Patents by Inventor Kuang-Chao Chen

Kuang-Chao Chen 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).

  • Publication number: 20240144467
    Abstract: A hot spot defect detecting method and a hot spot defect detecting system are provided. In the method, hot spots are extracted from a design of a semiconductor product to define a hot spot map comprising hot spot groups, wherein local patterns in a same context of the design yielding a same image content are defined as a same hot spot group. During runtime, defect images obtained by an inspection tool performing hot scans on a wafer manufactured with the design are acquired and the hot spot map is aligned to each defect image to locate the hot spot groups. The hot spot defects in each defect image are detected by dynamically mapping the hot spot groups located in each defect image to a plurality of threshold regions and respectively performing automatic thresholding on pixel values of the hot spots of each hot spot group in the corresponding threshold region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Huei Chen, Pei-Chao Su, Xiaomeng Chen, Chan-Ming Chang, Shih-Yung Chen, Hung-Yi Chung, Kuang-Shing Chen, Li-Jou Lee, Yung-Cheng Lin, Wei-Chen Wu, Shih-Chang Wang, Chien-An Lin
  • Publication number: 20230403852
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of gate layers, a laterally stacked multi-layered memory structure, and a vertical channel layer. The gate layers laterally extend above the substrate and spaced apart from each other. The laterally stacked multi-layered memory structure extends upwardly above the substrate and through the gate layers and including a blocking layer, a charge storage stack, and a tunneling layer. The charge storage stack is on the blocking layer and including a first silicon nitride layer, a second silicon nitride layer, and a silicon oxynitride layer sandwiched between the first and second silicon nitride layers. The tunneling layer is on the charge storage stack. The vertical channel layer is on the laterally stacked multi-layered memory structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Chi-Pin LU, Pei-Ci JHANG, Masaru NAKAMICHI, Ling-Wuu YANG, Kuang-Chao CHEN
  • Publication number: 20220077187
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a memory device includes: providing a substrate; forming a first dielectric layer over the substrate; forming a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layers alternately and horizontally disposed on the substrate; forming a channel column structure on the substrate and in the plurality of conductive layers and the plurality of dielectric layers, where a side wall of the channel column structure is in contact with the plurality of conductive layers; forming a second dielectric layer covering the first dielectric layer; and forming, in the first and second dielectric layers, a conductive column structure adjacent to the channel column structure and in contact with one of the plurality of conductive layers, where the conductive column structure includes a liner insulating layer as a shell layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yao-An Chung, Yuan-Chieh Chiu, Ting-Feng Liao, Kuang-Wen Liu, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 11211401
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate. A first dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. A plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layers are alternately and horizontally disposed on the substrate. A channel column structure is disposed on the substrate and in the conductive layers and the dielectric layers. A side wall of the channel column structure is in contact with the plurality of conductive layers. A second dielectric layer covers the first dielectric layer. A conductive column structure is in the first and second dielectric layers, adjacent to the channel column structure, and in contact with one of the plurality of conductive layers. The conductive column structure includes a liner insulating layer as a shell layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-An Chung, Yuan-Chieh Chiu, Ting-Feng Liao, Kuang-Wen Liu, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Publication number: 20210202518
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate. A first dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. A plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layers are alternately and horizontally disposed on the substrate. A channel column structure is disposed on the substrate and in the conductive layers and the dielectric layers. A side wall of the channel column structure is in contact with the plurality of conductive layers. A second dielectric layer covers the first dielectric layer. A conductive column structure is in the first and second dielectric layers, adjacent to the channel column structure, and in contact with one of the plurality of conductive layers. The conductive column structure includes a liner insulating layer as a shell layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YAO-AN CHUNG, Yuan-Chieh Chiu, Ting-Feng Liao, Kuang-Wen Liu, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 10892265
    Abstract: Provided is a word line structure including a substrate, a stack structure, and a metal silicide structure. The stack structure is disposed on the substrate. The metal silicide structure is disposed on the stack structure. The metal silicide structure includes a first metal element, a second metal element, and a silicon element. The first metal element is different from the second metal element, and concentrations of the first metal element and the second metal element gradually decrease along a direction from a top surface of the metal silicide structure to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Min Chen, Yung-Tai Hung, Tuung Luoh, Ta-Hung Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Publication number: 20200273868
    Abstract: Provided is a word line structure including a substrate, a stack structure, and a metal silicide structure. The stack structure is disposed on the substrate. The metal silicide structure is disposed on the stack structure. The metal silicide structure includes a first metal element, a second metal element, and a silicon element. The first metal element is different from the second metal element, and concentrations of the first metal element and the second metal element gradually decrease along a direction from a top surface of the metal silicide structure to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Min Chen, Yung-Tai Hung, Tuung Luoh, Ta-Hung Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 10607848
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including the following steps. A substrate is provided. A material layer having an opening is formed on the substrate. A first passivation material layer is formed on sidewalls of the opening and on the substrate. A treatment process is performed to the first passivation material layer to form a second passivation material layer. A first surface of the second passivation material layer and a second surface (at an inner side) of the second passivation material layer are differ in a property, and the first surface is located at a side of the second passivation material layer relatively away from the material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Chieh Chiu, Shih-Ping Hong, Kuang-Chao Chen, Yen-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 10497652
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor device are provided in which the substrate includes a plurality of chips. Each of the chips includes at least one array region and at least one periphery region. The semiconductor substrate has a plurality of trenches disposed in the array region and/or the periphery region, wherein a ratio of the depth of the trenches to the thickness of the semiconductor substrate is between 0.001 and 0.008, and the area of all the trenches is between 5% and 90% based on the total area of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tuung Luoh, Ling-Wuu Yang, Ta-Hung Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 10413727
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing auxiliary device for helping a person with hearing impairment to obtain hearing information. The hearing auxiliary device includes a bone conduct transceiver, a receiver and a driver. The bone conduct transceiver converts a sound raw data to a bone conduct signal. The receiver is installed to an inner ear portion of the person with hearing impairment, and the receiver receives the bone conduct signal and converts the bone conduct signal to a sound restoration signal. The driver sends out a physical signal according to the sound restoration signal, in order to let the person with hearing impairment to obtain a hearing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: SILICON MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Kuang-Chao Chen, Kuo-Liang Yeh
  • Patent number: 10388664
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a multilayer stack, and a plurality of layered conductors extending in the multilayer stack and into a conductor layer beneath the multilayer stack. The layered conductor has a bottom conductor layer in ohmic electrical contact with the conductive layer in a substrate, an intermediate conductive liner layer over the bottom conductor layer and lining a portion of sidewall of the corresponding trench, and a top conductor layer on the top conductive liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukai Huang, Chun Ling Chiang, Yung-Tai Hung, Chun Min Cheng, Tuung Luoh, Ling Wuu Yang, Ta-Hung Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Publication number: 20180337140
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a stack in a stack region and a region outside the stack region. A buttress structure disposed outside the stack includes a fence-shaped, electrically passive element configured to oppose expansion of materials outside the stack region in a direction toward the stack region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tuung Luoh, Yung-Tai Hung, Ta-Hung Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Publication number: 20180269225
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a multilayer stack, and a plurality of layered conductors extending in the multilayer stack and into a conductor layer beneath the multilayer stack. The layered conductor has a bottom conductor layer in ohmic electrical contact with the conductive layer in a substrate, an intermediate conductive liner layer over the bottom conductor layer and lining a portion of sidewall of the corresponding trench, and a top conductor layer on the top conductive liner layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukai HUANG, Chun Ling CHIANG, Yung-Tai HUNG, Chun Min CHENG, Tuung LUOH, Ling Wuu YANG, Ta-Hung YANG, Kuang-Chao CHEN
  • Publication number: 20180269222
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a multilayer stack, and a plurality of layered conductors extending in the multilayer stack and into a conductor layer beneath the multilayer stack. The layered conductor has a bottom conductor layer in ohmic electrical contact with the conductive layer in a substrate, an intermediate conductive interface layer over the bottom conductor layer and lining a portion of sidewall of the corresponding trench, and a top conductor layer on the top conductive interface layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukai Huang, Tuung Luoh, Ta-Hung Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Publication number: 20180233375
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including the following steps. A substrate is provided. A material layer having an opening is formed on the substrate. A first passivation material layer is formed on sidewalls of the opening and on the substrate. A treatment process is performed to the first passivation material layer to form a second passivation material layer. A first surface of the second passivation material layer and a second surface (at an inner side) of the second passivation material layer are differ in a property, and the first surface is located at a side of the second passivation material layer relatively away from the material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Chieh Chiu, Shih-Ping Hong, Kuang-Chao Chen, Yen-Ju Chen
  • Publication number: 20180133476
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing auxiliary device for helping a person with hearing impairment to obtain hearing information. The hearing auxiliary device includes a bone conduct transceiver, a receiver and a driver. The bone conduct transceiver converts a sound raw data to a bone conduct signal. The receiver is installed to an inner ear portion of the person with hearing impairment, and the receiver receives the bone conduct signal and converts the bone conduct signal to a sound restoration signal. The driver sends out a physical signal according to the sound restoration signal, in order to let the person with hearing impairment to obtain a hearing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Kuang-Chao CHEN, Kuo-Liang YEH
  • Patent number: 9953841
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including the following steps. A substrate is provided. A material layer having an opening is formed on the substrate. A first passivation material layer is formed on sidewalls of the opening and on the substrate. A treatment process is performed to the first passivation material layer to form a second passivation material layer. A first surface of the second passivation material layer and a second surface (at an inner side) of the second passivation material layer are differ in a property, and the first surface is located at a side of the second passivation material layer relatively away from the material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan-Chieh Chiu, Shih-Ping Hong, Kuang-Chao Chen, Yen-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 9901736
    Abstract: A cochlea hearing aid device for helping users to hear includes a cochlea electrode and a driver circuit. The driver circuit has a casing for installing at a through hole on an eardrum of the user. The cochlea electrode is installed within the cochlea of a user. The driver circuit is connected to the cochlea electrode in order to signal process a voice data and provides a corresponding driving signal for cochlea electrode. Therefore, the neural cells in the cochlea of the user will be stimulated and helped the user to hear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: SILICON MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Kuang-Chao Chen, Kuo-Liang Yeh
  • Patent number: 9869712
    Abstract: A method for detecting defects of wafer by wafer sort is introduced. In the method, a wafer sort testing apparatus is used to obtain a DTL or ADART result, wherein a plurality of repaired sites in a wafer is highlighted according to the DTL or ADART result. A plurality of physical locations of the repaired sites is then output. An analysis equipment is used to match the physical locations with a graphic data system (GDS) design layout coordinate of the wafer so as to generate a data correlating with defects at the repaired sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tuung Luoh, I-Jen Huang, Ling-Wuu Yang, Ta-Hone Yang, Kuang-Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 9656073
    Abstract: An external electronic ear device includes a housing, an external magnet, a microphone, a processing circuit and a wireless signal transmitter circuit. The external magnet is disposed in the housing and attracts a receiver magnet disposed under a scalp of a user. The microphone is disposed in the housing and receives an external sound and generates a sound signal corresponding to the external sound. The processing circuit is disposed in the housing and converts the sound signal into an electrode driving signal. The wireless signal transmitter circuit is disposed in the housing and transmits the electrode driving signal to a cochlear implant device in the cochlear system. The cochlear implant device converts the electrode driving signal into a plurality of electrode currents, and a plurality of electrical pulses are generated in a cochlear nerve of the user through a plurality of electrodes according to the electrode currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: KUANG-CHAO CHEN, SILICON MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Kuang-Chao Chen, Kuo-Liang Yeh