Patents by Inventor Ling Wen Hsiao

Ling Wen Hsiao 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: 7729183
    Abstract: A data sensing method for a dynamic random access memory including a storage capacitor configured to store data, a bit line, a transistor connecting the storage capacitor and the bit line, a reference bit line, and a sense amplifier connecting the bit line and the reference bit line. The data sensing method comprises the steps of turning off the transistor when the stored data is a predetermined value before enabling the sense amplifier to sense the voltage of the bit line and the reference bit line, and turning on the transistor when the stored data is opposite to the predetermined value such that a charge sharing process occurs between the storage capacitor and a parasitic capacitor of the bit line before enabling the sense amplifier to sense the voltage of the bit line and the reference bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Promos Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ling Wen Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20090323433
    Abstract: A data sensing method for a dynamic random access memory including a storage capacitor configured to store data, a bit line, a transistor connecting the storage capacitor and the bit line, a reference bit line, and a sense amplifier connecting the bit line and the reference bit line. The data sensing method comprises the steps of turning off the transistor when the stored data is a predetermined value before enabling the sense amplifier to sense the voltage of the bit line and the reference bit line, and turning on the transistor when the stored data is opposite to the predetermined value such that a charge sharing process occurs between the storage capacitor and a parasitic capacitor of the bit line before enabling the sense amplifier to sense the voltage of the bit line and the reference bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: PROMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: LING WEN HSIAO
  • Patent number: 6166956
    Abstract: A circuit for speeding up the pre-programming of floating gate storage transistors such as FLASH EPROMS, and particularly speeding up the pre-programming of a block or array of floating gate storage transistors includes a controllable voltage source that supplies gate programming potential across the control gate and source of the FLASH EPROM transistor cells to be programmed. A control circuit is provided that controls the voltage source to vary the gate programming potential during a programming interval as a function of time in order to decrease the time required for a given amount of charge movement to program the selected floating gate transistors. The wordline voltages are varied, while the source voltage is held constant. By starting at a lower wordline voltage, and increasing during the programming interval to a high wordline voltage, the programming speed is increased, and the high final turn-on threshold voltage for the programmed floating gate storage transistors is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tom Dang-Hsing Yiu, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Tien-Ler Lin, Fuchia Shone
  • Patent number: 5821909
    Abstract: A circuit for speeding up the pre-programming of floating gate storage transistors such as FLASH EPROMS, and particularly speeding up the pre-programming of a block or array of floating gate storage transistors includes a controllable voltage source that supplies gate programming potential across the control gate and source of the FLASH EPROM transistor cells to be programmed. A control circuit is provided that controls the voltage source to vary the gate programming potential during a programming interval as a function of time in order to decrease the time required for a given amount of charge movement to program the selected floating gate transistors. The wordline voltages are varied, while the source voltage is held constant. By starting at a lower wordline voltage, and increasing during the programming interval to a high wordline voltage, the programming speed is increased, and the high final turn-on threshold voltage for the programmed floating gate storage transistors is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tom Dang-Hsing Yiu, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Tien-Ler Lin, Fuchia Shone
  • Patent number: 5615153
    Abstract: A circuit for speeding up the pre-programming of floating gate storage transistors such as FLASH EPROMS, and particularly speeding up the pre-programming of a block or array of floating gate storage transistors includes a controllable voltage source that supplies gate programming potential across the control gate and source of the FLASH EPROM transistor cells to be programmed. A control circuit is provided that controls the voltage source to vary the gate programming potential during a programming interval as a function of time in order to decrease the time required for a given amount of charge movement to program the selected floating gate transistors. The wordline voltages are varied, while the source voltage is held constant. By starting at a lower wordline voltage, and increasing during the programming interval to a high wordline voltage, the programming speed is increased, and the high final turn-on threshold voltage for the programmed floating gate storage transistors is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventors: Tom D. Yiu, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Tien-Ler Lin, Fuchia Shone
  • Patent number: 5596530
    Abstract: A FLASH EPROM device includes a memory array organized into a plurality of blocks of memory cells. An energizing circuit applies energizing voltages to the blocks of memory cells to read and program addressed cells, and to erase selected blocks or the whole memory array. An erase verify circuit separately verifies erasure of blocks in the plurality of block memory cells. Control logic controls the energizing circuit to re-erase blocks which fail erase verify. The control logic includes a plurality of block erase flags which correspond to respective blocks of memory cells in the array. The erase verify is responsive to the block erase flags to verify only those blocks having a set block erase flag. If the block passes erase verify, then the block erase flag is reset. Only those blocks having a set block erase flag after the erase verify operation are re-erased. To support this operation, the circuit also includes the capability of erasing only a block of the memory array at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Ler Lin, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Gilbert Sung
  • Patent number: 5563823
    Abstract: A circuit for speeding up the pre-programming of floating gate storage transistors such as FLASH EPROMS, and particularly speeding up the pre-programming of a block or array of floating gate storage transistors includes a controllable voltage source that supplies gate programming potential across the control gate and source of the FLASH EPROM transistor cells to be programmed. A control circuit is provided that controls the voltage source to vary the gate programming potential during a programming interval as a function of time in order to decrease the time required for a given amount of charge movement to program the selected floating gate transistors. The wordline voltages are varied, while the source voltage is held constant. By starting at a lower wordline voltage, and increasing during the programming interval to a high wordline voltage, the programming speed is increased, and the high final turn-on threshold voltage for the programmed floating gate storage transistors is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tom D. Yiu, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Tien-Ler Lin, Fuchia Shone
  • Patent number: 5563822
    Abstract: A circuit for speeding up the pre-programming of floating gate storage transistors such as FLASH EPROMS, and particularly speeding up the pre-programming of a block or array of floating gate storage transistors includes a controllable voltage source that supplies gate programming potential across the control gate and source of the FLASH EPROM transistor cells to be programmed. A control circuit is provided that controls the voltage source to vary the gate programming potential during a programming interval as a function of time in order to decrease the time required for a given amount of charge movement to program the selected floating gate transistors. The wordline voltages are varied, while the source voltage is held constant. By starting at a lower wordline voltage, and increasing during the programming interval to a high wordline voltage, the programming speed is increased, and the high final turn-on threshold voltage for the programmed floating gate storage transistors is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tom D. Yiu, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Tien-Ler Lin, Fuchia Shone
  • Patent number: 5539688
    Abstract: A circuit for speeding up the pre-programming of floating gate storage transistors such as FLASH EPROMS, and particularly speeding up the pre-programming of a block or array of floating gate storage transistors includes a controllable voltage source that supplies gate programming potential across the control gate and source of the FLASH EPROM transistor cells to be programmed. A control circuit is provided that controls the voltage source to vary the gate programming potential during a programming interval as a function of time in order to decrease the time required for a given amount of charge movement to program the selected floating gate transistors. The wordline voltages are varied, while the source voltage is held constant. By starting at a lower wordline voltage, and increasing during the programming interval to a high wordline voltage, the programming speed is increased, and the high final turn-on threshold voltage for the programmed floating gate storage transistors is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tom D. Yiu, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Tien-Ler Lin, Fuchia Shone
  • Patent number: 5414664
    Abstract: A FLASH EPROM device includes a memory array organized into a plurality of blocks of memory cells. An energizing circuit applies energizing voltages to the blocks of memory cells to read and program addressed cells, and to erase selected blocks or the whole memory array. An erase verify circuit separately verifies erasure of blocks in the plurality of block memory cells. Control logic controls the energizing circuit to re-erase blocks which fail erase verify. The control logic includes a plurality of block erase flags which correspond to respective blocks of memory cells in the array. The erase verify is responsive to the block erase flags to verify only those blocks having a set block erase flag. If the block passes erase verify, then the block erase flag is reset. Only those blocks having a set block erase flag after the erase verify operation are re-erased. To support this operation, the circuit also includes the capability of erasing only a block of the memory array at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Ler Lin, Ray L. Wan, Ling-Wen Hsiao, Gilbert Sung