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: 20100322018
    Abstract: A compensation circuit includes a comparator and an emulation circuit. The comparator has a first terminal, and a second terminal for receiving a reference voltage. The emulation circuit is coupled to the first terminal of the comparator. The emulation circuit responses to the temperature, so that the comparator outputs a read timing control signal at a first time spot, or outputs the read timing control signal at a second time spot, the first time spot is later than the second time spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Ji-Yu Hung, Chun-Hsiung Hung, Shuo-Nan Hung
  • Patent number: 7804729
    Abstract: A temperature compensation circuit includes a voltage generator, a comparator and an emulation cell array. The voltage generator provides a predetermined voltage and a reference voltage. The comparator has a first terminal for receiving the predetermined voltage, and a second terminal for receiving the reference voltage. The emulation cell array is coupled to the first terminal of the comparator. When a voltage of the first terminal of the comparator is discharged, via the emulation cell array, to be lower than the reference voltage, the comparator outputs a read timing control signal to control a sense amplifier to perform a sensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Ji-Yu Hung, Chun-Hsiung Hung, Shuo-Nan Hung
  • Publication number: 20100192039
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory device is provided and includes the following steps. A first error correction code is generated according to user data. Then, the user data is written to the memory device. Moreover, the user data in the memory device is read, and a second error correction code is generated according to the read user data. Further, the first and the second error correction codes are written to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Chin-Hung Chang, Shuo-Nan Hung, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Patent number: 7755945
    Abstract: A page buffer and method of programming and reading a memory are provided. The page buffer includes a first latch, a second latch, a data change unit and a program control unit. The first latch includes a first terminal for loading data of the lower page and the upper page. The second latch includes a first terminal for storing the data of the lower page and the upper page from the first latch. The data change unit is coupled to a second terminal of the first latch for changing a voltage of the second terminal of the first latch to a low level. The program control unit is coupled to the first terminal of the second latch and the cells, and controlled by the voltage of the first terminal of the first latch for respectively programming the data of the lower page and the upper page to a target cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Chin-Hung Chang, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Publication number: 20100124136
    Abstract: A temperature compensation circuit includes a voltage generator, a comparator and an emulation cell array. The voltage generator provides a predetermined voltage and a reference voltage. The comparator has a first terminal for receiving the predetermined voltage, and a second terminal for receiving the reference voltage. The emulation cell array is coupled to the first terminal of the comparator. When a voltage of the first terminal of the comparator is discharged, via the emulation cell array, to be lower than the reference voltage, the comparator outputs a read timing control signal to control a sense amplifier to perform a sensing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Ji-Yu Hung, Chun-Hsiung Hung, Shuo-Nan Hung
  • Publication number: 20100122043
    Abstract: A memory and a method applied in one program command for the memory are provided. The memory includes a buffer and at least one program unit. The method includes the following steps. First, enter the program command to the memory. Next, enter user data to the buffer. Read the data of the program unit. Determine whether the user data fill the buffer. Fill the part of the buffer unoccupied by the user data with the data of the program unit if the user data do not fill the buffer. Erase the program unit if the program unit is not empty. Finally, program the data of the buffer into the program unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Hung, Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 7710802
    Abstract: A method for testing a memory includes the following steps. First, data is read from the memory and stored to a first temporary memory. Meanwhile, expected data corresponding to the data from the memory is written into a second temporary memory from a tester. Thereafter, the data in the first temporary memory and the expected data in the second temporary memory are compared with each other to judge whether the memory has an enough operation window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Hung Chang, Wen-Chiao Ho, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Publication number: 20100082880
    Abstract: A pre-code device includes firstly memory circuit, an address decoder, and an alternative logic circuit. The first memory circuit includes a number of memory blocks and at east a replacing block. The memory blocks are pointed by a number of respective physical addresses. The replacing block is pointed by a replacing address. The address decoder decodes an input address to provide a pre-code address. The alternative logic circuit looks up an address mapping table, which maps defect physical address among the physical addresses to the replacing address, to map the pre-code address to the replacing address when the pre-code address corresponds to the defect physical address. The alternative logic circuit correspondingly pre-codes the pre-code data to the replacing block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung HUNG, Wen-Chiao HO
  • Publication number: 20100054045
    Abstract: A memory includes many memory regions each including a target memory cell, a source line, a bit line and a reading control circuit. The source line is coupled to a first terminal of the target memory cell. The bit line is coupled to a second terminal of the target memory cell. The reading control circuit is for selectively applying a working voltage to the source line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Chin-Hung Chang, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Publication number: 20100027339
    Abstract: A page buffer and method of programming and reading a memory are provided. The page buffer includes a first latch, a second latch, a data change unit and a program control unit. The first latch includes a first terminal for loading data of the lower page and the upper page. The second latch includes a first terminal for storing the data of the lower page and the upper page from the first latch. The data change unit is coupled to a second terminal of the first latch for changing a voltage of the second terminal of the first latch to a low level. The program control unit is coupled to the first terminal of the second latch and the cells, and controlled by the voltage of the first terminal of the first latch for respectively programming the data of the lower page and the upper page to a target cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao HO, Chin-Hung CHANG, Kuen-Long CHANG, Chun-Hsiung HUNG
  • Patent number: 7652512
    Abstract: A clock synchronizing circuit applied in a SMD block is provided. The clock synchronizing circuit includes a number of stages of clock synchronizing units. The clock synchronizing circuit can achieve the purpose of clock synchronizing by using a novel circuit design of the forward delay unit, the mirror control unit or the backward delay unit in each stage of clock synchronizing unit or by using a short-pulse generation circuit to generate a short pulse for triggering out an output clock of each stage of forward delay unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Chin-Hung Chang, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Patent number: 7649772
    Abstract: A method for programming a memory, which includes multiple multi-level cells each having a left half cell and a right half cell, includes the following steps. First, a target address corresponding to 2n-group data to be stored is provided, wherein n is a positive integer. Next, the 2n-group data is sequentially programmed into the multi-level cells based upon the target address in a programming loop so that the data stored in the left half cells and the data stored in the right half cells are from different groups of the 2n-group data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Hung, Hsin-Yi Ho, Wen-Chiao Ho
  • Patent number: 7639533
    Abstract: A method for programming a plurality of multi-level memory cells described herein includes iteratively changing a bias voltage applied to a first memory cell to program the first memory cell to a first threshold state and detecting when the first cell reaches a predetermined threshold voltage. The bias voltage applied to the first memory cell upon reaching the predetermined threshold voltage is recorded. A second memory cell is programmed to a second threshold state by applying an initial bias voltage to the second memory cell which is function of the recorded bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Hung Chang, Wen-Chiao Ho, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Publication number: 20090296496
    Abstract: A method and circuit for testing a multi-chip package is provided. The multi-chip package includes at least a memory chip, and the memory chip includes a number of memory cells. The method includes performing a normal read operation on the memory cells to check if data read from the memory cells is the same with preset data in the memory cells; and performing a special read operation on the memory cells to check if data read from the memory cells is the same with an expected value, wherein the expected value is independent from data stored in the memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung HUNG, Wen-Chiao HO, Kuen-Long CHANG
  • Patent number: 7626867
    Abstract: A method for accessing memory is provided. The memory includes many multi-level cells each having at least a storage capable of storing 2n bits, n is a positive integer. The method for accessing memory includes the following steps: Firstly, threshold voltages of the storage are defined into 2n level respectively, wherein each of the 2n level corresponds to a storage status of n bits, and most significant bits of the storage statuses which level 0 to level 2n/2?1 correspond to are different from most significant bits of the storage statuses which level 2n/2 to level 2n?1 correspond to. Next, a target data is divided into n portions and the divided target data is written into n temporary memories respectively. Then, n bits of the target data are written into the multi-level cell. Each of the n bits data is collected from each of the n temporary memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Hung, Wen-Chiao Ho, Kuen-Long Chang
  • Patent number: 7619925
    Abstract: A method for programming a virtual ground array memory, which includes a first cell and a second cell adjacent to first cell, includes the following steps. First, the first cell is selected as a target cell, wherein the second cell has been programmed to have data. Next, the second cell is read and the data is recorded in a register. Then, the target cell is programmed. Next, a program verifying operation is performed on the second cell. Afterwards, the data recorded in the register is programmed back to the second cell when the program verifying operation performed on the second cell fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Hung Chang, Wen-Chiao Ho, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Publication number: 20090219759
    Abstract: A method for double programming of multi-level-cell (MLC) programming in a multi-bit-cell (MBC) of a charge trapping memory that includes a plurality of charge trapping memory cells is provided. The double programming method is conducted in two phrases, a pre-program phase and a post-program phase, and applied to a word line (a segment in a word line, a page in a word line, a program unit or a memory unit) of the charge trapping memory. A program unit can be defined by input data in a wide variety of ranges. For example, a program unit can be defined as a portion (such as a page, a group, or a segment) in one word line in which each group is selected for pre-program and pre-program-verify, either sequentially or in parallel with other groups in the same word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Hung, Wen-Chiao Ho, Kuen-Long Chang
  • Patent number: 7580302
    Abstract: A method for determining read voltage margins in a memory array compares as-read sum codes generated from data read from the memory array with expected sum codes generated from the loaded data. The read voltage (Vt) is stepped and the as-read sum codes are compared to the expected sum codes to determine the Vt range(s) that provides matching sum codes. Multiple read voltage margins (i.e. the read voltage margins between multiple programming levels of the MLC memory array) are determined in a parallel fashion as Vt is stepped across its range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen Chiao Ho, Chin Hung Chang, Cheng-Chi Liu, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun Hsiung Hung
  • Publication number: 20090201060
    Abstract: A clock synchronizing circuit applied in a SMD block is provided. The clock synchronizing circuit includes a number of stages of clock synchronizing units. The clock synchronizing circuit can achieve the purpose of clock synchronizing by using a novel circuit design of the forward delay unit, the mirror control unit or the backward delay unit in each stage of clock synchronizing unit or by using a short-pulse generation circuit to generate a short pulse for triggering out an output clock of each stage of forward delay unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Ho, Chin-Hung Chang, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Publication number: 20090201725
    Abstract: A method for programming a plurality of multi-level memory cells described herein includes iteratively changing a bias voltage applied to a first memory cell to program the first memory cell to a first threshold state and detecting when the first cell reaches a predetermined threshold voltage. The bias voltage applied to the first memory cell upon reaching the predetermined threshold voltage is recorded. A second memory cell is programmed to a second threshold state by applying an initial bias voltage to the second memory cell which is function of the recorded bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Hung Chang, Wen-Chiao Ho, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung