Patents by Inventor Zhihao Chen

Zhihao Chen 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: 20040238915
    Abstract: A method for isolating semiconductor devices includes forming a first oxide layer outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, forming a first nitride layer outwardly from the first oxide layer, removing a portion of the first nitride layer, a portion of the first oxide layer, and a portion of the substrate to form a trench isolation region, forming a second oxide layer in the trench isolation region, forming a spin-on-glass region in the trench isolation region, annealing the spin-on-glass region, removing a portion of the spin-on-glass region to expose a shallow trench isolation region, and forming a third oxide layer in the shallow trench isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Zhihao Chen, Douglas T. Grider, Freidoon Mehrad
  • Patent number: 6818526
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a shallow trench isolation structure includes forming outwardly of a semiconductor layer a first oxide layer. A nitride layer is formed outwardly of the first oxide layer. A second oxide layer is formed outwardly of the nitride layer. A trench is formed through the first oxide layer, the nitride layer, and the second oxide layer and into the semiconductor layer. With the second oxide layer protecting an upper surface of the nitride layer, the nitride layer is etched to form a lateral recessed side boundary of the trench at the nitride layer. The shallow trench isolation layer is formed in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Freidoon Mehrad, Zhihao Chen, Juanita Deloach
  • Patent number: 6737333
    Abstract: A method for isolating semiconductor devices includes forming a first oxide layer outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, forming a first nitride layer outwardly from the first oxide layer, removing a portion of the first nitride layer, a portion of the first oxide layer, and a portion of the substrate to form a trench isolation region, forming a second oxide layer in the trench isolation region, forming a spin-on-glass region in the trench isolation region, annealing the spin-on-glass region, removing a portion of the spin-on-glass region to expose a shallow trench isolation region, and forming a third oxide layer in the shallow trench isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhihao Chen, Douglas T. Grider, Freidoon Mehrad
  • Publication number: 20040067620
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a shallow trench isolation structure includes forming outwardly of a semiconductor layer a first oxide layer. A nitride layer is formed outwardly of the first oxide layer. A second oxide layer is formed outwardly of the nitride layer. A trench is formed through the first oxide layer, the nitride layer, and the second oxide layer and into the semiconductor layer. With the second oxide layer protecting an upper surface of the nitride layer, the nitride layer is etched to form a lateral recessed side boundary of the trench at the nitride layer. The shallow trench isolation layer is formed in the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Freidoon Mehrad, Zhihao Chen, Juanita Deloach
  • Publication number: 20040014291
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure and methods of manufacturing the same. The methods eliminate the requirement for design size adjustments (DSA) in manufacturing the STI structure. Further disclosed is an STI trench liner and methods for the formation thereof by growing a thin oxide layer on shallow isolation trench surfaces while preventing oxide formation on adjacent nitride surfaces, followed by the deposition of, and oxide growth upon, a polysilicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Freidoon Mehrad, Zhihao Chen, Shashank S. Ekbote, Brian Trentman
  • Publication number: 20030207527
    Abstract: A method of forming a flash memory array structure includes forming a first dielectric layer outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, removing a portion of the first dielectric layer and the substrate to create a trench isolation region, forming a second dielectric layer in the trench isolation region, removing a portion of the second dielectric layer to create an exposed substrate region proximate a bottom of the trench isolation region, doping the exposed substrate region with an n-type dopant, and forming a silicide region in the exposed substrate region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Freidoon Mehrad, Suresh Potla, Zhihao Chen
  • Publication number: 20030181022
    Abstract: A method of improving shallow trench isolation (STI) gap fill and moat nitride pull back is provided by after the steps of growing a pad oxide, depositing a nitride layer on the pad oxide and the steps of moat patterning, moat etching and moat clean, the steps of growing thermal oxide, deglazing a part of a part of the moat nitride; depositing a thin nitride liner, etching the nitride to form a thin side wall nitride in the STI trench; and performing an oxide Hydroflouric (HF) acid deglazing before STI liner oxidating and depositing oxide to fill the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Freidoon Mehrad, Zhihao Chen, Majid M. Mansoori
  • Patent number: 6566200
    Abstract: A method of forming a flash memory array structure includes forming a first dielectric layer outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, removing a portion of the first dielectric layer and the substrate to create a trench isolation region, forming a second dielectric layer in the trench isolation region, removing a portion of the second dielectric layer to create an exposed substrate region proximate a bottom of the trench isolation region, doping the exposed substrate region with an n-type dopant, and forming a silicide region in the exposed substrate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Freidoon Mehrad, Suresh Potla, Zhihao Chen
  • Patent number: 6524930
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the formation of isolation structures and trenches in semiconductor devices, in which lower corners of an isolation trench are rounded after trench formation using an oxidation process which oxidizes substrate material from the trench sidewalls and bottom faster than from the lower corners of the trench. The oxide formed during the rounding process is then removed prior to performing other etch processes, to expose substrate material having rounded lower corners. Thereafter, a liner is formed and the trench is filled with dielectric material to complete the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Christoph A. Wasshuber, Zhihao Chen, Freidoon Mehrad
  • Publication number: 20030006448
    Abstract: A method of forming a flash memory array structure includes forming a first dielectric layer outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, removing a portion of the first dielectric layer and the substrate to create a trench isolation region, forming a second dielectric layer in the trench isolation region, removing a portion of the second dielectric layer to create an exposed substrate region proximate a bottom of the trench isolation region, doping the exposed substrate region with an n-type dopant, and forming a silicide region in the exposed substrate region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Freidoon Mehrad, Suresh Potla, Zhihao Chen
  • Publication number: 20030006476
    Abstract: A method for isolating semiconductor devices includes forming a first oxide layer outwardly from a semiconductor substrate, forming a first nitride layer outwardly from the first oxide layer, removing a portion of the first nitride layer, a portion of the first oxide layer, and a portion of the substrate to form a trench isolation region, forming a second oxide layer in the trench isolation region, forming a spin-on-glass region in the trench isolation region, annealing the spin-on-glass region, removing a portion of the spin-on-glass region to expose a shallow trench isolation region, and forming a third oxide layer in the shallow trench isolation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Zhihao Chen, Douglas T. Grider, Freidoon Mehrad