Patents Assigned to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited
  • Patent number: 11923263
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a chip underlying the substrate, a chip overlying the substrate, and a dummy die overlying the substrate. A pattern of the dummy die includes a first interior sidewall and a second interior sidewall, and a stress relief material between the first interior sidewall and the second interior sidewall to form a dummy die stress balance pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Jen-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 11925032
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells overlying a substrate and located in a memory array region. Each of the memory cells includes a bottom electrode, a vertical stack containing a memory element and a top electrode, and dielectric sidewall spacers located on sidewalls of each vertical stack. The bottom electrode comprises a flat-top portion that extends horizontally beyond an outer periphery of the dielectric sidewall spacers. The device also includes a discrete etch stop dielectric layer over each of the memory cells that includes a horizontally-extending portion that extends over the flat-top portion of the bottom electrode. The device also includes metallic cell contact structures that contact a respective subset of the top electrodes and a respective subset of vertically-protruding portions of the discrete etch stop dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Chung-Chiang Min
  • Patent number: 11921325
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a waveguide over a substrate. The semiconductor device includes a first dielectric structure over the substrate, wherein a portion of the waveguide is in the first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second dielectric structure under the waveguide, wherein a first sidewall of the second dielectric structure is adjacent a first sidewall of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yi-Chen Chen, Lee-Chuan Tseng, Shih-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11921430
    Abstract: A lithography method to pattern a first semiconductor wafer is disclosed. An optical mask is positioned over the first semiconductor wafer. A first region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing light from a light source through transparent regions of the optical mask. A second region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing energy from an energy source to the second region, wherein the patterning of the second region comprises direct-beam writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsiao-Chen Wu, Chi-Ming Yang, Hsu-Shui Liu
  • Patent number: 11923225
    Abstract: A method includes initiating a gas flow of a first gas parallel to a wall of an interface module to create an air curtain across an opening defined in the wall. The method includes moving an interface door to reveal the opening, wherein the air curtain restrains a second gas within the interface module from passing through the opening. The method includes transferring a semiconductor wafer through the opening and moving the interface door to cover the opening. The method includes halting the gas flow of the first gas after moving the interface door to cover the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yi-Fam Shiu, Cheng-Lung Wu, Yang-Ann Chu, Hsu-Shui Liu, Jiun-Rong Pai
  • Patent number: 11923459
    Abstract: A thin film transistor and method of making the same, the thin film transistor including: a substrate; a word line disposed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate, the semiconductor layer having a source region, a drain region, and a channel region disposed between the source and drain regions and overlapping with the word line in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the substrate; a hydrogen diffusion barrier layer overlapping with the channel region in the vertical direction; a gate dielectric layer disposed between the channel region and the word line; and source and drain electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Hung Wei Li, Mauricio Manfrini, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 11923355
    Abstract: Devices and methods for manufacturing a deep trench capacitor fuse for high voltage breakdown defense. A semiconductor device comprising a deep trench capacitor structure and a transistor structure. The transistor structure may comprise a base, a first terminal formed within the base, and a second terminal formed within the base. The first terminal and the second terminal may be formed by doping the base. The deep trench capacitor structure may comprise a first metallic electrode layer and a second metallic electrode layer. The first terminal may be electrically connected to the first metallic electrode layer, and the second terminal may be electrically connected to the second metallic electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Jen-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 11923179
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for semiconductor processing includes an injector holder configured to removably mate with a structure defining an interior chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. The injector holder defines a first opening. A sleeve is configured to be received within the first opening, and the sleeve defines a second opening. A gas injector is configured to be received within the second opening of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Pei-Yu Lee
  • Patent number: 11916131
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a vertical device is provided. The method includes: providing a protrusion over a substrate; forming an etch stop layer over the protrusion; laterally etching a sidewall of the etch stop layer; forming an insulating layer over the etch stop layer; forming a film layer over the insulating layer and the etch stop layer; performing chemical mechanical polishing on the film layer and exposing the etch stop layer; etching a portion of the etch stop layer to expose a top surface of the protrusion; forming an oxide layer over the protrusion and the film layer; and performing chemical mechanical polishing on the oxide layer and exposing the film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: De-Fang Chen, Teng-Chun Tsai, Cheng-Tung Lin, Li-Ting Wang, Chun-Hung Lee, Ming-Ching Chang, Huan-Just Lin
  • Patent number: 11917832
    Abstract: A memory device, transistor, and methods of making the same, the memory device including a memory device including: a ferroelectric (FE) structure including: a dielectric layer, an FE layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and an interface metal layer disposed on the FE layer, in which the interface metal layer comprises W, Mo, Ru, TaN, or a combination thereof to induce the FE layer to have an orthorhombic phase; and a top electrode layer disposed on the interface metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Han-Jong Chia, Mauricio Manfrini
  • Patent number: 11916121
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a metal oxide semiconductor channel layer, a first gate dielectric layer contacting a first portion of a major surface of the metal oxide semiconductor channel layer, a first gate electrode overlying the first gate dielectric layer and contacting a second portion of the major surface of the metal oxide semiconductor channel layer, a drain region and a backside gate dielectric layer contacting another major surface of the metal oxide semiconductor channel layer, a backside gate electrode contacting the backside gate dielectric layer, a second gate dielectric layer contacting an end surface of the metal oxide semiconductor channel layer, a second gate electrode contacting a surface of the second gate dielectric layer, and a source region contacting another end surface of the metal oxide semiconductor channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Katherine H. Chiang, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11914941
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for integrated circuit (IC) layout validation. A plurality of IC patterns are collected which include a first set of patterns capable of being manufactured and a second set of patterns incapable of being manufactured. A machine learning model is trained using the plurality of IC patterns. The machine learning model generates a prediction model for validating IC layouts. The prediction model receives data including a set of test patterns comprising scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of IC patterns. Design violations associated with an IC layout are determined based on the SEM images and the plurality of IC patterns. A summary of the design violations is provided for further characterization of the IC layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Rachid Salik, Chin-Chang Hsu, Cheng-Chi Wu, Chien-Wen Chen, Wen-Ju Yang
  • Patent number: 11908757
    Abstract: A chip package structure includes at least one semiconductor die attached to a redistribution structure, a first underfill material portion located between the redistribution structure and the at least one semiconductor die and laterally surrounding the solder material portions, a molding compound laterally surrounding at least one semiconductor die, and a second underfill material portion contacting sidewalls of the redistribution structure and sidewalls of the molding compound and including at least one cut region. The second underfill material portion includes a vertically-extending portion having a uniform lateral width and a horizontally-extending portion having a uniform vertical thickness and adjoined to a bottom end of the vertically-extending portion within each of the at least one cut region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chia-Kuei Hsu, Ming-Chih Yew, Shu-Shen Yeh, Po-Yao Lin, Shin-Puu Jeng
  • Patent number: 11908936
    Abstract: A ferroelectric field effect transistor (FeFET) having a double-gate structure includes a first gate electrode, a first ferroelectric material layer over the first gate electrode, a semiconductor channel layer over the first ferroelectric material layer, source and drain electrodes contacting the semiconductor channel layer, a second ferroelectric material layer over the semiconductor channel layer, and a second gate electrode over the second ferroelectric material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yen-Chieh Huang, Song-Fu Liao, Po-Ting Lin, Hai-Ching Chen, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11910732
    Abstract: An array of rail structures is formed over a substrate. Each rail structure includes at least one bit line. Dielectric isolation structures straddling the array of rail structures are formed. Line trenches are provided between neighboring pairs of the dielectric isolation structures. A layer stack of a resistive memory material layer and a selector material layer is formed within each of the line trenches. A word line is formed on each of the layer stacks within unfilled volumes of the line trenches. The word lines or at least a subset of the bit lines includes a carbon-based conductive material containing hybridized carbon atoms in a hexagonal arrangement to provide a low resistivity conductive structure. An array of resistive memory elements is formed over the substrate. A plurality of arrays of resistive memory elements may be formed at different levels over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Lain-Jong Li
  • Patent number: 11908903
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes selective use of a cladding layer during the fabrication process to provide critical dimension uniformity. The cladding layer can be formed before forming a recess in an active channel structure or can be formed after filling a recess in an active channel structure with dielectric material. These techniques can be used in semiconductor structures such as gate-all-around (GAA) transistor structures implemented in an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kuei-Yu Kao, Shih-Yao Lin, Chen-Ping Chen, Chih-Han Lin, Ming-Ching Chang, Chao-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11908792
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive feature, a second conductive feature, and a first dielectric layer positioned between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature. An etch stop layer is over the first dielectric layer. A cap layer is over the first conductive feature, the second conductive feature, and the etch stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan Lee, Hai-Ching Chen, Hsin-Yen Huang, Shau-Lin Shue, Cheng-Chin Lee
  • Patent number: 11908838
    Abstract: A three-dimensional device structure includes a first die including a first semiconductor substrate, a second die disposed on the first die and including a second semiconductor substrate, a dielectric encapsulation (DE) layer disposed on the first die and surrounding the second die, a redistribution layer structure disposed on the second die and the DE layer, and an integrated passive device (IPD) embedded in the DE layer and electrically connected to the first die and the redistribution layer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Jen-Yuan Chang, Chien-Chang Lee, Chia-Ping Lai, Tzu-Chung Tsai
  • Patent number: 11901176
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor arrangement is provided. The method includes forming a first dielectric layer and forming a first semiconductive layer over the first dielectric layer. The first semiconductive layer is patterned to form a patterned first semiconductive layer. The first dielectric layer is patterned using the patterned first semiconductive layer to form a patterned first dielectric layer. A second semiconductive layer is formed over the patterned first dielectric layer and the patterned first semiconductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yi-Shan Chen, Hao-Heng Liu
  • Patent number: 11903193
    Abstract: A MOSFET device and method of making, the device including a floating gate layer formed within a trench in a substrate, a tunnel dielectric layer located on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench, a control gate dielectric layer located on a top surface of the floating gate layer, a control gate layer located on a top surface of the control gate dielectric layer and sidewall spacers located on sidewalls of the control gate dielectric layer and the control gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chi-Chung Jen, Yu-Chu Lin, Y. C. Kuo, Wen-Chih Chiang, Keng-Ying Liao, Huai-Jen Tung