Patents Examined by Hsien Ming Lee
  • Patent number: 11842993
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes passive electrical components in a substrate; and an interconnect structure over the passive electrical components, conductive features of the interconnect structure being electrically coupled to the passive electrical components. The conductive features of the interconnect structure includes a first conductive line over the substrate; a conductive bump over the first conductive line, where in a plan view, the conductive bumps has a first elongated shape and is entirely disposed within boundaries of the first conductive line; and a first via between the first conductive line and the conductive bump, the first via electrically connected to the first conductive line and the conductive bump, where in the plan view, the first via has a second elongated shape and is entirely disposed within boundaries of the conductive bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ying-Cheng Tseng, Yu-Chih Huang, Chih-Hsuan Tai, Ting-Ting Kuo, Chi-Hui Lai, Ban-Li Wu, Chiahung Liu, Hao-Yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 11844231
    Abstract: A display device includes a substrate, a plurality of pixels above the substrate, each of the pixels including a light emitting element, a display region including the plurality of pixels, a thin film transistor which each of the plurality of pixels includes, a protective film including a first inorganic insulating material and located between the thin film transistor and the light emitting element, a sealing film including a second inorganic insulating material and covering the light emitting element, and at least one through hole located in the display region and passing through the substrate, the protective film, and the sealing film, wherein the second inorganic insulating material is in direct contact with the protective film in a first region located between the through hole and the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Heisuke Kanaya
  • Patent number: 11839074
    Abstract: The present technology provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a preliminary source structure, forming a stack structure on the preliminary source structure, the stack structure including a first material layer and a second material layer, forming a preliminary memory layer that penetrates the stack structure, forming a trench passing through the stack structure, forming a first buffer pattern by performing a surface treatment on a portion of the second material layer that is exposed by the trench, and forming a protective layer covering the first buffer pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Min Young Heo
  • Patent number: 11832432
    Abstract: The present application provides a method of manufacturing a memory device having several word lines (WL) with reduced leakage. The method includes steps of providing a semiconductor substrate defined with an active area and including an isolation surrounding the active area; forming a first recess extending into the semiconductor substrate and across the active area; forming a first lining portion of a first insulating layer conformal to the first recess; disposing a first conductive material conformal to the first lining portion; forming a first conductive member surrounded by the first conductive material; disposing a second conductive material over the first conductive member to form a first conductive layer enclosing the first conductive member; and forming a first protruding portion of the first insulating layer above the first conductive layer and the first conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chuan-Lin Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11830876
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a stack of insulating layers and interconnect layers that are positioned alternatingly over a substrate. The semiconductor device includes a channel structure extending from the substrate and further through the insulating layers and the interconnect layers. The channel structure includes a first channel section positioned over the substrate and coupled to a first group of the interconnect layers, and a second channel section positioned over the first channel section and coupled to a second group of the interconnect layers. The semiconductor device also includes a plurality of contact structures extending from and coupled to the interconnect layers in a staircase configuration such that each of the plurality of contact structures extends from a respective interconnect layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: H. Jim Fulford, Mark I. Gardner, Partha Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 11823956
    Abstract: A method of forming a two dimensional (2D) vertical fin is provided. The method includes heat treating a periodic array of irregular openings in a substrate, wherein there are walls of substrate material between adjacent openings, to reduce the surface area of the openings, and etching the openings with a crystal-plane selective etch to form squared openings in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kangguo Cheng
  • Patent number: 11818893
    Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming a memory array region comprising memory cells vertically over a base structure comprising a semiconductive material and alignment mark structures vertically extending into the semiconductive material. First contact structures are formed to extend through the memory array region and into the alignment mark structures. A support structure is formed over the memory array region. A portion of the base structure is removed to expose the alignment mark structures. A control logic region is formed vertically adjacent a remaining portion of the base structure. The control logic region comprises control logic devices in electrical communication with the first contact structures by way of second contact structures extending partially through the alignment mark structures and contacting the first contact structures. Microelectronic devices, memory devices, electronic systems, and additional methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Umberto Maria Meotto, Emilio Camerlenghi, Paolo Tessariol, Luca Laurin
  • Patent number: 11818888
    Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming a stack structure. Pillar structures are formed to vertically extend through the stack structure. At least one trench and additional trenches are formed to substantially vertically extend through the stack structure. Each of the additional trenches comprises a first portion having a first width, and a second portion at a horizontal boundary of the first portion and having a second width greater than the first width. A dielectric structure is formed within the at least one trench and the additional trenches. The dielectric structure comprises at least one angled portion proximate the horizontal boundary of the first portion of at least some of the additional trenches. The at least one angled portion extends at an acute angle to each of a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction. Microelectronic devices and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Raja Kumar Varma Manthena, Anilkumar Chandolu
  • Patent number: 11818892
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a stack structure including gate patterns and insulating patterns; a channel layer penetrating the stack structure; a memory layer penetrating the stack structure, the memory layer surrounding the channel layer; and a select transistor connected to the channel layer. The select transistor includes: a carbon layer Schottky-joined with the channel layer; a select gate spaced apart from the carbon layer; and a gate insulating layer between the select gate and the carbon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Uk Lee, Hae Chang Yang
  • Patent number: 11818889
    Abstract: A vertical memory device includes a substrate with a cell region, a through via region on opposite sides of the cell region, and a mold region surrounding the cell and through via regions, gate electrodes spaced apart from each other along a first direction vertical to an upper surface of the substrate, and extending in a second direction parallel to the upper surface of the substrate, a channel extending in the first direction on the cell region, and extending through at least a portion of the stacked gate electrodes, and a first mold including first and second layers alternately and repeatedly stacked along the first direction on the mold region, the first and second layers including different insulation materials from each other, and each of the second layers of the first mold being at the same height as and contact a corresponding one of the gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junhyoung Kim, Seonho Yoon, Bonghyun Choi
  • Patent number: 11810811
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a buried metal line disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric material on a first sidewall of the buried metal line and a second dielectric material on a second sidewall of the buried metal line, a first multiple fins disposed proximate the first sidewall of the buried metal line, a second multiple fins disposed proximate the second sidewall of the buried metal line, a first metal gate structure over the first multiple fins and over the buried metal line, wherein the first metal gate structure extends through the first dielectric material to contact the buried metal line, and a second metal gate structure over the second multiple fins and over the buried metal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lei-Chun Chou, Chih-Liang Chen, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Chih-Ming Lai, Ru-Gun Liu, Charles Chew-Yuen Young
  • Patent number: 11812606
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method that includes forming a gate trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate insulating film on an inner wall of the gate trench, forming a gate electrode in the gate trench via the gate insulating film, ashing a top surface of the gate electrode to form a first insulating film, and forming a gate cap insulating film embedded in the gate trench to cover the first insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Toshiyasu Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11804488
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin in a substrate, the first semiconductor fin adjacent the second semiconductor fin, forming a dummy gate structure extending over the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin, depositing a first dielectric material surrounding the dummy gate structure, replacing the dummy gate structure with a first metal gate structure, performing an etching process on the first metal gate structure and on the first dielectric material to form a first recess in the first metal gate structure and a second recess in the first dielectric material, wherein the first recess extends into the substrate, and wherein the second recess is disposed between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin, and depositing a second dielectric material within the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jen-Chih Hsueh, Chih-Chang Hung, Tsung Fan Yin, Yi-Wei Chiu
  • Patent number: 11804429
    Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor memory device and an erasing method of the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of word lines stacked between a source conductive pattern and a bit line; at least two drain select lines disposed between the plurality word lines and the bit line, the at least two drain select lines being spaced apart from each other in an extending direction of the bit line; and an erase control line disposed between the at least two drain select lines and the plurality of word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 11804489
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a separation wall made of a dielectric material is formed between two fin structures. A dummy gate structure is formed over the separation wall and the two fin structures. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is formed over the dummy gate structure. An upper portion of the ILD layer is removed, thereby exposing the dummy gate structure. The dummy gate structure is replaced with a metal gate structure. A planarization operation is performed to expose the separation wall, thereby dividing the metal gate structure into a first gate structure and a second gate structure. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are separated by the separation wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chih-Hao Wang, Chih-Liang Chen, Shi Ning Ju
  • Patent number: 11805652
    Abstract: A 3D memory array includes a row of stacks, each stack having alternating gate strips and dielectric strips. Dielectric plugs are disposed between the stacks and define cell areas. A data storage film and a channel film are disposed adjacent the stacks on the sides of the cell areas. The middles of the cell areas are filled with an intracell dielectric. Source lines and drain lines form vias through the intracell dielectric. The source lines and the drain lines are each provided with a bulge toward the interior of the cell area. The bulges increase the areas of the source line and the drain line without reducing the channel lengths. In some of these teachings, the areas of the source lines and the drain lines are increased by restricting the data storage film or the channel layer to the sides of the cell areas adjacent the stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chen Wang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Meng-Han Lin, Han-Jong Chia
  • Patent number: 11799028
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a gate structure including conductive layers and insulating layers, which are alternately stacked; a channel layer penetrating the gate structure; memory patterns respectively located between the channel layer and the conductive layers; a blocking layer including first parts located between the conductive layers and the memory patterns and second parts extending between the memory patterns; and air gaps respectively located between the blocking layer and the insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: In Ku Kang, Changhan Kim
  • Patent number: 11800714
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a gate structure including conductive layers and insulating layers, which are alternately stacked; a channel layer penetrating the gate structure; memory patterns respectively located between the channel layer and the conductive layers; air gaps located between the memory patterns; and a sealing layer including first parts respectively including the air gaps and a second part extending between the memory patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: In Ku Kang, Changhan Kim
  • Patent number: 11800713
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a gate structure including conductive layers and insulating layers, which are alternately stacked; a channel layer penetrating the gate structure; memory patterns respectively located between the channel layer and the conductive layers; a blocking layer including first parts located between the memory patterns and the conductive layers, and second parts extending between the memory patterns and protruding toward the insulating layers to the inside of the gate structure; and air gaps including a first region located in the second parts and a second region located between the memory patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: In Ku Kang, Changhan Kim
  • Patent number: 11791262
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a pattern structure; a stack structure including gate layers stacked in a first region on the pattern structure and extending into a second region; a memory vertical structure penetrating the stack structure in the first region; gate contact plugs electrically connected to the gate layers in the second region; and a first peripheral contact plug spaced apart from the gate layers, the gate layers including a first gate layer, the gate contact plugs including a first gate contact plug electrically connected to the first gate layer, side surfaces of the first gate contact plug and the first peripheral contact plug having different numbers of upper bending portions, and the number of upper bending portions of the side surface of the first gate contact plug being greater than the number of upper bending portions of the side surface of the first peripheral contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seungyoon Kim, Jeongyong Sung, Sanghun Chun, Jihwan Kim, Sunghee Chung, Jeehoon Han