The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2023
Filed:
Oct. 10, 2021
Ali Tasdighi Far, San Jose, CA (US);
Ali Tasdighi Far, San Jose, CA (US);
Michael C. Shebanow, San Jose, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Methods for performing mixed-mode Multiply-Accumulate (MAC) functions in an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. By performing part of the MAC operation spatially and in parallel, and part of it temporally and serially, the number of MAC operations can be programmed in the serial/temporal MAC segment as a multiple of the parallel/spatial MAC segment. Such a trait provides a degree of flexibility in programming the mixed-mode MAC function. A Programmable-Hybrid-Accumulation (PHA) method, performs the accumulation function of the MAC IC, by transforming the accumulation signal to a hybrid accumulation signal. The hybrid accumulation signal is comprised of a Most-Significant-Portion (MSP) and a Least-Significant-Portion (LSP), wherein the portions of the hybrid accumulation signal can be programmed in accordance with cost-performance objectives of an end application. Transforming the accumulated signal to a hybrid signal, and utilizing the PHA method, enables keeping the signal magnitudes bounded which prevent signal over-flow constraints while accumulation cycles proceed. Arranging a mixed-signal MAC in accordance with the PHA method can, among other benefits, help to limit the peak-to-peak analog signal swings which enhances performance attributes such as lower current consumption, faster speed, lower power supply voltage, and a wider signal accumulation range before power supply operating head-room conditions are breached.