Patents by Inventor Wen Jer Tsai

Wen Jer Tsai 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: 8842479
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in series in the semiconductor body, such as a NAND string, having a plurality of word lines. A selected memory cell is programmed by hot carrier injection. The program operation is based on metering a flow of carriers between a first semiconductor body region on a first side of the selected cell in the NAND string and a second semiconductor body region on a second side of the selected cell. A program potential higher than a hot carrier injection barrier level is applied to the selected cell, and then the drain to source voltage across the selected cell and the flow of carriers in the selected cell reach a level sufficient to support hot carrier injection, which is controlled by a combination of a switch cell adjacent the selected cell and modulation of a source side voltage applied to the NAND string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Siang Huang, Wen-Jer Tsai, Ping-Hung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140269076
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory system includes a bit line and a plurality of memory cells associated with the bit line and coupled in a serial manner. The system further has a control circuitry in communication with the memory cells, wherein the control circuitry programs a target cell selected from the memory cells by applying a bit line voltage on the bit line in order to promote hot carrier injection into the target cell. The circuit also applies a programming voltage on the target cell under a hot carrier injection mechanism. Moreover, the circuit also applies a control voltage on a control cell, which is adjacent to the target cell when programming the target cell, wherein the control voltage is dependant on the threshold voltage of the control cell and the control voltage is less than the programming voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: WEN JER TSAI, PING HUNG TSAI
  • Publication number: 20140264543
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure uses its control gate to be the wordline for receiving an operation voltage for the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure has a first and a second doped region and a buried channel between the first and the second doped region, wherein the buried channel has a first length along the first direction. The semiconductor structure further has a charge trapping layer stack on the buried channel and a conductive layer on the charge trapping layer stack, wherein the conductive layer extends along the first direction. The conductive layer is configured as both the control gate and the wordline of the semiconductor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 8835297
    Abstract: A fabricating method for fabricating a non-volatile memory structure including the following steps is provided. A first conductive type doped layer is formed in a substrate. A plurality of stacked structures is formed on the substrate, and each of the stacked structures includes a charge storage structure. A first dielectric layer is formed on the substrate between the adjacent stacked structures. A second conductive type doped region is formed in the substrate between the adjacent charge storage structures. The second conductive type doped region has an overlap region with each of the charge storage structures. In addition, the second conductive type doped region divides the first conductive type doped layer into a plurality of first conductive type doped regions that are separated from each other. A conductive layer is formed on the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Cheng, Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140239370
    Abstract: Provided is a memory device including a first dielectric layer, a T-shaped gate, two charge storage layers and two second dielectric layers. The first dielectric layer is disposed on a substrate. The T-shaped gate is disposed on the first dielectric layer and has an upper gate and a lower gate, wherein two gaps are present respectively at both sides of the lower gate and between the upper gate and the substrate. The charge storage layers are respectively embedded into the gaps. A second dielectric layer is disposed between each charge storage layer and the upper gate, between each charge storage layer and the lower gate and between each charge storage layer and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai, Ping-Hung Tsai
  • Patent number: 8796754
    Abstract: A memory structure including a memory cell is provided, and the memory cell includes following elements. A first gate is disposed on a substrate. A stacked structure includes a first dielectric structure, a channel layer, a second dielectric structure and a second gate disposed on the first gate, a first charge storage structure disposed in the first dielectric structure and a second charge storage structure disposed in the second dielectric structure. At least one of the first charge storage structure and the second charge storage structure includes two charge storage units which are physically separated. A first dielectric layer is disposed on the first gate at two sides of the stacked structure. A first source and drain and a second source and drain are disposed on the first dielectric layer and located at two sides of the channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Cheng, Wen-Jer Tsai, Shih-Guei Yan, Chih-Chieh Cheng, Jyun-Siang Huang
  • Publication number: 20140209992
    Abstract: A fabricating method for fabricating a non-volatile memory structure including the following steps is provided. A first conductive type doped layer is formed in a substrate. A plurality of stacked structures is formed on the substrate, and each of the stacked structures includes a charge storage structure. A first dielectric layer is formed on the substrate between the adjacent stacked structures. A second conductive type doped region is formed in the substrate between the adjacent charge storage structures. The second conductive type doped region has an overlap region with each of the charge storage structures. In addition, the second conductive type doped region divides the first conductive type doped layer into a plurality of first conductive type doped regions that are separated from each other. A conductive layer is formed on the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Cheng, Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Patent number: 8791522
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A first oxide layer having a protrusion is formed on a substrate. A pair of doped regions is formed in the substrate at two sides of the protrusion. A pair of charge storage spacers is formed on the sidewalls of the protrusion. A second oxide layer is formed on the first oxide layer and the charge storage spacers. A conductive layer is formed on the second oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Cheng, Shih-Guei Yan, Cheng-Hsien Cheng, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140187032
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a memory device of this invention includes at least the following steps. A tunnel dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A gate is fowled over the tunnel dielectric layer. At least one charge storage layer is formed between the gate and the tunnel dielectric layer. Two doped regions are formed in the substrate beside the gate. A word line is formed on and electrically connected to the gate, wherein the word line having a thickness greater than a thickness of the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai, Cheng-Hsien Cheng
  • Patent number: 8760909
    Abstract: A memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A plurality of stacked structures extending along a first direction is formed on a substrate. Each of the stacked structures includes a plurality of first insulating layers and a plurality of second insulating layers. The first insulating layers are stacked on the substrate and the second insulating layers are respectively disposed between the adjacent first insulating layers. A plurality of trenches extending along the first direction is formed in each of the stacked structures. The trenches are respectively located at two opposite sides of each of the second insulating layers. A first conductive layer is filled in the trenches. A plurality of charge storage structures extending along a second direction is formed on the stacked structures and a second conductive layer is formed on each of the charge storage structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Siang Huang, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Patent number: 8755232
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in series in the semiconductor body, such as a NAND string, having a plurality of word lines. A selected memory cell is programmed by hot carrier injection using a boosted channel potential to establish the heating field. Boosted channel hot carrier injection can be based on blocking flow of carriers between a first side of a selected cell and a second side of the selected cell in the NAND string, boosting by capacitive coupling the first semiconductor body region to a boosted voltage level, biasing the second semiconductor body region to a reference voltage level, applying a program potential greater than a hot carrier injection barrier level to the selected cell and enabling flow of carriers from the second semiconductor body region to the selected cell to cause generation of hot carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Siang Huang, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Patent number: 8698222
    Abstract: A memory device is described, including a tunnel dielectric layer over a substrate, a gate over the tunnel dielectric layer, at least one charge storage layer between the gate and the tunnel dielectric layer, two doped regions in the substrate beside the gate, and a word line that is disposed on and electrically connected to the gate and has a thickness greater than that of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai, Cheng-Hsien Cheng
  • Patent number: 8674424
    Abstract: A memory device is described, including a gate over a substrate, a gate dielectric between the gate and the substrate, and two charge storage layers. The width of the gate is greater than that of the gate dielectric, so that two gaps are present at both sides of the gate dielectric and between the gate and the substrate. Each charge storage layer includes a body portion in one of the gaps, a first extension portion connected with the body portion and protruding out of the corresponding sidewall of the gate, and a second extension portion connected to the first extension portion and extending along the sidewall of the gate, wherein the edge of the first extension portion protrudes from the sidewall of the second extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai, Chih-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 8664709
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including a substrate, a stacked gate structure, two doped regions and a plurality of spacers is provided. The stacked gate structure is disposed on the substrate, wherein the stacked gate structure includes a first dielectric layer, a charge storage layer, a second dielectric layer and a conductive layer in sequence from bottom to top relative to the substrate. The doped regions are disposed in the substrate at two sides of the stacked gate structure, respectively, and bottom portions of the doped regions contact with the substrate under the doped regions. The spacers are respectively disposed between each side of each of the doped regions and the substrate, and top portions of the spacers are lower than top portions of the doped regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Guei Yan, Wen-Jer Tsai, Jyun-Siang Huang
  • Patent number: 8665652
    Abstract: A method for erasing a memory array is provided. The memory array comprises a plurality of memory cell strings, and each of the memory cell strings comprises a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines. The method for erasing the memory array includes the following steps. A first voltage is applied to a substrate of the memory array. A second voltage is applied to a word line of a selected memory cell, and a plurality of passing voltages are applied to other word lines. And, a third voltage and a fourth voltage are respectively applied to a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region of the selected memory cell, so that a band to band (BTB) hot hole injecting method is induced to erase the specific memory cell, wherein the third voltage is not equal to the fourth voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Siang Huang, Wen-Jer Tsai, Ping-Hung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20130322179
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in series in the semiconductor body, such as a NAND string, having a plurality of word lines. A selected memory cell is programmed by hot carrier injection using a boosted channel potential to establish the heating field. Boosted channel hot carrier injection can be based on blocking flow of carriers between a first side of a selected cell and a second side of the selected cell in the NAND string, boosting by capacitive coupling the first semiconductor body region to a boosted voltage level, biasing the second semiconductor body region to a reference voltage level, applying a program potential greater than a hot carrier injection barrier level to the selected cell and enabling flow of carriers from the second semiconductor body region to the selected cell to cause generation of hot carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JYUN-SIANG HUANG, WEN-JER TSAI
  • Patent number: 8569822
    Abstract: A memory structure having a memory cell including a first dielectric layer, a gate, a semiconductor layer, a first doped region, a second doped region and a charge storage layer is provided. The first dielectric layer is on the substrate. The gate includes a base portion on the first dielectric layer and a protruding portion disposed on the base portion and partially exposing the base portion. The semiconductor layer is conformally disposed on the gate, and includes a top portion over the protruding portion, a bottom portion over the base portion exposed by the protruding portion and a side portion located at a sidewall of the protruding portion and connecting the top and bottom portions. The first and second doped regions are respectively in the top and bottom portions. The side portion serves as a channel region. The charge storage layer is between the gate and the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Siang Huang, Wen-Jer Tsai, Shih-Guei Yan
  • Publication number: 20130240975
    Abstract: A read only memory including a substrate, a source region and a drain region, a charge storage structure, a gate, and a local extreme doping region is provided. The source region and the drain region are disposed in the substrate, the charge storage structure is located on the substrate between the source region and the drain region, and the gate is configured on the charge storage structure. The local extreme doping region is located in the substrate between the source region and the drain region and includes a low doping concentration region and at least one high doping concentration region. The high doping concentration region is disposed between the low doping concentration region and one of the source region and the drain region, and a doping concentration of the high doping concentration region is three times or more than three times a doping concentration of the low doping concentration region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Cheng, Cheng-Hsien Cheng, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Patent number: 8531886
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in series in the semiconductor body, such as a NAND string, having a plurality of word lines. A selected memory cell is programmed by hot carrier injection using a boosted channel potential to establish the heating field. Boosted channel hot carrier injection can be based on blocking flow of carriers between a first side of a selected cell and a second side of the selected cell in the NAND string, boosting by capacitive coupling the first semiconductor body region to a boosted voltage level, biasing the second semiconductor body region to a reference voltage level, applying a program potential greater than a hot carrier injection barrier level to the selected cell and enabling flow of carriers from the second semiconductor body region to the selected cell to cause generation of hot carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Siang Huang, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Patent number: 8520439
    Abstract: A method for programming a memory array is provided. The memory array includes a memory cell string composed of a first transistor, a plurality of memory cells and a second transistor connected in series, and the method for programming the memory array includes following steps. In a setup phase, a switching memory cell in the memory cells is turned off, and a first voltage and a second voltage are applied to a first source/drain and a second source/drain of the switching memory cell. In a programming phase, a bit line connected to the memory cell string is floating, and a ramp signal is provided to a word line electrically connected to the switching memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Jer Tsai, Ping-Hung Tsai, Jyun-Siang Huang