Patents by Inventor Yen-Hao Shih

Yen-Hao Shih 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: 20060199361
    Abstract: An one-time programmable read only memory is provided. An N-type doping region and a first P-type doping layer are disposed in a P-type semiconductor substrate sequentially. A second P-type doping layer is disposed between the first P-type doping layer and the N-type doping region. The second P-type doping layer with higher doping level, which has a linear structure, is served as a bit line. An electrically conductive layer is disposed over the P-type semiconductor substrate. The electrically conductive layer also has a linear structure that crosses over the first P-type doping layer. The first N-type doping layer is disposed in the P-type semiconductor substrate between the electrically conductive layer and the first P-type doping layer. The arrangement of N-type and P-type doping layer is used to be selective diode device. An anti-fuse layer is disposed between the electrically conductive layer and the first N-type doping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Chia-Hua Ho, Yen-Hao Shih, Hsiang-Lan Lung, Shih-Ping Hong, Shih-Chin Lee
  • Patent number: 7075828
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory cell comprises applying a first procedure (typically erase) to establish a low threshold state including a first bias arrangement causing reduction in negative charge in the charge trapping structure, and a second bias arrangement tending to the induce balanced charge tunneling between the gate and the charge trapping structure and between the charge trapping structure in the channel. A second procedure (typically program) is used to establish a high threshold state in the memory cell, including a third bias arrangement that causes an increase in negative charge in the charge trapping structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Intl.
    Inventors: Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7067375
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is provided. The memory comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, an isolation layer, a buried bit line, a tunneling dielectric layer, a charge trapping layer, a barrier dielectric layer and a word line. Wherein, the dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The conductive layer is disposed on the dielectric layer. The isolation layer is disposed on the substrate and adjacent to the dielectric layer and the conductive layer. The buried bit line is disposed in the substrate and underneath the isolation layer. The tunneling dielectric layer is disposed on both the substrate and the sidewalls of the conductive layer and the isolation layer. The charge trapping layer is disposed on the tunneling dielectric layer and the barrier dielectric layer is disposed on the charge trapping layer. The word line is disposed on the substrate, crisscrossing with the buried bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Chia-Hua Ho
  • Publication number: 20060131635
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flash memory device is provided. Multiple stack structures each comprising a tunneling oxide layer and a first conductive layer are formed over a substrate. Thereafter, multiple embedded doping regions is formed in the substrate between the stack structures. A dielectric layer is formed over the substrate to cover the stack structures and then the dielectric layer is etched back and a portion of dielectric layer is remained on the stack structures. Using a portion of the remaining dielectric layer as a mask, a portion of the first conductive layer is removed. An inter-layer dielectric layer and a second conductive layer are sequentially formed over the first conductive layer. Because a self-aligned process is used to define the floating gate and the floating gate has a narrow-top/wide-bottom configuration, the fabrication process is simplified and the coupling ratio of the stack gate is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Chia-Hua Ho
  • Publication number: 20060133153
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing a memory device comprises trapping a plurality of electric charges in a charge trapping layer of the memory device. The charge trapping layer is positioned between a transistor control gate and a transistor channel region. The method further comprises applying a negative voltage bias to the transistor control gate. In another embodiment, the method further comprises performing a baking process on the memory device. The method further comprises performing a memory operation on the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Hang-Ting Lue
  • Publication number: 20060131634
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell comprising a substrate, a charge-trapping layer, a control gate, a first conductive state of source and drain, a lightly doped region and a second conductive state of pocket-doped region. The charge-trapping layer and the control gate are disposed over the substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed between the substrate, the charge-trapping layer and the control gate. The source and drain are disposed in the substrate on each side of the charge-trapping layer. The lightly doped region is disposed on the substrate surface between the source and the charge-trapping layer. The pocket-doped region is disposed within the substrate between the drain and the charge-trapping layer. Because there are asymmetrical configuration and different doped conductive states of implant structures, the programming speed of the memory cell is increased, the neighboring cell disturb issue is prevented, and the area occupation of the bit line selection transistor is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Yen-Hao Shih
  • Publication number: 20060134866
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory is provided. The memory comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, an isolation layer, a buried bit line, a tunneling dielectric layer, a charge trapping layer, a barrier dielectric layer and a word line. Wherein, the dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The conductive layer is disposed on the dielectric layer. The isolation layer is disposed on the substrate and adjacent to the dielectric layer and the conductive layer. The buried bit line is disposed in the substrate and underneath the isolation layer. The tunneling dielectric layer is disposed on both the substrate and the sidewalls of the conductive layer and the isolation layer. The charge trapping layer is disposed on the tunneling dielectric layer and the barrier dielectric layer is disposed on the charge trapping layer. The word line is disposed on the substrate, crisscrossing with the buried bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Chia-Hua Ho
  • Patent number: 7053406
    Abstract: An one-time programmable read only memory is provided. An N-type doping region and a first P-type doping layer are disposed in a P-type semiconductor substrate sequentially. A second P-type doping layer is disposed between the first P-type doping layer and the N-type doping region. The second P-type doping layer with higher doping level, which has a linear structure, is served as a bit line. An electrically conductive layer is disposed over the P-type semiconductor substrate. The electrically conductive layer also has a linear structure that crosses over the first P-type doping layer. The first N-type doping layer is disposed in the P-type semiconductor substrate between the electrically conductive layer and the first P-type doping layer. The arrangement of N-type and P-type doping layer is used to be selective diode device. An anti-fuse layer is disposed between the electrically conductive layer and the first N-type doping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: ChiaHua Ho, Yen-Hao Shih, Hsiang-Lan Lung, Shih-Ping Hong, Shih-Chin Lee
  • Publication number: 20060001075
    Abstract: A charge trapping memory device with two separated non-conductive charge trapping inserts is disclosed. The charge trapping memory device has a silicon substrate with two junctions. A gate oxide (GOX) is formed on top of the silicon substrate and between the two junctions. A polysilicon gate is defined over the GOX. A layer of bottom oxide (BOX) is grown on top of the silicon substrate and a conformal layer of top oxide (TOX) is grown along the bottom and the sidewalls of the polysilicon gate. Two charge trapping inserts are located beside the GOX and between the BOX and the TOX. The polysilicon gate needs to be at least partially over each of the two charge trapping inserts. The charge trapping inserts are made from a non-conductive charge trapping material. A method for fabricating such a device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventor: Yen-Hao Shih
  • Publication number: 20050237801
    Abstract: A memory cell with a charge trapping structure has multiple bias arrangements. Multiple cycles of applying the bias arrangements lowering and raising a threshold voltage of the memory cell leave a distribution of charge in the charge trapping layer. The charge interferes with the threshold voltage achievable in the memory cell. This distribution of charge is balanced by applying a charge balancing bias arrangement at intervals during which a plurality of program and erase cycles occurs. Also, the charge balancing bias arrangement is applied prior to the beginning of program and erase cycles of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yen-Hao Shih
  • Publication number: 20050236613
    Abstract: A quantum-well memory device and method is provided. The quantum-well memory device includes a substrate with two junctions. A sandwiched gate insulator is formed on top of the substrate and extended in length between the two junctions. The sandwiched gate insulator has a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer. The middle layer is more soluble to an acid etch than the top and the bottom layer of the gate insulator. Polysilicon inserts are defined at the undercuts formed by selectively and self-limitedly etching the sidewalls of the middle layer of the gate insulator. The polysilicon inserts are positioned beside the middle layer and between the top layer and the bottom layer of the gate insulator. A method for fabricating such a device is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventor: Yen-Hao Shih
  • Publication number: 20050237809
    Abstract: A memory cell with a charge trapping structure has multiple bias arrangements. Multiple cycles of applying the bias arrangements lowering and raising a threshold voltage of the memory cell leave a distribution of charge in the charge trapping layer. The charge interferes with the threshold voltage achievable in the memory cell. This distribution of charge is balanced by applying a charge balancing bias arrangement. The memory cell has a high work function gate, which causes the equilibrium state of the charge balancing bias arrangement to result in a lower threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Hang-Ting Lue
  • Publication number: 20050237815
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory cell comprises applying a first procedure (typically erase) to establish a low threshold state including a first bias arrangement causing reduction in negative charge in the charge trapping structure, and a second bias arrangement tending to the induce balanced charge tunneling between the gate and the charge trapping structure and between the charge trapping structure in the channel. A second procedure (typically program) is used to establish a high threshold state in the memory cell, including a third bias arrangement that causes an increase in negative charge in the charge trapping structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20050237816
    Abstract: A memory cell with a charge trapping structure is programmed using refill cycles that include a program pulse followed by a charge balancing pulse that causes ejection of electrons from the charge trapping structure. The refill cycle causes a blue spectrum shift in the charge trap distribution in the charge trapping structure. The algorithm includes program verify operations after the program pulse, and completes when a successful program verify operation occurs after a number of refill cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Kuang Yeu Hsieh, Ming-Hsiu Lee, Chao-I Wu, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20050147763
    Abstract: A thin film on a deposition area of a wafer structure is formed of substantially parallel, substantially straight tracts of film material, adjacent ones of which partly overlap. Each tract has a lengthwise midline, and the thickness of film material and a section across each tract has a Gaussian or near-Gaussian profile with a maximum at the midline. The distance between midlines of adjacent tracts is in a range from 0.1 to 3 times a standard deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Kuang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20030082842
    Abstract: The present invention provides an on-chip temperature sensor formed of an MOS tunneling diode. The temperature sensor is formed by processes which are compatible with the below 0.13 &mgr;m CMOS technology, so it can be fabricated with MOS devices and integrated into an IC chip. Since the MOS tunneling diode has the characteristic of a diode, a formula showing the exponential relationship between the gate current and the substrate temperature can be obtained when the MOS tunneling diode is biased inversely at a constant voltage. After the current of the MOS tunneling diode is detected, the substrate temperature which represents the real temperature of the IC chip can be figured out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Jenn-Gwo Hwu, Yen-Hao Shih
  • Patent number: 6352939
    Abstract: A method for improving the electrical properties of a gate oxide is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a silicon wafer with a gate oxide formed thereon, providing a platinum plate, immersing the silicon wafer and the platinum plate in a chemical solution with a relatively high electrical conductivity, respectively connecting the silicon wafer and the platinum plate to the negative terminal and the positive terminal of a current source, inducing an electron current to flow from the negative terminal of the current source through the silicon wafer to the platinum plate, removing the silicon wafer from the chemical solution and removing the residual chemical solution from the surface of the gate oxide, and treating the gate oxide with an annealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Jenn-Gwo Hwu, Yen-Hao Shih