Patents by Inventor Chun-Hsiang Lai

Chun-Hsiang Lai 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: 6628488
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is disclosed. This invention relates an electrostatic discharge protection circuit for multi-power and mixed-voltage integrated circuit. In the electrostatic discharge protection circuit of the invention, an ESD protection cell formed with voltage selector, control circuit and transistor is used to connect with a independent power and ESD bus is used to connect with each ESD protection cell so that each power is isolated from each other during normal operation. Therefore, each power can be operated independently and circuit will be prevented from ESD during ESD discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Huang Liu, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Shin Su, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 6618230
    Abstract: The present invention provides an IC ESD cell, which is applicable to multiple-power-input and mixed-voltage ICs and capable of maintaining power sequence independence of each power source. The ESD cell of the present invention comprises a voltage selector circuit, which connects two separate power sources to select the one having a higher potential as the output voltage. An NMOS is used to connect the two separate power sources. An RC circuit is connected to an output of the voltage selector circuit to distinguish ESD event from normal power source. Therefore, the channel of the NMOS will be conducted to let the ESD current be led out via a designed path, hence preventing internal circuits of an IC from damage and accomplishing the object of whole chip protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng Huaug Liu, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Sing Su, Tao Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 6590261
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure is disclosed. The ESD protection structure of the present invention uses a resistance capacitance (RC) circuit to distinguish an overshoot phenomenon caused by the instantaneous power-on from an ESD event, so as to prevent the ESD protection device, such as a P-type modified lateral silicon controlled rectifier (MLSCR), from being triggered unexpectedly by an overshoot phenomenon which results from the power-on under normal operation, and thereby the efficiency of the ESD protection device is promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Su, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Meng-Huang Liu, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20030067039
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure is disclosed. The ESD protection structure of the present invention uses a resistance capacitance (RC) circuit to distinguish an overshoot phenomenon caused by the instantaneous power-on from an ESD event, so as to prevent the ESD protection device, such as P-type modified lateral silicon controlled rectifier (MLSCR), from being triggered unexpectedly by an overshoot phenomenon resulted from the power-on under normal operation, and thereby the efficiency of the ESD protection device is promoted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Shin Su, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Meng-Huang Liu, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20030039085
    Abstract: The invention discloses an ESD (Electro Static Discharge) protection circuit, including a resistor device, a capacitor device and a PMOS device. The resistor device is connected in series between a power supply and the capacitor device. The capacitor device is connected in series between the resistor device and the ground. A gate electrode of the PMOS device is connected between the resistor device and the capacitor device. A bulk electrode of the PMOS device is interconnected to a first electrode of the PMOS device, and the first electrode is connected to the power supply. Alternatively, another ESD protection circuit for multiple power supplies includes at least two aforementioned ESD protection circuits, and a common ESD bus. The ESD protection circuits are connected to separate power supplies, and both connected to the common ESD bus. By using the ESD protection circuit, there is no noise between the separate power supplies, and an ESD current could be discharged easily and safely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Meng-Huang Liu, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Sing Su, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20030016478
    Abstract: The present invention provides an IC ESD cell, which is applicable to multiple-power-input and mixed-voltage ICs and capable of maintaining power sequence independence of each power source. The ESD cell of the present invention comprises a voltage selector circuit, which connects two separate power sources to select the one having a higher potential as the output voltage. An NMOS is used to connect the two separate power sources. An RC circuit is connected to an output of the voltage selector circuit to distinguish ESD event from normal power source. Therefore, the channel of the NMOS will be conducted to let the ESD current be led out via a designed path, hence preventing internal circuits of an IC from damage and accomplishing the object of whole chip protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Meng Huang Liu, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Sing Su, Tao Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20020186517
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is disclosed. This invention relates an electrostatic discharge protection circuit for multi-power and mixed-voltage integrated circuit. In the electrostatic discharge protection circuit of the invention, an ESD protection cell formed with voltage selector, control circuit and transistor is used to connect with a independent power and ESD bus is used to connect with each ESD protection cell so that each power is isolated from each other during normal operation. Therefore, each power can be operated independently and circuit will be prevented from ESD during ESD discharging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Meng-Huang Liu, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Shin Su, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20020089017
    Abstract: An I/O pad ESD protection circuit is composed of a SCR circuit, a first diode, a second diode, and an anti-latch-up circuit. The SCR circuit has a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal, respectively coupled to the I/O pad and the ground voltage, so as to discharge the electrostatic charges. The anti-latch-up circuit has two terminals, which are respectively coupled to the voltage source and the ground voltage, and another connection terminal, used to send an anti-latch-up signal to the SCR for changing the activating rate. The latch-up phenomenon is avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Chun Hsiang Lai, Meng Huang Liu, Tao Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20020085328
    Abstract: The present invention relates an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device that is applied to a mixed voltage circuit assembly. The device comprises a RC controlled circuit subassembly and a field transistor, which the RC controlled circuit is coupled with the mixed voltage circuit assembly to substantially control the ESD protection device to be ON or OFF. The field transistor is coupled between a first power supply and a second power supply of said mixed voltage circuit assembly, which is off on the condition of a normal operating condition and is conducting as an ESD event occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Huang Liu, Chun-Hsiang Lai, Shin Su, Tao-Cheng Lu