Patents by Inventor Xiangdong Chen

Xiangdong Chen 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: 20250253834
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a single phase clock controlled flip flop circuit. The circuit comprises a single phase master latch that is configured to receive a data signal and a first timing signal having a first phase. The circuit is configured to generate a master latch output signal based on the data signal and the first timing signal. The single phase master latch is not configured to receive a second timing signal having a second phase. The circuit further includes a slave latch coupled to the single phase master latch. The slave latch is configured to receive the master latch output signal, to store digital data based on the master latch output signal, and to generate a flip flop output signal based on the master latch output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Xing Chao Yin, I-Wen Wang, Jia-Hong Gao, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Yung-Chen Chien, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20250241061
    Abstract: An IC device manufacturing method includes forming first and second active areas in a first row extending in a first direction and third and fourth active areas in a second, adjacent row, each including S/D structures, constructing first and second conductive segments extending in a second direction overlying and electrically connected to a S/D structure in each of the second and third active areas, constructing additional conductive segments, gates, and vias to form an AOI, OAI, or four-input NAND including the first and second segments and pull-up and pull-down transistors in each of the first and second rows, and constructing first through third power rails extending in the first direction, the first and second and second and third power rails aligned with the respective first and second rows. The first and second segments cross a plane perpendicular to the first and second conductive segments and including the second power rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: I-Wen WANG, Chia Chun WU, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Xiangdong CHEN
  • Publication number: 20250218772
    Abstract: A method includes forming a conductive member over a first conductive line; forming a second conductive line over the conductive member; and removing a portion of the conductive member exposed by the second conductive line to form a conductive via. The formation of the second conductive line is implemented prior to the formation of the conductive via. A semiconductor structure includes a first conductive line having a first surface; a second conductive line disposed above the first conductive line and having a second surface overlapping the first surface; and a conductive via electrically connected to the first surface and the second surface. The conductive via includes a first end disposed within the first surface, a second end disposed within the second surface, and a cross-section between the first end and the second end, wherein at least two of interior angles of the cross-section are substantially unequal to 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2025
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventors: JOHNNY CHIAHAO LI, SHIH-MING CHANG, KEN-HSIEN HSIEH, CHI-YU LU, YUNG-CHEN CHIEN, HUI-ZHONG ZHUANG, JERRY CHANG JUI KAO, XIANGDONG CHEN
  • Patent number: 12315861
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first conductive via, a second conductive via, and a connection line. The first transistor includes a first active region, a first gate electrode over the first active region; and a first channel in the first active region and under the first gate electrode. The second transistor includes a second active region, a second gate electrode over the second active region, and a second channel in the second active region and under the second gate electrode. The first conductive via is electrically connected to the first gate electrode. The second conductive via is electrically connected to the second gate electrode. The connection line electrically connects the first and second conductive vias. The first transistor and the first conductive via and the second transistor and the second conductive via are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a symmetry plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Ling Chang, Lee-Chung Lu, Xiangdong Chen, Kam-Tou Sio, Hsiang-Chi Huang
  • Publication number: 20250165687
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flip-flop unit design method comprising: analyzing signal delay of a clock control signal in a digital circuit; selecting a clock gating circuit among a plurality of types of clock gating circuits according to the signal delay, and coupling at least one edge-triggered flip-flop and the selected clock gating circuit to be a flip-flop unit, wherein the plurality of types of clock gating circuits enable or disable a first clock signal according to the clock control signal to generate a second clock signal, and the edge-triggered flip-flop transmits data at an edge of the second clock signal. The design method eliminates the glitch in the clock signal generated by the clock gating circuit, reduces the number of logic devices of the clock gating circuit, reduces the power consumption of the clock gating circuit. The design method is applicable to a flip-flop group with any number of edge-triggered flip-flops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Weiquan Song, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20250132753
    Abstract: A flip-flop with clock gating based on data comparison is disclosed. The flip-flop unit includes an edge-triggered flip-flop and a clock gating circuit. The clock gating circuit enables or disables a first clock signal to generate a second clock signal according to a data comparison result of input data and output data. The second clock signal provides a triggering edge of the edge-triggered flip-flop. The clock gating circuit copies the first clock signal as the second clock signal in a clock cycle during which the input data is flipped, and maintains the second clock signal at a predetermined level in clock cycles during which the input data remains unchanged. The flip-flop unit enables the clock flip of the edge-triggered flip-flop only in a clock cycle during which the input data is flipped, thereby improving the circuit performance and reducing the power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Weiquan Song, Xiangdong Chen
  • Patent number: 12278240
    Abstract: An IC device includes first and second power rails extending in a first direction and carrying one of a power supply or reference voltage, a third power rail extending between the first and second power rails and carrying the other of the power supply or reference voltage, and a plurality of transistors including first through fourth active areas extending between the first and second power rails, a plurality of gate structures extending perpendicularly to the first direction, and first and second conductive segments extending in the second direction across the third power rail. Each of the second and third active areas is adjacent to the third power rail, each of the first and second conductive segments is electrically connected to S/D structures in each of the second and third active areas, and the plurality of transistors is configured as one of an AOI, an OAI, or a four-input NAND gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: I-Wen Wang, Chia-Chun Wu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Yung-Chen Chien, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20250096783
    Abstract: A scan flip-flop circuit includes first and second I/O nodes, a flip-flop circuit, a selection circuit configured to receive a scan direction signal and including input terminals coupled to the first and second I/O nodes and an output terminal coupled to an input terminal of the flip-flop circuit, and first and second drivers configured to receive the scan direction signal and a scan enable signal, each including an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the flip-flop circuit and an output terminal coupled to a respective first or second input terminal of the selection circuit. Responsive to the scan direction and scan enable signals, one of the first driver is configured to output a first signal responsive to a second signal received at the second input terminal or the second driver is configured to output a third signal responsive to a fourth signal received at the first input terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Huaixin XIAN, Tzu-Ying LIN, Liu HAN, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Qingchao MENG, Xiangdong CHEN
  • Patent number: 12243741
    Abstract: A method includes forming a conductive member over a first conductive line; forming a second conductive line over the conductive member; and removing a portion of the conductive member exposed by the second conductive line to form a conductive via. The formation of the second conductive line is implemented prior to the formation of the conductive via. A semiconductor structure includes a first conductive line having a first surface; a second conductive line disposed above the first conductive line and having a second surface overlapping the first surface; and a conductive via electrically connected to the first surface and the second surface. The conductive via includes a first end disposed within the first surface, a second end disposed within the second surface, and a cross-section between the first end and the second end, wherein at least two of interior angles of the cross-section are substantially unequal to 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Johnny Chiahao Li, Shih-Ming Chang, Ken-Hsien Hsieh, Chi-Yu Lu, Yung-Chen Chien, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20250048693
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming first and second active regions; forming first to fifth gate electrodes, the second gate electrode being between the first and third gate electrodes, the fourth gate electrode being between the third and fifth gate electrodes; and selectively replacing at least one portion of at least one of the gate electrodes with an isolation dummy gate, including: replacing the first and fifth gate electrodes with first and second isolation dummy gates formed in trenches through the first and second active regions; and replacing a first portion of the third gate electrode overlying the second active region with a third isolation dummy gate formed in a first trench through the second active region, resulting in a second portion of the third gate over the first active region, and the third isolation dummy gate aligned with the second portion of the third gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu LIN, Yi-Lin FAN, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Sheng-Hsiung CHEN, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Xiangdong CHEN
  • Patent number: 12199612
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a cell region including active regions where components of transistors are formed; the cell region are arranged to function as a D flip-flop that includes a primary latch (having a first sleepy inverter and a first non-sleepy (NS) inverter), a secondary latch (having a second sleepy inverter and a second NS inverter), and a clock buffer (having third and fourth NS inverters). The transistors are grouped: a first group has a standard threshold voltage (Vt_std); a second group has a low threshold voltage (Vt_low); and an optional third group has a high threshold voltage (Vt_high). The transistors which comprise the first or second NS inverter have Vt_low. Alternatively, the transistors of the cell region are further arranged to function as a scan-insertion type of D flip-flop (SDFQ) that further includes a multiplexer; and the transistors of the multiplexer have Vt_low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD, TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Xing Chao Yin, Huaixin Xian, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Yung-Chen Chien, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Xiangdong Chen
  • Patent number: 12166487
    Abstract: A scan flip-flop circuit includes a selection circuit including first and second input terminals coupled to first and second I/O nodes, a flip-flop circuit coupled to the selection circuit, a first driver coupled between the flip-flop circuit and the first I/O node, and a second driver coupled between the flip-flop circuit and the second I/O node. The selection circuit and drivers receive a scan direction signal. In response to a first logic level of the scan direction signal, the selection circuit responds to a first signal received at the first input terminal, and the second driver outputs a second signal responsive to a flip-flop circuit output signal. In response to a second logic level of the scan direction signal, the selection circuit responds to a third signal received at the second input terminal, and the first driver outputs a fourth signal responsive to the flip-flop circuit output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Huaixin Xian, Tzu-Ying Lin, Liu Han, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Qingchao Meng, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20240388280
    Abstract: A method (of manufacturing) includes forming transistor components connected as transistors resulting in: first to third transistor-component (TC) sets being a primary latch, a secondary latch and a clock buffer that comprise D flip-flop (DFF); the primary latch including a first sleepy inverter and a first non-sleepy (NS) inverter; the secondary latch including a second sleepy inverter and a second NS inverter; the clock buffer including third and fourth NS inverters; a first group of some but not all of the transistors having members with a standard threshold voltage (Vt_std members); a second group of some but not all of the transistors having members with a low threshold voltage; and transistors which comprise at least one of the first NS inverter or the second NS inverter being Vt_low members of the second group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Xing Chao YIN, Huaixin XIAN, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Xiangdong CHEN
  • Patent number: 12142637
    Abstract: A cell region of a semiconductor device includes a first and second isolation dummy gates extending along a first direction. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate extending along the first direction and between the first isolation dummy gate and the second isolation dummy gate. The semiconductor device includes a second gate extending along the first direction, the second gate being between the first isolation dummy gate and the second isolation dummy gate relative to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The semiconductor device also includes a first active region and a second active region. The first active region extending in the second direction between the first isolation dummy gate and the second isolation dummy gate. The first active region has a first length in the second direction, and the second active region has a second length in the second direction different from the first length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Lin, Yi-Lin Fan, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20240372537
    Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes an input circuit, a cross-coupled pair of transistors, a first transistor, a first pull-up transistor and an output circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a first and second node, and is configured to receive a first and second enable signal, and to set a first control signal of the first node responsive to the first or second enable signal. The cross-coupled pair of transistors is coupled between the first and second node. The first pull-up transistor includes a first gate terminal configured to receive a clock input signal, a first drain terminal coupled to the second node, and a first source terminal coupled to a voltage supply. The output circuit is coupled between the second node and an output node, and configured to output an output clock signal responsive to the second control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Seid Hadi RASOULI, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Xiangdong CHEN, Tzu-Ying LIN, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Chi-Lin LIU
  • Publication number: 20240363637
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a standard cell, includes a first power supply line, a second power supply line, a first gate-all-around field effect transistor (GAA FET) disposed over a substrate, and a second GAA FET disposed above the first GAA FET. The first power supply line and the second power supply line are located at vertically different levels from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei WU, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Chih-Liang CHEN, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Jung-Chan YANG, Lee-Chung LU, Xiangdong CHEN
  • Publication number: 20240364317
    Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a first inverter configured to receive a first clock signal and output a second clock signal, a second inverter configured to receive the second clock signal and output a third clock signal, a master latch including a transmission circuit, and a slave latch including a first feedback inverter. The first feedback inverter includes a first transistor configured to receive the first clock signal and a second transistor configured to receive the second clock signal, and the transmission circuit includes a third transistor configured to receive the third clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Yung-Chen CHIEN, Xiangdong CHEN, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Tzu-Ying LIN, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Lee-Chung LU
  • Publication number: 20240361383
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for pre-setting scan flip-flops using combinational logic circuits. A system includes a plurality of flip-flop devices and a first pre-setting combinational logic circuit. The plurality of flip-flop devices are coupled together in series and configured to receive a scan input signal, capture data output from each flip-flop device of the plurality of flip-flop devices based on the scan input signal, and generate a scan output signal comprising the captured data. The first pre-setting combinational logic circuit is coupled to a first flip-flop device of the plurality of flip-flop devices. The first pre-setting combinational logic circuit includes a plurality of transistors and is configured to override and set either the scan input signal to the first flip-flop device or the scan output signal of the first flip-flop device based on selective operation of the plurality of transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Johnny Chiahao Li, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Tzu-Ying Lin, Yung-Chen Chien, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Xiangdong Chen
  • Patent number: 12128298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for pre-starting a cloud application, a device, a storage medium, and a program product are provided. The method includes: installing a cloud application; in response to determining that the cloud application is provided with a pre-starting switch, pre-starting the cloud application, and rendering a running screen of the cloud application; and sending, in response to receiving a startup instruction of the cloud application sent by a user, the running screen to the user. This implementation provides more cloud application scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiangdong Chen
  • Publication number: 20240333265
    Abstract: Circuits, systems, and methods are described herein for increasing a hold time of a master-slave flip-flop. A flip-flop includes circuitry configured to receive a scan input signal and generate a delayed scan input signal; a master latch configured to receive a data signal and the delayed scan input signal; and a slave latch coupled to the master latch, the master latch selectively providing one of the data signal or the delayed scan input signal to the slave latch based on a scan enable signal received by the master latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Seid Hadi Rasouli, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Xiangdong Chen, Tzu-Ying Lin, Yung-Chen Chien, Shao-Lun Chien