Patents by Inventor Kun-Chen Ho

Kun-Chen Ho 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: 20260114185
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) on a substrate and a top electrode on the MTJ; forming a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer around the MTJ and the top electrode; forming a stop layer on the first IMD layer; forming a second IMD layer on the stop layer; performing a first etching process to remove the second IMD layer and the stop layer; performing a second etching process to remove part of the top electrode; and forming a metal interconnection to connect to the top electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2025
    Publication date: April 23, 2026
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Pei-Jou Lee, Kun-Chen Ho, Hsuan-Hsu Chen, Chun-Lung Chen
  • Publication number: 20260068535
    Abstract: A memory device includes a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure, a top electrode, and a first cap layer. The MTJ structure is disposed above a substrate and includes a first tilted sidewall. The top electrode is disposed on the MTJ structure in a vertical direction and includes a second tilted sidewall. The first cap layer covers the top electrode and the MTJ structure. The first cap layer includes a first portion covering the first tilted sidewall in a horizontal direction and a second portion covering the second tilted sidewall in the horizontal direction. The first portion is partly located under the first tilted sidewall in the vertical direction. The second portion is partly located under the second tilted sidewall in the vertical direction. A thickness of the first portion in the horizontal direction is greater than a thickness of the second portion in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2024
    Publication date: March 5, 2026
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Kun-Chen Ho, Ya-Wei Shih, Chung-Yi Chiu
  • Publication number: 20260018520
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure on a substrate, a contact etch stop layer (CESL) on the gate structure, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the CESL, a first contact plug in the ILD layer and adjacent to the gate structure, a first stop layer on the ILD layer, an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer on the first stop layer, a first metal interconnection in the IMD layer, and an air gap around the gate structure and exposing the CESL and the first metal interconnection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2025
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Ming-Chou Lu, Kun-Chen Ho, Dien-Yang Lu, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu
  • Publication number: 20260020265
    Abstract: An MIM capacitor structure includes a dielectric layer. An MIM capacitor body is disposed on the dielectric layer. The MIM capacitor body includes a first electrode and a second electrode stacked alternately and a capacitor dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode has a first extension part extending out from the MIM capacitor body. The second electrode has a second extension part extending out from the MIM capacitor body. The first extension part includes a first aluminum-containing material layer. The second extension part includes a second aluminum-containing material layer. A first conductive plug penetrates the first extension part, wherein the first conductive plug has a first arc which is concave toward the first aluminum-containing material layer. A second conductive plug penetrates the second extension part, wherein the second conductive plug has a second arc which is concave toward the second aluminum-containing material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2024
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Bo-Han Huang, Dien-Yang Lu, Kun-Chen Ho, Chung-Yi Chiu
  • Publication number: 20260013142
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) device includes the steps of first forming a spin orbit torque (SOT) layer on a substrate, forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) on the SOT layer, and then forming a first cap layer on the MTJ and the SOT layer. Preferably, a first angle included by a top surface of the SOT layer and a top surface of the first cap layer includes an acute angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2024
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Wang, Shun-Yu Huang, Ya-Wei Shih, Che-Wei Chang, Chen-Yi Weng, Kun-Chen Ho
  • Patent number: 12501835
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) on a substrate and a top electrode on the MTJ; forming a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer around the MTJ and the top electrode; forming a stop layer on the first IMD layer; forming a second IMD layer on the stop layer; performing a first etching process to remove the second IMD layer and the stop layer; performing a second etching process to remove part of the top electrode; and forming a metal interconnection to connect to the top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Pei-Jou Lee, Kun-Chen Ho, Hsuan-Hsu Chen, Chun-Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 12444652
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) on the gate structure, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the CESL, forming a contact plug in the ILD layer and adjacent to the gate structure, forming a first stop layer on the ILD layer, and removing the first stop layer and the ILD layer around the gate structure to form an air gap exposing the CESL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Ming-Chou Lu, Kun-Chen Ho, Dien-Yang Lu, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu
  • Publication number: 20250267880
    Abstract: An MIM capacitor structure with a rounded sidewall includes a stacked layer. The stacked layer includes at least one silicon-containing material layer and at least one oxygen-containing silicon compound layer alternately stacked, and a trench is disposed in the stacked layer. The trench has a rounded sidewall and a vertical sidewall. The vertical sidewall and the rounded sidewall are connected to each other. An MIM capacitor is disposed in the trench and contacts the trench. An insulating layer fills the trench and seals an opening of the trench. An air gap is disposed in the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTNONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Ya-Jyuan Hung, Ming-Chou Lu, Kun-Chen Ho
  • Publication number: 20250098273
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure on a substrate, a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer around the gate structure, a contact plug in the ILD layer and adjacent to the gate structure, an air gap around the contact plug, a barrier layer on and sealing the air gap, a metal layer on the barrier layer, a stop layer adjacent to the barrier layer and on the ILD layer, and an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer on the ILD layer. Preferably, bottom surfaces of the barrier layer and the stop layer are coplanar and top surfaces of the IMD layer and the barrier layer are coplanar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Kun-Chen Ho, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu, Ming-Chou Lu
  • Publication number: 20250098272
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the gate structure, forming a contact hole in the ILD layer adjacent to the gate structure, performing a plasma doping process to form a doped layer in the ILD layer and a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure, forming a conductive layer in the contact hole, planarizing the conductive layer to form a contact plug, removing the doped layer to form an air gap adjacent to the contact plug, and then forming a stop layer on the ILD layer and the contact plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Kun-Chen Ho, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu, Ming-Chou Lu
  • Publication number: 20250098271
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the gate structure, forming a contact hole in the ILD layer adjacent to the gate structure, performing a plasma doping process to form a doped layer in the ILD layer and a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure, forming a conductive layer in the contact hole, planarizing the conductive layer to form a contact plug, removing the doped layer to form an air gap adjacent to the contact plug, and then forming a stop layer on the ILD layer and the contact plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Kun-Chen Ho, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu, Ming-Chou Lu
  • Publication number: 20250079237
    Abstract: A metal interconnect structure includes a first metal interconnection in an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer on a substrate, a second metal interconnection on the first metal interconnection, and a cap layer between the first metal interconnection and the second metal interconnection. Preferably, a top surface of the first metal interconnection is even with a top surface of the IMD layer and the cap layer is made of conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yi-How Chou, Tzu-Hao Fu, Tsung-Yin Hsieh, Chih-Sheng Chang, Shih-Chun Tsai, Kun-Chen Ho, Yang-Chou Lin
  • Patent number: 12206007
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the gate structure, forming a contact hole in the ILD layer adjacent to the gate structure, performing a plasma doping process to form a doped layer in the ILD layer and a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure, forming a conductive layer in the contact hole, planarizing the conductive layer to form a contact plug, removing the doped layer to form an air gap adjacent to the contact plug, and then forming a stop layer on the ILD layer and the contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Kun-Chen Ho, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu, Ming-Chou Lu
  • Patent number: 12183626
    Abstract: A metal interconnect structure includes a first metal interconnection in an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer on a substrate, a second metal interconnection on the first metal interconnection, and a cap layer between the first metal interconnection and the second metal interconnection. Preferably, a top surface of the first metal interconnection is even with a top surface of the IMD layer and the cap layer is made of conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yi-How Chou, Tzu-Hao Fu, Tsung-Yin Hsieh, Chih-Sheng Chang, Shih-Chun Tsai, Kun-Chen Ho, Yang-Chou Lin
  • Patent number: 12133474
    Abstract: A method of fabricating magnetoresistive random access memory, including providing a substrate, forming a bottom electrode layer, a magnetic tunnel junction stack, a top electrode layer and a hard mask layer sequentially on the substrate, wherein a material of the top electrode layer is titanium nitride, a material of the hard mask layer is tantalum or tantalum nitride, and a percentage of nitrogen in the titanium nitride gradually decreases from a top surface of top electrode layer to a bottom surface of top electrode layer, and patterning the bottom electrode layer, the magnetic tunnel junction stack, the top electrode layer and the hard mask layer into multiple magnetoresistive random access memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Wang, Chen-Yi Weng, Chin-Yang Hsieh, Yi-Hui Lee, Ying-Cheng Liu, Yi-An Shih, Jing-Yin Jhang, I-Ming Tseng, Yu-Ping Wang, Chien-Ting Lin, Kun-Chen Ho, Yi-Syun Chou, Chang-Min Li, Yi-Wei Tseng, Yu-Tsung Lai, Jun Xie
  • Publication number: 20240032439
    Abstract: A method of fabricating magnetoresistive random access memory, including providing a substrate, forming a bottom electrode layer, a magnetic tunnel junction stack, a top electrode layer and a hard mask layer sequentially on the substrate, wherein a material of the top electrode layer is titanium nitride, a material of the hard mask layer is tantalum or tantalum nitride, and a percentage of nitrogen in the titanium nitride gradually decreases from a top surface of top electrode layer to a bottom surface of top electrode layer, and patterning the bottom electrode layer, the magnetic tunnel junction stack, the top electrode layer and the hard mask layer into multiple magnetoresistive random access memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Wang, Chen-Yi Weng, Chin-Yang Hsieh, Yi-Hui Lee, Ying-Cheng Liu, Yi-An Shih, Jing-Yin Jhang, I-Ming Tseng, Yu-Ping Wang, Chien-Ting Lin, Kun-Chen Ho, Yi-Syun Chou, Chang-Min Li, Yi-Wei Tseng, Yu-Tsung Lai, JUN XIE
  • Patent number: 11882769
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) structure is provided in the present invention, including multiple MRAM cells, and an atomic layer deposition dielectric layer between and at outer sides of the MRAM cells, wherein the material of top electrode layer is titanium nitride, and the nitrogen percentage is greater than titanium percentage and further greater than oxygen percentage in the titanium nitride, and the nitrogen percentage gradually increases inward from the top surface of top electrode layer to a depth and then start to gradually decrease to a first level and then remains constant, and the titanium percentage gradually decreases inward from the top surface of top electrode layer to the depth and then start to gradually increase to a second level and then remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Wang, Bo-Yun Huang, Wen-Wen Zhang, Kun-Chen Ho
  • Publication number: 20230411489
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the gate structure, forming a contact hole in the ILD layer adjacent to the gate structure, performing a plasma doping process to form a doped layer in the ILD layer and a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure, forming a conductive layer in the contact hole, planarizing the conductive layer to form a contact plug, removing the doped layer to form an air gap adjacent to the contact plug, and then forming a stop layer on the ILD layer and the contact plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Kun-Chen Ho, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu, Ming-Chou Lu
  • Publication number: 20230411213
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate structure on a substrate, forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) on the gate structure, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the CESL, forming a contact plug in the ILD layer and adjacent to the gate structure, forming a first stop layer on the ILD layer, and removing the first stop layer and the ILD layer around the gate structure to form an air gap exposing the CESL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Wen Zhang, Ming-Chou Lu, Kun-Chen Ho, Dien-Yang Lu, Chun-Lung Chen, Chung-Yi Chiu
  • Patent number: 11812669
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), including a bottom electrode layer on a substrate, a magnetic tunnel junction stack on the bottom electrode layer, a top electrode layer on the magnetic tunnel junction stack, and a hard mask layer on said top electrode layer, wherein the material of top electrode layer is titanium nitride, a material of said hard mask layer is tantalum or tantalum nitride, and the percentage of nitrogen in the titanium nitride gradually decreases from the top surface of top electrode layer to the bottom surface of top electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Wang, Chen-Yi Weng, Chin-Yang Hsieh, Yi-Hui Lee, Ying-Cheng Liu, Yi-An Shih, Jing-Yin Jhang, I-Ming Tseng, Yu-Ping Wang, Chien-Ting Lin, Kun-Chen Ho, Yi-Syun Chou, Chang-Min Li, Yi-Wei Tseng, Yu-Tsung Lai, Jun Xie