Temperature Compensation Patents (Class 326/32)
  • Patent number: 7902859
    Abstract: Circuitry including an output circuit having a first variable resistance block coupled between a first supply voltage and an output node, the first variable resistance block having a plurality of selectable resistive elements coupled in series with at least one resistor between the first supply voltage and the output node, the output circuit having an output impedance determined by the resistance of the first variable resistance block; and a compensation circuit for regulating the impedance of the first variable resistance block of the output circuit, the compensation circuit having a second variable resistance block coupled between the first supply voltage and the first node of an external resistor, the second node of the external resistor being coupled to a second supply voltage, wherein the second variable resistance block comprises a plurality of selectable resistive elements coupled in series with at least one resistor between the first supply voltage and the first node of the external resistor, and wher
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Nicolas Ricard, Laurent Jean Garcia
  • Patent number: 7902861
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising a plurality of CMOS modules (10) connected in series with each other, each module (10) being connected between first and second reference lines (Vdd, Vss). A first transistor (54) is provided between at least one of the modules (10) and the first reference line (Vdd) and a second transistor (52) is provided between one of the modules (10) and the second reference line (Vss) and capacitors (C25, C26) are provided in parallel with the transistors (52, 54) such that they are driven as current sources (I1, I2). As a result power dissipation and leakage current is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Mart Coenen
  • Patent number: 7898289
    Abstract: A transmission circuit includes a plurality of transmission lines connected in a ring to propagate signals among a plurality of devices. The plurality of transmission lines have a predetermined same propagation delay, and a predetermined transmission line impedance, and the predetermined transmission line impedance is a half or less of an output impedance of each of the plurality of devices. When a signal outputted from a first optional one of the plurality of devices is propagated to the plurality of devices other than the first optional device, the signal outputted from the first optional device exceeds a predetermined threshold of a signal voltage at a same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Oono
  • Patent number: 7868653
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a clock supply apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes a first transmission line connected to a clock generator that generates clock signals, a second transmission line connected to a clock supply destination having input impedance different from output impedance of the clock generator, a capacitor that capacitively couples the first and second transmission lines, a pull-up resistor that is provided on the first transmission line to suppress reflection of the clock signal, and a pair of voltage divider resistors that apply potential obtained by voltage division to the second transmission line as a reference potential of the clock signal. The impedance of the pair of voltage divider resistors on the second transmission line is set to match the input impedance of the clock supply destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroaki Komaki
  • Patent number: 7859297
    Abstract: Disclosed in various embodiments are a circuit and method for driving a signal. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a passive impedance conversion network and at least two signal drivers coupled to the passive impedance conversion network. Each of the signal drivers includes a signal input coupled to a common signal input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Mindspeed Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Wim F. Cops
  • Patent number: 7855573
    Abstract: A terminator for a CAN bus includes an electronic relay and a termination impedance. The electronic relay has first and second control input conductors and switched output conductors. The electrical connection between the switched output conductors is normally closed. The first control input conductor is connected to the power conductor and the second control input conductor is connected to a fifth terminal of the first CAN bus connector. The termination impedance is connected in series at the end node of the CAN bus with the switched output conductors across the high data conductor and the low data conductor. By this arrangement, the termination impedance is effectively connected across the high data conductor and the low data conductor at the end node of the CAN bus until an extension of the CAN bus is plugged into the first CAN bus connector. When an extension of the CAN bus is plugged into the first CAN bus connector, the fifth terminal of the CAN bus connector is connected to the ground conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Jerald Wayne Yost
  • Patent number: 7843213
    Abstract: A memory device is coupled to a subset of lines of a data input/output (I/O) bus. The memory device includes an on-die active termination circuit for terminating the subset of lines of the data I/O bus with a selected impedance being one of a plurality of selectable impedances; a termination value register being coupled to the on-die active termination circuit for storing a value representing the selected impedance; and a termination value setting circuit being coupled to the termination value register, for setting the value representing the selected impedance in the termination value register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Linder, Jeffrey Eldon Johnson, James Sanford Wallace
  • Patent number: 7834657
    Abstract: An inverter circuit has a digital signal amplitude converter having an input coupled to an inverter circuit input node, and an amplitude converter output. A positive threshold voltage compensation generator has a positive threshold voltage compensation generator input coupled to the amplitude converter output. A negative threshold voltage compensation generator has a negative threshold voltage compensation generator input coupled to the inverter circuit input node, and a negative threshold voltage compensation generator output. A multiplexer has a first input coupled to the positive threshold voltage compensation generator output, a second input, coupled to the negative threshold voltage compensation generator output, and a multiplexer output. An inverter module has an output providing an inverter circuit output node, and an inverter module input is coupled to the multiplexer output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunny Arora, Mukesh Bansal, Dipesh K. Gupta, Ankesh Jain, Gaurav Jain, Ritika Singh
  • Patent number: 7830168
    Abstract: The temperature dependence of an inrush current suppression circuit comprising a MOSFET having an input terminal coupled to a direct current input voltage can a transistor electrically coupled to the MOSFET can be reduced by matching the temperature coefficient of a transistor to a component electrically coupled to the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Rantec Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Beck Newman
  • Patent number: 7825681
    Abstract: A common module for a double data rate-synchronous II synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDRII SDRAM) and a DDRIII SDRAM applied in a computer is provided. The common module includes a first bus, a termination circuit card, a first slot, and a second slot. The first bus transmits a plurality of signals. The termination circuit card comprises a plurality of termination resistors. The first slot is disposed on the common module and coupled to the first bus. The DDRII SDRAM is installed in the first slot. The second slot is disposed on the common module and coupled to the first bus. The DDRIII SDRAM or the termination circuit card is installed in the second slot. When the DDRII SDRAM is installed in the first slot, the termination circuit card is installed in the second slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Giga-Byte Technology Co.
    Inventors: Chin-Hui Chen, Hou-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 7821292
    Abstract: An impedance calibration period setting circuit includes a command decoder and an impedance calibration activation signal generator. The command decoder combines external signals to generate a refresh signal. The impedance calibration activation signal generator is configured to generate an impedance calibration activation signal in response to the refresh signal and an address signal. The impedance calibration period setting circuit prevents abnormal changes in an impedance calibration code and reduces current consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Ji Yeon Yang, Dong Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 7804322
    Abstract: An output buffer includes at least a first and a second stage, wherein each stage is formed by respective first transistors and second transistors coupled in series with each other between a first and a second voltage reference. The coupled first and second transistors have a common conduction terminal connected to an output terminal of the output buffer. An input terminal of the buffer is connected to control terminals of the transistors of the first stage through a first open loop driving circuit. A second feedback driving circuit is connected between the input terminal and the control terminals of the transistors of the second stage. The second feedback driving circuit includes a current detector operating to detect a maximum in the value of the current drawn by and supplied to the output buffer. A comparison block, having a threshold value, detects current in excess of the threshold value and processes information coming from the current detector to regulate an output impedance value of the output buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventors: Michele Bartolini, Pier Paolo Stoppino, Paolo Pulici, Gian Pietro Vanalli
  • Patent number: 7795902
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes an output buffer having a capacitance circuit configurable in a slew rate configuration or a decoupling configuration. In the slew rate configuration, the capacitance circuit electrically couples a capacitor of the capacitance circuit in a feedback path for reducing a slew rate of a buffered output signal generated by the output buffer. In the decoupling configuration, the capacitance circuit electrically couples the capacitor between a power potential and a ground potential of the output buffer for increasing power noise immunity of the output buffer. The output buffer may have more than capacitance circuit, each of which is individually configurable into the slew rate configuration or the decoupling configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Anitha Yella
  • Patent number: 7791368
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for adjusting a voltage supplied to an IC by a power supply. The circuit includes a PVT detector configured to generate a control signal and an adjustable resistance device configured to adjust its resistance in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kouros Azimi, Mohammad S. Mobin, Gregory W. Sheets, Lane A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7791367
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is configured to be in a calibration mode of operation to establish a desired output impedance of a driver circuit. A predetermined constant voltage is established at a circuit node within the integrated circuit. A calibration current is conducted through a transistor connected in series with a variable value resistance in the integrated circuit at the circuit node. A resistance value of the variable value resistance is varied to establish a value of the calibration current which establishes the desired output impedance. The calibration mode is exited and a functional mode is entered. A calibrated resistance value is used during the functional mode of operation. The calibration current is conducted as a calibrated current through the transistor and calibrated resistance value. Variation of the calibrated current is corrected in response to voltage and process variations to maintain the calibrated current and output impedance of the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Perry H. Pelley
  • Patent number: 7728619
    Abstract: An improved circuit and method for programmable cascading of impedance matching in a multi-chip configuration are disclosed. Handshaking is implemented in cascaded chips by defining a master-slave configuration, and impedance is evaluated in cascaded chips in a non-overlapping manner. The circuit includes a plurality of chips arranged in a cascading configuration. A cascade output pin of a chip is coupled to a cascade input pin of a cascaded chip to enable handshaking between the plurality of chips. The plurality of chips are coupled to a common precision resistor via a common impedance line to enable each chip to calibrate impedance of the chip. Each of the plurality of chips includes a control circuit. Each control circuit includes a state machine circuit. The control circuit is configured to control a non-overlapping clock cycle of each chip during which the impedance of the chip is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph Jengtao Tzou, Suresh Parameswaran, Thinh Dinh Tran
  • Patent number: 7724026
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has a differential I/O buffer (102) capable of being operated in a single-ended mode. The I/O buffer includes circuitry (114 or 112) for reducing leakage current between the differential I/O pins (P, N) when an undershoot event occurs on a pin when operated single-ended mode. In one case, a differential termination circuit (114, 200) includes a differential termination isolation circuit (202) that isolates the termination load (201) and termination load switch (208) from the single-ended pin. Alternatively or additionally, a differential output driver (300) of the I/O buffer switches a common bias voltage (ncom) to a supply voltage (VCOO) in single-ended mode to insure the transistors (A2, B1) in the driver legs remain OFF during an undershoot event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Sing-Keng Tan
  • Patent number: 7714608
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit, such as an FPGA, has one or more programmable termination schemes, each having a plurality of resistive termination legs connected in parallel, and a calibration circuit designed to control each termination scheme for process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. A sense element in the calibration circuit and each resistive leg in each termination scheme has a transistor-based transmission gate connected in series with a non-silicided poly (NSP) resistor. The negative temperature coefficient of resistivity of each NSP resistor offsets the positive temperature coefficient of resistivity of the corresponding transmission gate to provide a temperature-independent sense element and temperature-independent termination legs. The temperature-independence and constant IV characteristic of the sense element and termination legs enable a single calibration circuit to simultaneously control multiple termination schemes operating at different termination voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Mou C. Lin, William B. Andrews, John A. Schadt
  • Patent number: 7715249
    Abstract: An output driver of a semiconductor memory apparatus comprises a voltage dividing block configured to generate divide voltages by dividing an internal voltage, a threshold voltage detecting block configured to generate a detecting voltage corresponding to a change in a threshold voltage of a transistor, a drive capability control signal generating block 300 configured to generate a compare signal by comparing the levels of the detecting voltage with the divide voltage and generate a control signal in response to an input signal when the compare signal is enabled, and a drive capability controlling block comprising a driver configured to perform a driving operation in response to the input signal, and a control driver configured to perform a driving operation in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Byung-Deuk Jeong
  • Patent number: 7696777
    Abstract: A communication system having first and second states for use with a shared transmission line composed of at least two conductors and composed of first and second transmission line segments connected to each other at a single connection point. In the first state, a termination is coupled to the single connection point and is operative to at least attenuate a signal propagated between the first and second segments. In the second state, a driver is coupled to the connection point and is operative to conduct a signal over the first and second segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Yehuda Binder
  • Patent number: 7696778
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems for calibrating an output circuit. A comparator is coupled to a calibration terminal and configured to determine whether the calibration terminal is in a first state coupled to a calibration resistor or in a second state. A calibration circuit is coupled to the calibration terminal and configured to generate a calibration value based in part on the presence or absence of the calibration resistor. An impedance selector is coupled to the calibration circuit, the comparator, and a default calibration value. The impedance selector is configured to select the default calibration value when the comparator indicates the calibration terminal is in the second state and to select the calibration value coupled from the calibration circuit when the comparator indicates the calibration terminal is in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Raghu Sreeramaneni, Vijay Vankayala, Greg Blodgett
  • Patent number: 7675326
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided using dynamically adjustable differential output drivers. Integrated circuits such as programmable logic devices may be provided with adjustable differential output drivers for transmitting high-speed data to other integrated circuits. The peak-to-peak output voltage and common-mode voltage of the output drivers may be adjusted. Dynamic control circuitry may be used to control the settings of current sources, programmable resistors, and voltage source circuitry in the adjustable differential output driver automatically in real time. The adjustable components in the differential output driver may be adjusted by the dynamic control circuitry based on feedback information received from the integrated circuit to which the data is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mei Luo, Sergey Shumarayev, Wilson Wong, Chong H. Lee
  • Patent number: 7671622
    Abstract: On-die-termination control circuit includes a mode detecting unit for detecting a power-down mode and a power-down delay configured to delay an on/off control signal in the power-down mode. On-die-termination control circuit provided a shift register configured to delay an on/off control signal in synchronization with shift clocks in a non-power-down mode, and transfer the on/off control signal as received without delay in a power-down mode, a power-down delay configured to delay the on/off control signal in the power-down mode, and not to delay the on/off control signal in the non-power-down mode and a controller configured to control enabling/disabling of an on-die-termination operation according to information about enable/disable timing of an on-die-termination operation provided by the on/off control signal that have passed through the shift register and the power-down delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Seung-Min Oh, Ho-Youb Cho
  • Patent number: 7663397
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to example embodiments that may include an on-die termination (ODT) control circuit having a pipe line structure which changes in response to a frequency of a clock signal and a termination resistance generator for generating termination resistance in response to a termination resistance control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Suk Yang, Jin Ho Ryu
  • Patent number: 7663399
    Abstract: An output driver for use in a semiconductor memory device includes a pull-up metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor for pulling-up a voltage loaded on an output node in response to a pull-up control signal; a pull-up linear element connected between the pull-up MOS transistor and the output node for increasing a linearity of an output current; a pull-down MOS transistor for pulling-down the voltage loaded on the output node in response to a pull-down control signal; and a pull-down linear element connected between the pull-down MOS transistor and the output node for increasing the linearity of the output current, wherein the pull-up MOS transistor and the pull-up linear element are different typed MOS transistors and the pull-down MOS transistor and the pull-down linear element are different typed MOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang-Myoung Rho
  • Patent number: 7646229
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, output slew rate control. Methods and structures are described to provide slew rate control of an output driver circuit such as a DRAM output driver on a die. A selectable combination of series coupled transistors are configured as a parallel array of complementary inverter pairs to provide a divided voltage to a calibrator. The calibrator is configured to respond to a differential voltage to adjust the divided voltage such that the differential voltage is forced to zero. The calibrator outputs a plurality of discrete signals from an up/down counter to switch on and off the individual transistors of the parallel array to increase and decrease a collective current. In some embodiments, transistor channel currents are modulated to step-adjust a voltage based on a ratio associated with a static resistance. In various embodiments, the divided voltage is an analog voltage based on a resistance associated with trim circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shizhong Mei
  • Patent number: 7646214
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a power-harvesting termination circuit may be used to 1) match the impedance of a signal line being terminated, and 2) recover a portion of electrical power from a signal on the signal line and provide the recovered power as an electrical voltage to be used to power other circuits. The power may be harvested at either the receiving device or at the transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Joshua R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7633310
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an output driver, a replica driver, a replica resistor, and an impedance adjustment circuit. The output driver is configured to be capable of changing current driving capability. The replica driver is configured to be capable of changing current driving capability. The replica resistor is connected to an output of the replica driver. The impedance adjustment circuit is configured to adjust the current driving capability of the output driver and the replica driver, based on an output voltage of the replica driver. In addition, the output driver, the replica driver, the replica resistor, and the impedance adjustment circuit are mounted in an integrated circuit package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Fukushi
  • Patent number: 7626417
    Abstract: On-die-termination control circuit includes a clock generator configured to generate shift clocks in response to an on/off control signal; and a shift register configured to delay the on/off control signal in synchronization with the shift clocks to control on/off timing of an ODT operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Seung-Min Oh, Ho-Youb Cho
  • Patent number: 7619439
    Abstract: When a plurality of output buffer circuits are provided, chip layout size, power consumption, and number of pins of an LSI circuit are reduced. A voltage generation circuit generates reference voltages corresponding respectively to the output buffer circuits. A comparison circuit compares the reference voltages with an output voltage of a dummy buffer circuit. A counter counts a clock signal until a comparison result of the comparison circuit matches. The dummy buffer circuit adjusts output impedance corresponding respectively to the output buffer circuits based on a count value of the counter. Adjustment value holders hold respective count values when a comparison result of the comparison circuit, obtained based on respective corresponding reference voltages, matches. The output buffer circuits respectively adjust output impedances based on respectively held count values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Suenaga
  • Patent number: 7602210
    Abstract: A two-wire transmitter for receiving power supply from an external circuit through two transmission lines and also transmitting a current signal based on the measurement value of a sensor includes a current control section to which a voltage is supplied from an external circuit, for controlling the current value of the current signal based on an electric signal responsive to the measurement value of the sensor, if current consumption of the two-wire transmitter becomes smaller than the current value of the current signal, the current control section for charging and if the current consumption becomes larger than the current value of the current signal, the current control section for discharging; a computation control section for outputting the electric signal to the current control section and also outputting a setting signal based on predetermined computation processing information; a clock supply circuit for controlling the frequency of a clock signal based on the setting signal and supplying the clock sig
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Dai Katoh
  • Patent number: 7602208
    Abstract: An on die termination controls a terminal resistance value in accordance with a test signal. The one die termination device comprises an on die termination control unit and an on die termination resistor unit and can change the terminal resistance value in accordance with the test signal, so that the terminal resistance can be easily analyzed. The one die termination control unit comprises a resistance control enable signal generating unit and a resistance control signal generating unit and generates at least one resistance increment signal and at least one resistance decrement signal. The on die termination resistor unit comprises a resistor and a plurality of switch units that are connected in parallel and is driven by a driving signal and uses the resistance increment signal and resistance decrement signal to control the on die termination resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Ho Jung
  • Patent number: 7595656
    Abstract: An interface circuit includes a driver circuit (12) made up of a combination of a plurality of transistors, a calibration circuit (14) for performing selection of on and off of one or more of the plurality of transistors for adjusting on-resistance thereof, and a terminating resistor (13) that is connected to an output side of the driver circuit (12). One or more of the transistors are turned on based on an output of the calibration circuit (14), so that a combination resistance value of the on-resistance and the terminating resistor matches characteristic impedance of the transmission line. The driver circuit (12), the calibration circuit (14) and the terminating resistor (13) are formed on the same semiconductor integrated circuit SK, and the calibration circuit (14) detects process variation and temperature variation of the transistor and the resistor formed on the semiconductor integrated circuit (SK).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazunori Hayami, Tetsuya Ohtani
  • Patent number: 7586325
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit has configurable application circuitry that operates at any one of multiple available power supply voltages. PT-control circuitry, operating at a PT reference voltage, generates a PT-control signal indicative of variations in process and temperature. Application-control circuitry controls the configuration of the application circuitry based on the selected power supply voltage for the application circuitry and the PT-control signal, where the selected power supply voltage is independent of the PT reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Andrews, Mou C. Lin, John Schadt
  • Patent number: 7560975
    Abstract: The well voltage of a CMOS circuit having low-threshold-voltage MOSFETs is controlled when the power supply is turned on, during normal operation, and when the supply voltage is cut off. The CMOS circuit can thus operate stably with lower power consumption, because latching-up is reduced when the supply voltage is applied to the CMOS circuit or when the supply voltage is cut off, and subthreshold current is decreased during normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Itoh, Hiroyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7550993
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for glitch reduced circuits. As one example, a glitch reduced, variable width driver circuit is disclosed. Such circuits include a data output, and at least two transistors that each includes a gate, a first leg and a second leg. The gate of the first transistor is electrically coupled to a first combined control signal, and the gate of the second transistor is electrically coupled to a second combined control signal. The first leg of the first transistor and the first leg of the second transistor are electrically coupled to a power source, and the second leg of the first transistor and the second leg of the second transistor are electrically coupled to an output signal. The circuits further include a control circuit that combines a first control signal with the data output to create the first combined control signal, and combines a second control signal with the data output to create the second combined control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Keerthinarayan P. Heragu, Rajat Chauhan, Chintamani Keshav Bhaktavatson
  • Patent number: 7521960
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a programmable logic block, a monitoring input, a condition-sensing circuit coupled to the monitoring input and configured to generate a condition-sensed signal at an output in response to sensing a condition at the monitoring input, a first digital input, a first digital output, and a gating circuit configured in the programmable logic block and coupled between the first digital input and the first digital output. The gating circuit has a gating input coupled to the condition-sensing circuit and generates an output. The output is related to an input state of the first digital input in the absence of the condition-sensed signal and assumes an override state in the presence of the condition-sensed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Rabindranath Balasubramanian, Kurt Kolkind, Gregory Bakker
  • Patent number: 7511531
    Abstract: A temperature-compensated output buffer circuit is disclosed, which includes a pull-up circuit including a first pull-up transistor for providing a first pull-up output signal responsive to a pull-up input signal, and a supplemental pull-up circuit in parallel with the first pull-up transistor. The supplemental pull-up circuit is configured to generate a supplemental pull-up output signal with the first pull-up output signal and the supplemental pull-up output signal, forming a pull-up output signal. The output buffer further includes a pull-down circuit, including a first pull-down transistor for providing a first pull-down output signal and a supplemental pull-down circuit in parallel with the first pull-down transistor. The supplemental pull-down circuit is configured to generate a supplemental pull-down output signal with the pull-up output signal and the pull-down output signal coupled to form an output buffer output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Pan, Leel S. Janzen
  • Publication number: 20090080276
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed which generates such a bias voltage that when this bias voltage is received by a large plurality of devices of a semiconductor chip, power consumption is reduced in the stand-by mode at any particular operating temperature. The disclosed circuit contains at least one monitor FET, which is kept in its off-state, and which has common properties with the large plurality of FET devices. The temperature dependent leakage current of the monitor FET is sensed, and used to generate the bias voltage in proportion to the leakage current. This bias voltage is received by the large plurality FET devices on their gate electrodes, or on their body terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jin Cai, Randy William Mann, Harold Pilo
  • Patent number: 7501851
    Abstract: Configurable voltage mode transmitter architectures are based on combinations of drive cells and parallel termination cells connected in parallel across an external load to provide configurable output characteristics. Each drive cell and parallel termination can be individually enabled, various configurations of enabled cells providing the output characteristics configurability. In some embodiments, dedicated or configured pre-emphasis drive cells with individual enablement capability are added. In some embodiments, pull-down and pull-up cells with individual enablement capability are added to provide additional configurability options. When present, the pre-emphasis, pull-down and pull-up cells are connected in parallel across the external load to provide pre-emphasis features to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: PMC Sierra Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ben Venditti, William Michael Lye
  • Patent number: 7498834
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to the present invention can change adjusting timing of ODT operation in convenience and have an optimized ODT timing whether the semiconductor memory device is putted on ether rank of a module. The present invention includes an impedance adjusting unit for adjusting an impedance value of an input pad in response to an impedance selecting signal; an ODT operating control unit for controlling the impedance adjusting unit as generating the impedance selection signal using an decoding signal and an ODT timing signal; a delay adjusting unit for delaying an internal control clock for a predetermined timing to thereby generate the ODT timing signal; and an ODT timing control unit for controlling the delay adjusting unit to decide the value of the predetermined timing according to whether or not the semiconductor memory device is arranged to a first rank or a second rank in a module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Yong-Mi Kim
  • Patent number: 7495467
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit, such as an FPGA, has one or more programmable termination schemes, each having a plurality of resistive termination legs connected in parallel, and a calibration circuit designed to control each termination scheme for process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. The sense element in the calibration circuit and each resistive leg in each termination scheme has a transistor-based transmission gate connected in series with a non-silicided poly (NSP) resistor. The negative temperature coefficient of resistivity of each NSP resistor offsets the positive temperature coefficient of resistivity of the corresponding transmission gate to provide a temperature-independent sense element and temperature-independent termination legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Mou C. Lin, William B. Andrews, John A. Schadt
  • Patent number: 7486105
    Abstract: A memory system includes a first memory unit, a transmission bus having an impedance, and a memory controller having a first on-die termination circuit, coupled to the first memory unit through the transmission bus. The first on-die termination circuit matches the impedance of the transmission bus in response to the memory controller writing data to the first memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Chih Li
  • Patent number: 7482839
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a transmitter, receiver or transceiver to couple to a communication link. An input receives one or more signals for a desired power level of the transmitter, receiver or transceiver. A power supply provides power to the transmitter, receiver or transceiver depending on at least the one or more signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Fan Yung Ma
  • Patent number: 7466601
    Abstract: According to one embodiment a semiconductor device is provided. The device includes a first compensator to generate a first compensated signal and a first limiter to control operation of the first compensator. Furthermore, a second compensator to generate a second compensated signal and a second limiter to control operation of the second compensator is provided. An output device is adapted to receive the first compensated signal and the second compensated signal to drive an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventor: David Müller
  • Patent number: 7449914
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a code channel for outputting a plurality of code signals based on a code control signal inputted from an external source; a termination resistor decoder for decoding a chip selection signal, an on die termination (ODT) control signal and the plurality of code signals and outputting a plurality of selection signals based on decoded signals; and an ODT block for providing an output data pad with impedance of a termination resistor which is selected in response to the plurality of selection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Ki Kim, Kyung-Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20080265935
    Abstract: An integrated multi-function analog circuit includes at least one MOSFET gate-drive circuit coupled to a first I/O pad. At least one voltage-sensing circuit is coupled to a second I/O pad. At least one current-sensing circuit is coupled to the second I/O pad and a third I/O pad. At least one temperature-sensing circuit is coupled to a fourth I/O pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Acetel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Bakker, Rabindranath Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 7439759
    Abstract: As technology scales, on-chip interconnects are becoming narrower, and the height of such interconnects is not scaling linearly with the width. This leads to an increase of coupling capacitance with neighboring wires, leading to higher crosstalk. It also leads to poor performance due to poor RC response at the receiving of the wire, which may even result in failure in very noisy environments. An adaptive threshold scheme is proposed in which receiver switching thresholds are adjusted according to the detected noise in bus lines. These noise levels are dependent on both the front-end processing (transistor performance) as well as on the backend processing (metal resistance, capacitance, width and spacing). The circuit therefore automatically compensates for process variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Atul Katoch, Manish Garg, Evert Seevinck, Hendricus Joseph Maria Veendrick
  • Patent number: 7414426
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for time-multiplexed dynamic on-die termination. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit receives, during a first clock, an on-die termination (ODT) activation signal at its ODT pin. The integrated circuit also receives, during a second clock, an ODT value selection signal on its ODT pin. In an embodiment, the integrated circuit prevents a reset of the state of the ODT activation signal for a predetermined period of time to enable the multiplexing of signals on the ODT pin. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Cox, George Vergis
  • Patent number: 7414427
    Abstract: An integrated multi-function analog circuit includes at least one MOSFET gate-drive circuit coupled to a first I/O pad. At least one voltage-sensing circuit is coupled to a second I/O pad. At least one current-sensing circuit is coupled to the second I/O pad and a third I/O pad. At least one temperature-sensing circuit is coupled to a fourth I/O pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Bakker, Rabindranath Balasubramanian