Patents by Inventor Chih-Yu Lin

Chih-Yu Lin 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: 11769533
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip is provided. The semiconductor chip includes a SRAM cell, a logic cell, a signal line and a ground line. The SRAM cell includes a storage transmission gate, a read transmission gate and a latch circuit. The latch circuit is serially connected between the storage and read transmission gates, and includes a first inverter, a second inverter and a transmission gate connected to an output of the first inverter, an input of the second inverter and an output of the storage transmission gate. The logic cell disposed aside the SRAM cell is connected with the SRAM cell by first and second active structures. The signal and ground lines extend at opposite sides of the SRAM and logic cells, and are substantially parallel with the first and second active structures. The SRAM and logic cells are disposed between and electrically connected to the signal and ground lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Hsien-Yu Pan, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen, Wei-Chang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230301049
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory circuit includes generating a layout design of the memory circuit, and manufacturing the memory circuit based on the layout design. The generating of the layout design includes generating a first active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first active region of a first pull down transistor, generating a second active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a second active region of a first pass gate transistor, and generating a first metal contact layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first metal contact. The first metal contact layout pattern overlaps the cell boundary of the memory circuit and the first active region layout pattern. The first metal contact electrically coupled to a source of the first pull down transistor. The memory circuit being a four transistor (4T) memory cell including a first and second pass gate transistor, and a first and second pull down transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Chih-Yu LIN, Hsien-Yu PAN, Yasutoshi OKUNO, Yen-Huei CHEN, Hung-Jen LIAO
  • Publication number: 20230238056
    Abstract: A memory device includes a conductive segment, first and second rows of memory cells. The conductive segment receives a first reference voltage signal. The first row of memory cells is coupled to a first word line. The second row of memory cells is coupled to a second word line. The first row of memory cells includes first and second memory cells. The first memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The second row of memory cells includes third and fourth memory cells. The third memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The first and third memory cells share the conductive segment, and the third memory cell is arranged between the first and second memory cells. The second memory cell is arranged between the third and fourth memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsin NIEN, Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Chih-Yu LIN, Yen-Huei CHEN
  • Patent number: 11693519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proximity sensor and a proximity sensing method. The proximity sensor includes a sensing element and a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit is coupled to the sensing element and transmits a first driving signal and a second signal to the sensing element, respectively. The sensing element receives the first driving signal and the second driving signal, respectively, and generates a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal, respectively. The sensing circuit generates a proximity signal according to the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal. Therefore, the present invention may improve the accuracy of sensing the proximity of the human body whether near to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Sensortek Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 11676660
    Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) includes a first memory cell array, a second memory cell array, a first data line coupled to the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array, a second data line coupled to the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array, a primary driver circuit coupled to at least the first data line, and a supplementary driver circuit coupled to at least the first data line. The supplementary driver circuit is configured to receive a supplementary driver circuit enable signal, sense a voltage of a first signal of the first data line, and pull the voltage of the first signal to a first voltage level during a write operation of a first memory cell in the first memory cell array in response to at least a first NOR output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Lin, Wei-Cheng Wu, Kao-Cheng Lin, Yen-Huei Chen
  • Patent number: 11657870
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a write port and a read port. The write port includes two cross-coupled inverters that form a storage unit. The cross-coupled inverters are connected between a first power source signal line and a second power source signal line. The write port also includes a first local interconnect line in an interconnect layer that is connected to the second power source signal line. The read port includes a transistor that is connected to the storage unit in the write port and to the second power source signal line, and a second local interconnect line in the interconnect layer that is connected to the second power source signal line. The second local interconnect line in the read port is separate from the first local interconnect line in the write port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Hsien-Yu Pan, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen, Wei-Chang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230156995
    Abstract: A memory device includes active regions and gate structures, each of the gate structures is electrically coupled to a first portion of a corresponding active region of the active regions. The memory device includes contact-to-transistor-component structures (MD structures), each of the MD structures is over a second portion of a corresponding active region, and a first MD structure is between adjacent gate structures. The memory device includes via-to-gate/MD (VGD) structures, each of the VGD structures is over to a corresponding gate electrode and MD structure. The memory device includes conductive segments, each of the conductive segments is over and electrically coupled to a corresponding VGD structure. The memory device includes buried contact-to-transistor-component structures (BVD) structures, each of the BVD structures is under a third portion of a corresponding active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Chih-Yu LIN, Yen-Huei CHEN, Wei-Chang ZHAO, Yi-Hsin NIEN
  • Patent number: 11637108
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory circuit includes generating a layout design of the memory circuit, and manufacturing the memory circuit based on the layout design. The memory circuit is a four transistor memory cell that includes at least the first pass gate transistor and the first pull up transistor. The generating of the layout design includes generating a first active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first active region of a first pull up transistor, generating a second active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a second active region of a first pass gate transistor, and generating a first metal contact layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first metal contact is electrically coupled to a source of the first pull up transistor. The first metal contact layout pattern extends in a second direction, overlaps a cell boundary of the memory circuit and the first active region layout pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Hsien-Yu Pan, Yasutoshi Okuno, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao
  • Patent number: 11574674
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells wherein each of the plurality of memory cells is configured to be in a data state, and a physically unclonable function (PUF) generator. The PUF generator further includes a first sense amplifier, coupled to the plurality of memory cells, wherein while the plurality of memory cells are being accessed, the first sense amplifier is configured to compare accessing speeds of first and second memory cells of the plurality of memory cells, and based on the comparison, provide a first output signal for generating a first PUF signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Chen Lin, Wei Min Chan, Chih-Yu Lin, Shih-Lien Linus Lu, Yen-Huei Chen
  • Patent number: 11569246
    Abstract: A memory device including: active regions; gate electrodes which are substantially aligned relative to four corresponding track lines such that the memory device has a width of four contacted poly pitch (4 CPP) and are electrically coupled to the active regions; contact-to-transistor-component structures (MD structures) which are electrically coupled to the active regions, and are interspersed among corresponding ones of the gate electrodes; via-to-gate/MD (VGD) structures which are electrically coupled to the gate electrodes and the MD structures; conductive segments which are in a first layer of metallization (M_1st layer), and are electrically coupled to the VGD structures; buried contact-to-transistor-component structures (BVD structures) which are electrically coupled to the active regions; and buried conductive segments which are in a first buried layer of metallization (BM_1st layer), and are electrically coupled to the BVD structures, and correspondingly provide a first reference voltage or a second r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen, Wei-Chang Zhao, Yi-Hsin Nien
  • Patent number: 11562786
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a memory cell and a bit line connected to the memory cell. A negative voltage generator is connected to the bit line. The negative voltage generator, when enabled, is operative to provide a first write path for the bit line. A control circuit is connected to the negative voltage generator and the bit line. The control circuit is operative to provide a second write path for the bit line when the negative voltage generator is not enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsin Nien, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen
  • Publication number: 20220383947
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes embodiments of a write assist circuit. The write assist circuit can include a control circuit and a voltage generator. The control circuit can be configured to receive memory address information associated with a memory write operation for memory cells. The voltage generator can be configured to provide a reference voltage to one or more bitlines coupled to the memory cells. The voltage generator can include two capacitive elements, where during the memory write operation, (i) one of the capacitive elements can be configured to couple the reference voltage to a first negative voltage, and (ii) based on the memory address information, both capacitive elements can be configured to cumulatively couple the reference voltage to a second negative voltage that is lower than the first negative voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Chih-Yu LIN, Sahil Preet Singh, Hsien-Yu PAN, Yen-Huei CHEN, Hung-Jen LIAO
  • Patent number: 11498629
    Abstract: Barriers for rear frame mounted spare tires are disclosed. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame including a cross member, a spare tire, a skid plate, and a barrier extending between the skid plate and the cross member, the barrier abutting the spare tire, the barrier including a first surface having a first curvature, the first curvature concave relative to a rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leonard Anthony Shaner, Diego Eduardo Mendoza Hernández, Greg Gombert, Marcela Arana, Peter Joseph Jargowsky, Sukhwinder Singh Dhindsa, Jeffrey A. Walesch, Chih-Yu Lin, Mikolaj Tyksinski, Grant Warr, William L. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20220359002
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first word line and a second word line. A first portion of the first word line is formed in a first metal layer, a second portion of the first word line is formed in a second metal layer above the first metal layer, and a third portion of the first word line is formed in a third metal layer below the second metal layer. A first portion of the second word line is formed in the first metal layer. A second portion of the second word line is formed in the second metal layer. The first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the first word line have sizes that are different from each other, and the first portion and the second portion of the second word line have sizes that are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsin NIEN, Wei-Chang ZHAO, Chih-Yu LIN, Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Yen-Huei CHEN, Ru-Yu WANG
  • Patent number: 11493799
    Abstract: Provided is a display device including: a backlight module; a first display panel disposed on the backlight module and including a first polarizer; and a second display panel disposed on the backlight module and including a second polarizer, wherein the first polarizer has a first projection, the second polarizer has a second projection, and an area of an overlap between the first projection and the second projection accounts for 10% or less of an area of the second projection, wherein the first display panel comprises a non-display area, and the second display panel corresponds in position to the non-display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Lin, Kuan-Chou Chen
  • Patent number: 11435867
    Abstract: A display method adapted for an electronic device is provided. The method includes: identifying a target location of the last triggered target point on a screen, wherein the target point is triggered by an input operation applied on an I/O device of the electronic device; setting, according to an identified preset dividing pattern, a target dividing line on the screen based on the target location; identifying, according to an identified preset covering pattern, a target region and one or more non-target regions other than the target region of the screen based on the target dividing line; and adjusting the one or more non-target regions of the screens to decrease the readability of the one or more non-target regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventors: Ching-Chen Lin, Chih-Yu Lin, Thuån Thiên Tchen
  • Patent number: 11423977
    Abstract: The disclosed write assist circuit can include a control circuit and a voltage generator. The control circuit can be configured to receive memory address information associated with a memory write operation for memory cells. The voltage generator can be configured to provide a reference voltage to one or more bitlines coupled to the memory cells. The voltage generator can include two capacitive elements, where during the memory write operation, (i) one of the capacitive elements can be configured to couple the reference voltage to a first negative voltage, and (ii) based on the memory address information, both capacitive elements can be configured to cumulatively couple the reference voltage to a second negative voltage that is lower than the first negative voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Sahil Preet Singh, Hsien-Yu Pan, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao
  • Patent number: 11404113
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first program line and a second program line. A first portion of the first program line is formed in a first conductive layer, and a second portion of the first program line is formed in a second conductive layer above the first conductive layer. A first portion of the second program line is formed in the first conductive layer. A second portion of the second program line is formed in the second conductive layer. A third portion of the second program line is formed in a third conductive layer above the second conductive layer. The first portion and the second portion of the first program line have sizes that are different from each other, and the first portion, the second portion and the third portion of the second program line have sizes that are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsin Nien, Wei-Chang Zhao, Chih-Yu Lin, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yen-Huei Chen, Ru-Yu Wang
  • Publication number: 20220185396
    Abstract: Barriers for rear frame mounted spare tires are disclosed. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame including a cross member, a spare tire, a skid plate, and a barrier extending between the skid plate and the cross member, the barrier abutting the spare tire, the barrier including a first surface having a first curvature, the first curvature concave relative to a rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Leonard Anthony Shaner, Diego Eduardo Mendoza Hernández, Greg Gombert, Marcela Arana, Peter Joseph Jargowsky, Sukhwinder Singh Dhindsa, Jeffrey A. Walesch, Chih-Yu Lin, Mikolaj Tyksinski, Grant Warr, William L. Duncan
  • Patent number: 11360912
    Abstract: A method for performing adaptive locking range management, an associated data storage device and a controller thereof are provided. The method may include: receiving a security command from outside of the data storage device, wherein the security command is related to changing an old locking range into a new locking range; obtaining a start Logical Block Address (LBA) and a length value of the new locking range according to the security command; determining whether the start LBA of the new locking range is less than an end LBA of the old locking range, and determining whether an end LBA of the new locking range is greater than a start LBA of the old locking range; and in response to both determination results being true, performing data trimming on any respective non-overlapped portions of the new locking range and the old locking range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Silicon Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Lin, Hung-Ting Pan, Sung-Ling Hsu