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).
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Patent number: 10795003Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10777692Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate. A first germanium-based light absorption material is supported by the semiconductor substrate and configured to absorb a first optical signal having a first wavelength greater than 800 nm. A first metal line is electrically coupled to a first region of the first germanium-based light absorption material. A second metal line is electrically coupled to a second region of the first germanium-based light absorption material. The first region is un-doped or doped with a first type of dopants. The second region is doped with a second type of dopants. The first metal line is configured to control an amount of a first type of photo-generated carriers generated inside the first germanium-based light absorption material to be collected by the second region.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.Inventors: Szu-Lin Cheng, Chien-Yu Chen, Shu-Lu Chen, Yun-Chung Na, Ming-Jay Yang, Han-Din Liu, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10770504Abstract: An optical sensor including a semiconductor substrate; a first light absorption region formed in the semiconductor substrate, the first light absorption region configured to absorb photons at a first wavelength range and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; a second light absorption region formed on the first light absorption region, the second light absorption region configured to absorb photons at a second wavelength range and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; and a sensor control signal coupled to the second light absorption region, the sensor control signal configured to provide at least a first control level and a second control level.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Han-Din Liu, Hui-Wen Chen, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10756127Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Han-Din Liu, Hui-Wen Chen, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10741598Abstract: An optical apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; a first light absorption region supported by the semiconductor substrate, the first light absorption 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; 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; and a counter-doped region formed in a first portion of the first light absorption region, the counter-doped region including a first dopant and having a first net carrier concentration lower than a second net carrier concentration of a second portion of the first light absorption region.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Atrilux, Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Kuan-Chen Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Han-Din Liu
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Patent number: 10739443Abstract: An optical apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; a first light absorption region supported by the semiconductor substrate, the first light absorption 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. The one or more first switches include a first trench located between the first p-doped region and the first n-doped region. The one or more second switches include a second trench located between the second p-doped region and the second n-doped region.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Kuan-Chen Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Han-Din Liu
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Publication number: 20200249327Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10707260Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 12, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.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
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Publication number: 20200192032Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus includes an optical-to-electric converter, having a first output terminal, configured to convert an incident light to an electrical signal; a cascode transistor, having a control terminal, a first channel terminal and a second channel terminal, wherein the second channel terminal of the cascode transistor is coupled to the first output terminal of the optical-to-electric converter; and a reset transistor, having a control terminal, a first channel terminal and a second channel terminal, wherein the first channel terminal of the reset transistor is coupled to a supply voltage and the second channel terminal of the reset transistor is coupled to the first channel terminal of the cascode transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Chien-Lung Chen, Yuan-Fu Lyu, Yen-Cheng Lu
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Patent number: 10685994Abstract: 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 forming a germanium-silicon layer for the second group of photodiodes on a first semiconductor donor wafer; defining a first interconnect layer on the germanium-silicon layer; defining integrated circuitry for controlling pixels of the image sensor array on a semiconductor carrier wafer; defining a second interconnect layer on the semiconductor carrier wafer; bonding the first interconnect layer with the second interconnect layer; defining the pixels of an image sensor array on a second semiconductor donor wafer; defining a third interconnect layer on the image sensor array; and bonding the third interconnect layer with the germanium-silicon layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: ARTILUX, INC.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Han-Din Liu, Hui-Wen Chen, Che-Fu Liang
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Publication number: 20200161364Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 10656253Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10622390Abstract: An optical apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; a first light absorption region supported by the semiconductor substrate, the first light absorption region including germanium and configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; a first layer supported by at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate and the first light absorption region, the first layer being different from the first light absorption region; 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, wherein the second control signal is different from the first control signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Artilux, Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Kuan-Chen Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Han-Din Liu
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Publication number: 20200052016Abstract: An optical apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; a first light absorption region supported by the semiconductor substrate, the first light absorption region including germanium and configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; a first layer supported by at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate and the first light absorption region, the first layer being different from the first light absorption region; 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, wherein the second control signal is different from the first control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang, Szu-Lin Cheng, Shu-Lu Chen, Kuan-Chen Chu, Chung-Chih Lin, Han-Din Liu
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Publication number: 20190348463Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20190312158Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus includes an absorption layer configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons, wherein the absorption layer includes germanium. A carrier guiding unit is electrically coupled to the absorption layer, wherein the carrier guiding unit includes a first switch including a first gate terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Chien-Yu Chen, Yun-Chung Nah, Szu-Lin Cheng, Ming-Jay Yang, Han-Din Liu, Che-Fu Liang
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Publication number: 20190302243Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10418407Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20190267498Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate. A first germanium-based light absorption material is supported by the semiconductor substrate and configured to absorb a first optical signal having a first wavelength greater than 800 nm. A first metal line is electrically coupled to a first region of the first germanium-based light absorption material. A second metal line is electrically coupled to a second region of the first germanium-based light absorption material. The first region is un-doped or doped with a first type of dopants. The second region is doped with a second type of dopants. The first metal line is configured to control an amount of a first type of photo-generated carriers generated inside the first germanium-based light absorption material to be collected by the second region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Szu-Lin Cheng, Chien-Yu Chen, Shu-Lin Chen, Yun-Chung Na, Ming-Jay Yang, Han-Din Liu, Che-Fu Liang
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Patent number: 10353056Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignees: Artilux Corporation, Artilux Inc.Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Che-Fu Liang