Field-effect Transistor Patents (Class 326/95)
  • Publication number: 20040056685
    Abstract: A complementary input dynamic logic circuit for evaluating a complex logic function including complementary input dynamic logic circuits, P-channel devices, an inverter/driver for providing an inverted clock signal, and N-channel pass devices. Each complementary input dynamic logic circuit determines a complementary AND function for a corresponding one of multiple sets of AND terms and indicates the complementary AND function via a corresponding one of multiple preliminary evaluation nodes. The P-channel devices are coupled in series between a source voltage and an output evaluation node. Each series-coupled P-channel device has a gate coupled to a corresponding preliminary evaluation node. The N-channel pass devices are coupled in parallel between the output evaluation node and the inverter/driver. Each N-channel pass device has a gate coupled to a corresponding preliminary evaluation node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: IP-First LLC
    Inventors: Mir Azam, Raymond A. Bertram
  • Publication number: 20040056686
    Abstract: A complementary input dynamic logic circuit for evaluating a logic function including an N-channel dynamic circuit, a P-channel dynamic circuit and a pass device. The N-channel dynamic circuit determines a complement of the logic function when a clock signal is high by pulling a first evaluation node low if it evaluates. The P-channel dynamic circuit also determines a complement of the logic function when the clock signal is high by pulling a second evaluation node high if the P-channel dynamic circuit evaluates. The pass device is controlled by the first evaluation node and pulls the second evaluation node low if the N-channel dynamic circuit fails to evaluate. An inverted version of the clock signal may be used to drive the second evaluation node low through the pass device. The N- and P-channel dynamic circuits may be implemented with parallel-coupled devices to achieve high fan-in implementations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: IP-First LLC
    Inventor: Mir Azam
  • Publication number: 20040056687
    Abstract: A muxed-decoder circuit including multiple complementary input dynamic circuits and an AND logic gate. Each complementary input dynamic circuit includes a complementary P-logic AND dynamic circuit, a complementary N-logic AND dynamic circuit and a pass device. The complementary P-logic AND dynamic circuit has an output coupled to a corresponding output evaluation node, and evaluates bits of an encoded address value corresponding and bits of a digital select value having a logic state for selecting the encoded address. The complementary N-logic AND dynamic circuit has an output coupled to a corresponding preliminary evaluation node, and evaluates inverted bits of the address value and the digital select value. The pass device is coupled between corresponding first and second evaluation nodes and drives the second evaluation node low if the complementary N-logic AND dynamic circuit fails to evaluate. The AND logic gate couples to the output evaluation nodes and provides a corresponding decoded bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: IP-First LLC
    Inventor: Mir Azam
  • Patent number: 6710627
    Abstract: A technique to individually adjust noise immunity of each input of a dynamic circuit including parallel or series-parallel pull-down network includes identifying precharge nodes of the dynamic circuit that require a reduction of noise. The technique further includes identifying NMOS transistor drains connected to respective precharge nodes, and creating a pull-up network of PMOS transistors for the identified precharge nodes. After creating a pull-up network of PMOS transistors, the technique includes arranging the order of the PMOS transistors corresponding to the respective precharge nodes to improve noise immunity and performance of the dynamic circuit. After arranging the order of the PMOS transistors, the technique can further include sizing the PMOS transistors to achieve the required reduction of noise for the precharge nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mircea R. Stan, Vivek K. De
  • Patent number: 6707317
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a domino logic circuit that operates asynchronously. This domino logic circuit includes a number of stages, including a present stage that receives one or more inputs from a prior stage and generates one or more outputs for a next stage. It also includes a control circuit that ensures that the present stage enters a precharging state before entering a subsequent evaluation state in which one or more inputs of the present stage are used to generate one or more outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Josephus C. Ebergen, Ivan E. Sutherland, Jon Lexau, Jonathan Gainsley
  • Patent number: 6707318
    Abstract: An entry latch to provide a dynamic signal at an output port in response to input static signals at a pulldown network, the pulldown network to conditionally discharge an internal node depending upon the input static signals, the entry latch comprising a pass transistor having a first source/drain connected to the output port and a second source/drain connected to a gate of a pullup pMOSFET, where the pullup pMOSFET turns ON only if the pulldown network does not turn ON during the evaluation phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sudarshan Kumar, Shahram Jamshidi
  • Patent number: 6703867
    Abstract: Clocked full-rail differential logic circuits with sense amplifier and shut-off are activated by a delayed clock and include a sense amplifier circuit that is triggered by a second delayed clock and a shut-off device. The addition of the sense amplifier circuit, and second delayed clock signal allows the sense amplifier circuit to act as the driver and therefore there is no need for increasing the size of the differential logic network to provide a driver function. The addition of the shut-off device provides a full-rail differential logic circuit with shut-off that does not experience the large “dip” experienced by prior art full-rail differential logic circuits and is therefore more power efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Swee Yew Choe, Edgardo F. Klass
  • Publication number: 20040041591
    Abstract: Structures and methods for pseudo-CMOS dynamic logic with delayed clocks are provided. A pseudo-CMOS dynamic logic circuit with delayed clocks includes a dynamic pseudo-nMOS logic gate and a dynamic pseudo-pMOS logic gate coupled thereto. The dynamic pseudo-nMOS logic gate includes a delayed enable clock transistor coupled to a source region of at least two input transistors. The dynamic pseudo-pMOS logic gate includes a delayed enable clock transistor coupled to a drain of at least two input transistors. None of the logic input devices are connected in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Publication number: 20040041590
    Abstract: An integrated circuit that includes a dynamic logic gate having an output node at which a logical output value of the logic gate is detected and also includes a circuit for selectable alteration of the soft error susceptibility of the dynamic logic gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Philip G. Emma, John A. Fifield, Paul D. Kartschoke, Norman J. Rohrer, Peter A. Sandon
  • Patent number: 6700410
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a domino logic circuit that operates asynchronously. This domino logic circuit contains a pipeline comprised of a number of stages of domino logic, including a present stage that receives one or more inputs from a prior stage and that generates one or more outputs for a next stage. The present stage includes a control circuit that is configured to ensure that the present stage enters a precharging state before entering an evaluation state—in which one or more inputs of the present stage are used to generate one or more outputs. This control circuit operates by receiving a prior control signal from the prior stage and sending a present control signal to the next stage. During this process, the control circuit ensures that a minimum cycle time between successive evaluation states is six gate delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jo Ebergen
  • Publication number: 20040036503
    Abstract: Clocked half-rail differential logic circuits with sense amplifier and shut-off are activated by a delayed clock and include a sense amplifier circuit that is triggered by a second delayed clock and a shut-off device. The addition of the sense amplifier circuit, and second delayed clock signal allows the sense amplifier circuit to act as the driver and therefore there is no need for increasing the size of the differential logic network to provide a driver function. The addition of the shut-off device provides a half-rail differential logic circuit with shut-off that does not experience the large or “dip” experienced by prior art half-rail differential logic circuits and is therefore more power efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Yew Choe
  • Publication number: 20040036504
    Abstract: Clocked full-rail differential logic circuits with shut-off include a shut-off device. The addition of the shut-off device provides a full-rail differential logic circuit with shut-off that does not experience the “dip” experienced by prior art full-rail differential logic circuits and is therefore more power efficient. In addition, the present invention provides a full-rail differential logic circuit with shut-off that is more resistant to noise than prior art full-rail differential logic circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Swee Yew Choe, Edgardo F. Klass
  • Publication number: 20040036506
    Abstract: Clocked full-rail differential logic circuits with sense amplifier and shut-off are activated by a delayed clock and include a sense amplifier circuit that is triggered by a second delayed clock and a shut-off device. The addition of the sense amplifier circuit, and second delayed clock signal allows the sense amplifier circuit to act as the driver and therefore there is no need for increasing the size of the differential logic network to provide a driver function. The addition of the shut-off device provides a full-rail differential logic circuit with shut-off that does not experience the large “dip” experienced by prior art full-rail differential logic circuits and is therefore more power efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Swee Yew Choe, Edgardo F. Klass
  • Publication number: 20040036505
    Abstract: Clocked full-rail differential logic circuits are provided with shut-off devices. The addition of the shut-off device provides a full-rail differential logic circuit with shut-off that does not experience the large pre-charge high or “dip” experienced by prior art full-rail differential logic circuits and is therefore more power efficient. In addition, the present invention provides a full-rail differential logic circuit with shut-off that is more resistant to noise than prior art full-rail differential logic circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Swee Yew Choe, Edgardo F. Klass
  • Patent number: 6696862
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device input circuit including a clock selection portion. The clock selection portion receives an internal clock signal before a data strobe signal is enabled. The input circuit includes a plurality of input buffers, a clock selection circuit, a calibration circuit, and a plurality of data registers. The clock selection circuit receives a selection signal that is maintained at a first logic level for a predetermined time from the time when power is initially supplied and has a second logic level. The clock selection circuit selects a first clock signal and outputs the first clock signal as a second clock signal when the selection signal is maintained at the first logic level. The clock selection circuit selects the data strobe signal and outputs the data strobe signal as the second clock signal when the selection signal is maintained at the second logic level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Jun Choi, Dae-Hyun Chung, Sang-Jun Hwang
  • Patent number: 6693476
    Abstract: A differential latch includes a sample transistor section, a hold transistor section, a 1st gating circuit and a 2nd gating circuit. The sample transistor section is operably coupled to sample, when coupled to a supply voltage (e.g., VDD and VSS) a differential input signal. The hold transistor section is operably coupled to latch, when coupled to the supply voltage, the sampled differential input to produce a latched differential signal. The 1st gating circuit is operable to couple the sampled transistor section to the supply voltage in accordance with a 1st clocking logic operation and a 2nd clocking logic operation. The 2nd gating circuit is operable to couple the hold transistor section to the supply voltage in accordance with a 3rd clocking logic operation and a 4th clocking logic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom, Corp.
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 6693461
    Abstract: An embodiment zipper circuit achieves reduced leakage current by utilizing four voltages so that FETs in the p-logic blocks and n-logic blocks are reversed biased during a pre-charge phase. The FETs in a logic block are also reversed biased during an evaluation phase if the input voltages to the logic block are such that the logic block is not driven ON during the evaluation phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven K. Hsu, Ram Krishnamurthy
  • Publication number: 20040027168
    Abstract: Clocked half-rail differential logic circuits are activated by a delayed clock and include a sense amplifier circuit that is triggered by a second delayed clock. The addition of the sense amplifier circuit, and second delayed clock signal, allows the sense amplifier circuit to act as the driver and therefore there is no need for increasing the size of the differential logic block to provide a driver function. Consequently, the clocked half-rail differential logic with amplifier circuits of the invention are capable of operating efficiently under heavy load conditions without the increased size and the significant reduction in speed associated with prior art half-rail differential logic circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Yew Choe
  • Patent number: 6690204
    Abstract: Circuits and systems for producing a static switching factor on the output lines of dynamic logic devices. A logic device having a plurality of dynamic logic circuits each performing a Boolean function on a plurality of inputs and generating an output on a dynamic node. The corresponding plurality of dynamic outputs are coupled to a static logic circuit which performs an additional Boolean function of the plurality of dynamic outputs. The static logic circuit operates to generate an output logic state that is maintained so long as the value of the Boolean operations being performed by the logic device do not change. Additionally, static logic elements may perform the inversions necessary to output both logic senses, mitigating the need to provide for dual-rail dynamic logic implementations. An asymmetric clock permits a concomitant decrease in the size of the precharge transistors, thus ameliorating the area required by the logic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wendy A. Belluomini, Robert K. Montoye, Hung C. Ngo
  • Patent number: 6690205
    Abstract: A domino logic circuit contained within an integrated circuit includes a dynamic logic circuit and an intermediate logic circuit. The intermediate logic circuit includes a pull-up transistor having a source terminal coupled to a source voltage line and an n-block transistor having a source terminal connected to a low ground voltage line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Atila Alvandpour
  • Publication number: 20040021486
    Abstract: A dual-rail static logic gate with a self cut-off mechanism is disclosed. In an embodiment, the output of the first rail is coupled to the input of the pull-up device of the second rail and vice versa. The cross-coupling allows the self cut-off mechanism of the static gate to function properly and provides for components which have lower capacitance than conventional static gates. The lower capacitance results in a faster static gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Atila Alvandpour, Per Larsson-Edefors, Ram K. Krishnamurthy, Krishnamurthy Soumyanath
  • Patent number: 6686774
    Abstract: A method and system for high speed bussing in microprocessors and microelectronic devices is disclosed. The method and system implement a type of differential bus with distributed bus pre-charge units designed to decrease bus pre-charge time. The method and system utilize a universal self-tracking clock signal to determine the minimum required bus pre-charge time. The time saved by decreasing the bus pre-charge time can be directly applied to the bus evaluation period thereby increasing system performance and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Raza Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tejvansh Singh Soni
  • Patent number: 6686775
    Abstract: A first dynamic logic circuit has an output node on which a scan value is provided during scan. One of one or more second dynamic logic circuits has an input coupled to the output node of the first dynamic logic circuit, and an output of the second dynamic logic circuits is sampled in response to the scan value during scan. In one embodiment, clock generation circuitry may be included which generates a first clock, a second clock, and a third clock. At least one evaluate pulse on the first clock prior is generated prior to sampling the output of the second dynamic logic circuits, the first clock controlling at least the evaluation of the second dynamic logic circuits. The second and third clocks are generated to isolate the output node from inputs to the first dynamic logic circuit responsive to the scan mode signal indicating that scan is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corp
    Inventor: Brian J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6686776
    Abstract: A coincidence determining circuit determines whether first and second digital data each consisting of a plurality of bits coincide with one another. The coincidence determining circuit includes a wiring and a plurality of bit comparison circuits corresponding in number to the bits. Each bit comparison circuit includes first and second transistors connected in series between the wiring and a power supply line and third and fourth transistors connected in series between the wiring and the power supply line. The first and second transistors receive a first logical signal of an associated bit of the first digital data and an inverted signal of a second logical signal of an associated bit of the second digital data. The third and fourth transistors receive an inverted signal of the first logical signal and the second logical signal. The four transistors of each bit comparison circuit suppress an increase in circuit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohji Sakata, Hirofumi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6677783
    Abstract: A high-speed, state-preserving, race-reducing, wide-pulsed clock domino design style. For one aspect, a pipestage in accordance with the wide-pulsed clock design style includes one or more domino logic stages and a wide-pulsed clock generator to provide a wide-pulsed clock signal to control evaluation of the one or more domino logic stages in response to receiving a two-phase input clock signal. The wide-pulsed clock signal has a pulse width that tracks a phase width of the input clock signal over a first frequency range where the first frequency range extends at least from a predetermined fraction of a nominal clock frequency to an upper frequency limit for the circuit. For one aspect, ratio logic is coupled to at least one of the domino stages. The wide-pulsed clock signal provides sufficient time for the one or more domino logic stages to evaluate while preventing infinite or very long contention in one or more ratio logic stages when the input clock signal is stopped or slowed down significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Samie B. Samaan
  • Patent number: 6677782
    Abstract: To speed up the operation of a decoder circuit, reduce the power consumption of the decoder circuit and increase the cycle, each circuit such as a buffer, a predecoder and a main decoder in the decoder circuit is composed by a semiconductor logic circuit wherein the number of columns of transistors for pulling down at an output node is small even if the number of inputs is many and the true and a complementary output signal having approximately the same delay time are acquired and the output pulse length of each circuit in the decoder circuit is reduced. According to the present invention, the operation of the decoder circuit can be sped up, the power consumption can be reduced, the cycles can be increased and in a semiconductor memory for example, the reduction of access time and power consumption and the increase of the cycles are enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd., Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kanetani, Hiroaki Nambu, Kaname Yamasaki, Takeshi Kusunoki, Keiichi Higeta, Kunihiko Yamaguchi, Fumihiko Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20040004498
    Abstract: A sending LSI of a signal transmission system is provided with a synthesizing section for producing a multivalued logic signal by synthesizing a clock signal with a data signal in sync with the clock signal. In the meantime, a receiving LSI of the signal transmission system is provided with a separation section for separating the multivalued logic signal, which has been transmitted from the sending LSI, into the original clock signal and data signal. With this arrangement, it is possible to eliminate the constraint of a setup/hold period in the receiving end, without providing complicated synchronizing circuits such as a PLL circuit in the logic circuit of the receiving end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventor: Tomoaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 6667637
    Abstract: A domino logic circuit has a beta controllable noise margin and an ability to hold an evaluated state until a received clock signal goes to a low state by adding an additional N-channel field effect transistor (NFET) in series with another N-channel field effect transistor, where both of these devices receive the date input signal. Additionally, a P-channel field effect transistor (PFET) also receives the data input signal into its gate electrode. This P-channel field effect transistor is positioned so that it opposes one of the N-channel field effect transistors. The advantages gained by this additional circuitry may also be implemented within a multiplexer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Donald George Mikan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030231030
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving a logic circuit are described. By using a voltage reducer for connecting a power-supply to a virtual ground, the voltage reducer reduces the voltage supplied by the power-supply to the virtual ground during one phase of the clock, thereby increasing the speed and efficiency of the logic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Becker, Harry R. Fair, Marc E. Lamere, Jonathan A. White
  • Patent number: 6661257
    Abstract: Clocked charge recycling differential logic circuits are activated by a delayed clock. According to the invention, when clocked charge recycling differential logic circuits of the invention are cascaded together, a delayed clock is provided for each clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit and each delayed clock is timed to at least the delay of the previous clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit. Consequently, according to the invention, a delay time is introduced to ensure each clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit of the invention is switched or “fired” only after it has received an input from the previous clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit stage. According to the invention, this is achieved without the use of complicated control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Yew Choe
  • Patent number: 6653866
    Abstract: A domino logic circuit is provided. The circuit includes an n-channel clock transistor coupled between a dynamic output node and a high voltage connection, the gate of the clock transistor further coupled to receive an inverse clock signal. A first inverter has an input connected to the dynamic output node. A second inverter with an input connected to the dynamic output node comprises a static CMOS circuit stage which serves as an output receiver circuit, the output of which is the output of the domino logic circuit. An n-channel level keeper transistor is connected between the dynamic output node and the high voltage connection, and the gate of the level keeper transistor is connected to the output of the first inverter. A pull-down circuit is connected between the dynamic output node and a low-voltage connection. An output predischarge transistor is connected between the output of the static CMOS circuit and the low voltage connection, and is coupled to and controlled by a clock signal at its gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Siva G. Narendra, Yibin Ye, Vivek K. De
  • Patent number: 6653865
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to realize reduction of time for supplying the pulse signal to the internal circuit. The setup time for latching (holding) the signal can be eliminated by generating a pulse signal without latching (holding) the input signal. A semiconductor integrated circuit is provided, which has a signal input circuit for receiving an input signal and outputting an address signal as a function of the input signal without holding the output signal. A pulse signal generating circuit is coupled to the signal input circuit for generating a pulse signal based on the output signal and a first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shimizu, Hideo Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 6646474
    Abstract: A logic circuit and associated method are provided to improve the switching performance of integrated circuit devices. The logic circuit includes a pass transistor logic circuit, a CMOS transistor pair connected as an inverter and having an input coupled to the output of the pass transistor logic circuit, a clocking transistor coupled between the inverter and a potential terminal to selectively enable the inverter according to a first clocking signal, and a precharge transistor coupled between the inverter output and a potential terminal to precharge the inverter output low according to a second clocking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 6646472
    Abstract: A technique for reducing the power consumed by a clock driver circuit involves selecting between a first power supply path and a second power supply path in response to a power reduction signal. A driver circuit drives an output clock signal from the selected one of the first power supply path and the second power supply path. By reducing the voltage on one of the first power supply path and the second power supply path, the power consumed by the clock driver circuit may be selectively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Trivedi, Sudhakar Bobba
  • Patent number: 6646473
    Abstract: A dynamic circuit capable of operating in a normal power consumption mode and at least one reduced power consumption mode is provided. The dynamic circuit is operatively connected to a normal supply voltage and a reduced supply voltage, and is capable of operating at either the normal supply voltage and a normal frequency or at the reduced supply voltage and a reduced frequency. By using such a dynamic circuit, power consumption may be selectively controlled in order to reduce unnecessary power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Trivedi, Sudhakar Bobba
  • Patent number: 6642745
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit includes: a first stage block including first stage dynamic circuits, configured to output a predischarged result to blocks cascade connected to later stages, each of the first stage dynamic circuit includes predischarge elements connected to dynamic nodes of the first stage dynamic circuits to predischarge the dynamic nodes, configured such that the dynamic nodes are precharged with a predetermined cycle; a predischarge signal generating circuit configured to generate a predischarge signal to actuate the respective predischarge elements before precharge timing of the dynamic nodes of the first stage dynamic circuits; and next stage blocks including next stage dynamic circuits, configured to output predischarge results to blocks cascade connected to later stages, each of the next stage dynamic circuit configured to input the predischarge result of the previous block so as to predischarge dynamic nodes, configured such that the dynamic nodes are precharged with a predetermined cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yukio Endo
  • Patent number: 6642743
    Abstract: A system for relatively rapidly configuring reconfigurable devices with a plurality of latches is provided. The number of clock cycles for loading the configuration data may be reduced by a substantial amount, and the fidelity of data loaded into the configuration latches may be relatively high. The invention also incorporates procedures for configuring multiple reconfigurable devices, which are similar to daisy chaining techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Ankur Bal
  • Publication number: 20030201797
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a domino logic circuit that operates asynchronously. This domino logic circuit contains a pipeline comprised of a number of stages of domino logic, including a present stage that receives one or more inputs from a prior stage and that generates one or more outputs for a next stage. The present stage includes a control circuit that is configured to ensure that the present stage enters a precharging state before entering an evaluation state—in which one or more inputs of the present stage are used to generate one or more outputs. This control circuit operates by receiving a prior control signal from the prior stage and sending a present control signal to the next stage. During this process, the control circuit ensures that a minimum cycle time between successive evaluation states is six gate delays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Jo Ebergen
  • Publication number: 20030201796
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a domino logic circuit that operates asynchronously. This domino logic circuit includes a number of stages, including a present stage that receives one or more inputs from a prior stage and generates one or more outputs for a next stage. It also includes a control circuit that ensures that the present stage enters a precharging state before entering a subsequent evaluation state in which one or more inputs of the present stage are used to generate one or more outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Josephus C. Ebergen, Ivan E. Sutherland, Jon Lexau, Jonathan Gainsley
  • Patent number: 6639429
    Abstract: Clocked half-rail differential logic circuits are activated by a delayed clock. According to the invention, when clocked half-rail differential logic circuits of the invention are cascaded together, a delayed clock is provided for each clocked half-rail differential logic circuit and each delayed clock is timed to at least the delay of the previous clocked half-rail differential logic circuit. Consequently, according to the invention, a delay time is introduced to ensure each clocked half-rail differential logic circuit of the invention is switched or “fired” only after it has received an input from the previous clocked half-rail differential logic circuit stage. According to the invention, this is achieved without the use of complicated control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Yew Choe
  • Patent number: 6636073
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit of the present invention includes MOSFETs of at least one of N channel- and P channel-types where at least two MOSFETs included in a plurality of MOSFETs, which are provided in a channel between a high potential power line and a low potential power line, includes two serially-connected MOSFETs of the same channel-type in which their respective gates are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Yonemaru
  • Patent number: 6636996
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing pipelined dynamic logic makes it possible to set and retrieve values from dynamic logic pipelines that have no internal latches. A modification to the pipeline circuits and clocking circuitry enable scanning logic to set and retrieve values from the pipelined circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin J. Nowka
  • Publication number: 20030193352
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which includes a converter circuit and a noise suppression circuit. The converter circuit has a dynamic logic input, and is configured to generate a static logic output on an output node responsive to the dynamic logic input. The noise suppression circuit is coupled to receive a clock signal and is coupled to the output node. Responsive to a first phase of the clock signal, a precharge of a dynamic logic circuit generating the dynamic logic input occurs. The noise suppression circuit is configured to actively drive the static logic output on the output node responsive to the first phase. In some embodiments, the noise suppression circuit may reduce the noise sensitivity of the static logic output during the precharge phase, and may not impede operation of the converter circuit during the evaluate phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Brian J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6630846
    Abstract: Clocked charge recycling differential logic circuits are activated by a delayed clock. According to the invention, when clocked charge recycling differential logic circuits of the invention are cascaded together, a delayed clock is provided for each clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit and each delayed clock is timed to at least the delay of the previous clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit. Consequently, according to the invention, a delay time is introduced to ensure each clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit of the invention is switched or “fired” only after it has received an input from the previous clocked charge recycling differential logic circuit stage. According to the invention, this is achieved without the use of complicated control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Yew Choe
  • Patent number: 6628143
    Abstract: An embodiment of a full-swing, source-follower leakage tolerant dynamic logic gate comprises an nMOSFET logic to conditionally charge a node during an evaluation phase, and to charge the node to a relatively small voltage during the pre-charge phase so that the nMOSFET logic becomes reverse-biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven K. Hsu, Mark A. Anders, Sanu K. Mathew, Ram K. Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 6624664
    Abstract: Modified full-rail differential logic circuits are activated by a delayed clock and include a sense amplifier circuit that is triggered by a second delayed clock. The addition of the sense amplifier circuit, and second delayed clock signal allows the sense amplifier circuit to act as the driver and therefore there is no need for increasing the size of the differential logic network to provide a driver function. Consequently, the modified full-rail differential logic circuits of the invention are capable of operating efficiently under heavy load conditions without the increased size and the significant reduction in speed associated with prior art full-rail differential logic circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Swee Yew Choe, Edgardo Klass
  • Patent number: 6624686
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a circuit and method for reducing power in dynamic circuits. A large single pre-charge FET is used to pre-charge the pre-charge nodes of all dynamic logic blocks contained in a plurality of dynamic logic blocks. The large single pre-charge FET replaces all smaller individual FETs that normally would be used. Because smaller FETs typically have more subthreshhold leakage than larger FETs, the overall subthreshhold leakage is reduced. The large pre-charge FET only replaces smaller pre-charge FETs that have the same pre-charge signal going to their gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Elias Gedamu, Denise Man, David John Marshall
  • Patent number: 6624665
    Abstract: A new CMOS skewed static logic gate is provided having a logic function circuit and a positive feedback or accelerator circuit. The skewed gate uses a plurality of transistors matched and joined as a plurality of separate gate inputs to form the logic function circuit and the accelerator circuit. The accelerator circuit, which connects to an output of the logic function circuit, provides acceleration to the evaluation performed by the logic function circuit. The logic function circuit includes an evaluation path connected to a set of output transistors that connect to transistors of the accelerator circuit. The evaluation path includes a stacked set of low threshold voltage (Vt) transistors, which have a lower Vt than the set of output transistors. The output transistors are configured to receive a first input signal to precharge an output of the CMOS skewed static logic gate prior to the skewed gate receiving a second input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Chulwoo Kim, Sung-Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 6617882
    Abstract: Clocked half-rail differential logic circuits are activated by a delayed clock. According to the invention, when clocked half-rail differential logic circuits of the invention are cascaded together, a delayed clock is provided for each clocked half-rail differential logic circuit and each delayed clock is timed to at least the delay of the previous clocked half-rail differential logic circuit. Consequently, according to the invention, a delay time is introduced to ensure each clocked half-rail differential logic circuit of the invention is switched or “fired” only after it has received an input from the previous clocked half-rail differential logic circuit stage. According to the invention, this is achieved without the use of complicated control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Yew Choe
  • Patent number: 6617935
    Abstract: An oscillator has a current source for generating a first signal connected to a plurality of odd numbered serially connected inverters. The current source comprises a resistor, and an NMOS transistor having a first terminal and a second terminal with a channel therebetween and a gate for controlling the current flow therebetween. The first terminal and the second terminal of the MOS transistor are connected in parallel with the resistor with a voltage connected to the gate of the MOS transistor to maintain the MOS transistor in a conduction state. The frequency output of such an oscillator would then be virtually independent of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung Nguyen