Patents by Inventor Ming-Hsiu Lee

Ming-Hsiu Lee 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: 12159673
    Abstract: A memory cell for an analog content-addressable memory is provided. The memory cell includes an N-type transistor, a P-type transistor, and a current control circuit. The gate of the N-type transistor is configured to receive a first input signal. The gate of the P-type transistor is configured to receive a second input signal. The current control circuit is coupled to at least one of the N-type transistor and the P-type transistor. The current control circuit is configured to generate at least one passing current. When the input voltages of the first input signal and the second input signal are within a matching range, the N-type transistor and the P-type transistor are turned on, and the passing current is substantially a fixed current value. The matching range is related to the threshold voltages of the N-type transistor and the P-type transistor, and the fixed current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hao Tseng, Feng-Min Lee, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Publication number: 20240378144
    Abstract: A 3D search engine receives searches for application to word lines of a nonvolatile memory array. The engine uses two word lines per bit of information of the searches and two memory devices per bit of stored feature to search against, optionally enabling don't care and/or wildcard encoding. The engine uses respective bit lines of the nonvolatile memory array as respective matching lines for searching. Respective memory strings (e.g., NAND memory strings) of the nonvolatile memory array are usable to store respective data words, e.g., corresponding to features to search for. Respective pluralities of the memory strings are coupled in parallel to respective shared bit lines. Various encodings of features and searches enable exact, approximate, and range matching. The engine has applicability to comparing and sorting, in addition to searching in application areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hao TSENG, Ming-Hsiu LEE, Tian-Cih BO
  • Patent number: 12142316
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of computing memory cells, each of which stores a weight value, receives an input value and generates an output value. Each of the computing memory cells includes a transistor connected to a bit line and a word line, receiving a sensing current through the bit line and receiving an input voltage through the word line. When the sensing current flows through the transistor, the computing memory cell generates a first voltage difference corresponding to the output value. The output value is equal to a product of the input value and the weight value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Yu Lin, Feng-Min Lee, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Publication number: 20240363164
    Abstract: The application provides a content addressable memory (CAM) cell, a CAM memory device and an operation method thereof, and a method for searching and comparing data. The CAM cell includes a first flash memory cell having a first terminal for receiving a first search voltage; and a second flash memory cell having a first terminal for receiving a second search voltage, a second terminal of the first flash memory cell electrically connected to a second terminal of the second flash memory cell, wherein the first flash memory cell and the second flash memory cell are serially connected; and a storage data of the CAM cell is based on a combination of a plurality of threshold voltages of the first flash memory cell and the second flash memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Po-Hao TSENG, Feng-Min LEE, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Patent number: 12114514
    Abstract: A memory device and a method for manufacturing the memory device are provided. The memory device includes a stack and a plurality of memory strings. The stack is disposed on the substrate, and the stack includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked. The memory strings pass through the stack along a first direction, wherein a first memory string in the memory strings includes a first conductive pillar and a second conductive pillar, a channel layer, and a memory structure. The first conductive pillar and the second conductive pillar respectively extend along the first direction and are separated from each other. The channel layer is disposed between the first conductive pillar and the second conductive pillar. The memory structure surrounds the second conductive pillar, and the memory structure includes a resistive memory material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Min Lee, Erh-Kun Lai, Dai-Ying Lee, Yu-Hsuan Lin, Po-Hao Tseng, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Publication number: 20240331747
    Abstract: A memory device and an intelligent operation method thereof are provided. The memory device includes a memory array, a signal generating circuit, an environment detecting circuit and an artificial intelligence (AI) circuit. The signal generating circuit is configured to generate an inputting signal. The environment detecting circuit is configured to detect at least one environment information. The AI circuit is connected among the memory array, the signal generating circuit and the environment detecting circuit. The AI circuit at least receives the inputting signal from the signal generating circuit, receives the environment information from the environment detecting circuit, receives a first performance information from the memory array, receives a second performance information from the AI circuit and outputs an ideal signal to the memory array according to the inputting signal, the environment information, the first performance information and the second performance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Kuan-Chih CHEN, Chia-Hong LEE, Ming-Hsiu LEE
  • Publication number: 20240321686
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip including a semiconductor substrate and an interconnect structure is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes semiconductor devices. The interconnect structure is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor devices. The semiconductor substrate or the interconnect structure includes at least one conductor, which includes a first conductive part and a second conductive part connected to the first conductive part. The first conductive part includes randomly oriented metal, and the second conductive part includes oriented metal. A bonding structure including the above-mentioned semiconductor chip and a fabricating method for fabricating the above-mentioned semiconductor chip are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Lu, Wei-Lun Weng, Ming-Hsiu Lee, Dai-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 12094564
    Abstract: The application provides a memory device and an operation method thereof. The memory device includes: a memory array, for processing model computation having a plurality of input values and a plurality of interact coefficients; and at least one calculation unit. In receiving the input values, a first part and a second part of the memory cells generate a first part and a second part of the common source currents, respectively. The first part of the memory cells is electrically isolated from the second part of the memory cells based on a diagonal of the memory array. The at least one calculation unit calculates a first part and a second part of a local field energy of the model computation based on the first part and the second part of the common source currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Yuan Wang, Cheng-Hsien Lu, Dai-Ying Lee, Ming-Hsiu Lee, Feng-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 12068030
    Abstract: The application provides a content addressable memory (CAM) cell, a CAM memory device and an operation method thereof, and a method for searching and comparing data. The CAM cell includes a first flash memory cell having a first terminal for receiving a first search voltage; and a second flash memory cell having a first terminal for receiving a second search voltage, a second terminal of the first flash memory cell electrically connected to a second terminal of the second flash memory cell, wherein the first flash memory cell and the second flash memory cell are serially connected; and a storage data of the CAM cell is based on a combination of a plurality of threshold voltages of the first flash memory cell and the second flash memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hao Tseng, Feng-Min Lee, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Publication number: 20240247773
    Abstract: A package structure includes a carrier, a frame, and at least one photonic device. The carrier includes a substrate and a plurality of first metal pads and second metal pads. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other. The first metal pads are disposed on the first surface. The second metal pads are disposed on the second surface. A thickness of each of the second metal pads is greater than that of each of the first metal pads. The frame is disposed on the carrier, and an accommodating space is formed between the frame and the carrier. The at least one photonic device is disposed in the accommodating space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: CHEN-HSIU LIN, CHENG-YING LEE, MING-SUNG TSAI
  • Patent number: 12046286
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit and an operating method for the same are provided. The semiconductor circuit includes strings. The strings include a first string and a second string. The first string includes a first device unit and a second device unit in series. The first string has a weight signal W1. The first device unit has an input signal A. The second device unit has an input signal B. The second string includes a third device unit and a fourth device unit in series. The second string has a weight signal W2. The third device unit has an input signal ?. The fourth device unit has an input signal B. An output signal of the semiconductor circuit is a sum of output string signals of the strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Yuan Wang, Wei-Chen Chen, Dai-Ying Lee, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Publication number: 20240242757
    Abstract: A universal memory for In-Memory Computing and an operation method thereof are provided. The universal memory includes at least one write word line, at least one unit cell and at least one read word line. The unit cell includes a write transistor and a read transistor. The gate of the write transistor is connected to the write word line. The write transistor is a transistor with adjustable threshold voltage. The gate of the read transistor is connected to the drain or the source of the write transistor. The read word line is connected to the drain or the source of the read transistor. The universal memory is used for a training mode and an inference mode. In the training mode and the inference mode, a weight is stored at different locations of the unit cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Min LEE, Po-Hao TSENG, Yu-Yu LIN, Ming-Hsiu LEE
  • Publication number: 20240242767
    Abstract: A storage device for generating an identity code, includes a first storage circuit, a second storage circuit and a reading circuit. The first storage circuit stores several first data having several bits. The second storage circuit stores several second data having several bits. The reading circuit reads the second data from the second storage circuit to form a first sequence, and simultaneously reads the first data from the first storage circuit to form a second sequence. The reading circuit includes a processing circuit which simultaneously receives the first sequence and the second sequence, selects a first portion of the second sequence to form a target sequence according to the first sequence, and outputs the target sequence to serve as an identity code. Logical values of the bits of the first data and the second data are randomly distributed or pre-defined by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Yu-Hsuan LIN, Dai-Ying LEE, Ming-Hsiu LEE
  • Publication number: 20240194229
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an in-memory search (IMS) memory cell, an IMS method and an IMS memory device. The IMS method comprises: encoding a search data and a storage data by a first IMS encoding into a first IMS encoded search data and a first IMS encoded storage data; encoding the first IMS encoded search data by a second IMS encoding into a plurality of search voltages; encoding the first IMS encoded storage data by the second IMS encoding into a plurality of threshold voltages of a plurality of memory cells of a plurality IMS memory cells of the IMS memory device; and searching the IMS memory cells by the search voltages to generate a search result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Yun-Yuan WANG, Cheng-Hsien LU, Po-Hao TSENG, Ming-Hsiu LEE
  • Publication number: 20240161826
    Abstract: A TCAM comprises a plurality of first search lines, a plurality of second search lines, a plurality of memory cell strings and one or more current sensing units. The memory cell strings comprise a plurality of memory cells. The current sensing units are coupled to the memory cell strings. In a search operation, a determination that whether any of the data stored in the memory cell strings matches a data string to be searched is made according to whether the one or more current sensing units detect current from the memory cell strings, or according to the magnitude of the current flowing out from the memory cell strings detected by the one or more current sensing units. Each memory cell includes a first transistor, a second transistor and an inverter. The first search line is coupled to the second search line by the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Po-Hao TSENG, Feng-Min LEE, Ming-Hsiu LEE
  • Patent number: 11984166
    Abstract: A storage device for generating an identity code and an identity code generating method are disclosed. The storage device includes a first storage circuit, a second storage circuit and a reading circuit. The first storage circuit stores a plurality of first data and the first data have a plurality of bits. The second storage circuit stores a plurality of second data and the second data have a plurality of bits. The reading circuit reads the second data from the second storage circuit to form a first sequence, selects a first portion of the first data according to the first sequence, reads the first portion of the first data from the first storage circuit to form a target sequence and outputs the target sequence to serve as an identity code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsuan Lin, Dai-Ying Lee, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Patent number: 11955168
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a memory array of a plurality of memory elements, a plurality of word lines or word line pairs, a plurality of bit line pairs, and a plurality of common source lines. Each of the memory elements includes two memory cells. The memory device is configured for calculating an energy value based on a plurality of state signals and a plurality of coefficients, and the two memory cells of each of the memory elements are configured for performing an individual selection such that one of the two memory cells of each of the memory elements receives two corresponding state signals from a corresponding word line or a corresponding word line pair and a corresponding bit line pair and generates an output current into a corresponding common source line for calculating the energy value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Yuan Wang, Ming-Hsiu Lee
  • Patent number: 11955202
    Abstract: A multilevel content addressable memory, a multilevel coding method and a multilevel searching method are provided. The multilevel coding method includes the following steps. A highest decimal value of a multilevel-bit binary data is obtained. A length of a digital string data is set as being the highest decimal value of the multilevel-bit binary data. The multilevel-bit binary data is converted into the digital string data. If a content of the multilevel-bit binary data is an exact value, a number of an indicating bit in the digital string data is the exact value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Hsiu Lee, Po-Hao Tseng
  • Publication number: 20240090238
    Abstract: A memory device and a method for manufacturing the memory device are provided. The memory device includes a stack and a plurality of memory strings. The stack is disposed on the substrate, and the stack includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked. The memory strings pass through the stack along a first direction, wherein a first memory string in the memory strings includes a first conductive pillar and a second conductive pillar, a channel layer, and a memory structure. The first conductive pillar and the second conductive pillar respectively extend along the first direction and are separated from each other. The channel layer is disposed between the first conductive pillar and the second conductive pillar. The memory structure surrounds the second conductive pillar, and the memory structure includes a resistive memory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Min LEE, Erh-Kun LAI, Dai-Ying LEE, Yu-Hsuan LIN, Po-Hao TSENG, Ming-Hsiu LEE
  • Patent number: 11923008
    Abstract: A TCAM comprises a plurality of first search lines, a plurality of second search lines, a plurality of memory cell strings and one or more current sensing units. The memory cell strings comprise a plurality of memory cells. The current sensing units are coupled to the memory cell strings. In a search operation, a determination that whether any of the data stored in the memory cell strings matches a data string to be searched is made according to whether the one or more current sensing units detect current from the memory cell strings, or according to the magnitude of the current flowing out from the memory cell strings detected by the one or more current sensing units. Each memory cell includes a first transistor and a second transistor. Gates of the first and second transistors are coupled to a corresponding first search line and a corresponding second search line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hao Tseng, Feng-Min Lee, Ming-Hsiu Lee