Patents Issued in July 17, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080170389
    Abstract: A Christmas/Decorative light without wires. This is a solar rechargeable indoor/outdoor Christmas/Decorative light that is characterized by a bright long lasting LED and long lasting energy source. The rechargeable energy storage device is electrically coupled to a flexible solar array that powers the light. The light assembly is constructed with a small, flexible solar array that allows it to be used on a variety of light sizes including mini-light, C6, C7, and C9 bulb. The LED holder has a nearly unbreakable lens for illumination and allows for varying colors. The solar array is mounted on the casing and is maximized to collect the ambient/solar energy during the daylight hours. The light assembly is designed with a clip that allows it to be attached/mounted to a variety of indoor and outdoor structures including Christmas Trees and houses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: CANDEW SCIENTIFIC, LLC
    Inventor: DAWN EMILY MARILYN LAVIGNE
  • Publication number: 20080170390
    Abstract: A lighting fixture includes a support frame and a plurality of elongated, light-enhancing, decorative elements. Each of the decorative elements has a proximal portion, a distal portion and a curvilinear central axis extending therebetween. The proximal portions of the decorative elements are rigidly affixed to the support frame. The distal portions of the affixed decorative elements are unsupported and curve away from the support frame. The support frame may include elongated arms, and the decorative elements may be affixed to the support frame via the arms. The decorative element may be fabricated of crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Mark McDowell
  • Publication number: 20080170391
    Abstract: A light source having a lead frame, a body, and a plurality of dies, each die having an LED thereon is disclosed. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The lead frame includes first, second, and third sections, the first section includes a die mounting area having a first protrusion that passes through the body and terminates in a pad on the bottom surface. The second and third sections each include a protrusion that is bent to form first and second leads that run along one of the side surfaces. Each die is bonded to the die mounting area such that a first contact is electrically connected to the die mounting area, and a second contact is connected to one of the second and third sections. The first protrusion of the first section provides improved heat transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Aizar Abdul Karim Norfidathul, Chiau Jin Lee, Kheng Leng Tan, Keat Chuan Ng, Kiam Soon Ong
  • Publication number: 20080170392
    Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination module comprising one or more light-emitting elements which are thermally coupled to one or more heat extraction elements. The one or more heat extraction elements are configured to transfer heat in substantially a first direction. One or more optical elements are further integrated into the illumination module, wherein the one or more optical elements are optically coupled to the one or more light-emitting elements and configured to redirect the light emitted by the one or more light-emitting elements in substantially the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: TIR TECHNOLOGY LP
    Inventors: INGO SPEIER, DAMIEN LOVELAND
  • Publication number: 20080170393
    Abstract: An adjustable illumination device comprises a control circuit board, several light-emitting diodes connected to the control circuit board, and a color sensor electrically connected to the control circuit board, wherein every light-emitting diode comprises at least a red chip, at least a blue chip, and at least a green chip, and the color sensor detects and adjusts the light-emitting diodes so as to obtain required light color and maintain stable light color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Yuan-Cheng Chin
  • Publication number: 20080170394
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflector assembly for a luminaire where the reflector assembly comprises an anti-static member disposed between a lamp of the luminaire and a reflector body. In various aspects the anti-static member may be glass, plastic or other transparent or translucent materials and the reflector may be substantially sealed from the atmosphere by the anti-static member or the anti-static member in cooperation with a cover of the reflector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Yaser S. Abdelsamed, Jack L. Ries
  • Publication number: 20080170395
    Abstract: A double light module includes a lamp seat and two illuminating units. The lamp seat includes a mounting frame formed with a through hole. The illuminating units are mounted to the mounting frame corresponding to the through hole. Each of the illuminating units includes a lamp cover and a lamp wick disposed in the lamp cover. The lamp cover includes a cover body that has three mounting peripheral segments and one abutting peripheral segment, and three mounting portions that are provided respectively at the mounting peripheral segments and that are mounted to the mounting frame adjacent to the through hole. The abutting peripheral segment of one of the lamp covers abuts against the abutting peripheral segment of the other one of the lamp covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: CORETRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wen-Ching HO
  • Publication number: 20080170396
    Abstract: A light emitting device or array comprising a submount having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of edges, with input and output terminals disposed on the top surface. A plurality of attach pads and traces are also disposed on the top surface and electrically connected between the input and output terminals. A plurality of LEDs are also included, each of which is mounted to one of the attach pads. The attach pads cover more of the top surface than the LEDs and spread heat from the LEDs to the top surface of the submount. A plurality of lenses are also included each of which is molded over a respective one of the attach pads and covers the LED mounted to the particular attach pad. The arrays are shaped and arranged so that they can be easily attached to similar arrays in a tiling fashion, with the desired number of arrays included to meet the desired lighting requirements. Methods for fabricating the arrays from a single submount or submounts panel are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Cheng-Hsin Yuan, Bernd Keller
  • Publication number: 20080170397
    Abstract: An improved signal light and method for making an improved signal light is disclosed. For example, the improved signal light includes a housing, at least one outer lens and at least one or more second type of light emitting diodes (LEDs) deployed in the housing. The at least one or more second type of LEDs includes a pump, a phosphor and a filter having a cutoff point less than or equal to 540 nanometers (nm). The at least one or more second type of LEDs also has a pump peak wavelength less than or equal to 430 nm and has a phosphor with a peak wavelength greater than 575 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: John Curran, John Patrick Peck
  • Publication number: 20080170398
    Abstract: A lighting device comprising: a light emitting diode lighting panel having first and second opposing surfaces; light emitting diodes at a periphery of light emitting diode lighting panel for emitting light through the first surface; a reflective surface at the second surface of the light emitting diode lighting panel; and a power supply unit connected to the light emitting diode panel, the power supply having first and second ends, and electrical circuitry for converting alternating current to direct current between the first and second ends, wherein the first end is for insertion into the a socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: LED Folio Corporatioin
    Inventor: Steven Kim
  • Publication number: 20080170399
    Abstract: A lamp base for a dual-leg lamp is provided with at least one oversized leg mounting hole that permits relative movement of the lamp legs during temperature driven expansion and contraction. In one embodiment, only one leg of the lamp is glued to the lamp base. The absence of glue on one leg permits essentially free movement of the non-glued leg with respect to the base. In those embodiments that include only a single oversized leg mounting hole, the leg disposed within the oversized leg mounting hole is not glued so that the leg is free to move within the oversized hole. In those embodiments in which both leg mounting holes are oversized, it is acceptable for either (or both) of the legs to be non-glued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: ACCESS BUSINESS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: William T. Stoner, Karlis Vecziedins, Michael K. Greene
  • Publication number: 20080170400
    Abstract: A backlight unit illuminating the rear of a transmissive display panel with light includes a light source substrate, a base member, and a heat pipe. The light source substrate has a light source and faces the rear of the display panel. The base member is made of sheet metal, on which the light source substrate is mounted, and fixed to the rear of a chassis of the backlight unit. The heat pipe is attached to the base member and receives heat generated in the light source through the base member. The base member includes a plurality of groove portions extending in a lengthwise direction of the light source substrate formed at predetermined intervals and a plurality of planes on which the light source substrates facing the display panel are formed respectively. The heat pipe is provided in the lengthwise direction of the light source substrate under each of the planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20080170401
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a decorative lamp, and more particularly to a modeling decorative lamp which has a lighting body and a support frame shaped into a model. A plurality of flat bars which are twisted into spiral shapes are fixed on the support frame and compose a modeling surface of the model. The lighting body is fixed within a cavity of the model. The flat bars are coated with a layer of reflective material. Therefore, the decorative lamp with a specific model is capable of producing different flashing effect while seen from different angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Xuliang Li
  • Publication number: 20080170402
    Abstract: A direct type backlight module with ultra-thin diffuser and excellent brightness uniformity is disclosed to include a housing, a reflector, a first diffuser, light sources, and support members, in which the reflector is mounted on the bottom panel of the housing, the first diffuser is mounted on the opening of the housing and having a visible light (400˜800 nm) transmission not greater than 75%, and the visible light (400˜800 nm) transmission of the top part of each support member is within 5%˜85%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Forward Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Shih Yen, Cheng-Yi Chen
  • Publication number: 20080170403
    Abstract: A system and method optimizes a visualization of a display of a mobile device. The mobile device comprises a housing, a display, and an adaptive device. The display is situated at least partially in an opening of the housing. The adaptive device is disposed at least partially one of within the housing and in the opening. The adaptive device has a property to improve a visibility of the display. The property is related to an ambient lighting condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Vladimir Gurevich
  • Publication number: 20080170404
    Abstract: A fire stop for use with a light fixture in a suspended ceiling or wall. It prevents flames and smoke from passing through the light fixture and spreading throughout a building by moving above the ceiling or behind the walls. The fire stop has a lightweight enclosure that defines an interior space disposed above the suspended ceiling, or behind the wall. Contained within the interior space are a portion of the light fixture and a layer of intumescent material. The intumescent material forms a material with a relatively low thermal conductivity that substantially fills the interior space, impeding the movement of flames or smoke, when the intumescent material reaches at least a pre-determined activation temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Adrian Michael Steer, Peter Tonge, John Valentine
  • Publication number: 20080170405
    Abstract: Luminous surfaces 25 of a concave-convex shape are formed on a light guide member 2 of a scuff plate, and a screen member 4 made of a non-transparent material is disposed between the light guide member 2 and a wire harness 31 of the scuff plate. The light guide member 2 luminously displays a design in a three-dimensional manner, and also the wire harness 31 will not be visually recognized through the light guide member 2, and therefore the design is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kamiya, Yasuyuki Higuchi, Kazuo Takeda, Chiharu Totani, Tatsuya Oba, Shuji Inui
  • Publication number: 20080170406
    Abstract: A structure of car door guard mainly comprises a one-piece pad for maximum cushioning; the characteristic lies in: an illuminant strip is snugly fitted in a furrow cut along the length of the pad. The illuminant strip would allow the structure glowing while being connected to power source. The structure can be mounted on doors of any cars for maximum cushioning and/or embellishment as it would glow to make the car doors glistening at night so as to provide alert and irradiate the car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Yi-Tzu Lan
  • Publication number: 20080170407
    Abstract: A dual function headlamp for motor vehicle fulfilling a first function as a beam with cut-off, in particular a dipped beam, and a second function as a second-type beam, in particular a full beam, comprising: an elliptical reflector with an interior focal point and an focal point on an optical axis; a light source placed in the vicinity of the interior focal point; an optics placed forward of the reflector and with a focal point merged with, or next to, the exterior focal point of the reflector; and a retractable shade that can occupy an active position for the beam with cut-off and a withdrawn position for the second-type beam, the shade in active position presenting a cut-off edge situated in the vicinity of the focal point of the optics. The retractable shade presents a reflective surface which, in withdrawn position, is placed in the lower part of the reflector, is turned forward and contributes to the second-type beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Jean-Luc MEYRENAUD
  • Publication number: 20080170408
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a reflector configured to forward reflect light from a segment light source extending in a vehicle width direction such that a light distribution pattern is formed that has a cut-off line at an upper end thereof. The segment light source is arranged such that a first predetermined point located at a front end edge of the segment light source at end edges thereof in right and left directions in a plan view of the vehicle headlamp is located on a first reference axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A reflecting surface of the reflector is split into a plurality of reflection regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidetada Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080170409
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a projection lens with an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and a light source with a light emission portion. The light emission portion is directly incident to the projection lens. The projection lens has a plurality of lens areas with different focal points, with the lens areas centered on the optical axis and disposed on generally concentric circles. The focal points corresponding to the plurality of lens areas have respectively different positions on the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Tendo, Takehiko Tajima
  • Publication number: 20080170410
    Abstract: A vehicle bulb shield with material differences in configuration, thickness, strength, grade or surface coating in the leg and shield sections, manufactured from a tailor welded steel strip of different materials to obtain desired corresponding combinations of features in each component from each material. A progressive forming process is used to accommodate the different metal combinations within the tailor welded steel strip (e.g. material type and/or thickness), and thereby allow new material property configurations in the bulb shield components. A material property configured bulb shield design enables consideration of formability of material in different component sections, the rigidity of material in different component sections, and cost of different materials, in a single component design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Michael A. Strazzanti, Zi Qiang Sheng
  • Publication number: 20080170411
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to light occluding devices and methods. In one embodiment of the present invention, a light occluding device comprises a tapered sidewall extending from a first end having a first diameter to a second end having a second diameter, and a base. The base comprises a step ring having a uniform diameter greater than the first diameter of the tapered sidewall, and an optional flange fixed to a second end of the step ring, radially extending out from a center of the light occluding device. A shoulder is defined by an intersection of a first end of the step ring and the first end of the sidewall, and the first diameter of the first end of the sidewall is greater than the second diameter of the second end of the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Gary Fails, Lauren Dunn, Benjamin Merrick, Michael Baldassari
  • Publication number: 20080170412
    Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus includes LEDs as point light sources fixedly mounted on a flexible printed circuit, a light conductor plate having a light inlet surface, a light reflector plate disposed under the light conductor plate, a light absorbing member constituted by a black tape, and a sheet metal case having walls on all four sides and housing the component members described above. An end of the light reflector plate located toward the LEDs is positioned beyond the light inlet surface of the light conductor plate, and recesses are provided at the end of the light reflector plate. A black tape as a light absorbing member is disposed on the outer surface of the light reflector plate along the light inlet surface, and a light absorbing region is formed such that the black tape is exposed through the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuo Ohno
  • Publication number: 20080170413
    Abstract: The invention is a reflective light emitting diode. The light emitting diode reflects the externally incident light, thereby increasing the effective brightness of the light emitting diode. The light emitting diode reflects externally incident light with a reflectivity greater than 40 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Karl W. Beeson, Scott M. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20080170414
    Abstract: An LED backlight module comprises a light-guide plate having at least one light-emit surface and a light-guide bar extended from one side of the light-guide plate, the thickness of the light-guide plate is smaller than the diameter of the light-guide bar, wherein the light-guide bar has at least one incident inlet, an LED module is disposed at the light-guide bar and corresponds to said incident inlet, light from a single LED enters into the light-guide bar via the incident inlet, then the light is totally reflected, and partial light is introduced into the light-guide plate firstly, other light is guided forward to the light-guide plate by way of curing, therefore the light is guided into the whole light-guide bar along z-axis so as to form the slim backlight module with good uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Tsun-I Wang
  • Publication number: 20080170415
    Abstract: A white light generating unit includes an LED structure and a lens structure. The LED structure generates a light. The lens structure has a convex lens or a concave lens. The lens structure has a fluorescent member that receives the light from the LED structure to emit a white light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung-Woong HAN, Kyu-Seok Kim, Young-Bee CHU, Sang-Hee Lee, Young-Hee Park, Jong-Nam LEE
  • Publication number: 20080170416
    Abstract: A backlight module is provided. The backlight module includes a frame, a fixed structure and at least one optical film. The fixed structure includes a fixed part and a connected part connects to the surface and the fixed part. The width of the fixed part is substantially greater than the width of the connected part. The at least one optical film includes an accommodated part comprising a first portion and a second portion adjoins to the first portion. The width of the first portion is substantially greater than or substantially equal to the fixed part, and the width of the second portion is substantially greater than or substantially equal to the width of the connected part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Wu Yuan, Chih-Liang Pan, I-Jan Wang
  • Publication number: 20080170417
    Abstract: An adjustable shunt regulator comprises an operational amplifier, a transistor having a base terminal operatively connected to the output of the operational amplifier, a diode operatively connected in parallel with the transistor, and a voltage reference connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier. The operational amplifier provides an output signal at the output thereof that corresponds to a difference between an input signal applied to the non-inverting input and the voltage reference. The output signal controls a voltage between the collector and emitter. A current source is operatively connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, and a capacitor is operatively connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier in parallel with voltage reference. Upon a start-up condition of the shunt regulator, the capacitor is charged by current supplied by the current source causing the voltage reference to be limited to a charge voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Jian YANG
  • Publication number: 20080170418
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a resonant coil (Lr) for zero voltage switching, the resonant coil being connected in series to a primary winding (Np), and a full-bridge switching circuit driven by phase shift control. The DC-DC converter includes a first regenerative diode (D7) disposed between a connection between the primary winding (Np) and the resonant coil (Lr) and a first terminal of an input power supply (Vin) and a second regenerative diode (D8) disposed between the connection and a second terminal of the input power supply (Vin). This structure enables a surge resulting from a reverse recovery current in rectifier diodes (D1, D2) at the secondary side to be regenerated to the input power supply via the regenerative diodes (D7, D8), thus reducing a surge voltage applied to the rectifier diodes (D1, D2). As a result, a rectifier diode that has a low breakdown voltage and a small forward voltage drop can be used. The loss caused by a forward current in the rectifier diodes can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Takayoshi Nishiyama, Hiroshi Takemura, Koichi Ueki
  • Publication number: 20080170419
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an active peak voltage-limiting clamp circuit, which comprises a primary switch unit and a secondary switch unit that are used to control the coil current of a transformer, wherein a signal acquisition unit, a zero-point decision unit, a feedback unit and a pulse control unit are used to control the turn-on periods of the primary switch unit and the secondary switch unit; thus, the turn-on period of the primary switch unit is separated from the turn-on period of the secondary switch unit, and a buffer interval for the transient voltage variation is formed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Kuo-Fan Lin
  • Publication number: 20080170420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a control circuit to detect an input voltage for the control and protections of a power converter. It includes a current sense circuit for generating a current signal in response to a switching current of a transformer. A detection circuit is coupled to sense the current signal for generating a slope signal in response to a slope of the current signal. A protection circuit is further developed to control the switching signal in accordance with the slope signal. The level of the slope signal is corrected to the input voltage of the power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Ta-Yung Yang, Chien-Yuan Lin
  • Publication number: 20080170421
    Abstract: A device and method for determining whether a malfunction is present in a drive circuit, which drives an electric device that generates counter-electromotive force, when all gates in the switching elements of the drive circuit are blocked. After the gates are blocked, the temperature of the switching elements is monitored and the presence of a malfunction is determined based on the detected temperature of the switching elements. A malfunction is determined to be present when the detected temperature equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature; the change in the detected temperature equals or exceeds a predetermined value; or the rate of change in the detected temperature equals or exceeds than a predetermined rate. Thus, it can be appropriately determined whether the gates in the drive circuit are appropriately blocked and minimize the influence of any malfunctions on other elements outside of the drive circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Kouji Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20080170422
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power on/off control architecture for a power supply so as to control the power on/off of the power supply. The power supply includes a rectifying unit, a standing power system, a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller and a main power system. The standing power system controls whether the PWM controller can obtain the DC power required for operation, and in this power on/off control architecture for the power supply, a first power on/off unit is disposed in front of the DC power input port of the standing power system, so that the first power on/off unit can control the operation of the standing power system so as to further control the power on/off of the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Yung-Hsiang Shih, Kun-Feng Hsu
  • Publication number: 20080170423
    Abstract: A AC/DC transformation and voltage stabilizing circuit comprising a high voltage coupling capacitor, a bridge rectifying circuit, a voltage comparison circuit, a switch controlling circuit, a capacitor filtering, and a storage circuit; when the circuit is in use, the voltage of input AC power source will be reduced by said high voltage coupling capacitor to a voltage close to the requested voltage, and said reduced voltage will be transformed to DC power source for the voltage comparison to compare; when the voltage of said transformed DC power source is larger than the range of requested voltage, the switch of said switch controlling circuit will be opened, such that said transformed DC power source again will be reduced by said high voltage coupling capacitor to another voltage until it meets the requested voltage and then output for utilizations when the voltage of said transformed DC power source is smaller than the requested voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Tsai Chin Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080170424
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device capable of preventing a defect caused by lowering the etching precision in an end area of the memory cell array is provided. A first block is constructed by first memory cell units each having of memory cells, a second block is constructed by second memory cell units each having a plurality of memory cells, and the memory cell array is constructed by arranging the first blocks on both end portions thereof and arranging the second blocks on other portions thereof. The structure of the first memory cell unit on the end side of the memory cell array is different from that of the second memory cell unit. Wirings for connecting the selection gate lines of the memory cell array to corresponding transistors in a row decoder are formed of wiring layers formed above wirings for connecting control gate lines of the memory cell array to the transistors in the row decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Ken Takeuchi, Hideko Oodaira, Kenichi Imamiya, Kazuhito Narita, Kazuhiro Shimizu, Seiichi Aritome
  • Publication number: 20080170425
    Abstract: Large capacity memory systems are constructed using stacked memory integrated circuits or chips. The stacked memory chips are constructed in such a way that eliminates problems such as signal integrity while still meeting current and future memory standards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Suresh N. Rajan
  • Publication number: 20080170426
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory cell array is disclosed which comprises an elongated continuous active region, a first transistor formed in the elongated continuous active region, the first transistor forming a first single-transistor memory cell, a second transistor also formed in the elongated continuous active region, the second transistor forming a second single-transistor memory cell and being the closest memory cell to the first single-transistor memory cell along the elongated direction, and an isolation gate formed on the elongated continuous active region between the first and second transistor, wherein the isolation gate has substantially the same structure as gates of the first and second transistor, and is supplied with a predetermined voltage to shut off any active current across a section of the elongated continuous active region beneath the isolation gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20080170427
    Abstract: Example embodiments may provide resistive random access memory devices and/or methods of manufacturing resistive random access memory devices. Example embodiment resistive random access memory devices may include a switching device and/or a storage node connected to the switching device. The storage node may include a stack structure including a plurality of resistance change layers separated from one another and first and second electrodes each on a side wall of the stack structure. The resistance change layers may be connected to the first and the second electrodes in parallel and/or may have different switching voltages from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Sang-jun Choi, Jung-hyun Lee, Chang -soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20080170428
    Abstract: The semiconductor memory device includes a resistance memory element 46 including a common electrode 38, a resistance memory layer 42 which is formed on the common electrode 38 and is switched between a high resistance state and a low resistance state by an application of a voltage, and a plurality of discrete electrodes formed on the resistance memory layer 42. The resistance memory layer 42 includes a plurality of memory regions which discretely and independently memorize the high resistance state or the low resistance state between the common electrode and the plural discrete electrodes 44. Thus, the resistance memory element can be downsized, and the integration of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kentaro KINOSHITA
  • Publication number: 20080170429
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a non-volatile nanotube switch includes a first terminal; a nanotube block including a multilayer nanotube fabric, at least a portion of which is positioned over and in contact with at least a portion of the first terminal; a second terminal, at least a portion of which is positioned over and in contact with at least a portion of the nanotube block, wherein the nanotube block is constructed and arranged to prevent direct physical and electrical contact between the first and second terminals; and control circuitry capable of applying electrical stimulus to the first and second terminals. The nanotube block can switch between a plurality of electronic states in response to a plurality of electrical stimuli applied by the control circuitry to the first and second terminals. For each different electronic state, the nanotube block provides an electrical pathway of different resistance between the first and second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: NANTERO, INC.
    Inventors: Claude L. BERTIN, Thomas RUECKES, X. M. H. HUANG, Ramesh SIVARAJAN, Eliodor G. GHENCIU, Steven L. KONSEK, Mitchell MEINHOLD
  • Publication number: 20080170430
    Abstract: A memory cell including a bit and bitnot sense lines as well as a random access memory (RAM) word line and a read only memory (ROM) word line. The memory cell particularly includes a static RAM (SRAM) bit cell and a ROM bit cell. The SRAM bit cell is coupled between the bit and bitnot sense lines, and is responsive to a signal on the RAM word line. The ROM bit cell is also coupled between the bit and bitnot sense lines, and is responsive to a signal on the ROM word line. The ROM bit cell includes first and second ROM pass transistors, a first node for permanently programming connection of the first ROM pass transistor to either a voltage line or a ground line, and a second node for permanently programming connection of the second ROM pass transistor to either the voltage line or the ground line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Technology Properties Limited
    Inventors: Dennis Ray Miller, Mohammad Hafijur Rahman, Mohammad Ehsanul Kabir
  • Publication number: 20080170431
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method for driving a phase change memory, comprising counting an access number of a phase change memory, wherein the access number is the number of times that the phase change memory has been accessed; refreshing the phase change memory when the number of times is large than a predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicants: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, POWERCHIP SEMICONDUCTOR CORP., NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, PROMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC., WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP
    Inventors: Shyh-Shyuan Sheu, Lieh-Chiu Lin, Pei-Chia Chiang, Wen-Han Wang
  • Publication number: 20080170432
    Abstract: A magnetic random access memory includes a memory cell element which includes a first fixed layer, a first recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of a first threshold value, and a first nonmagnetic layer formed between the first fixed layer and the first recording layer, a first interconnection connected to one terminal of the memory cell element, a transistor whose current path has one end connected to the other terminal of the memory cell element, a second interconnection connected to the other end of the current path, and a first resistance change element electrically connected to the memory cell element, and having a resistance value which changes on the basis of a second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Yoshiaki ASAO
  • Publication number: 20080170433
    Abstract: A word line driver system is described that utilizes a voltage selection circuit to supply one of several voltages to an output node coupled to a plurality of word line control circuits. Each word line control circuit is coupled to a respective word line in an array of non-volatile memory cells. The voltage selection circuit may include selectable low pass filters for filtering the supplied voltage supplied to the word lines in the array of memory cells without significantly increasing the overall die-size of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shigekazu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20080170434
    Abstract: In a memory cell programming method, first through n-th programming operations are performed to program first through n-th bits of the n bits of data using the plurality of threshold voltage distributions. The first through n-th programming operations are performed sequentially. A threshold voltage difference between threshold voltage distributions used in the n-th programming operation is less than or equal to at least one threshold voltage difference between threshold voltage distributions used in the first through (n?1)-th programming operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Kyoung-lae Cho, Jae-woong Hyun, Sung-jae Byun, Kyu-charn Park, Yoon-dong Park, Choong-ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20080170435
    Abstract: A memory cell array has a plurality of multi-value memory cells arranged therein that can store information of two bits or more in one memory cell as a different page. In each of the data registers, an acceptable number setting register, which temporarily retains data read from the memory cell array, stores multiple acceptable numbers of data states corresponding to each state of threshold voltages of each of the pages in the multi-value memory cells. A selector selects, from the multiple acceptable numbers of data states, an acceptable number of data states for data retained in each of the data registers corresponding to each page of the multi-value memory cells. A comparator compares the number of data states retained in each of the data registers with the acceptable number of data states selected by the selector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Naoya Tokiwa, Norihiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20080170436
    Abstract: A flash memory device and a related method of write protecting data are disclosed. The flash memory device includes a protection controller having a latch circuit storing temporary protected/accessible data, a cell array storing persistent protected/accessible data, a write controller altering the persistent protected/accessible data, and a latch controller altering the temporary protected/accessible data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Young CHUN, Jae-Yong JEONG, Chi-Weon YOON
  • Publication number: 20080170437
    Abstract: One package contains a plurality of memory chips. Each memory chip has an I/O terminal which generates a busy signal. The busy signal enables a busy state when a power supply voltage value reaches a specified and guaranteed range after a power-on sequence. The busy signal maintains the busy state until completion of initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips. The busy signal releases the busy state after completion of all initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Ken Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20080170438
    Abstract: A string of nonvolatile memory cells are connected together by source/drain regions that include an inversion layer created by fixed charge in an overlying layer. Control gates extend between floating gates so that two control gates couple to a floating gate. A fixed charge layer may be formed by plasma nitridation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Takashi Orimoto, James Kai, Henry Chien, George Matamis