Patents by Inventor Yung-Fa Chou

Yung-Fa Chou 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: 9347981
    Abstract: A test method for an interposer is provided. The interposer includes a plurality of conductive lines therein and a plurality of connecting contacts thereon, wherein the connecting contacts are electrically connected to the conductive lines. The test method for an interposer provides a passive transponder device. The passive transponder device includes a first circuit including an open/short test circuit and at least a pair of connecting contacts. The test method for an interposer includes contacting the connecting contacts of the first circuit in the passive transponder device with the selected contacts on the interposer to form a checking area and conducting an open-circuit or short-circuit test for the interposer through the checking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Publication number: 20150277096
    Abstract: A display magnifying device adapted for an electronic device having one or more external sockets is provided. The display magnifying device includes a magnifying glass, a plug, and a stand. The plug fits the external socket. The stand has a first end connected to the magnifying glass and a second end connected to the plug. The display magnifying device is adapted to be detachably assembled to the electronic device by connecting the plug to the external socket. A display magnifying device including a magnifying glass, a casing and a stand is further provided. The casing at least covers a part of the electronic device. The stand has a first end connected to the magnifying glass and a second end connected to the casing. The display magnifying device is adapted to be detachably assembled to the electronic device by covering the part of the electronic device with the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Huei-Jen Kuo, Yung-Fa Chou, Ting-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9064549
    Abstract: A memory device including at least one bit-line decoding circuit, at least one word-line decoding circuit, a plurality of memory blocks, and a plurality of switches is provided. The sizes of the plurality of memory blocks include at least one first size and a second size, and the first size is greater than the second size. The plurality of memory blocks with the first size are grouped as at least one first group, and the plurality of memory blocks with the second size are grouped as at least one second group. Compared to the first group, the second group is closer to the bit-line decoding circuit and/or the word-line decoding circuit. The switches are controlled by at least one control signal, so as to enable or disable the first group and/or the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Patent number: 9048342
    Abstract: A semiconductor device stacked structure is disclosed, which includes multiple semiconductor devices and at least one reinforcing structure. The semiconductor devices are stacked on one another. At least one semiconductor device has at least one through silicon via. Each reinforcing structure surrounds a corresponding one of the at least one through silicon via and is electrically insulated from the semiconductor devices. The at least one reinforcing structure includes multiple reinforcing elements and at least one connecting element. Each reinforcing element is disposed between the semiconductor devices. Vertical projections of the reinforcing elements on a plane define a close region, and a projection of the at least one through silicon via on the plane is located within the close region. The connecting element is located in an overlapping region of the vertical projections of the reinforcing elements on the plane, for connecting the reinforcing elements to form the reinforcing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ding-Ming Kwai, Yung-Fa Chou, Chiao-Ling Lung, Jui-Hung Chien
  • Publication number: 20150049569
    Abstract: A memory device including at least one bit-line decoding circuit, at least one word-line decoding circuit, a plurality of memory blocks, and a plurality of switches is provided. The sizes of the plurality of memory blocks include at least one first size and a second size, and the first size is greater than the second size. The plurality of memory blocks with the first size are grouped as at least one first group, and the plurality of memory blocks with the second size are grouped as at least one second group. Compared to the first group, the second group is closer to the bit-line decoding circuit and/or the word-line decoding circuit. The switches are controlled by at least one control signal, so as to enable or disable the first group and/or the second group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Patent number: 8937486
    Abstract: A method for testing a TSV comprises charging a through-silicon-via under test to a first predetermined voltage level charging a capacitance device to a second predetermined voltage level; performing charge-sharing between the through-silicon-via and the capacitance device; and determining that the through-silicon-via under test is not faulty if the voltage level of the through-silicon-via after the charge-sharing step is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Cheng-Wen Wu, Po-Yuan Chen, Ding-Ming Kwai, Yung-Fa Chou
  • Patent number: 8912015
    Abstract: An operating method of a hardwired switch is provided. First, a first die is provided. The first die is configured as the first die in the hardwired switch. Next, a function of the first die is inspected to obtain an inspected result. Upon the inspected result, whether a second TSV is selectively disposed between the first landing pad and the fifth landing pad, between the second landing pad and the sixth landing pad, between the third landing pad and the seventh landing pad, or between the fourth landing pad and the eighth landing pad or not is determined. The first die is stacked above a second die, so that the second surface is located between the first die and the second die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ting-Sheng Chen, Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Patent number: 8854853
    Abstract: A three-dimensional integrated circuit (3-D IC) includes a controller chip and at least one memory chip, in which, besides an original storage capacity, the memory chip further includes multiple spare memory cells and an address translation circuit with an external activation/enablement function. After the memory chip and the controller chip are stacked, the controller chip may still activate/enable a spare in the memory chip to repair a damaged or deteriorated memory cell in the memory chip through at least one vertical interconnect (for example, through-silicon via (TSV)), regardless of whether the damaged or deteriorated memory cell has been repaired or not before the controller chip and the memory chip are stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Publication number: 20140139259
    Abstract: A test method for an interposer is provided. The interposer includes a plurality of conductive lines therein and a plurality of connecting contacts thereon, wherein the connecting contacts are electrically connected to the conductive lines. The test method for an interposer provides a passive transponder device. The passive transponder device includes a first circuit including an open/short test circuit and at least a pair of connecting contacts. The test method for an interposer includes contacting the connecting contacts of the first circuit in the passive transponder device with the selected contacts on the interposer to form a checking area and conducting an open-circuit or short-circuit test for the interposer through the checking area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Patent number: 8710676
    Abstract: A stacked structure and a stacked method for a three-dimensional integrated circuit are provided. The provided stacked method includes separating a logic chip into a function chip and an I/O chip; stacking the function chip above the I/O chip; and stacking at least one memory chip between the function chip and the I/O chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Patent number: 8683276
    Abstract: A method for repairing an integrated circuit comprises: fabricating a first circuit, the first circuit including a plurality of regular units and a plurality of redundant units, each of the regular units being identified by an address; performing a first test on the first circuit to determine if a defective regular unit is present; activating, if the defective regular unit is present, at least a first redundant unit to replace the defective regular unit, the first redundant unit being identified by an address of the defective regular unit; performing, if the at least first redundant unit is present, a second test on the first circuit to determine if the first redundant unit is defective; and activating at least a second redundant unit to replace the defective first redundant unit, the second redundant unit being identified by the address of the defective regular unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Publication number: 20130293255
    Abstract: A method for testing a TSV comprises charging a through-silicon-via under test to a first predetermined voltage level charging a capacitance device to a second predetermined voltage level; performing charge-sharing between the through-silicon-via and the capacitance device; and determining that the through-silicon-via under test is not faulty if the voltage level of the through-silicon-via after the charge-sharing step is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Cheng-Wen Wu, Po-Yuan Chen, Ding-Ming Kwai, Yung- Fa Chou
  • Patent number: 8531199
    Abstract: The method and circuit for testing a TSV of the present invention exploit the electronic property of the TSV under test. The TSV under test is first reset to a first state, and is then sensed at only one end to determine whether the TSV under test follows the behavior of a normal TSV, wherein the reset and sense steps are performed at only one end of the TSV under test. If the TSV under test does not follow the behavior of a normal TSV, the TSV under test is determined faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Cheng Wen Wu, Po Yuan Chen, Ding Ming Kwai, Yung Fa Chou
  • Publication number: 20130210170
    Abstract: A method for repairing an integrated circuit comprises: fabricating a first circuit, the first circuit including a plurality of regular units and a plurality of redundant units, each of the regular units being identified by an address; performing a first test on the first circuit to determine if a defective regular unit is present; activating, if the defective regular unit is present, at least a first redundant unit to replace the defective regular unit, the first redundant unit being identified by an address of the defective regular unit; performing, if the at least first redundant unit is present, a second test on the first circuit to determine if the first redundant unit is defective; and activating at least a second redundant unit to replace the defective first redundant unit, the second redundant unit being identified by the address of the defective regular unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Yung-Fa CHOU, Ding-Ming KWAI
  • Publication number: 20130161819
    Abstract: A semiconductor device stacked structure is disclosed, which includes multiple semiconductor devices and at least one reinforcing structure. The semiconductor devices are stacked on one another. At least one semiconductor device has at least one through silicon via. Each reinforcing structure surrounds a corresponding one of the at least one through silicon via and is electrically insulated from the semiconductor devices. The at least one reinforcing structure includes multiple reinforcing elements and at least one connecting element. Each reinforcing element is disposed between the semiconductor devices. Vertical projections of the reinforcing elements on a plane define a close region, and a projection of the at least one through silicon via on the plane is located within the close region. The connecting element is located in an overlapping region of the vertical projections of the reinforcing elements on the plane, for connecting the reinforcing elements to form the reinforcing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ding-Ming Kwai, Yung-Fa Chou, Chiao-Ling Lung, Jui-Hung Chien
  • Publication number: 20130064026
    Abstract: A three-dimensional integrated circuit (3-D IC) includes a controller chip and at least one memory chip, in which, besides an original storage capacity, the memory chip further includes multiple spare memory cells and an address translation circuit with an external activation/enablement function. After the memory chip and the controller chip are stacked, the controller chip may still activate/enable a spare in the memory chip to repair a damaged or deteriorated memory cell in the memory chip through at least one vertical interconnect (for example, through-silicon via (TSV)), regardless of whether the damaged or deteriorated memory cell has been repaired or not before the controller chip and the memory chip are stacked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Patent number: 8384201
    Abstract: A wafer and a method for improving the yield rate of the wafer are provided. The wafer includes a first and a second circuit units, a first and a second through silicon vias (TSVs), and a first spare TSV. The first and the second circuit units are disposed inside the wafer. The first TSV vertically runs through the wafer and is coupled to the first circuit unit through the front metal of the wafer. The second TSV vertically passes through the wafer and is coupled to the second circuit unit through the front metal of the wafer. When the first or the second TSV has failed, the first spare TSV vertically passes through the wafer to replace the failed first or second TSV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ting-Sheng Chen, Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Patent number: 8344520
    Abstract: A stacked structure of chips including a first chip and a second chip is provided. The first chip includes a first and a second circuit blocks, a signal path, a first and a second hardwired switches. The second chip stacks with the first chip stack and includes a third circuit block, a third and a fourth hardwired switches. If the first circuit block is defective and the second and the third circuit blocks are functional, the first hardwired switch and the third hardwired switch are set correspondingly such that a power-supply bonding pad is connected to the third power terminal and disconnected to the first power terminal, and the second hardwired switch and the fourth hardwired switch are set correspondingly such that the third signal terminal is electrically connected to the signal path to make the third circuit block replace the first circuit block and provide the first function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Publication number: 20120231563
    Abstract: An operating method of a hardwired switch is provided. First, a first die is provided. The first die is configured as the first die in the hardwired switch. Next, a function of the first die is inspected to obtain an inspected result. Upon the inspected result, whether a second TSV is selectively disposed between the first landing pad and the fifth landing pad, between the second landing pad and the sixth landing pad, between the third landing pad and the seventh landing pad, or between the fourth landing pad and the eighth landing pad or not is determined. The first die is stacked above a second die, so that the second surface is located between the first die and the second die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ting-Sheng Chen, Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai
  • Publication number: 20120193815
    Abstract: A stacked structure of chips including a first chip and a second chip is provided. The first chip includes a first and a second circuit blocks, a signal path, a first and a second hardwired switches. The second chip stacks with the first chip stack and includes a third circuit block, a third and a fourth hardwired switches. If the first circuit block is defective and the second and the third circuit blocks are functional, the first hardwired switch and the third hardwired switch are set correspondingly such that a power-supply bonding pad is connected to the third power terminal and disconnected to the first power terminal, and the second hardwired switch and the fourth hardwired switch are set correspondingly such that the third signal terminal is electrically connected to the signal path to make the third circuit block replace the first circuit block and provide the first function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yung-Fa Chou, Ding-Ming Kwai