Patents by Inventor Minfu Li

Minfu Li 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: 8281411
    Abstract: A security memory device includes a memory cell array that stores a plurality of contents, including a mine, which is stored as a portion of the plurality of contents. The mine is triggered when it is accessed, typically such that the mine erases the memory contents. Also, control logic is included that controls access to the plurality of contents. In one aspect, the memory cell array can include a protected-cell zone and a free-cell zone. In this aspect, the security memory device can further include a lock that provides protection for contents stored in the protected-cell zone from access and a key that is capable of unlocking the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minfu Li, Min Nan Yen
  • Publication number: 20090241200
    Abstract: A security memory device includes a memory cell array that stores a plurality of contents, including a mine, which is stored as a portion of the plurality of contents. The mine is triggered when it is accessed, typically such that the mine erases the memory contents. Also, control logic is included that controls access to the plurality of contents. In one aspect, the memory cell array can include a protected-cell zone and a free-cell zone. In this aspect, the security memory device can further include a lock that provides protection for contents stored in the protected-cell zone from access and a key that is capable of unlocking the lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Minfu Li, Min Nan Yen
  • Patent number: 7444682
    Abstract: A security memory device includes a memory cell array that stores a plurality of contents, including a mine, which is stored as a portion of the plurality of contents. The mine is triggered when it is accessed, typically such that the mine erases the memory contents. Also, control logic is included that controls access to the plurality of contents. In one aspect, the memory cell array can include a protected-cell zone and a free-cell zone. In this aspect, the security memory device can further include a lock that provides protection for contents stored in the protected-cell zone from access and a key that is capable of unlocking the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minfu Li, Min Nan Yen
  • Publication number: 20080040608
    Abstract: A security memory device includes a memory cell array that stores a plurality of contents, including a mine, which is stored as a portion of the plurality of contents. The mine is triggered when it is accessed, typically such that the mine erases the memory contents. Also, control logic is included that controls access to the plurality of contents. In one aspect, the memory cell array can include a protected-cell zone and a free-cell zone. In this aspect, the security memory device can further include a lock that provides protection for contents stored in the protected-cell zone from access and a key that is capable of unlocking the lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Minfu Li, Min Nan Yen
  • Patent number: 6728146
    Abstract: A memory device that is capable of automatically repairing itself includes a working cell array, a redundancy cell array, a control logic, and a lookup table. The working cell array includes a plurality of working memory cells and the redundancy cell array includes a plurality of redundancy memory cells. The control logic controls reading and writing of data to the working cell array and the redundancy cell array. The lookup table stores addresses of the data stored in the redundancy cell array. In a method for automatically repairing a defective memory cell, when a working memory cell is determined to be defective, the data is written to a redundancy memory cell and the address of the redundancy memory cell and an address of the working memory cell are updated in the lookup table. A method for accessing a memory device also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minfu Li, Ken Liou, Min Nan Yen