Patents by Inventor Guobiao Zhang

Guobiao Zhang 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).

  • Tamper-Proof Content-Playback System Offering Excellent Copyright Protection
    Publication number: 20060158737
    Abstract: To protect copyright, the present invention provides a tamper-proof content-playback system. Its content-playback unit has the following I/O characteristics: A) at least a portion of its content input(s) is encrypted digital signals; B) at least a portion of its content output(s) is non-digital (e.g. analog) or non-electrical (e.g. image) signals. Only secure data connections are allowed for decrypted contents inside the content-playback unit. Accordingly, its components are preferably integrated into: a single chip, a single package, or a chip/package-on-panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Chenming HU, Guobiao ZHANG
  • Tamper-Proof Content-Playback System Offering Excellent Copyright Protection
    Publication number: 20060159424
    Abstract: To protect copyright, the present invention provides a tamper-proof content-playback system. Its content-playback unit has the following I/O characteristics: A) at least a portion of its content input(s) is encrypted digital signals; B) at least a portion of its content output(s) is non-digital (e.g. analog) or non-electrical (e.g. image) signals. Only secure data connections are allowed for decrypted contents inside the content-playback unit. Accordingly, its components are preferably integrated into: a single chip, a single package, or a chip/package-on-panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Chenming HU, Guobiao ZHANG
  • Cellular Phone as Universal Multimedia Storage Platform
    Publication number: 20060148510
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a cellular phone as universal multimedia storage platform (UMSP-phone). It comprises a high-speed, short-range wireless communication means for directly and seamlessly transferring data with multimedia devices (without computer or user intervention). UMSP-phone provides great user-convenience, while lowering the storage cost of its associated multimedia devices. It will become a personal communication, computation and storage hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Fractional-Bit Systems
    Patent number: 7071849
    Abstract: The present invention abandons the conventional approach of incrementing bits-per-cell b by 1, but allows increments of states-per-cell N by as little as 1 between product generations. Because N is no longer an integral power of 2, b takes a fractional value, resulting in a fractional-bit system. In a fractional-bit system, cells are decoded in unit of word. By adjusting the word-width, the system efficiency can be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Three-Dimensional Memory System-on-a-Chip
    Publication number: 20060097279
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a three-dimensional memory (3D-M) system-on-a-chip (3DM-SoC) with half-3DM level(s), whose un-used space above the embedded memory is converted into 3D-M level(s). This conversion process, incurring little extra manufacturing cost, can significantly increase the SoC storage capacity. The present invention further discloses a 3DM-SoC with large basic array(s). With large basic arrays, the previously-designed IP blocks could be easily ported over and re-used, thus simplifying the 3DM-SoC design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Pattern-Distributed Mask
    Publication number: 20060088772
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a pattern-distributed mask. It comprises a plurality of mask regions whose images will be merged into a single image (e.g. by interleaving) on an image-carrier (e.g. wafer, mask blank). The pattern spacing on a pattern-distributed mask could be much larger than a conventional mask. For example, all pattern spacing on a pattern-distributed mask could be ˜3 F (vs. ˜1 F on a conventional mask). It can enable highly-corrected mask, as well as thin-film mask with supporting structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • User-Configurable Pre-Recorded Memory
    Publication number: 20060085615
    Abstract: In a user-configurable pre-recorded memory (UC-PM), a user can select contents he is interested in, and pay copyright fees accordingly. With large capacity, low cost and great integratibility, 3D-M, more particularly 3D-MPM, is suitable for UC-PM. It provides excellent access control and impenetrable copyright protection. UC-PM will enable a copyright distribution model fair to both copyright holders and users. On the other hand, the 3D-MPM scaling should be the fastest among all memory types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Three-dimensional memory system-on-a-chip
    Publication number: 20060081883
    Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional memory (3D-M) system-on-a-chip (SoC). It takes full advantage of the difference in the number of interconnect levels between the embedded processor (eP) and embedded memory (eM) in an SoC chip. The un-used interconnect space on top of the eM block is converted into 3D-M. This conversion incurs minimum additional cost, but with significant benefits: 3D-M can add a large storage capacity to the SoC chip and therefore the chip becomes more powerful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Muffler
    Publication number: 20060065477
    Abstract: A muffler is disclosed. In the muffler a throttling device that is controlled by the energy of the airflow to be muffled is provided in a pipeline of the airflow that needs to be muffled. The muffler is adjusted by itself according to random variety of the pulsing airflow, and can eliminate or reduce effectively the pulsation of the airflow and the related noise in the range of the low frequency and the middle frequency. The muffling effect of the muffler has no correlation with the volume of the muffler, and therefore the volume of the muffler can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Low-Cost Lithography
    Publication number: 20060038746
    Abstract: The low-cost lithography disclosed in the present invention lowers the lithographic cost by improving the mask re-usability, e.g. by using programmable litho-system and/or logic litho-system. The programmable litho-system, with an opening-programmable mask, can adjust its image patterns based on configuration data. The logic litho-system can combine image patterns from at least two mask regions into a single image on a wafer or a mask blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • nF-Opening Aiv Structures
    Patent number: 6989603
    Abstract: The low-cost lithography disclosed in the present invention is based on two approaches: 1. Use a low-precision nF-opening mask to implement high-precision opening-related patterns (e.g. inter-level connections and segmented-lines); 2. Improve the mask re-usability with programmable litho-system and/or logic litho-system. Pattern distribution enables the mask-repair through redundancy. It further enables highly-corrected masks, which provide higher-order correction to clear patterns on wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Wireless Multimedia Device
    Publication number: 20060015664
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a wireless multimedia device (wMD). It comprises a wireless communication means for directly and seamlessly communicating with a wireless hard-disk drive. Preferably, this wireless means has a short range and fast speed. With seamless communication, the wMD local storage can have a small capacity and/or use a volatile memory, thus significantly lowering the wMD cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Portable Wireless Smart Hard-Disk Drive
    Publication number: 20060010270
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable wireless smart hard-disk drive (pwsHDD). It comprises a wireless communication means for directly and seamlessly communicating with at least one multimedia device. Preferably, this wireless means has a short range and fast speed. The pwsHDD will become a universal multimedia storage platform and significantly lower the storage cost for multimedia devices. Combined with a cellular phone, a pwsHDD-phone would be a personal communication, computation and storage hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventor: Guobiao ZHANG
  • Wireless Smart Hard-Disk Drive
    Publication number: 20050251597
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable wireless smart hard-disk drive (wsHDD). It comprises a wireless direct communication means with associated multimedia devices. Short-range wireless means is a preferred communication means. To users, the wsHDD is more convenient and costs less. The wsHDD-cellular phone will become personal communication, computation and storage hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Fractional-Bit Systems
    Publication number: 20050219077
    Abstract: The present invention abandons the conventional approach of incrementing bits-per-cell b by 1, but allows increments of states-per-cell N by as little as 1 between product generations. Because N is no longer an integral power of 2, b takes a fractional value, resulting in a fractional-bit system. In a fractional-bit system, cells are decoded in unit of word. By adjusting the word-width, the system efficiency can be optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • User-configurable pre-recorded memory
    Publication number: 20050223182
    Abstract: In a user-configurable pre-recorded memory (IC-PM), a user can select the files he wishes to access and therefore, only pay the copyright fees for the selected files. Three-dimensional memory (3D-M)-based UC-PM offers low cost and large capacity. More importantly, it provides impenetrable copyright protection and will enable a copyright distribution model, fair to both copyright owners and consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Three-dimensional memory cells and peripheral circuits
    Publication number: 20050133875
    Abstract: The present invention discloses several preferred mask-programmable 3-D memory (3D-MPROM) structures, including pillar-shaped 3D-MPROM, natural-junction 3D-MPROM, interleaved 3D-MPROM, and separate 3D-MPROM. The present invention also makes further improvements to its peripheral circuits. The use of sense-amplifier can significantly lower the leakage-current requirement on the 3D-ROM memory cell. Self-timing can improve the 3D-ROM speed and reduce its power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Peripheral circuits of electrically programmable three-dimensional memory
    Patent number: 6906361
    Abstract: The present invention makes improvements to the peripheral circuits of the electrically programmable three-dimensional memory (EP-3DM). Full-read mode and self-timing are used to improve the speed and lower the power consumption Cached EP-3DM is disclosed to reduce the latency. Redundancy can be employed to improve the yield of the EP-3DM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Mask programmable read-only memory based on nF-opening mask
    Patent number: 6903427
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an nF-opening-based mask-programmable read-only memory. Because its openings can be nx (n>1) wider than its address-selection lines, this memory can use less expensive opening mask. Other mask-programmable 3-D memory (3D-M) structures are also disclosed. The present invention makes further improvements to the 3D-M's peripheral circuits. Full-read mode and self-timing can be used to improve the speed and reduce the power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Electrically Programmable Three-Dimensional Memory Structures and Cells
    Publication number: 20050087817
    Abstract: The present invention makes various improvements to the electrically programmable three-dimensional memory (EP-3DM), including its structure and cell design. Redundancy can be employed to improve its yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang