Miscellaneous Patents (Class 365/244)
  • Patent number: 11901035
    Abstract: A system includes: a high bandwidth memory (HBM) including a first sensing unit configured to generate one or more first environmental signals corresponding to a first transistor in a first memory cell, and a second sensing unit configured to generate one or more second environmental signals corresponding to a second transistor in a second memory cell; and a differentiated dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DDVFS) device configured to perform the following (1) for a first set of the memory cells which includes the first memory cell, controlling temperature by adjusting one or more first transistor-temperature-affecting (TTA) parameters of the first set based on the one or more first environmental signals, and (2) for a second set of the memory cells which includes the second memory cell, controlling temperature by adjusting one or more second TTA parameters of the second set based on the one or more second environmental signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Philex Ming-Yan Fan, Chia-En Huang, Yih Wang, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang
  • Patent number: 11869622
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory with fine grain architectures are described. An apparatus may include a memory device, a first organic substrate, and a second organic substrate. The first organic substrate may include a plurality of first conductive lines arranged with a first pitch that may power one or more components of the memory device. The second organic substrate may be coupled with the memory device and the first organic substrate. The second organic substrate may include a plurality of second conductive lines arranged with a second pitch smaller than the first pitch and may be configured to route signals between the memory device with a host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Keeth
  • Patent number: 11631444
    Abstract: A high bandwidth memory system includes a motherboard; and a semiconductor package coupled to the motherboard. The semiconductor package includes a package substrate mounted on the motherboard and including signal lines providing a plurality of channels; a first semiconductor device mounted on the package substrate and including a first physical layer (PHY) circuit; and a second semiconductor device mounted on the package substrate and including a second PHY circuit. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device exchange a data signal with each other through the plurality of channels, the data signal is a multilevel signal having M levels, where M is a natural number greater than 2, and the first PHY circuit compensates for distortion of the channels and performs digital signal processing to compensate for a mismatch between the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byungsuk Woo, Changkyu Seol, Cheolmin Park, Sucheol Lee, Chanik Park
  • Patent number: 11585870
    Abstract: Nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond combine exceptional sensitivity with nanoscale spatial resolution by optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). Infrared (IR)-absorption-based readout of the NV singlet state transition can increase ODMR contrast and collection efficiency. Here, a resonant diamond metallodielectric metasurface amplifies IR absorption by concentrating the optical field near the diamond surface. This plasmonic quantum sensing metasurface (PQSM) supports plasmonic surface lattice resonances and balances field localization and sensing volume to optimize spin readout sensitivity. Combined electromagnetic and rate-equation modeling suggests a near-spin-projection-noise-limited sensitivity below 1 nT Hz?1/2 per ?m2 of sensing area using numbers for contemporary NV diamond samples and fabrication techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Laura Kim, Hyeongrak Choi, Matthew Edwin Trusheim, Dirk Robert Englund
  • Patent number: 10964373
    Abstract: A memory cell in capacitive logic, including a bistable system including a fixed element and a mobile element capable of taking one or the other of two stable positions with respect to the fixed element; a read device including a variable-capacitance capacitor including a first fixed electrode and a second mobile electrode rigidly fixed to the mobile element; and an electrically controllable write device for placing the mobile element in one or the other of its two stable positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Yann Perrin, Hervé Fanet, Ayrat Galisultanov, Gaël Pillonnet
  • Patent number: 10437306
    Abstract: A memory controller includes a current information storage unit storing information about various current amounts of a memory system, a current management unit controlling an output time of an operation execution signal by calculating the information about the various current amounts, and a command controller outputting a command to operate a memory device in response to the operation execution signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Hyeong Jeong, Kwang Hyun Kim, Jae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 10388382
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory include determining a target voltage level for an access line voltage, determining a target overdrive voltage level for gating the access line voltage to an access line coupled to a plurality of memory cells, generating a voltage level for the access line voltage in response to its target voltage level and generating a voltage level for gating the access line voltage to the access line in response to the target overdrive voltage level, and applying the access line voltage to the access line while applying the voltage level for gating the access line voltage to a control gate of a string driver connected to the access line. Apparatus include a voltage regulator having variable resistance paths between a voltage signal node and an output node, and between the voltage signal node and an input of a comparator of the voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojiang Guo, Guanglei An, Qiang Tang
  • Patent number: 9824758
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks. The semiconductor memory device also includes a block decoder configured to output a block select signal for selecting at least one memory block of the plurality of memory blocks to at least one block word line of a plurality of word lines, and a connecting circuit including a plurality of pass transistors configured to electrically connect global lines to local lines of a plurality of memory cells included in the plurality of memory blocks in response to the block select signal. The semiconductor device may also include a control logic configured to apply a voltage pulse to global word lines and a ground voltage to global select lines of the global lines, and the voltage pulse to at least the one block word line while the semiconductor memory device is in a ready state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hee Youl Lee
  • Patent number: 9696965
    Abstract: An apparatus includes input circuitry that splits an input value into first bit-groups. First memory arrays are each populated with first random numbers, receive from the input circuitry a first bit-group, and retrieve and output a first random number from a first address indicated by the received first bit-group. Distribution circuitry splits each first random number output by the first memory arrays into second bit-groups, and distributes the second bit-groups. Second memory arrays are each populated with second random numbers, receive via the distribution circuitry a second bit-group from each first memory array, concatenate the received second bit-groups so as to form an address indicator, and retrieve and output a second random number from a second address indicated by the address indicator. Output circuitry combines the second random numbers output by the second memory arrays into an output random number that depends on the input value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Moshe Alon
  • Patent number: 9218844
    Abstract: An apparatus for signal processing, wherein a disc is placed on a turntable and is provided with a groove which can be followed by the pick-up element, and employing a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the said time-code signal controls the digital audio source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Gmbh
    Inventor: Mark-Jan Bastian
  • Patent number: 9030902
    Abstract: Methods for programming memory cells. One such method for programming memory cells includes generating an encoded stream using a data stream and programming the memory cells using the encoded stream to represent the data stream. A particular bit position of the encoded stream has a first voltage level when the particular bit position of the data stream has a particular logical state, and the particular bit position of the encoded stream has either a second voltage level or a third voltage level when the particular bit position of the data stream has a logical state other than the particular logical state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra C. Varanasi
  • Patent number: 9019756
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a non-volatile memory bitcell includes a program electrode, an erase electrode, a cantilever electrode connected to a bi-stable cantilever positioned between the program electrode and the erase electrode, and switching means connected to the program electrode arranged to apply a voltage potential onto the program electrode, or to detect or to prevent the flow of current from the cantilever to the program electrode. The switching means may comprise a switch having a first node, a second node, and a control node, wherein voltage is applied to the control node to activate the switch to provide a connection between the first node and the second node. The switching means may comprise a pass-gate. The switching means may comprise an NMOS transistor. The switching means may comprise a PMOS transistor. The switching means may comprise a MEMS switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cavendish Kinetics, Ltd
    Inventor: Robertus Petrus van Kampen
  • Patent number: 9001565
    Abstract: A memory mat (101) includes a main body portion (200) that includes a first capacitor (203A), a linear conductive film (204) that is formed between the main body portion (200) and a peripheral circuit (104), and a second capacitor (203B) that is formed to be in contact with the conductive film (204) at a bottom of the second capacitor (203B). The first capacitor (203A) is in contact with a contact layer (202) at a bottom of the first capacitor (203A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Noriaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8814792
    Abstract: A vital-signs patch for a patient monitoring system that includes a housing containing a sensor that makes physiological measurements of a patient, a transmitter, a receiver, a memory, and a processor. The processor periodically takes a measurement from the sensor, converts the measurement to a data record, and stores the data record in the memory. Upon receipt of a signal from another device, the processor retrieves at least a portion of the data record, converts the retrieved portion of the data record to a vital-sign signal, and causes the transmitter to transmit the vital-sign signal to the other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Raptis, Amir Jafri, Ganesh Kathiresan, Alison Burdett
  • Patent number: 8780659
    Abstract: Methods for programming, memory devices, and methods for reading are disclosed. One such method for programming a memory device (e.g., an SLC memory device) includes encoding a two level data stream to a three level stream prior to programming the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra C. Varanasi
  • Patent number: 8705259
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a memory apparatus comprises a plurality of resettable memory cells, a plurality of memory units, and a reset information propagation logic coupled to the resettable memory cells and the memory units. The reset information propagation logic designed to write reset information into a portion of the memory units in response to one of the resettable memory cells having a reset value when one of the memory units is written into.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Kang Yu
  • Patent number: 8572423
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a token input interface, a token output interface and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to accept a storage command, to condition execution of at least a part of the storage command on a presence of a token pulse on the token input interface, to execute the storage command, including the conditioned part, in the memory cells upon reception of the token pulse on the token input interface, and to reproduce the token pulse on the token output interface upon completion of the execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ori Isachar, Julian Vlaiko, Gil Semo, Atai Levy
  • Patent number: 8547772
    Abstract: A memory power supply circuit is used for providing power to a first memory module received in a first memory slot and a second memory module received in a second memory slot, and comprises a logic circuit and a switching power supply. The logic circuit comprises a first input terminal electrically connected to the first memory slot, a second input terminal electrically connected to the second memory slot, and a first signal terminal. The switching power supply comprises a first power terminal, a second power terminal, and a second signal terminal electrically connected to the first signal terminal. When the first memory slot and the second memory slot receive the first memory slot and the second memory module, the switching power supply turns on the first power terminal and the second power terminal; otherwise, the switching power supply turns off the first power terminal or the second power terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kang Wu
  • Patent number: 8395794
    Abstract: A system for prioritizing a cache of print jobs associated with at least one print driver includes a workstation having a processing unit and at least one print driver having a processing unit, that interface via a network. The workstation implements a print job request for a document and determines whether a document key identifier associated with the document exists. If not, a key is created. If a printer-readable format for a document associated with the key identifier is stored in or is pre-existing in one of at least two caches, the print driver assigns a prioritization identifier to the format. The system retrieves the printer-readable format from the cache to produce a print job output. Since the cache stores the document in printer-readable format, overall printing time is reduced. The format may be moved from one cache to another depending upon priority. The corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Robert St. Jacques
  • Patent number: 8085578
    Abstract: A method and a system for coding and reading out information in a microscopic cluster formed with coupled functional islands includes: generating the cluster by forming a regular microscopic pattern for locating the functional islands; making use of a physical or chemical property of each individual island and making use of the coupling between the functional islands; assigning different information to different energy levels of the cluster; effecting a change of the physical or chemical property of at least one functional island in order to change the energy level of the cluster to the energy level equivalent to the information content to be coded; and reading out the information. These measures allow forming a cluster having distinct energy levels, each being assigned to a distinct information content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Laura J. Heyderman, Thomas Jung, Elena Mengotti, André Bisig, Arantxa Fraile Rodríguez, Frithjof Nolting, Hans-Benjamin Braun, Thomas Schrefl
  • Patent number: 7990759
    Abstract: The memory cell comprises first and second inverter circuits, connected in a loop. First and second decoupling transistors, normally turned off outside the write phases, are respectively connected between an output of the second inverter circuit and first and second inputs of the first inverter circuit. The memory cell is thereby protected against transient disturbances due to ionizing particles. The gates of the decoupling transistors are preferably respectively connected to a supply voltage for the P-type decoupling transistors and grounded for the N-type decoupling transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: IROC Technologies
    Inventors: Michel Nicolaidis, Renaud Perez
  • Patent number: 7864613
    Abstract: Disclosed are a thermal code transmission circuit and a semiconductor memory device using the same. The thermal code transmission circuit includes a select signal generator which generates a select signal in response to a first enable signal, a level signal generator which receives the first enable signal to generate a level signal, an update signal generator which receives the level signal and a first update signal to generate a second update signal, a latch unit which receives a thermal code in response to the second update signal and outputs the thermal code as an output thermal code, and a thermal code output unit which selectively outputs the output thermal code in response to the select signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Mo An, Youk Hee Kim
  • Publication number: 20100232251
    Abstract: A method and a system for coding and reading out information in a microscopic cluster formed with coupled functional islands includes: generating the cluster by forming a regular microscopic pattern for locating the functional islands; making use of a physical or chemical property of each individual island and making use of the coupling between the functional islands; assigning different information to different energy levels of the cluster; effecting a change of the physical or chemical property of at least one functional island in order to change the energy level of the cluster to the energy level equivalent to the information content to be coded; and reading out the information. These measures allow forming a cluster having distinct energy levels, each being assigned to a distinct information content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT
    Inventors: Laura J. Heyderman, Thomas Jung, Elena Mengotti, André Bisig, Arantxa Fraile Rodríguez, Frithjof Nolting, Hans-Benjamin Braun, Thomas Schrefl
  • Publication number: 20090168589
    Abstract: Disclosed are a thermal code transmission circuit and a semiconductor memory device using the same. The thermal code transmission circuit includes a select signal generator which generates a select signal in response to a first enable signal, a level signal generator which receives the first enable signal to generate a level signal, an update signal generator which receives the level signal and a first update signal to generate a second update signal, a latch unit which receives a thermal code in response to the second update signal and outputs the thermal code as an output thermal code, and a thermal code output unit which selectively outputs the output thermal code in response to the select signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Sun Mo An, Youk Hee Kim
  • Publication number: 20080093532
    Abstract: A memory card including a first memory responsible for the main memory of the memory card, a memory control unit adapted to control the operation of the first memory, a photoelectric voltage generating unit adapted to generate a voltage corresponding to light irradiated externally via photoelectric conversion, a display unit having a second memory adapted to store information set in advance and adapted to display the information set in advance, and a display control unit adapted to control the operation of the display unit. The method of displaying information includes generating a voltage corresponding to light irradiated externally via photoelectric conversion and displaying information set in advance via a display unit of the memory card using the voltage by photoelectric conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Kwang-Chol Choe
  • Patent number: 7352252
    Abstract: A circuit for inline testing of memory devices which provides information on the variation of the threshold voltage. The circuit includes an array of ring oscillators with a series of inverters, which already exist in the memory device. A control logic systematically steps through all of the ring oscillators by enabling each inverter and toggling the input. The mean frequency and its distribution is measured and recorded in an output circuit. The threshold voltage variation in the memory device is deduced from the ring oscillators. The circuit additionally includes two inverters place external of the memory device. Each ring oscillator is coupled to an inverter. The inverter preconditions the elements of the ring oscillator to prevent a resistive divider between the two transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Gonzalez, Vinod Ramadurai, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Patent number: 7193915
    Abstract: When a command is input to a semiconductor memory device, a sub-threshold current is reduced to a predetermined value corresponding to the command. After the reduction of the sub-threshold current is completed, the semiconductor memory device starts to operate corresponding to the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Noriaki Mochida
  • Patent number: 7190604
    Abstract: Two memory areas on a wafer are coupled through pass transistors to double the memory capacity of each area and can be sawed to yield two memory chips each with single memory area. A pair of pass transistors are used to couple each dedicated functional pad in both memory areas, when the pass transistors are turned on. The connection between the pass transistor pair can be sawed through to yield single capacity memory dice. The memory capacity can be further increased by coupling more memory areas together with pass transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Lyontek Inc.
    Inventors: Chi-Cheng Hung, Ling-Yueh Chang, Pwu-Yueh Chung
  • Patent number: 7116606
    Abstract: A protection circuit to discharge plasma-induced charges in a semiconductor device or integrated circuit includes a PMOS transistor and a diode. The PMOS transistor includes a substrate, a drain, a source, and a gate, the source being coupled to receive the plasma-induced charges. The diode has a positive terminal coupled to the substrate of the PMOS transistor and a negative terminal coupled the gate of the PMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Hung Chou, Wen-Pin Lu
  • Patent number: 7046560
    Abstract: The number of fusible links and other circuit components required to provide memory cell redundancy are reduced by sharing physical memory locations among address banks that store memory addresses. Non-trial and error algorithms and techniques determine the number of addresses and the number of identical least significant bit (LSB) values that can share the same physical memory location. By sharing physical locations for identical LSB values, circuit hardware on a memory device (including fusible links and compare circuitry) is reduced. Thus, less die area is needed to provide the same degree of redundancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujeet V. Ayyapureddi, Vasu Seeram
  • Publication number: 20040013028
    Abstract: A fail repair circuit in semiconductor memory devices is disclosed. The fail repair circuit can be applied to semiconductor memory devices for receiving a row address and a column address at a time without receiving them divisionally, and semiconductor memory devices operating as a single read mode and a single write mode with no burst or a page mode without address multiplexing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Yang Kyu Lim
  • Patent number: 6608786
    Abstract: An apparatus is described having a plurality of storage cells coupled between a first bit line and a second bit line. The apparatus also has a first transistor that pre-charges the first bit line and provides a first supply of current for one or more leakage currents drawn from the first bit line by any of the plurality of storage cells. The apparatus also has a second transistor that pre-charges the second bit line and provides a second supply of current for one or more leakage currents drawn from the second bit line by any of the plurality of storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Dinesh Somasekhar, Yibin Ye, Fatih Hamzaoglu, Vivek K. De
  • Patent number: 6604156
    Abstract: A CAN microcontroller that supports a plurality of message objects, and that includes a processor core that runs CAN applications, a plurality of message buffers associated with respective ones of the message objects, a CAN/CAL module that processes incoming messages that include a plurality of frames, each frame having a maximum number n of data bytes, and a plurality of message object registers associated with each of the message objects, including at least one buffer size register that contains a message buffer size value that specifies the size of the message buffer associated with that message object, and at least one buffer location register that contains an address pointer that points to an address of the storage location in the message buffer associated with that message object where the next data byte of the current incoming message is to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: William J. Slivkoff, Neil Edward Birns
  • Publication number: 20030043686
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory device includes a first and second memory blocks. A shared row selection circuit is provided between the first and second memory blocks, selectively or simultaneously selecting the first and second memory blocks, and transferring wordline voltages to a selected memory block by means in a multi-boosting manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Yub Lee, June Lee
  • Patent number: 6493287
    Abstract: A CAN microcontroller that supports a plurality of message objects, including a processor core that runs CAN applications, a CAN/CAL module that processes incoming messages, and a data memory space. The data memory space includes a plurality of message buffers associated with respective ones of the message objects, and a dedicated RAM memory space that contains a plurality of memory-mapped registers associated with each of the message objects. The plurality of memory-mapped registers associated with each message object correspond to respective command/control fields for facilitating configuration and setup of that message object. Each of the memory-mapped registers is mapped to a respective storage location within the dedicated RAM memory space. In one embodiment, the dedicated RAM memory space encompasses a plurality of separate RAM modules, each RAM module being dedicated to a respective one of the command/control fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Neil Edward Birns, William J. Slivkoff
  • Patent number: 6473361
    Abstract: A low power, nonvolatile microelectromechanical memory cell stores data. This memory cell uses a pair of cantilevers, to store a bit of information. The on and off state of this mechanical latch is switched by using, for example, electrostatic forces applied sequentially on the two cantilevers. The cantilevers are partially overlapping. Changing the relative position of the cantilevers determines whether they are electrically conducting or not. One state represents a logical “1”. The other state represents a logical “0”. After a bit of data is written, the cantilevers are locked by mechanical forces inherent in the cantilevers and will not change state unless a sequential electrical writing signal is applied. The sequential nature of the required writing signal makes inadvertent or noise related data corruption highly unlikely. This MEMS memory cell can be implemented, for example, using a three-polysilicon-layer surface micro-machining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jingkuang Chen, Feixia Pan, Joel A. Kubby
  • Patent number: 6026007
    Abstract: Each device of a family of removable digital media devices (310, 320, 330, 340, 350 and 360) may be plugged into a host to permits the host to store data in it or to retrieve data from it. The form factors of the digital media devices in the family and the connector system used by the digital media devices are compact for minimizing the volume of space occupied in portable devices and for easy storage. Some embodiments (310, 320, 330, 350 and 360) provide an elongated compact form factor that provides easy and firm grasping for insertion and removal. The digital media devices of the family have respective body portions (312, 322, 332, 342, 352 and 362) preferably of a rigid or semi-rigid material. Preferably, the digital media devices of the family use serial memory requiring few power and signal lines, so that few electrical contacts are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignees: Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc., Nex Flash Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin J. Jigour, David K. Wong
  • Patent number: 6008538
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for repair of a multi-chip module such as a memory module is provided, where at least one redundant or auxiliary chip attach location is provided on the substrate of the multi-chip module. The auxiliary chip attach location preferably provides contacts for attachment of more than one type of replacement semiconductor chip. Accordingly, when one or more chips on the multi-chip module are found to be completely or partially defective, at least one replacement chip can be selected and attached to the auxiliary location to provide additional memory to bring the module back to its design capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Salman Akram, James M. Wark, David R. Hembree
  • Patent number: 5877975
    Abstract: Each device of a family of removable digital media devices (310, 320, 330, 340, 350 and 360) may be plugged into a host to permits the host to store data in it or to retrieve data from it. The form factors of the digital media devices in the family and the connector system used by the digital media devices are compact for minimizing the volume of space occupied in portable devices and for easy storage. Some embodiments (310, 320, 330, 350 and 360) provide an elongated compact form factor that provides easy and firm grasping for insertion and removal. The digital media devices of the family have respective body portions (312, 322, 332, 342, 352 and 362) preferably of a rigid or semi-rigid material. Preferably, the digital media devices of the family use serial memory requiring few power and signal lines, so that few electrical contacts are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Nexcom Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin J. Jigour, David K. Wong
  • Patent number: 5815426
    Abstract: Each device of a family of removable digital media devices (310, 320, 330, 340, 350 and 360) may be plugged into a host to permits the host to store data in it or to retrieve data from it. The form factors of the digital media devices in the family and the connector system used by the digital media devices are compact for minimizing the volume of space occupied in portable devices and for easy storage. Some embodiments (310, 320, 330, 350 and 360) provide an elongated compact form factor that provides easy and firm grasping for insertion and removal. The digital media devices of the family have respective body portions (312, 322, 332, 342, 352 and 362) preferably of a rigid or semi-rigid material. Preferably, the digital media devices of the family use serial memory requiring few power and signal lines, so that few electrical contacts are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Nexcom Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin J. Jigour, David K. Wong
  • Patent number: 5774414
    Abstract: A memory device includes a multiplicity of memory cells disposed on a substrate for at least intermittent stable storage of at least two different information states. A writing device is associated with the memory cells for selectively putting one of the multiplicity of memory cells into a predetermined information state by external action. A reading device is associated with the memory cells for external detection of a current or chronologically preceding information state of a selected memory cell. The memory cells have a miniaturized mechanical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanno Melzner, Armin Kohlhase
  • Patent number: 5581499
    Abstract: A device for optically storing and retrieving information incorporating a cadmium fluoride crystal. Using focused ionizing radiation, patterns can be formed in the crystal by the creation of color centers and/or intrinsic luminescence quenched areas. The stored information can then be retrieved by irradiating the crystal with visible light, ultraviolet light, ionizing radiation or combinations thereof. The device and the storage technique allows the storage of various different levels of information, the different levels being retrievable by using different irradiating media and magnifications of the retrieved information. The device and technique also allows the information to be stored for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventor: Gilbert Hamamdjian
  • Patent number: 5517151
    Abstract: An intensity controlling circuit device can correct variation in intensity of light beams, due to tolerance occurred in each of a plurality of LED-array chips, emitted by LEDs provided in each of the LED-array chips. The intensity controlling circuit device is connected to at least one LED-array chip comprising a plurality of LEDs and slave transistors corresponding to each of the LEDs. The intensity controlling circuit device comprises an intensity controlling circuit connected to the respective LED-array chip. The intensity controlling circuit comprises a first transistor provided between a power source and a constant current generating unit so as to supply a current to the LED-array chip, and an intensity adjusting unit having a second transistor connected to the first transistor in parallel and a controlling unit for controlling the on/off state of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kubota
  • Patent number: 5481491
    Abstract: A recording medium comprises an electroconductive oxide film held between a substrate and an insulating oxide film. A recording method locally applies a voltage onto the medium to form a portion different in electric resistance or oxygen content in the electroconductive oxide film. A record-readout method comprises the steps of applying a voltage to the electroconductive oxide film having information recorded thereon and detecting the intensity of current flowing through a recorded portion to read out the recorded information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Yamamoto, Fumio Kishi, Taiko Motoi, Takehiko Kawasaki, Norio Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5383148
    Abstract: A full width single in-line memory module (SIMM) for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory expansions is disclosed. A printed circuit board having a multiplicity of DRAM memory elements mounted thereto is arranged in a data path having a width of 144 bits. The SIMM of the present invention further includes on-board drivers to buffer and drive signals in close proximity to the memory elements. In addition, electrically conductive traces are routed on the circuit board in such a manner to reduce loading and trace capacitance to minimize signal skew to the distributed memory elements. The SIMM further includes a high pin density dual readout connector structure receiving electrical traces from both sides of the circuit board for enhanced functionality. The SIMM is installed in complementary sockets one SIMM at a time to provide memory expansion in full width increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Testa, Andreas Bechtolsheim, Edward Frank, Shawn Storm
  • Patent number: 5284538
    Abstract: A double-side optical disc formed by a pair of optical disc halves bonded together, and a process for producing the double-side optical disc. An adhesive is applied to the disc halves, which are then bonded together at an angle relative to each other in which the direction of the adhesive flow on one disc half will intersect the direction of the adhesive flow on the other disc half. In this manner, satisfactory flatness of the optical disc may be achieved without being affected by surface irregularities of the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Daiki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5257240
    Abstract: An input source is digitalized via a rotated wedge (or wedges) which is operatively sandwiched between a rigidly secured input wire (or wires) and a rigidly secured output wire (or wires).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Inventor: Daniel J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5241427
    Abstract: A message door lock includes a trigger switch for trigging a playing operation of a recorder and player operatively recorded for leaving a message in the recorder formed on a door lock, an actuator of the trigger switch mounted on a thumbturn or doorlock spindle having an insulator flange normally interrupting the trigger switch from a circuit of the recorder and player and having a pair of notches diagonally recessed in the flange, whereby upon a rotation of the thumbturn inside a door or unlocking the doorlock outside the door, the flange of the actuator is rotated to match the notch in the flange with the trigger switch for resiliently contacting the trigger switch with the contact of the recorder and player circuit for playing the message already recorded in the recorder whenever rotating the thumbturn or unlocking the doorlock for a convenient and safe messaging purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Inventor: Fu-Tung Lin
  • Patent number: 4979149
    Abstract: A memory device for digital electronic signals includes at least one micro-mechanical memory element. The memory element includes a support having recess defined therein and a curved mechanical component bridging the recess and fixed to the support. The mechanical component has two stable positions, each of which being maintained by mechanical forces, one concave down towards the support and the other convex up away from the support. The mechanical component is adapted to be selectively changed from one stable position to the other stable position during a writing cycle and to have its stable position determined during a reading cycle so that the memory element can be used for storing binary logic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: LGZ Landis & Gyr Zug AG
    Inventors: Radivoje Popovic, Katalin Solt, Heinz Lienhard
  • Patent number: 4926388
    Abstract: In an electronic appliance capable of storing secret data to be kept secret and data other than the secret data in distinction from each other, only the secret data can be erased upon a first reset operation and the data other than the secret data can be erased upon a second reset operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisao Kunita, Akitaka Morita, Eichika Matsuda