Patents Assigned to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20240120399
    Abstract: Provided are multi-gate devices and methods for fabricating such devices. An exemplary method includes forming gate structures over a semiconductor material, wherein the gate structures include a long channel (LC) gate structure and a short channel (SC) gate structure; forming a patterned mask over the semiconductor material, wherein the LC gate structure and the SC gate structure are not covered by the patterned mask; and performing an etch process on the LC gate structure and on the SC gate structure through the patterned mask to remove the LC gate structure and the SC gate structure, wherein removal of the LC gate structure forms a deep trench in the semiconductor substrate having a first depth, and wherein removal of the SC gate structure forms a shallow trench in the semiconductor substrate having a second depth less than the first depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Ging Lin, Shun-Hui Yang
  • Publication number: 20240120388
    Abstract: Provided are structures and methods for forming structures with sloping surfaces of a desired profile. An exemplary method includes performing a first etch process to differentially etch a gate material to a recessed surface, wherein the recessed surface includes a first horn at a first edge, a second horn at a second edge, and a valley located between the first horn and the second horn; depositing an etch-retarding layer over the recessed surface, wherein the etch-retarding layer has a central region over the valley and has edge regions over the horns, and wherein the central region of the etch-retarding layer is thicker than the edge regions of the etch-retarding layer; and performing a second etch process to recess the horns to establish the gate material with a desired profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Yin, Tzu-Wen Pan, Yu-Hsien Lin, Jih-Sheng Yang, Shih-Chieh Chao, Chia Ming Liang, Yih-Ann Lin, Ryan Chia-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 11952656
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition (PVD) system is disclosed. The PVD system includes a pedestal configured to hold a semiconductor wafer, a cover plate configured to hold a target, and a collimator between the pedestal and the cover plate. The collimator includes a plurality of passages configured to pass source material travelling from the cover plate toward the pedestal at an angle less than a threshold angle with respect to a line perpendicular to a surface of the pedestal facing the cover plate, where the collimator is configured to block source material travelling from the cover plate toward the pedestal at an angle greater than the threshold angle, where a first passage of the plurality of passages has a first passage length, where a second passage of the plurality of passages has a second passage length, and where the first passage length is less than the second passage length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Lin Chen, Tsung-Yi Chou, Wei-Der Sun, Hao-Wei Kang
  • Patent number: 11953719
    Abstract: An optical device is provided. The optical device includes a substrate, a first optical layer; a high k layer, and a second optical layer. The first optical layer is disposed on the substrate. The first optical layer comprises a top surface, a first sidewall, and a second side-wall opposite thereto. The high k layer is disposed on the top surface of the first optical layer. The second optical layer is disposed on the high k layer. The second optical layer includes a top surface, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall opposite thereto. The first sidewall of the first optical layer is misaligned with the third sidewall of the second optical layer. The second sidewall of the first optical layer is coplanar with the fourth sidewall of the second optical layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Tai-Chun Huang, Stefan Rusu
  • Patent number: 11953721
    Abstract: A photonic system includes a waveguide. The photonic system further includes a micro ring modulator (MRM) spaced from the waveguide. The photonic system further includes a heater configured to increase a temperature of the MRM in response to the heater receiving a first voltage. The photonic system further includes a cooling element configured to decrease a temperature of the MRM in response to the cooling element receiving a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lan-Chou Cho, Stefan Rusu
  • Patent number: 11953927
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bias generating device and a method for generating bias. A bias generating device includes a first diode-connected transistor pair connected to receive a first voltage; a second diode-connected transistor pair connected to receive a second voltage; and a first transistor pair connected to the first diode-connected transistor pair and the second diode-connected transistor pair. The first transistor pair is configured to generate a third voltage in response to the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Yuh, Yoshitaka Yamauchi, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11955191
    Abstract: A memory device and a method of operating a memory device are disclosed. In one aspect, the memory device includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, each of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells is operatively coupled to a word line, a gate control line, and a bit line. Each of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, a first diode-connected transistor, and a capacitor. The first transistor, second transistor, first diode-connected transistor are coupled in series, with the capacitor having a first terminal connected to a common node between the first diode-connected transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Yuh, Tung-Cheng Chang, Gu-Huan Li, Chia-En Huang, Chun-Ying Lee, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11955335
    Abstract: In a method of coating a photo resist over a wafer, dispensing the photo resist from a nozzle over the wafer is started while rotating the wafer, and dispensing the photo resist is stopped while rotating the wafer. After starting and before stopping the dispensing the photo resist, a wafer rotation speed is changed at least 4 times. During dispensing, an arm holding the nozzle may move horizontally. A tip end of the nozzle may be located at a height of 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm from the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tung-Hung Feng, Hui-Chun Lee, Sheng-Wen Jiang, Shih-Che Wang
  • Patent number: 11955190
    Abstract: In some aspects of the present disclosure, a memory array includes: a plurality of memory cells; and a plurality of logic gates, each of the plurality of logic gates having a first input, a second input, and an output gating a corresponding one of the plurality of memory cells, wherein the first input of each of the plurality of logic gates of a first subset is coupled to a first bit select line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Perng-Fei Yuh
  • Patent number: 11955336
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes forming a protective layer over substrate having a plurality of protrusions and recesses. The protective layer includes polymer composition including polymer having repeating units of one or more of: Wherein a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and i are each independently H, —OH, —ROH, —R(OH)2, —NH2, —NHR, —NR2, —SH, —RSH, or —R(SH)2, wherein at least one of a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and i on each repeating unit is not H. R, R1, and R2 are each independently a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C3-C10 cycloalkyl group, a C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl group, a C2-C10 alkoxy group, a C2-C10 alkoxy alkyl group, a C2-C10 acetyl group, a C3-C10 acetylalkyl group, a C1-C10 carboxyl group, a C2-C10 alkyl carboxyl group, or a C4-C10 cycloalkyl carboxyl group, and n is 2-1000. A resist layer is formed over the protective layer, and the resist layer is patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jing Hong Huang, Wei-Han Lai, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 11953725
    Abstract: A device includes a dielectric layer, a plurality of grating structures, and a dielectric material between the plurality of grating structures and on top of the plurality of grating structures. The grating structures are arranged on the dielectric layer and separated from each other, the plurality of grating structures each having a bottom portion and top portion, the top portion having a first width and the bottom portion having a second width, the second width being larger than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Wei Kuo, Chewn-Pu Jou, Hsing-Kuo Hsia
  • Patent number: 11953723
    Abstract: A thermally tunable waveguide including an optical waveguide and a heater is provided. The optical waveguide includes a phase shifter. The heater is disposed over the optical waveguide. The heater includes a heating portion, pad portions and tapered portions. The heating portion overlaps with the phase shifter of the optical waveguide. The pad portions are disposed aside of the heating portion. Each of the pad portions is connected to the heating portion through one of the tapered portions respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Wei Kuo, Wen-Shiang Liao
  • Patent number: 11955528
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices, FinFET devices and methods of forming the same are disclosed. One of the semiconductor devices includes a substrate and a gate strip disposed over the substrate. The gate strip includes a high-k layer disposed over the substrate, an N-type work function metal layer disposed over the high-k layer, and a barrier layer disposed over the N-type work function metal layer. The barrier layer includes at least one first film containing TiAlN, TaAlN or AlN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Weng Chang, Chi-On Chui
  • Patent number: 11955428
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a conductive via and a first insulation layer. The conductive via is through the substrate. The first insulation layer is between the substrate and the conductive via. A first surface of the first insulation layer facing the substrate and a second surface of the first insulation layer facing the conductive via are extended along different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hung Chen, Min-Feng Kao, Hsing-Chih Lin, Jen-Cheng Liu, Dun-Nian Yaung
  • Patent number: 11955433
    Abstract: A package includes a redistribution structure, a die package on a first side of the redistribution structure including a first die connected to a second die by metal-to-metal bonding and dielectric-to-dielectric bonding, a dielectric material over the first die and the second die and surrounding the first die, and a first through via extending through the dielectric material and connected to the first die and a first via of the redistribution structure, a semiconductor device on the first side of the redistribution structure includes a conductive connector, wherein a second via of the redistribution structure contacts the conductive connector of the semiconductor device, a first molding material on the redistribution structure and surrounding the die package and the semiconductor device, and a package through via extending through the first molding material to contact a third via of the redistribution structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Fa Chen, Sung-Feng Yeh, Hsien-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 11955173
    Abstract: First fire operations for an ovonic threshold switch (OTS) selector is provided. A first fire operation includes setting a peak amplitude of a voltage pulse, and performing at least one cycle, including: providing the voltage pulse to the OTS selector; sensing an output current passing through the OTS selector in response to the received voltage pulse; comparing a peak amplitude of the voltage pulse with a maximum peak amplitude ensuring initialization of the OTS selector; ending the first fire operation if the peak amplitude reaches the maximum peak amplitude; comparing the output current with a target current indicative of initialization of the OTS selector if the peak amplitude is lower than the maximum peak amplitude; ending the first fire operation if the output current reaches the target current; and setting another voltage pulse with a greater peak amplitude if the output current is lower than the target current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Elia Ambrosi, Cheng-Hsien Wu, Hengyuan Lee, Chien-Min Lee, Xinyu Bao
  • Patent number: 11955439
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor die, a redistribution structure and connective terminals. The redistribution structure is disposed on the semiconductor die and includes a first metallization tier disposed in between a pair of dielectric layers. The first metallization tier includes routing conductive traces electrically connected to the semiconductor die and a shielding plate electrically insulated from the semiconductor die. The connective terminals include dummy connective terminals and active connective terminals. The dummy connective terminals are disposed on the redistribution structure and are electrically connected to the shielding plate. The active connective terminals are disposed on the redistribution structure and are electrically connected to the routing conductive traces. Vertical projections of the dummy connective terminals fall on the shielding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Wu, Chien-Chia Chiu, Cheng-Hsien Hsieh, Li-Han Hsu, Meng-Tsan Lee, Tsung-Shu Lin
  • Patent number: 11955956
    Abstract: A switching circuit includes a main circuit including a number of first transistors. The main circuit has a first node, a second node, and a third node and is operative in response to a control signal received by the first node, and the second node is configured to receive a supply voltage. The switching circuit also includes an auxiliary circuit electrically coupled to the second node of the main circuit and configured to provide surge protection for the main circuit. The auxiliary circuit includes a second transistor. A breakdown voltage of the second transistor is different than a breakdown voltage of each first transistor of the number of first transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-An Lai, Chan-Hong Chern, Cheng-Hsiang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11955547
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a gate stack disposed over a substrate. A first L-shaped spacer is disposed along a first sidewall of the gate stack and a second L-shaped spacer is disposed along a second sidewall of the gate stack. The first L-shaped spacer and the second L-shaped spacer include silicon and carbon. A first source/drain epitaxy region and a second source/drain epitaxy region are disposed over the substrate. The gate stack is disposed between the first source/drain epitaxy region and the second source/drain epitaxy region. An interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over the substrate. The ILD layer is disposed between the first source/drain epitaxy region and a portion of the first L-shaped spacer disposed along the first sidewall of the gate stack and between the second source/drain epitaxy region and a portion of the second L-shaped spacer disposed along the second sidewall of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Jen Pan, Yu-Hsien Lin, Hsiang-Ku Shen, Wei-Han Fan, Yun Jing Lin, Yimin Huang, Tzu-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 11956968
    Abstract: Provided are a memory device and a method of forming the same. The memory device includes a first tier on a substrate and a second tier on the first tier. The first tier includes a first layer stack; a first gate electrode penetrating through the first layer stack; a first channel layer between the first layer stack and the first gate electrode; and a first ferroelectric layer between the first channel layer and the first gate electrode. The second tier includes a second layer stack; a second gate electrode penetrating through the second layer stack; a second channel layer between the second layer stack and the second gate electrode; and a second ferroelectric layer between the second channel layer and the second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Han-Jong Chia