John Michael Costello, 71San Ramon, CA

6646919, Nov 11, 2003

Jun 4, 2001

09/874716

Raminda U. Madurawe - Sunnyvale CA
Myron W. Wong - San Jose CA
John C. Costello - San Jose CA
James D. Sansbury - Portola Valley CA
Bruce F. Mielke - Los Altos Hills CA

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

G11C 1606

36518521, 36518529, 36518522, 36518524, 36518526, 36518518

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for evaluating margin voltages in single poly EEPROM cells. Briefly, the invention involves shifting the cells threshold voltage higher, resulting in a corresponding rise in the margin voltage, so that testing for the erase margin may be conducted in the positive voltage range. The present invention implements a variety of solutions to the problem, including both innovations in cell processing and circuitry. In one embodiment, the process steps employed to create the floating gate transistor are changed in order to increase its threshold voltage. Alternatively, or in combination with these general process changes, the width of the floating gate transistor may be reduced, resulting in a corresponding increase in the margin voltage. Circuit modifications include providing a separate test mode condition where the sense amp trip current is higher than under normal operation, and raising the source lines voltage level with a new sense amp optimization, or only during the margin testing mode, both of which shift the erase margin voltages for the cell into the testable range.

6781883, Aug 24, 2004

Jul 15, 2003

10/620917

Raminda U. Madurawe - Sunnyvale CA
Myron W. Wong - San Jose CA
John C. Costello - San Jose CA
James D. Sansbury - Portola Valley CA
Bruce E. Mielk - Los Altos Hills CA

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

G11C 1606

36518521, 36518505, 36518518, 365184, 36518911, 365218

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for evaluating margin voltages in single poly EEPROM cells. Briefly, the invention involves shifting the cells threshold voltage higher, resulting in a corresponding rise in the margin voltage, so that testing for the erase margin may be conducted in the positive voltage range. The present invention implements a variety of solutions to the problem, including both innovations in cell processing and circuitry. In one embodiment, the process steps employed to create the floating gate transistor are changed in order to increase its threshold voltage. Alternatively, or in combination with these general process changes, the width of the floating gate transistor may be reduced, resulting in a corresponding increase in the margin voltage. Circuit modifications include providing a separate test mode condition where the sense amp trip current is higher than under normal operation, and raising the source lines voltage level with a new sense amp optimization, or only during the margin testing mode, both of which shift the erase margin voltages for the cell into the testable range.

7170308, Jan 30, 2007

Jul 28, 2003

10/628711

Irfan Rahim - Milpitas CA, US
Peter McElheny - Morgan Hill CA, US
John Costello - Los Altos CA, US

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

G01R 31/00
G01R 31/28
G05F 1/00

324765, 324763, 3241581, 323268, 323285, 714733

The present invention optimizes the performance of integrated circuits by adjusting the circuit operating voltage using feedback on process/product parameters. To determine a desired value for the operating voltage of an integrated circuit, a preferred embodiment provides for on-wafer probing of one or more reference circuit structures to measure at least one electrical or operational parameter of the one or more reference circuit structures; determining an adjusted value for the operating voltage based on the measured parameter; and establishing the adjusted value as the desired value for the operating voltage. The reference circuit structures may comprise process control monitor structures or structures in other integrated circuits fabricated in the same production run. In an alternative embodiment, the one or more parameters are directly measured from the integrated circuit whose operating voltage is being adjusted.

RE40011, Jan 22, 2008

Oct 19, 2001

10/084757

Nghia Tran - Milpitas CA, US
Ying Xuan Li - Cupertino CA, US
Janusz Balicki - San Jose CA, US
John Costello - Los Altos CA, US

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

H03K 19/173

326 46, 326 40

A programmable input/output device for use with a programmable logic device (PLD) is presented comprising an input buffer, an output buffer and programmable elements. The programmable elements may be programmed to select a logic standard for the input/output device to operate at. For instance, a given set of Select Bits applied to the programmable elements may select TTL logic, in which case the input and output buffers would operate according to the voltage levels appropriate for TTL logic (e. g. , 0. 4 volts to 2. 4 volts). For a different set of Select Bits, the GTL logic standard would be applied (e. g. , 0. 8 volts to 1. 2 volts). The invention enables a single PLD to be used in conjunction with various types of external circuitry.

7639033, Dec 29, 2009

Dec 13, 2006

11/638846

Irfan Rahim - Milpitas CA, US
Peter McElheny - Morgan Hill CA, US
John Costello - Los Altos CA, US

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

G01R 31/00
G01R 31/28

324765, 324763, 3241581, 327524, 323268, 323285, 714733

The present invention optimizes the performance of integrated circuits by adjusting the circuit operating voltage using feedback on process/product parameters. To determine a desired value for the operating voltage of an integrated circuit, a preferred embodiment provides for on-wafer probing of one or more reference circuit structures to measure at least one electrical or operational parameter of the one or more reference circuit structures; determining an adjusted value for the operating voltage based on the measured parameter; and establishing the adjusted value as the desired value for the operating voltage. The reference circuit structures may comprise process control monitor structures or structures in other integrated circuits fabricated in the same production run. In an alternative embodiment, the one or more parameters are directly measured from the integrated circuit whose operating voltage is being adjusted.

7733159, Jun 8, 2010

Mar 18, 2004

10/804712

Rafael Camarota - Sunnyvale CA, US
John Costello - Los Altos CA, US
Myron Wong - Fremont CA, US

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

H03K 3/10

327534, 327313, 327112

Circuits, methods, and apparatus for limiting voltages received by devices in input/output cells to less than the device's breakdown voltage. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an input/output cell having one or more clamp diodes and resistors configured to limit voltages seen by the gates of the devices in the input/output cell. In one embodiment, the clamp diodes are on-chip, while the resistors are off-chip. In a specific embodiment, the clamp diode is connected between an input pad for the input output cell and a supply voltage VCC, while a resistor is off-chip and in series with the input pad. In another specific embodiment, a series of clamp diodes are coupled between ground and an input pad, while a resistor is off-chip and in series with the input pad. In another embodiment, the clamp diode or diodes may be programmably or selectively disconnected. These clamp diodes may be disabled to protect against latch-up.

7864305, Jan 4, 2011

Feb 6, 2008

12/027122

John Oluseun Dabiri - Pasadena CA, US
Kakani Katija Young - Pasadena CA, US
John H. Costello - Providence RI, US
Sean P. Colin - Kingston MA, US

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA
Roger Williams University - Kingston MA
Providence College - Providence RI

G01P 3/36

356 28, 356 285

A velocimetry apparatus and method for the collection of target-specific images of fluid motions are disclosed. The apparatus includes a camera and a light source. The camera collects and provides images of the fluid showing instantaneous positions of particles in the fluid. The light source provides a light sheet (two-dimensional) or volume (three-dimensional) to illuminate the particles. The camera and the light source are powered by portable energy sources and measure instantaenous velocity of the fluid in a field of view. Shape and distance between first camera, the light source and the portable energy sources are so configured that the apparatus is a self-contained apparatus portable by a diver during operation thereof.

2002002, Feb 21, 2002

Apr 18, 2001

09/837895

John Costello - Chesterfield MO, US

G06F017/60

705/002000

A method and system for single form and single click creation of a patient visit medical record via the Internet (Online Medical Record—OMR) this is simultaneously integrated with the financial requirements of the healthcare provider. There are two components to a patient visit: 1) the medical data needed to care for the patient, and 2) the financial data required to pay for the services. The system of this invention provides for better work flow in processing both medical data, patient care, and financial coverage. The first step includes a single page creation of the OMR visit form. The OMR is hosted on a server, presented over the Internet as a single scrollable HTML page, and filled in at the user's location. The second procedure is that the foregoing page contains in juxtaposition and for use drop down lists (DDLs), List Boxes (LBs), Text Entry Boxes, Profile function buttons, and search function buttons built into the page at the point of need to facilitate data entry and work flow. The third procedure is the joining on this same page of both the medical data and the financial data related to the medical visit. The diagnosis and plan section of the medical visit includes the visit CPT coes, the ICD9 diagnosis codes, in-house procedure codes, outside procedure codes, outside lab or health care provider, medication prescribed, pharmacies selected, referred provider, notes concerning the visit and return times schedule. This same medical data is required for billing information, i.e., the visit/CPT charges, procedure changes, ICD-9 data, and related numeric value charges. The data that is embodied in the medical visit is also available for outside services to direct the care of the patient, i.e., tests, prescriptions or referral. The fourth procedure of the system is that in response to a single selection of the SAVE button, the client system sends all the medical and financial data to the server system. The server system receives the information, updates the OMR, and initiates all medical and financial processes and updates pertinent queues for further processing.