Patents by Inventor Wei-Hsiang Ma

Wei-Hsiang Ma 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: 11907007
    Abstract: A clock distribution system includes a clock mesh structure which has a plurality of first metal patterns extending along a first axis, a plurality of second metal patterns extending along a second axis, a plurality of third metal patterns extending along a third axis. The plurality of first metal patterns, the plurality of second metal patterns, and the plurality of third metal patterns are electrically coupled with each other. The second axis is transverse to the first axis. The third axis is oblique to both the first axis and the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Huang-Yu Chen, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Jack Liu, Yung-Chen Chien, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Chung-Hsing Wang
  • Publication number: 20240056061
    Abstract: A circuit includes a multi-bit flip flop, an integrated clock gating circuit connected to the multi-bit flip flop, and a control circuit connected to the integrated clock gating circuit and the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit compares output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to input data with the input data. The control circuit generates an enable signal based on comparing the output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to the input data with the input data of the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit provides the enable signal to the integrated clock gating circuit, wherein the integrated clock gating circuit provides, based on the enable signal, a clock signal to the multi-bit flip flop causing the multi-bit flip flop to toggle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Liu, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Wei-Hsiang Ma
  • Publication number: 20240037309
    Abstract: A multiplexer circuit includes first and second fins each extending in an X-axis direction. First, second, third and fourth gates extend in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and contact the first and second fins. The first, second, third and fourth gates are configured to receive first, second, third and fourth data signals, respectively. Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates extend in the Y-axis direction and contact the first and second fins, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates, and are configured to receive the first, second, third and fourth select signals, respectively. An input logic circuit is configured to provide an output at an intermediate node. A ninth gate extends in the Y-axis direction and contacts the first and second fins. An output logic circuit is configured to provide a selected one of the first, second, third and fourth data signals at an output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Liu, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Jian-Sing Li, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Yi-Hsun Chen, Cheok-Kei Lei
  • Publication number: 20230387894
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first power node having a first voltage level, a second power node having a second voltage level different from the first voltage level, a reference node having a reference voltage level, a master latch that outputs a first bit based on a received bit, a slave latch that outputs a second bit based on the first bit and an output bit based on a selected one of the first bit or a third bit, a first level shifter that outputs the third bit based on a complementary bit pair, and a retention latch including a second level shifter and a pair of inverters that outputs the complementary bit pair based on the second bit. The slave latch and the first level shifter are coupled between the first power and reference nodes, and the retention latch is coupled between the second power and reference nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kai-Chi HUANG, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Chi-Lin LIU, Wei-Hsiang MA, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Shang-Chih HSIEH, Lee-Chung LU
  • Publication number: 20230376661
    Abstract: A logic circuit (for providing a multibit flip-flop (MBFF) function) includes: a first inverter to receive a clock signal and generate a corresponding clock_bar signal; a second inverter to receive the clock_bar signal and generate a corresponding clock_bar_bar signal; a third inverter to receive a control signal and generate a corresponding control_bar signal; and a series-chain of 1-bit transfer flip-flop (TXFF) circuits, each including: a NAND circuit to receive data signals; and a 1-bit transmit gate flip-flop (TGFF) circuit to output signals Q and q, and receive an output of the NAND circuit, the signal q from the TGFF circuit of a preceding TXFF circuit in the series-chain, the clock_bar and clock_bar_bar signals, and the control and control_bar signals; and the first transfer TXFF circuit in the series-chain being configured to receive a start signal in place of the signal q from an otherwise preceding TGFF circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Chi-Lin LIU, Jerry Chang-Jui KAO, Wei-Hsiang MA, Lee-Chung LU, Fong-Yuan CHANG, Sheng-Hsiung CHEN, Shang-Chih HSIEH
  • Patent number: 11824538
    Abstract: A circuit includes a multi-bit flip flop, an integrated clock gating circuit connected to the multi-bit flip flop, and a control circuit connected to the integrated clock gating circuit and the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit compares output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to input data with the input data. The control circuit generates an enable signal based on comparing the output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to the input data with the input data of the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit provides the enable signal to the integrated clock gating circuit, wherein the integrated clock gating circuit provides, based on the enable signal, a clock signal to the multi-bit flip flop causing the multi-bit flip flop to toggle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Liu, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Wei-Hsiang Ma
  • Publication number: 20230336177
    Abstract: A circuit includes an input circuit, a level shifter circuit, an output circuit, and a first and a second feedback circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a first voltage supply, and configured to receive a first input signal, and to generate at least a second input signal. The level shifter circuit is coupled to a second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least a first and second signal responsive to at least the enable signal or the first input signal. The output circuit is coupled to at least the level shifter circuit and the second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least an output signal, a first and second feedback signal responsive to the first signal. The first and second feedback circuit are configured to receive the enable signal, and the inverted enable signal, and the corresponding first and second feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Lun OU, Ji-Yung LIN, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Ruei-Wun SUN, Wei-Hsiang MA, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Shang-Chih HSIEH, Lee-Chung LU
  • Patent number: 11757435
    Abstract: A circuit includes first and second power nodes having differing first and second voltage levels, and a reference node having a reference voltage level. A master latch outputs a first data bit based on a received data bit; a slave latch includes a first inverter that outputs a second data bit based on the first data bit and a second inverter that outputs an output data bit based on a selected one of the first data bit or a third data bit; a level shifter outputs the third data bit based on a fourth data bit; and a retention latch outputs the fourth data bit based on the second data bit. The first and second inverters and the level shifter are coupled between the first power node and the reference node, and the retention latch includes a plurality of transistors coupled between the second power node and the reference node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Chi Huang, Yung-Chen Chien, Chi-Lin Liu, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11755798
    Abstract: A logic circuit including first and second inverters, first and second NAND circuits, a transmission gate, and a transmission-gate-substitute (TGS) circuit, and wherein: for each of the first and second NAND circuits, a first input is configured to receive corresponding first and second data signals, and a second input is configured to receive an enable signal; the first inverter is configured to receive an output of the first NAND circuit; the transmission gate and the TGS circuit are arranged as a combination circuit which is configured to receive an output of the second NAND circuit as a data input, and outputs of the first inverter and the second NAND circuit as control inputs; the second inverter is configured to receive an output of the combination circuit; and an output of the second inverter represents one of an enable XOR (EXOR) function or an enable XNR (EXNR) function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Liu, Jerry Chang-Jui Kao, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Lee-Chung Lu, Fong-Yuan Chang, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Shang-Chih Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11694012
    Abstract: A multiplexer circuit includes first and second fins each extending in an X-axis direction. First, second, third and fourth gates extend in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and contact the first and second fins. The first, second, third and fourth gates are configured to receive first, second, third and fourth data signals, respectively. Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates extend in the Y-axis direction and contact the first and second fins, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates, and are configured to receive the first, second, third and fourth select signals, respectively. An input logic circuit is configured to provide an output at an intermediate node. A ninth gate extends in the Y-axis direction and contacts the first and second fins. An output logic circuit is configured to provide a selected one of the first, second, third and fourth data signals at an output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Liu, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Jian-Sing Li, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Yi-Hsun Chen, Cheok-Kei Lei
  • Patent number: 11677400
    Abstract: A circuit includes an input circuit, a level shifter circuit, an output circuit, and a first and a second feedback circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a first voltage supply, and configured to receive a first input signal, and to generate at least a second input signal. The level shifter circuit is coupled to a second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least a first and second signal responsive to at least the enable signal or the first input signal. The output circuit is coupled to at least the level shifter circuit and the second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least an output signal, a first and second feedback signal responsive to the first signal. The first and second feedback circuit are configured to receive the enable signal, and the inverted enable signal, and the corresponding first and second feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Lun Ou, Ji-Yung Lin, Yung-Chen Chien, Ruei-Wun Sun, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Publication number: 20230112357
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor, a second type-one transistor, a first type-two transistor, a third type-one transistor, a fourth type-one transistor, and a fifth type-one transistor. The first type-one transistor has a gate configured to have a first supply voltage of a first power supply. The first type-two transistor has a gate configured to have a second supply voltage of the first power supply. The third type-one transistor has a first active-region conductively connected with an active-region of the first type-one transistor. Third type-one transistor has a second active-region and a gate conductively connected to each other. The fifth type-one transistor has a first active-region conductively connected with the gate of the third type-one transistor and has a second active-region configured to have a first supply voltage of a second power supply. The fifth type-one transistor is configured to be at a conducting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Chi-Yu LU, Ting-Wei CHIANG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Pin-Dai SUE, Jiun-Jia HUANG, Yu-Ti SU, Wei-Hsiang MA
  • Publication number: 20230066045
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes multiple channels and multiple processing nodes. Each processing node includes input/output (I/O) ports coupled to the channels and channel control modules coupled to the I/O ports. Each processing node is configured to select, by the channel control module in a first operation, a first I/O port of the I/O ports; communicate a first message, via the first I/O port, to a first processing node over a first channel or a second processing node over a second channel orthogonal to the first channel in a logic representation; select, by the channel control module in a second operation, a second I/O port of the I/O ports; and communicate a second message, via the second I/O port, to a third processing node over a third channel extending in a diagonal direction and non-orthogonal to the first and second channels in the logic representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Huang-Yu Chen, Yung-Chen Chien, Tzu-Ying Lin, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Chung-Hsing Wang
  • Patent number: 11526647
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first type-one transistor, a second type-one transistor, a first type-two transistor, a second type-two transistor, a third type-one transistor, a fourth type-one transistor, and a fifth type-one transistor. The first type-one transistor has a gate configured to have a first supply voltage of a first power supply. The first type-two transistor has a gate configured to have a second supply voltage of the first power supply. The first active-region of the third type-one transistor is connected with an active-region of the first type-one transistor. The second active-region and the gate of the third type-one transistor are connected together. The first active-region of the fifth type-one transistor is connected with the gate of the third type-one transistor. The second active-region of the fifth type-one transistor is configured to have a first supply voltage of a second power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Yu Lu, Ting-Wei Chiang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Pin-Dai Sue, Jiun-Jia Huang, Yu-Ti Su, Wei-Hsiang Ma
  • Publication number: 20220368318
    Abstract: A circuit includes first and second power nodes having differing first and second voltage levels, and a reference node having a reference voltage level. A master latch outputs a first data bit based on a received data bit; a slave latch includes a first inverter that outputs a second data bit based on the first data bit and a second inverter that outputs an output data bit based on a selected one of the first data bit or a third data bit; a level shifter outputs the third data bit based on a fourth data bit; and a retention latch outputs the fourth data bit based on the second data bit. The first and second inverters and the level shifter are coupled between the first power node and the reference node, and the retention latch includes a plurality of transistors coupled between the second power node and the reference node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kai-Chi HUANG, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Chi-Lin LIU, Wei-Hsiang MA, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Shang-Chih HSIEH, Lee-Chung LU
  • Publication number: 20220334842
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments related to a power efficient multi-bit storage system. In one configuration, the multi-bit storage system includes a first storage circuit, a second storage circuit, a prediction circuit, and a clock gating circuit. In one aspect, the first storage circuit updates a first output bit according to a first input bit, in response to a trigger signal, and the second storage circuit updates a second output bit according to a second input bit, in response to the trigger signal. In one aspect, the prediction circuit generates a trigger enable signal indicating whether at least one of the first output bit or the second output bit is predicted to change a state. In one aspect, the clock gating circuit generates the trigger signal based on the trigger enable signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Kai-Chi Huang, Chi-Lin Liu, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Shang-Chih Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20220327275
    Abstract: A multiplexer circuit includes first and second fins each extending in an X-axis direction. First, second, third and fourth gates extend in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and contact the first and second fins. The first, second, third and fourth gates are configured to receive first, second, third and fourth data signals, respectively. Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates extend in the Y-axis direction and contact the first and second fins, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates, and are configured to receive the first, second, third and fourth select signals, respectively. An input logic circuit is configured to provide an output at an intermediate node. A ninth gate extends in the Y-axis direction and contacts the first and second fins. An output logic circuit is configured to provide a selected one of the first, second, third and fourth data signals at an output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Liu, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Jian-Sing Li, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Yi-Hsun Chen, Cheok-Kei Lei
  • Publication number: 20220321126
    Abstract: A circuit includes an input circuit, a level shifter circuit, an output circuit, and a first and a second feedback circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a first voltage supply, and configured to receive a first input signal, and to generate at least a second input signal. The level shifter circuit is coupled to a second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least a first and second signal responsive to at least the enable signal or the first input signal. The output circuit is coupled to at least the level shifter circuit and the second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least an output signal, a first and second feedback signal responsive to the first signal. The first and second feedback circuit are configured to receive the enable signal, and the inverted enable signal, and the corresponding first and second feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Lun OU, Ji-Yung LIN, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Ruei-Wun SUN, Wei-Hsiang MA, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Shang-Chih HSIEH, Lee-Chung LU
  • Patent number: 11456728
    Abstract: A circuit includes first and second power domains. The first power domain has a first power supply voltage level and includes a master latch, a first level shifter, and a slave latch coupled between the master latch and the first level shifter. The second power domain has a second power supply voltage level different from the first power supply voltage level and includes a retention latch coupled between the slave latch and the first level shifter, and the retention latch includes a second level shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Chi Huang, Yung-Chen Chien, Chi-Lin Liu, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11422819
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments related to a power efficient multi-bit storage system. In one configuration, the multi-bit storage system includes a first storage circuit, a second storage circuit, a prediction circuit, and a clock gating circuit. In one aspect, the first storage circuit updates a first output bit according to a first input bit, in response to a trigger signal, and the second storage circuit updates a second output bit according to a second input bit, in response to the trigger signal. In one aspect, the prediction circuit generates a trigger enable signal indicating whether at least one of the first output bit or the second output bit is predicted to change a state. In one aspect, the clock gating circuit generates the trigger signal based on the trigger enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Kai-Chi Huang, Chi-Lin Liu, Wei-Hsiang Ma, Shang-Chih Hsieh