Patents Represented by Attorney Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP
  • Patent number: 6427470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system of a furnace, more particularly, to a multi-cycle cooling system, located by the furnace door. The probability of pollution by particles can be decreased and the lifetime of the furnace devices can be extended by using different liquid and gas cycles, cooling the different steps the semiconductor processes in the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Chu, Kevin Chiang, Ling-Hsin Tseng, Ken Yew
  • Patent number: 6426298
    Abstract: A substrate is provided. A first dielectric is formed over the substrate, and an etching stop layer and a second dielectric are formed in turn on the first dielectric by deposition. An anti-reflection layer is formed over the second dielectric. Then, a photo-resist layer is formed and defined over the anti-reflection layer. A gap-filling material is filled on the second dielectric and into the via hole. Subsequently, the gap-filling material is etched back and is turned on the end point and the long over etch is applied to make sure the photo-resist thickness is below middle stop layer. If the first dielectric reacts with the photo-resist plug in the via hole, the bottom anti-reflection coating or thin oxide are used as a barrier before the trench photo-resist is patterned. If the first dielectric does not react with the photo-resist plug in the via hole, the trench photo-resist is patterned directly. Then, the trench etch is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Tong-Yu Chen, Chan-Lon Yang
  • Patent number: 6426246
    Abstract: A method for forming thin film transistor with lateral crystallization. The method at least includes the following steps. First of all, an insulation substrate is provided. Then, an amorphous silicon layer is provided on the insulation substrate. The seeds are formed by annealing a portion of the amorphous silicon layer by excimer laser system, and the lateral-growth grain is formed by using the seeds to grow laterally by annealing the amorphous silicon layer, wherein the amorphous silicon layer defines an active region. Then, sequentially a dielectric layer and a polysilicon layer is deposited on the active region, wherein the dielectric layer and the polysilicon layer are gate electrodes, a gate is defined on the substrate, and the polysilicon layer is formed by etching. Next, source and drain regions are formed by implanting numerous ions into amorphous silicon layer by using the gate electrode as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ting-Chang Chang, Du-Zen Peng, Chun-Yen Chang
  • Patent number: 6426546
    Abstract: Structures for reducing relative stress between HDP layer and passivation layer are proposed by the invention, where the HDP layer is formed by high density plasma and the passivation layer is a conventional passivation layer. The invention provides some structures that can be divided into two categories: one, a low stress passivation layer is directly formed on a HDP layer; another, a low stress layer is formed between passivation layer and HDP layer to reduce relative layer that between any two adjacent layers. Therefore, it is crystal-clear that possible structures of the invention comprise following varieties: First, a low stress passivation layer is located between a passivation layer and a HDP layer. Second, a lower stress passivation layer directly locates on a HDP layer. Third, a low stress layer is formed between a passivation layer and a HDP layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ing-Tang Chen, Horng-Bor Lu
  • Patent number: 6420886
    Abstract: A membrane probe card is provided. The membrane probe card includes a pressure mechanism having an upper-housing and a support block. The support block has a spring system for providing a distance of travel to the support block. A printed circuit board is coupled to the pressure mechanism for providing electrical connection to a test apparatus. A membrane assembly is coupled to the pads on a wafer for providing electric connection to the printed circuit board. The membrane assembly is a replaceable and modularized component for application to integrated circuits with various layouts and dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Urex Precision, Inc.
    Inventors: Han-Shin Ho, Wei-Hai Lai, Chien-Shuan Kuo, Deng-Tswen Shieh, Wen-Cheng Hsu, Wea-Fun Fan, Hann-Tsong Wang, Yuh-Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 6421267
    Abstract: A memory array architecture includes a plurality of memory cells formed into rows and columns. A plurality of bit lines is connected to the memory cells through select transistors. By disposing adjacent bit lines into different metal layers or alternatively interlocating adjacent bit lines, the coupling effect between bit lines can be effectively reduced, and thus can improve reading speed of memory while performing read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nai-Ping Kuo, Hsin-Yi Ho, Chun-Hsiung Hung, Ho-Chun Liou
  • Patent number: 6417096
    Abstract: A substrate is provided. A first dielectric layer is formed over the substrate by deposition. Etching stop layer and a second dielectric layer are formed in turn over the first dielectric. Next, the second dielectric layer is dealt with Lewis acid. Then, a first photoresist layer is defined and formed over the second dielectric layer. And then dry etching is carried out by means of the first photoresist layer as the mask to form a via hole. The surface of the second dielectric layer and the via hole are treated with Lewis acid. Subsequently, the second photoresist layer is defined and formed on the second dielectric layer. Dry etching is proceed, and etching stop layer is as a etching terminal point to remove exposed partial surface of the second dielectric layer so as to form a trench having larger horizontal size than the via hole. Subsequently, the second photoresist layer is removed to form the opening of the damascene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Anseime Chen, Jun Maeda, Sheng-Yueh Chang, Sung-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 6415260
    Abstract: A dynamic-capacity-demand-forecast system in the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits includes several steps. N types of products and m types of processing steps are in a processing line. The turn ratio of each products at each stages on a specified working day is calculated and the work-in-process (WIP) of every product at each stages on the same day is determined. According to these two numbers, the WIP on the next working day can be calculated, and then the move on the next working day is determined. Using this formula, the move of each product at each stage in future is obtained. Also, the summation the moves of all products at all stages on a working day are equal to, the capacity demand of the processing line on that day. The quantity of the throughput of the wafers may thus be determined and the supervisor can decide how to vary the parameters of the processing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., LTD
    Inventors: Tseng-Hsiang Yang, Hsueh-Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 6412786
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a die seal ring. The provided die seal ring is formed on a substrate and is used to encompass a die by locating between the die and adjacent scribe lines. Moreover, the provided die seal ring comprises a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of metal structures, wherein any metal structure is not overlapped with other metal structures. Moreover, dielectric layers are located on the substrate in sequence, and each metal structure is stacked by one metal ring and one metal plug. In addition, any metal ring is located on a dielectric layer and is covered by another dielectric layer, and metal rings of different metal structures are located on different dielectric layers. Further, any metal plug is located in the dielectric layers and is used to connect the metal ring to the substrate. Of course, if the aspect ratio of any metal plug is too large to be properly formed, an appendant metal ring is used to reduce the aspect ration of the metal plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Jui-Hsiang Pan
  • Patent number: 6406819
    Abstract: A phase shift mask for photolithography used in fabricating integrated circuits is disclosed. The mask comprises a transparent plate and a first opaque film formed on said transparent plate, which has a first pattern defining a main feature region. The first pattern is then imaged onto a photoresist layer coated on a wafer for the integrated circuits. The present invention further comprises at least one phase shift region formed on said transparent plate to correspond to an active region of the wafer, in which the phase shift region is used to improve optical scattering effect of the first pattern through the active region while performing the photolithography. Moreover, the present invention comprises at least one second opaque film formed on said transparent plate to correspond to a non-active region of the wafer, in which each has at least one second pattern used to improve optical scattering effect of the first pattern through the non-active region while performing the photolithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chin-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 6400692
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a wireless modem network including a plurality of wireless modems is disclosed herein. The method mentioned above includes the following steps. First, classify the plurality of wireless modems into a plurality of groups. Next, select a plurality of group masters. Every group master is selected from the wireless modems enclosed by the group enclosing the group master. Subsequently, when a wireless modem wants to broadcast a data, if the wireless modem is not a group master, then the wireless modem transmits the data to the group master that dominates the wireless modem. Next, begin at the group master mentioned above; check whether any of the plurality of the group masters has not received the data. If there is any group master having not received the data, then any of the group masters that has received the data transmits the data to the farthest group master that has not received the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Institute for Information Industry
    Inventor: Hsiao-Chiu Chu
  • Patent number: 6396753
    Abstract: A method and structure for testing embedded flash memory including a memory array and a logic element. A control transistor is disposed and is connected between a sense amplifier and an I/O buffer in the memory array, and a speed control pin connected to the logic element in one terminal is coupled to the gate terminal of the control transistor in the other terminal to switch the control transistor on or off. Turning off the control transistor after a test time by the speed control pin closes the channel between the sense amplifier and I/O buffer, and an output signal from the memory array to a test system connected to the logic element is detected with the test system to determine an access time of the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Macroniz International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Hung, Nai-Ping Kuo, Tu-Shun Chen, Ho-Chun Liou
  • Patent number: 6396745
    Abstract: In present invention we provide a vertical two-transistor memory cell consisted of a MOS transistor and an ETOX cell. One of the drain or source of the MOS transistor is connected to the control gate of the ETOX cell, the other is acted as the control gate of the vertical two-transistor memory cell and is connected to a control line. And the gate of the MOS transistor is acted as the select gate of the vertical two-transistor memory cell and is connected to a word line. The drain of ETOX cell is connected to a bit line, and the source of ETOX cell is grounded. The vertical two-transistor memory cell can be programmed by channel Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons which is injected from the substrate through the channel and tunnel oxide into the floating gate. Such memory cell can avoid the word line disturb by controlling the word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Hong, Hwi-Huang Chen, Wen-Chi Ting
  • Patent number: 6395592
    Abstract: Non-volatile semiconductor memory device for high-density and high-speed mass storage applications is described, in which a method for simultaneously fabricating field-oxide isolation and floating gate of non-volatile semiconductor memory device having high coupling ratio and embedded double-sides erase cathodes and a method for fabricating scalable split-gate non-volatile semiconductor memory device are disclosed. The field-oxide isolation is obtained by a special multilayer oxidation masking structure of the present invention, in which the field-doping encroachment and the bird's beak extension into the active regions of the minimum feature size can be eliminated and the smaller isolation area occupied together with the embedded double-sides erase cathodes are prepared for fabricating scalable split-gate non-volatile semiconductor memory device of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Silicon-Based Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Ching-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 6392924
    Abstract: The array includes: a plurality of pseudo spin valve (PSV) cells; a plurality of parallel bit lines, wherein a plurality of bit lines are straight lines and located under the plurality of pseudo spin valve (PSV) cells; a plurality of parallel word lines, wherein a plurality of word lines are continuous-bended lines having a first straight line, a second straight line and a third straight line. These straight lines of the word lines are orthogonal each other, wherein the first straight line and the third straight line are parallel. The first straight line and the third straight line are individually orthogonal with the direction of the bit lines. Furthermore, the second straight lines of the word lines are individually located on the pseudo spin valve (PSV) cells, and the second straight lines are parallel with the direction of the bit lines, so as to increase the magnetresistance ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng Liu, Der-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 6391716
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a poly spacer ETOX (Electron Tunnel Oxide) flash memory device with a floating gate having electric-field enhancing corners for poly to poly erase. Here, a polysilicon spacer is used as an erase gate. A floating gate having four acute angles from top view is formed, it can raise the electric field between the floating and the erase gate. The present invention can not only raise the efficiency of the erasing mechanism but also reduce the stress produced by transferred electrodes through the tunnel oxide layer in program/erase cycles and lessen the cell size with poly to poly erase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Liann-Chern Liou
  • Patent number: 6388913
    Abstract: A method for detecting polarization of a ferroelectric capacitor in a ferroelectric memory and thereof structure is provided by detecting polarization of a ferroelectric capacitor through a characteristic which present different voltage values by providing different voltages on the ferroelectric capacitor stay at different polarization directions, so that the disadvantages caused by a conventional method for detecting charge quantity can be improved and a limited size of a capacitance of the cell ferroelectric capacitor can be solved. The method for detecting comprises the step of detecting an output voltage on a connection node between a cell ferroelectric capacitor and a sense linear capacitor, and then if the detected output voltage is high read voltage, a logic state of the cell ferroelectric capacitor is decided to a first logic state, if the detected output voltage is low read voltage, a logic state of the cell ferroelectric capacitor is decided to a second logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Cheng Kuo, Hsiang-Lan Lung, Shue-Shuen Chen
  • Patent number: 6383005
    Abstract: An integrated circuit socket having a contact pad is disclosed. The integrated circuit socket comprises the following components. (1) A base unit, consisting of a base, contact pins and an elastomer. The contact pins will provide the electrical contact of the other elements, the elastomer provides the compactness of the assembly. (2) An interposer, comprising flexible film, a stiffener and a stop layer wherein the contact pad of the flexible film may contact with the solder ball of IC device to buffer the pressure formed by a tight contact when IC device is moving downward. The pressure will be dispersed with the flexible film such that the testing signals are transmitted. (3) An adapter unit, capable of positioning the integrated circuit device and includes a depressor to suppress or release the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Urex Precision, Inc.
    Inventors: Han-Shin Ho, Wei-Hai Lai, Chien-Shuan Kuo, Deng-Tswen Shieh, Ming-Hsien Wang, Chin-Ting Whung
  • Patent number: D459353
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Kye Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Zu-Nan Lee, Huei-Mon Guo, De-Hau Liu
  • Patent number: D459725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Kye Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Zu-Nan Lee, Huei-Mon Guo, De-Hau Liu