Patents by Inventor Erh-Kun Lai

Erh-Kun Lai 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: 8022465
    Abstract: Memory cells comprising: a semiconductor substrate having at least two source/drain regions separated by a channel region; a charge-trapping structure disposed above the channel region; and a gate disposed above the charge-trapping structure; wherein the charge-trapping structure comprises a bottom insulating layer, a first charge-trapping layer, and a second charge-trapping layer, wherein an interface between the bottom insulating layer and the substrate has a hydrogen concentration of less than about 3×1011/cm?2, and methods for forming such memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Macronrix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Min-Ta Wu, Shin-Chin Lee, Jung-Yu Hsieh, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7999295
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for stacked, non-volatile memory devices provides a plurality of bitline layers and wordline layers with charge trapping structures. The bitline layers have a plurality of bitlines formed on an insulating layer, such as silicon on insulator technologies. The wordline layers are patterned with respective pluralities of wordlines and charge trapping structures orthogonal to the bitlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110189819
    Abstract: A memory device comprises first and second electrodes with a memory element and a buffer layer located between and electrically coupled to them. The memory element comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds. The buffer layer comprises at least one of an oxide and a nitride. Another memory device comprises first and second electrodes with a memory element and a buffer layer, having a thickness of less than 50 ?, located between and electrically coupled to them. The memory comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds. An example of a method of fabricating a memory device includes forming first and second electrodes. A memory, located between and electrically coupled to the first and the second electrodes, is formed; the memory comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds and the buffer layer comprises at least one of an oxide and a nitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Chien, Kuo-Pin Chang, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7989790
    Abstract: A memory comprises a number of word lines in a first direction, a number of bit lines in a second direction, each coupled to at least one of the word lines, and a number of memory elements, each coupled to one of the word lines and one of the bit lines. Each memory element comprises a top electrode for connecting to a corresponding word line, a bottom electrode for connecting to a corresponding bit line, a resistive layer on the bottom electrode, and at least two separate liners, each liner having resistive materials on both ends of the liner and each liner coupled between the top electrode and the resistive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Chiahua Ho, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7981742
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a first and a second conductor; (b) providing a conductive layer; (c) forming a part of the conductive layer into a data storage layer by a plasma oxidation process, wherein the data storage layer is positioned between the first and the second conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Macronic International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Chien, Kuo-Pin Chang, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7977735
    Abstract: A stacked non-volatile memory device comprises a plurality of bit line and word line layers stacked on top of each other. The bit line layers comprise a plurality of bit lines that can be formed using advanced processing techniques making fabrication of the device efficient and cost effective. The device can be configured for NAND operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7977227
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes forming a sub-gate without an additional mask. A low word-line resistance is formed by a metal silicide layer on a main gate of the memory device. In operation, application of a voltage to the sub-gate forms a transient state inversion layer that serves as a bit-line, so that no implantation is required to form the bit-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiahua Ho, Yen-Hao Shih, Hang-Ting Lue, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7972893
    Abstract: A method for making a memory device includes providing a dielectric material, having first and second upwardly and inwardly tapering surfaces and a surface segment connecting the first and second surfaces. First and second electrodes are formed over the first and second surfaces. A memory element is formed over the surface segment to electrically connect the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, ChiaHua Ho, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7973366
    Abstract: Memory cells which include a semiconductor substrate having a source region and a drain region separated by a channel region; a charge-trapping structure disposed above the channel region of the semiconductor substrate; a first gate disposed above the charge-trapping structure and proximate to the source region; and a second gate disposed above the charge-trapping structure and proximate to the drain region; where the first gate and the second gate are separated by a first nanospace are provided, along with arrays including a plurality of such cells, methods of manufacturing such cells and methods of operating such cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hua Ho, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7960224
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory device includes applying a sequence of bias arrangements across a selected metal-oxide memory element to change among resistance states. The sequence of bias arrangements includes a first set of one or more pulses to change the resistance state of the selected metal-oxide memory element from the first resistance state to a third resistance state, and a second set of one or more pulses to change the resistance state of the selected metal-oxide memory element from the third resistance state to the second resistance state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Chien, Kuo-Pin Chang, Yi-Chou Chen, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7943920
    Abstract: A memory device comprises first and second electrodes with a memory element and a buffer layer located between and electrically coupled to them. The memory element comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds. The buffer layer comprises at least one of an oxide and a nitride. Another memory device comprises first and second electrodes with a memory element and a buffer layer, having a thickness of less than 50 ?, located between and electrically coupled to them. The memory comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds. An example of a method of fabricating a memory device includes forming first and second electrodes. A memory, located between and electrically coupled to the first and the second electrodes, is formed; the memory comprises one or more metal oxygen compounds and the buffer layer comprises at least one of an oxide and a nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Chien, Kuo-Pin Chang, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110089393
    Abstract: A memory, comprising a metal portion, a first metal layer and second metal oxide layer is provided. The first metal oxide layer is on the metal element, and the first metal oxide layer includes N resistance levels. The second metal oxide layer is on the first metal oxide layer, and the second metal oxide layer includes M resistance levels. The memory has X resistance levels and X is less than the summation of M and N, for minimizing a programming disturbance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Pin Chang, Erh-Kun Lai
  • Publication number: 20110089480
    Abstract: A memory having isolated dual memory cells is provided. A first isolation wall and a second isolation wall are separately disposed between a source and a drain on a substrate. An isolation bottom layer and a polysilicon layer are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first and the second isolation walls. A first charge storage structure and a first gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first isolation wall and the source. A second charge storage structure and a second gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the second isolation wall and the drain. A word line disposed on the polysilicon layer, the first gate, the second gate, the first isolation wall and the second isolation wall is electrically connected to the first gate, the second gate and the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Yen-Hao Shih, Ling-Wu Yang, Chun-Min Cheng
  • Patent number: 7923285
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory with a self-aligned RRAM element includes a lower electrode element, generally planar in form, having an inner contact surface; an upper electrode element, spaced from the lower electrode element; a containment structure extends between the upper electrode element and the lower electrode element, with a sidewall spacer element having a generally funnel-shaped central cavity with a central aperture; and a spandrel element positioned between the sidewall spacer element and the lower electrode. A RRAM element extends between the lower electrode element and the upper electrode, occupying at least a portion of the sidewall spacer element central cavity and projecting from the sidewall spacer terminal edge toward and making contact with the lower electrode. In this manner, the spandrel element inner surface is spaced from the RRAM element to define a thermal isolation cell adjacent the RRAM element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International, Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, ChiaHua Ho, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7924600
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a bistable resistance random access memory having two memory layer stacks that are aligned in series is disclosed. The bistable resistance random access memory comprises two memory layer stacks per memory cell, the bistable resistance random access memory operates in four logic states, a logic “00” state, a logic “01” state, a logic “10” state and a logic “11” state. The relationship between the four different logic states can be represented mathematically by the two variables n and f and a resistance R. The logic “0” state is represented by a mathematical expression (1+f)R. The logic “1” state is represented by a mathematical expression (n+f)R. The logic “2” state is represented by a mathematical expression (1+nf)R. The logic “3” state is represented by a mathematical expression n(1+f)R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: ChiaHua Ho, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7907450
    Abstract: A NAND memory device is constructed using Silicon On Insulator (SOI) techniques. In particular, Thin Film Transistor (TFT) techniques can be used to fabricate the NAND Flash memory device. In both SOI and TFT structures, the body, or well, is isolated. This can be used to enable a bit-by-bit programming and erasing of individual cells and allows tight control of the threshold voltage, which can enable MLC operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hang-Ting Lue, Erh Kun Lai
  • Publication number: 20110049456
    Abstract: A memory device is described using a composite doped phase change material between a first electrode and a second electrode. A memory element of phase change material, such as a chalcogenide, is between the first and second electrodes and has an active region. The phase change material has a first dopant, such as silicon oxide, characterized by tending to segregate from the phase change material on grain boundaries in the active region, and has a second dopant, such as silicon, characterized by causing an increase in recrystallization temperature of, and/or suppressing void formation in, the phase change material in the active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicants: Macronix International Co., Ltd., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: HSIANG-LAN LUNG, CHIEH-FANG CHEN, YEN-HAO SHIH, HUAI-YU CHENG, ERH-KUN LAI, MING HSIU LEE, MATTHEW J. BREITWISCH, SIMONE RAO, CHUNG HON LAM
  • Patent number: 7879706
    Abstract: A memory having isolated dual memory cells is provided. A first isolation wall and a second isolation wall are separately disposed between a source and a drain on a substrate. An isolation bottom layer and a polysilicon layer are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first and the second isolation walls. A first charge storage structure and a first gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first isolation wall and the source. A second charge storage structure and a second gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the second isolation wall and the drain. A word line disposed on the polysilicon layer, the first gate, the second gate, the first isolation wall and the second isolation wall is electrically connected to the first gate, the second gate and the polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Yen-Hao Shih, Ling-Wu Yang, Chun-Min Cheng
  • Publication number: 20110012084
    Abstract: A memory device has a sidewall insulating member with a sidewall insulating member length according to a first spacer layer thickness. A first electrode formed from a second spacer layer having a first electrode length according to a thickness of a second spacer layer and a second electrode formed from the second spacer layer having a second electrode length according to the thickness of the second spacer layer are formed on sidewalls of the sidewall insulating member. A bridge of memory material having a bridge width extends from a top surface of the first electrode to a top surface of the second electrode across a top surface of the sidewall insulating member, wherein the bridge comprises memory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: ERH-KUN LAI, CHIAHUA HO, KUANG YEU HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20110003446
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer, a channel structure, an insulating structure and a gate. The channel structure includes a channel bridge for connecting two platforms. The bottom of the channel bridge is separated from the insulating layer by a distance, and the channel bridge has a plurality of separated doping regions. The insulating structure wraps around the channel bridge, and the gate wraps around the insulating structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue