Patents Issued in April 14, 2015
  • Patent number: 9007762
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a server rack includes a server, a housing which includes a ventilation opening part, and surrounds the server, a water sensor which is provided outside the housing and senses water, a closing member which is movable between a first position in which the closing member is dislocated from the opening part and a second position in which the closing member covers the opening part, a moving mechanism which moves the closing member from the first position to the second position, an adhering mechanism which brings the closing member that has moved to the second position into close contact with the housing, and a controller which operates the moving mechanism and the adhering mechanism, when the water sensor senses water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Mitsunobu Toya
  • Patent number: 9007763
    Abstract: An adjustable blocking arrangement for electronic hardware or computer racks, for preventing the undesired leakage of air through rack spaces not filled with hardware. An airflow control device is provided comprising a flexible web and a magazine adapted to receive the part of the flexible web that is not deployed. The device is adapted such that a length of the web may be deployed to sealingly block a space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, to prevent the flow of air through the space. The device may comprising a detection system adapted to detect the space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, and a processing system adapted to receive a signal from the detection system, and as a function of the signal to automatically deploy or retract the flexible web so as to sealingly block the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Emmanuel Tong-Viet
  • Patent number: 9007764
    Abstract: There is provided an electric device configured to cool a plurality of plug-in units, the electric device including a plurality of slots, each slot configured to install a plug-in unit, a first fan configured to create a current of air for cooling the plug-in units, a first plug-in unit installed into a first slot, and a second plug-in unit including a second fan configured to create a current of air for cooling the first plug-in unit, the second plug-in unit being installed into a second slot adjacent to the first slot, arranged to a side of mounting component of the first plug-in unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Minoru Fujii, Mitsuaki Hayashi, Kenji Joko, Osamu Saito, Wataru Takano, Takashi Shirakami, Kouichi Kuramitsu, Yusuke Kira
  • Patent number: 9007765
    Abstract: A server system has an air inlet side and an air outlet side. The server system includes two server rack modules arranged side by side and a controller electrically connected to the server rack modules. Each server rack module includes a cabinet having a first side close to the air inlet side, multiple server hosts detachably disposed in the cabinet and a fan component. The fan component, disposed at the first side, includes multiple fans electrically connected to the controller. The first side of one of the cabinets abuts against the second side of the other cabinet. When the fan components operate, an air flow is formed in the cabinets. The server hosts are located in the flow path of the air flow. When one of the fans is failed, the controller is adapted for increasing a rotational speed of the fan component close to the air outlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-An Chen, Chih-Chien Lin, Kai-Yang Tung, Hsueh-Hui Chang, Hui-Min Feng
  • Patent number: 9007766
    Abstract: The invention provides storage enclosure, comprising an enclosure housing; one or more drawers slidably arranged within the enclosure housing, wherein each drawer has a pivotably mounted midplane having storage media coupled thereto wherein the storage media are coupled to both sides of the pivotably mounted midplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventor: Laurence A. Harvilchuck
  • Patent number: 9007767
    Abstract: A power inverter includes a metallic chassis having a containing space at an inner portion thereof, having a lid on one side in a vertical direction, the other side thereof being enclosed by a bottom, a cooling block of forming a coolant path along a bottom side in the vertical direction of the chassis, and a side portion of the inner portion of the chassis, plural semiconductor modules each incorporating a semiconductor chip for configuring an inverter circuit of converting a direct current power into an alternate current power, and provided with a direct current terminal for making a current flow to the semiconductor chip and a control terminal for controlling an operation of the semiconductor chip to be protruded to an outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9007768
    Abstract: A system for cooling items of equipment likely to give off energy, comprises: an enclosure comprising a membrane that is porous to water vapor and sealed to liquid water, said membrane separating the cavity into a first portion designed to contain a fluid consisting of water and vapor, a second portion designed to contain the vapor resulting from the vaporization of the water, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the liquid-vapor fluid contained in the cavity, a device to discharge the vapor from the cavity into the environment creating a vacuum in this cavity and breaking the natural liquid/vapor balance of the cavity containing the liquid, thus causing a vaporization of a portion of the liquid, a means for controlling the flow rate of the vapor discharged to outside of the cavity, said control means being regulated on the signal delivered by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Martin Raynaud
  • Patent number: 9007769
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a heat source located inside a casing, and a heat dissipation device disposed inside a casing. The heat dissipation device is in thermal contact with the heat source. The heat dissipation device includes a casing having a heat dissipation material. The heat dissipation material includes 15 to 30 volume percent of multiple copper materials, 50 to 85 volume percent of a phase change material, and 15 to 20 volume percent of air. The casing has a surface being in thermal contact with the heat source. A central area and an outer ring area are defined on the surface. The outer ring area surrounds the central area. A geometric midpoint of the central area and a geometric midpoint of the surface are overlapped. The heat dissipation device absorbs heat generated by the heat source located in the central area through thermal conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Cheng, Ming-Hung Lin, Chun-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 9007770
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a heat source located in the housing, and a heat dissipation device disposed in the housing. The heat dissipation device thermally contacts the heat source. The heat dissipation device includes a casing. A heat dissipation material is disposed in the casing. The heat dissipation material includes 15 to 30 percent volume of multiple copper materials, 50 to 85 percent volume of a phase change material and 15 to 20 percent volume of air. The heat dissipation device has a surface thermally contacting the heat source. A central area and an outer ring area are defined on the surface. The outer ring area surrounds the central area. A geometric midpoint of the central area overlaps that of the surface. The heat source is located in the outer ring area. The heat dissipation device absorbs heat from the heat source through thermal conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Cheng, Ming-Hung Lin, Chun-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 9007771
    Abstract: A thermosyphon heat exchanger includes a first set of first conduit elements for heat absorbing and a second set of second conduit elements for heat releasing. A first end of the first set can be connected to a first end of the second set by at least one manifold and a second end of the first set is connected to a second end of the second set by at least one other manifold. At least one first set of first conduit elements and the at least one second set of second conduit elements are at least partially arranged such that a stack is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Bruno Agostini
  • Patent number: 9007772
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure, a circuit board arranged in the enclosure, a heat dissipation module set on the circuit board, and a fan arranged in the enclosure and aligned with the heat dissipation module. The heat dissipation module includes a base and a number of fins. A number of parallel receiving portions are formed on the base. A slot is defined in each retaining portion. Each fin includes a main plate and a pivoting portion formed at a bottom the main plate. The pivoting portions are respectively and pivotably received in the slots of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Liu, Guo-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 9007773
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for dissipating or transferring heat from electronics secured in a housing unit. A housing unit includes a cover having a first fastener part and a base having a second fastener part. The base further includes a support structure for holding a printed circuit board (PCB) with mounted electronic components. A heat sink is placed within the base. The first fastener part and the second fastener part lock the cover and base together, with the heat sink and the PCB being secured between the support structure and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Warren, Darren Van Roon, Steve Steane, Reginald C. Grills
  • Patent number: 9007774
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus 1 includes a flat cable 70, an end 70a of which is bonded to the front surface of a sub-board 30 through an anisotropic conductive film 79, engaged portions 74A and 74B formed in the flat cable 70, and an intermediate frame 40 that engages with the engaged portions 74A and 74B to restrain the movement of the engaged portions 74A and 74B in a direction away from the electrode on the sub-board 30. Consequently, it is possible to realize a reduction in costs while maintaining connection stability between a flat cable and a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Furubo, Satoshi Mito
  • Patent number: 9007775
    Abstract: A housing for electronic components comprising at least one hardware module and a frame. The hardware module comprises a mounting element, wherein the frame connects the at least one hardware module through the mounting element mechanically stable to the housing. A labeling element is attached to the mounting element and the housing has at least one viewing opening so that at least one part of the labeling element can be seen from the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gottfried Holzmann, Werner Mittermaier
  • Patent number: 9007776
    Abstract: An electronic module includes a first circuit board having a first surface, a second circuit board having a second surface, first electronic components on the first surface, second electronic components on the second surface, a first conductive fence, and a second conductive fence. The first conductive fence encloses the first electronic components and has a first opening exposing the first electronic components. The second conductive fence encloses the second electronic components and has a second opening exposing the second electronic components. The first opening of the first conductive fence joints the second opening of the second conductive fence, such that the first electronic components and the second electronic components are surrounded by the first circuit board, the second circuit board, the first conductive fence, and the second conductive fence. At least one of the first electronic components is higher than the first conductive fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: I-Cheng Chuang, Chien-Hung Chen, Chih-Hung Li, Cheng-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 9007777
    Abstract: Affixed to a projection (111) of a glass substrate (110) included in a liquid crystal module (100) are a first ACF (150a), which has low surface tack strength but high connection reliability, and a second ACF (150b), which has high component attaching capability attributed to high surface tack strength. With these, an LSI chip (130), electronic components (150), etc., are mounted on the glass substrate (110), so that high-speed electronic component mounting can be achieved while ensuring connection reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Gen Nagaoka, Yasuhiro Hida, Hiroki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9007778
    Abstract: A signal wiring of a touch panel mainly extends a bonding portion of a touch sensing unit from a signal wire on a substrate outside the substrate. The bonding portion is further attached to a signal bus so as to shrink the wiring area of the touch sensing unit and the edge frame as well. The bonding portion outside the substrate is allowed to be formed larger for improving improving the stability and yield of the connection between the touch sensing unit and the signal bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Kai-Ti Yang, Hsing-Ming Chang, Zhi-Wei Feng
  • Patent number: 9007779
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a case, a printed circuit board contained in the case and having a through-hole, and a fixing member including a shaft portion inserted in the through-hole and a head portion located at one end of the shaft portion. The electronic apparatus also includes copper foil provided on the printed circuit board, and a cover film including an opening portion configured to expose part of the copper foil. The opening portion is located at a position which is to be covered with the head portion, and the cover film covers the copper foil at positions other than the position where the opening portion is located. The electronic apparatus further includes a conductive material provided on the copper foil inside the opening portion and configured to electrically connect the head portion and the copper foil to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Yamamoto, Takahisa Funayama
  • Patent number: 9007780
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a third housing between the first housing and the second housing, the third housing being rotatably connected to the first housing and the second housing, and an antenna in the third housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 9007781
    Abstract: Analyte sensor connectors that connect analyte sensors, e.g., conductive members of analyte sensors, to other devices such as sensor electronics units, e.g., sensor control units, are provided. Also provided are systems that include analyte sensors, analyte sensor connectors, and analyte sensor electronics units, as well as methods of establishing and maintaining connections between analyte sensors and analyte sensor electronics units, and methods of analyte monitoring/detection. Also provided are methods of making analyte sensor connectors and systems that include analyte sensor connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad E. Moein, Louis G. Pace, Udo Hoss, Phu X. Le, Samuel M. Curry
  • Patent number: 9007782
    Abstract: In a first conductive layer and a third conductive layer that are respectively closest to a core layer having a storage portion that penetrates therethrough, four first penetrating holes and four first penetrating holes are formed so as to overlap part of an opening edge of the storage portion that is projected onto the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Sawatari, Yuichi Sugiyama, Hiroshi Nakamura, Masaki Naganuma, Tetsuo Saji
  • Patent number: 9007783
    Abstract: A random access memory (RAM) memory module has a compact form factor and is removable from a corresponding socket assembly to allow easy replacement of the memory module or reconfiguration of the memory module during development of an electronic device that includes the memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Wladyslaw Bolanowski, Peter Aberg
  • Patent number: 9007784
    Abstract: A device and/or method mount and affix a microchannel plate in a micro system. The device and/or method has at least one conductive spring structure, formed to accept a microchannel plate, for aligning, fixing and making electrical contact with the microchannel plate. The device and/or method also has at least one stop against which the microchannel plate is pushed or pressed when affixed by at least one conductive spring structure, wherein the at least one conductive spring structure and the at least one stop are being applied on a non-conductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH, Krohne Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jan-Peter Hauschild, Eric Wapelhorst, Jörg Müller
  • Patent number: 9007785
    Abstract: A power supply with a digital control circuit generates an output voltage by driving a piezoelectric transducer with an alternating current voltage at a digitally controlled driving frequency. To skip over a spurious frequency, the driving frequency is switched between a first range above the spurious frequency and a second range below the spurious frequency. Within the first and second ranges, the driving frequency is varied in directions that make the output voltage track a target voltage. If the driving frequency arrives at the lower limit of the first range, it jumps to a switchover frequency in the second range. The first range can be used to generate a comparatively low output voltage, and the second range to generate a comparatively high output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Kosaka
  • Patent number: 9007786
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a switching controller of a flyback power converter. The switching controller includes a switching circuit, a sample-and-hold circuit, a voltage detection circuit, an oscillation circuit, and a comparator. The voltage detection circuit generates a holding signal when a level of an input voltage of the flyback power converter is lower than a low-threshold. The oscillation circuit limits the maximum frequency of switching signal. The maximum frequency is increased in response to a decrement of a modulation signal. The modulation signal correlated with a level of the input voltage is used to generate a control signal when the level of the input voltage is lower than an ultra-low-threshold. The control signal is enabled to operate the flyback power converter in continuous current mode operation. Therefore, an input capacitor can be eliminated and manufacturing cost is saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Li Lin, Chao-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 9007787
    Abstract: Bypassing methods and apparatus are presented along with power cells and sub cells for multilevel inverters in which DC current flow into a DC link capacitance is interrupted and a bypass switch is closed across a power cell or sub cell output to selectively bypass a power stage of a multilevel inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Navid Zargari, Yuan Xiao, Lixiang Wei
  • Patent number: 9007788
    Abstract: The present invention provides an excitation control circuit and the electrically excited wind power system having the same. The excitation control circuit includes a plurality of full-power converters, each of which has a generator-side converter and a grid-side converter; a DC excitation module including a plurality of DC-DC converters; and a control module, controlling or switching any DC-DC converter working normally, and controlling excitation switch turning ON or turning OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yan-Song Lu, Chang-Yong Wang, Jun Chen, Xue-Xiao Luo, Jun-Sheng Mu
  • Patent number: 9007789
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric circuit wherein a multi-phase bridge is connected in series with a plurality of single-phase bridges. The multi-phase bridge is composed of a plurality of 3-level diode clamped legs, while the single-phase bridges each is composed of two 3-level diode clamped legs. The present invention also provides control strategy for synthesizing multi-level voltage waveforms from output voltages of the multi-phase bridge and the plurality of single-phase bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Chen Na
  • Patent number: 9007790
    Abstract: In a frequency converter operated for safety of personnel and/or fire protection via a ground fault interrupter is frequently not able to distinguish between an actual fault current and an operationally generated leakage current. The proposed method addresses this problem by determining a course of a magnitude of a current flowing through the frequency converter, predefining a signal portion which is independent of switching processes within the frequency converter while the frequency converter operates fault-free, checking whether the determined course satisfies a criterion that is predetermined depending on the signal portion, and interrupting the current the determined course fails to satisfy the predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhold Dillig, Bernd Herrmann, Hubert Schierling, Benno Weis
  • Patent number: 9007791
    Abstract: Representative implementations of devices and techniques minimize switching losses in a switched capacitor dc-dc converter. The slope of the charging and/or discharging phase may be modified, smoothing the transitions from charge to discharge and/or discharge to charge of the switched capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefano Marsili, Werner Hoellinger, Gerhard Maderbacher
  • Patent number: 9007792
    Abstract: An arrangement transmits power between a DC power line and an AC power line carrying a voltage having a number of phases. The arrangement includes a number of transformers, one for each phase and a number of power transfer modules, one for each phase, connected in series between the DC power line and ground, where each module includes a first branch including series connected converter cells and a second branch including series connected switching elements. The primary winding of a transformer is connected to a corresponding AC phase conductor of the AC power line and the secondary winding is connected between a midpoint of the first branch and a midpoint of the second branch of a corresponding power transfer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Subhasish Mukherjee, Tomas Jonsson, Sasitharan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 9007793
    Abstract: A synchronous rectifier includes a primary rectifier circuit and a secondary rectifier circuit. The primary rectifier circuit is configured to produce first and second half-rectified signals from respective first and second primary voltage outputs of a first transformer winding. The secondary rectifier circuit is configured to rectify a voltage output of a second transformer winding in response to first and second transistor gate inputs. A first buffer driver is configured to receive the first half-rectified signal and to provide a first buffered control signal to the first transistor gate input. A second buffer driver is configured to receive the second half-rectified signal and to provide a second buffered control signal to the first transistor gate input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaojian Zhao, Rui Wu, Xin Hu
  • Patent number: 9007794
    Abstract: A power supply control system for a power supply having a first half-bridge leg and a second half-bridge leg. In the control system, a first plurality of drive signals are configured to operate a half-bridge as a forward leg while a second plurality of drive signals are configured to operate a half-bridge as a backward leg. A switch element is intermediate the first and second plurality of drive signals and the first and the second half-bridge legs, the switch element being adapted to operate the first half-bridge as a forward leg and the second half-bridge as a backward leg in a first operating mode, the switch element being further adapted to operate the first half-bridge as a backward leg and the second half-bridge as a forward leg in a second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Solidstate Controls, LLC
    Inventors: Amuliu Bogdan Proca, Philip Irwin
  • Patent number: 9007795
    Abstract: The power conversion device includes a plurality of semiconductor modules, each having a main body section including a switching element therein. In a module unit, a positive module and a negative module are disposed such that main surfaces of the respective main body sections oppose each other. A positive terminal, a first intermediate terminal, a negative terminal, and a second intermediate terminal project in a Z direction perpendicular to X direction in which the positive module and the negative module oppose each other. A first vector V1 from the positive terminal towards the first intermediate terminal and a second vector V2 from the second intermediate terminal towards the negative terminal are configured such that these vector components V12 and V22 in a Y direction perpendicular to both the X and Z directions are opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Matsuoka, Hiroyoshi Sawada, Makoto Okamura, Hiroshi Inamura, Yasuaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 9007796
    Abstract: An architecture for current-modulating power-handling circuits, such as power converters, where a small saturating inductance is used to obtain a pulse edge when the main current value crosses zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ideal Power Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9007797
    Abstract: A method for data storage includes defining a first programming scheme that programs a group of analog memory cells while reducing interference caused by at least one memory cell that neighbors the group, and a second programming scheme that programs the group of the analog memory cells and does not reduce all of the interference reduced by the first programming scheme. One of the first and second programming schemes is selected based on a criterion defined with respect to the analog memory cells. Data is stored in the group of the analog memory cells using the selected programming scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dotan Sokolov, Naftali Sommer, Uri Perlmutter, Ofir Shalvi
  • Patent number: 9007798
    Abstract: A digital design and technique may be used to implement a Manhattan Nearest Neighbor content addressable memory function by augmenting a serial content addressable memory design with additional memory and counters for bit serially accumulating in parallel and subsequently comparing in parallel all the Manhattan distances between a serially inputted vector and all corresponding vectors resident in the CAM. Other distance measures, besides a Manhattan distance, may optionally be used in conjunction with similar techniques and designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Laurence H. Cooke
  • Patent number: 9007799
    Abstract: A content addressable memory (CAM) system includes one or more CAM cells, each including a bit cell to store a bit and a complementary bit, and a compare circuit to compare a reference input to the stored bit and to the stored complementary bit. The compare circuit may be implemented to compare a single-ended reference input to each of the stored bit and the complementary bit. The compare circuit may include a pass circuit to selectively provide the reference input to an output under control of the stored bit and the stored complementary bit, a pull-up circuit to selectively pull-up the output under control of the reference input and the stored complementary bit, and a pull-down circuit to selectively pull-down the output under control of the reference input and the stored bit. The reference input may be provided to multiple CAM cells, which may share compare circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Khader Mohammad
  • Patent number: 9007800
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for operating a three-dimensional memory array. An example array includes access transistors with first, second and gate terminals. Bit lines are coupled to the first terminals, word lines coupled to the gate terminals, and vertical lines are coupled to the second terminals. The bit, word, and vertical lines are perpendicular to one another. Memory cells are positioned along the vertical lines, including a bidirectional access device coupled in series with a memory element. The memory element is programmable to first and second states by application of first and second write voltages, opposite in polarity to one another. The array includes conductive plates parallel to the word and bit lines, and perpendicular to the vertical lines. The conductive plates are coupled to memory cells of the same height and separated by insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: SangBum Kim, Chung H. Lam
  • Patent number: 9007801
    Abstract: Integrated electronic memory devices include control logic and one or more cross point information storage arrays. The cross point storage array(s) include a non-linear conductor proximate to at least one cross point storage location, and the control logic comprises (i) an NMOS type transistor and a PNP type transistor, but not a PMOS type transistor, or (ii) a PMOS type transistor and an NPN type transistor, but not an NMOS type transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Shepard
  • Patent number: 9007802
    Abstract: An e-fuse array circuit includes a program gate line and a word line gate line that are stretched in parallel to each other, and a metal line formed over the program gate line and the word line gate line to cover the program gate line and the word line gate line, the metal line connected to the program gate line through a plurality of contact plugs disposed at a given distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Sungju Son, Youncheul Kim, Sungho Kim, Dongue Ko
  • Patent number: 9007803
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for an integrated circuit with a programmable electrical connection. The apparatus includes an inactive area with a memory line passing over the inactive area. The memory line includes a programmable layer. An interlayer dielectric is positioned over the memory line and the inactive area, and an extending member extends through the interlayer dielectric. The extending member is electrically connected to the programmable layer of the memory line at a point above the inactive area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanxiang Liu, Min-hwa Chi
  • Patent number: 9007804
    Abstract: Programmable resistive memory using at least one diodes as program selectors can be data protected by programming protection bits in a non-volatile protection bit register. The data stored in the protection bit register can be used to enable or disable reading or writing in part or the whole programmable resistive memory. The data stored in the protection bit register can also be used to enable or enable scrambling the addresses to allow accessing the programmable resistive memory array. Similarly, the data stored in the protection bit register can be used to scramble data when writing into and descramble data when reading from the programmable resistive memory. Keys can be provided for address or data scrambling. The non-volatile protection bit register can be built with the kind of cells as the main array and/or integrated with the main array in the programmable resistive memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Shine C. Chung
  • Patent number: 9007805
    Abstract: A device for one-time-programmable (OTP) memory may include a capacitor formed by a conductive layer, an oxide layer, and a semiconductor well, and a diode that is formed after programing the device. The device may be programmable by applying a voltage between the conductive layer and the semiconductor well. The applied voltage may be capable of rupturing the oxide layer at one or more points. The conductive layer, the oxide layer, and the semiconductor well may be native CMOS process formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Lu, Roy Milton Carlson
  • Patent number: 9007806
    Abstract: An electromechanical memory element includes a fixed body and a deformable element attached to the fixed body. An actuator causes a deformation of the deformable element from a first position (associated with a first logic state) to a second position (associated with a second logic state) where a mobile element makes contact with a fixed element. A programming circuit then causes a weld to be formed between the mobile element and the fixed element. The memory element is thus capable of associating the first and second positions with two different logic states. The weld may be selectively dissolved to return the deformable element back to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Pagani, Marco Morelli, Giulio Ricotti
  • Patent number: 9007807
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a MRAM cell comprising a first tunnel barrier layer comprised between a soft ferromagnetic layer having a free magnetization and a first hard ferromagnetic layer having a first storage magnetization; a second tunnel barrier layer comprised between the soft ferromagnetic layer and a second hard ferromagnetic layer having a second storage magnetization; the first storage magnetization being freely orientable at a first high predetermined temperature threshold and the second storage magnetization being freely orientable at a second predetermined high temperature threshold; the first high predetermined temperature threshold being higher than the second predetermined high temperature threshold. The MRAM cell can be used as a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) and store up to three distinct state levels. The MRAM cell has a reduced size and can be made at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Crocus Technology SA
    Inventor: Bertrand Cambou
  • Patent number: 9007808
    Abstract: Structures and methods for recovering data in a semiconductor memory device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of recovering data in a semiconductor memory device, can include: (i) pre-conditioning a first memory cell on the semiconductor memory device by using a formation voltage to program a first data state in the first memory cell; (ii) storing a second data state in a second memory cell on the semiconductor memory device by maintaining the second memory cell in a virgin state; (iii) mounting the semiconductor memory device on a printed-circuit board (PCB) by using a high temperature process that increases a resistance of the first memory cell; and (iv) performing a recovery of the first data state by reducing the resistance of the first memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Adesto Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John Dinh, Derric Lewis, Venkatesh P. Gopinath, Deepak Kamalanathan, Shane C. Hollmer, Juan Pablo Saenz Echeverry
  • Patent number: 9007809
    Abstract: A control circuit controls a voltage applied to a memory cell array. A first electrode contacts to a first surface of a variable resistance element, while a second electrode contacts to a second surface of the variable resistance element. The first electrode is configured by a metal, and the second electrode is configured by a P type semiconductor. The control unit, when performing a setting operation of a memory cell, applies a voltage such that a current flows in a direction from the first electrode toward the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fukumizu, Shigeki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Nojiri, Masaki Yamato, Takeshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9007810
    Abstract: FORMING reversible resistivity-switching elements is described herein. The FORMING voltage may be halted if the current through the memory cell reaches some reference current. The reference current may depend on how many groups of memory cells have been FORMED. This can help to increase the accuracy of determining when to halt the FORMING voltage. After the FORMING voltage is applied, a RESET voltage may be applied to those memory cells that have a resistance that is lower than a reference resistance to raise the resistance of those memory cells. By raising the resistance, the leakage current of these memory cells when other groups are programmed may be less. This, in turn, helps to prevent FORMING of the other groups from slowing down. A reason why this helps to prevent the slowdown is that the FORMING voltage may be kept near a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventor: Chang Siau
  • Patent number: 9007811
    Abstract: A word line driver circuit allows for dynamic selection of different word line voltages for selection and deselection of memory cells included in a resistive memory array in a manner that reduces circuit complexity, device count, and leakage currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Everspin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Andre, Syed M. Alam, Halbert S. Lin