Patents by Inventor Li-Chun Tien

Li-Chun Tien 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: 11574900
    Abstract: A method includes generating a layout diagram of a cell of an integrated circuit (IC), and storing the generated layout diagram on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In the generating the layout diagram of the cell, a first active region is arranged inside a boundary of the cell. The first active region extends along a first direction. At least one gate region is arranged inside the boundary. The at least one gate region extends across the first active region along a second direction transverse to the first direction. A first conductive region is arranged to overlap the first active region and a first edge of the boundary. The first conductive region is configured to form an electrical connection to the first active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Liang Chen, Shun Li Chen, Li-Chun Tien, Ting Yu Chen, Hui-Zhong Zhuang
  • Patent number: 11574865
    Abstract: A method (of manufacturing a semiconductor device) includes: forming via structures in a first via layer over a transistor layer; forming a first via structure of a first deep via arrangement in the first via layer; forming conductive segments in a first metallization layer over the first via layer; forming M_1st routing segments at least a majority of which, relative to a first direction, have corresponding long axes with lengths which at least equal if not exceed a first permissible minimum value for routing segments in the first metallization layer; forming an M_1st interconnection segment having a long axis which is less than the first permissible minimum value and which is included in the first deep via arrangement; and forming via structures in a second via layer over the first metallization layer, including forming a first via structure of the first deep via arrangement in the second via layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Pen Guo, Chien-Ying Chen, Li-Chun Tien, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11574110
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit structure includes placing a first set of conductive structure layout patterns on a first layout level, placing a second set of conductive structure layout patterns on a second layout level, placing a first set of via layout patterns between the second set of conductive structure layout patterns and the first set of conductive structure layout patterns, and manufacturing the integrated circuit structure based on at least one of the layout patterns of the integrated circuit. At least one of the layout patterns is stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and at least one of the placing operations is performed by a hardware processor. The first set of conductive structure layout patterns extends in a first direction. The second set of conductive structure layout patterns extends in the second direction, and overlap the first set of conductive structure layout patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Chan Yang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Jerry Chang-Jui Kao, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Meng-Hung Shen, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Chi-Yu Lu
  • Publication number: 20230036522
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a first-type active-region semiconductor structure, a first gate-conductor, a second-type active-region semiconductor structure that is stacked with the first-type active-region semiconductor structure, and a second gate-conductor. The integrated circuit device also includes a front-side conductive layer above the two active-region semiconductor structures and a back-side conductive layer below the two active-region semiconductor structures. The integrated circuit device also includes a front-side power rail and a front-side signal line in the front-side conductive layer and includes a back-side power rail and a back-side signal line in the back-side conductive layer. The integrated circuit device also includes a first source conductive segment connected to the front-side power rail and a second source conductive segment connected to the back-side power rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Chih-Liang CHEN, Guo-Huei WU, Ching-Wei TSAI, Shang-Wen CHANG, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20230035939
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and at least one conductive via. The first metal layer has a first conductor that extends in a first direction and a second conductor that extends in the first direction, wherein the second conductor is directly adjacent to the first conductor. The second metal layer has a third conductor that extends in a second direction, wherein the second direction is transverse to the first direction. The at least one conductive via connects the first conductor and the second conductor through the third conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Wei-Hsin TSAI, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Patent number: 11568122
    Abstract: A method of operating an IC manufacturing system includes determining whether an n-type active region of a cell or a p-type active region of the cell is a first active region based on a timing critical path of the cell, positioning the first active region along a cell height direction in an IC layout diagram of a cell, the first active region having a first total number of fins extending in a direction perpendicular to the cell height direction. The method also includes positioning a second active region in the cell along the cell height direction, the second active region being the n-type or p-type opposite the n-type or p-type of the first active region and having a second total number of fins less than the first total number of fins and extending in the direction, and storing the IC layout diagram of the cell in a cell library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hsiang Huang, Fong-Yuan Chang, Clement Hsingjen Wann, Chih-Hsin Ko, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Li-Chun Tien, Chia-Ming Hsu
  • Patent number: 11569168
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a second power rail, a signal line and a first active region of a first set of transistors. The first power rail is on a back-side of a substrate, and extends in a first direction. The second power rail is on the back-side of the substrate, extends in the first direction, and is separated from the first power rail in a second direction different from the first direction. The signal line is on the back-side of the substrate, and extends in the first direction, and is between the first power rail and the second power rail. The first active region of the first set of transistors extends in the first direction, and is on a first level of a front-side of the substrate opposite from the back-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Pochun Wang, Wei-Hsin Tsai, Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien
  • Patent number: 11556688
    Abstract: A method includes positioning a first active region adjacent to a pair of second active regions in an initial integrated circuit (IC) layout diagram of an initial cell, to align side edges of the first active region and corresponding side edges of each second active region of the pair of second active regions along a cell height direction. The first active region forms, together with the initial cell, a modified cell having a modified IC layout diagram. The side edges of the first active region and the corresponding side edges of each second active region extend along the cell height direction. A height dimension of the first active region in the cell height direction is less than half of a height dimension of each second active region of the pair of second active regions in the cell height direction. The positioning the first active region is executed by a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jian-Sing Li, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Jung-Chan Yang, Ting Yu Chen, Ting-Wei Chiang, Tzu-Ying Lin, Li-Chun Tien
  • Patent number: 11532586
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method may be performed by forming a first device tier including a first semiconductor substrate having a first plurality of devices. A second semiconductor substrate is formed over the first device tier. A first conductive layer is formed within the second semiconductor substrate, and a second conductive layer is formed within the second semiconductor substrate and over the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer have different patterns as viewed from a top-view. A second plurality of devices are formed on the second semiconductor substrate. The first and second conductive layers are configured to electrically couple the first plurality of devices and the second plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Jen Tseng, Wei-Yu Chen, Ting-Wei Chiang, Li-Chun Tien
  • Publication number: 20220384598
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation structure formed on a substrate, a gate-all-around transistor structure formed on the isolation structure, a via electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the gate-all-around transistor structure, and a buried conductive pad formed within the isolation structure and electrically coupled to the via. The buried conductive pad can extend through the isolation structure in two dimensions, such as in both a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension. The semiconductor structure can provide advantages in terms of routing flexibility, among other possible advantages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Pochun Wang, Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien
  • Publication number: 20220382951
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit includes placing a first set of conductive feature patterns on a first level, placing a second set of conductive feature patterns on a second level, placing a first set of via patterns between the second set of conductive feature patterns and the first set of conductive feature patterns, placing a third set of conductive feature patterns on a third level different from the first level and the second level, placing a second set of via patterns between the third set of conductive feature patterns and the second set of conductive feature patterns, and manufacturing the integrated circuit based on at least one of the above patterns of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jung-Chan YANG, Ting-Wei CHIANG, Jerry Chang-Jui KAO, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Lee-Chung LU, Li-Chun TIEN, Meng-Hung SHEN, Shang-Chih HSIEH, Chi-Yu LU
  • Patent number: 11508659
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode extending in a first direction in a first layer over an active region, a first conductive line extending in the first layer adjacent to the gate electrode, a first power rail extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a second layer over the first layer, a second conductive line arranged in a third layer over the second layer, and a conductive via extending through the first power rail and electrically connecting the second conductive line to one of the gate electrode and the first conductive line. The conductive via is electrically insulated from the first power rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Shun-Li Chen, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien
  • Publication number: 20220367629
    Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram, the layout diagram being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium) includes: selecting first and second standard cells from a standard-cell-library; the first and second standard cells having corresponding first and second heights that are different from each other; stacking the first standard cell on the second standard cell to form a third cell; and including the third cell in a layout diagram. At least one aspect of the method is executed by a processor of a computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Jung-Chan YANG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Lee-Chung LU, Ting-Wei CHIANG, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20220367440
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided and includes a multi-bit cell having multiple bit cells disposed in multiple cell rows. The bit cells include M bit cells, M being positive integers. A first bit cell of the bit cells and a M-th bit cell of the bit cells are arranged diagonally in different cell rows in the multi-bit cell. The multi-bit cell includes first to fourth cell boundaries. The first and second boundaries extend in a first direction and the third and fourth boundaries extend in a second direction different from the first direction. The first bit cell and a second bit cell of the bit cells abut the third cell boundary, and the first bit cell and a (M/2+1)-th bit cell of the bit cells abut the first cell boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shao-Lun CHIEN, Po-Chun WANG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20220367519
    Abstract: A method is provided, and including operations as below: forming multiple active areas extending in a first direction; forming multiple conductive patterns extending in a second direction different from the first direction and arranged in a first layer above the active areas; forming multiple gates extending parallel to the conductive patterns; and forming a first set of conductive lines extending in the first direction and arranged in three first metal tracks that are in a second layer above the first layer, wherein one of the first set of conductive lines is arranged in a middle track of the three first metal tracks, coupled to one of the gates and overlap a first shallow trench region between two of the active areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei WU, Chi-Yu LU, Ting-Yu CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20220367358
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a cell that is between a substrate and a supply conductive line and that includes a source region, a contact conductive line, a power conductive line, and a power via. The contact conductive line extends from the source region. The power conductive line is coupled to the contact conductive line. The power via interconnects the supply conductive line and the power conductive line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Chung-Hsing Wang, Fong-yuan Chang, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Po-Hsiang Huang, Shao-huan Wang, Ting Yu Chen, Yen-Pin Chen, Chun-Chen Chen, Tzu-Hen Lin, Tai-Yu Cheng
  • Publication number: 20220359493
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first power line, and a second power line. The first transistor has a first active region and a first gate structure, in which the first active region has a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of the first gate structure. The second transistor is below the first transistor, and has a second active region and a second gate structure, in which the second active region has a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of the second gate structure. The first power line is above the first transistor, in which the first power line is electrically connected to the source region of first active region. The second power line is below the second transistor, in which the second power line is electrically connected to the source region of second active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicants: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TSMC China Company Limited
    Inventors: Xin-Yong WANG, Li-Chun TIEN, Chih-Liang CHEN
  • Publication number: 20220359512
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments for an exemplary dual transmission gate and various exemplary integrated circuit layouts for the exemplary dual transmission gate are disclosed. These exemplary integrated circuit layouts represent double-height, also referred to as double rule, integrated circuit layouts. These double rule integrated circuit layouts include a first group of rows from among multiple rows of an electronic device design real estate and a second group of rows from among the multiple rows of the electronic device design real estate to accommodate a first metal layer of a semiconductor stack. The first group of rows can include a first pair of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect (CMOS) transistors, such as a first p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect (PMOS) transistor and a first n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect (NMOS) transistor, and the second group of rows can include a second pair of CMOS transistors, such as a second PMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Wei PENG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Jiann-Tyng TZENG, Li-Chun TIEN, Pin-Dai SUE, Wei-Cheng LIN
  • Publication number: 20220343051
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and a set of conductive traces, and a first conductive feature. The second set of conductive traces includes a first conductive trace of the second set of conductive traces corresponding to a gate terminal of a first p-type transistor, and a second conductive trace of the second set of conductive traces corresponding to a gate terminal of a first n-type transistor. The first conductive feature corresponds to at least a first contact of a first dummy transistor. The first conductive trace of the second set of conductive traces is electrically coupled to the second conductive trace of the second set of conductive traces by at least the first conductive feature. The first n-type transistor being part of a first transmission gate. The first p-type transistor being part of a second transmission gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Ting-Wei CHIANG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Patent number: RE49331
    Abstract: A set of masks corresponds to an integrated circuit layout. The integrated circuit layout includes a first cell having a first transistor region and a second transistor region, and a second cell having a third transistor region and a fourth transistor region. The first cell and the second cell adjoin each other at side cell boundaries thereof, the first transistor region and the third transistor region are formed in a first continuous active region, and the second transistor region and the fourth transistor region are formed in a second continuous active region. The set of masks is formed based on the integrated circuit layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chang-Yu Wu