CROCUS TECHNOLOGY, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160097630 | Apparatus and Method for Magnetic Sensor Based Surface Shape Analysis Spatial Positioning in a Uniform Magnetic Field - A device has a flexible substrate supporting an array of magnetic sensors exposed to a uniform external magnetic field. One or more controllers receive magnetic sensor signals from the magnetic sensors. The one or more controllers collect reference magnetic sensor signals when the flexible substrate is aligned with the uniform external magnetic field. The one or more controllers collect first polarity magnetic sensor signals in response to deformation of the flexible substrate in a first direction. The one or more controllers collect second polarity magnetic sensor signals in response to deformation of the flexible substrate in a second direction. The magnetic sensor signals establish a profile of the orientation of the flexible substrate with respect to the uniform external magnetic field. | 04-07-2016 |
20160084674 | Apparatus and Method for Magnetic Sensor Based Surface Shape Analysis - A device has magnetic sensors and magnets in an array on a flexible substrate. Each magnetic sensor is sensitive to immediately proximate magnets. At least one controller evaluates magnetic sensor signals from the magnetic sensors produced in response to deformation of the flexible substrate. | 03-24-2016 |
20160018483 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Sensing Communication Signals with Magnetic Field Sensing Elements - An apparatus includes a circuit including multiple magnetic tunnel junctions, the circuit configured to convert a quadrature modulated magnetic field to a quadrature modulated electrical signal, each magnetic tunnel junction including a storage layer having a storage magnetization and a sense layer having a sense magnetization, each magnetic tunnel junction being configured such that the sense magnetization and impedance of each magnetic tunnel junction vary in response to the quadrature modulated magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a module configured to demodulate the quadrature modulated electrical signal to recover a signal encoded in the quadrature modulated magnetic field. | 01-21-2016 |
20160018482 | Apparatus and Method for Layout of Magnetic Field Sensing Elements in Sensors - An apparatus includes groups of magnetic tunnel junctions, where the magnetic tunnel junctions in each group are arranged in rows, the magnetic tunnel junctions in each row are connected in series, and the rows are connected in parallel. The apparatus further includes a first conductive layer including conductive interconnects, a second conductive layer including straps, and a third conductive layer including field lines, each field line configured to generate a magnetic field for configuring an operating point of a corresponding subset of the magnetic tunnel junctions in each group based on a current flow through each field line. The magnetic tunnel junctions in each group are disposed between and connected to a corresponding one of the conductive interconnects and a corresponding one of the straps. The second conductive layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer. | 01-21-2016 |
20160018481 | Apparatus and Method for Sensing a Magnetic Field Using Subarrays of Magnetic Sensing Elements - An apparatus includes circuits including a first circuit and a second circuit, each circuit including subarrays of magnetic tunnel junctions, where: (1) the magnetic tunnel junctions in each subarray are arranged in rows, the magnetic tunnel junctions in each row are connected in series, and the rows are connected in parallel; and the subarrays are connected in series. The apparatus further comprises a field line configured to generate a first magnetic field for configuring an operating point of the first circuit based on a current flow through the field line, wherein impedance of one or more of the magnetic tunnel junctions in each of the plurality of rows of each subarray of magnetic tunnel junctions included in the first circuit is configured based on the first magnetic field. | 01-21-2016 |
20160018480 | Apparatus and Method for Sensing a Magnetic Field Using Subarrays of Magnetic Field Sensing Elements for High Voltage Applications - An apparatus includes circuits including a first circuit and a second circuit, each circuit including subarrays of magnetic tunnel junctions, where: (1) the magnetic tunnel junctions in each subarray are arranged in rows, the magnetic tunnel junctions in each row are connected in series, and the rows are connected in parallel; and (2) the subarrays are connected in series. The apparatus further comprises a field line configured to generate a first magnetic field for configuring an operating point of the first circuit based on a current flow through the field line, where the impedance of a subset of the plurality of rows in each subarray of magnetic tunnel junctions included in the first circuit is configured based on the first magnetic field. | 01-21-2016 |
20160018479 | Apparatus and Method for Sensing a Magnetic Field Using Arrays of Magnetic Sensing Elements - An apparatus includes circuits and a module configured to determine an external magnetic field based on a parameter of each circuit. Each circuit includes an array of magnetic tunnel junctions partitioned into subarrays. The magnetic tunnel junctions in each subarray are arranged in rows, the magnetic tunnel junctions in each row are connected in series, and the rows are connected in parallel. The subarrays are connected in series. Each magnetic tunnel junction includes a storage layer having a storage magnetization and a sense layer having a sense magnetization. Each magnetic tunnel junction is configured such that the sense magnetization and impedance of each magnetic tunnel junction vary in response to an external magnetic field. The parameter of each circuit varies based on a combined impedance of the multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. The module is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. | 01-21-2016 |
20150372223 | Strap Configuration to Reduce Mechanical Stress Applied to Stress Sensitive Devices - An apparatus includes an elongated strap with a first platform and a second platform linked by a connector that is substantially narrower than the first platform and the second platform, where the first platform and the second platform are each configured to receive a stress sensitive device. | 12-24-2015 |
20150357006 | Serial Magnetic Logic Unit Architecture - An apparatus has magnetic logic units a logic circuit configured to receive a serial input bit stream at an input node. Individual bits of data from the serial input bit stream are serially written into individual magnetic logic units without buffering the serial input bit stream between the input node and the individual magnetic logic units. Individual bits of data from individual magnetic logic units are serially read to produce a serial output bit stream on an output node without buffering the serial output bit stream between the individual magnetic logic units and the output node. | 12-10-2015 |
20150214953 | Analog Circuits Incorporating Magnetic Logic Units - A circuit includes a magnetic logic unit including input terminals, output terminals, a field line, and magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). The field line electrically connects a first and a second input terminal, and is configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input to at least one of the first and the second input terminal. The input is based on a first analog input to the circuit. Each MTJ is electrically connected to a first and a second output terminal, and is configured such that an output of at least one of the first and the second output terminal varies in response to a combined resistance of the MTJs. The resistance of the MTJs varies based on the magnetic field. The circuit is configured to mix the first analog input and a second analog input to generate an analog output based on the output of the second output terminal. | 07-30-2015 |
20150214952 | Magnetic Logic Units Configured as Analog Circuit Building Blocks - A circuit includes a magnetic logic unit including input terminals, output terminals, a field line, and magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). The field line electrically connects a first and a second input terminal, and is configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input to at least one of the first and the second input terminal. The input is based on an analog input to the circuit. Each MTJ is electrically connected to a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and is configured such that an output of at least one of the first and the second output terminal varies in response to a combined resistance of the MTJs. The resistance of each of the MTJs varies based on the magnetic field. The circuit is configured to generate an analog output based on the output of at least one of the first and the second output terminal. | 07-30-2015 |
20150077098 | Magnetic Logic Units Configured to Measure Magnetic Field Direction - An apparatus includes circuits, a field line configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input, a sensing module configured to determine a parameter of each circuit, and a magnetic field direction determination module configured to determine an angular orientation of the apparatus relative to an external magnetic field based on the parameter. Each circuit includes multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. Each magnetic tunnel junction includes a storage layer having a storage magnetization direction and a sense layer having a sense magnetization direction configured based on the magnetic field. Each magnetic tunnel junction is configured such that the sense magnetization direction and a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction vary based on the external magnetic field. The parameter varies based on the resistances of the multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. The magnetic field direction determination module is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077097 | Magnetic Logic Units Configured to Measure Magnetic Field Direction - An apparatus includes circuits, a field line configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input, a sensing module configured to determine a parameter of each circuit, and a magnetic field direction determination module configured to determine an angular orientation of the apparatus relative to an external magnetic field based on the parameter. Each circuit includes multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. Each magnetic tunnel junction includes a storage layer having a storage magnetization direction and a sense layer having a sense magnetization direction configured based on the magnetic field. Each magnetic tunnel junction is configured such that the sense magnetization direction and a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction vary based on the external magnetic field. The parameter varies based on the resistances of the multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. The magnetic field direction determination module is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077096 | Magnetic Logic Units Configured to Measure Magnetic Field Direction - An apparatus includes circuits, a field line configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input, a sensing module configured to determine a parameter of each circuit, and a magnetic field direction determination module configured to determine an angular orientation of the apparatus relative to an external magnetic field based on the parameter. Each circuit includes multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. Each magnetic tunnel junction includes a storage layer having a storage magnetization direction and a sense layer having a sense magnetization direction configured based on the magnetic field. Each magnetic tunnel junction is configured such that the sense magnetization direction and a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction vary based on the external magnetic field. The parameter varies based on the resistances of the multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. The magnetic field direction determination module is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077095 | Magnetic Logic Units Configured to Measure Magnetic Field Direction - An apparatus includes circuits, a field line configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input, a sensing module configured to determine a parameter of each circuit, and a magnetic field direction determination module configured to determine an angular orientation of the apparatus relative to an external magnetic field based on the parameter. Each circuit includes multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. Each magnetic tunnel junction includes a storage layer having a storage magnetization direction and a sense layer having a sense magnetization direction configured based on the magnetic field. Each magnetic tunnel junction is configured such that the sense magnetization direction and a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction vary based on the external magnetic field. The parameter varies based on the resistances of the multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. The magnetic field direction determination module is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. | 03-19-2015 |
20140361392 | Memory Devices with Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) Cells and Associated Structures for Connecting the MRAM Cells - A memory device includes a magnetic layer including a plurality of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells, a first conductive layer, a layer including a strap connecting MRAM cells included in the plurality of MRAM cells, and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes a conductive portion electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of MRAM cells, and a field line configured to write data to the at least one of the plurality of MRAM cells. The second conductive layer includes a conductive interconnect electrically connected to the at least one of the plurality of MRAM cells, where the magnetic layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. At least one of the plurality of MRAM cells is directly attached to the second conductive layer and the strap. | 12-11-2014 |
20140252516 | Magnetic Random Access Memory Cells with Isolating Liners - A manufacturing method to form a memory device includes forming a hard mask on a magnetic stack. A first magnetic stack etch is performed to form exposed magnetic layers. A liner is applied to the exposed magnetic layers to form protected magnetic layers. A second magnetic stack etch forms a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell, where the liner prevents shunting between the protected magnetic layers. | 09-11-2014 |
20140195883 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Matching Patterns with an Ultra Fast Check Engine - A check engine includes a plurality of comparators each including a first directional characteristic aligned to store at least one reference bit included in a set of reference bits, and a second directional characteristic aligned to present at least one target bit included in a set of target bits. Each of the plurality of comparators is configured to produce an output representing a level of matching between the at least one target bit and the at least one reference bit, based on a relative alignment between the first directional characteristic and the second directional characteristic. The check engine is configured such that the outputs of the plurality of comparators are combined to produce a combined output. The check engine is configured to determine that the set of target bits matches the set of reference bits based on the combined output of the plurality of comparators. | 07-10-2014 |
20140110802 | Memory Devices with Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) Cells and Associated Structures for connecting the MRAM Cells - A memory device includes a magnetic layer including a plurality of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells, a first conductive layer, a layer including a strap connecting MRAM cells included in the plurality of MRAM cells, and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes a conductive portion electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of MRAM cells, and a field line configured to write data to the at least one of the plurality of MRAM cells. The second conductive layer includes a conductive interconnect electrically connected to the at least one of the plurality of MRAM cells, where the magnetic layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. At least one of the plurality of MRAM cells is directly attached to the second conductive layer and the strap. | 04-24-2014 |
20130326612 | Apparatus and Method for Forming Secure Computational Resources - A computer implemented method includes collecting logged operations associated with a computation resource. Permitted operations for the computation resource are inferred based at least in part on the logged operations. A computation resource is augmented to block all operations that can be performed by the computation resource except the permitted operations. | 12-05-2013 |
20130288392 | Method for Use in Making Electronic Devices Having Thin-Film Magnetic Components - Disclosed herein is a method of forming electronic device having thin-film components by using trenches. One or more of thin-film components is formed by depositing a thin-film in the trench followed by processing the deposited thin-film to have the desired thickness. | 10-31-2013 |
20130241636 | Magnetic Logic Units Configured as an Amplifier - An apparatus includes a circuit and a field line. The circuit includes a magnetic tunnel junction including a storage layer and a sense layer. The field line is configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input signal, where the magnetic tunnel junction is configured such that a magnetization direction of the sense layer and a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction vary based on the magnetic field. The circuit is configured to amplify the input signal to generate an output signal that varies in response to the resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241536 | Magnetic Logic Units Configured to Measure Magnetic Field Direction - An apparatus includes circuits, a field line configured to generate a magnetic field based on an input, a sensing module configured to determine a parameter of each circuit, and a magnetic field direction determination module configured to determine an angular orientation of the apparatus relative to an external magnetic field based on the parameter. Each circuit includes multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. Each magnetic tunnel junction includes a storage layer having a storage magnetization direction and a sense layer having a sense magnetization direction configured based on the magnetic field. Each magnetic tunnel junction is configured such that the sense magnetization direction and a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction vary based on the external magnetic field. The parameter varies based on the resistances of the multiple magnetic tunnel junctions. The magnetic field direction determination module is implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device. | 09-19-2013 |
20130094283 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Writing Multiple Magnetic Random Access Memory Cells with a Single Field Line - A memory device includes a plurality of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells, a field line, and a field line controller configured to generate a write sequence that traverses the field line. The write sequence is for writing a multi-bit word to the plurality of MRAM cells. The multi-bit word includes a first subset of bits having a first polarity and a second subset of bits having a second polarity. The write sequence writes concurrently to at least a subset of the plurality of MRAM cells corresponding to the first subset of bits having the first polarity, then subsequently writes concurrently to a remaining subset of the plurality of MRAM cells corresponding to the second subset of bits having the second polarity. | 04-18-2013 |
20130037898 | Memory Array Including Magnetic Random Access Memory Cells and Oblique Field Lines - A memory device includes a first plurality of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cells positioned along a first direction, and a first bit line electrically connected to the first plurality of MRAM cells, the bit line oriented in the first direction. The device includes a first plurality of field lines oriented in a second direction different from the first direction, the first plurality of field lines being spaced such that only a corresponding first one of the first plurality of MRAM cells is configurable by each of the first plurality of field lines. The device includes a second plurality of field lines oriented in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction, the second plurality of field lines being spaced such that only a corresponding second one of the first plurality of MRAM cells is configurable by each of the second plurality of field lines. | 02-14-2013 |
20120314488 | Magnetic Random Access Memory Devices Including Multi-Bit Cells - A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell includes a storage layer, a sense layer, and a spacer layer between the storage layer and the sense layer. A field line is magnetically coupled to the MRAM cell to induce a magnetic field along a magnetic field axis, and at least one of the storage layer and the sense layer has a magnetic anisotropy axis that is tilted relative to the magnetic field axis. During a write operation, a storage magnetization direction is switchable between m directions to store data corresponding to one of m logic states, with m>2, where at least one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic anisotropy axis, and at least another one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic field axis. During a read operation, a sense magnetization direction is varied, relative to the storage magnetization direction, to determine the data stored by the storage layer. | 12-13-2012 |
20120314487 | Magnetic Random Access Memory Devices Including Multi-Bit Cells - A magnetic random access memory (“MRAM”) cell includes: (1) a first magnetic layer having a first magnetization direction and a magnetic anisotropy axis; (2) a second magnetic layer having a second magnetization direction; and (3) a spacer layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The MRAM cell also includes a field line magnetically coupled to the MRAM cell and configured to induce a write magnetic field along a magnetic field axis, and the magnetic anisotropy axis is tilted relative to the magnetic field axis. During a write operation, the first magnetization direction is switchable between m directions to store data corresponding to one of m logic states, with m>2, at least one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic anisotropy axis, and at least another one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic field axis. | 12-13-2012 |
20120143889 | Apparatus, System, And Method For Matching Patterns With An Ultra Fast Check Engine - A check engine includes a plurality of comparators each including a first directional characteristic aligned to store at least one reference bit included in a set of reference bits, and a second directional characteristic aligned to present at least one target bit included in a set of target bits. Each of the plurality of comparators is configured to produce an output representing a level of matching between the at least one target bit and the at least one reference bit, based on a relative alignment between the first directional characteristic and the second directional characteristic. The check engine is configured such that the outputs of the plurality of comparators are combined to produce a combined output. The check engine is configured to determine that the set of target bits matches the set of reference bits based on the combined output of the plurality of comparators. | 06-07-2012 |
20120143554 | Apparatus, System, And Method For Matching Patterns With An Ultra Fast Check Engine Based On Flash Cells - A check engine includes a plurality of comparators, each including a plurality of flash cells, where each of the plurality of comparators is configured to store at least one reference bit included in a set of reference bits, and includes an input for presenting at least one target bit included in a set of target bits. Each of the plurality of comparators is configured to produce an output representing a level of matching between the at least one target bit and the at least one reference bit. The check engine is configured such that the outputs of the plurality of comparators are combined to produce a combined output. The check engine is configured to determine that the set of target bits matches the set of reference bits based on the combined output of the plurality of comparators. | 06-07-2012 |