Patents by Inventor Kuang-Wen Liu

Kuang-Wen Liu 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: 9583495
    Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating a memory device including forming a stack layer on a substrate, and embedding a plurality of gate pillar structures and a plurality of dielectric pillars in the stack layer. The plurality of gate pillar structures and the plurality of dielectric pillars extend along a same direction and are alternately arranged, so that the stack layer is divided into a plurality of stack structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 9536808
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided having large vias, such as under bonding pads, to increase the via open area ratio, increase the via etching rate, and avoid inter-metal dielectric cracking and damage to the integrated circuit. The via is defined as a large open area in the inter-metal dielectric layer between an isolated conductive bottom substrate layer and a conductive top layer. Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices with a large via are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zheng-Chang Mu, Cheng-Wei Lin, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 9530786
    Abstract: Provided is a memory device, including a plurality of gate pillar structures and a plurality of dielectric pillars. The gate pillar structures and the dielectric pillars are arranged alternately and separately along a first direction, and are arranged alternately and contact each other along a second direction. In addition, the gate pillar structures and the dielectric pillars are embedded in a stack layer along a third direction, thereby dividing the stack layer into a plurality of stack structures. A sidewall of each of the dielectric pillars in the second direction and a sidewall of the adjacent gate pillar structure in the second direction are not coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20160372401
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided having large vias, such as under bonding pads, to increase the via open area ratio, increase the via etching rate, and avoid inter-metal dielectric cracking and damage to the integrated circuit. The via is defined as a large open area in the inter-metal dielectric layer between an isolated conductive bottom substrate layer and a conductive top layer. Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices with a large via are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Zheng-Chang MU, Cheng-Wei LIN, Kuang-Wen LIU
  • Publication number: 20160247719
    Abstract: Provided are improved semiconductor memory devices and method for manufacturing such semiconductor memory devices. A method may incorporate the formation of silicide regions in a semiconductor. The method may allow for a semiconductor with a silicide layer with improved resistance and reduced silicide bridge formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Kuan-Chih Chen, Cheng-Wei Lin, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 9384989
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor device is provided whereby the semiconductor device is defined by a layered structure comprising a first dielectric layer, a data storage material disposed on the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer disposed on the data storage material, the layered structured substantially forming the outer layer of the semiconductor device. For example, the semiconductor device may be a SONOS structure having an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film that substantially surrounds the SONOS structure. The invention also provides methods for fabricating the semiconductor device and the SONOS structure of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Chang Lin, Kai-Hsiang Chang, Chih-Yuan Wu, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20160086953
    Abstract: Provided is a method for fabricating a memory device including forming a stack layer on a substrate, and embedding a plurality of gate pillar structures and a plurality of dielectric pillars in the stack layer. The plurality of gate pillar structures and the plurality of dielectric pillars extend along a same direction and are alternately arranged, so that the stack layer is divided into a plurality of stack structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20160064498
    Abstract: Provided is a memory device, including a plurality of gate pillar structures and a plurality of dielectric pillars. The gate pillar structures and the dielectric pillars are arranged alternately and separately along a first direction, and are arranged alternately and contact each other along a second direction. In addition, the gate pillar structures and the dielectric pillars are embedded in a stack layer along a third direction, thereby dividing the stack layer into a plurality of stack structures. A sidewall of each of the dielectric pillars in the second direction and a sidewall of the adjacent gate pillar structure in the second direction are not coplanar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 9245901
    Abstract: A memory device is provided, which includes a plurality of gate pillar structures and a plurality of dielectric pillars extending alternately arranged along a same direction and embedding in a stack layer so that the stack layer divided into a plurality of stack structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20160020295
    Abstract: Provided are improved semiconductor memory devices and method for manufacturing such semiconductor memory devices. A method may incorporate the formation of silicide regions in a semiconductor. The method may allow for a semiconductor with a silicide layer with improved resistance and reduced silicide bridge formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kuan-Chih Chen, Cheng-Wei Lin, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 9153535
    Abstract: A line layout method includes: forming i core layers each including a main layer that extends in a first direction and has a first end and a second end, and an end layer that is connected with the first end of the main layer and protrudes in a second direction; forming a first spacer on a sidewall of the core layer; removing the core layers; and forming 2i auxiliary patterns. i is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The auxiliary patterns extend in the first direction and are spaced and arranged in the first direction. In a region corresponding to the end layer, a portion not overlapping the auxiliary patterns has an I-beam shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Wu, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20140329387
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor device is provided whereby the semiconductor device is defined by a layered structure comprising a first dielectric layer, a data storage material disposed on the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer disposed on the data storage material, the layered structured substantially forming the outer layer of the semiconductor device. For example, the semiconductor device may be a SONOS structure having an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film that substantially surrounds the SONOS structure. The invention also provides methods for fabricating the semiconductor device and the SONOS structure of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Ching-Chang Lin, Kai-Hsiang Chang, Chih-Yuan Wu, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 8803223
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor device is provided whereby the semiconductor device is defined by a layered structure comprising a first dielectric layer, a data storage material disposed on the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer disposed on the data storage material, the layered structured substantially forming the outer later of the semiconductor device. For example, the semiconductor device may be a SONOS structure having an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film that substantially surrounds the SONOS structure. The invention also provides methods for fabricating the semiconductor device and the SONOS structure of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Chang Lin, Kai-Hsiang Chang, Chih-Yuan Wu, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20140070299
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor device is provided whereby the semiconductor device is defined by a layered structure comprising a first dielectric layer, a data storage material disposed on the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer disposed on the data storage material, the layered structured substantially forming the outer later of the semiconductor device. For example, the semiconductor device may be a SONOS structure having an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film that substantially surrounds the SONOS structure. The invention also provides methods for fabricating the semiconductor device and the SONOS structure of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Chang Lin, Kai-Hsiang Chang, Chih-Yuan Wu, Kuang-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 7923770
    Abstract: A method of fabricating memory devices is provided. First, a charge storage structure including a gate dielectric structure is formed on the substrate in sequence to form a charge trapping layer. Then, a gate conductive layer is formed above the charge storage structure. Afterwards, the gate conductive layer and at least a part of the charge storage structure are patterned. The cross section of the patterned charge storage structure is then become a trapezoid or a trapezoid analogue, which has the shorter side near the gate conductive layer and the longer side near the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Lin Chen, Kuang-Wen Liu, Hsin-Huei Chen
  • Patent number: 7919372
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a silicon oxide/silicon nitride/silicon oxide (“ONO”) structure is formed by providing a first silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer over a substrate having a memory region and a logic device region; patterning the first silicon oxide layer and the silicon nitride layer to define bottom oxide and silicon nitride portions of partially completed ONO stacks and to expose the substrate in the logic device regions; performing a rapid thermal annealing process in the presence of a radical oxidizing agent to form concurrently a second silicon oxide layer on the exposed surface of the silicon nitride layer and a gate oxide layer over the substrate; and depositing a conductive layer over the completed ONO stacks and the gate oxide. The invention is employed in manufacture of, for example, memory devices having and peripheral logic devices and memory cells including ONO structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International, Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Wang, Hsin-Huei Chen, Chong-Jen Huang, Kuang-Wen Liu, Jia-Rong Chiou, Chong-Mu Chen
  • Publication number: 20090146266
    Abstract: A method of fabricating memory devices is provided. First, a charge storage structure including a gate dielectric structure is formed on the substrate in sequence to form a charge trapping layer. Then, a gate conductive layer is formed above the charge storage structure. Afterwards, the gate conductive layer and at least a part of the charge storage structure are patterned. The cross section of the patterned charge storage structure is then become a trapezoid or a trapezoid analogue, which has the shorter side near the gate conductive layer and the longer side near the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Lin Chen, Kuang-Wen Liu, Hsin-Huei Chen
  • Publication number: 20080042191
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of trenches in a substrate. The trenches are filled with first conducting layers to serve as buried bit lines. Thereafter, a charge storage layer is formed on the substrate to cover the surface of the substrate and the first conducting layers. A plurality of second conducting layers is formed on the charge storage layer to serve as word lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Lin, Kuang-Wen Liu, Hsin-Huei Chen
  • Patent number: 7241558
    Abstract: Stabilization of photolithography process parameters, the photomask being used, and the manufacturing method thereof is provided where a formal pattern layout is combined with a dummy pattern. A photomask is manufactured by utilizing the combined pattern layout so that density changes between the pattern structure layers of the multi-layer semiconductor integrated circuits are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong-Jen Huang, Hsin-Huei Chen, Kuang-Wen Liu, Chih-Hao Wang, Jia-Rong Chiou
  • Publication number: 20070117353
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a silicon oxide/silicon nitride/silicon oxide (“ONO”) structure is formed by providing a first silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer over a substrate having a memory region and a logic device region; patterning the first silicon oxide layer and the silicon nitride layer to define bottom oxide and silicon nitride portions of partially completed ONO stacks and to expose the substrate in the logic device regions; performing a rapid thermal annealing process in the presence of a radical oxidizing agent to form concurrently a second silicon oxide layer on the exposed surface of the silicon nitride layer and a gate oxide layer over the substrate; and depositing a conductive layer over the completed ONO stacks and the gate oxide. The invention is employed in manufacture of, for example, memory devices having and peripheral logic devices and memory cells including ONO structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih Hao Wang, Hsin-Huei Chen, Chong-Jen Huang, Kuang-Wen Liu, Jia-Rong Chiou, Chong-Mu Chen