Patents by Inventor Che-Fu Liang

Che-Fu Liang 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: 20250155284
    Abstract: An optical sensing apparatus includes an optical signal receiving circuit configured to receive a photocurrent signal from an optoelectronic detector and generate a differential voltage signal. The optical signal receiving circuit includes a transimpedance amplifier coupled to the optoelectronic detector and configured to convert the photocurrent signal from the optoelectronic detector into a first voltage signal. The optical signal receiving circuit includes a first power source configured to provide a first bias voltage for the optoelectronic detector. The optical signal receiving circuit includes an adjustment circuit coupled to the transimpedance amplifier and configured to adjust the first voltage signal to generate a second voltage signal. The optical signal receiving circuit includes a single-ended-to-differential converter coupled to the adjustment circuit and configured to convert the second voltage signal into the differential voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2024
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Shih-Jou Huang, Che-Fu Liang, Chien-Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 12243901
    Abstract: A circuit, including: a photodetector including a first readout terminal and a second readout terminal different than the first readout terminal; a first readout circuit coupled with the first readout terminal and configured to output a first readout voltage; a second readout circuit coupled with the second readout terminal and configured to output a second readout voltage; and a common-mode analog-to-digital converter (ADC) including: a first input terminal coupled with a first voltage source; a second input terminal coupled with a common-mode generator, the common-mode generator configured to receive the first readout voltage and the second readout voltage, and to generate a common-mode voltage between the first and second readout voltages; and a first output terminal configured to output a first output signal corresponding to a magnitude of a current generated by the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Shu-Lu Chen, Szu-Lin Cheng, Han-Din Liu, Chien-Lung Chen, Yuan-Fu Lyu, Chieh-Ting Lin, Bo-Jiun Chen, Hui-Wen Chen, Shu-Wei Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Kuan-Chen Chu
  • Publication number: 20240385399
    Abstract: A connector module capable of transmitting display data signals includes first and second light-emitting devices, a module connector including first and second terminals, and first and second optical transceivers respectively including at least one electrical-optical converting circuit and at least one optical-electrical converting circuit. One of the at least one electrical-optical converting circuit of the first optical transceiver is electrically coupled to the first light-emitting device and the first terminal, and one of the at least one electrical-optical converting circuit of the second optical transceiver is electrically coupled to the second light-emitting device and the second terminal. A portion of the at least one optical-electrical converting circuit of the first optical transceiver is electrically isolated to any optoelectronic device and the module connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Chang-Lin Hsieh, Che-Fu Liang, Shih-Jou Huang, Kun-Yin Wang
  • Publication number: 20240369690
    Abstract: An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; an absorption layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the absorption layer including a photodiode region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; and one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal, where the second control signal is different from the first control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
  • Patent number: 12072448
    Abstract: An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; an absorption layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the absorption layer including a photodiode region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; and one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal, where the second control signal is different from the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
  • Patent number: 12013463
    Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus is provided. The photo-detecting apparatus includes: a substrate made by a first material or a first material-composite; an absorption layer made by a second material or a second material-composite, the absorption layer being supported by the substrate and the absorption layer including: a first surface; a second surface arranged between the first surface and the substrate; and a channel region having a dopant profile with a peak dopant concentration equal to or more than 1×1015 cm?3, wherein a distance between the first surface and a location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration is less than a distance between the second surface and the location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration, and wherein the distance between the first surface and the location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration is not less than 30 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Szu-Lin Cheng, Chien-Yu Chen, Shu-Lu Chen, Yun-Chung Na, Ming-Jay Yang, Han-Din Liu, Che-Fu Liang, Jung-Chin Chiang, Yen-Cheng Lu, Yen-Ju Lin
  • Publication number: 20230395618
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an image sensor array having a first group of photodiodes for detecting light at visible wavelengths a second group of photodiodes for detecting light at infrared or near-infrared wavelengths, the method including growing a germanium-silicon layer on a semiconductor donor wafer; defining pixels of the image sensor array on the germanium-silicon layer; defining a first interconnect layer on the germanium-silicon layer, wherein the interconnect layer includes a plurality of interconnects coupled to the first group of photodiodes and the second group of photodiodes; defining integrated circuitry for controlling the pixels of the image sensor array on a semiconductor carrier wafer; defining a second interconnect layer on the semiconductor carrier wafer, wherein the second interconnect layer includes a plurality of interconnects coupled to the integrated circuitry; and bonding the first interconnect layer with the second interconnect layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Han-Din Liu, Hui-Wen Chen, Che-Fu Liang
  • Publication number: 20230393248
    Abstract: An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; an absorption layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the absorption layer including a photodiode region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; and one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal, where the second control signal is different from the first control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
  • Publication number: 20230369376
    Abstract: A circuit that includes: a photodiode configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; a first MOSFET transistor that includes: a first channel terminal coupled to a first terminal of the photodiode and configured to collect a portion of the photo-carriers generated by the photodiode; a second channel terminal; and a gate terminal coupled to a first control voltage source; a first readout circuit configured to output a first readout voltage; a second readout circuit configured to output a second readout voltage; and a current-steering circuit configured to steer the photo-carriers generated by the photodiode to one or both of the first readout circuit and the second readout circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Han-Din Liu, Hui-Wen Chen, Che-Fu Liang, Yuan-Fu Lyu, Chien-Lung Chen, Chung-Chih Lin, Kuan-Chen Chu
  • Patent number: 11756969
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an image sensor array having a first group of photodiodes for detecting light at visible wavelengths a second group of photodiodes for detecting light at infrared or near-infrared wavelengths, the method including growing a germanium-silicon layer on a semiconductor donor wafer; defining pixels of the image sensor array on the germanium-silicon layer; defining a first interconnect layer on the germanium-silicon layer, wherein the interconnect layer includes a plurality of interconnects coupled to the first group of photodiodes and the second group of photodiodes; defining integrated circuitry for controlling the pixels of the image sensor array on a semiconductor carrier wafer; defining a second interconnect layer on the semiconductor carrier wafer, wherein the second interconnect layer includes a plurality of interconnects coupled to the integrated circuitry; and bonding the first interconnect layer with the second interconnect layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Han-Din Liu, Hui-Wen Chen, Che-Fu Liang
  • Patent number: 11749696
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes: a substrate having a first material; an absorption region having a second material different from the first material, the absorption region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers including electrons and holes in response to the absorbed photons; a first well region surrounding the absorption region and arranged between the absorption region and the substrate, the first well region being doped with a first polarity; and one or more switches each controlled by a respective control signal, the one or more switches each configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the respective control signal and to provide the portion of the photo-carriers to a respective readout circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Kuan-Chen Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Han-Din Liu
  • Patent number: 11747450
    Abstract: An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; an absorption layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the absorption layer including a photodiode region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; and one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal, where the second control signal is different from the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
  • Publication number: 20230228881
    Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus is provided. The photo-detecting apparatus includes: a substrate made by a first material or a first material-composite; an absorption layer made by a second material or a second material-composite, the absorption layer being supported by the substrate and the absorption layer including: a first surface; a second surface arranged between the first surface and the substrate; and a channel region having a dopant profile with a peak dopant concentration equal to or more than 1×1015 cm?3, wherein a distance between the first surface and a location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration is less than a distance between the second surface and the location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration, and wherein the distance between the first surface and the location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration is not less than 30 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Szu-Lin Cheng, Chien-Yu Chen, Shu-Lu Chen, Yun-Chung Na, Ming-Jay Yang, Han-Din Liu, Che-Fu Liang, Jung-Chin Chiang, Yen-Cheng Lu, Yen-Ju Lin
  • Publication number: 20230228852
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes a plurality of detectors arranged in an array. Each detector of the plurality of detectors includes one or more absorption regions configured to receive an optical signal and generate charge carriers in response to receiving the optical signal; one or more readout regions configured to collect a portion of the charge carriers for output; and one or more control regions coupled to one or more control signals, the one or more control regions configured to control, in response to the one or more control signals, a flow of charge carriers from the one or more absorption regions to the one or more readout regions. The optical sensor includes driver circuitry configured to provide the control signals to enable or disable a subset of the plurality of detectors based on an operating mode of multiple operating modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Tze-Huei Kao, Chien-Lung Chen, Che-Fu Liang, Shu-Lu Chen
  • Publication number: 20230215902
    Abstract: A circuit, including: a photodetector including a first readout terminal and a second readout terminal different than the first readout terminal; a first readout circuit coupled with the first readout terminal and configured to output a first readout voltage; a second readout circuit coupled with the second readout terminal and configured to output a second readout voltage; and a common-mode analog-to-digital converter (ADC) including: a first input terminal coupled with a first voltage source; a second input terminal coupled with a common-mode generator, the common-mode generator configured to receive the first readout voltage and the second readout voltage, and to generate a common-mode voltage between the first and second readout voltages; and a first output terminal configured to output a first output signal corresponding to a magnitude of a current generated by the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Shu-Lu Chen, Szu-Lin Cheng, Han-Din Liu, Chien-Lung Chen, Yuan-Fu Lyu, Chieh-Ting Lin, Bo-Jiun Chen, Hui-Wen Chen, Shu-Wei Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Kuan-Chen Chu
  • Publication number: 20230184907
    Abstract: An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; an absorption layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the absorption layer including a photodiode region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; and one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal, where the second control signal is different from the first control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
  • Patent number: 11639991
    Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus includes a first photodetector, a second photodetector, a first modulation signal generating circuit and a second modulation signal generating circuit. The first is configured to generate at least a first detecting signal according a first modulation signal. The second photodetector is configured to generate a second detecting signal according a second modulation signal. The first modulation signal generating circuit is coupled to the first photodetector and operated between a first voltage and a second voltage, and is configured to generate the first modulation signal. The second modulation signal generating circuit is coupled to the second photodetector and operated between the second voltage and a third voltage. The second modulation signal generating circuit is configured to generate a second modulation signal. The value of the second voltage is between the first voltage and the third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventor: Che-Fu Liang
  • Patent number: 11637142
    Abstract: A circuit, including: a photodetector including a first readout terminal and a second readout terminal different than the first readout terminal; a first readout circuit coupled with the first readout terminal and configured to output a first readout voltage; a second readout circuit coupled with the second readout terminal and configured to output a second readout voltage; and a common-mode analog-to-digital converter (ADC) including: a first input terminal coupled with a first voltage source; a second input terminal coupled with a common-mode generator, the common-mode generator configured to receive the first readout voltage and the second readout voltage, and to generate a common-mode voltage between the first and second readout voltages; and a first output terminal configured to output a first output signal corresponding to a magnitude of a current generated by the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Shu-Lu Chen, Szu-Lin Cheng, Han-Din Liu, Chien-Lung Chen, Yuan-Fu Lyu, Chieh-Ting Lin, Bo-Jiun Chen, Hui-Wen Chen, Shu-Wei Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Kuan-Chen Chu
  • Patent number: 11630212
    Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus is provided. The photo-detecting apparatus includes: a substrate made by a first material or a first material-composite; an absorption layer made by a second material or a second material-composite, the absorption layer being supported by the substrate and the absorption layer including: a first surface; a second surface arranged between the first surface and the substrate; and a channel region having a dopant profile with a peak dopant concentration equal to or more than 1×1015 cm?3, wherein a distance between the first surface and a location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration is less than a distance between the second surface and the location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration, and wherein the distance between the first surface and the location of the channel region having the peak dopant concentration is not less than 30 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Szu-Lin Cheng, Chien-Yu Chen, Shu-Lu Chen, Yun-Chung Na, Ming-Jay Yang, Han-Din Liu, Che-Fu Liang, Jung-Chin Chiang, Yen-Cheng Lu, Yen-Ju Lin
  • Patent number: 11579267
    Abstract: An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; an absorption layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the absorption layer including a photodiode region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; and one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal, where the second control signal is different from the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang