Hewlett-packard Company

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Avago Technologies General IP (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Brian C Miller

Peter Jacob Meier

Alan S Krech, Jr

Darrin C Miller

Robert H Miller, Jr

Glenn T Colon-Bonet

Robert James Martin

Michael R Diehl

Jason Todd Gentry

Joel D Buck-Gengler

Dale Beucler

Gordon W Motley

Richard Alan Krzyzkowski

William Scott Burton

Kenneth S Bower

Rory L Fisher

Christopher M Juenemann

Wayne G Mangum

Cory Groth

M Jason Welch

Randy L Fiscus

Bradley J Goertzen

A computer system performs a verification process that quickly and efficiently determines a temperature rise of DC conductor lines of an IC design caused by Joule heating in nearby AC conductor lines of the IC design, and whether the temperature rise is acceptable in terms of an electromigration performance of the IC design.

Computer system and method for determining a temperature rise in direct current (DC) lines caused by joule heating of nearby alternating current (AC) lines

A method and an apparatus for aligning the phases of clocks of different clock domains of an IC to enable data to be transferred synchronously across the clock domains. The present invention comprises a phase-alignment system that is adjustable via a user interface to enable the clock phases to be adjusted. A user controls the degree of alignment of the phases via the user interface. The present invention enables the phases of clocks of different clock domains to be adjusted even after the IC has been fabricated.

Method and apparatus for synchronously transferring data across multiple clock domains

A series of logic clouds is used to distribute and propagate signals traveling a relatively long distance across a data logic circuit fabric. One or more long distance signals originate from an initial logic cloud that may be located on a source data block and pass through a series of logic clouds that may be located on an intermediate data block before passing through a destination logic cloud located on a destination data block. Each logic cloud reads both stabilized logic signals and long distance signals and employs a NAND gate connected with an inverter to perform not only logical operations but also to act as a repeater between the logic clouds. The stabilized logic signals may represent signals that originate from other sources along a given data path.

Method and apparatus for low latency distribution of logic signals

Systems and methods are presented for decreasing the effect of Miller capacitance on adjacent interconnects in an integrated circuit. The systems and methods include interweaving interconnects with signals traveling in one direction with interconnects with signals traveling in the opposite direction. The systems include a system for fabricating integrated circuits with interweaved interconnects and an integrated circuit with interweaved interconnects.

Interweaved integrated circuit interconnects

An integrated circuit incorporating test access provisions and a system addressable command control register; and provisions for selectably enabling and accessing one or the other for purposes of evaluating integrated circuit functionality.

Integrated circuit with alternately selectable state evaluation provisions

An apparatus and method of shifting a low-voltage-swing digital signal to a signal of the same polarity with a relatively higher voltage swing are described which eliminate static current consumption by way of a feedback circuit and a pull-up device. By the use of embodiments according to the invention, little power is consumed, and hot electron injection as a mechanism for FET degradation is of little concern. Additionally, no specialized reference voltage is necessary, and precise layout of the circuit is not critical to proper circuit performance.

Low-power CMOS digital voltage level shifter

A method and apparatus for low cost set mapping in, for example, a computer graphics processor or communications device efficiently maps elements of one set into another set. When used in conjunction with a graphical display system the low cost set mapping logic enables a memory controller to efficiently communicate with a plurality of memory devices based upon a hierarchical computation scheme. The method and apparatus provide a pseudo-optimal mapping solution. By employing a pseudo-optimal mapping solution the low cost set mapping logic greatly reduces the computational resource required to perform the mapping operation.

Method and apparatus for low cost set mapping

The present invention is generally directed to a circuit and method for evaluating the timing relationship of electrical signals in an integrated circuit. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a circuit is provided having a signal select circuit that is includes two or more inputs and one output. The signal select circuit (preferably a multiplexer) is configured to select one of the two or more input signals for evaluation and direct it to the output. A plurality of signal buffers are electrically cascaded to the output of the signal select circuit. Finally, a scan chain having a plurality of scan elements is disposed to acquire a state of electrical signals along the plurality of signal buffers. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for evaluating the timing relationship of electrical signals in an integrated circuit. In accordance with this inventive aspect, the method includes the steps of selecting a first electrical signal to be evaluated and discretizing the selected electrical signal into a plurality of signal values closely spaced in time. This 'discretizing' function is preferably achieved passing the selected signal through a plurality of cascaded delay or buffer elements, then loading the signal values output from each buffer element (at a given time instance) into a plurality of register elements. In this way, the register elements, collectively, contain a snapshot of the selected signal over a defined period of time. Finally, the method includes the step of evaluating the plurality of signal values.

Circuit for evaluating signal timing

An improved system and method are provided for generating a design for a regular structure such as a memory array, multiplier array, or adder array embedded in a standard cell control block (SCCB). Once a net list has been generated for the SCCB by a logic synthesis tool, a special class of cells is created for the elements of the regular structure. The net list is modified via a special class mechanism by adding to the cells of the special class one or more special properties that are designed to optimize the placement of the cells of the regular structure. A modified placement and routing tool processes the modified net list by reading and interpreting the special properties so as to generate an improved design for the SCCB.

Integrated circuit design system and method for generating a regular

Apparatus for electrically verifying a functional unit contained within an integrated circuit comprises a functional unit, a state machine, a number of integrated circuit input pins, and means for alternately providing the functional unit with control data derived from the state machine, and control data derived from the number of integrated circuit input pins. The means for providing control data from alternating sources comprises a multiplexor which receives a first set of inputs from the state machine, and a second set of inputs from a test control block. The test control block monitors various of the integrated circuit input pins for a designated instruction, receives control data via the input pins, and controls the operation of the multiplexor. The test control block comprises a number of test registers which can be configured to receive two or more states of control data. An additional multiplexor, internal to the test control block, may then be used to sequentially provide successive states of 'test' control data to the functional unit.

Methods and apparatus for electrically verifying a functional unit

A minimal logic multiplexer system using tri-state drivers with one-hot enabling lead, provides high-speed access to processor elements by any one of a plurality of control units. The multiplexer system is implemented in a manner that minimizes the circuit implementation, minimizes gate delay within the circuit implementation, and allows processing instructions to pass from a control unit to the processor elements by way of multiplexed control lines therebetween. The multiplexer system contains control unit gate groups that are enabled and disabled in parallel by a select lead. Each control unit gate group can be implemented internal to the respective control unit or external in a common intermediary multiplexer circuit location.

Graphics accelerator having minimal logic multiplexer system for sharing

A CMOS latch circuit having a second feedback inverter and a switching circuit to switch the second feedback inverter out of the circuit when the latch is being loaded. A first circuit implementation uses a single PFET as the switching circuit, and a second circuit implementation incorporates an NFET transistor, in parallel with the PFET. In a third circuit implementation, the switching circuit switches power to and from the second feedback inverter rather than switching the output signal of the inverter to reduce the input capacitance of the latch.

Quick resolving latch

A dual transparent latch circuit is disclosed comprising two latches cross coupled together by two control lines to enable the latches collectively to input and output data at twice the frequency of the master clock frequency which controls the timing of each latch individually. The control lines are controlled by a clock generator such that one latch is enabled to receive and store data while the other latch is enabled to output data stored therein. At the same time, the latch receiving and storing the data is disabled from providing an output of the stored data and the latch providing the output is disabled from receiving and storing the data. The clock generator switches the states of the control lines such that they enable or disable the input of data to and output of data from the latches on each phase of the master clock signal. A dual transparent latch with triple edge timing is also disclosed. A method for generating a master signal having a master frequency and selectively enabling inputs at an input data rate greater than the master frequency to input data into memory and selectively enabling outputs at the input data rate to output data from memory.

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Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Brian C Miller