Patents by Inventor Kun Lai

Kun Lai 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: 20190355903
    Abstract: A 3D memory includes a plurality of first access line levels, a plurality of second access line levels and a plurality of memory cell levels, the memory cell levels being disposed between corresponding first access line levels and second access line levels. The first access line levels include a plurality of first access lines extending in a first direction, and a plurality of remnants of a first sacrificial material disposed between the first access lines. The second access line levels include a plurality of second access lines extending in a second direction and a plurality of remnants of a second sacrificial material disposed between the second access lines. The memory cell levels include an array of memory pillars disposed in the cross-points between the first access lines and the second access lines in adjacent first and second access line levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Lan LUNG, Erh-Kun LAI, Chiao-Wen YEH
  • Patent number: 10475811
    Abstract: A memory device memory device includes a multi-layers stack, a charge-trapping layer, a first channel layer and a SSL switch. The multi-layers stack includes a plurality of insulating layers, a plurality of conductive layers alternatively stacked with the insulating layers and at least one first through opening passing through the conductive layers. The charge-trapping layer blankets over a sidewall of the first through opening. The first channel layer is disposed in the first through opening. The SSL switch is disposed on the multi-layers stack and includes a second channel layer, a gate dielectric layer and a gate. The second channel layer is disposed on and electrically contacting to the first channel layer. The gate dielectric layer is disposed on the second channel layer and made of a material other than that for making the charge-trapping layer. The gate is disposed on the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Publication number: 20190341426
    Abstract: A resistive memory includes a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer, an insulating layer and a metal electrode layer. The semiconductor substrate has a top surface and a recess extending downwards into the semiconductor substrate from the top surface. The dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and has a first through-hole aligning the recess. The insulating layer is disposed in the first through-hole and the recess. The metal electrode layer is disposed on the insulating layer by which the metal electrode layer is isolated from the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Po-Hao Tseng, Dai-Ying Lee, Erh-Kun Lai
  • Publication number: 20190326244
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a surface and a conductive via in the substrate. The surface has an inner region and an outer region surrounding the inner region. The semiconductor structure also includes an under bump metallurgy (UBM) pad on the surface and within the outer region, where the UBM pad has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone faces towards a center of the surface and the second zone faces away from the center of the surface. The conductive via is disposed outside the second zone and at least partially overlaps the first zone from a top view perspective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: KUO-CHIN CHANG, YEN-KUN LAI, KUO-CHING HSU, MIRNG-JI LII
  • Patent number: 10453856
    Abstract: A memory device, which can be configured as a 3D NAND flash memory, includes a stack of conductive strips and an opening through the stack exposing sidewalls of conductive strips on first and second sides of the opening. Some of the conductive strips in the stack are configured as word lines. Data storage structures are disposed on the sidewalls of the stack. A vertical channel film is disposed vertically in contact with the data storage structures. The vertical channel film is connected at a proximal end to an upper channel pad over the stack, and at a distal end to a lower channel pad disposed in a lower level of the opening. The upper and lower channel pads may comprise an epitaxial semiconductor and be thicker than the vertical channel film disposed on the sidewalls of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Publication number: 20190312050
    Abstract: A memory device includes a stack of conductive strips in a plurality of first levels with a first opening and a conductive strip in the second level with a second opening, both openings exposing sidewalls. Data storage structures are formed on the sidewalls of the conductive strips in the plurality of first levels. A first vertical channel structure including vertical channel films is disposed in the first opening, the vertical channel films in contact with the data storage structures. The second opening is aligned with the first vertical channel structure. A gate dielectric layer is disposed on the sidewall of the conductive strip in the second level. A second vertical channel structure including vertical channel films is disposed in the second opening in contact with the gate dielectric layer on the sidewall of the conductive strip in the second level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun LAI, Hsiang-Lan LUNG
  • Publication number: 20190311907
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a memory device comprises forming an initial silicide layer, including depositing and annealing a precursor metal over a layer of silicon material on a top surface of a stack of conductive strips in amounts effective to result in a majority of the initial silicide layer being a mono-silicon silicide of the precursor metal. The method comprises depositing and annealing additional silicon material over the initial silicide layer in amounts effective to result in formation of di-silicon silicide of the precursor metal to form a landing pad on the top surface of the stack of conductive strips, the formation of the di-silicon silicide of the precursor metal consuming mono-silicon silicide of the initial silicide layer so a majority of a silicide of the landing pad is di-silicon silicide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Publication number: 20190304985
    Abstract: A memory device, which can be configured as a 3D NAND flash memory, includes a stack of conductive strips and an opening through the stack exposing sidewalls of conductive strips on first and second sides of the opening. Some of the conductive strips in the stack are configured as word lines. Data storage structures are disposed on the sidewalls of the stack. A vertical channel film is disposed vertically in contact with the data storage structures. The vertical channel film is connected at a proximal end to an upper channel pad over the stack, and at a distal end to a lower channel pad disposed in a lower level of the opening. The upper and lower channel pads may comprise an epitaxial semiconductor and be thicker than the vertical channel film disposed on the sidewalls of the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun LAI, Hsiang-Lan LUNG
  • Patent number: 10388698
    Abstract: A resistive memory includes a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer, an insulating layer and a metal electrode layer. The semiconductor substrate has a top surface and a recess extending downwards into the semiconductor substrate from the top surface. The dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and has a first through-hole aligning the recess. The insulating layer is disposed in the first through-hole and the recess. The metal electrode layer is disposed on the insulating layer by which the metal electrode layer is isolated from the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hao Tseng, Dai-Ying Lee, Erh-Kun Lai
  • Patent number: 10348126
    Abstract: A battery switching method applicable to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises a first battery and a second battery. The method comprises: (a) switching the electronic device to a sleep mode from a normal mode; (b) switching a power supply of the electronic device to the second battery according to a removing signal triggered by removing the first battery; (c) switching the power supply of the electronic device to the first battery according to an inserting signal triggered by inserting the first battery; (d) updating parameters of the first battery; and (e) switching the electronic device to the normal mode from the sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Hann Tsai, Pi-Feng Shih, Chin-Kun Lai
  • Patent number: 10332835
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a bottom insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer which is a selective epitaxial growth layer disposed on the bottom insulating layer; a plurality insulating layers disposed over the bottom insulating layer; a plurality of second conductive layers alternatively stacked the insulating layers and insulated from the first conductive layer; a contact plug passing through the bottom insulating layer and electrically contacting the semiconductor substrate with the first conductive layer; a channel layer disposed on at least one sidewall of at least one first through opening and electrically contact the contact plug, wherein the first through opening passes through the insulating layers, the second conductive layers, so as to expose the contact plug; and a memory layer disposed between the channel layer and the second conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Publication number: 20190181339
    Abstract: Memory devices based on tungsten oxide memory elements are described, along with methods for manufacturing such devices. A memory device includes a plug extending upwardly from a top surface of a substrate through a dielectric layer; a bottom electrode having tungsten on an outside surface, the bottom electrode extending upwardly from a top surface of the plug; an insulating material in contact with the tungsten on the outside surface of, and surrounding, the bottom electrode; a memory element on an upper surface of the bottom electrode, the memory element comprising a tungsten oxide compound and programmable to at least two resistance states; and a top electrode overlying and contacting the memory element. The plug has a first lateral dimension, and the bottom electrode has a lateral dimension parallel with the first lateral dimension of the plug that is less than the first lateral dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Dai-Ying Lee, FENG-MIN LEE
  • Publication number: 20190139885
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a bottom insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer which is a selective epitaxial growth layer disposed on the bottom insulating layer; a plurality insulating layers disposed over the bottom insulating layer; a plurality of second conductive layers alternatively stacked the insulating layers and insulated from the first conductive layer; a contact plug passing through the bottom insulating layer and electrically contacting the semiconductor substrate with the first conductive layer; a channel layer disposed on at least one sidewall of at least one first through opening and electrically contact the contact plug, wherein the first through opening passes through the insulating layers, the second conductive layers, so as to expose the contact plug; and a memory layer disposed between the channel layer and the second conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Patent number: 10283519
    Abstract: A memory device including a substrate, at least one first stacked structure and at least one second stacked structure disposed on the substrate is provided. The first stacked structure includes a plurality of alternately stacked metal layers and oxide layers. The second stacked structure is disposed adjacent to the first stacked structure and includes a plurality of alternately stacked semiconductor layers and oxide layers. The metal layers of the first stacked structure are connected to the semiconductor layers of the second stacked structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Erh-Kun Lai
  • Publication number: 20190119848
    Abstract: An acid dye composition for dyeing nylon textiles is disclosed, which comprises: an acid dye; and a water soluble Ca2+ compound, wherein, on the basis of a total weight of the acid dye as 100 parts by weight, a content of the water soluble Ca2+ compound is ranged from 0.1 parts by weight to 50 parts by weight. In addition, a use of the aforesaid acid dye composition and a method using the same for dyeing nylon textiles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Bao-Kun LAI, Te-Chin SUNG, Yuan-Pin PAN
  • Publication number: 20190096907
    Abstract: A memory device memory device includes a multi-layers stack, a charge-trapping layer, a first channel layer and a SSL switch. The multi-layers stack includes a plurality of insulating layers, a plurality of conductive layers alternatively stacked with the insulating layers and at least one first through opening passing through the conductive layers. The charge-trapping layer blankets over a sidewall of the first through opening. The first channel layer is disposed in the first through opening. The SSL switch is disposed on the multi-layers stack and includes a second channel layer, a gate dielectric layer and a gate. The second channel layer is disposed on and electrically contacting to the first channel layer. The gate dielectric layer is disposed on the second channel layer and made of a material other than that for making the charge-trapping layer. The gate is disposed on the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Publication number: 20190088643
    Abstract: A 3D semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a source line, a gate line and a plurality of memory cells connected in series. The semiconductor substrate has a protruding portion. The source line is disposed in the semiconductor substrate and partially extending below the protruding portion. The gate line is configured to surround and cover the protruding portion and electrically separated from the source line and the protruding portion. The memory cells are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and connected in series to the protruding portion at a top surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang-Hao Chiang, Dai-Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20190035802
    Abstract: A 3D memory device includes a substrate, a multi-layers stack, at least one memory structure and an etching stop structure. The substrate has a trench. The multi-layers stack includes a first extending portion forming a non-straight angle with a bottom surface of the trench and a second extending portion, wherein both of the first extending portion and the second extending portion include a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternatively stacked in the trench. The memory structure is formed in the first extending portion. The etching stop structure is at least partially disposed in the second extending portion and has a material identical to that of the memory structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hsiang-Lan Lung
  • Patent number: 10170467
    Abstract: A 3D semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a source line, a gate line and a plurality of memory cells connected in series. The semiconductor substrate has a protruding portion. The source line is disposed in the semiconductor substrate and partially extending below the protruding portion. The gate line is configured to surround and cover the protruding portion and electrically separated from the source line and the protruding portion. The memory cells are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and connected in series to the protruding portion at a top surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang-Hao Chiang, Dai-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: RE47311
    Abstract: Memory cells comprising thin film transistor, stacked arrays, employing bandgap engineered tunneling layers in a junction free, NAND configuration. The cells comprise a channel region in a semiconductor strip formed on an insulating layer; a tunnel dielectric structure disposed above the channel region, the tunnel dielectric structure comprising a multilayer structure including at least one layer having a hole-tunneling barrier height lower than that at the interface with the channel region; a charge storage layer disposed above the tunnel dielectric structure; an insulating layer disposed above the charge storage layer; and a gate electrode disposed above the insulating layer Arrays and methods of operation are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hang-Ting Lue, Erh-Kun Lai