a Electrical devices module for an avionics bay By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A module in the form of a pallet or a closed container includes a grouping together of the electrical devices in an avionics bay, in which the electrical devices are interconnected and attached so as to facilitate the mounting and thus limit the time it takes to mount the electrical devices in the avionics bay. Full Article
a Energy absorbing fastening system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fastening system includes an energy absorbing or impact indicator and at least one or more of the following: (1) a fastening base for mounting in an emergency vehicle, (2) a patient support engageable with a base, (3) a patient securement mechanism for securing a patient on a patient support, (4) a patient securement mechanism for securing a patient to a vehicle, (5) a patient support securement mechanism operable to secure a patient support in an emergency vehicle, or (6) a patient support securement mechanism operable to secure a patient support to a base, wherein the energy absorbing or impact indicator is located (1) at the patient securement mechanism, or (2) at the patient support securement mechanism, or wherein the energy absorbing or impact indicator is between (1) the base and the vehicle, (2) the patient support and the base, (3) the patient securement mechanism and the patient support, (4) the patient support and the emergency vehicle, (5) the patient and the emergency vehicle, or (6) the patient securement mechanism and the emergency vehicle, wherein the energy absorbing device or impact indicator has at least an energy absorbing state and a rigid state or indicates a level of impact at or between any of the respective component or components. Full Article
a Offshore cargo rack for use in transferring loads between a marine vessel and an offshore platform By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cargo rack for transferring loads between a marine vessel and an offshore marine platform provides a frame having a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions. The lower end of the frame has a perimeter beam base, a raised floor and a pair of open-ended parallel fork tine tubes that communicate with the perimeter beam at the front and rear of the frame. The frame includes a plurality of fixed side walls extending upwardly from the perimeter beam. A plurality of gates are movably mounted on the frame, each gate being movable between open and closed positions, the gates enabling a forklift to place loads on the floor. The frame has vertically extending positioning beams that segment the floor into a plurality of load-holding positions. Each load holding position has positioning beams that laterally hold a load module in position on the floor. Full Article
a Seat fixing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seat fixing device for fixing an air passenger seat to a floor of an aircraft includes at least one fastening rail (10) in the form or a hollow profile, which is provided with a longitudinal channel (14) delimiting the free flanks (16) of the profile on the top part thereof (12) oriented to the seat. The channel includes through openings (18) located in a predetermined modular dimension, which enlarge the free input section and are used for inserting at least one snap-locking part (24) of a locking body (26). The looking body (26) is movable to a clamping position with the profile (16) of the hollow profile (14) by the relative displacement of each snap-locking part (24) in a perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (28) of the fastening rail (10). The fixing device provides an eccentric drive (30) of the locking body (26) for carrying out relative displacement, which reduces assembly costs. Full Article
a Apparatus for securing the position of a boat on a trailer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for selectively securing a boat to a trailer may include a hull contact structure for abutting against the boat hull, and a releasable gripping structure positioned adjacent the hull contact structure to engage the boat's securing loop and selectively lock onto the loop to hold the boat to the trailer. Full Article
a Paper roll transit pad By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for securing cylindrical goods in containers during transportation. Some embodiments include void fillers configured to restrain motion of objects in freight containers. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating void fillers for use in freight containers. Some embodiments include methods of using void fillers to restrain object motion in freight containers. In some cases, a void filler is fabricated from a honeycomb-style cardboard materials. In some cases, a void filler is used to restrain an upright cylindrical item such as an upright paper roll in a freight container. Full Article
a Apparatus and method for applying an underlayment layer to trucking cargo By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for applying an underlayment layer to trucking cargo are provided. The underlayment layer may be formed into a roll with a rod disposed therethrough. The roll may be supported by a frame. The roll can be configured to move vertically with respect to the ground. A trailer carrying trucking cargo can be stationed beneath the frame. The underlayment layer may unwound and dispensed from the roll. In order to drape the trucking cargo with the underlayment layer, the roll may be moved horizontally over the frame in addition to or alternatively to having the trucking cargo driven horizontally with respect to the roll. Full Article
a Cargo support system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The combination of: a) a storage unit associated with an over-the-road vehicle, the storage unit having an internal wall surface bounding a storage space and including spaced and facing first and second wall surfaces and a floor surface; and b) a cargo support system. The cargo support system has first and second vertically extending tracks operatively mounted on each to the first and second wall surface and at least a first elongate beam having spaced first and second ends attached respectively to the first and second tracks in an operative position spaced above the floor surface. At least one of the tracks is maintained operatively mounted to the first wall surface through the use of an adhesive. Full Article
a Runtime loading of configuration data in a configurable IC By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A novel configurable integrated circuit (IC) that has several configurable circuits for configurably performing different operations is provided. During the operation of the IC, each particular configurable circuit performs a particular operation that is specified by a particular configuration data set for the particular configurable circuit. While the IC operates and a first set of configurable circuits performs a first set of operations, configuration data is loaded from the outside of the IC for configuring a second set of configurable circuits. The configurable IC includes a configuration network for rapid loading configuration data in the IC from outside of the IC. The configuration network is a pipelined network. Full Article
a Universal digital block interconnection and channel routing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A programmable routing scheme provides improved connectivity both between Universal Digital Blocks (UDBs) and between the UDBs and other micro-controller elements, peripherals and external Inputs and Outputs (I/Os) in the same Integrated Circuit (IC). The routing scheme increases the number of functions, flexibility, and the overall routing efficiency for programmable architectures. The UDBs can be grouped in pairs and share associated horizontal routing channels. Bidirectional horizontal and vertical segmentation elements extend routing both horizontally and vertically between different UDB pairs and to the other peripherals and I/O. Full Article
a Bimodal clock generator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus relates generally to a clock generator is disclosed. The clock generator is coupled to receive an input clock signal and further coupled to provide an output clock signal. An address and control register is coupled to receive an address signal and the output clock signal. An access generator is coupled to receive the output clock signal. The clock generator includes: an input node coupled to receive the input clock signal; at least one pulse generator coupled to the input node to receive the input clock signal and further coupled to provide a clock control signal; and a control gate coupled to the input node to receive the input signal and further coupled to the at least one pulse generator to receive the clock control signal. The clock control signal is provided in a non-toggling state for a high-frequency mode and in a toggling state for a low-frequency mode. Full Article
a Latch circuit and clock control circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A latch circuit includes a latch unit and a clock propagation suppressing unit. The latch circuit holds and outputs input data of 0 or 1. The clock propagation suppressing unit compares the input data input to the latch unit with output data output from the latch unit. When it is detected that the input data matches the output data at 0, or that the input data matches the output data at 1, an externally input clock signal is prevented from propagating to the latch unit. Full Article
a Anti-disassembling device for electronic products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An anti-disassembling device for an electronic product includes a case, a linear movement device, a circular movement device and an optical encoder. At least one retractable transmission member is connected to the case. The circular movement device is located in the case and has an encoding disk, which has multiple slots defined therethrough and teeth are defined in the periphery thereof. The at least one retractable transmission member is engaged with the teeth to rotate the encoding disk. The optical encoder has a lighting module which emits light beams through the slots of the encoding disk and a photosensitive module receives the light beams and sends a signal to the storage unit of the electronic product. The retractable device rotates when the electronic product is disassembled. Full Article
a Methods for operating a memory interface circuit including calibration for CAS latency compensation in a plurality of byte lanes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for quickly calibrating a memory interface circuit from time to time in conjunction with operation of a functional circuit is described. The method uses controlling the memory interface circuit with respect to read data capture for byte lanes, including controlling CAS latency compensation for the byte lanes. In the method control settings for controlling CAS latency compensation are determined and set according to a dynamic calibration procedure performed from time to time in conjunction with functional operation of a circuit system containing one or more memory devices connected to the memory interface circuit. In the method, determining and setting the control settings for controlling CAS latency compensation is performed independently and parallely in each of the byte lanes. Full Article
a Bridge output circuit, motor driving device using the same, and electronic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bridge output circuit includes an output terminal, a high side transistor, a low side transistor, a high side driver for controlling a gate voltage of the high side transistor, a low side driver for controlling a gate voltage of the low side transistor, and a controller for controlling the high side and low side drivers. The low side driver includes a first current source, a second current source, and a first assist circuit. The controller is configured to control the turning-on and turning-off states of the first current source, the second current source and the first assist circuit. Full Article
a System and method to actively drive the common mode voltage of a receiver termination network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An active termination circuit for a differential receiver includes a first receiver element configured to receive a first component of a differential signal, a second receiver element configured to receive a second component of a differential signal, a common mode measurement element configured to receive the differential signal and generate a transmit common mode signal (Vcm) representing an average value of the differential signal, and a receiver (RX) common mode signal node. The termination circuit also comprises an active element configured to receive the transmit common mode signal (Vcm) and provide an output to the receiver common mode signal node, the output configured to drive the value of the signal at the receiver common mode signal node to the value of the transmit common mode signal (Vcm), and a capacitive element coupled to the receiver common mode signal node in parallel with the active element. Full Article
a Multi-threshold flash NCL circuitry By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Multi-threshold flash Null Convention Logic (NCL) includes one or more high threshold voltage transistors within a flash NCL gate to reduce power consumption due to current leakage by transistors of the NCL gate. High-threshold voltage transistors may be added and/or may be used in place of one or more lower voltage threshold transistors of the NCL gate. A high-Vt device is included in the pull-up path to reduce power when the flash NCL logic gate is in the null state. Full Article
a Nonvolatile logic circuit architecture and method of operation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Magnetoelectronic (ME) logic circuits and methods of operating the same are disclosed. Microsystems of different circuits made from different types of ME devices can be constructed and employed in applications such as sensors, smart dust, etc. Full Article
a Architectural floorplan for a structured ASIC manufactured on a 28 NM CMOS process lithographic node or smaller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A floorplan for a Structured ASIC chip is shown having a core region containing memory and VCLB logic cells surrounded by a plurality of IO connection fabrics that include a first IO connection fabric comprising IO sub-banks connecting the core of the chip to pins for external signals to the core, a first high-speed routing fabric disposed along the east-west vertical top of the core and connects the core to high-speed IO such as SerDes; a network-aware connection fabric connects the core to a microcontroller primarily for testing and repair of the memory in the core; and a second-high speed routing fabric is disposed on the north-south vertical sides of the core and communicates with the IO sub-banks. The VCLB Structured ASIC chip is manufactured on a 28 nm CMOS process lithographic node or smaller, having several metal layers and preferably is programmed on a single via layer. Full Article
a Circuit and layout techniques for flop tray area and power otimization By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Techniques for reducing scan overhead in a scannable flop tray are described herein. In one embodiment, a scan circuit for a flop tray comprises a tri-state circuit configured to invert an input data signal and output the inverted data signal to an input of a flip-flop of the flop tray in a normal mode, and to block the data signal from the input of the flip-flop in a scan mode. The scan circuit also comprises a pass gate configured to pass a scan signal to the input of the flip-flop in the scan mode, and to block the scan signal from the input of the flip-flop in the normal mode. Full Article
a Method and apparatus for passive equalization and slew-rate control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for passive equalization and slew-rate control of a signal includes a first branch and a second branch. The first branch includes a first driver coupled in series with an equalization capacitor. The second branch includes a second driver coupled in series with a resistor. The second branch may be coupled in parallel to the first branch. The first branch may be configurable to enable either passive equalization or slew-rate control of the signal based on a mode control signal. Full Article
a Driving circuit with zero current shutdown and a driving method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and circuits related to a driving circuit with zero current shutdown are disclosed. In one embodiment, a driving circuit with zero current shutdown can include: a linear regulating circuit that receives an input voltage source, and outputs an output voltage; a start-up circuit having a threshold voltage, the start-up circuit receiving an external enable signal; a first power switch receiving both the output voltage of the linear regulating circuit and the external enable signal, and that generates an internal enable signal, the internal enable signal being configured to drive a logic circuit; when the external enable signal is lower than a threshold voltage, the driving circuit is not effective; when the external enable signal is higher than the threshold voltage, the start-up circuit outputs a first current; and where the output voltage at the first output terminal is generated by the linear regulating circuit based on the first current. Full Article
a Semiconductor integrated circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a main-interconnect to which supply voltage or reference voltage is applied; a plurality of sub-interconnects; a plurality of circuit cells configured to be connected to the plurality of sub-interconnects; a power supply switch cell configured to control, in accordance with an input control signal, connection and disconnection between the main-interconnect and the sub-interconnect to which a predetermined one of the circuit cells is connected, of the plurality of sub-interconnects; and an auxiliary interconnect configured to connect the plurality of sub-interconnects to each other. Full Article
a Method and apparatus for clock transmission By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods are provided for an extraction circuit. In one configuration, an apparatus includes: an edge extraction circuit for receiving a first clock signal and outputting a second clock signal, wherein a duty cycle of the second clock is substantially smaller than a duty cycle of the first clock; a transistor for receiving the second clock signal and outputting a current signal; a transmission line for receiving the current signal on a first end and transmitting the current signal to a second end; a termination circuit for receiving the current signal at the second end and converting the current signal into a voltage signal; and an edge detection circuit for outputting a third clock by detecting an edge of the voltage signal. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises an inverter. In another embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises a comparator. Full Article
a System and methods for generating unclonable security keys in integrated circuits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and methods that generates a physical unclonable function (“PUF”) security key for an integrated circuit (“IC”) through use of equivalent resistance variations in the power distribution system (“PDS”) to mitigate the vulnerability of security keys to threats including cloning, misappropriation and unauthorized use. Full Article
a Methods and apparatus for providing redundancy on multi-chip devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-chip package may include first and second integrated circuit dies that are each partitioned into multiple logic regions. The logic regions of the first and second dies may be coupled via interconnects. Each integrated circuit die may include at least one spare logic region. Multiple logic groups may be formed with each logic group including logic regions from the first and second integrated circuit dies and the interconnects that couple those logic regions. The logic groups may be evaluated to identify defective logic groups. In response to identifying a defective logic group, the defective logic group may be repaired by configuring the first and second integrated circuit dies to stop using the defective logic group and to use a spare logic group. The spare logic group may include spare logic regions of the first and second dies that are coupled by spare logic region interconnects. Full Article
a Impedance tuning circuit and integrated circuit including the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An impedance tuning circuit includes a calibration unit and a post-processing unit. The calibration unit generates an initial pull-up code and an initial pull-down code by performing a calibration operation using an external resistor during an initial impedance tuning operation. The post-processing unit outputs the initial pull-up code and the initial pull-down code as a final pull-up code and a final pull-down code during the initial impedance tuning operation, and generates the final pull-up code and the final pull-down code by using the initial pull-up code and the initial pull-down code during a subsequent impedance tuning operation. Full Article
a Heterogeneous programmable device and configuration software adapted therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of configuring a programmable integrated circuit device with a user logic design includes analyzing the user logic design to identify unidirectional logic paths within the user logic design and cyclic logic paths within the user logic design, assigning the cyclic logic paths to logic in a first portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a first data rate, assigning the unidirectional logic paths to logic in a second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a second data rate lower than the first data rate, and pipelining the unidirectional data paths in the second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device to compensate for the lower second data rate. A programmable integrated circuit device adapted to carry out such method may have logic regions operating at different rates, including logic regions with programmably selectable data rates. Full Article
a Isolator circuit and semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An isolator circuit capable of two-way electrical disconnection and a semiconductor device including the isolator circuit are provided. A data holding portion is provided in an isolator circuit without the need for additional provision of a data holding portion outside the isolator circuit, and data which is to be input to a logic circuit that is in an off state at this moment is stored in the data holding portion. The data holding portion may be formed using a transistor with small off-state current and a buffer. The buffer can include an inverter circuit and a clocked inverter circuit. Full Article
a Semiconductor device having serializer converting parallel data into serial data to output serial data from output buffer circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a device that includes first and second buffer circuits connected to a data terminal and a first control circuit controlling the first and second buffer circuits. The first control circuit receives n pairs of first and second internal data signals complementary to each other from 2n input signal lines and outputs a pair of third and fourth internal data signals complementary to each other to first and second output signal lines, where n is a natural number more than one. The first and second buffer circuits are controlled based on the third and fourth internal data signals such that one of the first and second buffer circuits turns on and the other of the first and second buffer circuits turns off. Full Article
a Time division multiplexed limited switch dynamic logic By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A limited switch dynamic logic (LSDL) circuit includes a dynamic logic circuit and a static logic circuit. The dynamic logic circuit includes a precharge device configured to precharge a dynamic node during a precharge phase of a first evaluation clock signal and a second evaluation clock signal. A first evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a first logic value in response to one or more first input signals during an evaluation phase of the first evaluation clock signal. A second evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a second logic value in response to one or more second input signals during an evaluation phase of the second evaluation clock signal. A static logic circuit is configured to provide an output of the LSDL circuit in response to the dynamic node according to an output latch clock signal. Full Article
a Time division multiplexed limited switch dynamic logic By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for increasing performance in a limited switch dynamic logic (LSDL) circuit includes precharging a dynamic node during a precharge phase of a first and second evaluation clock signal. The dynamic node is evaluated to a first logic value in response to one or more first input signals of a first evaluation tree during an evaluation phase of the first evaluation clock signal. The dynamic node is evaluated to a second logic value in response one or more second input signals of a second evaluation tree during an evaluation phase of the second evaluation clock signal. A signal of the LSDL circuit is outputted in response to the dynamic node according to an output latch clock signal. Full Article
a Gate driver, driving circuit, and LCD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is disclosed a gate driver, a driving circuit, and a liquid crystal display (LCD), wherein the gate driver comprises input terminals for inputting a CPV signal, an OE signal, and an STV signal, and output terminals for outputting a CKV signal and a CKVB signal, and a processing circuit is connected between the input terminals and the output terminals for processing the CPV signal, the OE signal, and the STV signal such that a preset time interval is present between the falling edge of the CKV signal and the rising edge of the CKVB signal during one period of the CKV signal, or a preset time interval is present between the rising edge of the CKV signal and the falling edge of the CKVB signal during one period of the CKVB signal. Full Article
a Semiconductor device and power supply control method of the semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit, a power supply control circuit which controls supply of a power supply to the internal circuit upon receipt of a first control signal, and a control signal generation circuit which outputs the first control signal upon receipt of a second control signal. The control signal generation circuit does not deactivate the first control signal when an inactive period of the second control signal is equal to or less than a first period and deactivates the first control signal when the inactive period of the second control signal is more than the first period. Full Article
a Massively parallel interconnect fabric for complex semiconductor devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An embodiment of this invention uses a massive parallel interconnect fabric (MPIF) at the flipped interface of a core die substrate (having the core logic blocks) and a context die (used for in circuit programming/context/customization of the core die substrate), to produce ASIC-like density and FPGA-like flexibility/programmability, while reducing the time and cost for development and going from prototyping to production, reducing cost per die, reducing or eliminating NRE, and increasing performance. Other embodiments of this invention enable debugging complex SoC through large contact points provided through the MPIF, provide for multi-platform functionality, and enable incorporating FGPA core in ASIC platform through the MPIF. Various examples are also given for different implementations. Full Article
a Level shifter with low voltage loss By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method are disclosed for level shifting a DDC bus with a low voltage loss. A pull up circuit includes an NMOS transistor, a PMOS transistor and resistor. An NMOS pull up gate is also included in line with the DDC bus. When powered, the level shifter adjusts the voltage of transmitted signals to match the voltage of a receiving device. The resulting adjusted is slightly lower due to a threshold voltage lost across one or more transistors. Additionally, when unpowered, the level shifter releases the signal transmission line. Unadjusted signals can then be transmitted without consumption of power by the level shifter. Full Article
a High-speed low power stacked transceiver By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transceiver includes a transmitter and receiver that form a series current path between two power-supply nodes. Powering both the transmitter and receiver with the same supply current saves power. The transmitter functions as a resistive load for the receiver, and thus performs useful work with power that would otherwise be dissipated as waste heat. Full Article
a Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a digital circuit by controlling the clock By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus that controls the clock of a digital circuit, and therefore power consumption, without substantially comprising performance is provided. The apparatus may include monitoring the utilization of a First in First Out (FIFO) buffer. For example in a systems and methods according to the invention, clock speed may be reduced when the FIFO is relatively empty and increased when the FIFO is relatively full. The clock speed may be controlled by a phase locked loop, a clock divider, a clock masking device or a combination of more than one of these methods. Power reduction may also be obtained by controlling the clocking of different stages of a pipelined device. One or more aspects of the inventions may be implemented in combination with other aspects of the invention to further reduce power use. Full Article
a Standard cell connection for circuit routing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments described herein provide approaches for improving a standard cell connection for circuit routing. Specifically, provided is an IC device having a plurality of cells, a first metal layer (M1) pin coupled to a contact bar extending from a first cell of the plurality of cells, and a second metal layer (M2) wire coupled to the contact bar, wherein the contact bar extends across at least one power rail. By extending the contact bar into an open area between the plurality of cells to couple the M1 pin and the M2 wire, routing efficiency and chip scaling are improved. Full Article
a Method for downloading a configuration file in a programmable circuit, and apparatus comprising said component By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a method for downloading a binary configuration file in a programmable circuit implemented in a device. The device comprises at least one central processing unit, a plurality of connectors, and a programmable circuit enabling all or a part of the signals received by said connectors to be processed and transmitted to at least one other circuit of the device. The device analyzes the signals present on the connectors in order to define what other devices are connected and whether the connections are operational. Then, a configuration file is selected from among a set of configuration files according to the operational connections and is downloaded from a memory of the device into the programmable circuit. The invention also relates to a device having a component programmed according to the method previously described. Full Article
a Sequential state elements in triple-mode redundant (TMR) state machines By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosure relates generally to triple-redundant sequential state (TRSS) machines formed as integrated circuits on a semiconductor substrate, such as CMOS, and computerized methods and systems of designing the triple-redundant sequential state machines. Of particular focus in this disclosure are sequential state elements (SSEs) used to sample and hold bit states. The sampling and holding of bits states are synchronized by a clock signal thereby allowing for pipelining in the TRSS machines. In particular, the clock signal may oscillate between a first clock state and a second clock state to synchronize the operation of the SSE according to the timing provided by the clock states. The SSEs has a self-correcting mechanism to protect against radiation induced soft errors. The SSE may be provided in a pipeline circuit of a TRSS machine to receive and store a bit state of bit signal generated by combinational circuits within the pipeline circuit. Full Article
a Placement of storage cells on an integrated circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for configuring the placement of a plurality of storage cells on an integrated circuit includes grouping the plurality of storage cells into a plurality of words, where each of the plurality of words is protected by an error control mechanism. The method also includes placing each of the storage cells on the integrated circuit such that a distance between any two of the storage cells belonging to one of the plurality of words is greater than a minimum distance. The minimum distance is configured such that a probability of any of the plurality of words experiencing multiple radiation induced errors is below a threshold value. Full Article
a Operational time extension By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An integrated circuit (IC) with a novel configurable routing fabric is provided. The configurable routing fabric has signal paths that propagate signals between user registers on user clock cycles. Each signal path includes a set of configurable storage elements and a set of configurable logic elements. Each configurable storage element in the path is reconfigurable on every sub-cycle of the user clock cycle to either store an incoming signal or to pass the incoming signal transparently. Full Article
a Partial reconfiguration and in-system debugging By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embedded logic is implemented in a partially reconfigurable programmable logic device (PLD), thus allowing debugging of implemented instantiations of logic after partial reconfiguration. Several instantiations of logic are received at the PLD. One instantiation of logic is implemented in a reconfigurable region of logic within the PLD. The instantiation of logic includes a port that provides a constant interface between the reconfigurable region of logic and a fixed region of logic within the PLD. The port may receive signals from probe points implemented within the reconfigurable region of logic. The port may provide the signals to a signal interface implemented within a fixed region of logic. Furthermore, an embedded logic analyzer may be implemented in either the reconfigurable region of logic or the fixed region of logic. The embedded logic analyzer receives signals from the probe points and provides signal visibility to an external computing system. Full Article
a Semiconductor integrated circuit having a switch, an electrically-conductive electrode line and an electrically-conductive virtual line By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor integrated circuit including: a circuit block having an internal voltage line; an annular rail line forming a closed annular line around the circuit block and supplied with one of a power supply voltage and a reference voltage; and a plurality of switch blocks arranged around the circuit block along the annular rail line, the plurality of switch blocks each including a voltage line segment forming a part of the annular rail line and a switch for controlling connection and disconnection between the voltage line segment and the internal voltage line. Full Article
a Liquid crystal display device and electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT To provide a circuit used for a shift register or the like. The basic configuration includes first to fourth transistors and four wirings. The power supply potential VDD is supplied to the first wiring and the power supply potential VSS is supplied to the second wiring. A binary digital signal is supplied to each of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. An H level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VDD, and an L level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VSS. There are four combinations of the potentials of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. Each of the first transistor to the fourth transistor can be turned off by any combination of the potentials. That is, since there is no transistor that is constantly on, deterioration of the characteristics of the transistors can be suppressed. Full Article
a Single ended configurable multi-mode driver By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a single-ended configurable multi-mode driver. An embodiment of an apparatus includes an input to receive an input signal, an output to transmit a driven signal generated from the input signal on a communication channel, a mechanism for independently configuring a termination resistance of the driver apparatus, and a mechanism for independently configuring a voltage swing of the driven signal without modifying a supply voltage for the apparatus. Full Article
a Oscillation frequency adjusting circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a first oscillator has an oscillation frequency that is changed depending on a temperature. A second oscillator has different temperature characteristics from the first oscillator. An on-chip heater heats the first oscillator and the second oscillator. A counter counts a first oscillation signal of the first oscillator. An ADPLL generates a third oscillation signal on the basis of a second oscillation signal of the second oscillator and corrects the frequency of the third oscillation signal on the basis of a count value of the counter. Full Article
a Single differential-inductor VCO with implicit common-mode resonance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A circuit for a single differential-inductor oscillator with common-mode resonance may include a tank circuit formed by coupling a first inductor with a pair of first capacitors; a cross-coupled transistor pair coupled to the tank circuit; and one or more second capacitors coupled to the tank circuit and the cross-coupled transistors. The single differential-inductor oscillator may be configured such that a common mode (CM) resonance frequency (FCM) associated with the single differential-inductor oscillator is at twice a differential resonance frequency (FD) associated with the single differential-inductor oscillator. Full Article
a Circuit, device and method in a circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method in a circuit comprises providing a first clock by a resistor-capacitor (RC) oscillator; demodulating a plurality of input signals to form a plurality of demodulated input signals; discriminating frequency ranges of the plurality of demodulated input signals according to the first clock; determining whether a first predetermined number of consecutive demodulated input signals among the plurality of demodulated input signals fall into a first predetermined frequency range; triggering a crystal oscillator to provide a second clock to calibrate the first clock if the first predetermined number of consecutive input signals fall into the first predetermined frequency range. Full Article