Patents by Inventor Hsi-Yu Kuo

Hsi-Yu Kuo 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: 9343556
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for ESD protection circuits. An ESD protection circuit may comprise a lateral silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuit and a lateral PNP bipolar junction transistor (BJT) circuit. The SCR circuit comprises a first region on an n type buried layer (NBL), a second region on the NBL, a fourth region formed within the first region, and a fifth region formed within the second region. The PNP circuit comprises the second region on the NBL, a third region on the NBL, and a sixth region formed within the third region. The first region is the 1st N node of the SCR circuit and is connected with the base of the PNP circuit, which is the third region, by the NBL, and the 2nd P node of the SCR circuit is shared with the collector of the PNP circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Chi-Kuang Chen
  • Patent number: 9240401
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first region over the substrate; a second region laterally adjacent to the first region; a third region disposed laterally adjacent to the second region on a side of the second region opposite the first region; a fourth region disposed within a portion of the first region proximate the second region; a fifth region disposed within a portion of the second region proximate the first region, wherein the fourth region and the fifth region are separated by a first isolation area; a sixth region disposed within a portion of the third region proximate the second region; and a seventh region disposed within the second region and below the fifth region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Chin-Yuan Ko
  • Publication number: 20140339676
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first region over the substrate, the first region comprising a first n type material; a second region over the substrate and laterally adjacent to the first region, the second region comprising a first p type material; a third region disposed within the second region and laterally separated from the first region, the third region comprising a second n type material; a fourth region disposed atop the third region, the fourth region comprising a second p type material; a fifth region disposed within the first region and laterally separated from the second region, the fifth region comprising a third p type material; and a sixth region disposed atop the fifth region, the sixth region comprising a third n type material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Ko-Yi Lee
  • Publication number: 20140339603
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first region over the substrate; a second region laterally adjacent to the first region; a third region disposed laterally adjacent to the second region on a side of the second region opposite the first region; a fourth region disposed within a portion of the first region proximate the second region; a fifth region disposed within a portion of the second region proximate the first region, wherein the fourth region and the fifth region are separated by a first isolation area; a sixth region disposed within a portion of the third region proximate the second region; and a seventh region disposed within the second region and below the fifth region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Chin-Yuan Ko
  • Publication number: 20140225158
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for ESD protection circuits. An ESD protection circuit may comprise a lateral silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuit and a lateral PNP bipolar junction transistor (BJT) circuit. The SCR circuit comprises a first region on an n type buried layer (NBL), a second region on the NBL, a fourth region formed within the first region, and a fifth region formed within the second region. The PNP circuit comprises the second region on the NBL, a third region on the NBL, and a sixth region formed within the third region. The first region is the 1st N node of the SCR circuit and is connected with the base of the PNP circuit, which is the third region, by the NBL, and the 2nd P node of the SCR circuit is shared with the collector of the PNP circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Chi-Kuang Chen
  • Patent number: 8598625
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device includes a high-voltage well (HVW) region of a first conductivity type; a first heavily doped region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the HVW region; and a doped region of the first conductivity type contacting the first heavily doped region and the HVW region. The doped region is under the first heavily doped region and over the HVW region. The doped region has a first impurity concentration higher than a second impurity concentration of the HVW region and lower than a third impurity concentration of the first heavily doped region. The ESD device further includes a second heavily doped region of the second conductivity type over the HVW region; and a third heavily doped region of the first conductivity type over and contacting the HVW region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Jam-Wem Lee, Yi-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 8525300
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ESD protection device. The device contains a bipolar junction transistor device that includes a collector, a base, and an emitter. The collector includes a first doped element and a more heavily doped second doped element disposed over the first doped element. The first and second doped elements each have a first doping polarity. The base is located adjacent to the collector and includes a third doped element having a second doping polarity different from the first doping polarity. A p-n junction is formed between the third doped element and one of the first and second doped elements. The emitter is formed over the base. The emitter includes a fourth doped element having the first doping polarity and forming a p-n junction with the third doped element. The fourth doped element is more heavily doped than the third doped element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Chi-Kuang Chen
  • Publication number: 20130082353
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ESD protection device. The device contains a bipolar junction transistor device that includes a collector, a base, and an emitter. The collector includes a first doped element and a more heavily doped second doped element disposed over the first doped element. The first and second doped elements each have a first doping polarity. The base is located adjacent to the collector and includes a third doped element having a second doping polarity different from the first doping polarity. A p-n junction is formed between the third doped element and one of the first and second doped elements. The emitter is formed over the base. The emitter includes a fourth doped element having the first doping polarity and forming a p-n junction with the third doped element. The fourth doped element is more heavily doped than the third doped element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Chi-Kuang Chen
  • Publication number: 20120168906
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device includes a high-voltage well (HVW) region of a first conductivity type; a first heavily doped region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the HVW region; and a doped region of the first conductivity type contacting the first heavily doped region and the HVW region. The doped region is under the first heavily doped region and over the HVW region. The doped region has a first impurity concentration higher than a second impurity concentration of the HVW region and lower than a third impurity concentration of the first heavily doped region. The ESD device further includes a second heavily doped region of the second conductivity type over the HVW region; and a third heavily doped region of the first conductivity type over and contacting the HVW region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsi-Yu Kuo, Jam-Wem Lee, Yi-Feng Chang