic array block (“LAB”). Each logic element includes a programmable combinational logic function block such as a lookup table (“LUT”) and a flip-flop. Within the logic element, multiplexers are provided to allow the flip-flop and the LUT to be programmably connected such that either the output of the LUT may be connected to the input of the flip-flop or the output of the flip-flop may be connected to the input of the LUT. An additional multiplexer allows the output of the flip-flop in one logic element to be connected to the input of a flip-flop in a different logic element within the same LAB. Output multiplexers selects between the output of the LUT and the output of the flip-flop to generate signals that drive routing lines within the LAB and to routing lines external to the LAB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David Lewis, Paul Leventis, Andy Lee, Henry Kim, Bruce Pedersen, Chris Wysocki, Christopher Lane, Alexander Marquardt, Vikram Santurkar, Vaughn Betz
  • Patent number: 6720796
    Abstract: A programmable logic device (PLD) includes a first memory block and at least a second memory block, where the two memory blocks have different memory sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivas Reddy, David Jefferson, Christopher F. Lane, Vikram Santurkar, Richard Cliff
  • Publication number: 20030072185
    Abstract: A programmable logic device and associated method is provided with repairable regions. In one aspect, general routing interconnect lines are segmented within repairable regions. In another aspect, IO bus lines and associated circuitry are provided that accommodate redundancy in a staggered segmented architecture. In another aspect, a dedicated routing architecture between particular logic regions accommodates shifting to define and utilize repairable regions. Principles of other aspects are illustrated and described in the context of several exemplary embodiments of aspects of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher Lane, Ketan Zaveri, Hyun Yi, Giles Powell, Paul Leventis, David Jefferson, David Lewis, Triet Nguyen, Vikram Santurkar, Michael Chan, Andy Lee, Brian Johnson, David Cashman