Patents Assigned to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 7629655
    Abstract: A system and method for forming a semiconductor device with a reduced source/drain extension parasitic resistance is provided. An embodiment comprises implanting two metals (such as ytterbium and nickel for an NMOS transistor or platinum and nickel for a PMOS transistor) into the source/drain extensions after silicide contacts have been formed. An anneal is then performed to create a second silicide region within the source/drain extension. Optionally, a second anneal could be performed on the second silicide region to force a further reaction. This process could be performed to multiple semiconductor devices on the same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Hua Yu, Cheng-Tung Lin, Chen-Nan Yeh
  • Publication number: 20090297938
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes a battery layer on a substrate, where a first battery cell is formed in the battery layer. The first battery cell includes a first anode, a first cathode, and a first electrolyte arranged between the first anode and the first cathode, where the first anode, the first cathode, and the first electrolyte are arranged in the battery layer such that perpendicular projections onto the substrate of each of the first anode and the first cathode are non-overlapping. A method of manufacturing such device is also provided. A system is also provide that includes such device for supplying power to an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Romano HOOFMAN, Aurelie Humbert, Matthias Merz, Youri Victorovitch Ponomarev, Remco Henricus Wilhelmus Pijnenburg, Gilberto Curatola
  • Publication number: 20090294685
    Abstract: Provided is a system for overlay measurement in semiconductor manufacturing that includes a generator for exposing an overlay target to radiation and a detector for detecting reflected beams of the overlay target. The reflected beams are for overlay measurement and include at least two different beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Tzu Lu, Chin-Hsiang Lin, Hua-Shu Wu, Chia-Hsiang Lin, Kuei Shun Chen
  • Publication number: 20090294886
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device is provided. The integrated circuit device can include a substrate; a first radiation-sensing element disposed over a first portion of the substrate; and a second radiation-sensing element disposed over a second portion of the substrate. The first portion comprises a first radiation absorption characteristic, and the second portion comprises a second radiation absorption characteristic different from the first radiation absorption characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Chris Hsieh, Dun-Nian Yaung, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 7625801
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate, forming a silicon-containing compound stressor adjacent the gate stack, implanting non-siliciding ions into the silicon-containing compound stressor to amorphize an upper portion of the silicon-containing compound stressor, forming a metal layer on the silicon-containing compound stressor while the upper portion of the SiGe stressor is amorphous, and annealing to react the metal layer with the silicon-containing compound stressor to form a silicide region. The silicon-containing compound stressor includes SiGe or SiC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chii-Ming Wu, Cheng-Tung Lin, Chih-Wei Chang, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Publication number: 20090289265
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising at least one die stack having at least a first die (D1) comprising a first array of light emitting units (OLED) for emitting light, a second layer (D2) comprising a second array of via holes (VH) and a third die (D3) comprising a third array of light detecting units (PD) for detecting light from the first array of light emitting units (OELD) is provided. The second layer (D2) is arranged between the first die (D1) and the third die (D3). The first, second and third array are aligned such that light emitted from the first array of light emitting units (OLED) passed through the second array of via holes (VH) and is detected by the third array of light detecting units (PD). The first array of light emitting units and/or the third array of light detecting units are manufactured based on standard semiconductor manufacturing processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Freddy Roozeboom, Herbert Lifka, Frederik Vanhelmont, Wouter Dekkers
  • Publication number: 20090289298
    Abstract: An impact ionisation MOSFET is formed with the offset from the gate to one of the source/drain regions disposed vertically within the device structure rather than horizontally. The semiconductor device comprises a first source/drain region having a first doping level; a second source/drain region having a second doping level and of opposite dopant type to the first source/drain region, the first and second source/drain regions being laterally separated by a silicon-germanium intermediate region having a doping level less than either of the first and second doping levels; a gate electrode electrically insulated from, and disposed over, the intermediate region, the first and second source/drain regions being laterally aligned with the gate electrode; where the entire portion of the first source/drain region that forms a boundary with the intermediate region is separated vertically from the top of the intermediate region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Gilberto CURATOLA
  • Publication number: 20090290410
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a magnetic memory element. The memory element includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element and an electrode. The electrode includes a pinning layer, a pinned layer, and a non-magnetic conductive layer. In one embodiment, the MTJ element includes a first surface having a first surface area, and the electrode includes a second surface. In the embodiment, the second surface of the electrode is coupled to the first surface of the MTJ element such that an interface area is formed and the interface area is less than the first surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Wang, Denny Tang, Hsu-Chen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20090283835
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dual workfunction semiconductor device and the device made thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes manufacturing a first transistor in a first region and a second transistor in a second region of a substrate, the first transistor including a first gate stack, the first gate stack having a first gate dielectric capping layer and a first metal gate electrode layer. The second gate stack is similar to the first gate stack. The method includes applying a first thermal budget to the first gate dielectric capping layer and a second thermal budget to the second gate dielectric capping material to tune the workfunction of the first and second gate stack, the first thermal budget being smaller than the second thermal budget such that after the thermal treatment the first and the second gate stack have different work functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicants: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum vzw (IMEC), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TSMC)
    Inventors: HongYu Yu, Shou-Zen Chang, Thomas Y. Hoffmann, Philippe Absil
  • Publication number: 20090283851
    Abstract: A semiconductor diode that eliminates leakage current and reduces parasitic resistance is disclosed. The semiconductor diode comprises a semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer includes a first dopant and a first well with a Schottky region; and a polysilicon device positioned above the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the first well with the Schottky region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shou-Mao Chen
  • Patent number: 7615426
    Abstract: A transistor having a discontinuous contact etch stop layer comprising: a substrate having a surface, a gate dielectric on said surface of said substrate, a gate electrode on said gate dielectric, a spacer along a sidewall of said gate dielectric and gate electrode, a source and a drain formed on opposite sides, respectively, of said gate dielectric and said gate electrode, the source and drain defining a channel region having a channel length extending substantially from said source to said drain, in the substrate therebetween, and a contact etch stop layer on said gate and said spacers, and said source and drain. The contact etch stop layer is substantially locally continuous in a direction perpendicular to the channel region length and substantially locally discontinuous in a direction parallel to the channel region length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Wang, Yen-Ping Wang, Pang-Yen Tsai
  • Patent number: 7615841
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure for preventing coupling noise in integrated circuits and a method of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a signal-grounded seal ring. The seal ring includes a plurality of metal lines, each in a respective metal layer and surrounding a circuit region of the semiconductor chip, a plurality of vias connecting respective metal lines, and a plurality of dielectric layers isolating each metal layer from any other metal layers. The seal ring may further include additional seal rings formed inside or outside the seal ring. The semiconductor structure may include laser fuses and protective rings. The protective rings are preferably signal grounded. Cross talk between sub circuits in a chip can be reduced by forming a seal ring extension between the sub circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsien-Wei Chen, Hsueh-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 7612364
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; a stressor having at least a portion in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the gate stack, wherein the stressor comprises an impurity of a first conductivity type; and a portion of the semiconductor substrate adjoining the stressor and on an opposite side of the stressor from the gate stack, wherein the portion of the semiconductor substrate is doped with an impurity of the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry Chuang, Kong-Beng Thei, Yuan-Chen Sun
  • Patent number: 7612405
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor strip extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first semiconductor strip has a first height. A first insulating region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding a bottom portion of the first semiconductor strip, wherein the first insulating region has a first top surface lower than a top surface of the first semiconductor strip. A second semiconductor strip extends from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the second semiconductor strip has a second height greater than the first height. A second insulating region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding a bottom portion of the second semiconductor strip, wherein the second insulating region has a second top surface lower than the first top surface, and wherein the first and the second insulating regions have substantially same thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Hua Yu, Chen-Nan Yeh, Chu-Yun Fu, Yu-Rung Hsu
  • Patent number: 7611963
    Abstract: A method for forming a multi-layer shallow trench isolation structure in a semiconductor device is described. In one embodiment, the method includes etching a shallow trench in a silicon substrate of a semiconductor device and forming a dielectric liner layer on a floor and walls of the shallow trench. The method further includes forming a first doped oxide layer in the shallow trench, the first layer formed by vapor deposition of precursors including a source of silicon, a source of oxygen, and sources of doping materials at a first processing condition and forming a second doped oxide layer above the first doped oxide layer by vapor deposition using precursors of silicon and doping materials, at a second processing condition, different from the first processing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu-Tine Yang, Chen-Hua Yu, Chu-Yun Fu
  • Patent number: 7612451
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure having improved resistivity and a method for forming the same are provided. The integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric layer, an opening in the dielectric layer, and a damascene structure in the opening. The damascene structure includes a metallic barrier layer in the opening and in physical contact with the dielectric layer, a conductive material filling the remaining part of the opening, and an interlayer between and adjoining the metallic barrier layer and the conductive material. The interlayer is preferably a metal compound layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Shih, Cheng-Lin Huang, Ching-Hua Hsieh, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 7613535
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing system includes a centralized computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system; a plurality of sectional CIM systems respectively associated with a plurality of manufacturing facilities and coupled with the centralized CIM system; and a centralized basic record module, coupled and coordinated with the centralized CIM system, and designed for defining a unified process flow associated to a mobile object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Larry Jann, Chien-Fei Cheng, I. Chun Chen, Liang Po Hsiung
  • Patent number: 7611825
    Abstract: A method comprises forming a BARC layer on a substrate, treating the BARC layer to make its surface hydrophilic, forming a photoresist layer on the treated BARC layer, exposing the photoresist layer to a predetermined pattern, and developing the photoresist layer to form patterned photoresist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Yu Chang, Kuei Shun Chen, Bang-Ching Ho
  • Patent number: 7612605
    Abstract: A bootstrap voltage generating circuit includes a bias circuit having a first end coupled to a first power source node having an operation voltage, and a second end coupled to a low voltage reference potential, wherein a voltage at the first end is related to the operation voltage in a non-linear way; a charging capacitor having a first end coupled to the load circuit; a charging path between a second end of the charging capacitor and the first end of the bias circuit, wherein the charging path is responsive to a clock signal; a discharging path between the second end of the charging capacitor and the low voltage reference potential, wherein the discharging path is responsive to the clock signal; and a switch circuit connected to the first end of the charging capacitor for setting a voltage thereon, wherein the switch circuit is responsive to the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Yu Chou, Yen-Huei Chen, Jui-Jen Wu, Gary Chan
  • Patent number: 7612984
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a capacitor array, which includes unit capacitors arranged in rows and columns, wherein each unit capacitor is formed of two electrically insulated capacitor plates. The unit capacitors include at least one first unit capacitor in each row and in each column of the capacitor array; the at least one first unit capacitor being interconnected, wherein each row of the capacitor array comprises a same number of the at least one first unit capacitors as other rows and columns have, and wherein each column of the capacitor array comprises a same number of the at least one first unit capacitors as other rows and columns have. The unit capacitors further include at least one second unit capacitor in each row and in each column of the capacitor array, wherein the at least one second unit is interconnected and evenly distributed throughout the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Yi Chen, Chung-Long Chang, Chih-Ping Chao