Patents by Inventor Ku-Feng Lin

Ku-Feng 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).

  • Patent number: 11386936
    Abstract: A memory device for sensing memory cell in a memory array includes at least one first memory cell, a first sensing amplifier, a first multiplexer circuit, a plurality of first reference cells, and a controller. The first sensing amplifier is coupled to the at least one first memory cell. An output terminal of the first multiplexer circuit is coupled to the reference terminal of the first sensing amplifier. Each of the first reference cells is coupled to each input node of the first multiplexer circuit. The controller is coupled to a control terminal of the first multiplexer circuit. The first sensing amplifier comprises an output terminal and a reference terminal. The controller controls the first multiplexer circuit to select one of the first reference cells as a selected reference cell to couple to the reference terminal of the first sensing amplifier when each read operation to the at least one first memory cell is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Noguchi, Ku-Feng Lin, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11380371
    Abstract: A sense amplifier includes a voltage comparator with offset compensation, a first clamping device and a second clamping device. The voltage comparator is coupled to a bit line and a reference bit line respectively, and configured to compare a first input voltage and a second input voltage to output a sensing signal. The first clamping circuit and the second clamping circuit trim a voltage corresponding to the bit line and a voltage corresponding to the reference bit line respectively to match the voltage corresponding to the reference bit line with the voltage corresponding to the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Yu-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 11380415
    Abstract: A memory device includes: a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells, the plurality of memory cells comprising a plurality of data memory cells including a first data memory cell and a plurality of backup memory cells including a first backup memory cell; a storage storing an error table configured to record errors in the plurality of data memory cells, the error table including a plurality of error table entries, each error table entry corresponding to one of the plurality of data memory cell and having an address and a failure count; and a controller configured to replace the first data memory cell with the first backup memory cell based on the error table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Noguchi, Ku-Feng Lin, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11373690
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for compensating mismatches in sense amplifiers are disclosed. In one example, a circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes: a first branch, a second branch, a first plurality of trimming transistors and a second plurality of trimming transistors. The first branch comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a first node coupled between the first transistor and the second transistor. The second branch comprises a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a second node coupled between the third transistor and the fourth transistor. The first node is coupled to respective gates of the third transistor and the fourth transistor. The second node is coupled to respective gates of the first transistor and the second transistor. The first plurality of trimming transistors is coupled to the second transistor in parallel. The second plurality of trimming transistors is coupled to the fourth transistor in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Yu-Der Chih, Yi-Chun Shih, Chia-Fu Lee
  • Publication number: 20220157351
    Abstract: A sense amplifier includes a voltage comparator with offset compensation, a first clamping device and a second clamping device. The voltage comparator is coupled to a bit line and a reference bit line respectively, and configured to compare a first input voltage and a second input voltage to output a sensing signal. The first clamping circuit and the second clamping circuit trim a voltage corresponding to the bit line and a voltage corresponding to the reference bit line respectively to match the voltage corresponding to the reference bit line with the voltage corresponding to the bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ku-Feng Lin, Yu-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20220101890
    Abstract: A memory device that includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell and a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier includes a first branch and a second branch and are configured to output a first voltage and a second voltage to the first memory and the second memory, respectively in a trimming operation. A first clamp device of the sense amplifier includes a first clamp transistor and a plurality of first trimming transistors that are coupled to the first clamp transistor in parallel. The gate terminals of the first clamp transistor and the plurality of first trimming transistors are biased by a fixed clamp voltage. Each of the plurality of first trimming transistors is selectively conducted to compensate a mismatch between the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ku-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 11250908
    Abstract: A method for sensing logical states of memory cells in multiple segments in a memory device, each cell having a high- and low-resistance state, resulting in different cell current levels for the different resistance states. The method includes determining target reference current levels for the respective segments, at least two of the target reference current levels being different from each other; generating a reference current for each segment with the target reference current level for that segment; comparing the cell current level for each cell to the reference current level for the segment the cell is in; and determining the logical states of the memory cells based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Der Chih, Chia-Fu Lee, Yi-Chun Shih, Hon-Jarn Lin, Ku-Feng Lin
  • Publication number: 20210383867
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated circuit including multiple magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) cells coupled to a static random access memory (SRAM). In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a SRAM having a first port and a second port, and a set of pass transistors coupled to the first port of the SRAM. In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a set of MTJ cells, where each of the set of MTJ cells is coupled between a select line and a corresponding one of the set of pass transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Yuh, Yih Wang, Ku-Feng Lin, Jui-Che Tsai, Hiroki Noguchi, Fu-An Wu
  • Patent number: 11189336
    Abstract: A word line driving device of a memory device is provided. The word line driving device of the memory device includes a word line, a word line driver, and a conducting line. The word line is disposed on a first metal layer. The word line is connected to a plurality of memory cells in a memory array. The word line driver is coupled to a first node of the word line. The conducting line is disposed on a second metal layer. The first node of the word line is coupled to a first node of the conducting line and a second node of the word line is coupled to a second node of the conducting line. The distance of the second metal layer with respect to a plurality of transistors in the memory device is greater than a distance of the first metal layer with respect to the plurality of transistors in the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ku-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 11183261
    Abstract: A testing device for memory includes a memory array and a test apparatus. The test apparatus includes a controller and a pattern generator. The pattern generator generates a background data, a first pattern data, and a second pattern data. The controller sets up the background data to a to-be-tested memory sub-array of the memory sub-arrays, performs a first memory test operation with the to-be-tested memory sub-array according to the first pattern data for detecting an occurrence of a hardware failure of the to-be-tested memory sub-array is occurred during the first memory test operation. The controller performs a second memory test operation with the to-be-tested memory sub-array according to the second pattern data for detecting the occurrence of the hardware failure of the to-be-tested memory sub-array during the second memory test operation in response to the hardware failure of the to-be-tested memory sub-array is not occurred during the first memory test operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Noguchi, Ku-Feng Lin, Yih Wang
  • Publication number: 20210358532
    Abstract: A reference circuit for generating a reference current includes a plurality of resistive elements including at least one magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). A control circuit is coupled to a first terminal of the at least one MTJ and is configured to selectively flow current through the at least one MTJ in the forward and inverse direction to generate a reference current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Chia-Fu Lee, Hon-Jarn Lin, Po-Hao Lee, Ku-Feng Lin, Yi-Chun Shih, Yu-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20210312999
    Abstract: A testing device for memory includes a memory array and a test apparatus. The test apparatus includes a controller and a pattern generator. The pattern generator generates a background data, a first pattern data, and a second pattern data. The controller sets up the background data to a to-be-tested memory sub-array of the memory sub-arrays, performs a first memory test operation with the to-be-tested memory sub-array according to the first pattern data for detecting whether the hardware failure of the to-be-tested memory sub-array is occurred during the first memory test operation. The controller performs a second memory test operation with the to-be-tested memory sub-array according to the second pattern data for detecting whether the hardware failure of the to-be-tested memory sub-array is occurred during the second memory test operation in response to the hardware failure of the to-be-tested memory sub-array is not occurred during the first memory test operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Noguchi, Ku-Feng Lin, Yih Wang
  • Publication number: 20210272606
    Abstract: A memory device for sensing memory cell in a memory array includes at least one first memory cell, a first sensing amplifier, a first multiplexer circuit, a plurality of first reference cells, and a controller. The first sensing amplifier is coupled to the at least one first memory cell. An output terminal of the first multiplexer circuit is coupled to the reference terminal of the first sensing amplifier. Each of the first reference cells is coupled to each input node of the first multiplexer circuit. The controller is coupled to a control terminal of the first multiplexer circuit. the first sensing amplifier comprises an output terminal and a reference terminal. The controller controls the first multiplexer circuit to select one of the first reference cells as a selected reference cell to couple to the reference terminal of the first sensing amplifier when each read operation to the at least one first memory cell is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Noguchi, Ku-Feng Lin, Yih Wang
  • Publication number: 20210272647
    Abstract: A memory device includes: a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells, the plurality of memory cells comprising a plurality of data memory cells including a first data memory cell and a plurality of backup memory cells including a first backup memory cell; a storage storing an error table configured to record errors in the plurality of data memory cells, the error table including a plurality of error table entries, each error table entry corresponding to one of the plurality of data memory cell and having an address and a failure count; and a controller configured to replace the first data memory cell with the first backup memory cell based on the error table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroki Noguchi, Ku-Feng Lin, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11107530
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated circuit including multiple magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) cells coupled to a static random access memory (SRAM). In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a SRAM having a first port and a second port, and a set of pass transistors coupled to the first port of the SRAM. In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a set of MTJ cells, where each of the set of MTJ cells is coupled between a select line and a corresponding one of the set of pass transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Yuh, Yih Wang, Ku-Feng Lin, Jui-Che Tsai, Hiroki Noguchi, Fu-An Wu
  • Patent number: 11081155
    Abstract: A reference circuit for generating a reference current includes a plurality of resistive elements including at least one magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). A control circuit is coupled to a first terminal of the at least one MTJ and is configured to selectively flow current through the at least one MTJ in the forward and inverse direction to generate a reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Fu Lee, Hon-Jarn Lin, Po-Hao Lee, Ku-Feng Lin, Yi-Chun Shih, Yu-Der Chih
  • Publication number: 20210201997
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to an integrated circuit including multiple magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) cells coupled to a static random access memory (SRAM). In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a SRAM having a first port and a second port, and a set of pass transistors coupled to the first port of the SRAM. In one aspect, the integrated circuit includes a set of MTJ cells, where each of the set of MTJ cells is coupled between a select line and a corresponding one of the set of pass transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Yuh, Yih Wang, Ku-Feng Lin, Jui-Che Tsai, Hiroki Noguchi, Fu-An Wu
  • Publication number: 20210174854
    Abstract: An encode apparatus and an encode method may be provided. The encoding apparatus may comprise a first stage and a second stage. The first stage may be configured to receive a first input, decode the first input, and produce a first output comprising the decoded first input. The second stage may be configured to receive a second input, receive the first output from the first stage, and convert the first input and the second input from a first coding system to a second coding system based on the second input and the first output. The second stage may produce a second output comprising the converted first input and the converted second input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Win-San Khwa, Hiroki Noguchi, Ku-Feng Lin
  • Patent number: 11024395
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an adjustment circuit that can be used, for example, in a memory system with partitioned memory blocks. The adjustment circuit can include a controller circuit, a timer circuit, and a temperature adaptive reference (TAR) generator. The controller circuit can be configured to output a control signal that indicates a memory type (e.g., code memory or data memory) associated with a partitioned memory block. The timer circuit can be configured to output a timing signal for a read memory operation based on the control signal. And, the TAR generator can be configured to adjust a verify reference current for a verify memory operation based on temperature, where the verify reference current is set based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Der Chih, Hung-Chang Yu, Ku-Feng Lin
  • Publication number: 20210142832
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for compensating mismatches in sense amplifiers are disclosed. In one example, a circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes: a first branch, a second branch, a first plurality of trimming transistors and a second plurality of trimming transistors. The first branch comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a first node coupled between the first transistor and the second transistor. The second branch comprises a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a second node coupled between the third transistor and the fourth transistor. The first node is coupled to respective gates of the third transistor and the fourth transistor. The second node is coupled to respective gates of the first transistor and the second transistor. The first plurality of trimming transistors is coupled to the second transistor in parallel. The second plurality of trimming transistors is coupled to the fourth transistor in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ku-Feng LIN, Yu-Der Chih, Yi-Chun Shih, Chia-Fu Lee