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).

  • Patent number: 7511335
    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: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Hang-Ting Lue, Yen-Hao Shih, Chia-Hua Ho
  • Publication number: 20090075466
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes forming a sub-gate without an additional mask. A low word-line resistance is formed by a metal silicide layer on a main gate of the memory device. In operation, application of a voltage to the sub-gate forms a transient state inversion layer that serves as a bit-line, so that no implantation is required to form the bit-line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Chiahua Ho, Yen-Hao Shih, Hang-Ting Lue, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080290397
    Abstract: A memory cell is disposed on a substrate having plurality of isolation structures that define at least a fin structure in the substrate, wherein the surface of the fin structure is higher than that of the isolation structures. The memory cell includes a gate, a charge trapping structure, a protection layer and two source/drain regions. The gate is disposed on the substrate,and straddled the fin structure. The charge trapping structure is disposed between the gate and the fin structure. The protection layer is disposed between the upper portion of the fin structure and the gate separating the charge trapping structure. The source/drain regions are disposed in the fin structure at both sides of the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Ming-Hsiang Hsueh, Yen-Hao Shih, Chia-Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 7450423
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory cell by applying a positive voltage to the gate sufficient to cause hole tunneling from the gate toward the charge storage layer is disclosed. The method is applied to a memory cell including a semiconductor layer having at least two source/drain regions disposed below a surface of the semiconductor layer and separated by a channel region. The memory cell also has a lower insulating layer disposed above the channel region; a charge storage layer disposed above the lower insulating layer; an upper insulating multi-layer structure disposed above the charge storage layer. The upper insulating multi-layer structure comprises a lower dielectric layer and an upper nitride layer disposed above the lower dielectric layer and the memory cell has a gate disposed above the upper insulating multi-layer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Yen-Hao Shih, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Shih-Chih Lee, Jung-Yu Hsieh, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080213963
    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: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Yen-Hao Shih
  • Patent number: 7414282
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes forming a sub-gate without an additional mask. A low word-line resistance is formed by a metal silicide layer on a main gate of the memory device. In operation, application of a voltage to the sub-gate forms a transient state inversion layer that serves as a bit-line, so that no implantation is required to form the bit-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiahua Ho, Yen-Hao Shih, Hang-Ting Lue, Erh-Kun Lai, Kuang Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080164513
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The memory device comprises a substrate, a tunnel dielectric film on the substrate, pairs of source and drain regions formed in the substrate, and a number of separate storage blocks between each pair of the source and drain regions. Each storage wire block includes a storage medium and a silicon dioxide layer. Two storage blocks are separated by an interval of at least 100 angstroms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Ming-Hsiang Hsueh, Erh-Kun Lal, Chia-Wei Wu, Chi-Pin Lu, Jung-Yu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080157184
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory cell by applying a positive voltage to the gate sufficient to cause hole tunneling from the gate toward the charge storage layer is disclosed. The method is applied to a memory cell including a semiconductor layer having at least two source/drain regions disposed below a surface of the semiconductor layer and separated by a channel region. The memory cell also has a lower insulating layer disposed above the channel region; a charge storage layer disposed above the lower insulating layer; an upper insulating multi-layer structure disposed above the charge storage layer. The upper insulating multi-layer structure comprises a lower dielectric layer and an upper nitride layer disposed above the lower dielectric layer and the memory cell has a gate disposed above the upper insulating multi-layer structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Yen-Hao Shih, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Shih-Chin Lee, Jung-Yu Hsieh, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080128793
    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: January 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Yen-Hao Shih
  • Publication number: 20080099826
    Abstract: Memory cells including a semiconductor layer having at least two source/drain regions disposed below a surface of the semiconductor layer and separated by a channel region; a lower insulating layer disposed above the channel region; a charge storage layer disposed above the lower insulating layer; an upper insulating multi-layer structure disposed above the charge storage layer, wherein the upper insulating multi-layer structure comprises a polysilicon material layer interposed between a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer; and a gate disposed above the upper insulating multi-layer structure are described along with arrays thereof and methods of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Erh-Kun Lai, Yen-Hao Shih, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Shih-Chih Lee, Jung-Yu Hsieh, Kuang-Yeu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080096396
    Abstract: Memory cells comprising: a semiconductor substrate having at least two source/drain regions separated by a channel region; a charge-trapping structure disposed above the channel region; and a gate disposed above the charge-trapping structure; wherein the charge-trapping structure comprises a bottom insulating layer, a first charge-trapping layer, and a second charge-trapping layer, wherein an interface between the bottom insulating layer and the substrate has a hydrogen concentration of less than about 3×10/cm?2, and methods for forming such memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yen-Hao SHIH, Min-Ta WU, Shin-Chin LEE, Jung-Yu HSIEH, Erh-Kun LAI, Kuang HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20080087946
    Abstract: A vertical channel transistor structure is provided. The structure includes a substrate, a channel, a cap layer, a charge trapping layer, a source and a drain. The channel is protruded from the substrate. The cap layer is deposited on the channel. The cap layer and the channel substantially have the same width. The charge trapping layer is deposited on the cap layer and on two vertical surfaces of the channel. The gate is deposited on the charge trapping layer and on two vertical surfaces of the channel. The source and the drain are respectively positioned on two sides of the channel and opposing to the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Yen-Hao Shih, Chia-Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 7355897
    Abstract: A method for operating a nitride trapping memory cell is provided to resolve hard-to-erase condition by employing a reset technique to eliminate or reduce the number of electrons in the middle of a junction region. When a hard-to-erase condition is detected after a series of program and erase cycles, such as 500 or 100 program and erase cycles, a substrate transient hot hole (STHH) reset operation is applied. The substrate transient hot hole reset injects holes that are far away junction than band-to-band tunneling hot hole (BTBTHH) injection such that the STHH reset on cycle endurance is able to maintain a desirable cycle window to eliminate or reduce the hard-to erase condition in subsequent program and erase cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Yen-Hao Shih
  • Publication number: 20080064158
    Abstract: A method for fabrication a memory having a memory area and a peripheral area includes forming a first gate insulating layer with a first thickness over a substrate of a first region in the peripheral area and a second insulating layer with a second thickness over the substrate of the memory region. Thereafter, a buried diffusion region is formed in the substrate of the memory area. A charge trapping layer and a third insulating layer are formed over the substrate. A gate insulating layer is formed in the second region in the peripheral area, wherein the first thickness is greater than a second thickness after removing the charge trapping layer and third insulating layer on the first and second region in the peripheral area. A conductive layer is formed over the substrate of the memory area and the peripheral area substantially after the gate insulating layer is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Erh-Kun Lai
  • Patent number: 7329914
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yen-Hao Shih
  • Publication number: 20080025087
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a charge-trapping memory device is provided. This method includes forming a stacked structure having at least a charge-trapping medium. An annealing process in a hydrogen gas is then performed on the stacked structure subsequent to the device fabrication process. The annealing process is conducted at a temperature of about 350° C. to 450° C. and with the concentration of the hydrogen gas greater than 0.5 mole percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Jung-Yu Hsieh, Yi-Lin Yang, Chia-Hua Chang, Jenn-Gwo Hwu
  • Patent number: 7314815
    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 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hua Ho, Yen-Hao Shih, Hsiang-Lan Lung, Shih-Ping Hong, Shih-Chin Lee
  • Publication number: 20070293006
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a charge trapping memory device includes providing a substrate; forming a first oxide layer on the substrate; forming a number of BD regions in the substrate; nitridizing the interface of the first oxide layer and the substrate via a process; forming a charge trapping layer on the first oxide layer; and forming a second oxide layer on the charge trapping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Chi-Pin Lu, Jung-Yu Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20070281423
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plurality of memory devices and a plurality of high voltage devices on a substrate are provided. The substrate has a memory region and a high voltage region. The method comprises steps of forming a first dielectric layer on the substrate and then performing a thermal process so as to enlarge the thickness of the first dielectric layer in the high voltage region. A buried diffusion region is formed in the substrate in the memory region and a charge trapping layer and a blocking dielectric layer are formed over the substrate in the memory region. A patterned conductive layer is formed over the substrate so as to form gates the memory region and the high voltage region respectively and then a source/drain region is formed adjacent to the gates in the high voltage region in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Shih, Erh-Kun Lai
  • Patent number: 7301219
    Abstract: An asymmetrically doped memory cell has first and second N+ doped junctions on a P substrate. A composite charge trapping layer is disposed over the P substrate and between the first and the second N+ doped junctions. A N? doped region is positioned adjacent to the first N+ doped junction and under the composite charge trapping layer. A P? doped region is positioned adjacent to the second N+ doped junction and under the composite charge trapping layer. The asymmetrically doped memory cell will store charges at the end of the composite charge trapping layer that is above the P? doped region. The asymmetrically doped memory cell can function as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory cell, and is capable of multiple level cell operations. A method for making an asymmetrically doped memory cell is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Yen-Hao Shih, Ming-Hsiu Lee