Dynamic Bistable Patents (Class 327/200)
  • Patent number: 11929746
    Abstract: Digital values obtained from an output of a preceding circuit element are temporarily stored and made available for a subsequent circuit element at a controlled moment of time. A digital value is received for temporary storage, as well as a triggering signal, a triggering edge of which defines an allowable time limit before which a digital value must appear at said data input to become available for said subsequent circuit element. A sequence of first and second pulse-enabled subregister stages is used to temporarily store said digital value. Said triggering signal is provided to said first pulse-enabled subregister stage delayed with respect to the triggering signal received by said second pulse-enabled subregister stage. The length of the delay is a fraction of a cycle of the triggering signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MINIMA PROCESSOR OY
    Inventor: Navneet Gupta
  • Patent number: 11543849
    Abstract: According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include a latch circuit configured to, depending in part upon a state of an enable signal, substantially pass the first clock signal to an output signal. The latch circuit may include at least two transistors configured to essentially perform a NAND function and controlled by a second clock signal, wherein the at least two transistors are configured to alter the timing of the substantial passing of the first clock signal to the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Kenneth Hicks, Sumeer Goel, Andrew Christopher Russell
  • Patent number: 11095275
    Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing a true-single-phase-clocking (TSPC) flop with loading functionality. For example, the a loadable TSPC flop can receive input signals, including at least a clock input signal, a SET signal, and a RESET signal. Responsive to one configuration of the input signals, the loadable TSPC flop operates in a normal mode, in which its output node toggles responsive to the clock input signal. Responsive to another configuration of the input signals, the loadable TSPC flop operates in a reset loading mode, such that the Qb output node is loaded and held to a predetermined reset value. Responsive to another configuration of the input signals, the loadable TSPC flop operates in a set loading mode, such that the Qb output node is loaded and held to a predetermined set value that is a complement of the predetermined reset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mohamed Elsayed
  • Patent number: 11057026
    Abstract: A semi-dynamic flip-flop includes a semiconductor substrate, first through fourth power rails, and at least one clock gate line. The first through fourth power rails are disposed on the semiconductor substrate, extend in a first direction, and are arranged sequentially in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The at least one clock gate line is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and extends in the second direction to pass through at least two regions among a first region between the first power rail and the second power rail, a second region between the second power rail and the third power rail, and a third region between the third power rail and the fourth power rail. The at least one clock gate line receives an input clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jongkyu Ryu, Minsu Kim, Ahreum Kim, Daeseong Lee, Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11043938
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a digital logic circuit. A clock generation circuitry has both a clock generation circuitry output and an inverter circuit to generate a derivative clock signal feature by inverting an array clock signal feature. A scannable storage element has both a scannable storage element output and a set of flip-flops. A memory array is connected with the scannable storage element output and the array clock signal feature. The digital logic circuit is configured to avoid a race violation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Barowski, Werner Juchmes, Michael B. Kugel, Wolfgang Penth
  • Patent number: 10965383
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a sampling circuit, such as a sampling circuit for a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) serializer/deserializer (SerDes) system. One example sampling circuit generally includes a latching circuit and a plurality of pass-gate transistors. The latching circuit includes differential inputs, differential outputs, a clocked input circuit coupled to the differential inputs, a first cross-coupled circuit coupled to the clocked input circuit, and a second cross-coupled circuit coupled to the first cross-coupled circuit, wherein the first and second cross-coupled circuits are coupled to the differential outputs of the latching circuit. Each pass-gate transistor is coupled between one of the differential inputs of the latching circuit and a corresponding differential input of the sampling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Suresh Naidu Lekkala, Sajin Mohamad
  • Patent number: 10651850
    Abstract: A method and a flip-flop for designing low power integrated circuits (IC's). The method includes receiving at least one of a clock signal, a data signal, and a complimentary data signal. The complimentary data signal is produced by an input data inverter present in the flip-flop. Further, the method includes generating at least one master internal signal based on the received at least one of the clock signal, the data signal, and the complimentary data signal, when the clock signal is at a low logic level. Further, the method includes generating at least one slave internal signal based on at least one of the received clock signal and the generated at least one master internal signal, when the clock signal is at a high logic level. Further, the method includes generating an output signal based on the generated at least one slave internal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sajal Mittal, Jaskaran Singh Bhatia, Rajeela Deshpande, Parvinder Kumar Rana, Nikhila C M, Abhishek Ghosh, Rahul Kataria
  • Patent number: 10581410
    Abstract: Apparatuses for a flip-flop are provided. One apparatus for a flip-flop includes a domino logic flip-flop, including a single footer transistor for all nodes in the domino logic flip-flop to be pre-charged, wherein the single footer includes a footer node; and a pre-charge transistor connected to the footer node for pre-charging the footer node before an evaluation cycle. Another apparatus for a flip-flop includes a domino logic flip-flop; and combinatory logic configured to evaluate a complimentary signal in conjunction with circuit events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Matthew Berzins, James Jung Lim
  • Patent number: 10522205
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for reducing row address (RAS) to column address (CAS) delay are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a memory including a memory cell coupled to a first digit line in response to a wordline being set to an active state and a sense amplifier coupled to the first digit line and to a second digit line. The sense amplifier is configured to perform a threshold voltage compensation operation to bias the first digit line and the second digit line based on a threshold voltage difference between at least two circuit components of the sense amplifier. The apparatus further comprising a decoder circuit coupled to the wordline and to the sense amplifier. In response to an activate command, the decoder circuit is configured to initiate the threshold voltage compensation operation and, during the threshold voltage compensation operation, to the set the wordline to the active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10510384
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure which includes at least one bit line restore device which is configured to precharge a bit line to a specified voltage during an intracycle time between a read operation and a write operation and is configured to be turned off during the read operation and the write operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES U.S. INC.
    Inventors: Venkatraghavan Bringivijayaraghavan, George M. Braceras
  • Patent number: 10348299
    Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes a first precharge unit charging a first node based on a clock signal, a second precharge unit charging a second node based on the clock signal, a first discharge unit discharging the first node based on the clock signal, a second discharge unit discharging the second node based on the clock signal, a first cross-coupled maintain unit maintaining the first node at a charge state according to a voltage level of the second node, a second cross-coupled maintain unit maintaining the second node at a charge state according to a voltage level of the first node, and a control unit controlling the first and second discharge units to discharge the first node or the second node on the basis of a clock enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Hwang, Minsu Kim
  • Patent number: 10292223
    Abstract: A control circuit for LED lamps comprises a rectifier module, a filter module, at least one additional expansion module, and an output control module. The filter module comprises a filter capacitor C6. The output control module is configured to output a PWM signal or a PFM signal. Each of the additional expansion modules comprises an additional filter circuit, a switch control circuit, and a duty cycle/frequency sampling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Self Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xuhong Ma
  • Patent number: 10270431
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of a two-phase flip-flop with symmetrical rise and fall times are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a clock generator circuit including a two-phase flip-flop circuit configured to provide an output signal. The two-phase flip-flop circuit includes a two-phase flip-flop and a driver circuit. The two-phase flip-flop is configured to provide a first driver control signal and a second driver control signal responsive to a clock signal. The first driver control signal and the second driver control signal are complementary. The driver circuit is configured to provide the output signal responsive to the first driver control signal and the second driver control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler J. Gomm, Yasuo Satoh
  • Patent number: 10236884
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with lower power consumption and an electronic device including the same are provided. To reduce leakage current flowing in a word line driver circuit, a switching element is provided, specifically, between the word line driver circuit and a high or low voltage power source. When there is no memory access, the switching element is turned off, thereby interrupting application of voltage (or current) from the high or low voltage power source to the word line driver circuit. Furthermore, to reduce the stand-by power due to precharge of a bit line, a switching element is provided in a bit line driver circuit, specifically, between the bit line and a high or low voltage power source. When there is no memory access, the switching element is turned off, thereby interrupting application of voltage (or current) from the high or low voltage power source to the bit line driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Ishizu, Wataru Uesugi
  • Patent number: 10094715
    Abstract: A temperature sensor circuit and a compensation method for the temperature sensor circuit are disclosed herein. The temperature sensor circuit may provide a proportional-to-absolute temperature (PTAT) output signal with a compensation scheme. The temperature sensor circuit includes a first temperature sensor module circuit, a second temperature sensor module circuit, and an arithmetic operation circuit. The first temperature sensor module circuit generates a first temperature voltage signal based on a first reference current level. The second temperature sensor module circuit generates a second temperature voltage signal based on a second reference current level. The arithmetic operation circuit generates an output signal as PTAT voltage signal using the first temperature voltage signal and the second temperature voltage signal, eliminating reverse Early effect and High-level injection effect with simple arithmetic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Silicon Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Su Kim, Jong Kyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10014862
    Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes a first precharge unit charging a first node based on a clock signal, a second precharge unit charging a second node based on the clock signal, a first discharge unit discharging the first node based on the clock signal, a second discharge unit discharging the second node based on the clock signal, a first cross-coupled maintain unit maintaining the first node at a charge state according to a voltage level of the second node, a second cross-coupled maintain unit maintaining the second node at a charge state according to a voltage level of the first node, and a control unit controlling the first and second discharge units to discharge the first node or the second node on the basis of a clock enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Hwang, Minsu Kim
  • Patent number: 9762214
    Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes an evaluation part connected to a first node and a second node to discharge the second node according to a voltage level of the first node, a conditional delay part connected to the second node to discharge a third node to have a voltage level different from a voltage level of the second node, and a keeper logic part connected to the second node and third node to maintain a voltage level of one of the second and third nodes being not discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minsu Kim
  • Patent number: 9762230
    Abstract: In described examples, a first transistor has: a drain coupled to a source of a depletion-mode transistor; a source coupled to a first voltage node; and a gate coupled to a control node. A second transistor has: a drain coupled to a gate of the depletion-mode transistor; a source coupled to the first voltage node; and a gate coupled through at least one first logic device to an input node. A third transistor has: a drain coupled to the gate of the depletion-mode transistor; a source coupled to a second voltage node; and a gate coupled through at least one second logic device to the input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Douglas Seeman, Sandeep R. Bahl, David I. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9520882
    Abstract: A receiver circuit of a semiconductor apparatus may include, a latch comprising differential input terminals and differential output terminals. The receiver circuit may also include a control unit configured to selectively reset first and second intermediate nodes coupled between the differential input terminals and the differential output terminals according to previous data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Jin Ha Hwang
  • Patent number: 9450578
    Abstract: Inventive aspects include an integrated clock gater (ICG) circuit having clocked complimentary voltage switched logic (CICG) that delivers high performance while maintaining low power consumption characteristics. The CICG circuit provides a small enable setup time and a small clock-to-enabled-clock delay. A significant reduction in clock power consumption is achieved in both enabled and disabled modes, but particularly in the disabled mode. Complimentary latches work in tandem to latch different voltage levels at different nodes depending on the voltage level of the received clock signal and whether or not an enable signal is asserted. An inverter takes the voltage level from one of the nodes, inverts it, and outputs a gated clock signal. The gated clock signal may be active or quiescent depending on the various voltage levels. Time is “borrowed” from an evaluation window and added to a setup time to provide greater tolerances for receiving the enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Berzins, Prashant U. Kenkare
  • Patent number: 9432019
    Abstract: A control chip for power saving is provided. The control chip is configured to operatively receive a first voltage and a first bias voltage. The control chip includes a microcontroller unit and a low power module. The low power module is coupled to the microcontroller unit. The microcontroller unit receives the first voltage to control the operation of at least one component under an operating mode and to stop receiving the first voltage under a power saving mode. The low power module operatively receives the first bias voltage. When the microcontroller unit switches from the operating mode to the power saving mode, the low power module operatively generates a first control signal to cause the microcontroller unit to stop receiving the first voltage. When the low power module detects a trigger signal, the power module operatively generates a second control signal to cause the microcontroller unit to continue receiving the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Yang, Wen-Hsia Kung
  • Patent number: 9407265
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has signal assist circuitry for assisting with pulling a signal on the signal line towards the logical low or high signal level. The signal assist circuitry comprises first and second assist circuits. The first assist circuit couples the signal line to the logical high signal level following a pullup transition of the signal and provides a floating signal level following a pulldown transition, while the second assist circuit provides the floating signal level following the pullup transition and provides the logical low signal level following the pulldown transition. By providing complementary first and second assist circuits, each circuit can be optimized for the opposite transition to achieve improved performance or power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Srinivasan Srinath, Ambica Ashok, Fakhruddin Ali Bohra
  • Patent number: 9355706
    Abstract: An output circuit includes first and second output drivers. The first output driver is configured to transfer a first data signal directly to an output pad in synchronization with a clock signal. The second output driver is configured to transfer a second data signal directly to the output pad in synchronization with an inversion clock signal. The clock signal and the inversion clock enable multiplexing of the first data signal and the second data signal to provide a multiplexed output data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsu Ahn, Seungjun Bae, Joon-Young Park, Yoon-Joo Eom
  • Patent number: 9160317
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor circuit and a method of operating the same. The semiconductor circuit includes a first pulse generating circuit enabled to a rising edge of a clock signal and configured to generate a first read pulse, a second pulse generating circuit enabled to a rising edge of the clock signal and configured to generate a second read pulse independent of the first read pulse, a dynamic pull-down stage configured to develop a voltage level of a first dynamic node based at least on data values of an input signal and the first and second read pulses, and a dynamic pull-up stage configured to develop a voltage level of a second dynamic node based at least on data values of the input signal and the first and second read pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rahul Singh, Min-Su Kim
  • Patent number: 9124261
    Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes an evaluation part connected to a first node and a second node to discharge the second node according to a voltage level of the first node, a conditional delay part connected to the second node to discharge a third node to have a voltage level different from a voltage level of the second node, and a keeper logic part connected to the second node and third node to maintain a voltage level of one of the second and third nodes being not discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minsu Kim
  • Patent number: 9088269
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a power-saving circuit. The semiconductor device includes an input-output terminal and a holding circuit. When the input-output terminal is used, an inverter loop of the holding circuit is made not to operate by controlling a switch, and when the input-output terminal is not used, the inverter loop of the holding circuit operate by controlling the switch. Power consumption of the holding circuit can be reduced. An OS transistor is preferably used for the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Yuto Yakubo
  • Patent number: 8994416
    Abstract: Adaptive scaling digital techniques attempt to place the system close to the timing failure so as to maximize energy efficiency. Rapid recovery from potential failures is usually by slowing the system clock and/or providing razor solutions (instruction replay.) These techniques compromise the throughput. This application presents a technique to provide local in-situ fault resilience based on dynamic slack borrowing. This technique is non-intrusive (needs no architecture modification) and has minimal impact on throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics International N.V., STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Chittoor Parthasarathy, Nitin Chawla, Kallol Chatterjee, Pascal Urard
  • Patent number: 8975934
    Abstract: A particular method includes receiving a retention signal. In response to receiving the retention signal, the method includes retaining state information in a non-volatile stage of a retention register and reducing power to a volatile stage of the retention register. The non-volatile stage may be powered by an external voltage source. The volatile stage may be powered by an internal voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ramaprasath Vilangudipitchai, Prayag Bhanubhai Patel
  • Patent number: 8970276
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are introduced to allow for timing relationship between a clock signal and a synchronization signal to be observed. The observations may include observing the timing relationship between a capture edge of the clock signal and a transition of the synchronization signal. Based on the observations the timing of the synchronization signal transition may be adjusted. Observing the timing relationship may include providing a delayed synchronization signal and a delayed clock signal. The delayed synchronization signal may provide what happens before the capture edge of the clock signal. The delayed clock signal may provide what happens after the capture edge of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. McShea, Scott G. Bardsley, Peter Derounian
  • Patent number: 8957716
    Abstract: An integrated circuit cell includes a set of circuit elements associated with a logic function along a logical path between an input and an output of the integrated circuit cell. The set of circuit elements includes a first subset of circuit elements having a first width size and a first threshold voltage and configured to operate within a cycle of time. The set of circuit elements also includes a second subset of circuit elements having a second width size and a second threshold voltage and configured to operate within the cycle of time. The first subset and second subset of circuit elements are configured to toggle data between the input and the output. The second threshold voltage is less than the first threshold voltage when the second width size is less than the first width size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Penzes
  • Patent number: 8957719
    Abstract: A clock synchronization circuit is configured to capture an input data bit according to an input clock signal, and to synchronize and output the input data bit. The clock synchronization circuit includes a clock buffer for generating an internal clock signal according to the input clock signal and transmitting the internal clock signal to a clock line. The clock synchronization circuit further includes a D flip-flop for capturing and outputting the input data bit at an edge timing of the internal clock signal. The clock buffer includes an inverter core portion and an electric current suppressing portion. The inverter core portion is configured to generate the internal clock signal through alternately supplying an electric current to the clock line and drawing the electric current from the clock line according to the input clock signal. The electric current suppressing portion is configured to suppress an amount of the electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kenji Arai
  • Patent number: 8947123
    Abstract: Wave Dynamic Differential Logic (WDDL) is provided, wherein a differential logic stage is pre-charged or pre-discharged by a previous logic stage, such as, for example, a previous SDDL stage, a WDDL stage, etc. In one embodiment, a Divided Wave Dynamic Differential Logic (DWDDL) is provided wherein a WDDL circuit is conveniently implemented as dual logic trees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ingrid Verbauwhede, Kris J. V. Tiri
  • Patent number: 8933740
    Abstract: A semi-dynamic flip-flop is provided. A selecting circuit selects an input signal from a data signal and a test signal. A charging/discharging circuit charges/discharges an intermediate node according to the input signal, a clock signal and a modulation signal. A first storage circuit stores electric potential of the intermediate node. An adjusting circuit generates an adjustment signal according to the clock signal and the potential of the intermediate node. An output signal adjusts electric potential of an output node according to the clock signal and the potential of the intermediate node. A second storage circuit stores the potential of the output node. A reset circuit sets or resets the potential of the output node. A switch, connected between the adjusting circuit and the charging/discharging circuit, is turned on when the semi-dynamic flip-flop is in a normal operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8928379
    Abstract: A latch circuit that uses two interoperating latches. The latch circuit has the beneficial feature that it switches only a single time during a measurement that uses a stair step or ramp function as an input signal in an analog to digital converter. This feature minimizes the amount of power that is consumed in the latch and also minimizes the amount of high frequency noise that is generated by the latch. An application using a plurality of such latch circuits in a parallel decoding ADC for use in an image sensor is given as an example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Bruce R. Hancock
  • Patent number: 8928377
    Abstract: A scannable fast dynamic register including a data and scan enable circuit, a precharge circuit, a select circuit, a store circuit, and a scan input enable circuit. The data and scan enable circuit pulls a first precharge node to a discharge node in response to the clock upon evaluation in normal mode. The precharge circuit precharges first and second precharge nodes high, in which one of the precharged nodes discharges depending upon whether a data block evaluates. The store circuit and an output gate are responsive to the second precharge node to provide the output. The select circuit is interposed before the store circuit to allow injection of scan data in a scan mode. In scan mode, the scan input enable circuit provides scan data to the select and store circuits. The scan input enable circuit also includes a store circuit which operates with the first store circuit in a master-slave configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Imran Qureshi
  • Publication number: 20140320188
    Abstract: A scannable fast dynamic register including a data and scan enable circuit, a precharge circuit, a select circuit, a store circuit, and a scan input enable circuit. The data and scan enable circuit pulls a first precharge node to a discharge node in response to the clock upon evaluation in normal mode. The precharge circuit precharges first and second precharge nodes high, in which one of the precharged nodes discharges depending upon whether a data block evaluates. The store circuit and an output gate are responsive to the second precharge node to provide the output. The select circuit is interposed before the store circuit to allow injection of scan data in a scan mode. In scan mode, the scan input enable circuit provides scan data to the select and store circuits. The scan input enable circuit also includes a store circuit which operates with the first store circuit in a master-slave configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Imran Qureshi
  • Publication number: 20140306743
    Abstract: A semi-dynamic flip-flop is provided. A selecting circuit selects an input signal from a data signal and a test signal. A charging/discharging circuit charges/discharges an intermediate node according to the input signal, a clock signal and a modulation signal. A first storage circuit stores electric potential of the intermediate node. An adjusting circuit generates an adjustment signal according to the clock signal and the potential of the intermediate node. An output signal adjusts electric potential of an output node according to the clock signal and the potential of the intermediate node. A second storage circuit stores the potential of the output node. A reset circuit sets or resets the potential of the output node. A switch, connected between the adjusting circuit and the charging/discharging circuit, is turned on when the semi-dynamic flip-flop is in a normal operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20140266306
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a dynamic latch circuit with increased speed and that can perform comparisons on low input signals. The dynamic latch circuit may include a first input transistor receiving a first input signal and a second input transistor receiving a second input signal. A cross coupled inverters may be included to provide a first and second output signals based on the sampled input signals from the first and second input transistors. A reset circuit may be included to reset the first and second outputs to a reference voltage. The latch circuit may include an impedance controller coupled in parallel with the first and second input transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Analog Devices Technology
    Inventor: John CULLINANE
  • Patent number: 8829966
    Abstract: A current reuse frequency divider including a first latch circuit and a second latch circuit is provided. The first latch circuit includes a first transistor pair and a second transistor pair. The first latch circuit receives a first differential oscillation signal through bodies of the first transistor pair and the second transistor pair and divides the frequency of the first differential oscillation signal to generate a second differential oscillation signal. The second latch circuit is coupled to the first latch circuit and includes a third transistor pair and a fourth transistor pair. The second latch circuit receives the first differential oscillation signal through bodies of the third transistor pair and the fourth transistor pair and divides the frequency of the first differential oscillation signal to generate a third differential oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Chang, Nai-Chen Cheng, Yu Lee, Ching-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 8791728
    Abstract: A dynamic latch has a pair of parallel pass gates (a first parallel pass gate that receives a seed signal, and a second parallel pass gate that receives a data signal). A first latch logic circuit performs logic operations using signals output by the parallel pass gates to produce an updated data signal. An additional pass gate is operatively connected to the first latch logic circuit. An additional pass gate controls passage of the updated data signal. An inverter receives the updated data signal from the pass gate, and inverts and outputs the updated data signal as an output data signal. Thus, the dynamic latch comprises two inputs into the pair of parallel pass gates and performs only one of four logical operations on a received data signal. The four logical operations are performed using the signals applied to the two inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Austin, Kai D. Feng, Shiu Chung Ho, Zhenrong Jin
  • Patent number: 8773142
    Abstract: An electronic component includes an oscillator element, a driving circuit outputting a driving signal to the oscillator element, a clock frequency generator outputting a clock signal to the driving circuit, a clock frequency controller controlling a frequency of the clock signal, a consumption-current detection unit detecting a consumption current of the driving circuit, and a fault detection unit electrically connected to the consumption-current detection unit and the clock frequency controller. When the clock frequency controller changes the frequency of the clock signal, the detected consumption current changes, and allows the consumption-current detection unit to detect the change of the consumption current. The fault detection unit detects a fault based on the change of the frequency of the clock signal and the change of the consumption current. This electronic component can have a fault detection function and a small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujii, Keisuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8742811
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can suppress characteristic deterioration in each transistor without destabilizing operation. In a non-selection period, a transistor is turned on at regular intervals, so that a power supply potential is supplied to an output terminal of a shift register circuit. A power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor. Since the transistor is not always on in a non-selection period, a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. In addition, a power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor at regular intervals. Therefore, the shift register circuit can suppress noise which is generated in the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Umezaki
  • Patent number: 8674739
    Abstract: A single inversion pulse flop includes a critical evaluation path with a single inverter and a storage feedback loop arranged in parallel with the critical evaluation path. The single inversion pulse flop incurs a single inversion delay and does not require an output buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Masleid, Anand Dixit
  • Patent number: 8618856
    Abstract: A latch device is provided with a driver and a shadow latch. The driver has an input to accept a binary driver input signal, an input to accept a clock signal, and an input to accept a shadow-Q signal. The driver has an output to supply a binary Q signal equal to the inverse of the driver input signal, in response to the driver input signal, the shadow-Q signal, and the clock signal. The shadow latch has an input to accept the driver input signal, and an input to accept the clock signal. The shadow latch has an output to supply the shadow-Q signal equal to the inverted Q signal, in response to the driver input signal and clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred Yeung, Hamid Partovi, John Ngai, Ronen Cohen
  • Patent number: 8618855
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can suppress characteristic deterioration in each transistor without destabilizing operation. In a non-selection period, a transistor is turned on at regular intervals, so that a power supply potential is supplied to an output terminal of a shift register circuit. A power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor. Since the transistor is not always on in a non-selection period, a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. In addition, a power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor at regular intervals. Therefore, the shift register circuit can suppress noise which is generated in the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Umezaki
  • Patent number: 8610481
    Abstract: A device and a method for eliminating transitions in discrete signals. The working of the device and method is based on allowing the charge of a capacitor with one state when the state opposite the state to which it has been assigned is produced and allowing their discharge through a corresponding capacitor when their state is active. The signal is advantageously consolidated without needing processors or programs, is very simple, there is increased reliability, and the device can very easily be integrated in any sensor, such as those used in aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: EADS Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.
    Inventor: Eladio Lorenzo Pena
  • Patent number: 8575984
    Abstract: A multistage latch-based isolation cell is provided. The isolation cell includes a latch to receive a first binary signal and an enable signal. The latch initially supplies a second binary signal with an unknown value in response to the enable port receiving an enable signal having a first polarity value, and subsequent to receiving the first binary signal with a first value, supplying the second binary signal with the first value. The isolation cell includes a delay device to receive the enable signal and to supply a delayed enable signal. A reset latch receives the second binary signal, the delayed enable signal, and a reset pulse. The reset latch supplies a third binary signal equal to the first value in response to the reset latch receiving the reset pulse, followed by the delayed enable signal with the first polarity value, followed by the second binary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventor: Anjan Rudra
  • Patent number: 8542048
    Abstract: A dual edge triggered flip flop circuit uses clock signals that are delayed from a first clock signal and from one another by respective intervals. A first set of the plurality of clock signals are used to operate a first latch circuit to allow first data to be conducted to a storage element for a period of time after a rising edge of a first clock signal. The clock signals are further used to operate a second latch circuit to allow second data to be conducted to the storage element for a period of time after a falling edge of the first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravindraraj Ramaraju
  • Publication number: 20130229217
    Abstract: A dynamic latch comprises a floating node, a storage node, a write transistor connected to the floating node and the storage node and configured to write data of the floating node to the storage node, and a read transistor connected to the floating node and configured to read the data of the storage node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: IL-HAN PARK, SANG-HYUN JOO
  • Patent number: 8427213
    Abstract: Configurable time-borrowing flip-flops may be based on configurable pulse generation circuitry and pulse latches. The circuitry may use a self-timed architecture that controls the width of clock pulses that are generated so that the pulse latches that are controlled by the clock pulses exhibit a reduced risk of race through conditions. Latch circuitry may be provided that is based on a pulse latch and an additional latch connected in series with the pulse latch. In situations in which there is a potential for race through conditions on an integrated circuit, the additional latch may be switched into use to convert the latch circuitry into an edge-triggered flip flop. Clock trees may be provide with configurable shorting structures that help to reduce clock skew. Low-contention clock drivers may drive signals onto the clock tree paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David Lewis, David Cashman, Jeffrey Christopher Chromczak