Patents Examined by Tong-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 12148805
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an epitaxial region having a front side and a backside. The semiconductor structure includes an amorphous layer formed over the backside of the epitaxial region, wherein the amorphous layer includes silicon. The semiconductor structure includes a first silicide layer formed over the amorphous layer. The semiconductor structure includes a first metal contact formed over the first silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Chuan Chiu, Huan-Chieh Su, Pei-Yu Wang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chun-Yuan Chen, Li-Zhen Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 12148837
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first interconnect structure including metallization patterns; a second interconnect structure including a power rail; a device layer between the first interconnect structure and the second interconnect structure, the device layer including a first transistor, the first transistor including an epitaxial source/drain region; and a conductive via extending through the device layer, the conductive via connecting the power rail to the metallization patterns, the conductive via contacting the epitaxial source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Bo Liao, Yu-Xuan Huang, Pei-Yu Wang, Cheng-Ting Chung, Ching-Wei Tsai, Hou-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 12150303
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. The wordline levels have conductive terminal ends within control gate regions. The control gate regions are vertically spaced from one another by first insulative regions which include first insulative material. Charge-storage material is laterally outward of the conductive terminal ends, and is configured as segments. The segments of the charge-storage material are arranged one atop another and are vertically spaced from one another by second insulative regions which include second insulative material. The second insulative material has a different dielectric constant than the first insulative material. Charge-tunneling material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the segments of the charge-trapping material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the charge-tunneling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Inventors: Byeung Chul Kim, Francois H. Fabreguette, Richard J. Hill, Purnima Narayanan, Shyam Surthi
  • Patent number: 12148810
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having improved gate electrode structures and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate structure over a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure including a high-k dielectric layer; an n-type work function layer over the high-k dielectric layer; an anti-reaction layer over the n-type work function layer, the anti-reaction layer including a dielectric material; a p-type work function layer over the anti-reaction layer, the p-type work function layer covering top surfaces of the anti-reaction layer; and a conductive cap layer over the p-type work function layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hang Chiu, Chung-Chiang Wu, Jo-Chun Hung, Wei-Cheng Wang, Kuan-Ting Liu, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12148745
    Abstract: The disclosed circuit includes a first and a second active region (AR) spaced a spacing S along a direction in a first standard cell (SC) that spans Dl along the direction between a first and a second cell edge (CE). Each of the first and second ARs spans a first width W1 along the direction; a third and a fourth AR spaced S in a second SC that spans a second dimension Ds along the direction between a third and a fourth CE; and gate stacks extend from the fourth CE of the second SC to the first CE of the first SC, wherein Ds<Dl; each of the third and fourth ARs spans a second width W2 along the direction; W2<W1; and the third CE is aligned with and contacts the second CE. The first and second ARs have a structure different from the third and fourth ARs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Wang, Shang-Wen Chang, Min Cao
  • Patent number: 12148750
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first channel structure configured to transport charge carriers within a first transistor device and a first gate electrode layer wrapping around the first channel structure. A second channel structure is configured to transport charge carriers within a second transistor device. A second gate electrode layer wraps around the second channel structure. The second gate electrode layer continuously extends from around the second channel structure to cover the first gate electrode layer. A third channel structure is configured to transport charge carriers within a third transistor device. A third gate electrode layer wraps around the third channel structure. The third gate electrode layer continuously extends from around the third channel structure to cover the second gate electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mao-Lin Huang, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Jia-Ni Yu, Lung-Kun Chu, Chung-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 12142650
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second isolation regions, a first active region extending in a first direction between the first and second isolation regions, a first fin pattern on the first active region, nanowires on the first fin pattern, a gate electrode in a second direction on the first fin pattern, the gate electrode surrounding the nanowires, a first source/drain region on a side of the gate electrode, the first source/drain region being on the first active region and in contact with the nanowires, and a first source/drain contact on the first source/drain region, the first source/drain contact including a first portion on a top surface of the first source/drain region, and a second portion extending toward the first active region along a sidewall of the first source/drain region, an end of the first source/drain contact being on one of the first and second isolation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee, Chang Woo Sohn, Keun Hwi Cho, Sang Won Baek
  • Patent number: 12142627
    Abstract: The wiring is configured so that both ends of a region including each of a plurality of pixel circuits in a first direction and both ends of the region in a second direction intersecting the first direction are connected by a combination of a wiring layer group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuharu Ota, Tomoya Sasago
  • Patent number: 12143093
    Abstract: A substrate for a surface acoustic wave device or bulk acoustic wave device, comprising a support substrate and an piezoelectric layer on the support substrate, wherein the support substrate comprises a semiconductor layer on a stiffening substrate having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is closer to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the piezoelectric layer than that of silicon, the semiconductor layer being arranged between the piezoelectric layer and the stiffening substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Marcel Broekaart, Thierry Barge, Pascal Guenard, Ionut Radu, Eric Desbonnets, Oleg Kononchuk
  • Patent number: 12142659
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a p-type transistor including: a first channel region; a first gate dielectric layer on the first channel region; a tungsten-containing work function tuning layer on the first gate dielectric layer; and a first fill layer on the tungsten-containing work function tuning layer; and an n-type transistor including: a second channel region; a second gate dielectric layer on the second channel region; a tungsten-free work function tuning layer on the second gate dielectric layer; and a second fill layer on the tungsten-free work function tuning layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12131999
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having an active region, a first group of standard cells arranged in a first row on the active region of the substrate and having a first height defined in a column direction, a second group of standard cells arranged in a second row on the active region of the substrate, and having a second height, and a plurality of power lines extending in a row direction and respectively extending along boundaries of the first and the second groups of standard cells. The first and second groups of standard cells each further include a plurality of wiring lines extending in the row direction and arranged in the column direction, and at least some of wiring lines in at least one standard cell of the first and second groups of standard cells are arranged at different spacings and/or pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungho Do, Sanghoon Baek
  • Patent number: 12131955
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of gate structures and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures disposed on first and second nanostructured channel regions, respectively. The first gate structure includes a nWFM layer disposed on the first nanostructured channel region, a barrier layer disposed on the nWFM layer, a first pWFM layer disposed on the barrier layer, and a first gate fill layer disposed on the first pWFM layer. Sidewalls of the first gate fill layer are in physical contact with the barrier layer. The second gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer disposed on the second nanostructured channel region, a second pWFM layer disposed on the gate dielectric layer, and a second gate fill layer disposed on the pWFM layer. Sidewalls of the second gate fill layer are in physical contact with the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Liang Cheng
  • Patent number: 12131954
    Abstract: A method includes forming Complementary Field-Effect Transistors including a lower transistor comprising a lower source/drain region, and an upper transistor including an upper source/drain region. An upper dielectric layer over the upper source/drain region and a lower dielectric layer under the upper source/drain region are etched to form an opening. A sidewall of the upper source/drain region and a top surface of the lower source/drain region are exposed to the opening. An epitaxy process is performed to form a first semiconductor layer on the sidewall of the upper source/drain region, and a second semiconductor layer on the top surface of the lower source/drain region. The first semiconductor layer is then removed. A contact plug is formed in the opening to electrically connects the upper source/drain region to the second semiconductor layer and the lower source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che Chi Shih, Hsin Yang Hung, Ku-Feng Yang, Wei-Yen Woon, Szuya Liao
  • Patent number: 12132120
    Abstract: A thin film transistor and a display panel are provided. A first dimension of a first transmission portion electrically connected to a source heavily-doped portion is different from a second dimension of a second transmission portion electrically connected to a drain heavily-doped portion, so that an intensity of an electric field of carriers transmitted by the transmission portion corresponding to the larger one of the first dimension or the second dimension is smaller when the thin film transistor is turned on, thereby reducing the bombardment effect of the carriers on a source or a drain and improving the stability of thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Inventors: Hong Cheng, Chao Tian, Yanqing Guan, Guanghui Liu
  • Patent number: 12125921
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first dielectric layer, a gate electrode embedded within the first dielectric layer, a layer stack including a gate dielectric layer, a channel layer including a semiconducting metal oxide material, and a second dielectric layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode embedded in the second dielectric layer and contacting a respective portion of a top surface of the channel layer. A combination of the gate electrode, the gate dielectric layer, the channel layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode forms a transistor. The total length of the periphery of a bottom surface of the channel layer that overlies the gate electrode is equal to the width of the gate electrode or twice the width of the gate electrode, and resputtering of the gate electrode material on sidewalls of the channel layer is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yong-Jie Wu, Hui-Hsien Wei, Yen-Chung Ho, Mauricio Manfrini, Chia-Jung Yu, Chung-Te Lin, Pin-Cheng Hsu
  • Patent number: 12125922
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin protruding above a substrate; source/drain regions over the fin; nanosheets between the source/drain regions, where the nanosheets comprise a first semiconductor material; inner spacers between the nanosheets and at opposite ends of the nanosheets, where there is an air gap between each of the inner spacers and a respective source/drain region of the source/drain regions; and a gate structure over the fin and between the source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Bo-Feng Young, Chien Ning Yao, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12119350
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a base and conductive channel structure which includes first and second conductive channel layers and conductive buffer layer. The first conductive channel layer includes a first conductive channel, first and second doped regions on both sides of the first conductive channel; the second conductive channel layer includes a second conductive channel and third and fourth doped regions on both sides of the second conductive channel; the conductive buffer layer reduces electrical interference between the first and third doped regions. The semiconductor structure further includes a first wire layer disposed on the base extending in a direction and in contact with the second doped region; a second wire layer extending in another direction and in contact with the first and third doped regions; and a gate structure disposed around the first and second conductive channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kui Zhang, Xin Li, Zhan Ying
  • Patent number: 12119409
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes: a gate dielectric; a first layer adjacent to the gate dielectric; a second layer adjacent to the first layer, the second layer comprising an amorphous material; a third layer adjacent to the second layer, the third layer comprising a crystalline material; and a source or drain at least partially adjacent to the third layer. In some cases, the crystalline material of the third layer is a first crystalline material, and the first layer comprises a second crystalline material, which may be the same as or different from the first crystalline material. In some cases, the gate dielectric includes a high-K dielectric material. In some cases, the gate dielectric, the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the source or drain are part of a back-gate transistor structure (e.g., back-gate TFT), which may be part of a memory structure (e.g., located within an interconnect structure).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Van H. Le, Abhishek A. Sharma, Gilbert Dewey, Kent Millard, Jack Kavalieros, Shriram Shivaraman, Tristan A. Tronic, Sanaz Gardner, Justin R. Weber, Tahir Ghani, Li Huey Tan, Kevin Lin
  • Patent number: 12113116
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin, a silicon layer, a gate structure, gate spacers, and source/drain structures. The semiconductor fin is over the substrate. The silicon layer is over the semiconductor fin. The gate structure is over the silicon layer, in which the gate structure includes an interfacial layer over the silicon layer, a gate dielectric layer over the interfacial layer, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer. The gate spacers are on opposite sidewalls of the gate structure and in contact with the interfacial layer of the gate structure, in which a bottom surface of the interfacial layer is higher than bottom surfaces of the gate spacers. The source/drain structures are on opposite sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Inventors: Hsien-Wen Wan, Yi-Ting Cheng, Ming-Hwei Hong, Juei-Nai Kwo, Bo-Yu Yang, Yu-Jie Hong
  • Patent number: 12114549
    Abstract: A display device includes a substrate, a display area disposed on the substrate and including a plurality of pixels and data lines, a peripheral area disposed outside the display area of the substrate, a pad portion disposed in the peripheral area, an encapsulation layer disposed in the peripheral area and the display area, and disposed on the plurality of pixels of the display area, a crack detection circuit disposed in the peripheral area, and a first crack detection line connected with the pad portion and the crack detection circuit. The first crack detection line is disposed on the encapsulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyong Tae Park, Chul-Hwan Park, Sun-Kyo Jung, Sung Ho Cho