Patents by Inventor Chieh-An YEH

Chieh-An YEH 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: 6882575
    Abstract: An erasing method for the memory cells of a non-volatile memory is provided. Each memory cell comprises a gate, a source, a drain, an electron-trapping layer and a substrate. The data within the memory cell is erased by applying a first voltage to the control gate, applying a second voltage to the source, applying a third voltage to the drain and applying a fourth voltage to the substrate. The electrons are pulled from the electron-trapping layer into the channel by negative gate F-N tunneling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tao-Cheng Lu, Samuel C. Pan
  • Publication number: 20050052228
    Abstract: A method of operating a non-volatile memory cell, wherein the non-volatile memory cell includes a word line, a first bit line, and a second bit line, the method includes programming the memory cell that includes applying a high positive bias to the first bit line, applying a ground bias to the second bit line, and applying a high negative bias to the word line, wherein positively-charged holes tunnel through the dielectric layer into the trapping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Yeh, Hung-Yueh Chen, Wen-Jar Tsai, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20050040458
    Abstract: To reduce the disturbance between adjacent memory cells, an improved ONO flash memory array is implanted with a pocket on one side of the channel of each memory cell or two pockets of different concentrations on both sides of the channel, thereby resulting in memory cells with asymmetric pockets. Consequently, no disturbances occurred between adjacent memory cells when the ONO flash memory array is programmed or erased by band-to-band techniques, and the disturbances between adjacent memory cells are also suppressed during reading process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Mu-Yi Liu, Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tso-Hung Fan, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040257880
    Abstract: The invention provides a nonvolatile memory and corresponding method having an optimal memory erase function and, more particularly, a method for erasing a nonvolatile memory comprising a source, a gate, a drain, a channel and a trapping layer. The method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention generally comprises the steps of applying a non-zero gate voltage to the gate, applying a non-zero source voltage to the source, applying a non-zero drain voltage to the drain in each erase shot wherein the drain voltage is generally higher in magnitude than the source voltage, generating hot holes in the nonvolatile memory, injecting the generated hot holes in the trapping layer near drain junction, and accordingly erasing the nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen Jer Tsai, Tao Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 6829175
    Abstract: An erasing method for the memory cells of a non-volatile memory is provided. Each memory cell comprises a gate, a source, a drain, an electron-trapping layer and a substrate. The data within the memory cell is erased by applying a first voltage to the control gate, applying a second voltage to the source, applying a third voltage to the drain and applying a fourth voltage to the substrate. The electrons are pulled from the electron-trapping layer into the channel by negative gate F-N tunneling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tao-Cheng Lu, Samuel C. Pan
  • Patent number: 6822910
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device is described, comprising a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of drain lines, and a plurality of source lines, wherein two adjacent memory cells in a column constitute a cell pair, and all cell pairs are arranged in rows and columns. The two memory cells in each cell pair share a source region, and two adjacent cell pairs in a column share a drain region. The source regions and the gates of the memory cells in the same row are coupled to a source line and a word line, respectively, and the drain regions of the memory cells in the same column are coupled to a drain line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 6801453
    Abstract: A method of a read scheme for a non-volatile memory cell. The non-volatile memory cell includes a substrate, a source, a drain and a gate above a channel separated by a nonconducting charge trapping material sandwiched between first and second insulating layers. The method applies a first positive drain-to-source bias, a second positive source-to-substrate bias, and a third positive gate-to-source bias to read the source-side charges trapped in the trapping material near the source side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Yeh, Wen-Jer Tsai, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040190108
    Abstract: A product comprising a micromirror comprising a reflective layer and a treatment layer overlying the reflective layer, and wherein the treatment layer comprises Ti.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Yeh, Yuh-Hwa Chang, Ching-Heng Po, Hsin-Chieh Huang, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 6797344
    Abstract: New aromatic diamine derivatives and the preparation thereof are disclosed. The diamine derivatives of the present invention can be added to conventional polymerization reactions of tetracarboxylic acids or dianhydrides thereof and diamines to form new polyamic acids. After high-temperature baking, the polyamic acids are cyclized to form polyimides. These polyimides can be used as alignment film materials for liquid crystal display cell and have good alignment property and stability, and are effective in promoting pre-tilt angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chung Chu, Shih-Chieh Yeh, Chia-Wen Chang
  • Publication number: 20040170063
    Abstract: An erasing method for the memory cells of a non-volatile memory is provided. Each memory cell comprises a gate, a source, a drain, an electron-trapping layer and a substrate. The data within the memory cell is erased by applying a first voltage to the control gate, applying a second voltage to the source, applying a third voltage to the drain and applying a fourth voltage to the substrate. The electrons are pulled from the electron-trapping layer into the channel by negative gate F-N tunneling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tao-Cheng Lu, Samuel C. Pan
  • Patent number: 6785163
    Abstract: A trim circuit and method for tuning a current level of a reference cell in a flash memory that includes a sense amplifier to compare a cell current from a memory cell whose gate receives a word line signal voltage with a reference current from the reference cell whose gate receives a bias voltage produced by dividing the word line signal voltage by a voltage divider to thereby produce a sense signal. The voltage divider includes at least a programmable flash cell to serve as a variable resistor whose resistance is determined by programming the programmable flash cell by a programming/erasing circuit in reference to the programming of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tso-Hung Fan, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040156238
    Abstract: A method of programming the memory cell comprises setting the memory cell to an initial state of a first gate threshold voltage, performing a processing sequence including: applying a voltage bias between the gate and the first junction region to cause electric hole to migrate towards and be retained in the trapping layer, and evaluating a read current generated in response to the voltage bias to determine whether a second gate threshold voltage is reached, wherein the second gate threshold voltage is lower than the first gate threshold voltage. The processing sequence is repeated a number of times by varying one or more time the voltage bias between the gate and the first junction region until the second gate threshold voltage is reached and the memory cell is in a program state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Yeh, Wen-Jer Tsai, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040145950
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system having a nonvolatile memory comprising a p type semiconductor substrate, an oxide layer over the p type semiconductor substrate, a nitride layer over the oxide layer, an additional oxide layer over the nitride layer, a gate over the additional oxide layer, two N+ junctions in the p type semiconductor layer, a source and drain respectively formed in the two N+ junctions, a first bit and a second bit in the nonvolatile memory, and accordingly at least two states of operation (i.e., erase and program) therefor. That is, one bit in the nonvolatile memory can either be in an erase state or program state. For erasing a bit, electrons are injected at the gate of the nonvolatile memory. For programming a bit, electric holes are injected or electrons are reduced for that bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Chih Chieh Yeh, Hung Yueh Chen, Yi Ying Liao, Wen Jer Tsai, Tao Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040130942
    Abstract: The invention advantageously provides a device and method for optimal data retention in a trapping nonvolatile memory cell. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a trapping nonvolatile memory cell comprising a semiconductor substrate further comprising a source, a drain spaced from the source, and a channel region formed between the source and the drain, a first isolating layer overlying the channel region, a nonconducting charge trapping layer overlying the first isolating layer and trapping electrical charges therein using charge injection, a second isolating layer overlying the trapping layer, and a gate overlying the second isolating layer. After the charges are trapped in the trapping layer, some of the trapped charges are detrapped using electrical field enhanced electron detrapping technique. The charges in the trapping layer are repeatedly trapped and detrapped shallow traps until a desired number of the deep traps are stored in the trapping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen Jer Tsai, Tao Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040125655
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device is described, comprising a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of drain lines, and a plurality of source lines, wherein two adjacent memory cells in a column constitute a cell pair, and all cell pairs are arranged in rows and columns. The two memory cells in each cell pair share a source region, and two adjacent cell pairs in a column share a drain region. The source regions and the gates of the memory cells in the same row are coupled to a source line and a word line, respectively, and the drain regions of the memory cells in the same column are coupled to a drain line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tao-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040102603
    Abstract: New aromatic diamine derivatives and the preparations thereof are disclosed. The inventive diamine derivatives can be added to conventional polymerization reactions of tetracarboxylic acids and diamines to form new polyamic acids. After high-temperature baking, the polyamic acids are cyclized to form polyimides. These polyimides can be used as alignment film materials for liquid crystal display cell and have good alignment property and stability, and are effective in promoting pre-tilt angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Wen-Chung Chu, Shih-Chieh Yeh, Chia-Wen Chang
  • Publication number: 20040084653
    Abstract: New aromatic diamine derivatives and the preparation thereof are disclosed. The diamine derivatives of the present invention can be added to conventional polymerization reactions of tetracarboxylic acids or dianhydrides thereof and diamines to form new polyamic acids. After high-temperature baking, the polyamic acids are cyclized to form polyimides. These polyimides can be used as alignment film materials for liquid crystal display cell and have good alignment property and stability, and are effective in promoting pre-tilt angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Wen-Chung Chu, Shih-Chieh Yeh, Chia-Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 6721204
    Abstract: The invention advantageously provides a nonvolatile memory device and associated methods therefore, and, more particularly, an optimally designed nonvolatile memory device and methods therefor that advantageously prevent data loss in its trapping layer. A preferred embodiment of the method for operating a nonvolatile memory cell according to the invention advantageously comprises the steps of programming the memory cell, injecting electrons into a trapping layer of the memory cell from a semiconductor substrate, erasing the memory cell, detrapping the memory cell, and repeating the erasing and detrapping steps until a threshold voltage of the memory cell reaches a predetermined value. For the detrapping step, electrons can be detrapped from the trapping layer to a channel region of the memory cell, or to a gate of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen Jer Tsai, Tao Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20040047186
    Abstract: An erasing method for the memory cells of a non-volatile memory is provided. Each memory cell comprises a gate, a source, a drain, an electron-trapping layer and a substrate. The data within the memory cell is erased by applying a first voltage to the control gate, applying a second voltage to the source, applying a third voltage to the drain and applying a fourth voltage to the substrate. The electrons are pulled from the electron-trapping layer into the channel by negative gate F-N tunneling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Yeh, Tao-Cheng Lu, Samuel C. Pan
  • Patent number: 6690601
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a trapping nonvolatile memory cell comprising a P type semiconductor substrate with a N+ source and a N+ drain being formed on the semiconductor substrate, a channel being formed between the source and the drain. A first isolating layer, a nonconducting charge trapping layer, a second isolating layer and a gate are sequentially formed above the channel. The trapping layer stores an amount of electrons as the nonvolatile memory cell is erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Yeh, Wen-Jer Tsai, Tao-Cheng Lu