Patents by Inventor Chao-I Wu

Chao-I Wu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240357826
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Han-Jong Chia
  • Publication number: 20240357838
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a stacking structure, memory pillars, and conductive pillars. The stacking structure includes stacking layers stacked along a vertical direction, each stacking layer including a gate layer, a gate dielectric layer, and a channel layer. The gate layer, the gate dielectric layer, and the channel layer extend along a horizontal direction, and the gate dielectric layer is disposed between the gate layer and the channel layer. The memory pillars extend along the vertical direction and are laterally separated and in contact with the channel layer of each stacking layer. Each memory pillar comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a switching layer between the first and second electrodes. The conductive pillars extend along the vertical direction and are laterally separated and in contact with the channel layer of each stacking layer. The memory pillars and the conductive pillars are alternately arranged along the horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 12114513
    Abstract: A memory device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The memory device includes word lines, channel layer, gate dielectric layers, a conductive pillar and a storage pillar. The word lines extend along a first direction over a substrate, and are vertically spaced apart from one another. The channel layers respectively line along a sidewall of one of the word lines. The gate dielectric layers respectively line between one of the word lines and one of the channel layers. The conductive pillar and the storage pillar penetrate through the channel layers. The storage pillar includes an inner electrode, a switching layer and an outer electrode. The switching layer wraps around the inner electrode. The outer electrode laterally surrounds the switching layer, and includes annulus portions vertically spaced apart from one another and each in lateral contact with a corresponding one of the channel layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Publication number: 20240331754
    Abstract: 3D memory arrays including dummy conductive lines and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a memory array includes a ferroelectric (FE) material over a semiconductor substrate, the FE material including vertical sidewalls in contact with a word line; an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer over the FE material, the OS layer contacting a source line and a bit line, the FE material being between the OS layer and the word line; a transistor including a portion of the FE material, a portion of the word line, a portion of the OS layer, a portion of the source line, and a portion of the bit line; and a first dummy word line between the transistor and the semiconductor substrate, the FE material further including first tapered sidewalls in contact with the first dummy word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Bo-Feng Young, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chao-I Wu, Sheng-Chen Wang, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Publication number: 20240334718
    Abstract: A memory array includes hybrid memory cells, wherein each hybrid memory cell includes a transistor-type memory including a memory film extending on a gate electrode; a channel layer extending on the memory film; a first source/drain electrode extending on the channel layer; and a second source/drain electrode extending along the channel layer; and a resistive-type memory including a resistive memory layer, wherein the resistive memory layer extends between the second source/drain electrode and the channel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Publication number: 20240334708
    Abstract: A memory device includes: a first layer stack and a second layer stack formed successively over a substrate, where each of the first and the second layer stacks includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a first dielectric material between the first and the second metal layers; a second dielectric material between the first and the second layer stacks; a gate electrode extending through the first and the second layer stacks, and through the second dielectric material; a ferroelectric material extending along and contacting a sidewall of the gate electrode; and a channel material, where a first portion and a second portion of the channel material extend along and contact a first sidewall of the first layer stack and a second sidewall of the second layer stack, respectively, where the first portion and the second portion of the channel material are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin, Han-Jong Chia
  • Patent number: 12106814
    Abstract: A method of testing a three dimensional (3D) memory cell array includes writing data to each layer of memory cells in the 3D memory cell array, simultaneously performing a read operation of each memory cell in at least a first pillar of the 3D memory cell array, determining whether a memory cell in the 3D memory cell array has failed in response to the read operation, and replacing at least one failed memory cell in the 3D memory cell array with a spare memory cell in response to determining that the memory cell in the 3D memory cell array has failed. The first pillar includes memory cells on each corresponding layer of the 3D memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Shih-Lien Linus Lu, Sai-Hooi Yeong
  • Publication number: 20240315153
    Abstract: A memory device and a programming method of the memory device are provided. The memory device includes a bottom electrode, a heater, a phase change layer and a top electrode. The heater is disposed on the bottom electrode, and includes heat conducting materials different from one another in terms of electrical resistivity. A first one of the heat conducting materials has a periphery wall portion and a bottom plate portion connected to and surrounded by the periphery wall portion. A second one of the heat conducting materials is disposed on the bottom plate portion of the first one of the heat conducting materials, and laterally surrounded by the periphery wall portion of the first one of the heat conducting materials. The phase change layer is disposed on the heater and in contact with the heat conducting materials. The top electrode is disposed on the phase change layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-I Wu
  • Patent number: 12069871
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a stacking structure, memory pillars, and conductive pillars. The stacking structure includes stacking layers stacked along a vertical direction, each stacking layer including a gate layer, a gate dielectric layer, and a channel layer. The gate layer, the gate dielectric layer, and the channel layer extend along a horizontal direction, and the gate dielectric layer is disposed between the gate layer and the channel layer. The memory pillars extend along the vertical direction and are laterally separated and in contact with the channel layer of each stacking layer. Each memory pillar comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a switching layer between the first and second electrodes. The conductive pillars extend along the vertical direction and are laterally separated and in contact with the channel layer of each stacking layer. The memory pillars and the conductive pillars are alternately arranged along the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 12058867
    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: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Han-Jong Chia, Yu-Ming Lin, Sai-Hooi Yeong
  • Patent number: 12041793
    Abstract: A memory array includes hybrid memory cells, wherein each hybrid memory cell includes a transistor-type memory including a memory film extending on a gate electrode; a channel layer extending on the memory film; a first source/drain electrode extending on the channel layer; and a second source/drain electrode extending along the channel layer; and a resistive-type memory including a resistive memory layer, wherein the resistive memory layer extends between the second source/drain electrode and the channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 12040006
    Abstract: 3D memory arrays including dummy conductive lines and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a memory array includes a ferroelectric (FE) material over a semiconductor substrate, the FE material including vertical sidewalls in contact with a word line; an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer over the FE material, the OS layer contacting a source line and a bit line, the FE material being between the OS layer and the word line; a transistor including a portion of the FE material, a portion of the word line, a portion of the OS layer, a portion of the source line, and a portion of the bit line; and a first dummy word line between the transistor and the semiconductor substrate, the FE material further including first tapered sidewalls in contact with the first dummy word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo-Feng Young, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chao-I Wu, Sheng-Chen Wang, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 12041781
    Abstract: A memory device includes: a first layer stack and a second layer stack formed successively over a substrate, where each of the first and the second layer stacks includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a first dielectric material between the first and the second metal layers; a second dielectric material between the first and the second layer stacks; a gate electrode extending through the first and the second layer stacks, and through the second dielectric material; a ferroelectric material extending along and contacting a sidewall of the gate electrode; and a channel material, where a first portion and a second portion of the channel material extend along and contact a first sidewall of the first layer stack and a second sidewall of the second layer stack, respectively, where the first portion and the second portion of the channel material are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin, Han-Jong Chia
  • Patent number: 12029143
    Abstract: A memory device and a programming method of the memory device are provided. The memory device includes a bottom electrode, a heater, a phase change layer and a top electrode. The heater is disposed on the bottom electrode, and includes heat conducting materials different from one another in terms of electrical resistivity. A first one of the heat conducting materials has a periphery wall portion and a bottom plate portion connected to and surrounded by the periphery wall portion. A second one of the heat conducting materials is disposed on the bottom plate portion of the first one of the heat conducting materials, and laterally surrounded by the periphery wall portion of the first one of the heat conducting materials. The phase change layer is disposed on the heater and in contact with the heat conducting materials. The top electrode is disposed on the phase change layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-I Wu
  • Publication number: 20240215254
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Han-Jong Chia
  • Patent number: 11980036
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, an interconnection structure disposed over the substrate and a first memory cell. The first memory cell is disposed over the substrate and embedded in dielectric layers of the interconnection structure. The first memory cell includes a first transistor and a first data storage structure. The first transistor is disposed on a first base dielectric layer and embedded in a first dielectric layer. The first data storage structure is embedded in a second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first transistor. The first data storage structure includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a storage layer sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin, Han-Jong Chia
  • Publication number: 20240147732
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, an interconnection structure disposed over the substrate and a first memory cell. The first memory cell is disposed over the substrate and embedded in dielectric layers of the interconnection structure. The first memory cell includes a first transistor and a first data storage structure. The first transistor is disposed on a first base dielectric layer and embedded in a first dielectric layer. The first data storage structure is embedded in a second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first transistor. The first data storage structure includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a storage layer sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin, Han-Jong Chia
  • Publication number: 20240147738
    Abstract: A memory device and method of forming the same are provided. The memory device includes a first memory cell disposed over a substrate. The first memory cell includes a transistor and a data storage structure coupled to the transistor. The transistor includes a gate pillar structure, a channel layer laterally wrapping around the gate pillar structure, a source electrode surrounding the channel layer, and a drain electrode surrounding the channel layer. The drain electrode is separated from the source electrode a dielectric layer therebetween. The data storage structure includes a data storage layer surrounding the channel layer and sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode. The drain electrode of the transistor and the first electrode of the data storage structure share a common conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Chao-I Wu, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Publication number: 20240145011
    Abstract: An integrated chip including a substrate. A gate layer is over the substrate. A channel layer is over the substrate and vertically spaced apart from the gate layer. A ferroelectric layer is directly between the channel layer and the gate layer. A pair of source/drain electrodes are laterally spaced apart over the channel layer. A plurality of charge traps are along an interface between the ferroelectric layer and the channel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventor: Chao-I Wu
  • 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