Patents by Inventor Hung-Jen Liao

Hung-Jen Liao 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: 11948627
    Abstract: A 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 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Chih-Yu Lin, Sahil Preet Singh, Hsien-Yu Pan, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao
  • Publication number: 20240096757
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) die includes first through third adjacent rows of through-silicon vias (TSVs), and first and second adjacent rows of memory macros. TSVs of the first row of TSVs extend through and are electrically isolated from memory macros of the first row of memory macros. TSVs of the third row of TSVs extend through and are electrically isolated from memory macros of the second row of memory macros.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Tze-Chiang HUANG, Hong-Chen CHENG, Yen-Huei CHEN, Hung-Jen LIAO, Jonathan Tsung-Yung CHANG, Yun-Han LEE, Lee-Chung LU
  • Patent number: 11929109
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a memory system including unit storage circuits. In one aspect, each of the unit storage circuits abuts an adjacent one of the unit storage circuits. In one aspect, each of the unit storage circuits includes a first group of memory cells, a second group of memory cells, a first sub-word line driver to apply a first control signal to the first group of memory cells through a first sub-word line extending along a direction, and a second sub-word line driver to apply a second control signal to the second group of memory cells through a second sub-word line extending along the direction. In one aspect, the memory system includes a common word line driver abutting one of the unit storage circuits and configured to apply a common control signal to the unit storage circuits through a word line extending along the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Tzu Chen, Ching-Wei Wu, Hau-Tai Shieh, Hung-Jen Liao
  • Publication number: 20240079053
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a static random access memory (SRAM) device is provided. The SRAM device includes a memory cell, a bit line couple to the memory cell, a voltage supply line coupled to the memory cell, a control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to charge a voltage supply line while the voltage supply line is electrically isolated from a bit line. A portion of the charge is transferred from the voltage supply line to the bit line. The voltage supply line is recharged while the voltage supply line is electrically isolated from the bit line storing the transferred portion of the charge. The memory cell is accessed using the recharge on the voltage supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Mahmut Sinangil, Chiting Cheng, Hung-Jen Liao, Tsung-Yung Chang
  • Publication number: 20240079052
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first memory bank, a second memory bank and a first write driver. The first memory bank is coupled to a plurality of first data lines, and configured to operate according to a first data signal. The second memory bank is configured to operate according to the first data signal. The first write driver is disposed between the first memory bank and the second memory bank, and configured to adjust a voltage level of one of the plurality of first data lines when the first memory bank is written according to the first data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nikhil PURI, Venkateswara Reddy KONUDULA, Teja MASINA, Yen-Huei CHEN, Hung-Jen LIAO, Hidehiro FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20240071428
    Abstract: A device is disclosed and includes an input stage circuit, a switching circuit, and a first latch circuit. The input stage circuit generates a first input signal having a first voltage and a second input signal based on a third input signal. The switching circuit operates in response to a first control signal, and adjusts a voltage level of a first data line according to the first input signal and a voltage level of a second data line according to the second input signal. The first latch circuit is coupled to the switching circuit by the first data line and the second data line. The first latch circuit latches a data in response to the first control signal and a second control signal, and adjusts the voltage level of the first data line based on a second voltage different from the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin YU, Hung-Jen LIAO, Cheng-Hung LEE, Hau-Tai SHIEH
  • Patent number: 11910587
    Abstract: An apparatus includes memory cells. A first memory cell of the memory cells includes a first write port laid out in a first doping region and a first read port laid out in a second doping region. The first read port is separated from the first write port by a second write port of a second memory cell of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yi-Hsin Nien, Hung-Jen Liao
  • Publication number: 20240055048
    Abstract: A twelve-transistor (12T) memory cell for a memory device that includes a transmission gate, a cross-coupled inverter circuit operably connected to the transmission gate, and a tri-state inverter operably connected to the cross-coupled inverter circuit. The cross-coupled inverter includes another tri-state inverter cross-coupled to an inverter circuit. Various operations for the 12T memory cell, as well as circuitry to perform the operations, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mahmut Sinangil, Yen-Huei Chen, Yen-Ting Lin, Hung-Jen Liao, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang
  • Publication number: 20240046979
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a local write bit (LWB) line; a local write bit_bar (LWB_bar) line; a global write bit (GWB) line; a global write bit_bar (GWBL_bar) line; a column of segments, each segment including bit cells; each of the bit cells being coupled correspondingly between the LWB and LWB_bar lines; and a distributed write driving arrangement including local write drivers correspondingly coupled to the segments; and a global write driver coupled to each of the local write drivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Hung-Jen LIAO, Li-Wen WANG, Jonathan Tsung-Yung CHANG, Yen-Huei CHEN
  • Publication number: 20240028254
    Abstract: A charge sharing scheme is used to mitigate the variations in cell currents in order to achieve higher accuracy for CIM computing. In some embodiments, a capacitor is associated with each SRAM cell, and the capacitors associated with all SRAM cells in a column are included in averaging the RBL current. In some embodiments, a memory unit associated to an RBL in a CIM device includes a storage element adapted to store a weight, a first switch device connected to the storage element and adapted to be controlled by an input signal and generate a product signal having a magnitude indicative of the product of the input signal and the stored weight. The memory unit further includes a capacitor adapted to receive the product signal and store an amount of charge corresponding to the magnitude of the product signal. The memory unit further include a second switch device adapted to transfer the charge on the capacitor to the RBL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan Tsung-Yung CHANG, Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Hung-Jen LIAO, Yen-Huei CHEN, Yih WANG, Haruki MORI
  • Publication number: 20240030919
    Abstract: A circuit includes a control circuit configured to receive a selection signal transitioning within a first voltage domain; and generate, based on the selection signal, a first control signal transitioning within a second voltage domain different from the first voltage domain. The circuit further includes a switch circuit operatively coupled to the control circuit and comprising a first header transistor coupled to a first voltage supply transitioning within the second voltage domain, and gated by the first control signal; and a second header transistor coupled to a second voltage supply transitioning within the first voltage domain, and gated by a second control signal that is logically inverse to the first control signal. The first header transistor and the second header transistor are complementarily turned on so as to provide an output voltage equal to either the first voltage supply or the second voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Kuo, Yangsyu Lin, Takaaki Nakazato, Yu-Hao Hsu, Hung-Jen Liao, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang
  • Patent number: 11869623
    Abstract: A device is disclosed and includes an input stage circuit, a switching circuit, and a first latch circuit. The input stage circuit generates a first input signal having a first voltage and a second input signal based on a third input signal. The switching circuit operates in response to a first control signal, and adjusts a voltage level of a first data line according to the first input signal and a voltage level of a second data line according to the second input signal. The first latch circuit is coupled to the switching circuit by the first data line and the second data line. The first latch circuit latches a data in response to the first control signal and a second control signal, and adjusts the voltage level of the first data line based on a second voltage different from the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin Yu, Hung-Jen Liao, Cheng-Hung Lee, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 11854943
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package includes a logic die, a substrate, a memory die positioned between the logic die and the substrate, and a power distribution structure configured to electrically couple the logic die to the substrate. The power distribution structure includes a plurality of conductive segments positioned between the logic die and the memory die, a plurality of bump structures positioned between the memory die and the substrate, and a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) electrically coupled to the plurality of conductive segments and the plurality of bump structures, and a TSV of the plurality of TSVs extends through, and is electrically isolated from, a memory macro of the memory die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Tze-Chiang Huang, Hong-Chen Cheng, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang, Yun-Han Lee, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11854970
    Abstract: Circuit devices, such as integrated circuit devices, are constructed with combination circuits that include two or more cascading transistors, and one or more metal layers disposed over the cascading transistors. The cascading transistors include multiple internal nodes (e.g., common source/drain regions). The multiple internal nodes are not connected to a common metal stripe (the same metal stripe) in the one or more metal layers. The absence of the connections between the internal nodes and a common metal stripe reduce or eliminate the load on the internal nodes. The transistors in the cascading transistors are independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Cheng-Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao, Hau-Tai Shieh, Kao-Cheng Lin, Wei-Min Chan
  • Publication number: 20230410854
    Abstract: A memory circuit includes a first and a second bit line coupled to a set of memory cells, a local input output circuit including a first and a second data line, a first control circuit configured to generate a first sense amplifier signal and a second sense amplifier signal, a second control circuit configured to generate a first control signal in response to at least a second control signal or a third control signal, a switching circuit configured to transfer a first and second input signal to the corresponding first and second data line during a write operation, and to electrically isolate the first and second data line from the first and second input signal during a read operation, and a first latch configured as a sense amplifier, during the read operation, and configured as a write-in latch, during the write operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Hua-Hsin YU, Hau-Tai SHIEH, Cheng Hung LEE, Hung-Jen LIAO
  • Patent number: 11848047
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a static random access memory (SRAM) device is provided. The SRAM device includes a memory cell, a bit line couple to the memory cell, a voltage supply line coupled to the memory cell, a control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to charge a voltage supply line while the voltage supply line is electrically isolated from a bit line. A portion of the charge is transferred from the voltage supply line to the bit line. The voltage supply line is recharged while the voltage supply line is electrically isolated from the bit line storing the transferred portion of the charge. The memory cell is accessed using the recharge on the voltage supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Mahmut Sinangil, Chiting Cheng, Hung-Jen Liao, Tsung-Yung Chang
  • Publication number: 20230395160
    Abstract: A memory circuit includes first and second memory segments coupled to first and second write lines, and first and second write line circuits coupled to the first and second write lines and configured to receive first and second data signals. The first and second data signals have complementary low and high logical states during a write operation to the first or second memory segment, and each of the first and second data signals has the low logical state during a masked write operation to the first or second memory segment. The first and second write line circuits output, to the first and second write lines, first and second write line signals responsive to the first and second data signals during the write operation and float the first and second data lines during the masked write operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Manish ARORA, Yen-Huei CHEN, Hung-Jen LIAO, Nikhil PURI, Yu-Hao HSU
  • Publication number: 20230395143
    Abstract: A method of performing an in-memory computation includes storing a first subset of data in a first segment of a first memory array and a second subset of the data in a second segment of the first memory array, latching a first data bit from a first column of memory cells in the first segment of the first memory array, sequentially reading a plurality of second data bits from a second column of memory cells in the second segment of the first memory array, and performing a logic operation on each combination of the latched first data bit and each second data bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Yen-Huei CHEN, Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Hung-Jen LIAO, Jonathan Tsung-Yung CHANG
  • Publication number: 20230386567
    Abstract: A memory device and a method of operating the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the memory device includes a plurality of memory arrays and a controller including a plurality of buffers including a first buffer connected to a first memory array and a second buffer connected to a second memory array. The first and second memory arrays are disposed on opposing sides of the controller. The memory device can include a first wire extending in a first direction and connected to the first buffer, a second wire extending in the first direction and connected to the second buffer, and a third wire connected to the first and second wires and extending in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The third wire can be electrically connected to the controller, and respective lengths of the first wire and the second wire are substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Hau-Tai Shieh, Cheng Hung Lee, Hung-Jen Liao
  • Patent number: 11830544
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes an array of memory cells arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, with each memory cell including a plurality of bit cell transistors. The semiconductor memory device further includes a plurality of write assist circuits, including one or more write assist circuits within each column of the array of memory cells, each write assist circuit configured to provide a core voltage to memory cells within the same column and to reduce the core voltage during a write operation. The array of memory cells and the plurality of write assist circuits have a common semiconductor layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Sahil Preet Singh, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao