Patents by Inventor Joe Ko

Joe Ko 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: 6555893
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bar circuit for reducing cross talk and eddy current of an integrated circuit. The bar circuit comprises a semiconductor substrate with a first conductivity type; a strip of first well with a second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate; and a strip of second well with the second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate. The strip of second well is located below and adjacent to the strip of first well, whereby forms a junction barrier for reducing the cross talk and the eddy current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: David Cheng-Hsiung Chen, Joe Ko
  • Publication number: 20020182824
    Abstract: A method of forming shallow trench isolation (STI) uses a flowable insulating layer. In the method, a pad oxide layer is first formed on a substrate. A stop layer is formed on the pad oxide layer. Then, a trench is formed in the stop layer, the pad oxide layer and the substrate. A liner oxide layer is formed on the inner surface of the trench. Thereafter, a flowable insulating layer, such as a doped silicon oxide layer, is formed in the trench. An insulating layer, such as a silicon oxide layer, is formed on the flowable insulating layer. Finally, the stop layer and the pad oxide layer are removed so as to completely form shallow trench isolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Ying-Jen Lin, Joe Ko, Gary Hong, Yen-Lin Ding
  • Publication number: 20020089021
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with an anti-type doped region comprises the following structures. A semiconductor substrate is provided. A gate and a gate oxide layer are formed on the semiconductor substrate. A first ion implantation is performed to form a lightly doped region in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate. A second ion implantation is performed to form an anti-type doped region in the lightly doped region near the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The dopant ion type of the anti-type doped region is opposite to the dopant ion type of the lightly doped region. A spacer is formed on the sidewalls of the gate. A third ion implantation is performed, with the spacer serving as a mask, to form a source/drain region. The source/drain region overlaps part of the lightly doped region and the anti-type doped region. The part of the lightly doped region and the anti-type doped region between the gate and the source/drain region are exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 6350677
    Abstract: A method of forming a self-aligned silicide layer. A planarization process is performed to form a gate with a planar top surface. Due to the planar top surface of the gate, the reactivity and the uniformity of thickness of the subsequently formed silicide layer on the top surface of the gate are improved, such that the resistance of the silicide is reduced, and the performance of the device is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Joe Ko, Gary Hong
  • Patent number: 6309925
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a capacitor. A semiconductor substrate is divided into a peripheral circuit region and a memory cell region. An isolation structure is formed in the memory cell region. A gate oxide layer is formed over the substrate outside the isolation structure. A polysilicon layer is formed over the gate oxide layer and the isolation structure. The polysilicon layer and the gate oxide layer are patterned to form a bottom electrode above the isolation structure. In the meantime a polysilicon gate electrode is also formed above the peripheral circuit region. Spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the polysilicon gate electrode and the bottom electrode. A metal silicide layer is formed over the bottom electrode and the polysilicon gate electrode. A dielectric layer is formed over the metal silicide layer above the bottom electrode. A metallic layer is formed over the dielectric layer to form a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Tz-Guei Jung, Chia-Hsin Hou, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 6303455
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a capacitor is provided in the present invention. The bottom electrode of the capacitor is a polysilicon layer, and the top electrode of the capacitor is a silicide layer. Since depletion regions cannot be generated in the metal layer or the suicide layer, and the resistivity of the metal layer or the silicide layer is smaller than a conventional polysilicon layer, so that operating speed and frequency of the capacitor are both increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hou, Tz-Guei Jung, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 6271082
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a capacitor is applicable to a fabrication process for a mixed circuit. The method involves forming a first dielectric layer, a stop layer, and a second dielectric layer on a substrate having a conductive region. A first opening is then formed in the second dielectric layer, followed by forming a second opening in the stop layer and the first dielectric layer, so that the first opening and the second opening form a dual damascene opening for exposing the conductive region. The dual damascene opening is filled with a first conductive layer, so as to form a via plug and a lower electrode of the capacitor for connecting to the conductive region. A third dielectric layer, which is located between the lower electrode and a subsequent formed upper electrode, is then formed over the substrate, so that the lower electrode and a part of the second dielectric layer adjacent to the lower electrode are completely covered by the third dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hou, Jyh-Kuang Lin, Tz-Guei Jung, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 6225219
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing an anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer is disclosed. The method provides a substrate with a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, and the ARC layer formed thereon. The ARC layer is treated in an alloy treatment step prior to forming a photoresist layer over the ARC layer, so that the specificity of the ARC layer is stabilized to allow accurate transfer of a desired pattern. A photomask with the desired pattern is provided, while a photolithographic process is then performed to transfer the pattern onto the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kan-Yuan Lee, Weiching Horng, Joe Ko, Gary Hong
  • Patent number: 6221761
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing an anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer is disclosed. The method provides a substrate with a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, and the ARC layer formed thereon. The ARC layer is treated in an ultraviolet (UV) curing step prior to forming a photoresist layer over the ARC layer, so that the specificity of the ARC layer is stabilized to allow an accurate pattern is replicated in the photoresist layer. A photomask with the desired pattern is provided, while a photolithographic process is then performed to transfer the pattern onto the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kan-Yuan Lee, Weiching Horng, Joe Ko, Gary Hong
  • Patent number: 6207535
    Abstract: A method of fabricating shallow trench isolations (STI) which forms a substrate with a patterned first oxide layer and a patterned silicon nitride layer thereon, so that active regions are defined with openings formed between the active regions. The openings are then over etched to form trenches for fabricating the STI, followed by forming a second oxide layer that conforms to a profile of the trenches. A third oxide layer is globally formed over the second oxide layer, sidewalls of the first oxide layer, and the silicon nitride layer. A thermal process is performed to densify a portion of the third oxide layer, so that a top portion of the third oxide layer is harder than a lower portion of the third oxide layer. The excessive portion of the third oxide layer above the silicon nitride layer is removed by performing chemical mechanical polishing, which planarizes a top surface of the third oxide layer in order to complete the manufacture of the STI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Kan-Yuan Lee, Joe Ko, Yang-Hui Fang, Gary Hong
  • Patent number: 6194271
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a flash memory. A gate is formed on a provided substrate. A first doping process is performed. A patterned mask layer is formed over the substrate. A shallow trench isolation structure is formed in the substrate by using the gate and the mask layer as a mask. A portion of the substrate defined below the gate is a first active region and a portion of the substrate defined below the mask layer is a second active region. The mask layer is removed. A dielectric layer and a conductive layer are formed in sequence over the substrate. The conductive layer, the dielectric layer and the gate are patterned to form a control gate and a floating gate, wherein a portion of the control gate overlap with the second active region. A second doping process is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Lin, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 6180471
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a high voltage semiconductor device. A semiconductor substrate doped with a first type dopant and comprising a gate is provided. A cap oxide layer is formed on the gate optionally. A first ion implantation with a light second type dopant at a wide angle is performed to form a lightly doped region. A spacer is formed on a side wall of the gate. A second ion implantation with a heavy second type dopant is performed, so that a heavily doped region is formed within the lightly doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Chang, Gary Hong, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 6159803
    Abstract: A method of fabicrating a flash memory. A semiconductor substrate having a field oxide layer which comprises a plurality of parallel oxide lines, a plurality of parallel word lines perpendicular to the parallel oxide lines, a dielectric layer having a same structure as and under the word lines, a plurality of floating gates separated by the field oxide layer from each other under the dielectric layer, and a plurality of regions encompassed by the field oxide laver and the word lines is provided. A first step of ion implantation to the substrate is performed by using the word lines as masks, so that a plurality of source regions and a plurality of drain regions are formed beside the word lines. Whereas each of the source regions and each of the drain regions are formed in the regions encompassed by the field oxide layer and the word lines. A photo-resist layer is formed to cover the drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Hong, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 6046079
    Abstract: A MOSFET integrated circuit device comprises a lightly doping a semiconductor substrate, with wells formed within the substrate doped with an opposite value dopant, forming a plurality of doped regions within the surface of the substrate and within the surface of the wells, the improvement comprising opening a trench about the periphery of the wells, and filling the trench with a relatively highly conductive material as a guard structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Ko, Chung-Yuan Lee
  • Patent number: 6046938
    Abstract: A structure of a flash memory is disclosed. The flash memory includes a common drain, a memory unit which has at least one memory cell, and a depletion mode selector transistor. The depletion mode selector transistor isolates the common drain and the memory unit. Two terminals the depletion mode selector transistor are coupled to the common drain and the memory unit, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Hong, Wenchi Ting, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 5976935
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an EEPROM (EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory) device, which can help improve the quality of the tunneling oxide layer in the EEPROM device for reliable operation of the EEPROM device. This method is characterized in that the portion of the tungsten silicide (WSi) layer that is directly laid above the tunneling oxide layer is removed, while still allowing all the other part of the tungsten silicide layer to remain unaltered. As a result, in the subsequent heat-treatment process, the degradation in the quality of the tunneling oxide layer that occurs in the prior art due to the forming of a trapping center therein can be prevented. The tunneling oxide layer is thus more assured in quality, allowing the resultant EEPROM to operate reliably with high performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Ying-Jen Lin, Joe Ko, Gary Hong
  • Patent number: 5960288
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrostatic protection device, comprises a semiconductor substrate which includes a first type well, a second type well, and a field oxide layer in between. A first gate, a first spacer, and a first source/drain are formed in the first type well. The second type has a second gate, a second spacer, and the second source/drain formed therein. In addition, an oxide layer is distributed on the first gate, the second gate, a part of the first source/drain, and a part of the second source/drain. A silicide layer is formed on the uncovered first source/drain and the uncovered second source/drain. Therefore, the silicide layer and the gate oxide layer are spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Hong, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 5956590
    Abstract: A field effect transistor which is not susceptible to mask edge detects at its gate spacer oxides. The transistor is formed upon a semiconductor substrate through successive layering of a gate oxide, a gate electrode and a gate cap oxide. A pair of curved gate spacer oxides are then formed covering opposite edges of the stack of the gate oxide, the gate electrode and the gate cap oxide. The semiconductor substrate is then etched to provide a smooth topographic transition from the gate spacer oxides to the etched semiconductor surface. Source/drain electrodes are then implanted into the etched semiconductor substrate and annealed to yield the finished transistor. A second embodiment of the field effect transistor possesses a polysilicon gate. Alter removal of the gate cap oxide, a metal layer may be deposited and sintered upon the polysilicon gate and the source/drain electrodes. The metal salicide layers formed upon the electrodes of the transistor have limited susceptibility to parasitic current leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yong-Fen Hsieh, Shu-Jen Chen, Joe Ko
  • Patent number: 5899718
    Abstract: A method for fabricating flash memory cells having a DDD structure that prevents leakage current during data erasure, that does not require a high temperature drive-in process, and that easily combines with other logic processes. The method for fabricating the flash memory cells utilizes ion implantation through contact windows to establish heavily doped source and drain regions inside previously formed deeply doped source and drain regions to construct the DDD structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: United Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Hwi-Huang Chen, Joe Ko, Gary Hong
  • Patent number: 5821629
    Abstract: An improved SRAM cell having ultra-high density and methods for fabrication are described. Each SRAM cell, according to the present invention, has its own buried structure, including word lines (i.e., gate regions) and bit lines (i.e., source/drain regions), thus increasing the cell ratio of channel width of cell transistor to that of pass transistor to keep the data stored in the cell transistor more stable without increasing the area per cell. In addition, according to the present invention, the field isolation between active regions is not field oxide but blankly ion-implanted silicon substrate. Therefore, SRAM cells can be densely integrated due to the absence of bird's beak encroachment. Since the present invention has more planar topography than the prior art, it is easily adapted to the VLSI process, which is always restricted by the limit of resolution of photolithography, thus increasing the degree of integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jemmy Wen, Joe Ko