Patents by Inventor Hidehiro Fujiwara

Hidehiro Fujiwara 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).

  • Patent number: 11714570
    Abstract: A charge sharing scheme is used to mitigate the variations in cell currents in order to achieve higher accuracy for CIM computing. In some embodiments, a capacitor is associated with each SRAM cell, and the capacitors associated with all SRAM cells in a column are included in averaging the RBL current. In some embodiments, a memory unit associated to an RBL in a CIM device includes a storage element adapted to store a weight, a first switch device connected to the storage element and adapted to be controlled by an input signal and generate a product signal having a magnitude indicative of the product of the input signal and the stored weight. The memory unit further includes a capacitor adapted to receive the product signal and store an amount of charge corresponding to the magnitude of the product signal. The memory unit further include a second switch device adapted to transfer the charge on the capacitor to the RBL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Hung-Jen Liao, Yen-Huei Chen, Yih Wang, Haruki Mori
  • Patent number: 11715501
    Abstract: Header circuitry for a memory device includes multiple backside power rails that form distinct voltage sources for a plurality of switching devices in the header circuitry. The header circuitry includes at least one region of a first conductivity type. A first section in the first region includes one backside power rail (BPR) that forms a first voltage source that provides a first voltage. A second section in the same first region includes another BPR that forms a second voltage source that provides a second voltage that is different from the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Mori, Chien-Chi Tien, Chia-En Huang, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yen-Huei Chen, Feng-Lun Chen
  • Publication number: 20230238056
    Abstract: A memory device includes a conductive segment, first and second rows of memory cells. The conductive segment receives a first reference voltage signal. The first row of memory cells is coupled to a first word line. The second row of memory cells is coupled to a second word line. The first row of memory cells includes first and second memory cells. The first memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The second row of memory cells includes third and fourth memory cells. The third memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The first and third memory cells share the conductive segment, and the third memory cell is arranged between the first and second memory cells. The second memory cell is arranged between the third and fourth memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsin NIEN, Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Chih-Yu LIN, Yen-Huei CHEN
  • Patent number: 11682440
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for a memory circuit. In embodiments, the circuit includes a plurality of memory cells corresponding to a word of data and a global write word line. A plurality of local write lines are connected to a subset of the plurality of memory cells of the word of data. Selection logic is configured to activate a particular subset of memory cells for writing via a particular local write line based on a signal on the global write word line and a selection signal associated with the particular subset of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yi-Hsin Nien, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yen-Huei Chen
  • Publication number: 20230185324
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to an integrated circuit to regulate a supply voltage. In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a metal rail including a first point, at which a first functional circuit is connected, and a second point, at which a second functional circuit is connected. In one aspect, the integrate circuit includes a voltage regulator coupled between the first point of the metal rail and the second point of the metal rail. In one aspect, the voltage regulator senses a voltage at the second point of the metal rail and adjusts a supply voltage at the first point of the metal rail, according to the sensed voltage at the second point of the metal rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Mori, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Zhi-Hao Chang, Yangsyu Lin, Yu-Hao Hsu, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao, Chiting Cheng
  • Publication number: 20230176770
    Abstract: A circuit includes a data register configured to receive a signal including a plurality of data elements, a first selection circuit coupled to the data register, a counter, a second selection circuit coupled to the counter, and an inverter coupled between the counter and the second selection circuit. The data register outputs a plurality of bits of each data element to the first selection circuit, the counter and the inverter generate complementary signals in which sequential data elements have cyclical values that step in opposite directions, the second selection circuit alternatively outputs each of the complementary signals as a selection signal to the first selection circuit, and the first selection circuit, responsive to the selection signal, outputs the pluralities of bits of the data elements in alternating sequential orders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Haruki MORI, Wei-Chang ZHAO
  • Publication number: 20230170281
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package includes a logic die, a substrate, a memory die positioned between the logic die and the substrate, and a power distribution structure configured to electrically couple the logic die to the substrate. The power distribution structure includes a plurality of conductive segments positioned between the logic die and the memory die, a plurality of bump structures positioned between the memory die and the substrate, and a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) electrically coupled to the plurality of conductive segments and the plurality of bump structures, and a TSV of the plurality of TSVs extends through, and is electrically isolated from, a memory macro of the memory die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Tze-Chiang HUANG, Hong-Chen CHENG, Yen-Huei CHEN, Hung-Jen LIAO, Jonathan Tsung-Yung CHANG, Yun-Han LEE, Lee-Chung LU
  • Patent number: 11657870
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a write port and a read port. The write port includes two cross-coupled inverters that form a storage unit. The cross-coupled inverters are connected between a first power source signal line and a second power source signal line. The write port also includes a first local interconnect line in an interconnect layer that is connected to the second power source signal line. The read port includes a transistor that is connected to the storage unit in the write port and to the second power source signal line, and a second local interconnect line in the interconnect layer that is connected to the second power source signal line. The second local interconnect line in the read port is separate from the first local interconnect line in the write port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Hsien-Yu Pan, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen, Wei-Chang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230156995
    Abstract: A memory device includes active regions and gate structures, each of the gate structures is electrically coupled to a first portion of a corresponding active region of the active regions. The memory device includes contact-to-transistor-component structures (MD structures), each of the MD structures is over a second portion of a corresponding active region, and a first MD structure is between adjacent gate structures. The memory device includes via-to-gate/MD (VGD) structures, each of the VGD structures is over to a corresponding gate electrode and MD structure. The memory device includes conductive segments, each of the conductive segments is over and electrically coupled to a corresponding VGD structure. The memory device includes buried contact-to-transistor-component structures (BVD) structures, each of the BVD structures is under a third portion of a corresponding active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Chih-Yu LIN, Yen-Huei CHEN, Wei-Chang ZHAO, Yi-Hsin NIEN
  • Patent number: 11651134
    Abstract: A method includes specifying a target memory macro, and determining failure rates of function-blocks in the target memory macro based on an amount of transistors and area distributions in a collection of base cells. The method also includes determining a safety level of the target memory macro, based upon a failure-mode analysis of the target memory macro, from a memory compiler, based on the determined failure rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TSMC CHINA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Ching-Wei Wu, Ming-En Bu, He-Zhou Wan, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Xiu-Li Yang
  • Publication number: 20230133360
    Abstract: Systems and methods for floating-point processors and methods for operating floating-point processors are provided. A floating-point processor includes a quantizer, a compute-in-memory device, and a decoder. The floating-processor is configured to receive an input array in which the values of the input array are represented in floating-point format. The floating-point processor may be configured to convert the floating-point numbers into integer format so that multiply-accumulate operations can be performed on the numbers. The multiply-accumulate operations generate partial sums, which are in integer format. The partial sums can be accumulated until a full sum is achieved, wherein the full sum can then be converted to floating-point format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Rawan Naous, Kerem Akarvardar, Mahmut Sinangil, Yu-Der Chih, Saman Adham, Nail Etkin Can Akkaya, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yih Wang, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang
  • Patent number: 11637108
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory circuit includes generating a layout design of the memory circuit, and manufacturing the memory circuit based on the layout design. The memory circuit is a four transistor memory cell that includes at least the first pass gate transistor and the first pull up transistor. The generating of the layout design includes generating a first active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first active region of a first pull up transistor, generating a second active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a second active region of a first pass gate transistor, and generating a first metal contact layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first metal contact is electrically coupled to a source of the first pull up transistor. The first metal contact layout pattern extends in a second direction, overlaps a cell boundary of the memory circuit and the first active region layout pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Hsien-Yu Pan, Yasutoshi Okuno, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao
  • Publication number: 20230118295
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. A first column of the plurality of columns of the matrix includes a first plurality of memory cells of the plurality of memory cells, a first pair of bit lines connected to each of the first plurality of bit cells, and a second pair of bit lines connectable to the first pair of bit lines through a plurality of switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chia-En Huang, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yen-Huei Chen, Jui-Che Tsai, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11631456
    Abstract: An SRAM includes multiple memory cells, each memory cell includes a data storage unit; a data I/O control adapted to input data to, and output data from, a data line (BL); and multiple access controls respectively connected to at least two access control lines (WL's) and adapted to enable and disable the data input and output from the at least two WL's (WX and WY). The access controls are configured to permit data input only when both WL's are in their respective states that permit data input. A method of writing to a group of SRAM cells include sending a first write-enable signal to the cells via a first WL, sending a group of respective second write-enable signals to the respective cells, and, for each of the cells, preventing writing data to the cell if either of the first write-enable signal and respective second write enable signal is in a disable-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yen-Huei Chen, Yi-Hsin Nien
  • Publication number: 20230068645
    Abstract: A memory device has a memory array including a memory segment to store weight data, a weight buffer coupled to the memory segment and configured to hold new weight data to be updated in the memory segment, a logic circuit, and a computation circuit coupled to an output of the logic circuit. The logic circuit further has a first input coupled to the memory segment by a bit line, and a second input configured to receive input data. The logic circuit is configured to generate, at the output, intermediate data corresponding to the input data and the weight data read from the memory segment through the bit line. The computation circuit is configured to, based on the intermediate data, generate output data corresponding to a computation performed on the input data and the weight data read from the at least one memory segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Haruki MORI, Wei-Chang ZHAO
  • Publication number: 20230050279
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first encoder, a compute in-memory (CIM) array and a de-encoder. The first encoder is configured to quantize a first received signal into a first signal. The first received signal has a first floating point number format. The first signal has an integer number format. The compute in-memory (CIM) array is coupled to the first encoder. The CIM array is configured to generate a CIM signal in response to at least the first signal. The CIM signal has the integer number format. The de-encoder is coupled to the CIM array, and is configured to generate a first output signal in response to the CIM signal. The first output signal has a second floating point number format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Rawan NAOUS, Kerem AKARVARDAR, Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Haruki MORI, Yu-Der CHIH, Mahmut SINANGIL, Yih WANG, Jonathan Tsung-Yung CHANG
  • Patent number: 11579648
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to an integrated circuit to regulate a supply voltage. In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a metal rail including a first point, at which a first functional circuit is connected, and a second point, at which a second functional circuit is connected. In one aspect, the integrate circuit includes a voltage regulator coupled between the first point of the metal rail and the second point of the metal rail. In one aspect, the voltage regulator senses a voltage at the second point of the metal rail and adjusts a supply voltage at the first point of the metal rail, according to the sensed voltage at the second point of the metal rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Mori, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Zhi-Hao Chang, Yangsyu Lin, Yu-Hao Hsu, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao, Chiting Cheng
  • Patent number: 11569246
    Abstract: A memory device including: active regions; gate electrodes which are substantially aligned relative to four corresponding track lines such that the memory device has a width of four contacted poly pitch (4 CPP) and are electrically coupled to the active regions; contact-to-transistor-component structures (MD structures) which are electrically coupled to the active regions, and are interspersed among corresponding ones of the gate electrodes; via-to-gate/MD (VGD) structures which are electrically coupled to the gate electrodes and the MD structures; conductive segments which are in a first layer of metallization (M_1st layer), and are electrically coupled to the VGD structures; buried contact-to-transistor-component structures (BVD structures) which are electrically coupled to the active regions; and buried conductive segments which are in a first buried layer of metallization (BM_1st layer), and are electrically coupled to the BVD structures, and correspondingly provide a first reference voltage or a second r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen, Wei-Chang Zhao, Yi-Hsin Nien
  • Patent number: 11562946
    Abstract: A memory macro structure includes a first memory array, a second memory array, a cell activation circuit coupled to the first and second memory arrays and positioned between the first and second memory arrays, a control circuit coupled to the cell activation circuit and positioned adjacent to the cell activation circuit, and a through-silicon via (TSV) extending through one of the cell activation circuit or the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Tze-Chiang Huang, Hong-Chen Cheng, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang, Yun-Han Lee, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11562786
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a memory cell and a bit line connected to the memory cell. A negative voltage generator is connected to the bit line. The negative voltage generator, when enabled, is operative to provide a first write path for the bit line. A control circuit is connected to the negative voltage generator and the bit line. The control circuit is operative to provide a second write path for the bit line when the negative voltage generator is not enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsin Nien, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen