Patents by Inventor Wen-Chiao Ho

Wen-Chiao Ho 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: 20250130939
    Abstract: A flash memory apparatus and an ERASE method thereof are provided. The ERASE method includes: applying an ERASE voltage to a target memory block and determining whether an ERASE verification passes during an ERASE operation period; determining whether the target memory block meets a degradation condition when the ERASE verification fails; determining whether the target memory block passes a soft-program verification when the degradation condition is met, and returning to the step of applying the ERASE voltage after the target memory block passes the soft-program verification; returning to the step of applying the ERASE voltage when the target memory block does not meet the degradation condition; and determining whether the target memory block passes the soft-program verification when the ERASE verification passes, and applying a soft-program voltage to the target memory block after the soft-program verification fails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 12243596
    Abstract: A flash memory device includes a memory array, a first global bit line, and a sense amplifying device. The memory array includes a first memory block having a plurality of first memory cells. In a leakage current detection operation, the sense amplifying device detects a leakage current generated by the first memory cells on the first global bit line to obtain leakage current simulation information. In a program operation, the sense amplifying device provides a reference current according to the leakage current simulation information, and compares a sensing current generated by a selected memory cell in the first memory cells on the first global bit line with the reference current to perform a program verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 12160410
    Abstract: An electronic device and a data transmission method thereof are provided. The data transmission method includes: setting dummy data having multiple dummy bits; inserting the dummy bits of the dummy data into transmission data according to an insertion type to generate encryption data; and transmitting the encryption data to a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 12027216
    Abstract: A memory, including a selected memory cell block and a first sense amplifying device, is provided. The selected memory cell block and the first sense amplifying device are both coupled to a first global bit line. The first sense amplifying device is configured to: in a leakage current detection mode, detect a leakage current of the selected memory cell block on a first global bit line to generate leakage current information; and in a data reading mode, provide a reference signal according to the leakage current information, and compare a readout signal on the first global bit line with the reference signal to generate readout data, wherein the leakage current detection mode happens before the data reading mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Publication number: 20240153569
    Abstract: A flash memory device and a program method thereof are provided. The flash memory device includes a memory array, a first global bit line, and a sense amplifying device. The memory array includes a first memory block having a plurality of first memory cells. In a leakage current detection operation, the sense amplifying device detects a leakage current generated by the first memory cells on the first global bit line to obtain leakage current simulation information. In a program operation, the sense amplifying device provides a reference current according to the leakage current simulation information, and compares a sensing current generated by a selected memory cell in the first memory cells on the first global bit line with the reference current to perform a program verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Publication number: 20240039901
    Abstract: An electronic device and a data transmission method thereof are provided. The data transmission method includes: setting dummy data having multiple dummy bits; inserting the dummy bits of the dummy data into transmission data according to an insertion type to generate encryption data; and transmitting the encryption data to a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Publication number: 20230290416
    Abstract: A memory, including a selected memory cell block and a first sense amplifying device, is provided. The selected memory cell block and the first sense amplifying device are both coupled to a first global bit line. The first sense amplifying device is configured to: in a leakage current detection mode, detect a leakage current of the selected memory cell block on a first global bit line to generate leakage current information; and in a data reading mode, provide a reference signal according to the leakage current information, and compare a readout signal on the first global bit line with the reference signal to generate readout data, wherein the leakage current detection mode happens before the data reading mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 11495304
    Abstract: A control method of a memory device is provided. When a target memory cell whose source is connected to a first source line needs to be read, a word line controller provides a first voltage to a word line corresponding to the target memory cell and also provides the first voltage to a word line corresponding to the next row of the target memory cell, so that the period when the word line corresponding to the target memory cell remains at the first voltage overlaps the period when the word line corresponding to the next row of the target memory cell remains at the first voltage. When the target memory cell needs to be read, a source line controller provides a second voltage to the first source line, and provides a third voltage to the second source line; the third voltage is not equal to the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 11495312
    Abstract: A memory circuit and a memory programming method adapted to program flash memory are provided. The memory circuit includes a charge pumping circuit, a voltage regulator, a voltage sensor, and a plurality of switch circuits. The charge pumping circuit generates a pumping voltage and a pumping current. The voltage regulator is coupled to the charge pumping circuit and generates a programming voltage and a programming current to program the flash memory according to the pumping voltage and the pumping current. The voltage sensor is coupled to the voltage regulator to monitor a voltage value of the programming voltage. Each of the plurality of switch circuits includes a first terminal coupled to the voltage sensor and a second terminal coupled to the flash memory. A quantity of the plurality of switch circuits that are turned on is determined by the voltage value of the programming voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Pil-Sang Ryoo
  • Publication number: 20220157392
    Abstract: A memory circuit and a memory programming method adapted to program flash memory are provided. The memory circuit includes a charge pumping circuit, a voltage regulator, a voltage sensor, and a plurality of switch circuits. The charge pumping circuit generates a pumping voltage and a pumping current. The voltage regulator is coupled to the charge pumping circuit and generates a programming voltage and a programming current to program the flash memory according to the pumping voltage and the pumping current. The voltage sensor is coupled to the voltage regulator to monitor a voltage value of the programming voltage. Each of the plurality of switch circuits includes a first terminal coupled to the voltage sensor and a second terminal coupled to the flash memory. A quantity of the plurality of switch circuits that are turned on is determined by the voltage value of the programming voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Pil-Sang Ryoo
  • Patent number: 11314596
    Abstract: This invention introduces an electronic apparatus and an operative method thereof which are capable of triggering an initialization operation for the electronic apparatus correctly. The electronic apparatus includes a plurality of latches and a power power-on-reset generator. The plurality of latches are coupled to memory cells and are configured to monitor memory data of the memory cells. The power-on-reset generator is coupled to the plurality of latches and is configured to generate a power-on-reset pulse to reset the electronic apparatus in response to a data corruption on at least one of the memory cells. The data corruption is detected during an initialization operation of the electronic apparatus according to memory data of the memory cells and corresponding hardwired code data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Pil-Sang Ryoo, Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 11176988
    Abstract: A control method for a memory is provided. In a test mode, a tendency check operation is performed for a cell array to define the tendency of the cell array. In a write mode: receiving external data; determining the tendency of the external data; comparing the tendency of the external data and the tendency of the cell array; inverting the external data and writing the inverted external data into the cell array in response to the tendency of the external data being different from the tendency of the cell array; and writing the external data into the cell array in response to the tendency of the external data being the same as the tendency of the cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Publication number: 20210350859
    Abstract: A control method of a memory device is provided. When a target memory cell whose source is connected to a first source line needs to be read, a word line controller provides a first voltage to a word line corresponding to the target memory cell and also provides the first voltage to a word line corresponding to the next row of the target memory cell, so that the period when the word line corresponding to the target memory cell remains at the first voltage overlaps the period when the word line corresponding to the next row of the target memory cell remains at the first voltage. When the target memory cell needs to be read, a source line controller provides a second voltage to the first source line, and provides a third voltage to the second source line; the third voltage is not equal to the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao HO
  • Patent number: 11158378
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and a data writing method are provided. The non-volatile memory includes a memory array and a memory controller. The memory array has a plurality of memory cells. The memory controller is configured to perform a data write operation on a plurality of selected memory cells. In the data write operation, the memory controller records a total number of times that a data write pulse is supplied, compares the total number of times of the data write pulse to a preset threshold value to obtain an indication value, and adjusts an absolute value of a voltage of the data write pulse according to the indication value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Publication number: 20210319835
    Abstract: A memory apparatus and a data reading method thereof are provided. In the method, a plurality of memory cells of the memory apparatus are read to obtain read data, in which a threshold voltage of each memory cell is sensed and respectively compared with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to determine bit values. The first reference voltage and the second reference voltage are used to distinguish different states of the memory cell and the second reference voltage is larger than the first reference voltage. The bit values of the memory cells having the threshold voltage between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage in the read data are gradually changed and syndromes of the changed read data are calculated. The read data is corrected according to values of the syndromes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 11127473
    Abstract: A memory apparatus and a data reading method thereof are provided. In the method, a plurality of memory cells of the memory apparatus are read to obtain read data, in which a threshold voltage of each memory cell is sensed and respectively compared with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to determine bit values. The first reference voltage and the second reference voltage are used to distinguish different states of the memory cell and the second reference voltage is larger than the first reference voltage. The bit values of the memory cells having the threshold voltage between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage in the read data are gradually changed and syndromes of the changed read data are calculated. The read data is corrected according to values of the syndromes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 11107534
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array. The memory array has a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The gates of the memory cells in the same row are coupled to each other and connected to a word line. The drains of the memory cells in the same column are coupled to each other and connected to a bit line. The sources of the memory cells in the same row are coupled to each other, and the sources of the memory cells in the two adjacent rows are connected to different respective source lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 11024351
    Abstract: A memory device and an operating method for controlling a non-volatile memory are provided. The non-volatile memory includes segments. Each of the segments includes memory cells. The operating method includes the following steps. A programming operation is performed multiple times on the memory cells in sequence according to increment commands, a segment order, and a memory cell order. When receiving a read command, a read operation is performed multiple times on the memory cells according to the segment order and the memory cell order until a last programmed memory cell is learned. According to an address of the last programmed memory cell, a replay-protected monotonic count value associated with a number of the increment commands is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Publication number: 20210082514
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and a data writing method are provided. The non-volatile memory includes a memory array and a memory controller. The memory array has a plurality of memory cells. The memory controller is configured to perform a data write operation on a plurality of selected memory cells. In the data write operation, the memory controller records a total number of times that a data write pulse is supplied, compares the total number of times of the data write pulse to a preset threshold value to obtain an indication value, and adjusts an absolute value of a voltage of the data write pulse according to the indication value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Publication number: 20210065814
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array. The memory array has a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The gates of the memory cells in the same row are coupled to each other and connected to a word line. The drains of the memory cells in the same column are coupled to each other and connected to a bit line. The sources of the memory cells in the same row are coupled to each other, and the sources of the memory cells in the two adjacent rows are connected to different respective source lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Wen-Chiao HO