Function Of And, Or, Nand, Nor, Or Not Patents (Class 326/104)
  • Publication number: 20150008959
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit may include a plurality of fuse boxes, each suitable for selectively outputting a first input signal and a reverse input signal obtained by inverting the first input signal; and a first output signal generator suitable for selectively receiving the first input signal and the reverse input signal from the fuse boxes, and generating a first output signal by performing a logical combination operation on the received input signals, a second input signal, and a third input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jee Yul KIM
  • Patent number: 8928353
    Abstract: A binary half-adder comprising first and second oscillators, each oscillator being connected to a first input and to a second input, the second oscillator being connected to the first oscillator, wherein the first oscillator is configured to oscillate if the first input is high or the second input is high, the second oscillator is configured to oscillate if the first and the second inputs are high, and wherein the connection between the second oscillator and the first oscillator is configured to suppress oscillation of the first oscillator if the second oscillator is oscillating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Manchester Metropolitan University
    Inventors: Stephen Lynch, Jon Borresen
  • Patent number: 8912821
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to logic cells that utilize one or more of spin diodes. By placing one or two control wires on the side of the spin diodes to generate magnetic fields in the spin diodes due to input currents, the logic cell can be changed from one logic gate to another logic gate. The unique feature leads to field logic devices in which simple instructions can be used to construct a whole new set of logic gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Joseph S. Friedman, Nikhil Rangaraju, Yehea Ismail, Bruce W. Wessels
  • Patent number: 8912824
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting rising and falling transitions of internal signals of an array or integrated circuit. The apparatus comprises a delay line with a plurality of first to Nth delay elements, latches, and first to Nth groups of logic gates. Each of the first to Nth groups of the logical gates includes an AND gate and a NOR gate. The method and apparatus determines rising and falling signals based on output signals of the logic gates; in odd numbered groups of the logic gates, the AND gate detects the rising transition and the NOR gate detects the falling transition; in even numbered groups of the logic gates, the AND gate detects the falling transition and the NOR gate detects the rising transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Arp, Guenther Hutzl, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20140354330
    Abstract: In accordance with a first embodiment, an electronic circuit includes a single latch having three stable states. The electronic circuit may be configured so that all three outputs reflect a change at any one input in not more than three gate delays. The electronic circuit may further be configured so that when all inputs are set to one, a previous state of the latch is retained and output on the outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas J. GOTTERBA, Jesse S. WANG
  • Patent number: 8890574
    Abstract: Provided are a MIT device self-heating preventive-circuit that can solve a self-heating problem of a MIT device and a method of manufacturing a MIT device self-heating preventive-circuit integrated device. The MIT device self-heating preventive-circuit includes a MIT device that generates an abrupt MIT at a temperature equal to or greater than a critical temperature and is connected to a current driving device to control the flow of current in the current driving device, a transistor that is connected to the MIT device to control the self-heating of the MIT device after generating the MIT in the MIT device, and a resistor connected to the MIT device and the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Hyun-Tak Kim, Bong-Jun Kim, Sun-Jin Yun, Dae-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8872547
    Abstract: A nanomagnetic logic gate arranged on a substrate according to an embodiment includes at least one nanomagnetic first structure, at least one nanomagnetic second structure and at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer, wherein at least one first structure is arranged in the first layer on or parallel to a main surface of the substrate, wherein at least one second structure is arranged in the second layer parallel to the first layer, and wherein at least one second structure includes an artificial nucleation center arranged such that a magnetic field component essentially perpendicular to the main surface provided by at least one first structure couples to the artificial nucleation center such that a magnetization of the second structure is changeable in response to the magnetic field component coupled into the artificial nucleation center, when a predetermined condition is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Technische Universitaet Muenchen
    Inventors: Markus Becherer, Josef Kiermaier, Stephen Breitkreutz, Irina Eichwald, Doris Schmitt-Landsiedel
  • Patent number: 8860465
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel circuit able to generate any logic combination possible as a function of the input logic signals. The circuit is described as a 2 input logistic map circuit but may be expanded to 3 or more inputs as required. Further disclosed is a universal logic array with variable circuit topology. A metallization layer and/or a via interconnection between cells in the array elements produce a circuit topology that implements a Boolean function and/or chaotic function and/or a logic function. The novel circuit provides a circuit topology for secure applications with no obvious physical correspondence between control signal values and input to output mapping. Further disclosed is a network which has a power signature independent of input signal state and output transition. This provides a very useful circuit to protect data from decryption from power signature analysis in secure applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Chaologix, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Arnold Myers, James Gregory Fox
  • Patent number: 8823415
    Abstract: A logic gate including a first resistive non-volatile memory device and a second resistive non-volatile memory device is provided. When top electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are coupled to an output terminal of the logic gate, bottom electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are respectively coupled to a first input terminal and a second input terminal of the logic gate. When the bottom electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are coupled to the output terminal of the logic gate, the top electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are respectively coupled to the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the logic gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wen-Pin Lin, Chih-He Lin, Yu-Sheng Chen, Zhe-Hui Lin
  • Publication number: 20140232432
    Abstract: A dual-mode logic gate, for selectable operation in either of static and dynamic modes, includes: a static gate which includes at least one logic input and a logic output; a mode selector, configured for outputting a turn-off signal to select static mode operation and for outputting a dynamic clock signal to select dynamic mode operation; and a switching element associated with the mode selector static gate, comprising a first input connected to a constant voltage, a second input for inputting the mode selection signal from the mode selector, and an output connected to a logic output of the static gate. The switching elements switches the logic gate operation from static to dynamic mode, by applying the appropriate signal to the switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Fish, Asaf Kaizerman, Sagi Fisher, Itamar Levy
  • Patent number: 8791717
    Abstract: Pre-Charge Static Logic (PCSL), is an asynchronous-logic Quasi-Delay-Insensitive architecture based on Static-Logic, featuring fully-range Dynamic Voltage Scaling including robust operation in the sub-threshold voltage regime, with simultaneous low hardware overheads, high-speed and yet low power dissipation. The invented PCSL logic circuit achieves this by integration of the Request sub-circuit into the Static-Logic cell. During the initial phase, the output of Static-Logic cell (within the PCSL logic circuit) is pre-charged. During the evaluate phase, the Static-Logic cell computes the input and the PCSL logic circuit outputs the computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventors: Joseph Sylvester Chang, Bah Hwee Gwee, Kwen Siong Chong
  • Patent number: 8786313
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a logic circuit which can be operated even when unipolar transistors are used. A logic circuit includes a source follower circuit and a logic circuit an input portion of which is connected to an output portion of the source follower circuit and all transistors are unipolar transistors. A potential of a wiring for supplying a low potential connected to the source follower circuit is lower than a potential of a wiring for supplying a low potential connected to the logic circuit which includes unipolar transistors. In this manner, a logic circuit which can be operated even with unipolar depletion transistors can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kawae
  • Patent number: 8786348
    Abstract: A control circuit of a light-emitting element comprises a rectifying unit which full-wave rectifies an alternating current power supply, a clock generator which generates and outputs a clock signal (CLK), a first comparator which compares a comparison voltage (CS) corresponding to a current flowing to the light-emitting element and a reference voltage (REF), and a switching element which is set to an ON state in synchronization with the clock signal (CLK) and which is set to an OFF state when the comparison voltage (CS) becomes greater than the reference voltage (REF) at the first comparator, to switch the current flowing to the light-emitting element. In this structure, a period of the clock signal (CLK) generated in the clock generator is varied, to reduce or inhibit noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Shuhei Kawai, Yoshio Fujimura
  • Patent number: 8779799
    Abstract: A logic circuit is provided which can hold a switching state of the logic circuit even when a power supply potential is not supplied, has short start-up time of a logic block after the power is supplied, can operate with low power consumption, and can easily switch between a NAND circuit and a NOR circuit. Switching between a NAND circuit and a NOR circuit is achieved by switching a charge holding state at a node through a transistor including an oxide semiconductor. With the use of an oxide semiconductor material which is a wide bandgap semiconductor for the transistor, the off-state current of the transistor can be sufficiently reduced; thus, the state of charge held at the node can be non-volatile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiya Takewaki
  • Patent number: 8772931
    Abstract: An electronic circuit in a package, including two functions, the package orientation activating a single one of the two functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: François Tailliet
  • Patent number: 8773165
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a logic circuit that includes a transistor T1 coupled between VPERI and a node n1, a transistor T2 coupled between VPERI and a node n2, a transistor T3 coupled between VSS and a node n3, a transistor T4 coupled between VSS and a node n4, transistors T5 and T7 coupled in series between the nodes n1 and n3, transistors T9 and T11 coupled in series between the nodes n1 and n3, transistors T6 and T8 coupled in series between the nodes n2 and n4, and transistors T10 and T12 coupled in series between the nodes n2 and n4. An output signal Y is output from a connection point of the transistors T5 and T7 and a connection point of the transistors T6 and T8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Yuki Nakamura, Chiaki Dono, Ronny Schneider
  • Patent number: 8773167
    Abstract: Implementing logic with memristors may include circuitry with at least three memristors and a bias resistor in a logic cell. One of the at least three memristors is an output memristor within the logic cell and the other memristors of the at least three memristors are input memristors. Each of the at least three memristors and the bias resistor are electrically connected to voltage sources wherein each voltage applied to each of the at least three memristors and the bias resistor and resistance states of the at least three memristors determine a resistance state of the output memristor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Warren Robinett, R. Stanley Williams
  • Patent number: 8766667
    Abstract: Asynchronous digital circuits are described, including arbitration and routing primitives for asynchronous and mixed-timing networks. An asynchronous arbitration primitive has two data inputs and one data output. A mutual exclusion element is used to select the first-arriving data request from one of the two inputs to the output. A asynchronous routing primitive has one data input and two data outputs. The incoming data is routed to one of the two outputs based on a routing bit accompanying the data. The primitives use handshaking with request and acknowledge signals to ensure that data is passed when neighboring circuits are ready to receive or send data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Steven M. Nowick, Michael Horak, Matthew Carlberg
  • Patent number: 8742788
    Abstract: A common mode control circuit (400) for generating a control signal indicative of a common mode signal in first and second signals of a differential signal pair comprises a first charge control means (300) for varying, dependent on polarity of the first and second signals with respect to a threshold, charge on a capacitive element (250, 260, 270). The first charge control means (300) is operable to, in response to the first and second signals both switching polarity simultaneously from opposite polarities, maintain a direction of flow of the charge. The first charge control means (300) can be operable to, in response to the first and second signals both switching polarity simultaneously from opposite polarities and the flow of charge being zero, maintain the flow at zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Bas Maria Putter
  • Patent number: 8736307
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a transceiver includes a bidirectional data transmission circuit coupled to a direction control circuit and method for transmitting electrical signals in one or more directions. The direction control circuit generates a comparison signal in response to comparing input/output signals of the bidirectional data transmission circuit. Transmission path enable signals are generated in response to the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Aurelio Pimentel, James Lepkowski, Frank Dover, Senpeng Sheng
  • Patent number: 8729412
    Abstract: Nanoelectromechanical logic devices can include a plurality of flexible bridges having control and logic electrodes. Voltages applied to control electrodes can be used to control flexing of the bridges. The logic electrodes can provide logical functions of the applied voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventor: Massood Tabib-Azar
  • Patent number: 8710866
    Abstract: Disclosed are an inverter, a NAND gate, and a NOR gate. The inverter includes: a pull-up unit constituted by a second thin film transistor outputting a first power voltage to an output terminal according to a voltage applied to a gate; a pull-down unit constituted by a fifth thin film transistor outputting a ground voltage to the output terminal according to an input signal applied to a gate; and a pull-up driver applying a second power voltage or the ground voltage to the gate of the second thin film transistor according to the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecomunications Research Institute, Konkuk University Industrial Cooperation Corp.
    Inventors: Sang Hee Park, Chi Sun Hwang, Sung Min Yoon, Him Chan Oh, Kee Chan Park, Tao Ren, Hong Kyun Leem, Min Woo Oh, Ji Sun Kim, Jae Eun Pi, Byeong Hoon Kim, Byoung Gon Yu
  • Patent number: 8704551
    Abstract: A standard cell used for the logic synthesis and the routing of layout is configured by a logic circuit on an output side and a logic circuit on an input side, and a driving capacity of the logic circuit on the output side is made large while gate input capacitance of the logic circuit on the input side is made small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8698521
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a transistor using an oxide semiconductor containing In, Zn, or the like for a channel region can be driven like a p-channel transistor is provided. The semiconductor device includes a transistor and an inverter, wherein an output of the inverter is input to a gate of the transistor, a channel region of the transistor includes an oxide semiconductor film containing In, Zn, or Sn, and each channel region of transistors in the inverter contains silicon. When a high voltage is input to the inverter, a low voltage is output from the inverter and is input to the gate of the transistor, so that the transistor is turned off. When a low is input to the inverter, a high voltage is output from the inverter and is input to the gate of the transistor, so that the transistor is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20140097870
    Abstract: A dynamic logic gate includes a nano-electro-mechanical-switch, preferably a four-terminal-nano-electro-mechanical-switch. The invention further refers to dynamic logic cascade circuits comprising such a dynamic logic gate. In particular, embodiments of the invention concern dynamic logic cascade circuits comprising single or dual rail dynamic logic gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Despont, Daniel Grogg, Christoph Hagleitner, Yu Pu
  • Patent number: 8669785
    Abstract: Logic circuits using neuristors is described. In an example, a circuit includes a plurality of neuristors each producing an output voltage spike in response to a super-threshold input voltage. A plurality of impedances couple the plurality of neuristors to form at least one input and an output, the output selectively providing an output voltage spike based on a logical operation of at least one input voltage at the at least one input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Matthew D. Pickett
  • Publication number: 20140062532
    Abstract: A dynamic logic gate includes a nano-electro-mechanical-switch, preferably a four-terminal-nano-electro-mechanical-switch. The invention further refers to dynamic logic cascade circuits comprising such a dynamic logic gate. In particular, embodiments of the invention concern dynamic logic cascade circuits comprising single or dual rail dynamic logic gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Despont, Daniel Grogg, Christoph Hagleitner, Yu Pu
  • Patent number: 8653855
    Abstract: An input buffer system with a dual-input buffer switching function includes a first input buffer, a second input buffer, and a multiplexer. The first input buffer is used for outputting a first signal when an input signal is at a logic-high voltage, and the first input buffer is turned off when the input signal is at a logic-low voltage. The second input buffer is used for outputting a second signal when the input signal is at the logic-low voltage. The multiplexer is coupled to the first input buffer and the second input buffer for outputting the first signal or the second signal according to a self refresh signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun Shiah, Sen-Fu Hong, Chia-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 8653857
    Abstract: An exclusive-or circuit includes a pass gate controlled by a second input node. The pass gate is connected to pass through a version of a logic state present at a first input node to an output node when so controlled. A transmission gate is controlled by the first input node. The transmission gate is connected to pass through a version of the logic state present at the second input node to the output node when so controlled. Pullup logic is controlled by both the first and second input nodes. The pullup logic is connected to drive the output node low when both the first and second input nodes are high. An exclusive-nor circuit is defined similar to the exclusive-or circuit, except that the pullup logic is replaced by pulldown logic which is connected to drive the output node high when both the first and second input nodes are high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott T. Becker
  • Publication number: 20140035620
    Abstract: A logic gate including a first resistive non-volatile memory device and a second resistive non-volatile memory device is provided. When top electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are coupled to an output terminal of the logic gate, bottom electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are respectively coupled to a first input terminal and a second input terminal of the logic gate. When the bottom electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are coupled to the output terminal of the logic gate, the top electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are respectively coupled to the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the logic gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wen-Pin Lin, Chih-He Lin, Yu-Sheng Chen, Zhe-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8633732
    Abstract: A circuit implementing a soft logical processing network includes an interconnection of analog processing elements, which can include soft logic gates, for instance soft Equals gates and soft XOR gates. In some examples, each of the soft logic gates include multiple circuit parts, with each part including an input configured to accept a voltage signal representation of a soft logical quantity, and a conversion section configured to use the accepted voltage representation to form a corresponding current signal. The current signals are combined to form a signal representation of the output of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David Reynolds, Benjamin Vigoda
  • Patent number: 8610696
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit including: an A/D converter circuit which converts an inputted first signal into a second signal. The A/D converter circuit includes a comparator circuit which compares a voltage of the first signal and a reference voltage; an A/D conversion controller circuit which outputs a digital signal in accordance with comparison results given by the comparator circuit, as a fourth signal and which outputs, in accordance with the third signal, a digital signal corresponding to the first signal, as the second signal; and a D/A converter which converts an inputted fourth signal into an analog signal and which outputs the analog signal as the reference signal. The comparator circuit includes a transistor having a first gate and a second gate. The first signal is inputted to the first gate, the reference signal is inputted to the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8587341
    Abstract: The invention provides a reduced complexity layout style based on applying a limited set of changes to an underlying repeated base template. With the templates properly defined in accordance with the characteristic features disclosed, the invention enables efficient implementation of logic circuitry, with a dramatic reduction in the pattern complexity (or number of unique layout patterns at each mask level) for realistically sized designs. This reduction in pattern complexity that the invention provides is particularly important for advanced and emerging semiconductor processes, because it enables effective use of SMO and full-chip mask optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: PDF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Tejas Jhaveri
  • Patent number: 8587343
    Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable linear core logic gate is a device that allows logical outputs dependent upon configurable parameters set within device. The device is comprised of three blocks: The first block receives at least one input signal and determines whether the signal or signals are low or high in comparison with a threshold reference signal. The second block sums the logic signals of the first block with an offset signal. The third block determines if the sum realized in the second block is a low or high by checking whether the sum falls within a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Instituto Potosino de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica A.C.
    Inventors: Eric Campos Canton, Isaac Campos Canton, Haret Codratian Rosu
  • Patent number: 8575958
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein may cause an event trigger state machine associated with a programmable on-chip logic analyzer (POCLA) to transition to a programmable state at a programmable number of occurrences of a programmable set of events associated with a first subset of signals on a first subset of input signal paths. States associated with a second subset of signals on a second subset of input signal paths may be stored at a time relative to a transition to the programmable state if a set of storage criteria have been met. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirsten S. Lunzer, Jeffrey J. Rooney
  • Patent number: 8570070
    Abstract: In a logic circuit where clock gating is performed, the standby power is reduced or malfunction is suppressed. The logic circuit includes a transistor which is in an off state where a potential difference exists between a source terminal and a drain terminal over a period during which a clock signal is not supplied. A channel formation region of the transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor in which the hydrogen concentration is reduced. Specifically, the hydrogen concentration of the oxide semiconductor is 5×1019 (atoms/cm3) or lower. Thus, leakage current of the transistor can be reduced. As a result, in the logic circuit, reduction in standby power and suppression of malfunction can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Hidetomo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8558571
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of all-spin logic devices, circuits, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an all-spin logic device may include a first nanomagnet, a second nanomagnet, and a spin-coherent channel extending between the first and second nanomagnets. The spin-coherent channel may be configured to conduct a spin current from the first nanomagnet to the second nanomagnet to determine a state of the second nanomagnet in response to a state of the first nanomagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Behtash Behin-Aein, Srikant Srinivasan, Angik Sarkar, Supriyo Datta, Sayeef Salahuddin
  • Patent number: 8552759
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to programmable logic that utilizes one or more of magnetic diodes. By changing magnetic fields generated in the magnetic diodes due to input signals, the programmable logic can be changed from one logic gate to another logic gate. The unique feature leads to field reprogrammable logic devices in which simple instructions can be used to construct a whole new set of logic gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Bruce W. Wessels, Nikhil Rangaraju
  • Patent number: 8542034
    Abstract: As semiconductor devices including semiconductors, logic circuits are given. Logic circuits include dynamic logic circuits and static logic circuits and are formed using transistors and the like. Dynamic logic circuits can store data for a certain period of time. Thus, leakage current from transistors causes more severe problems in dynamic logic circuits than in static logic circuits. A logic circuit includes a first transistor whose off-state current is small and a second transistor whose gate is electrically connected to the first transistor. Electric charge is supplied to a node of the gate of the second transistor through the first transistor. Electric charge is supplied to the node through a first capacitor and a second capacitor. On/off of the second transistor is controlled depending on a state of the electric charge. The first transistor includes an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8502564
    Abstract: A circuit comprises an inverter, a first transistor, a second transistor, and at least one switching circuit. The inverter has a first node and a second node. The first transistor has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The second transistor has a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, and a sixth terminal. The at least one switching circuit is configured to switch a connection of at least one of the first transistor and the second transistor to the inverter. The second terminal and the fifth terminal are coupled to the first node. The third terminal and the sixth terminal are coupled to the second node. The first transistor and the second transistor are configured to cause a plurality of time delays at the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Donald G. Mikan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130187680
    Abstract: A complementary logic technology is disclosed whereby a logic gate comprises at least two metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) elements and at least two thermoelectric elements, each MIT element being thermally coupled to a corresponding thermoelectric element. In logic gates, each electric signal at an input terminal of a logic gate is first converted into two complementary thermal signals, and these thermal signals in turn determine the status of the output terminal of the logic gate, thereby generating an electrical output signal inverse to the electrical input signal or an output signal which is a Boolean operation on input signals. The parallel connection(s) of thermoelectric elements of the logic gate is used to create corresponding thermal signals for each electrical input signal. The MIT elements of the logic gate are then arranged to, in response to the associated thermal signals, execute a Boolean operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicants: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, K.U. LEUVEN R&D, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: IMEC VZW, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, K.U. LEUVEN R&D
  • Publication number: 20130181742
    Abstract: A method includes applying a clock signal having an uneven duty cycle to a control input of at least one selection element of a selection circuit having a tree structure that includes multiple selection elements. The tree structure includes a data input tier and a data output tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: QUALCOMM Incorporated
  • Publication number: 20130181743
    Abstract: A binary logic unit to apply any Boolean operation on two input signals (va, vb) is described, wherein any Boolean operation to be applied on the input signals (va, vb) is defined by a particular combination of well defined control signals (ctl0, ctl1, ctl2, ctl3), wherein the input signals (va, vb) are used to select a control signal (ctl0, ctl1, ctl2, ctl3) as an output signal (vo) of the binary logic unit representing the result of a particular Boolean operation applied on the two input signals (va, vb). Furthermore a method to operate such a binary logic unit is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 1, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130176053
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has one or more logic gates and a control circuit. The control circuit has one or more control elements coupled to the logic gates. The control circuit controls the states of the one or more logic gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • Patent number: 8471598
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for magnetic logic devices and methods of operating such a device. In one embodiment, the device includes a bottom electrode configured to receive a first input current and a second input current, a bottom magnetic layer disposed over the bottom electrode, a nonmagnetic layer disposed over the bottom magnetic layer, a top magnetic layer disposed over the nonmagnetic layer, and a top electrode disposed over the top magnetic layer, the top electrode and the bottom electrode configured to provide an output voltage which is dependent on the first and second input currents and which follows an AND gate logic or an OR gate logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chwen Yu, Kai-Wen Cheng, Tien-Wei Chiang
  • Publication number: 20130155749
    Abstract: A memory includes a plurality of content-addressable memory (CAM) cells and a summary circuit associated with the plurality of CAM cells. The summary circuit includes a first level of logic gates and a second level of logic gates. The first level of logic gates have inputs each configured to receive an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of CAM cell. The second level of logic gates have inputs each configured to receive an output of a corresponding one of the first level of logic gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Young Seog KIM, Kuoyuan HSU, Jacklyn CHANG
  • Publication number: 20130154687
    Abstract: It is desirable to design and manufacture electronic chips that are resistant to modern reverse engineering techniques. Disclosed is a method and device that allows for the design of chips that are difficult to reverse engineer using modern teardown techniques. The disclosed device uses devices having the same geometry but different voltage levels to create different logic devices. Alternatively, the disclosed uses devices having different geometries and the same operating characteristics. Also disclosed is a method of designing a chip using these devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Static Control Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Static Control Components, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8456193
    Abstract: Specific logic gates for q-gating are selected by determining the minimum leakage state for a circuit design and then selecting logic gates that hold the circuit design in its lowest leakage state. Depending on the input desired to implement the minimum leakage state, the gate may be selected as a NOR or OR gate. Q-gating that is implemented with gates chosen to implement the minimum leakage state may be enabled during selected operating modes. The minimum leakage state of a circuit can be determined with an automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajamani Sethuram, Karim Arabi
  • Patent number: 8451020
    Abstract: A function of an integrated circuit is selectively disabled by mechanical intervention at a module that contains the integrated circuit, such as drilling a hole through the module, cutting a slot in the module or burning a hole with a laser through the laser. Mechanical destruction of the module at a predetermined spot disrupts a function enable signal that is otherwise provide through wires of the module to a connection with the integrated circuit. Without the function enable signal from the module wires to the integrated circuit connector, the function associated with the function enable signal cannot run on the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Roger D. Weekly
  • Publication number: 20130115907
    Abstract: An adjustable mixer is disclosed that is capable of operating in different modes in order to satisfy the mixing requirement of multiple radio access technologies (RATs). The adjustable mixer includes a LO signal generating portion and a mixing portion. Depending on the mixing requirements of the RAT, the adjustable mixer can operate in any one of multiple modes, each mode having a specific configuration for the LO signal generating portion and the mixing portion. The LO signal generating portion generates a LO signal having a particular duty cycle, depending on the selected mode, for use by the mixing portion. The mixing portion has an adjustable circuit configuration that can be dynamically reconfigured based on the selected mode, and which allows the mixing portion to successfully mix received signals using the corresponding LO signals generated by the LO signal generating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Gerasimos THEODORATOS, Konstantinos VRYSSAS, Hamed PEYRAVI, Kostis VAVELIDIS