Patents by Inventor Chien-Ti Hou

Chien-Ti Hou 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: 20240420751
    Abstract: An electronic device and a control method for memory refresh operation thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a memory and a controller. The memory includes a plurality of timers, a plurality of buffers and an interrupt signal generator. Each of the buffers is configured to store at least one word line information, and generate a refresh word line information according to a timing result trigger signal of each corresponding timer. The interrupt signal generator generates an interrupt signal corresponding to an auto refresh operation according to the timing result trigger signal, a non-internal self-refresh mode signal and a non-accessing status. The controller receives the interrupt signal and transmits an auto refresh command to the memory according to the interrupt signal to enable the memory to perform the auto refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Ying-Te Tu, Cheng Han Lee
  • Patent number: 12159045
    Abstract: A memory apparatus embedded with a computing function and an operation method thereof are provided. The memory apparatus includes a memory array, a plurality of data flow controllers, a plurality of computation circuits, a data bus, and a control logic circuit. The memory array includes a plurality of block groups having a plurality of memory blocks. Each of the data flow controllers selects a transmission path of data of each memory block according to a corresponding one of the data flow control signals. In a computation mode, the computation circuit computes first data from the corresponding memory block. In a normal mode, second data is transmitted between the data bus and the corresponding memory block. The data flow controller transmits the first data from the corresponding memory block to the computation circuit according to the data flow control signal provided by the control logic circuit to compute the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wu-Chuan Cheng, Chien-Ti Hou
  • Publication number: 20230400997
    Abstract: A memory apparatus embedded with a computing function and an operation method thereof are provided. The memory apparatus includes a memory array, a plurality of data flow controllers, a plurality of computation circuits, a data bus, and a control logic circuit. The memory array includes a plurality of block groups having a plurality of memory blocks. Each of the data flow controllers selects a transmission path of data of each memory block according to a corresponding one of the data flow control signals. In a computation mode, the computation circuit computes first data from the corresponding memory block. In a normal mode, second data is transmitted between the data bus and the corresponding memory block. The data flow controller transmits the first data from the corresponding memory block to the computation circuit according to the data flow control signal provided by the control logic circuit to compute the first data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wu-Chuan Cheng, Chien-Ti Hou
  • Patent number: 11782622
    Abstract: A memory apparatus embedded with a computing function and an operation method thereof are provided. The memory apparatus includes a memory array, a plurality of data flow controllers, a plurality of computation circuits, a data bus, and a control logic circuit. The memory array includes a plurality of block groups having a plurality of memory blocks. Each of the data flow controllers selects a transmission path of data of each memory block according to a corresponding one of the data flow control signals. In a computation mode, the computation circuit computes first data from the corresponding memory block. In a normal mode, second data is transmitted between the data bus and the corresponding memory block. The data flow controller transmits the first data from the corresponding memory block to the computation circuit according to the data flow control signal provided by the control logic circuit to compute the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wu-Chuan Cheng, Chien-Ti Hou
  • Publication number: 20220236874
    Abstract: A memory apparatus embedded with a computing function and an operation method thereof are provided. The memory apparatus includes a memory array, a plurality of data flow controllers, a plurality of computation circuits, a data bus, and a control logic circuit. The memory array includes a plurality of block groups having a plurality of memory blocks. Each of the data flow controllers selects a transmission path of data of each memory block according to a corresponding one of the data flow control signals. In a computation mode, the computation circuit computes first data from the corresponding memory block. In a normal mode, second data is transmitted between the data bus and the corresponding memory block. The data flow controller transmits the first data from the corresponding memory block to the computation circuit according to the data flow control signal provided by the control logic circuit to compute the first data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wu-Chuan Cheng, Chien-Ti Hou
  • Patent number: 11361809
    Abstract: A pseudo static memory device includes multiple memories, an arbiter and a controller. The memories respectively generate multiple self-refresh request signals. Each of the self-refresh request signals indicates a time period for performing self-refresh operation of corresponding memory. The arbiter receives the self-refresh request signals and generates a latency synchronize flag during the memories being enabled. The controller decides an accessing latency for accessing the memories during an accessing operation according to the latency synchronize flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Ying-Te Tu
  • Patent number: 11315618
    Abstract: A memory operation method applicable to a memory storage device is provided. The memory operation method including the following steps: receiving, from a memory controller, a first operation command for performing a first memory operation on a memory array of the memory storage device; and in response to the first operation command, transmitting first address information of the memory array corresponding to the first memory operation to the memory controller through a data interface of the memory storage device. In addition, a memory storage device using the memory operation method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wu-Chuan Cheng, Chien-Ti Hou
  • Publication number: 20220020425
    Abstract: A pseudo static memory device includes multiple memories, an arbiter and a controller. The memories respectively generate multiple self-refresh request signals. Each of the self-refresh request signals indicates a time period for performing self-refresh operation of corresponding memory. The arbiter receives the self-refresh request signals and generates a latency synchronize flag during the memories being enabled. The controller decides an accessing latency for accessing the memories during an accessing operation according to the latency synchronize flag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Ying-Te Tu
  • Patent number: 11188344
    Abstract: A memory apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The memory apparatus includes a mode configuration register, a system memory array, a pointer and an arithmetic circuit including logic operation units. The mode configuration register stores weight matrix information and a base address. The system memory array stores feature values in a feature map from the base address according to the weight matrix information. The pointer stores the base address and a weight matrix size to provide pointer information. The arithmetic circuit sequentially or parallelly reads the feature values according to the pointer information. The arithmetic circuit parallelly arranges weight coefficients of a selected weight matrix and the corresponding feature values in each of the corresponding logic operation units according to the weight matrix information, and causes the logic operation units to perform computing operations parallelly to output intermediate layer feature values to an external processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Wu-Chuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11113135
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes: a memory cell array; a monitoring circuit, and an event-checking circuit. The monitoring circuit is configured to detect one or more event parameters of the memory cell array, wherein the one or more event parameters correspond to one or more interrupt events of the memory cell array. The event-checking circuit is configured to determine whether to assert an interrupt signal according to the one or more event parameters detected by the monitoring circuit. In response to the event-checking circuit determining to assert the interrupt signal, a processor handles the one or more interrupt events of the memory device according to the interrupt signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Cheng-Han Lee, Chien-Ti Hou, Ying-Te Tu
  • Publication number: 20210240483
    Abstract: A memory apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The memory apparatus includes a mode configuration register, a system memory array, a pointer and an arithmetic circuit including logic operation units. The mode configuration register stores weight matrix information and a base address. The system memory array stores feature values in a feature map from the base address according to the weight matrix information. The pointer stores the base address and a weight matrix size to provide pointer information. The arithmetic circuit sequentially or parallelly reads the feature values according to the pointer information. The arithmetic circuit parallelly arranges weight coefficients of a selected weight matrix and the corresponding feature values in each of the corresponding logic operation units according to the weight matrix information, and causes the logic operation units to perform computing operations parallelly to output intermediate layer feature values to an external processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Wu-Chuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11030033
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes: a memory cell array; a monitoring circuit, and an event-checking circuit. The monitoring circuit is configured to detect one or more event parameters of the memory cell array, wherein the one or more event parameters correspond to one or more interrupt events of the memory cell array. The event-checking circuit is configured to determine whether to assert an interrupt signal according to the one or more event parameters detected by the monitoring circuit. In response to the event-checking circuit determining to assert the interrupt signal, a processor handles the one or more interrupt events of the memory device according to the interrupt signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Cheng-Han Lee, Chien-Ti Hou, Ying-Te Tu
  • Patent number: 10971212
    Abstract: A memory chip including a memory bank, an address decoder circuit and a control circuit is provided. The memory bank includes a first sub-bank coupled to a first word line and a first access line and a second sub-bank coupled to a second word line and the first access line. The first sub-bank outputs data to the first access line via a first path. The second sub-bank outputs data to the first access line via a second path. The address decoder circuit decodes an external address to generate a row address and a column address. The control circuit controls the first path and the second path according to the row address and the column address. In response to the row address indicating the first word line and the column address indicating the first access line, the control circuit turns on the first path and turns off the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Wu-Chuan Cheng
  • Publication number: 20210065764
    Abstract: A memory operation method applicable to a memory storage device is provided. The memory operation method including the following steps: receiving, from a memory controller, a first operation command for performing a first memory operation on a memory array of the memory storage device; and in response to the first operation command, transmitting first address information of the memory array corresponding to the first memory operation to the memory controller through a data interface of the memory storage device. In addition, a memory storage device using the memory operation method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wu-Chuan Cheng, Chien-Ti Hou
  • Publication number: 20200294572
    Abstract: A memory chip including a memory bank, an address decoder circuit and a control circuit is provided. The memory bank includes a first sub-bank coupled to a first word line and a first access line and a second sub-bank coupled to a second word line and the first access line. The first sub-bank outputs data to the first access line via a first path. The second sub-bank outputs data to the first access line via a second path. The address decoder circuit decodes an external address to generate a row address and a column address. The control circuit controls the first path and the second path according to the row address and the column address. In response to the row address indicating the first word line and the column address indicating the first access line, the control circuit turns on the first path and turns off the second path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti HOU, Wu-Chuan CHENG
  • Patent number: 10762945
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a pseudo static random access memory (PSRAM), a word line (WL) arbitrator and a refresh controller. The WL arbitrator receives a WL signal and segments the WL signal according to a burst length setting value, to obtain a segmented WL signal. In a synchronous mode, the refresh controller provides a first refresh trigger signal corresponding to the WL signal to refresh the PSRAM. In a smart refresh mode, the refresh controller provides a second refresh trigger signal corresponding to the segmented WL signal to refresh the PSRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Ying-Te Tu
  • Publication number: 20200089560
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes: a memory cell array; a monitoring circuit, and an event-checking circuit. The monitoring circuit is configured to detect one or more event parameters of the memory cell array, wherein the one or more event parameters correspond to one or more interrupt events of the memory cell array. The event-checking circuit is configured to determine whether to assert an interrupt signal according to the one or more event parameters detected by the monitoring circuit. In response to the event-checking circuit determining to assert the interrupt signal, a processor handles the one or more interrupt events of the memory device according to the interrupt signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Cheng-Han LEE, Chien-Ti HOU, Ying-Te TU
  • Publication number: 20200075086
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a pseudo static random access memory (PSRAM), a word line (WL) arbitrator and a refresh controller. The WL arbitrator receives a WL signal and segments the WL signal according to a burst length setting value, to obtain a segmented WL signal. In a synchronous mode, the refresh controller provides a first refresh trigger signal corresponding to the WL signal to refresh the PSRAM. In a smart refresh mode, the refresh controller provides a second refresh trigger signal corresponding to the segmented WL signal to refresh the PSRAM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Chien-Ti HOU, Ying-Te TU
  • Patent number: 6696708
    Abstract: The present invention reveals an electrostatic discharge protection apparatus including a silicon controlled rectifier, a triggering voltage adapter network and a holding voltage adapter network. Additionally, the triggering voltage adapter network and the holding voltage adapter network are coupled to the silicon controlled rectifier. The present invention can change the characteristic of current vs. voltage by adjusting the triggering voltage and the holding voltage of the silicon controlled rectifier to meet the special requirement of various chips, and effectively prevent the chips from being damaged caused by the electrostatic discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Fu-Chien Chiu, Wei-Fan Chen
  • Publication number: 20030164508
    Abstract: The present invention reveals an electrostatic discharge protection apparatus including a silicon controlled rectifier, a triggering voltage adapter network and a holding voltage adapter network. Additionally, the triggering voltage adapter network and the holding voltage adapter network are coupled to the silicon controlled rectifier. The present invention can change the characteristic of current vs. voltage by adjusting the triggering voltage and the holding voltage of the silicon controlled rectifier to meet the special requirement of various chips, and effectively prevent the chips from being damaged caused by the electrostatic discharging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chien-Ti Hou, Fu-Chien Chiu, Wei-Fan Chen