Patents Examined by Tong-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11973121
    Abstract: Discussed herein are device contacts in integrated circuit (IC) structures. In some embodiments, an IC structure may include: a first source/drain (S/D) contact; a gate contact, wherein the gate contact is in contact with a gate and with the first S/D contact; and a second S/D contact, wherein a height of the second S/D contact is less than a height of the first S/D contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Guillaume Bouche, Andy Chih-Hung Wei, Mwilwa Tambwe, Sean T. Ma, Piyush Mohan Sinha
  • Patent number: 11974487
    Abstract: A display device includes: a light-emitting substrate including a base substrate having a non-display area and a display area that surrounds the non-display area; an input sensing unit disposed on the light-emitting substrate; and a hole penetrating front and rear surfaces of each of the light-emitting substrate and the input sensing unit, wherein the light-emitting substrate includes a plurality of recesses, the non-display area includes a hole area which overlaps with the hole, a recess area in which the plurality of recesses are disposed and surrounds the hole area, and a peripheral area which surrounds the recess area, and the input sensing unit includes a plurality of first sensor members overlapping the display area and a first connector connecting the first sensor members and overlapping the groove area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Jun Jang, Sung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11968819
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) that includes a memory cell having a first p-type active region, a first n-type active region, a second n-type active region, and a second p-type active region. Each of the first and the second p-type active regions includes a first group of vertically stacked channel layers having a width W1, and each of the first and the second n-type active regions includes a second group of vertically stacked channel layers having a width W2, where W2 is less than W1. The IC structure further includes a standard logic cell having a third n-type fin and a third p-type fin. The third n-type fin includes a third group of vertically stacked channel layers having a width W3, and the third p-type fin includes a fourth group of vertically stacked channel layers having a width W4, where W3 is greater than or equal to W4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11968818
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a static random access memory (SRAM) in a three-dimensional (3D) stack is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor stack including a first channel and a first gate, a second transistor stack including a second channel and a second gate, the second transistor stack being disposed above the first transistor stack, a bit line disposed on a first portion of an upper surface of the first channel, a voltage source disposed on a first portion of an upper surface of the second channel and a first shared contact connecting the first channel to the second channel, where a width of the second channel is less than a width of the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Inchan Hwang, Hwichan Jun
  • Patent number: 11967646
    Abstract: Disclosed are a thin film transistor structure, a display panel and a display device. The thin film transistor structure includes a base, a source electrode, a drain electrode configured to connect to a pixel electrode and a grid electrode. The source electrode, the drain electrode and the grid electrode are provided on the base. and a channel is formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The thin film transistor structure further includes an insulating layer and a slow-release electrode. The insulating layer is provided on a side of the source electrode and the drain electrode, and filled in the channel. The slow-release electrode is provided in the insulating layer. At least a part of the slow-release electrode is provided inside the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Keming Yang, Yizhen Xu, Chunhui Ren, Feng Jiang, Liu He, Qiang Leng, Rongrong Li
  • Patent number: 11967603
    Abstract: Provided is a highly-sensitive image-capture element and an image capture device that can be simply manufactured, have little polarization dependency, and have micro-spectroscopic elements capable of separating incident light into three wavelength ranges integrated facing a pixel array. An image capture element has a transparent layer having a low refractive index made of SiO2 or the like and a plurality of micro-lenses laminated on a pixel array in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element are disposed in an array. Inside the transparent layer having the low refractive index, micro-spectroscopic elements composed of a plurality of microstructures having constant thickness (length in a direction perpendicular to the pixel array) formed of a material such as SiN having a higher refractive index than that of the transparent layer is embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Miyata, Mitsumasa Nakajima, Toshikazu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11967594
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a stack of semiconductor layers spaced apart from and aligned with each other, a first source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a first one or more semiconductor layers of the stack of semiconductor layers, and a second source/drain epitaxial feature disposed over the first source/drain epitaxial feature. The second source/drain epitaxial feature is in contact with a second one or more semiconductor layers of the stack of semiconductor layers. The structure further includes a first dielectric material disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature and a first liner disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature. The first liner is in contact with the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the first dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo Heng Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11961915
    Abstract: A semiconductor transistor device includes a channel structure, a gate structure, a first source/drain epitaxial structure, a second source/drain epitaxial structure, a gate contact, and a back-side source/drain contact. The gate structure wraps around the channel structure. The first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure are disposed on opposite endings of the channel structure. The gate contact is disposed on the gate structure. The back-side source/drain contact is disposed under the first source/drain epitaxial structure. The first source/drain epitaxial structure has a concave bottom surface contacting the back-side source/drain contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shi Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Wen-Ting Lan
  • Patent number: 11961840
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The device includes one or more first semiconductor layers, each first semiconductor layer of the one or more first semiconductor layers is surrounded by a first intermixed layer, wherein the first intermixed layer comprises a first material and a second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mao-Lin Huang, Lung-Kun Chu, Chung-Wei Hsu, Jia-Ni Yu, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11955533
    Abstract: Approaches herein decrease nanosheet gate length variations by implanting a gate layer material with ions prior to etching. A method may include forming a dummy gate structure over a nanosheet stack, the dummy gate structure including a hardmask atop a gate material layer, and removing a portion of the hardmask to expose a first area and a second area of the gate material layer. The method may further include implanting the dummy gate structure to modify the first and second areas of the gate material layer, and etching the first and second areas of the gate material layer to form a treated layer along a sidewall of a third area of the gate material layer, wherein the third area is beneath the hardmask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sipeng Gu, Baonian Guo, Qintao Zhang, Wei Zou, Kyuha Shim
  • Patent number: 11955556
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes channels, a gate structure, and a source/drain layer. The channels are stacked in a vertical direction. Each channel extends in a first direction. The gate structure extends in a second direction. The gate structure covers the channels. The source/drain layer is connected to each of opposite sidewalls in the first direction of the channels on the substrate, and includes a doped semiconductor material. The source/drain layer includes first and second epitaxial layers having first and second impurity concentrations, respectively. The first epitaxial layer covers a lower surface and opposite sidewalls in the first direction of the second epitaxial layer. A portion of each of opposite sidewalls in the first direction of the gate structure protrudes in the first direction from opposite sidewalls in the first direction of the channels to partially penetrate through the first epitaxial layer but not to contact the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woocheol Shin, Sunggi Hur, Sangwon Baek, Junghan Lee
  • Patent number: 11948990
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A first transistor is formed on a substrate. The first transistor includes a first semiconductor channel structure and two first source/drain structures. The first semiconductor channel structure includes first horizontal portions and a first vertical portion. The first horizontal portions are stacked in a vertical direction and separated from one another. Each of the first horizontal portions is elongated in a horizontal direction. The first vertical portion is elongated in the vertical direction and connected with the first horizontal portions. The two first source/drain structures are disposed at two opposite sides of each of the first horizontal portions in the horizontal direction respectively. The two first source/drain structures are connected with the first horizontal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Po-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 11948998
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor substrate having an oxide layer embedded therein, forming a multi-layer (ML) stack including alternating channel layers and non-channel layers over the semiconductor substrate, forming a dummy gate stack over the ML, forming an S/D recess in the ML to expose the oxide layer, forming an epitaxial S/D feature in the S/D recess, removing the non-channel layers from the ML to form openings between the channel layers, where the openings are formed adjacent to the epitaxial S/D feature, and forming a high-k metal gate stack (HKMG) in the openings between the channel layers and in place of the dummy gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xusheng Wu, Chang-Miao Liu, Huiling Shang
  • Patent number: 11948940
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes first channel members between a first and a second source/drain feature, a first gate structure wrapping around the first channel members, a first source/drain contact disposed over the first source/drain feature, and a first top gate spacer disposed between the first gate structure and the first source/drain contact. The second transistor includes second channel members between a third and a fourth source/drain features, a second gate structure wrapping around the second channel members, a second source/drain contact disposed over the third source/drain feature, and a second top gate spacer disposed between the second gate structure and the second source/drain contact. A distance between the second gate spacer and the second source/drain contact is greater than a distance between the first gate spacer and the first source/drain contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11950405
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same. The semiconductor memory devices may include a plurality of layers sequentially stacked on a substrate in a vertical direction, each of the plurality of layers including a bit line extending in a first direction and a semiconductor pattern extending from the bit line in a second direction traversing the first direction, a gate electrode extending through the plurality of layers and including a vertical portion extending through the semiconductor patterns and a first horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion and facing a first surface of one of the semiconductor patterns, and a data storing element electrically connected to the one of the semiconductor patterns. The data storing element includes a first electrode electrically connected to the one of the semiconductor patterns, a second electrode on the first electrode, and a dielectric layer between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Hoon Son
  • Patent number: 11942530
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device having a backside source/drain contact, and method for forming the device. The semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature having a top surface and a bottom surface, a first silicide layer formed in contact with the top surface of the source/drain feature, a first conductive feature formed on the first silicide layer, and a second conductive feature having a body portion and a first sidewall portion extending from the body portion, wherein the body portion is below the bottom surface of the source/drain feature, and the first sidewall portion is in contact with the first conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Yuan Chen, Pei-Yu Wang, Huan-Chieh Su, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11942529
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor layers vertically separated from one another. Each of the plurality of semiconductor layers extends along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure that extends along a second lateral direction and comprises at least a lower portion that wraps around each of the plurality of semiconductor layers. The lower portion of the gate structure comprises a plurality of first gate sections that are laterally aligned with the plurality of semiconductor layers, respectively, and wherein each of the plurality of first gate sections has ends that each extend along the second lateral direction and present a first curvature-based profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Lin, Chih-Han Lin, Hsiao Wen Lee
  • Patent number: 11942413
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first side and a second side. The semiconductor device on the first side includes: an active region that extends along a first lateral direction and comprises a first sub-region and a second sub-region; a first gate structure that extends along a second lateral direction and is disposed over the active region, with the first and second sub-regions disposed on opposite sides of the first gate structure, wherein the second lateral direction is perpendicular to the first lateral direction; and a first interconnecting structure electrically coupled to the first gate structure. The semiconductor device on the second side includes a second interconnecting structure that is electrically coupled to the first and second sub-regions and configured to provide a power supply. The active region, the first gate structure, the first interconnecting structure, and the second interconnecting structure are collectively configured as a decoupling capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kam-Tou Sio, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11942552
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure is formed. The fin structure includes a stacked layer of first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers disposed over a bottom fin structure, and a hard mask layer over the stacked layer. An isolation insulating layer is formed so that the hard mask layer and the stacked layer are exposed from the isolation insulating layer. A sacrificial cladding layer is formed over at least sidewalls of the exposed hard mask layer and stacked layer. A first dielectric layer is formed, and a second dielectric layer made of a different material than the first dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is recessed, and a third dielectric layer made of a different material than the second dielectric layer is formed on the recessed second dielectric layer, thereby forming a wall fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shahaji B. More, Chun Hsiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 11942523
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first nanostructure over a substrate, the first nanostructure including a channel region and a first lightly doped source/drain region, the first lightly doped source/drain region adjacent the channel region; a first epitaxial source/drain region wrapped around four sides of the first lightly doped source/drain region; an interlayer dielectric over the first epitaxial source/drain region; a source/drain contact extending through the interlayer dielectric, the source/drain contact wrapped around four sides of the first epitaxial source/drain region; and a gate stack adjacent the source/drain contact and the first epitaxial source/drain region, the gate stack wrapped around four sides of the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Pei-Yu Wang, Chi On Chui