Michael J Nielsen

Title: Michael J Nielsen: Innovator in Computer Architecture

Introduction

Michael J Nielsen is a notable inventor based in San Jose, California. He has made significant contributions to the field of computer architecture, particularly in memory management and data transfer technologies. With a total of four patents to his name, Nielsen's work has had a lasting impact on the industry.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is for a "Direct memory access apparatus for transferring a block of data." This invention provides a method and arrangement for a DMA transfer mode that supports multiple transactions. It generates a set of transaction entries for a DMA transfer, each containing information related to the address and command instruction of a transaction. The transaction entries are stored in an address/cmd-output FIFO. The invention negotiates for control of the system bus, and upon gaining control, the commands and addresses related to each transaction are sequentially placed on the bus. For read operations, data received from the bus is stored in a data-in FIFO before being sent to the desired destination. For write operations, data is stored in a data-out FIFO before being transferred to the destination. The invention also monitors the number of data words transferred to determine when a transaction is complete.

Another significant patent is for a "Unified memory computer architecture with dynamic graphics memory." This computer system provides dynamic memory allocation for graphics and includes a memory controller, a unified system memory, and memory clients that access the system memory via the memory controller. The system allows read/write access to the unified memory for each memory client, which can include a graphics rendering engine, a CPU, and other devices. Translation hardware is included for mapping virtual addresses of pixel buffers to physical memory locations, allowing for efficient memory management.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Michael J Nielsen has worked with prominent companies such as Silicon Graphics, Incorporated and Silicon Graphics, Inc. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in computer architecture and memory management.

Collaborations

Nielsen has collaborated with notable colleagues, including Zahid S Hussain and Linda S Gardner. Their combined efforts have further advanced the field of computer technology.

Conclusion

Michael J Nielsen's innovative contributions to computer architecture and memory management have established him as a key figure in the industry. His patents reflect a deep understanding of technology and a commitment to advancing the capabilities of computer systems.