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:
Oct. 10, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2004
Xiao-hong Du, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Craig Taylor, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Xiao-Hong Du, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Craig Taylor, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Ramtron International Corporation, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Abstract
A non-volatile counter circuit includes a state machine having a first input for receiving one or more control signals, a second input for receiving a current count value, a third input for receiving historical information, and an output for providing a next count value and an up/down control signal, and a non-volatile counter having an input coupled to the output of the state machine, and an output for providing a non-volatile count value. The non-volatile counter can be implemented onto a single integrated circuit using ferroelectric memory technology. The non-volatile counter circuit includes a first power supply node and a second power supply node for receiving power for operating the non-volatile-counter circuit through a first power supply or a second power supply, or both. The first and second power supplies can be low energy power supplies such as that provided by a sensor, or can be conventional power supplies. Either of the first and second power supplies can be internally boosted using an internal voltage doubler or other boosting circuitry.