Patents by Inventor Hung Chang Yu

Hung Chang Yu 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: 9299677
    Abstract: A embodiment package includes a three dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) with first input/output pads on a first side and second input/output pads on a second side, a first fan out structure electrically coupled to the first input/output pads on the first side of the three dimensional integrated circuit, and a second fan out structure electrically coupled to the second input/output pads on the second side of the three dimensional integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Kai-Chun Lin, Yue-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20160072494
    Abstract: A sensing circuit having a reduced bias clamp and method of operating the sensing circuit are provided. The sensing circuit may include a reference path and a sensing path. The sensing path may include a first transistor, clamping capacitor and a pair of switches. The reference path may include a second transistor, clamping capacitor and another pair of switches. A common gain stage receiving a bias voltage charges the clamping capacitors for the respective paths in a charging mode. The clamping capacitors may be charged in a serial or partially parallel manner during the charging mode. Each path may be coupled to a comparator, which may sense current or voltage changes between the paths during a sense mode. The sensing circuit may be configured to provide for sensing current or voltage changes between multiple sensing and/or reference paths in a parallel or serial manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Hung-Chang Yu
  • Publication number: 20160019943
    Abstract: A trimming process for setting a reference current used in operating an MRAM module comprising an operational MRAM cell coupled to a bit line, multiple reference MRAM cells coupled to a reference bit line, and a sense amplifier coupled to the bit line and the reference bit line is disclosed in some embodiments. The process includes applying a bit line reference voltage to the reference bit line to provide a reference cell current formed by a sum of respective currents through the plurality of reference MRAM cells. The reference cell current is detected. A determination is made as to whether the detected reference cell current differs from a target reference cell current. The bit line reference voltage is varied, or a sensing ratio of the sense amplifier is varied, if it is determined that the detected reference cell current differs from the target reference cell current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue-Der CHIH, Kai-Chun LIN, Hung-Chang YU
  • Patent number: 9214931
    Abstract: A sensing circuit having a reduced bias clamp and method of operating the sensing circuit are provided. The sensing circuit may include a reference path and a sensing path. The sensing path may include a first transistor, clamping capacitor and a pair of switches. The reference path may include a second transistor, clamping capacitor and another pair of switches. A common gain stage receiving a bias voltage charges the clamping capacitors for the respective paths in a charging mode. The clamping capacitors may be charged in a serial or partially parallel manner during the charging mode. Each path may be coupled to a comparator, which may sense current or voltage changes between the paths during a sense mode. The sensing circuit may be configured to provide for sensing current or voltage changes between multiple sensing and/or reference paths in a parallel or serial manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Hung-Chang Yu
  • Publication number: 20150355963
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a system that includes write circuitry, read circuitry, and comparison circuitry. The write circuitry is configured to attempt to write an expected multi-bit word to a memory location in a memory device. The read circuitry is configured to read an actual multi-bit word from the memory location. The comparison circuitry is configured to compare the actual multi-bit word read from the memory location with the expected multi-bit word which was previously written to the memory location to distinguish between a number of erroneous bits in the actual multi-bit word and a number of correct bits in the actual multi-bit word. The write circuitry is further configured to re-write the number of erroneous bits to the memory location without attempting to re-write the number of correct bits to the memory location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Yue-Der Chih, Hung-Chang Yu, Kai-Chun Lin, Chin-Yi Huang, Laun C. Tran
  • Patent number: 9183895
    Abstract: A memory comprising a word line having a word line voltage, a charge pump coupled to the word line, and a dynamic feedback control circuit coupled to the charge pump. The dynamic feedback control circuit is configured to boost the word line voltage to a predetermined voltage value greater than a target threshold voltage, change a clock frequency of a clock signal supplied to the charge pump from a non-zero frequency to a zero frequency if the word line voltage is above the predetermined voltage value, and change the clock frequency from the zero frequency to the non-zero frequency if the word line voltage is below the target threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Yue-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 9177621
    Abstract: A device includes a first switch configured to control a connection between a first voltage node and a capacitor, and a second switch configured to control a connection between a common charge node and the capacitor. The device further includes a plurality of bit-lines, and a plurality of bit-line charge switches, each configured to control a connection between a respective one of the plurality of bit-lines and the common charge node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Ku-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 9165629
    Abstract: A trimming process for setting a reference current used in operating an MRAM module comprising an operational MRAM cell coupled to a bit line, multiple reference MRAM cells coupled to a reference bit line, and a sense amplifier coupled to the bit line and the reference bit line is disclosed in some embodiments. The process includes applying a bit line reference voltage to the reference bit line to provide a reference cell current formed by a sum of respective currents through the plurality of reference MRAM cells. The reference cell current is detected. A determination is made as to whether the detected reference cell current differs from a target reference cell current. The bit line reference voltage is varied, or a sensing ratio of the sense amplifier is varied, if it is determined that the detected reference cell current differs from the target reference cell current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue-Der Chih, Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu
  • Patent number: 9165613
    Abstract: A device includes an amplifier and a first switched current sampler. The first switched current sampler includes a first transistor, a first capacitor, and first, second, and third switches. The first capacitor has a first terminal electrically connected to a gate electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal electrically connected to a source electrode of the first transistor. The first switch has a first terminal electrically connected to a first current source, and a second terminal electrically connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor. The second switch has a first terminal electrically connected to the first current source, and a second terminal electrically connected to a drain electrode of the first transistor. The third switch has a first terminal electrically connected to the drain electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal electrically connected to a first input terminal of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Yue-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20150294696
    Abstract: A stabilizing circuit is provided that is connected to a biased voltage. The stabilizing circuit is configured to inhibit a change in voltage of the biased voltage caused by a first change in voltage of one or more nodes that are connected to the biased voltage through a first parasitic capacitance. In some embodiments, the stabilizing circuit induces a voltage on the biased voltage through a second parasitic capacitance that changes from a first voltage level to a second voltage level during the first change in voltage such that a total change in parasitic voltage that is induced at the biased voltage during the first change in voltage is close to 0 V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Ku-Feng Lin, Yue-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20150269997
    Abstract: A circuit that includes a current source module, a current sink module and a memory bank is disclosed. Each of the current source module, the current sink module and the memory bank is connected to the first bit/source line and the second bit/source line. The memory bank is bounded by the current source module and the current sink module. When the current source module and the current sink module receive a triggering pulse from the first bit/source line and a select signal with a first state, the current source module is activated to generate an operating current to the first bit/source line that transmits through a conducted memory cell of the memory bank and the current sink module is activated to drain the operating current from the second bit/source line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Ku-Feng Lin, Yue-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20150234403
    Abstract: A low-dropout (LDO) regulator is provided. The LDO regulator comprises a first circuit operating as a closed loop control system. The first circuit is configured to control a voltage at a first node such that the voltage at the first node is substantially equal to a specified regulator output voltage. The LDO regulator comprises a second circuit operating as an open loop control system. The second circuit is configured to increase the voltage at the first node when a current flowing through a load changes from a first current to a second current. The first current is substantially equal to 0 amperes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yuan-Long Siao, Ku-Feng Lin, Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Chia-Fu Lee, Yue-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 9110829
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate a method. The method attempts to write an expected multi-bit word to a memory location in memory. After writing of the multi-bit word has been attempted, an actual multi-bit word is read from the memory location. The actual multi-bit word is then compared with the expected multi-bit word to identify a number of erroneous bits and a number of correct bits stored in the memory location. The number of erroneous bits is re-written to the memory location without attempting to re-write the correct bits to the memory location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue-Der Chih, Hung-Chang Yu, Kai-Chun Lin, Chin-Yi Huang, Laun C. Tran
  • Publication number: 20150187721
    Abstract: A embodiment package includes a three dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) with first input/output pads on a first side and second input/output pads on a second side, a first fan out structure electrically coupled to the first input/output pads on the first side of the three dimensional integrated circuit, and a second fan out structure electrically coupled to the second input/output pads on the second side of the three dimensional integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Kai-Chun Lin, Yue-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20150180210
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and a method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first layer including a first optical transceiver and a second layer including a second optical transceiver. A first serializer/deserializer (SerDes) is connected to the first optical transceiver and a second SerDes is connected to the second optical transceiver. The SerDes converts parallel data input into serial data output including a clock signal that the first transceiver transmits to the second transceiver. The semiconductor arrangement has a lower area penalty than traditional intra-layer communication arrangements that do not use optics for alignment, and mitigates alignment issues associated with conventional techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Ying-Hao Kuo, Kai-Chun Lin, Yue-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 9058872
    Abstract: A resistance-based random access memory circuit includes a first data line, a second data line, a plurality of memory cells, a first driving unit, and a second driving unit. The memory cells are arranged one following another in parallel with the first and second data lines. Each of the memory cells are coupled between the first data line and the second data line. The first driving unit is coupled with first ends of the first and second data lines. The first driving unit is configured to electrically couple one of the first data line and the second data line to a first voltage node. The second driving unit is coupled with second ends of the first and second data lines. The second driving unit is configured to electrically couple the other one of the first data line and the second data line to a second voltage node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Kai-Chun Lin, Yue-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20150144860
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a resistive memory array. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a resistive memory array includes forming a plurality of insulators and a conductive structure on a first substrate, performing a resistor-forming process to transform the insulators into a plurality of resistors, polishing the conductive structure to expose a plurality of contact points respectively electrically connected to the resistors, providing a second substrate having a plurality of transistors and a plurality of interconnect pads, bonding respectively the interconnect pads and the contact points, and removing the first substrate from the resistors and the conductive structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ku-Feng LIN, Hung-Chang YU, Kai-Chun LIN, Yue-Der CHIH
  • Publication number: 20150063048
    Abstract: A device includes an amplifier and a first switched current sampler. The first switched current sampler includes a first transistor, a first capacitor, and first, second, and third switches. The first capacitor has a first terminal electrically connected to a gate electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal electrically connected to a source electrode of the first transistor. The first switch has a first terminal electrically connected to a first current source, and a second terminal electrically connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor. The second switch has a first terminal electrically connected to the first current source, and a second terminal electrically connected to a drain electrode of the first transistor. The third switch has a first terminal electrically connected to the drain electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal electrically connected to a first input terminal of the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Yue-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 8964458
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive memory has first and second magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements operated differentially, each with a pinned magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer that can have field alignments that are parallel or anti-parallel, producing differential high and low resistance states representing a bit cell value. Writing a high resistance state to an element requires an opposite write current polarity through the pinned and free layers, and differential operation requires that the two MTJ elements be written to different resistance states. One aspect is to arrange or connect the layers in normal and reverse order relative to a current bias source, thereby achieving opposite write current polarities relative to the layers using the same current polarity relative to the current bias source. The differentially operated MTJ elements can supplement or replace single MTJ elements in a nonvolatile memory bit cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Yue-Der Chih, Chun-Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 8923040
    Abstract: A memory has magnetic tunnel junction elements with different resistances in different logic states, for bit positions in memory words accessed by a word line signal coupling each bit cell in the addressed word between a bit line and source line for that bit position. The bit lines and source lines are longer and shorter at different word line locations, causing a resistance body effect. A clamping transistor couples the bit line to a sensing circuit when reading, applying a current through the bit cell and producing a read voltage compared by the sensing circuit to a reference such as a comparable voltage from a reference bit cell circuit having a similar structure. A drive control varies an input to the switching transistor as a function of the word line location, e.g., by word line address, to offset the different bit and source line resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Ku-Feng Lin, Yue-Der Chih