Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Graham S. Jones, II
  • Patent number: 6004829
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming of layers of polysilicon and dielectric layers in manufacturing a semiconductor device and patterning the layers into devices using phototlithography and etching process steps. End point mode detection is used in the etching process in a way in which the area exposed during etching is increased to enhance the end point detection capacity, by adding a surplus pad area before pad formation. Specifically an EPROM device is formed with a first level of polysilicon above a gate oxide layer patterned into a floating gate electrode of an EPROM device. Then form an ONO layer above the floating gate electrode. Define array protection, grow a second gate oxide layer, deposit a second level of polysilicon, define peripheral gates from the second level of polysilicon, and define an EPROM transistor gate electrode from the second level of polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Tzong-Sheng Chang, Yen-Shih Ho, Ruey-Hsin Liou, Yuan-Cheng Yu
  • Patent number: 6005250
    Abstract: An electron beam projection system comprises a source of an electron beam, a first doublet of condenser lenses with a first symmetry plane, a first aperture comprising a trim aperture located at the first symmetry plane of the first doublet also serving as a first blanking aperture. A second aperture comprises a shaping aperture located below the trim aperture. A second doublet of condenser lenses with a second symmetry plane is located below the second aperture, the second doublet having a symmetry plane. A third aperture is located at the symmetry plane of the second doublet wherein the third aperture comprises another blanking aperture. There are first blanking plates between the first condenser lens and the trim aperture, and second electrostatic alignment plates between the trim aperture and the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Stickel, Steven Douglas Golladay
  • Patent number: 5998279
    Abstract: This is a method of manufacture of a shallow trench isolation semiconductor device with STI trenches where an active area mask is provided for exposure of an active area during manufacture of the device comprises several following steps. The STI trenches are filled by coating the device with a blanket coating of silicon oxide. Coat the device with negative resist. Next, expose the negative resist layer with the active area mask for the device providing windows through the negative photoresist layer with an level of exposure energy provided to broaden the dimensions of exposure substantially laterally of the active area mask. Then, etch back the silicon oxide layer to a thin layer below the windows through the negative photoresist layer. Strip the resist. Finally, perform chemical mechanical planarization to remove excess silicon oxide from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Ing-Ruey Liaw
  • Patent number: 5994202
    Abstract: A semiconductor MOSFET device is formed on a silicon substrate which includes trenches filled with Shallow Trench Isolation dielectric trench fill structures and extending above the surface of the substrate. The trench fill structures have protruding sidewalls with channel regions in the substrate having corner regions adjacent to the trench fill structures. The channel regions are between and adjacent to the STI trench fill structures doped with one concentration of dopant in the centers of the channel regions with a higher concentration of dopant in the corner regions. The dopant concentration differential provides a substantially equal concentration of electrons in the centers and at the corner regions of the channel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Peter Gambino, Gary Bela Bronner, Jack Allan Mandelman, Larry Alan Nesbit
  • Patent number: 5990528
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type with a first insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and a thin film field effect transistor with a control gate containing a refractory metal silicide formed on the semiconductor substrate over the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer covers the control gate electrode. A semiconductor film is formed on the semiconductor substrate over the first and second insulating layers and having a first region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. A second region of the first conductivity type is formed in contact with a first end of the first region. A third region of the first conductivity type is formed in contact with a second end of the first region. The control gate electrode and a part of the first region are overlapped with each other over the second insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Ravishankar Sundaresan
  • Patent number: 5970341
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical memory split gate flash memory device on a silicon semiconductor substrate is provided by the following steps. Form a floating gate trench hole in the silicon semiconductor substrate, the trench hole having trench surfaces. Form a tunnel oxide layer on the trench surfaces, the tunnel oxide layer having outer surfaces. Form a floating gate electrode layer filling the trench hole on the outer surfaces of the tunnel oxide layer. Form source/drain regions in the substrate self-aligned with the floating gate electrode layer. Pattern the floating gate electrode layer by removing the gate electrode layer from the drain region side of the trench hole. Form a control gate hole therein. Form an interelectrode dielectric layer over the top surface of the floating gate electrode, and over the tunnel oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chrong-Jung Lin, Chia-Ta Hsieh, Jong Chen, Di-Son Kuo
  • Patent number: 5962903
    Abstract: A Mask ROM and a method of manufacture of a Mask ROM on a semiconductor substrate comprises formation of a first plurality of conductor lines in a first array. A dielectric layer is formed upon the device with a matrix of openings therein in line with the first array. The openings expose the surface of the first conductor lines. Semiconductor diodes are formed in the matrix of openings in contact with the first conductor lines. A second plurality of conductor lines are formed on the surface of the dielectric layer in a second array of conductor lines orthogonal to the first plurality of conductor lines in the first array. A second plurality of conductor lines is aligned with the matrix and is in contact with the upper ends of the semiconductor diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Cheng Sung, Ling Chen
  • Patent number: 5960284
    Abstract: A vertical memory device on a silicon semiconductor substrate is formed by the following steps. Form an array of isolation silicon oxide structures on the surface of the silicon semiconductor substrate. Form a floating gate trench in the silicon semiconductor substrate between the silicon oxide structures in the array, the trench having trench sidewall surfaces. Dope the sidewalls of the floating gate trench with a threshold implant through the trench sidewall surfaces. Form a tunnel oxide layer on the trench sidewall surfaces, the tunnel oxide layer having an outer surface. Form a floating gate electrode in the trench on the outer surface of the tunnel oxide layer. Form source/drain regions in the substrate self-aligned with the floating gate electrode. Form an interelectrode dielectric layer over the top surface of the floating gate electrode. Form a control gate electrode over the interelectrode dielectric layer over the top surface of the floating gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chrong Jung Lin, Shui-Hung Chen, Jong Chen, Di-Son Kuo
  • Patent number: 5960417
    Abstract: A computer system for determining the costing of the manufacturing process for a product. The computer system includes the combination of a data base computer and a manufacturing cost computer, the cost computer including a central processor, a memory, and a direct access storage device with tables of data including a product mix table, an equipment table, an overhead table, a direct material table, a direct material standard usage table, and a rework table, the system for preparing data for use in costing, calculating hourly rates for a part, calculating final costs for a part; and calculating part costs for a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yirn-Sheng Pan, Horng-Huei Tseng, Jeng-Tyan Lin
  • Patent number: 5955768
    Abstract: A method of forming a contact between a conductor and a substrate region in a MOSFET device is provided starting with forming a semiconductor substrate with a silicon oxide layer formed on the surface thereof. Then form a stack of a conductor material upon the surface of the silicon oxide layer and form a first dielectric layer upon the conductor material. Pattern the conductor stack into conductors. Form a butted contact pattern in the first dielectric layer by removal of the dielectric layer in at least one butted contact region. Form doped regions in the substrate self-aligned with the conductors. Form an etch stop layer over the device. Form a second dielectric layer over the device and pattern the second dielectric layer with contact openings therethrough down to the substrate and to the butted contact region. Employ the etch stop layer when patterning the second dielectric layer. Remove exposed portions of the etch stop layer subsequent to patterning the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Jhon-Jhy Liaw, Jin-Yuan Lee
  • Patent number: 5953606
    Abstract: A method of forming a contact between a conductor and a substrate region in a MOSFET SRAM starts with forming a dielectric layer on the surface of a partially completed SRAM device with pass and latch transistors covering the transistors. Then, form a thin film gate electrode and an interconnect on the dielectric layer with a gate oxide layer covering the gate electrode and the interconnect; cover the gate oxide layer with a poly conductive layer. Then form a silicon oxide layer over the poly conductive layer and pattern the silicon oxide layer to form a silicon oxide channel mask over the poly conductive layer which is used to pattern the silicon oxide layer into a channel mask over the gate electrode. The channel mask is used for patterning the implanting of dopant into the poly conductive layer aside from the channel mask to form a source region, a drain region and an interconnect in the poly conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo Ching Huang, Yean-Kuen Fang, Mong-Song Liang, Cheng-Yeh Shih, Dun Nian Yaung
  • Patent number: 5952697
    Abstract: A ROM memory array comprises a doped silicon substrate having a surface with a first array of parallel bitlines formed in the substrate at the surface with an array of channel regions between the bitlines. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate with a wordline array composed of transversely disposed parallel conductors formed on the dielectric layer, with the bitlines and the channel regions and the wordline array forming an array of field effect transistors. A gate oxide layer is formed over the wordlines. A thin film polysilicon storage plane is formed over the gate oxide layer with a second array of alternating parallel bitlines and channel regions formed in the thin film polysilicon storage plane. The second array of bitlines and channel regions is orthogonally disposed relative to the wordline array and the second array of bitlines is formed in a storage plane over an interpolysilicon oxide dielectric isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Bob Hsiao-Lun Lee
  • Patent number: 5943929
    Abstract: A utility tool has a knife blade and a housing. The housing includes a handle for supporting the knife blade adjustably in a manner so that the blade is rotatable on a shaft for supporting the blade. The shaft is carried by a pair of bearings to a plurality of fixed angular positions. Means are provided for locking the knife blade in the fixed angular positions. The housing includes a flat base having an external surface adapted to be supported upon work to be cut by the knife blade. The flat base of the housing includes a hole therethrough for the blade to extend into positions for cutting the work to be located below the base. The means for locking the knife blade in the fixed angular positions includes spring biasing means for holding the means for locking in a locked position. There is a harness for supporting the blade to prevent rotation of the blade during cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Wayne Anthony Sebesta
  • Patent number: 5940706
    Abstract: A select transistor for flash memory cells is made by the following steps. Over the blanket second dielectric layer, and an oxynitride layer form a channel mask for patterning the drain and floating gate. Etch the oxynitride layer through the mask to form a channel alignment mask down to a silicon nitride layer with a drain region opening and a floating gate opening. Etch the floating gate opening through the second dielectric layer. Form a polyoxide region in the floating gate layer at the bottom of the floating gate opening by reacting the exposed portion of the floating gate layer with a reactant. Form a drain region in the substrate. Etch away the oxynitride layer and the silicon nitride layer. Pattern the floating gate electrode by etching away the floating gate layer except below the polyoxide region. Form an interelectrode dielectric layer and a second gate electrode layer over the drain region and a portion of the polyoxide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Hung-Cheng Sung, Di-Son Kuo, Yai-Fen Lin, Chia-Ta Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5940298
    Abstract: A process is provided for operating a manufacturing plant subsequent to preventative maintenance steps. The steps of the process are the following. Provide a data processing system having memory means for data storage. Provide central processing means for (a) accessing data from the memory means, (b) receiving data from data input means and (c) supplying data to the memory means. Provide Preventive Maintenance (PM) Duration (D) data to the data processing system. Calculate the effect of a PM schedule upon the efficiency of operation of the plant. Provide a new PM schedule to improve the efficiency of operation of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Yirn-Sheng Pan, Horng-Huei Tseng, Chun-Yen Kuo, Jeng-Tyan Lin
  • Patent number: 5933732
    Abstract: An FET semiconductor device includes an N-region and a P-region formed in the substrate with the N-region juxtaposed with the P-region with an interface between the N-region and the P-region and with a first channel in the N-region and a second channel in the P-region. An N+ drain region is near the interface on one side of the first channel in the P-region. A P+ drain region is near the interface on one side of the second channel in the N-region. An N+ source region is on the opposite side of the first channel from the interface in the P-region. A P+ source region is on the opposite side of the first channel from the interface in the N-region. A wide gate electrode EEPROM stack bridges the channels in the N-region and the P-region. The stack includes a tunnel oxide layer, a floating gate electrode layer, an interelectrode dielectric layer, and a control gate electrode. An N+ drain region is formed in the surface of the P-region self-aligned with the gate electrode stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yai-Fen Lin, Shiou-Hann Liaw, Di-Son Kuo, Jian-Hsing Lee
  • Patent number: 5923999
    Abstract: A MOSFET device is formed on a P- doped semiconductor substrate with an N- well formed therein, with a pair of isolation regions formed in the N- well with a gate oxide layer formed above the N- well. An FET device is formed with source and drain regions within the N-well, and a gate electrode formed above the gate oxide layer aligned with the source and drain regions. The gate electrode comprises a stack of layers. A polysilicon layer is formed on the gate oxide layer. A tungsten nitride dopant barrier layer is formed upon the polysilicon layer having a thickness of from about 5 nm to about 20 nm, and a tungsten silicide layer is formed upon the tungsten nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karanam Balasubramanyam, Stephen Bruce Brodsky, Richard Anthony Conti, Badih El-Kareh
  • Patent number: 5923974
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor memory device with a variable thickness gate oxide layer including a tunnel oxide layer and a thicker gate oxide layer includes the following steps. Provide a doped silicon semiconductor substrate coated with a tunnel oxide layer, a first floating gate conductor layer and a dielectric layer. Form a mask with an gate oxide opening through the mask. Etch through the gate oxide opening to form a gate oxide trench through the first polysilicon layer, the dielectric layer and the tunnel oxide layer down to the substrate. Form a gate oxide layer at the base of the gate oxide trench. Deposit a second floating gate conductor layer over the device on the exposed surfaces of the dielectric layer and down into the gate oxide trench including the gate oxide layer. Form a thin interelectrode dielectric layer upon the floating gate conductor layer. Deposit a control gate conductor layer over the device covering the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mong-Song Liang, Ching-Hsiang Hsu, Ruei-Ling Lin
  • Patent number: 5917932
    Abstract: Process steps are provided to analyze image placement on a pre-distorted lithographic mask produced by a lithographic system. Obtain metrology data, form a reference array equal to the design coordinates of the metrology sites. Align the metrology data grid coordinate system to remove rigid body components from the metrology data offsets. Parse the metrology data into one or more correction areas. If the mask is to have its disposition provided according to the statistics of the residual errors in the correction areas, then compute the statistics and compare them to the specifications. Otherwise concatenate the local reference arrays summed with their corresponding correction area center coordinates to form reference mark design location arrays. Concatenate temporary arrays with the mask offsets free of pre-distortion into an array of mask offsets corresponding to desired disposition areas and compute statistical distribution of residual errors in array(s) of mask offsets for disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John George Hartley
  • Patent number: 5913122
    Abstract: An FET semiconductor device comprises a doped silicon semiconductor substrate having surface. The substrate being doped with a first type of dopant. An N-well is formed within the surface of the P-substrate. A P-well is formed within the N-well forming a twin well. Field oxide regions are formed on the surface of the substrate located above borders between the wells and regions of the substrate surrounding the wells. A gate electrode structure is formed over the P-well between the field oxide regions. A source region and a drain region are formed in the surface of the substrate. The source region and the drain region are self-aligned with the gate electrode structure with the source region and the drain region being spaced away from the field oxide regions by a gap of greater than or equal to about 0.7 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian-Hsing Lee, Kuo-Reay Peng, Jung-Ke Yeh, Hsiu-Han Liao