IDT vs. 群聯

生產混合訊號IC產品的美商IDT(Integrated Deviece Technology)於2010.12.2.在美控告國內快閃記憶體控制晶片廠群聯電子侵害其US7,248,124, US7,456,699, US7,548,125及US7,548,132等4件專利。

US7,248,124
Title : Frequency calibration for a monolithic clock generator and timing/frequency reference
Filing Date : 2005.9.20.
Issue Date :2007.7.24.
Abstract :
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a system, method and apparatus for frequency calibration of a free-running, harmonic oscillator. A reference oscillator provides a reference frequency. An exemplary system comprises the harmonic oscillator, a frequency divider, a comparator, and a reactance modulator. The oscillator comprises a plurality of switchable reactance modules and a coefficient register, and provides an oscillation signal having an oscillation frequency. The frequency divider provides an output frequency as a fraction of the oscillation frequency. The comparator compares the output and reference frequencies and provides a comparison signal when the output frequency is not substantially equal to the reference frequency. The reactance modulator determines and provides to the coefficient register a first plurality of coefficients to control switching of a first subset of the reactance modules to increase the reactance of the oscillator when the output frequency is greater than the reference frequency, and a second plurality of coefficients to control switching of a second subset of the reactance modules to decrease the reactance of the oscillator when the output frequency is less than the reference frequency.

US7,456,699
Title : Frequency controller for a monolithic clock generator and timing/frequency reference
Filing Date : 2005.9.20.
Issue Date : 2008.11.25.
Abstract :
In various embodiments, the invention provides a frequency controller to control and provide a stable resonant frequency of a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference. Such stability is provided over variations in a selected parameter such as temperature and fabrication process variations. The various apparatus embodiments include a sensor adapted to provide a signal in response to at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters; and a frequency controller adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to the second signal. In exemplary embodiments, the sensor is implemented as a current source responsive to temperature fluctuations, and the frequency controller is implemented as a plurality of controlled reactance modules which are selectively couplable to the resonator or to one or more control voltages. The controlled reactance modules may include fixed or variable capacitances or inductances, and may be binary weighted. Arrays of resistive modules are also provided, to generate one or more control voltages.

US7,548,125
Title : Frequency calibration for a monolithic clock generator and timing/frequency reference
Filing Date : 2007.5.23.
Issue Date : 2009.6.16.
Abstract :
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a system, method and apparatus for frequency calibration of a free-running, reference harmonic oscillator. An exemplary system comprises the harmonic oscillator, a frequency divider, a comparator, and a reactance modulator. The reference harmonic oscillator includes a plurality of switchable reactance modules controlled by corresponding coefficients, and provides an oscillation signal having an oscillation frequency, which is divided or multiplied by the frequency divider to provide an output signal having an output frequency. The comparator compares the output frequency to an externally supplied reference frequency using first and second predetermined levels of discrimination, and provides first or second comparison signals when the output frequency is higher or lower than the reference frequency. The reactance modulator determines a plurality of coefficients to control switching of the plurality of switchable reactance modules to increase or decrease a reactance of the oscillator in response to the first and second comparison signals.

US7,548,132
Title : Monolithic clock generator and timing/frequency reference
Filing Date : 2007.4.28.
Issue Date : 2009.6.16.
Abstract :
In various embodiments, the invention provides a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference, with multiple operating modes, such power conservation, clock, reference, and pulsed modes. The various apparatus embodiments include a resonator adapted to provide a first signal having a resonant frequency; an amplifier; a temperature compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to temperature; and a process variation compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to fabrication process variation. In addition, the various embodiments may also include a frequency divider adapted to divide the first signal having the resonant frequency into a plurality of second signals having a corresponding plurality of frequencies substantially equal to or lower than the resonant frequency; and a frequency selector adapted to provide an output signal from the plurality of second signals. The output signal may be provided in any of various forms, such as differential or single-ended, and substantially square-wave or sinusoidal.