Patents by Inventor Chih-Ming Lai

Chih-Ming Lai 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).

  • Patent number: 11764068
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a trench pattern is formed in a first layer disposed over an underlying layer, and a first dimension of the trench pattern is reduced by first directional deposition. In the first directional deposition, a deposition rate on a first side wall of the trench pattern extending in a first axis is greater than a deposition rate on a second side wall of the trench pattern extending in a second axis crossing the first axis, the first axis and the second axis being horizontal and parallel to a surface of the underlying layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ru-Gun Liu, Chih-Ming Lai, Wei-Liang Lin, Yung-Sung Yen, Ken-Hsien Hsieh, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20230267973
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is directed to a memory circuit which includes not limited to a first half sense amplifier circuit connected to a first plurality of memory cells through a first bit line and configured to receive a unit of analog electrical signal from each of the first plurality of memory cells and to generate a first half sense amplifier output signal corresponding to the first bit line based on a first gain of the half sense amplifier and an accumulation of the units of analog signals, a locking code register circuit configured to receive a locking data and to generate a digital locking sequence, and a source selector circuit configured to receive the digital locking sequence and to generate a first adjustment signal to adjust the first half sense amplifier output signal corresponding to the first bit line by adjusting the first gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Lin, Fu-Cheng Tsai, Tuo-Hung Hou, Jian-Wei Su, Yu-Hui Lin, Chih-Ming Lai
  • Publication number: 20230247817
    Abstract: A method (of manufacturing fins for a semiconductor device) includes: forming semiconductor fins including ones thereof having a first cap with a first etch sensitivity (first capped fins) and second ones thereof having a second cap with a second etch sensitivity (second capped fins), the first and second etch sensitivities being different; and eliminating selected ones of the first capped fins and selected ones of the second capped fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Chih-Liang CHEN, Chih-Ming LAI, Charles Chew-Yuen YOUNG, Chin-Yuan TSENG, Jiann-Tyng TZENG, Kam-Tou SIO, Ru-Gun LIU, Wei-Liang LIN, L. C. CHOU
  • Publication number: 20230230836
    Abstract: A method of defining a pattern includes forming a plurality of cut shapes and a first plurality of openings within a first layer of a multi-layer hard mask to expose first portions of the second layer. A plurality of etch stops is formed by implanting an etch rate modifying species in a portion of the plurality of cut shapes. The first layer is directionally etched at the plurality of cut shapes such that the plurality of etch stops remain. A spacer layer is formed on the first layer and the first portions. A second plurality of openings is formed within the spacer layer to expose second portions of the second layer. The spacer layer is directionally etched to remove the spacer layer from sidewalls of the plurality of etch stops. Portions of the second layer exposed through the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings are etched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chih-Min HSIAO, Chien-Wen Lai, Shih-chun Huang, Yung-Sung Yen, Chih-Ming Lai, Ru-Gun Liu
  • Patent number: 11704464
    Abstract: A device includes a first cell, a second cell, and first isolation portions. The second cell is adjacent the first cell. The first and second cells are arranged in a first direction, and the first cell includes first and second conductive structures. The first conductive structures extend in the first direction. Each of the first conductive structures has a first end facing the second cell. The second conductive structures extend in the first direction. The first and second conductive structures are alternately arranged in a second direction different from the first direction. The first isolation portions are respectively abutting the first ends of the first conductive structures. Two of the first isolation portions are misaligned with each other in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Peng, Chih-Ming Lai, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11688730
    Abstract: A system that generates a layout diagram has a processor that implements a method, the method including: generating first and second conductor shapes; generating first, second and third cap shapes correspondingly over the first and second conductor shapes; arranging a corresponding one of the second conductor shapes to be interspersed between each pair of neighboring ones of the first conductor shapes; generating first cut patterns over selected portions of corresponding ones of the first cap shapes; and generating second cut patterns over selected portions of corresponding ones of the second cap shapes. In some circumstances, the first cut patterns are designated as selective for a first etch sensitivity corresponding to the first cap shapes; and the second cut patterns are designated as selective for a second etch sensitivity corresponding to the second cap shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kam-Tou Sio, Chih-Liang Chen, Hui-Ting Yang, Shun Li Chen, Ko-Bin Kao, Chih-Ming Lai, Ru-Gun Liu, Charles Chew-Yuen Young
  • Publication number: 20230198184
    Abstract: An electric connector includes a housing, at least one terminal, and at least two elastic members, the housing has at least one through hole, the at least one terminal is located at the at least one through hole and includes two arm parts, the at least two elastic members are clamped by the two arm parts and an inner wall forming the at least one through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming LAI, Yung-Shun KAO
  • Publication number: 20230187434
    Abstract: A method is provided, including the following operations: arranging a first gate structure extending continuously above a first active region and a second active region of a substrate; arranging a first separation spacer disposed on the first gate structure to isolate an electronic signal transmitted through a first gate via and a second gate via that are disposed on the first gate structure, wherein the first gate via and the second gate via are arranged above the first active region and the second active region respectively; and arranging a first local interconnect between the first active region and the second active region, wherein the first local interconnect is electrically coupled to a first contact disposed on the first active region and a second contact disposed on the second active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Charles Chew-Yuen YOUNG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Chih-Ming LAI, Jiann-Tyng TZENG, Shun-Li CHEN, Kam-Tou SIO, Shih-Wei PENG, Chun-Kuang CHEN, Ru-Gun LIU
  • Publication number: 20230178935
    Abstract: A circuit board module including a circuit board body, a connector, and a release component is provided. The connector is disposed on the circuit board body and includes a base body and a rotating button rotatably disposed on the base body. The release component is disposed on the circuit board body and includes a linking member. The linking member is movably disposed beside the rotating button and does not contact the rotating button under normal conditions. When an external force triggers the release component, the linking member is driven to contact the rotating button, so that the rotating button rotates relative to the base body. In addition, a release component is also mentioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Lai, Yung-Shun Kao
  • Publication number: 20230180389
    Abstract: A circuit board module includes a circuit board body, a connector, a press button, a bracket, and a linkage. The connector includes a base and a rotating button rotatably disposed on the base. The press button is located away from the connector. The bracket includes a first limiting portion. The linkage is located between the rotating button and the press button and includes a second limiting portion corresponding to the first limiting portion, a first segment, and a second segment linked to the first segment. The first segment extends along a first axis and is linked to the rotating button. The second segment extends along a second axis and is linked to the press button. One of the second limiting portion and the first limiting portion extends along the first axis. The first segment is movably disposed on the bracket along the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Lai, Yung-Shun Kao
  • Publication number: 20230180418
    Abstract: A remote releasing module includes a bracket, a toggle button, and a moving member. The bracket includes a first end portion and a second end portion away from each other. The toggle button is pivotally connected to the first end portion of the bracket and includes a first driving portion. The moving member is movably disposed on the bracket and extends from a position close to the first end portion to the second end portion. The moving member includes a second driving portion disposed on the first driving portion so as to drive the toggle button to move. A circuit board device including a circuit board body, a connector slot, and the remote releasing module is also provided. The connector slot is disposed on the circuit board body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Lai, Yung-Shun Kao
  • Patent number: 11637064
    Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit a having an advanced two-dimensional (2D) metal connection with metal cut and methods of fabricating the same are provided. An example method for fabricating a conductive interconnection layer of an integrated circuit may include: patterning a conductive connector portion on the conductive interconnection layer of the integrated circuit using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, wherein the conductive connector portion is patterned to extend across multiple semiconductor structures in a different layer of the integrated circuit; and cutting the conductive connector portion into a plurality of conductive connector sections, wherein the conductive connector portion is cut by removing conductive material from the metal connector portion at one or more locations between the semiconductor structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chih-Liang Chen, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Ming Lai, Chia-Tien Wu, Charles Chew-Yuen Young, Hui-Ting Yang, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Kam-Tou Sio, Ru-Gun Liu, Shun Li Chen, Shih-Wei Peng, Tien-Lu Lin
  • Patent number: 11616067
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method (of manufacturing fins for a semiconductor device) includes: forming a first layer (on a semiconductor substrate) that has first spacers and etch stop layer (ESL) portions which are interspersed; forming second spacers on central regions of the first spacers and the ESL portions; removing exposed regions of the first spacers and the ESL portions and corresponding underlying portions of the semiconductor substrate; removing the second spacers resulting in corresponding first capped semiconductor fins and second capped semiconductor fins that are organized into first and second sets; each member of the first set having a first cap with a first etch sensitivity; and each member of the second set having a second cap with a different second etch sensitivity; and eliminating selected ones of the first capped semiconductor fins and selected ones of the second capped semiconductor fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Liang Chen, Chih-Ming Lai, Charles Chew-Yuen Young, Chin-Yuan Tseng, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Kam-Tou Sio, Ru-Gun Liu, Wei-Liang Lin, L. C. Chou
  • Publication number: 20230091869
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes various non-planar semiconductor devices, such as fin field-effect transistors (finFETs) to provide an example, having one or more metal rail conductors and various methods for fabricating these non-planar semiconductor devices. In some situations, the one or more metal rail conductors can be electrically connected to gate, source, and/or drain regions of these various non-planar semiconductor devices. In these situations, the one or more metal rail conductors can be utilized to electrically connect the gate, the source, and/or the drain regions of various non-planar semiconductor devices to other gate, source, and/or drain regions of various non-planar semiconductor devices and/or other semiconductor devices. However, in other situations, the one or more metal rail conductors can be isolated from the gate, the source, and/or the drain regions these various non-planar semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Liang CHEN, Chih-Ming LAI, Ching-Wei TSAI, Charles Chew-Yuen YOUNG, Jiann-Tyng TZENG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Ru-Gun LIU, Wei-Hao WU, Yi-Hsiung LIN, Chia-Hao CHANG, Lei-Chun CHOU
  • Patent number: 11610778
    Abstract: A method of defining a pattern includes forming a plurality of cut shapes and a first plurality of openings within a first layer of a multi-layer hard mask to expose first portions of the second layer. A plurality of etch stops is formed by implanting an etch rate modifying species in a portion of the plurality of cut shapes. The first layer is directionally etched at the plurality of cut shapes such that the plurality of etch stops remain. A spacer layer is formed on the first layer and the first portions. A second plurality of openings is formed within the spacer layer to expose second portions of the second layer. The spacer layer is directionally etched to remove the spacer layer from sidewalls of the plurality of etch stops. Portions of the second layer exposed through the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings are etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Min Hsiao, Chien-Wen Lai, Shih-Chun Huang, Yung-Sung Yen, Chih-Ming Lai, Ru-Gun Liu
  • Publication number: 20230060387
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and second active region, a first conductive structure, an insulating region, a set of gates and a set of contacts. The first and second active region are in a substrate, extend in a first direction, are located on a first level, and being separated from one another in a second direction. The first conductive structure extends in the first direction, is located on the first level, and is between the first and second active region. The insulating region is located on at least the first level, and is between the first and second active region and the first conductive structure. The set of gates extend in the second direction, overlap the first conductive structure, and is located on a second level. The set of contacts extend in the second direction, overlap the first conductive structure, and is located on the second level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Pochun WANG, Ting-Wei CHIANG, Chih-Ming LAI, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Jung-Chan YANG, Ru-Gun LIU, Ya-Chi CHOU, Yi-Hsiung LIN, Yu-Xuan HUANG, Yu-Jung CHANG, Guo-Huei WU, Shih-Ming CHANG
  • Patent number: 11581300
    Abstract: A method is disclosed, including the following operations: arranging a first gate structure extending continuously above a first active region and a second active region of a substrate; arranging a first separation spacer disposed on the first gate structure to isolate an electronic signal transmitted through a first gate via and a second gate via that are disposed on the first gate structure, in which the first gate via and the second gate via are arranged above the first active region and the second active region respectively; and arranging a first local interconnect between the first active region and the second active region, in which the first local interconnect is electrically coupled to a first contact disposed on the first active region and a second contact disposed on the second active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Charles Chew-Yuen Young, Chih-Liang Chen, Chih-Ming Lai, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Shun-Li Chen, Kam-Tou Sio, Shih-Wei Peng, Chun-Kuang Chen, Ru-Gun Liu
  • Patent number: 11548578
    Abstract: A modular vehicle body includes a pair of outer frames. An inner board space with a fixed width is defined between the outer frames. Each outer frame includes a front side board and a door sill. The front side board includes a main board provided with a vertical board having a predetermined width. A first flange is provided on a side of the vertical board. The door sill includes an inner board provided with a horizontal board having a predetermined width. A second flange is provided on a side of the horizontal board. The inner board is fixedly coupled to the main board. The first flange and the second flange form an outer edge. A width between the outer edges of the pair of outer frames is set to correspond to a width of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Foxtron Vehicle Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hong Chen, Kai-Wei Tseng, Chih-Ming Lai
  • Patent number: 11538754
    Abstract: Methods and devices are described herein for random cut patterning. A first metal line and a second metal line are formed within a cell of a substrate and extend in a vertical direction. A third metal line and a fourth metal line are formed within the cell and are perpendicular to the first metal line and the second metal line, respectively. A first circular region at one end of the first metal line is formed using a first patterning technique and a second circular region at one end of the second metal line is formed using a second patterning technique. The first circular region is laterally extended using a second patterning technique to form the third metal line and the second circular region is laterally extended using the second patterning technique to form the fourth metal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Peng, Wei-Cheng Lin, Chih-Ming Lai, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 11532482
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes depositing a first material on a substrate, depositing on the substrate a second material that has an etch selectivity different from an etch selectively of the first material, depositing a spacer material on the first and second material, and etching the substrate using the spacer material as an etch mask to form a fin under the first material and a fin under the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Lei-Chun Chou, Chih-Liang Chen, Chih-Ming Lai, Charles Chew-Yuen Young, Chin-Yuan Tseng, Hsin-Chih Chen, Shi Ning Ju, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Kam-Tou Sio, Ru-Gun Liu, Wei-Cheng Lin, Wei-Liang Lin