Patents by Inventor Hui-Zhong ZHUANG

Hui-Zhong ZHUANG 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: 11811407
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an input circuit of a flip-flop including: depositing a first gate strip, a second gate strip, a third gate strip, and a fourth gate strip, wherein a distance between the first and second gate strips, a distance between the second and third gate strips, and a distance between the third and fourth gate strips equal; executing a cut-off operation upon the first gate strip to generate a first first gate strip and a second first gate strip; executing a cut-off operation upon the third gate strip to generate a first third gate strip and a second third gate strip; and directing a first signal to the first first gate strip and the second third gate strip, and a second signal to the second first gate strip and the first third gate strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Wei Xu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen
  • Publication number: 20230343775
    Abstract: A method for semiconductor manufacturing is provided. The method includes defining a first cell level group comprising a first set of pattern features corresponding to a predetermined manufacturing process associated with an layout; determining a first number of cell units based on the first cell level group, wherein each of the first number of cell units is compatible with each other; defining a second cell level group comprising the first set of pattern features and a second set of pattern features; and determining a second number of cell units based on the second cell level group, wherein each of the second number of cell units is compatible with each other. The first set of pattern features and the second set of pattern features are arranged in responsive to sequential operations of the predetermined manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: CHUN-CHI TSAI, JUNG-CHAN YANG, HUI-ZHONG ZHUANG, CHIH-LIANG CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230343784
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided and includes first and second gates arranged in first and second layers, wherein the first and second gates extend in a first direction; a first insulating layer interposed between the first and second gates, wherein the first insulating layer, a first portion of the first gate, and a first portion of the second gate overlap with each other in a layout view; a cut layer, different from the first insulating layer, disposed on a second portion of the first gate; a first via passing through the cut layer and coupled to the second portion of the first gate; and a second via overlapping the first portion of the first gate and the first portion of the second gate, and coupled to the second gate. The first and second vias are configured to transmit different control signals to the first and second gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei WU, Po-Chun WANG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20230334208
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for optimizing metal cuts in standard cells. The method includes placing a standard cell in a layout area and inserting a metal cut along a metal interconnect of the standard cell at a location away from a boundary of the standard cell. The method further includes disconnecting, at the location, a metal portion of the metal interconnect from a remaining portion of the metal interconnect based on the metal cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheok-Kei LEI, Zhe-Wei JIANG, Chi-Yu LU, Yi-Hsin KO, Chi-Lin LIU, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG
  • Patent number: 11790148
    Abstract: An IC structure includes a first cell and a first and second rail. The first cell includes a first and second active region and a first, a second and a third gate structure. The first active region having a first dopant type. The second active region having a second dopant type. The first gate structure extending in a second direction, overlapping the first or the second active region. The second gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping a first edge of the first or second active region. The third gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping at least a second edge of the first or second active region. The first rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the first active region. The second rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the second active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Ting-Wei Chang, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Shun Li Chen
  • Patent number: 11790151
    Abstract: A system for generating a layout diagram of a wire routing arrangement in a multi-patterning context having multiple masks (the layout diagram being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium), at least one processor, at least one memory and computer program code (for one or more programs) of the system being configured to cause the system to execute generating the layout diagram including: placing, relative to a given one of the masks, a given cut pattern at a first candidate location over a corresponding portion of a given conductive pattern in a metallization layer; determining whether the first candidate location results in at least one of a non-circular group or a cyclic group which violates a design rule; and temporarily preventing placement of the given cut pattern in the metallization layer at the first candidate location until a correction is made which avoids violating the design rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fong-Yuan Chang, Chin-Chou Liu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Meng-Kai Hsu, Pin-Dai Sue, Po-Hsiang Huang, Yi-Kan Cheng, Chi-Yu Lu, Jung-Chou Tsai
  • Patent number: 11791213
    Abstract: A system includes a non-transitory storage medium encoded with a set of instructions and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the set of instructions. The set of instructions is configured to cause the processor to: obtain, based on a netlist of a circuit, values each corresponding to one of transistors included in the circuit; compare the values with a threshold value; in response to a comparison, generate an adjusted netlist of the circuit by adding redundant transistors; and determine, based on the adjusted netlist, one of layout configurations for the circuit. The layout configurations include first cell rows each having a first row height and second cell rows each having a second row height different from the first row height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jerry Chang-Jui Kao, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Li-Chung Hsu, Sung-Yen Yeh, Yung-Chen Chien, Jung-Chan Yang, Tzu-Ying Lin
  • Publication number: 20230326963
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a first oxide definition (OD) strip doped by a first-type dopant in a first doping region defining an active region of a first Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (MOS); a second OD strip doped by a second-type dopant in a second doping region and a third doping region, the second doping region defining an active region of a second MOS and the third doping region defining a body terminal of the first MOS, wherein the second OD is parallel to the first OD strip; and a first dummy OD strip, wherein a boundary between the second doping region and the third doping region is formed over the first dummy OD strip; wherein the first-type dopant is different from the second-type dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: JUNG-CHAN YANG, HUI-ZHONG ZHUANG, CHIH-LIANG CHEN, TING-WEI CHIANG, CHENG-I HUANG, KUO-NAN YANG
  • Patent number: 11783109
    Abstract: A method of forming an IC device includes creating a recess by removing at least a portion of a channel of a first transistor and a portion of a gate electrode, the gate electrode being common to the first transistor and an underlying second transistor. The method includes filling the recess with a dielectric material to form an isolation layer, and constructing a slot via overlying the isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Peng, Guo-Huei Wu, Wei-Cheng Lin, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11775727
    Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram of a wire routing arrangement in a multi-patterning context having multiple masks, the layout diagram being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium) includes: placing, relative to a given one of the masks, a given cut pattern at a first candidate location over a corresponding portion of a given conductive pattern in a metallization layer; determining whether the first candidate location results in at least one of a non-circular group or a cyclic group which violates a design rule; and temporarily preventing, if there is a violation, placement of the given cut pattern in the metallization layer at the first candidate location until a correction is made which avoids violating the design rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fong-Yuan Chang, Chin-Chou Liu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Meng-Kai Hsu, Pin-Dai Sue, Po-Hsiang Huang, Yi-Kan Cheng, Chi-Yu Lu, Jung-Chou Tsai
  • Patent number: 11768989
    Abstract: A method of designing a semiconductor device including the operations of analyzing a vertical abutment between a first standard cell block and a second cell block and, if a mismatch is identified between the first standard cell block and the second cell block initiating the selection of a first modified cell block that reduces the mismatch and a spacing between the first modified cell block and the second cell block, the first modified cell block comprising a first abutment region having a continuous active region arranged along a first axis parallel to an edge of the vertical abutment, and replacing the first standard cell block with the first modified cell block to obtain a first modified layout design and devices manufactured according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Yu Lu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Pin-Dai Sue, Yi-Hsin Ko, Li-Chun Tien
  • Patent number: 11764213
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first active region on a first side of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first gate structure surrounding a first portion of the first active region. The semiconductor device further includes a second active region on a second side of the substrate, wherein the second side is opposite the first side. The semiconductor device further includes a second gate structure surrounding a first portion of the second active region. The semiconductor device further includes a gate via extending through the substrate, wherein the gate via directly connects to the first gate structure, and the gate via directly connects to the second gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Lai, Chih-Liang Chen, Chi-Yu Lu, Shang-Syuan Ciou, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Shang-Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 11764155
    Abstract: A cell on an integrated circuit is provided. The cell includes: a fin structure; an intermediate fin structure connection metal track disposed in an intermediate fin structure connection metal layer above the fin structure, the intermediate fin structure connection metal track being connected to the fin structure; and a first intermediate gate connection metal track disposed in an intermediate gate connection metal layer above the intermediate fin structure connection metal layer, the first intermediate gate connection metal track being connected to the intermediate fin structure connection metal track. A first power supply terminal is connected to the first intermediate gate connection metal track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Chun Tien, Chih-Liang Chen, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Shun Li Chen, Ting Yu Chen
  • Publication number: 20230290766
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and second active region extending in a first direction, and a floating gate, a first dummy gate, a first conductor and a second conductor extending in the second direction. The floating gate is electrically floating. The first dummy gate is separated from the floating gate in the second direction. The dummy gate and the floating gate separate a first cell that corresponds to a first transistor from a second cell that corresponds to a second transistor. The first and second conductors are separated from each other in the first direction, and overlap the second active region. The first and second conductors are electrically coupled to a corresponding source/drain of the second active region, and are configured to supply a same signal/voltage to the corresponding source/drain of the second active region. The floating gate is between the first and second conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Chia Chun WU, Chih-Liang CHEN, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Yung-Chen CHIEN
  • Patent number: 11755813
    Abstract: An IC structure includes a first cell and a first and second rail. The first cell includes a first and second active region and a first, a second and a third gate structure. The first active region having a first dopant type. The second active region having a second dopant type. The first gate structure extending in a second direction, overlapping the first or the second active region. The second gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping a first edge of the first or second active region. The third gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping at least a second edge of the first or second active region. The first rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the first active region. The second rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the second active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Li-Chun Tien, Shun Li Chen, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11756952
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a gated circuit configured to operate on a first or second voltage, a header circuit, a first power rail and a second power rail on a back-side of a wafer, a third power rail on the back-side of the wafer, and a fourth power rail on a front-side of the wafer. The first and second power rail extend in a first direction, and are separated from each other in a second direction. The third power rail is between the first and second power rail in the second direction. The third power rail is configured to supply the second voltage to the gated circuit. The fourth power rail includes a first set of conductors extending in the second direction. Each of the first set of conductors is configured to supply a third voltage to the header circuit, and is separated from each other in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuang-Ching Chang, Jung-Chan Yang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen, Kuo-Nan Yang
  • Patent number: 11756999
    Abstract: In at least one cell region, a semiconductor device includes fin patterns and at least one overlying gate structure. The fin patterns (dummy and active) are substantially parallel to a first direction. Each gate structure is substantially parallel to a second direction (which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction). First and second active fin patterns have corresponding first and second conductivity types. Each cell region, relative to the second direction, includes: a first active region which includes a sequence of three or more consecutive first active fin patterns located in a central portion of the cell region; a second active region which includes one or more second active fin patterns located between the first active region and a first edge of the cell region; and a third active region which includes one or more second active fin patterns located between the first active region and a second edge of the cell region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Chan Yang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Lee-Chung Lu, Ting-Wei Chiang, Li-Chun Tien
  • Publication number: 20230282639
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes generating a first well layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first well in the integrated circuit structure. The generating the first well layout pattern includes generating a first layout pattern having a first width, and corresponding to fabricating a first portion of the first well, and generating a second layout pattern having a second width and corresponding to fabricating a second portion of the first well. The method further includes generating a first implant layout pattern having a third width and corresponding to fabricating a first set of implants in the first portion of the first well, generating a second implant layout pattern having a fourth width and corresponding to fabricating a second set of implants in the second portion of the first well, and manufacturing the integrated circuit structure based on the above layout patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Kam-Tou SIO, Chih-Liang CHEN, Charles Chew-Yuen YOUNG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Jiann-Tyng TZENG, Yi-Hsun CHIU
  • Publication number: 20230281373
    Abstract: Metallization structure for an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a metal-to-diffusion (MD) layer disposed over an active region of a cell, gates disposed over the active region of the cell, and a first metallization layer including M0 tracks disposed over the MD layer and the gates. The integrated circuit further includes a second metallization layer including M1 tracks disposed over the first metallization layer. The M1 tracks include first M1 tracks each having a first predetermined distance from an edge of the cell and second M1 tracks each having a second predetermined distance from the edge of the cell, wherein the first MI tracks are longer than the second M1 tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shang-Hsuan Chiu, Chih-Liang Chen, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chi-Yu Lu, Jerry Chang Jui Kao
  • Publication number: 20230275081
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second cell rows, first to fourth fin shaped structures. The first cell row has a first row height. The second cell row is adjacent with the first cell row, and having a second row height. The first fin shaped structure extends across the first cell row. The second fin shaped structure extends across the first cell row, and separated from the first fin shaped structure. The third fin shaped structure extends across the second cell row. The fourth fin shaped structure extends across the second cell row, and separated from the third fin shaped structure. The first to fourth fin shaped structures are arranged in order along the first direction, each of the first, second and fourth fin shaped structure has a first conductive type, the third fin shaped structure has a second conductive type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Xiang-Dong CHEN, Lee-Chung LU, Tzu-Ying LIN, Yung-Chin HOU