Patents by Inventor Kai-Wen Cheng
Kai-Wen Cheng 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: 20170229532Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first magnetic layer, an insulative oxide layer, an oxygen trapping layer and a cap layer. The insulative oxide layer is over the first magnetic layer. The oxygen trapping layer is over the insulative oxide layer. The oxygen concentration of the oxygen trapping layer is less than an oxygen concentration of the insulative oxide layer. The cap layer is over the oxygen trapping layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: CHUN-CHI CHEN, KAI-WEN CHENG, CHENG-YUAN TSAI, KUO-MING WU
-
Patent number: 9728596Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first magnetic layer, an insulative oxide layer, an oxygen trapping layer and a cap layer. The insulative oxide layer is over the first magnetic layer. The oxygen trapping layer is over the insulative oxide layer. The oxygen concentration of the oxygen trapping layer is less than an oxygen concentration of the insulative oxide layer. The cap layer is over the oxygen trapping layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Chun-Chi Chen, Kai-Wen Cheng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Kuo-Ming Wu
-
Patent number: 9685389Abstract: An embodiment of a memory device is disclosed. The memory device includes a multi-stack dielectric layer over a substrate; a first conductive layer over the multi-stack dielectric layer; a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer; a getter layer over the second conductive layer, wherein the getter layer includes a first layer that is formed of titanium and a second layer overlying the first layer that is formed of tantalum nitride; and an interconnect layer over the getter layer such that the interconnect layer is electrically coupled to the first conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yao-Wen Chang, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Kai-Wen Cheng
-
Publication number: 20170162787Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell having a reduced leakage current, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming a bottom electrode layer over a lower metal interconnect layer. A dielectric data storage layer having a variable resistance is formed onto the bottom electrode layer in-situ with forming at least a part of the bottom electrode layer. A top electrode layer is formed over the dielectric data storage layer. By forming the dielectric data storage layer in-situ with forming at least a part of the bottom electrode layer, leakage current, leakage current distribution and device yield of the RRAM cell are improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Trinh Hai Dang, Hsing-Lien Lin, Kai-Wen Cheng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee
-
Patent number: 9577191Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell having a reduced leakage current, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming a bottom electrode over a lower metal interconnect layer using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to form at least a top portion of the bottom electrode. A dielectric data storage layer is formed onto the top portion of the bottom electrode in-situ with forming the top portion of the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed over the dielectric data storage layer, and an upper metal interconnect layer is formed over the top electrode. By forming the top portion of the bottom electrode using an ALD process that is in-situ with the formation of the overlying dielectric data storage layer, leakage current, leakage current distribution and device yield of the RRAM cell are improved.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Trinh Hai Dang, Hsing-Lien Lin, Kai-Wen Cheng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee
-
Patent number: 9525947Abstract: The present invention discloses a piezoelectric loudspeaker. The piezoelectric loudspeaker comprises a sound producing plate, a resonant sound-box, a surround and a reflective sound-box. The sound producing plate comprises a piezoelectric ceramic element. The resonant sound-box includes a first opening comprising a first carrying part. The sound producing plate is disposed on the first carrying part. A cavity resonator is formed between the sound producing plate and the resonant sound-box. The surround is disposed between the first carrying part and the sound producing plate. The reflective sound-box includes a second opening and a reflective output opening. The second opening comprises a second carrying part. The resonant sound-box is disposed on the second carrying part. A reflective cavity body is formed between the resonant sound-box and the reflective sound-box, and the reflective cavity body is connected the reflective output opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: MIEZO INC.Inventors: Yuan-Ping Liu, Chang-Heng Tsai, Kai-Wen Cheng, Chung-chun Ho
-
Patent number: 9502493Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having a titanium nitride film that provides for a reduced leakage path, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated chip comprises a semiconductor substrate. A titanium nitride film is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The titanium nitride film comprises a plurality of titanium nitride layers having grain boundaries abutting vertical column-like structures of titanium nitride. The grain boundaries are discontinuous between a top surface of the titanium nitride film and a bottom surface of the titanium nitride film. The discontinuity of the grain boundaries between the different titanium nitride layers reduces leakage paths through the titanium nitride film (e.g., and thereby can improve operation of a MIM capacitor having titanium nitride electrodes).Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kai-Wen Cheng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Shiung Tsai
-
Patent number: 9343656Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) which can be used in as a magnetic random access memory cell are disclosed. The MTJ comprises a free layer and an insulator layer. The MTJ further comprises a pinned layer with a first region, a second region, and a third region. The second region is of a first length and of a first thickness, and the first region and the third region are of a second length and of a second thickness. A ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness may be larger than 1.2. A ratio of the second length to the first length is larger than 0.5. The first thickness may be larger than a spin diffusion length of a material for the pinned layer. So formed MTJ results in increased tunneling magnetic resistance ratio and reduced critical switch current of the MTJ.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kai-Wen Cheng, Chwen Yu, Chih-Ming Chen
-
Publication number: 20160056370Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor memory device. The device includes a pinning layer having an anti-ferromagnetic material and disposed over a first electrode; a pinned layer disposed over the pinning layer; a tunneling layer disposed over the pinned layer, a free layer disposed over the tunneling layer and a capping layer disposed over the free layer. The capping layer includes metal-oxide and metal-nitride materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Kuo-Ming Wu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Kai-Wen Cheng
-
Patent number: 9203677Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for receiving a spectral line of an original signal includes a starting point determining module, a searching module and a symbol rate determining module. The starting point determining module finds a maximum energy in the spectral line and determines at least one search starting point according to the maximum energy. From the at least one search starting point, the searching module searches along the spectral line towards a region with a lower energy for at least one minimum energy satisfying a predetermined condition. The symbol rate determining module determines a symbol rate of the original signal according to the at least one minimum energy.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Chu-Hsin Chang, Kai-Wen Cheng, Yi-Ying Liao, Tung-Sheng Lin, Tai-Lai Tung
-
Patent number: 9201165Abstract: A detection circuit is provided. A detection signal corresponding to an equivalent capacitance value of a micro-electro-mechanical system is generated by an oscillator, and the equivalent capacitance value of the micro-electro-mechanical system varies with a location of the micro-electro-mechanical system.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Yu-Nan Tsai, Kai-Wen Cheng, Chia-Hao Hsu, Chun-Lai Hsiao
-
Patent number: 9178136Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor memory device. The device includes a pinning layer having an anti-ferromagnetic material and disposed over a first electrode; a pinned layer disposed over the pinning layer; a tunneling layer disposed over the pinned layer, a free layer disposed over the tunneling layer and a capping layer disposed over the free layer. The capping layer includes metal-oxide and metal-nitride materials.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kuo-Ming Wu, Kai-Wen Cheng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Shiung Tsai
-
Publication number: 20150287918Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell having a reduced leakage current, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming a bottom electrode over a lower metal interconnect layer using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to form at least a top portion of the bottom electrode. A dielectric data storage layer is formed onto the top portion of the bottom electrode in-situ with forming the top portion of the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed over the dielectric data storage layer, and an upper metal interconnect layer is formed over the top electrode. By forming the top portion of the bottom electrode using an ALD process that is in-situ with the formation of the overlying dielectric data storage layer, leakage current, leakage current distribution and device yield of the RRAM cell are improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Trinh Hai Dang, Hsing-Lien Lin, Kai-Wen Cheng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee
-
Patent number: 9131198Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes an initial detecting module, a mixer, a symbol rate detecting module, a judging module and a correcting module. The initial detecting module determines an initial carrier frequency offset of an input signal according to a spectrum of the input signal. The mixer adjusts the input signal according to the initial carrier frequency offset to generate a frequency-compensated signal. The symbol rate detecting module determines a symbol rate of the input signal. The judging module judges whether the initial carrier frequency offset is correct according to the frequency-compensated signal. When a judgment result of the judging module is negative, the correcting module determines a corrected carrier frequency offset according to the symbol rate and the spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Chu-Hsin Chang, Kai-Wen Cheng, Yi-Ying Liao, Tung-Sheng Lin, Tai-Lai Tung
-
Publication number: 20150243730Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having a titanium nitride film that provides for a reduced leakage path, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated chip comprises a semiconductor substrate. A titanium nitride film is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The titanium nitride film comprises a plurality of titanium nitride layers having grain boundaries abutting vertical column-like structures of titanium nitride. The grain boundaries are discontinuous between a top surface of the titanium nitride film and a bottom surface of the titanium nitride film. The discontinuity of the grain boundaries between the different titanium nitride layers reduces leakage paths through the titanium nitride film (e.g., and thereby can improve operation of a MIM capacitor having titanium nitride electrodes).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kai-Wen Cheng, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Chia-Shiung Tsai
-
Publication number: 20150092963Abstract: The present invention discloses a piezoelectric loudspeaker. The piezoelectric loudspeaker comprises a sound producing plate, a resonant sound-box, a surround and a reflective sound-box. The sound producing plate comprises a piezoelectric ceramic element. The resonant sound-box includes a first opening comprising a first carrying part. The sound producing plate is disposed on the first carrying part. A cavity resonator is formed between the sound producing plate and the resonant sound-box. The surround is disposed between the first carrying part and the sound producing plate. The reflective sound-box includes a second opening and a reflective output opening. The second opening comprises a second carrying part. The resonant sound-box is disposed on the second carrying part. A reflective cavity body is formed between the resonant sound-box and the reflective sound-box, and the reflective cavity body is connected the reflective output opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Applicant: Miezo Inc.Inventors: Yuan-Ping LIU, Chang-Heng TSAI, Kai-Wen CHENG, Chung-chun HO
-
Publication number: 20150042365Abstract: A detection circuit is provided. A detection signal corresponding to an equivalent capacitance value of a micro-electro-mechanical system is generated by an oscillator, and the equivalent capacitance value of the micro-electro-mechanical system varies with a location of the micro-electro-mechanical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: LITE-ON IT CORPORATIONInventors: Yu-Nan Tsai, Kai-Wen Cheng, Chia-Hao Hsu, Chun-Lai Hsiao
-
Patent number: 8931026Abstract: An apparatus for detecting spectrum inversion includes a different correlator and a determining module. The differential correlator performs an odd-order differential correlation on an input signal and a known signal to generate a differential correlation result. When the input signal is determined as corresponding to a target signal of the known signal, the determining module detects spectrum inversion in the input signal according to the phase of the differential correlation result.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Kai-Wen Cheng, Yi-Ying Liao, Tung-Sheng Lin, Tai-Lai Tung
-
Patent number: 8931017Abstract: A channel scanning method for Digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite (DVB-S) signals is provided. The method includes: scanning a radio frequency (RF) signal according to a normal frequency step; when the Nth channel is detected, obtaining a difference between a low boundary of an Nth channel and a high boundary of an (N?1)th channel; and, when the difference is within a predetermined bandwidth range, scanning the RF signal between the high boundary of the (N?1)th channel and the low boundary of the Nth channel according to a narrow frequency step. The normal frequency step is greater than the narrow frequency step.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Chu-Hsin Chang, Kai-Wen Cheng, Yi-Ying Liao, Tung-Sheng Lin, Tai-Lai Tung
-
Patent number: 8905553Abstract: A method of detecting a scanning angle range of a laser beam of a laser projector is provided. First, a photo sensor is disposed between first and second positions on a projection mirror. Then, a laser beam emitted from the laser projector scans back and forth between the first and second positions, so that the photo sensor receives the laser beam sequentially at first and second scanning time points to generate first and second sensing signals, respectively. If an actual time interval between the first and second sensing signals conforms to an expected time interval, an actual scanning angle range of the laser beam is determined as normal. If the actual time interval does not conform to the expected time interval, the actual scanning angle range of the laser beam is determined as abnormal and the laser projector stops emitting the laser beam. A laser projector is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Chia-Tse Lin, Kai-Wen Cheng