Patents by Inventor Wen-Ting Chu

Wen-Ting Chu 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: 20240153559
    Abstract: A memory architecture includes: a plurality of cell arrays each of which comprises a plurality of bit cells, wherein each of bit cells of the plurality of cell arrays uses a respective variable resistance dielectric layer to transition between first and second logic states; and a control logic circuit, coupled to the plurality of cell arrays, and configured to cause a first information bit to be written into respective bit cells of a pair of cell arrays as an original logic state of the first information bit and a logically complementary logic state of the first information bit, wherein the respective variable resistance dielectric layers are formed by using a same recipe of deposition equipment and have different diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Yu-Der CHIH, Chung-Cheng CHOU, Wen-Ting CHU
  • Patent number: 11980041
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated chip comprising memory cells separated by a void-free dielectric structure. In some embodiments, a pair of memory cell structures is formed on a via dielectric layer, where the memory cell structures are separated by an inter-cell area. An inter-cell filler layer is formed covering the memory cell structures and the via dielectric layer, and further filling the inter-cell area. The inter-cell filler layer is recessed until a top surface of the inter-cell filler layer is below a top surface of the pair of memory cell structures and the inter-cell area is partially cleared. An interconnect dielectric layer is formed covering the memory cell structures and the inter-cell filler layer, and further filling a cleared portion of the inter-cell area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsia-Wei Chen, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao
  • Publication number: 20240114698
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric layer, a noble metal electrode, and a non-noble metal electrode. The bottom electrode is over the substrate. The ferroelectric layer is over the bottom electrode. The noble metal electrode is over the ferroelectric layer. The non-noble metal electrode is over the noble metal electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu CHEN, Sheng-Hung SHIH, Fu-Chen CHANG, Kuo-Chi TU, Wen-Ting CHU, Alexander KALNITSKY
  • Patent number: 11944021
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit including one or more memory cells arranged over a semiconductor substrate between an upper metal interconnect layer and a lower metal interconnect layer. A memory cell includes a bottom electrode disposed over the lower metal interconnect layer, a data storage or dielectric layer disposed over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode disposed over the data storage or dielectric layer. An upper surface of the top electrode is in direct contact with the upper metal interconnect layer without a via or contact coupling the upper surface of the top electrode to the upper metal interconnect layer. Sidewall spacers are arranged along sidewalls of the top electrode, and have bottom surfaces that rest on an upper surface of the data storage or dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yang Chang, Wen-Ting Chu
  • Publication number: 20240071455
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region disposed within a substrate. A select gate is over the substrate between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. A ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device is over the substrate between the select gate and the first source/drain region. A transistor device is disposed on an upper surface of the substrate. The substrate has a recessed surface that is below the upper surface of the substrate and that is laterally separated from the upper surface of the substrate by a boundary isolation structure extending into a trench within the upper surface of the substrate. The FeRAM device is arranged over the recessed surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Yong-Shiuan Tsair
  • Patent number: 11915754
    Abstract: A memory architecture includes: a plurality of cell arrays each of which comprises a plurality of bit cells, wherein each of bit cells of the plurality of cell arrays uses a respective variable resistance dielectric layer to transition between first and second logic states; and a control logic circuit, coupled to the plurality of cell arrays, and configured to cause a first information bit to be written into respective bit cells of a pair of cell arrays as an original logic state of the first information bit and a logically complementary logic state of the first information bit, wherein the respective variable resistance dielectric layers are formed by using a same recipe of deposition equipment and have different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Der Chih, Chung-Cheng Chou, Wen-Ting Chu
  • Patent number: 11894267
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is provided. The method includes forming an interconnect layer over a substrate, wherein the interconnect layer has a first interlayer dielectric layer, a first conductive feature in a first portion of the first interlayer dielectric layer, and a second conductive feature in a second portion of the first interlayer dielectric layer; depositing a dielectric layer over the interconnect layer; removing a first portion of the dielectric layer over the first conductive feature and the first portion of the first interlayer dielectric layer, and remaining a second portion of the dielectric layer over the second conductive feature and the second portion of the first interlayer dielectric layer; and forming a memory structure over the first conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsia-Wei Chen, Fu-Ting Sung, Yu-Wen Liao, Wen-Ting Chu, Fa-Shen Jiang, Tzu-Hsuan Yeh
  • Patent number: 11889705
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first interconnect within a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. A memory device is disposed over the first interconnect and is surrounded by a second ILD layer. A sidewall spacer is arranged along opposing sides of the memory device and an etch stop layer is arranged on the sidewall spacer. The sidewall spacer and the etch stop layer have upper surfaces that are vertically offset from one another by a non-zero distance. A second interconnect extends from a top of the second ILD layer to an upper surface of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsia-Wei Chen, Chih-Yang Chang, Chin-Chieh Yang, Jen-Sheng Yang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao
  • Patent number: 11869564
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region disposed within a substrate. A select gate is disposed over the substrate between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. A ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM) device is disposed over the substrate between the select gate and the first source/drain region. A first sidewall spacer, including one or more dielectric materials, is arranged laterally between the select gate and the FeRAM device. An inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure laterally surrounds the FeRAM device and the select gate and vertically overlies a top surface of the first sidewall spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Yong-Shiuan Tsair
  • Patent number: 11856797
    Abstract: A resistive random access memory (RRAM) structure includes a resistive memory element formed on a semiconductor substrate. The resistive element includes a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a resistive material layer positioned between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The RRAM structure further includes a field effect transistor (FET) formed on the semiconductor substrate, the FET having a source and a drain. The drain has a zero-tilt doping profile and the source has a tilted doping profile. The resistive memory element is coupled with the drain via a portion of an interconnect structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chin-Chieh Yang, Hsia-Wei Chen, Chih-Yang Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao
  • Patent number: 11856788
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes depositing a bottom electrode layer over a substrate; depositing a ferroelectric layer over the bottom electrode layer; depositing a first top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer, wherein the first top electrode layer comprises a first metal; depositing a second top electrode layer over the first top electrode layer, wherein the second top electrode layer comprises a second metal, and a standard reduction potential of the first metal is greater than a standard reduction potential of the second metal; and removing portions of the second top electrode layer, the first top electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the bottom electrode layer to form a memory stack, the memory stack comprising remaining portions of the second top electrode layer, the first top electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the bottom electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Sheng-Hung Shih, Fu-Chen Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Alexander Kalnitsky
  • Patent number: 11844286
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a flat via top surface for memory, as well as an integrated circuit (IC) resulting from the method. In some embodiments, an etch is performed into a dielectric layer to form an opening. A liner layer is formed covering the dielectric layer and lining the opening. A lower body layer is formed covering the dielectric layer and filling a remainder of the opening over the liner layer. A top surface of the lower body layer and a top surface of the liner layer are recessed to below a top surface of the dielectric layer to partially clear the opening. A homogeneous upper body layer is formed covering the dielectric layer and partially filling the opening. A planarization is performed into the homogeneous upper body layer until the dielectric layer is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsia-Wei Chen, Chih-Yang Chang, Chin-Chieh Yang, Jen-Sheng Yang, Sheng-Hung Shih, Tung-Sheng Hsiao, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao, I-Ching Chen
  • Patent number: 11839090
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated chip comprising memory cells separated by a void-free dielectric structure. In some embodiments, a pair of memory cell structures is formed on a via dielectric layer, where the memory cell structures are separated by an inter-cell area. An inter-cell filler layer is formed covering the memory cell structures and the via dielectric layer, and further filling the inter-cell area. The inter-cell filler layer is recessed until a top surface of the inter-cell filler layer is below a top surface of the pair of memory cell structures and the inter-cell area is partially cleared. An interconnect dielectric layer is formed covering the memory cell structures and the inter-cell filler layer, and further filling a cleared portion of the inter-cell area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsia-Wei Chen, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao
  • Patent number: 11832529
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) structure laterally surrounding a conductive interconnect. A dielectric protection layer is disposed over the ILD structure and a passivation layer is disposed over the dielectric protection layer. The passivation layer includes a protrusion extending outward from an upper surface of the passivation layer. A bottom electrode continuously extends from over the passivation layer to between sidewalls of the passivation layer. A data storage element is over the bottom electrode and a top electrode is over the data storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Hung Cho Wang, Tong-Chern Ong, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao, Kuei-Hung Shen, Kuo-Yuan Tu, Sheng-Huang Huang
  • Publication number: 20230380190
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes depositing a dielectric layer over a conductive feature; etching an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the conductive feature, such that the dielectric layer has a tapered sidewall surrounding the opening; depositing a bottom electrode layer into the opening in the dielectric layer; depositing a resistance switch layer over the bottom electrode layer; patterning the resistance switch layer and the bottom electrode layer respectively into a resistance switch element and a bottom electrode, in which a sidewall of the bottom electrode is landing on the tapered sidewall of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chieh-Fei CHIU, Wen-Ting CHU, Yong-Shiuan TSAIR, Yu-Wen LIAO, Chih-Yang CHANG, Chin-Chieh YANG
  • Publication number: 20230371396
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. The bottom electrode has a first thickness along an outermost edge and a second thickness between the outermost edge and a lateral center of the bottom electrode. The first thickness is larger than the second thickness. A data storage structure is over the bottom electrode and a top electrode is over the data storage structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Hung Cho Wang, Tong-Chern Ong, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao, Kuei-Hung Shen, Kuo-Yuan Tu, Sheng-Huang Huang
  • Publication number: 20230371407
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first electrode comprising a first metallic material; a memory film including at least one dielectric metal oxide material and contacting the first electrode; and a second electrode comprising a second metallic material and contacting the memory film. The memory film includes a center region having a first average atomic ratio of a passivation element to oxygen that is less than 0.01, and includes a peripheral region having a second average atomic ratio of the passivation element to oxygen that is greater than 0.05.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Watson Liu, Fu-Ting Sung, Hsia-Wei Chen, Yu-Wen Liao, Wen-Ting Chu
  • Publication number: 20230371263
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip including forming a ferroelectric layer over a bottom electrode layer, forming a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer, performing a first removal process to remove peripheral portions of the bottom electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the top electrode layer, and performing a second removal process using a second etch that is selective to the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer to remove portions of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer, so that after the second removal process the ferroelectric layer has a surface that protrudes past a surface of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Sheng-Hung Shih, Wen-Ting Chu, Tzu-Yu Chen, Fu-Chen Chang
  • Publication number: 20230354618
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first resistive random access memory (RRAM) element and a second RRAM element over a substrate. A conductive element is arranged below the first RRAM element and the second RRAM element. The conductive element electrically couples the first RRAM element to the second RRAM element. An upper insulating layer continuously extends over the first RRAM element and the second RRAM element. An upper inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure laterally surrounds the first RRAM element and the second RRAM element. The upper insulating layer separates the first RRAM element and the second RRAM element from the upper ILD structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Chin-Chieh Yang, Chih-Yang Chang, Wen-Ting Chu, Yu-Wen Liao
  • Patent number: 11800720
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. A data storage structure is disposed on the bottom electrode and is configured to store a data state. A top electrode is disposed on the data storage structure. The top electrode has interior surfaces defining a recess within an upper surface of the top electrode. A masking layer contacts a bottom of the recess and extends to over the upper surface of the top electrode. An interconnect extends through the masking layer and to the top electrode. The interconnect is directly over the upper surface of the top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Sheng-Hung Shih, Wen-Ting Chu, Chih-Hsiang Chang, Fu-Chen Chang