Patents by Inventor Hau-Tai Shieh

Hau-Tai Shieh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220093587
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first active region and a first gate disposed on the first active region, in which the first gate has a first effective gate length along a first direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the first active region. The second transistor includes a second active region and a second gate disposed on the second active region, and includes a plurality of gate structures arranged along the first direction and separated from each other, in which the second gate has a second effective gate length along the first direction, the second effective gate length is n times the first effective gate length, and n is a positive integer greater than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan CHEN, Hau-Tai SHIEH
  • Publication number: 20220068355
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a memory circuit, an electronic device, and a method of operating the memory circuit. According to an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a memory circuit which includes not limited to a voltage equalizing circuit configured to equalize and pre-charge a first data line and a second data line to a reference voltage, a sense amplifier circuit configured to sense a binary data based on a relative voltage between the first data line and the second data line, a read-out latch circuit configured to receive the binary data which is to be transmitted to an external controller, and a write circuit configured to receive a first signal of the first data line and a second signal of the second data line so as to write the first signal to a first bit line and the second signal to a second bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin Yu, Cheng-Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 11264081
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a memory circuit, an electronic device, and a method of operating the memory circuit. According to an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a memory circuit which includes not limited to a voltage equalizing circuit configured to equalize and pre-charge a first data line and a second data line to a reference voltage, a sense amplifier circuit configured to sense a binary data based on a relative voltage between the first data line and the second data line, a read-out latch circuit configured to receive the binary data which is to be transmitted to an external controller, and a write circuit configured to receive a first signal of the first data line and a second signal of the second data line so as to write the first signal to a first bit line and the second signal to a second bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manfacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin Yu, Cheng-Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 11217301
    Abstract: Embodiments herein include a first line, wherein the first line is complementary to a second line; a voltage generator configured to generate a first supply voltage, a second supply voltage and a third supply voltage, the third supply voltage is lower than the second supply voltage, the voltage generator further comprises a transistor structure with a plurality of transistors electrically connected in parallel from the first supply voltage to a supply output node that provides the second supply voltage; a memory cell electrically coupled to the first and second lines, the memory cell further comprises two cross-coupled transistor strings connected from the first supply voltage to a ground voltage; a pre-charger with a first pre-charger transistor cross-coupled to a second pre-charger transistor, the pre-charger is configured to pre-charge the first and second lines to a level of a source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin Yu, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Publication number: 20210397773
    Abstract: A method of designing a circuit is provided. The method includes: providing a circuit; selecting a first NMOS fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) in the circuit; and replacing the first NMOS FinFET having a first fin number with a second NMOS FinFET having a second fin number and a third NMOS FinFET having a third fin number, wherein the sum of the second fin number and the third fin number is equal to the first fin number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Yi-Tzu Chen, Hau-Tai Shieh, Che-Ju Yeh
  • Publication number: 20210336609
    Abstract: A level shifter includes: a first inverter configured to receive an input signal in a low voltage domain and shift the input signal from the low voltage domain to a first output signal at a first output terminal in a high voltage domain higher than the low voltage domain in response to a logical high state of a first clock signal in the low voltage domain; a second inverter configured to receive a complement of the input signal and shift the complement of the input signal from the low voltage domain to a second output signal at a second output terminal in the high voltage domain in response to the logical high state; a first NMOS sensing transistor and a second NMOS sensing transistor; a PMOS transistor configured to equalize the first output signal and the second output signal in response to a logical low state of the first clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Publication number: 20210327499
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for word line pulse width control for a static random access memory (SRAM) devices. A control circuit includes a first transistor, an inverter coupled to the first transistor, and a second transistor comprising a gate, a first source/drain terminal and a second source/drain terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the inverter. The first source/drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled in series to the first transistor. The second source/drain terminal is coupled to a decoder driver circuit. The second transistor is configured to charge a load of a common decoder line so as to reduce an effective load of the decoder driver circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Anjana Singh, Cheng Hung Lee, Hau-Tai Shieh, Yi-Tzu Chen
  • Patent number: 11120868
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells configured to store digital data and an input multiplexer configured to enable the selection of a particular memory cell from the plurality of memory cells. The semiconductor memory device further comprises a read/write driver circuit configured to read data from the selected memory cell and write data to the selected memory cell, and a write logic block configured to provide logical control to the read/write driver circuit for writing data to the selected of memory cell. The read/write driver circuit may be coupled to the read/write input multiplexer by a data line and an inverted data line and the read and the write operations to the selected memory cell occur over the same data line and inverted data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Che-Ju Yeh, Hau-Tai Shieh, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Sahil Preet Singh, Manish Arora, Hemant Patel, Li-Wen Wang
  • Publication number: 20210241811
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells and a plurality of peripheral circuits operably coupled to the memory array. A power control circuit may be configured to individually control an application of power to each of the plurality of peripheral circuits and the array of memory cells. Inserting a switch device across the different power domains to achieve the same sequential wake-up path for the peripheral circuits connected to different power domains reduces peak current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Che-Ju Yeh, Hau-Tai Shieh, Yi-Tzu Chen
  • Patent number: 11056182
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for word line pulse width control for a static random access memory (SRAM) devices. A control circuit includes a first transistor, an inverter coupled to the first transistor, and a second transistor comprising a gate, a first source/drain terminal and a second source/drain terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the inverter. The first source/drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled in series to the first transistor. The second source/drain terminal is coupled to a decoder driver circuit. The second transistor is configured to charge a load of a common decoder line so as to reduce an effective load of the decoder driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Anjana Singh, Cheng Hung Lee, Hau-Tai Shieh, Yi-Tzu Chen
  • Patent number: 11057025
    Abstract: A level shifter includes: a first inverter configured to receive an input signal in a first voltage domain and shift the input signal from the first voltage domain to a first output signal at a first output terminal in a second voltage domain higher than the first voltage domain in response to a logical high state of a first clock signal in the first voltage domain; a second inverter configured to receive a complement of the input signal and shift the complement of the input signal from the first voltage domain to a second output signal at a second output terminal in the second voltage domain in response to the logical high state; a pair of NMOS sensing transistors; a PMOS transistor configured to equalize the first output signal and the second output signal in response to a logical low state of the first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Publication number: 20210201988
    Abstract: A latch formed from a memory cell includes a clock input terminal configured to receive a clock signal, complementary first and second data terminals, and a latch circuit. The latch circuit has first and second inverters. The first inverter has an input terminal coupled to the first data terminal, and the second inverter has an input terminal coupled to the second data terminal. A first pass gate transistor is coupled between an output terminal of the second inverter and the first data terminal. A second pass gate transistor is coupled between an output terminal of the first inverter and the second data terminal. The first and second pass gate transistors each have a gate terminal coupled to the clock input terminal. The input terminal of the first inverter is not directly connected to the output terminal of the second inverter, and the input terminal of the second inverter is not directly connected to the output terminal of the first inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin Yu, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 10950296
    Abstract: A latch formed from a memory cell includes a clock input terminal configured to receive a clock signal, complementary first and second data terminals, and a latch circuit. The latch circuit has first and second inverters. The first inverter has an input terminal coupled to the first data terminal, and the second inverter has an input terminal coupled to the second data terminal. A first pass gate transistor is coupled between an output terminal of the second inverter and the first data terminal. A second pass gate transistor is coupled between an output terminal of the first inverter and the second data terminal. The first and second pass gate transistors each have a gate terminal coupled to the clock input terminal. The input terminal of the first inverter is not directly connected to the output terminal of the second inverter, and the input terminal of the second inverter is not directly connected to the output terminal of the first inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin Yu, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Publication number: 20200412346
    Abstract: A level shifter includes: a first inverter configured to receive an input signal in a first voltage domain and shift the input signal from the first voltage domain to a first output signal at a first output terminal in a second voltage domain higher than the first voltage domain in response to a logical high state of a first clock signal in the first voltage domain; a second inverter configured to receive a complement of the input signal and shift the complement of the input signal from the first voltage domain to a second output signal at a second output terminal in the second voltage domain in response to the logical high state; a pair of NMOS sensing transistors; a PMOS transistor configured to equalize the first output signal and the second output signal in response to a logical low state of the first clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 10878890
    Abstract: An operation assist circuit includes a precharge and equalization circuit, a first sharing switch and a second sharing switch. The precharge and equalization circuit is coupled between a first dummy bit line and a second dummy bit line of a dummy bit line pair and configured to precharge and equalize the first dummy bit line and the second dummy bit line. The first sharing switch is coupled between a first bit line of a bit line pair and the first dummy bit line of the dummy bit line pair. The first sharing switch is configured to control an electrical connection between the first bit line of the first bit line pair and the first dummy bit line of the dummy bit line pair according to a charge sharing control signal. The second sharing switch, coupled between a second bit line of the bit line pair and the second dummy bit line of the dummy bit line pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Cheng-Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 10878934
    Abstract: A memory device and an electronic device are provided. Different embodiments of local redundancy decoder circuits that can be used in the memory device and the electronic device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Chien-Yu Huang, Chia-En Huang, Cheng Hung Lee, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Publication number: 20200388623
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a static random access memory (SRAM) cell in a multi-layer semiconductor device structure. An example SRAM device includes a first array of SRAM cells, a second array of SRAM cells, a processing component, and one or more inter-layer connection structures. The first array of SRAM cells are formed in a first device layer of a multi-layer semiconductor device structure. The second array of SRAM cells are formed in a second device layer of the multi-layer semiconductor device structure, the second device layer being formed on the first device layer. The processing component is configured to process one or more input signals and generate one or more access signals. One or more inter-layer connection structures are configured to transmit the one or more access signals to activate the first device layer or the second device layer for allowing access to a target SRAM cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Chien-Yu Huang, Chien-Yuan Chen, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 10778198
    Abstract: A level shifter includes: an input terminal configured to receive an input signal in a first voltage domain; a first output terminal; a second output terminal; a first inverter configured to receive and shift the input signal to a first output signal at the first output terminal in a second voltage domain higher than the first voltage domain in response to a logical high state of an enable signal in the first voltage domain; a second inverter configured to receive and shift a complement of the input signal to a second output signal at the second output terminal in the second voltage domain in response to the logical high state; a pair of NMOS sensing transistors; a PMOS transistor configured to equalize the first output signal and the second output signal in response to a logical low state of the enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, LTD
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Publication number: 20200279603
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for word line pulse width control for a static random access memory (SRAM) devices. A control circuit includes a first transistor, an inverter coupled to the first transistor, and a second transistor comprising a gate, a first source/drain terminal and a second source/drain terminal. The second transistor is coupled to the inverter. The first source/drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled in series to the first transistor. The second source/drain terminal is coupled to a decoder driver circuit. The second transistor is configured to charge a load of a common decoder line so as to reduce an effective load of the decoder driver circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Anjana Singh, Cheng Hung Lee, Hau-Tai Shieh, Yi-Tzu Chen
  • Patent number: 10756094
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a static random access memory (SRAM) cell in a multi-layer semiconductor device structure. An example SRAM device includes a first array of SRAM cells, a second array of SRAM cells, a processing component, and one or more inter-layer connection structures. The first array of SRAM cells are formed in a first device layer of a multi-layer semiconductor device structure. The second array of SRAM cells are formed in a second device layer of the multi-layer semiconductor device structure, the second device layer being formed on the first device layer. The processing component is configured to process one or more input signals and generate one or more access signals. One or more inter-layer connection structures are configured to transmit the one or more access signals to activate the first device layer or the second device layer for allowing access to a target SRAM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Yu Huang, Chien-Yuan Chen, Hau-Tai Shieh