Patents by Inventor William C. Plants

William C. Plants 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: 20180114561
    Abstract: The invention pertains to mitigation of row hammer attacks in DRAM integrated circuits. Apparatus and methods are disclosed for an embedded target row refresh (TRR) solution with modest overhead. In operation it is nearly transparent to the user. Except for enablement via the mode register and an increase in the average refresh rate on the order of half of one percent, no further user action is required. The stream of row addresses accompanying ACTIVE commands is monitored and filtered to only track addresses that occur at a dangerous rate and reject addresses that occur at less than a dangerous rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants
  • Publication number: 20180102251
    Abstract: Direct-bonded native interconnects and active base dies are provided. In a microelectronic architecture, active dies or chiplets connect to an active base die via their core-level conductors. These native interconnects provide short data paths, which forgo the overhead of standard interfaces. The system saves redistribution routing as the native interconnects couple in place. The base die may contain custom logic, allowing the attached dies to provide stock functions. The architecture can connect diverse interconnect types and chiplets from various process nodes, operating at different voltages. The base die may have state elements for drive. Functional blocks aboard the base die receive native signals from diverse chiplets, and communicate with all attached chiplets. The chiplets may share processing and memory resources of the base die. Routing blockages are minimal, improving signal quality and timing. The system can operate at dual or quad data rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Javier A. DELACRUZ, Steven L. TEIG, Shaowu HUANG, William C. PLANTS, David Edward FISCH
  • Publication number: 20180026641
    Abstract: A random access memory circuit adapted for use in a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device is disclosed. The FPGA has a programmable array with logic modules and routing interconnects programmably coupleable to the logic modules and the RAM circuit. The RAM circuit has three ports: a first readable port, a second readable port, and a writeable port. The read ports may be programmably synchronous or asynchronous and have a programmably bypassable output pipeline register. The RAM circuit is especially well adapted for implementing register files. A novel interconnect method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Joel Landry, Jonathan Greene, William C. Plants, Wenyi Feng
  • Patent number: 9812185
    Abstract: The invention pertains to data disturb vulnerabilities in Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) integrated circuits. In particular, it pertains to mitigating attacks on a computational system by deliberate inducement of disturbs on a targeted row (also known as “row hammering”) in the system's DRAM memory. The stream of row addresses accompanying ACTIVE commands is monitored and filtered to only track addresses that occur at a dangerous rate and reject addresses that occur at less than a dangerous rate. When a tracked address poses a danger of causing a memory disturb, each row adjacent to the tracked address row is refreshed thus mitigating the danger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants
  • Patent number: 9780792
    Abstract: A random access memory circuit adapted for use in a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device is disclosed. The FPGA has a programmable array with logic modules and routing interconnects programmably coupleable to the logic modules and the RAM circuit. The RAM circuit has three ports: a first readable port, a second readable port, and a writeable port. The read ports may be programmably synchronous or asynchronous and have a programmably bypassable output pipeline register. The RAM circuit is especially well adapted for implementing register files. A novel interconnect method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSEMI SOC CORP.
    Inventors: Joel Landry, Jonathan Greene, William C. Plants, Wenyi Feng
  • Patent number: 9778984
    Abstract: The invention pertains to semiconductor memories, and more particularly to enhancing the reliability of stacked memory devices. Apparatuses and methods are described for implementing RAID-style error correction to increase the reliability of the stacked memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventor: William C. Plants
  • Publication number: 20170117030
    Abstract: The invention pertains to mitigation of row hammer attacks in DRAM integrated circuits. Apparatus and methods are disclosed for an embedded target row refresh (TRR) solution with modest overhead. In operation it is nearly transparent to the user. Except for enablement via the mode register and an increase in the average refresh rate on the order of half of one percent, no further user action is required. The stream of row addresses accompanying ACTIVE commands is monitored and filtered to only track addresses that occur at a dangerous rate and reject addresses that occur at less than a dangerous rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants
  • Patent number: 9548101
    Abstract: A method for storing data. The method includes providing an addressable memory including a memory space, wherein the memory space includes a plurality of memory cells. The method includes configuring the addressable memory such that a majority of the plurality of memory cells in the memory space stores internal data values in a preferred bias condition when a first external data state of one or more external data states is written to the memory space, wherein the first external data state is opposite the preferred bias condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Kent Stalnaker
  • Publication number: 20160314042
    Abstract: The invention pertains to non-volatile memory devices, and more particularly to advantageously encoding data in non-volatile devices in a flexible manner by both NVM manufacturers and NVM users. Multiple methods of preferred state encoding (PSE) and/or error correction code (ECC) encoding may be used in different pages or blocks in the same NVM device for different purposes which may be dependent on the nature of the data to be stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: INVENSAS CORPORATION
    Inventor: William C. PLANTS
  • Publication number: 20160189765
    Abstract: A method for storing data. The method includes providing an addressable memory including a memory space, wherein the memory space includes a plurality of memory cells. The method includes configuring the addressable memory such that a majority of the plurality of memory cells in the memory space stores internal data values in a preferred bias condition when a first external data state of one or more external data states is written to the memory space, wherein the first external data state is opposite the preferred bias condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Kent Stalnaker
  • Patent number: 9299398
    Abstract: A method for storing data. The method includes providing an addressable memory including a memory space, wherein the memory space includes a plurality of memory cells. The method includes configuring the addressable memory such that a majority of the plurality of memory cells in the memory space stores internal data values in a preferred bias condition when a first external data state of one or more external data states is written to the memory space, wherein the first external data state is opposite the preferred bias condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Kent Stalnaker
  • Publication number: 20150213847
    Abstract: A method for storing data. The method includes providing an addressable memory including a memory space, wherein the memory space includes a plurality of memory cells. The method includes configuring the addressable memory such that a majority of the plurality of memory cells in the memory space stores internal data values in a preferred bias condition when a first external data state of one or more external data states is written to the memory space, wherein the first external data state is opposite the preferred bias condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: INVENSAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Kent Stalnaker
  • Patent number: 9007866
    Abstract: A method for storing data. The method includes providing an addressable memory including a memory space, wherein the memory space includes a plurality of memory cells. The method includes configuring the addressable memory such that a majority of the plurality of memory cells in the memory space stores internal data values in a preferred bias condition when a first external data state of one or more external data states is written to the memory space, wherein the first external data state is opposite the preferred bias condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tessera Inc.
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Kent Stalnaker
  • Patent number: 8873302
    Abstract: An array of memory cells, in which one or more memory cells have a common doped region. Each memory cell includes a transistor with a floating gate, source and drain regions, and separate gate and drain voltage controls. Each memory cell also includes a coupling capacitor electrically coupled to and located laterally from the floating gate. In the array, first bit lines are oriented in a first direction, wherein a first bit line is coupled to drain regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array includes second bit lines also oriented in the first direction, wherein a second bit line is coupled to source regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array also includes word lines oriented in a second direction, wherein each word line is coupled to control gates of coupling capacitors that are arranged in a row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Michael Curtis Parris
  • Publication number: 20130271180
    Abstract: A random access memory circuit adapted for use in a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device is disclosed. The FPGA has a programmable array with logic modules and routing interconnects programmably coupleable to the logic modules and the RAM circuit. The RAM circuit has three ports: a first readable port, a second readable port, and a writeable port. The read ports may be programmably synchronous or asynchronous and have a programmably bypassable output pipeline register. The RAM circuit is especially well adapted for implementing register files. A novel interconnect method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Joel Landry, Jonathan Greene, William C. Plants, Wenyi Feng
  • Patent number: 8446170
    Abstract: A random access memory circuit adapted for use in a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device is disclosed. The FPGA has a programmable array with logic modules and routing interconnects programmably coupleable to the logic modules and the RAM circuit. The RAM circuit has three ports: a first readable port, a second readable port, and a writeable port. The read ports may be programmably synchronous or asynchronous and have a programmably bypassable output pipeline register. The RAM circuit is especially well adapted for implementing register files. A novel interconnect method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Landry, Jonathan Greene, William C. Plants, Wenyi Feng
  • Publication number: 20130107635
    Abstract: An array of memory cells, in which one or more memory cells have a common doped region. Each memory cell includes a transistor with a floating gate, source and drain regions, and separate gate and drain voltage controls. Each memory cell also includes a coupling capacitor electrically coupled to and located laterally from the floating gate. In the array, first bit lines are oriented in a first direction, wherein a first bit line is coupled to drain regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array includes second bit lines also oriented in the first direction, wherein a second bit line is coupled to source regions of transistors that are arranged in a column. The array also includes word lines oriented in a second direction, wherein each word line is coupled to control gates of coupling capacitors that are arranged in a row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: INVENSAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Edward Fisch, William C. Plants, Michael Curtis Parris
  • Publication number: 20120280711
    Abstract: A random access memory circuit adapted for use in a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device is disclosed. The FPGA has a programmable array with logic modules and routing interconnects programmably coupleable to the logic modules and the RAM circuit. The RAM circuit has three ports: a first readable port, a second readable port, and a writeable port. The read ports may be programmably synchronous or asynchronous and have a programmably bypassable output pipeline register. The RAM circuit is especially well adapted for implementing register files. A novel interconnect method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Joel Landry, Jonathan Greene, William C. Plants, Wenyi Feng
  • Patent number: 8258811
    Abstract: An enhanced performance field programmable gate array integrated circuit comprises a field programmable gate array and other functional circuitry such as a mask-programmable gate array in the same integrated circuit. A circuit interface provides communication between the field programmable gate array, the mask-programmable gate array and the integrated circuit I/O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel W. Beal, Sinan Kaptanoglu, Jung-Cheun Lien, William Shu, King W. Chan, William C. Plants
  • Patent number: 8067959
    Abstract: A delay line compensated for process, voltage, and temperature variations, includes a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to delay a digital signal by the clock period of the digital signal, the DLL including a DLL delay line arranged as a plurality of cascaded sub-delay lines each sub-delay line providing one of a plurality of delay quanta in response to a digital control signal. A fractionating circuit is configured to generate a digital delay line control signal that is a fraction of the digital control signal. A digital delay line is arranged as a plurality of cascaded sub-delay lines each sub-delay line providing one of a plurality of delay quanta in response to the digital delay line control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Plants, Suhail Zain, Joel Landry, Gregory W. Bakker, Tomek P. Jasinoski