IP Library Granted Patent US 6,956,406
Granted Patent B2
US 6,956,406 · App. 10/187,879 · Granted Oct 18, 2005

Static storage element for dynamic logic

Assignee: Intrinsity, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,956,406
App. No.
10/187,879
Granted
Oct 18, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A storage element ( 100, 200 ) is capable of statically storing a dynamic input signal, and providing that static signal to dynamic logic gates. The element receives at least two input logic signals ( 150, 170 ), one of which is a dynamic signal ( 150 ) that may be one wire of a 1-of-N signal used in FAST14 logic from a dynamic logic gate ( 72 ) that may be a NDL gate, and generates one or more static logic output signals ( 190, 192 ). The element, which may or may not receive a clock signal ( 160 ), holds its outputs until its dynamic input ( 150 ) switches value on a subsequent evaluate cycle and at least one other input, which may be a write enable signal ( 170 ), changes signal value. In an alternative embodiment ( 200 ), the element may not change output values until a reset signal ( 330 ) is received during a prior clock cycle.

Claims (65)

1. A storage element apparatus comprising:

at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle, wherein said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal and said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell;

one or more static logic output signals; and

a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said first and second input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

2. A storage element system comprising:

at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle, wherein said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal and said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell;

one or more static logic output signals; and

a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

3. A method that makes a storage element apparatus, comprising:

providing at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle, wherein said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal and said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell; and

providing a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and generates one or more static logic output signals, at least one of said static logic output signals is held at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

4. A method that uses a storage element, comprising:

receiving at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle, wherein said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal and said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell; and

generating one or more static logic output signals using a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals, wherein at least one of said static logic output signals is held at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

5. A dependent claim according to claim 1 , 2 , 3 , or 4 wherein said storage circuit functions without a clock input.

6. A dependent claim according to claim 1 , 2 , 3 , or 4 wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a write enable signal.

7. A dependent claim according to claim 1 , 2 , 3 , or 4 wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal.

8. A storage element apparatus comprising:

at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value, said first dynamic logic input signal comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle;

one or more static logic output signals; and

a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value,

wherein one of the following:

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and one of said input logic signals further comprises a write enable signal; or

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and said storage circuit functions without a clock input; or

said storage circuit functions without a clock input and one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal.

9. A storage element system comprising:

at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value, said first dynamic logic input signal comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle;

one or more static logic output signals; and

a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value,

where in one of the following:

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and one of said input logic signals further comprises a write enable signal; or

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and said storage circuit functions without a clock input; or

said storage circuit functions without a clock input and one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal.

10. A method that makes a storage element apparatus comprising:

providing at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value, said first dynamic logic input signal comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle; and

providing a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors that generates one or more static logic output signals, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both or the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value,

wherein one of the following:

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and one of said input logic signals further comprises a write enable signal; or

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and said storage circuit functions without a clock input; or

said storage circuit functions without a clock input and one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal.

11. A method that uses a storage element apparatus comprising:

receiving at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value, said first dynamic logic input signal comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle; and

generating one or more static logic output signals using a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value;

wherein one of the following:

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and one of said input logic signals further comprises a write enable signal; or

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal, said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell, and said storage circuit functions without a clock input; or

said storage circuit functions without a clock input and one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal.

12. A storage element apparatus comprising:

at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal;

one or more static logic output signals; and

a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said first and second input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

13. A storage element system comprising:

at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal;

one or more static logic output signals; and

a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and holds at least one of said static logic output signals at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

14. A method that makes a storage element apparatus, comprising:

providing at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal; and

providing a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals and generates one or more static logic output signals, at least one of said static logic output signals is held at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

15. A method that uses a storage element, comprising:

receiving at least two input logic signals, each having a signal value, wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a first dynamic logic input signal with a first signal value that comprises the output of a dynamic logic cell during a first evaluate cycle wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a reset signal; and

generating one or more static logic output signals using a storage circuit comprising not more than eighteen transistors, said storage circuit receives said input logic signals, wherein at least one of said static logic output signals is held at said first signal value until both of the following events occur: said first dynamic logic input signal changes to a second signal value on a subsequent evaluate cycle, and at least one other input logic signal changes signal value.

16. A dependent claim according to claim 12 , 13 , 14 , or 15 wherein

said first dynamic logic input signal further comprises one wire of a 1-of-N signal and said dynamic logic cell further comprises a NDL cell.

17. A dependent claim according to claim 12 , 13 , 14 , or 15 wherein said storage circuit functions without a clock input.

18. A dependent claim according to claim 12 , 13 , 14 , or 15 wherein one of said input logic signals further comprises a write enable signal.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2010
From: INTRINSITY, INC.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 024380/0329 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2008
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: INTRINSITY, INC
Reel/Frame 020525/0485 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2007
From: INTRINSITY INC.
To: PATENT SKY LLC
Reel/Frame 020234/0365 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2007
From: ADAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT III, L.P.
To: INTRINSITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 020206/0340 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 17, 2007
From: INTRINSITY, INC.
To: ADAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT III, L.P.
Reel/Frame 019161/0661 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2007
From: INTRINSITY, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 018923/0404 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2004
From: SENINGEN, MICHAEL R.; POTTER, TERENCE M.; BLOMGREN, JAMES S.
To: INTRINSITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 014348/0017 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 6030259000 · Jul 2, 2001
Provisional Application 6030258700 · Jul 2, 2001
Related Publication 20030110404A1 · Jun 12, 2003