Patents by Inventor SHICONG ZHOU

SHICONG ZHOU 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: 9786373
    Abstract: An electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device includes a plurality of data areas in the EEPROM associated with a corresponding plurality of memory addresses, respectively, a data status indicator associated with each of the plurality of data areas. The data status indicator is configured to indicate that a data area is in an erase state, an uncertain state, or a valid state. The EEPROM device also includes a controller. A first data area and a second data area are configured to be a backup storage area for each other. In an erase and program cycle, at least one of the first or second memory areas is in a valid state throughout the erase and program cycle. Further, in an erase and program cycle, an erase operation is performed in one of the first or second memory areas, and a program operation is performed in the other data areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Shicong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20170194054
    Abstract: An electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device includes a plurality of data areas in the EEPROM associated with a corresponding plurality of memory addresses, respectively, a data status indicator associated with each of the plurality of data areas. The data status indicator is configured to indicate that a data area is in an erase state, an uncertain state, or a valid state. The EEPROM device also includes a controller. A first data area and a second data area are configured to be a backup storage area for each other. In an erase and program cycle, at least one of the first or second memory areas is in a valid state throughout the erase and program cycle. Further, in an erase and program cycle, an erase operation is performed in one of the first or second memory areas, and a program operation is performed in the other data areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Shicong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9659661
    Abstract: An electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device includes a plurality of data areas in the EEPROM associated with a corresponding plurality of memory addresses, respectively, a data status indicator associated with each of the plurality of data areas. The data status indicator is configured to indicate that a data area is in an erase state, an uncertain state, or a valid state. The EEPROM device also includes a controller. A first data area and a second data area are configured to be a backup storage area for each other. In an erase and program cycle, at least one of the first or second memory areas is in a valid state throughout the erase and program cycle. Further, in an erase and program cycle, an erase operation is performed in one of the first or second memory areas, and a program operation is performed in the other data areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventor: Shicong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9343958
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide voltage regulator circuitry and devices. An exemplary voltage regulator circuitry can include a current comparing unit configured to convert an output voltage from a charge pump to a current and to compare the current with at least two different reference currents to generate a comparison result. A logic controller can be configured to generate a clock frequency adjustment signal based on the comparison result. A programmable clock unit can be configured to adjust a frequency of a clock signal according to the clock frequency adjustment signal to send the clock signal to the charge pump. Accordingly, the disclosed voltage regulator device can have reduced power consumption and improved reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL CORP
    Inventors: Shicong Zhou, Edward Yu, Xiao Zheng, Josh Yang, Michael Yang
  • Publication number: 20160104536
    Abstract: An electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device includes a plurality of data areas in the EEPROM associated with a corresponding plurality of memory addresses, respectively, a data status indicator associated with each of the plurality of data areas. The data status indicator is configured to indicate that a data area is in an erase state, an uncertain state, or a valid state. The EEPROM device also includes a controller. A first data area and a second data area are configured to be a backup storage area for each other. In an erase and program cycle, at least one of the first or second memory areas is in a valid state throughout the erase and program cycle. Further, in an erase and program cycle, an erase operation is performed in one of the first or second memory areas, and a program operation is performed in the other data areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: SHICONG ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20130342180
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide voltage regulator circuitry and devices. An exemplary voltage regulator circuitry can include a current comparing unit configured to convert an output voltage from a charge pump to a current and to compare the current with at least two different reference currents to generate a comparison result. A logic controller can be configured to generate a clock frequency adjustment signal based on the comparison result. A programmable clock unit can be configured to adjust a frequency of a clock signal according to the clock frequency adjustment signal to send the clock signal to the charge pump. Accordingly, the disclosed voltage regulator device can have reduced power consumption and improved reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.
    Inventors: SHICONG ZHOU, EDWARD YU, XIAO ZHENG, JOSH YANG, MICHAEL YANG