Patents Examined by Meiya Li
  • Patent number: 12256551
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor memory structure includes following operations. A plurality of doped regions are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The doped regions are separated from each other. A stack including a plurality of first insulating layers and a plurality of second insulating layers alternately arranged is formed over the semiconductor substrate. A first trench is formed in the stack. The second insulating layers are replaced with a plurality of conductive layers. A second trench is formed. A charge-trapping layer and a channel layer are formed in the second trench. An isolation structure is formed to fill the second trench. A source structure and a drain structure are formed at two sides of the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Nuo Xu, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Yu-Ming Lin, Zhiqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 12250822
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The three-dimensional memory device includes first and second stacking structures, isolation pillars, gate dielectric layers, channel layers and conductive pillars. The stacking structures are laterally spaced apart from each other. The stacking structures respectively comprises alternately stacked insulating layers and conductive layers. The isolation pillars laterally extend between the stacking structures. The isolation pillars further protrude into the stacking structures, and a space between the stacking structures is divided into cell regions. The gate dielectric layers are respectively formed in one of the cell regions, and cover opposing sidewalls of the stacking structures and sidewalls of the isolation pillars. The channel layers respectively cover an inner surface of one of the gate dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Chun-Fu Cheng, Feng-Cheng Yang, Sheng-Chen Wang, Yu-Chien Chiu, Han-Jong Chia
  • Patent number: 12230638
    Abstract: A pixel portion and a driver circuit driving the pixel portion are formed over the same substrate. At least a part of the driver circuit is formed using an inverted staggered thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor layer is used and a channel protective layer is provided over the oxide semiconductor layer serving as a channel formation region which is overlapped with the gate electrode. The driver circuit as well as the pixel portion is provided over the same substrate to reduce manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kengo Akimoto, Atsushi Umezaki
  • Patent number: 12218225
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method that includes providing a semiconductor structure having a bottom channel region and a top channel region over the bottom channel region; forming a gate dielectric layer over and wrapping around top channels in the top channel region; performing a radical treatment on the dielectric layer in a supercritical fluid; and forming a metal gate electrode on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ming Lin, Kenichi Sano, Wei-Yen Woon, Szuya Liao
  • Patent number: 12219752
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure. The method includes: providing a base and forming, on the base, a bit line contact region provided with a first groove; forming a first bit line contact layer in the first groove, wherein the first bit line contact layer in the first groove defines a second groove; forming a diffusion layer in the second groove, wherein the diffusion layer in the second groove defines a third groove; forming, in the third groove, a second bit line contact layer provided with a gap; and processing the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Hai-Han Hung, Chun-Chieh Huang, Xiaoling Wang
  • Patent number: 12211871
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a substrate and a pixel. The pixel includes a photodetector. The photodetector is in the substrate. The integrated chip further includes a first inner trench isolation structure and an outer trench isolation structure that extend into the substrate. The first inner trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the photodetector in a first closed loop. The outer trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the first inner trench isolation structure along a boundary of the pixel in a second closed loop and is laterally separated from the first inner trench isolation structure. Further, the integrated chip includes a scattering structure that is defined, at least in part, by the first inner trench isolation structure and that is configured to increase an angle at which radiation impinges on the outer trench isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng Yu Huang, Chun-Hao Chuang, Keng-Yu Chou, Wei-Chieh Chiang, Wen-Hau Wu, Chih-Kung Chang
  • Patent number: 12213303
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof, and which includes a substrate, bit lines, bit line contacts, a gate structure, a first oxidized interface layer, and a second oxidized interface layer. The bit lines are disposed on the substrate, and the bit line contacts are disposed below the bit lines. The gate structure is disposed on the substrate, wherein each bit line and the gate structure respectively include a semiconductor layer, a conductive layer, and a covering layer stacked from bottom to top. The first oxidized interface layer is disposed between each bit line contact and the semiconductor layer of each bit line. The second oxidized interface layer is disposed within the semiconductor layer of the gate structure, wherein a topmost surface of the first oxidized interface layer is higher than a topmost surface of the second oxidized interface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Nagai, Lu-Yung Lin, Chia-Wei Wu, Tsun-Min Cheng, Yu Chun Lin, Zheng Guo Zhang, Sun-Hung Chen, Wu Xiang Li, Hsiao-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 12207472
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a first stack and a second stack stacked on a semiconductor substrate in a cell region of the semiconductor memory device and a slit region of the semiconductor memory device adjacent to the cell region. The semiconductor memory device also includes a plurality of cell plugs at least partially passing through the second stack and the first stack of the cell region and extending in a vertical direction, a slit at least partially passing through the second stack and the first stack of the slit region, and a protective pattern disposed between the slit and dummy cell plugs adjacent to the slit among the plurality of cell plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 12193244
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a memory device whose power consumption can be suppressed and a semiconductor device including the memory device. As a switching element for holding electric charge accumulated in a transistor which functions as a memory element, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film as an active layer is provided for each memory cell in the memory device. The transistor which is used as a memory element has a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode, a semiconductor film located between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode, a first insulating film located between the first gate electrode and the semiconductor film, a second insulating film located between the second gate electrode and the semiconductor film, and a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the semiconductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Shionoiri, Hiroyuki Miyake, Kiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 12185551
    Abstract: Embodiments of ferroelectric memory devices and methods for forming the ferroelectric memory devices are disclosed. In an example, a method of forming a ferroelectric memory cell is disclosed. A first electrode is formed. A doped ferroelectric layer is formed in contact with the first electrode. The doped ferroelectric layer includes oxygen and one or more ferroelectric metals. The doped ferroelectric layer further includes a plurality of dopants including at least one dopant from one of Group II elements, Group III elements, or Lanthanide elements. The plurality of dopants are different from the one or more ferroelectric metals. A second electrode is formed in contact with the doped ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: WUXI SMART MEMORIES TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhenyu Lu
  • Patent number: 12185519
    Abstract: A method for preparing a capacitor contact structure of a memory device includes providing a substrate, forming a plurality of bit line structures arranged in parallel and at intervals on the substrate, and the bit line structures extending along a first direction; forming conducting layer structures between adjacent bit line structures, upper surfaces of which are lower than upper surfaces of the bit line structures; forming sacrificial layers on the conducting layer structures; forming a plurality of isolation trenches arranged in parallel and at intervals in the sacrificial layer, the isolation trenches extend along a second direction, and the second direction intersects the first direction; forming isolation dielectric layers in the isolation trenches; and removing the sacrificial layer based on the bit line structure and the isolation dielectric layer to form grooves between adjacent bit line structures and between adjacent isolation dielectric layers, the grooves expose the conducting layer structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhongming Liu, Shijie Bai, Longyang Chen
  • Patent number: 12176286
    Abstract: A memory device includes an alternating stack of dielectric layers and word line layers, pairs of bit lines and source lines spaced apart from one another, a data storage layer covering a sidewall of the alternating stack, and channel layers interposed between the data storage layer and the pairs of bit lines and source lines. The alternating stack includes a staircase structure in a staircase-shaped region, and the staircase structure steps downward from a first direction and includes at least one turn. The pairs of bit lines and source lines extend in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and are in lateral contact with the data storage layer through the channel layers. A semiconductor structure and a method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Shyue Lai, Chien-Hao Huang, Chia-Yu Ling, Katherine H Chiang, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 12176209
    Abstract: A method of making stacked lateral semiconductor devices is disclosed. The method includes depositing a stack of alternating layers of different materials. Slots or holes are cut through the layers for subsequent formation of single crystal semiconductor fences or pillars. When each of the alternating layers of one material are removed space is provided for formation of single crystal semiconductor devices between the remaining layers. The devices are doped as the single crystal silicon is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: TC Lab, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Luan
  • Patent number: 12170277
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a driver cell and at least one transmission cell. The driver cell includes a first active area and a second active area, and a first conductive line coupled to the first active area and the second active area on a back side of the integrated circuit. The at least one transmission cell having a second cell height includes a third active area and a fourth active area, a second conductive line coupled to the third active area and the fourth active area on the back side of the integrated circuit, and a conductor coupled to the third active area and the fourth active area. The integrated circuit further includes a third conductive line coupled between the first conductive line and the second conductive line on the back side to transmit a signal between the driver cell and the at least one transmission cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kam-Tou Sio, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 12167587
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device with an improved electric characteristic and reliability is provided. The semiconductor memory device including a substrate including an active region defined by device separation film, the active region including a first part and second parts, the second parts being on two opposite sides of the first part, respectively a bit line extending on the substrate and across the active region, and a bit line contact between the substrate and the bit line and connected to the first part of the active region may be provided. The bit line contact includes a first ruthenium pattern, and a width of upper surface of the first ruthenium pattern is smaller than a width of bottom surface of the first ruthenium pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang Eun Lee, Suk Hoon Kim, Hyo-Sub Kim
  • Patent number: 12154899
    Abstract: A Darlington pair sensor is disclosed. The Darlington pair sensor has an amplifying/horizontal bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and a sensing/vertical BJT and can be used as a biosensor. The amplifying bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is horizontally disposed on a substrate. The amplifying BJT has a horizontal emitter, a horizontal base, a horizontal collector, and a common extrinsic base/collector. The common extrinsic base/collector is an extrinsic base for the amplifying BJT. The sensing BJT has a vertical orientation with respect to the amplifying BJT. The sensing BJT has a vertical emitter, a vertical base, an extrinsic vertical base, and the common extrinsic base/collector (in common with the amplifying BJT). The common extrinsic base/collector acts as the sensing BJT collector. The extrinsic vertical base is separated into a left extrinsic vertical base and a right extrinsic vertical base giving the sensing BJT has two separated (dual) bases, a sensing base and a control base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Alexander Reznicek, Tak H Ning
  • Patent number: 12148848
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions including an impurity of a first conductivity type and arranged at the semiconductor substrate, a trench arranged between the photoelectric conversion regions, an impurity region including an impurity of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type and arranged along a sidewall of the trench, and a first film arranged at the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and the sidewall of the trench. The impurity region includes a first region with an impurity concentration of a first concentration and a second region with an impurity concentration of a second concentration lower than the first concentration, and a distance between the first surface and the first region is smaller than a distance between the first surface and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kusukawa
  • Patent number: 12142680
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having pillars of semiconductor material arranged in rows extending along a first direction. The rows include spacing regions between the pillars. The rows are spaced from one another by gap regions. Two conductive structures are within each of the gap regions and are spaced apart from one another by a separating region. The separating region has a floor section with an undulating surface that extends across semiconductor segments and insulative segments. The semiconductor segments have upper surfaces which are above upper surfaces of the insulative segments; Transistors include channel regions within the pillars of semiconductor material, and include gates within the conductive structures. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Hong Li, Erica L. Poelstra
  • Patent number: 12137554
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack, etch stop plates located in the staircase region, laterally and vertically spaced apart among one another, and overlying an end portion of a respective one of the electrically conductive layers, and contact via structures located in a staircase region, vertically extending through a respective one of the etch stop plates, and contacting a respective one of the electrically conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Adarsh Rajashekhar, Raghuveer S. Makala, Fei Zhou
  • Patent number: 12127410
    Abstract: A memory device includes a ferroelectric semiconductor channel, a source region contacting a first portion of the ferroelectric semiconductor channel, a drain region located above the source region and contacting a second portion of the ferroelectric semiconductor channel located above the first portion, a word line, and a gate dielectric located between the word line and the ferroelectric semiconductor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Peter Rabkin, Masaaki Higashitani