Patents by Inventor Kai-Chun Lin

Kai-Chun 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).

  • Publication number: 20130201754
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive memory stores logic values in high and low resistance states of magnetic tunnel junction elements. Instead of comparing the resistance of elements to a fixed threshold to discern a logic state, the resistances of elements are self-compared before and after imposing a low resistance state. A measure of the resistance of an element in its unknown resistance state is stored, for example by charging a capacitor to a voltage produced when read current bias is applied. Then the element is written into its low resistance state and read current bias is applied again to develop another voltage, representing the low resistance state. A comparison circuit using current summing and an offset providing a minimum difference tolerance determines whether the resistance of the element was changed or remained the same. This determines the logic state of the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Kai-Chun Lin, Yue-Der Chih, Chun-Jung Lin
  • Publication number: 20130188418
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), a top electrode disposed over the MTJ, a bottom electrode disposed below the MTJ, and an induction line disposed above or below the MTJ. The induction line is configured to induce a magnetic field at the MTJ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Wei CHIANG, Kai-Chun LIN, Ya-Chen KAO, Hung-Chang YU
  • Patent number: 8493776
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive memory stores logic values in high and low resistance states of magnetic tunnel junction elements. Instead of comparing the resistance of elements to a fixed threshold to discern a logic state, the resistances of elements are self-compared before and after imposing a low resistance state. A measure of the resistance of an element in its unknown resistance state is stored, for example by charging a capacitor to a voltage produced when read current bias is applied. Then the element is written into its low resistance state and read current bias is applied again to develop another voltage, representing the low resistance state. A comparison circuit using current summing and an offset providing a minimum difference tolerance determines whether the resistance of the element was changed or remained the same. This determines the logic state of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Kai-Chun Lin, Yu-Der Chih, Chun-Jung Lin
  • Publication number: 20130070519
    Abstract: A read architecture for reading random access memory (RAM) cells includes a multi-level sense amplifier, the multi-level sense amplifier including a plurality of sense amplifiers, each sense amplifier having a respective sense threshold and a respective sense output, and a storage module coupled to the multi-level sense amplifier for storing the sense outputs of the multi-level sense amplifier. The storage module stores a first set of sense outputs corresponding to a first read of an RAM cell and stores a second set of sense outputs corresponding to a second read of the RAM cell. The architecture also includes a decision module for comparing the first and second set of sense outputs and determining a data state of the RAM cell based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Chun Lin, Hung-Chang Yu, Yue-Der Chih