Patents by Inventor Chun-Ren Cheng

Chun-Ren Cheng 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: 10502706
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biological field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET device includes a plurality of micro wells having a sensing gate bottom and a number of stacked well portions. A bottom surface area of a well portion is different from a top surface area of a well portion directly below. The micro wells are formed by multiple etching operations through different materials, including a sacrificial plug, to expose the sensing gate without plasma induced damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng, Shih-Wei Lin, Yi-Shao Liu
  • Patent number: 10473616
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bio-field effect transistor (BioFET) device and methods of fabricating a BioFET and a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET device includes a gate structure disposed on a first surface of a substrate and an interface layer formed on a second surface of the substrate. The substrate is thinned from the second surface to expose a channel region before forming the interface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Shao Liu, Chun-Ren Cheng, Ching-Ray Chen, Yi-Hsien Chang, Fei-Lung Lai, Chun-Wen Cheng
  • Patent number: 10429341
    Abstract: A method for testing a partially fabricated bio-sensor device wafer includes aligning the partially fabricated bio-sensor device wafer on a wafer stage of a wafer-level bio-sensor processing tool. The method further includes mounting an integrated electro-microfluidic probe card to a device area on the partially fabricated bio-sensor device wafer, wherein the electro-microfluidic probe card has a first major surface. The method further includes electrically connecting one or more electronic probe tips disposed on the first major surface of the integrated electro-microfluidic probe card to conductive areas of the device area. The method further includes flowing a test fluid from a fluid supply to the integrated electro-microfluidic probe card. The method further includes electrically measuring via the one or more electronic probe tips a first electrical property of one or more bio-FETs of the device area based on the test fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Shao Liu, Fei-Lung Lai, Chun-Ren Cheng, Chun-Wen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20190256910
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device for manipulating and processing bio-entity samples and methods are described. The device includes a lower substrate, at least one optical signal conduit disposed on the lower substrate, at least one cap bonding pad disposed on the lower substrate, a cap configured to form a capped area, and disposed on the at least one cap bonding pad, a fluidic channel, wherein a first side of the fluidic channel is formed on the lower substrate and a second side of the fluidic channel is formed on the cap, a photosensor array coupled to sensor control circuitry, and logic circuitry coupled to the fluidic control circuitry, and the sensor control circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Allen Timothy Chang, Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng
  • Publication number: 20190256347
    Abstract: A method includes forming a recess in a first substrate, bonding a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) substrate to the first substrate after forming the recess in the first substrate, forming an anti-stiction layer over the micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) substrate, pattering the anti-stiction layer, etching the MEMS substrate to form a MEMS device, and bonding the MEMS device and the first substrate to a second substrate. The patterned anti-stiction layer is between the MEMS device and the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien CHANG, Tzu-Heng WU, Chun-Ren CHENG, Shih-Wei LIN, Jung-Kuo TU
  • Patent number: 10280456
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device for manipulating and processing bio-entity samples and methods are described. The device includes a lower substrate, at least one optical signal conduit disposed on the lower substrate, at least one cap bonding pad disposed on the lower substrate, a cap configured to form a capped area, and disposed on the at least one cap bonding pad, a fluidic channel, wherein a first side of the fluidic channel is formed on the lower substrate and a second side of the fluidic channel is formed on the cap, a photosensor array coupled to sensor control circuitry, and logic circuitry coupled to the fluidic control circuitry, and the sensor control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Allen Timothy Chang, Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng
  • Patent number: 10273140
    Abstract: A substrate structure for a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) device, a semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. In various embodiments, the substrate structure for the MEMS device includes a substrate, the MEMS device, and an anti-stiction layer. The MEMS device is over the substrate. The anti-stiction layer is on a surface of the MEMS device, and includes amorphous carbon, polytetrafluoroethene, hafnium oxide, tantalum oxide, zirconium oxide, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Chang, Tzu-Heng Wu, Chun-Ren Cheng, Shih-Wei Lin, Jung-Kuo Tu
  • Publication number: 20190101531
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides biochips and methods of fabricating biochips. The method includes combining three portions: a transparent substrate, a first substrate with microfluidic channels therein, and a second substrate. Through-holes for inlet and outlet are formed in the transparent substrate or the second substrate. Various non-organic landings with support medium for bio-materials to attach are formed on the first substrate and the second substrate before they are combined. In other embodiments, the microfluidic channel is formed of an adhesion layer between a transparent substrate and a second substrate with landings on the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Chia-Hua Chu, Allen Timothy Chang, Ching-Ray Chen, Yi-Hsien Chang, Yi-Shao Liu, Chun-Ren Cheng, Chun-Wen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20190033252
    Abstract: A bioFET device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposite, parallel second surface and a plurality of bioFET sensors on the semiconductor substrate. Each of the bioFET sensors includes a gate formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and a channel region formed within the semiconductor substrate beneath the gate and between source/drain (S/D) regions in the semiconductor substrate. The channel region includes a portion of the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. An isolation layer is disposed on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. The isolation layer has an opening positioned over the channel region of more than one bioFET sensor of the plurality of bioFET sensors. An interface layer is disposed on the channel region of the more than one bioFET sensor in the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Jui-Cheng HUANG, Yi-Hsien CHANG, Chin-Hua WEN, Chun-Ren CHENG, Shih-Fen HUANG, Tung-Tsun CHEN, Yu-Jie HUANG, Ching-Hui LIN, Sean CHENG, Hector CHANG
  • Patent number: 10145847
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides biochips and methods of fabricating biochips. The method includes combining three portions: a transparent substrate, a first substrate with microfluidic channels therein, and a second substrate. Through-holes for inlet and outlet are formed in the transparent substrate or the second substrate. Various non-organic landings with support medium for bio-materials to attach are formed on the first substrate and the second substrate before they are combined. In other embodiments, the microfluidic channel is formed of an adhesion layer between a transparent substrate and a second substrate with landings on the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hua Chu, Allen Timothy Chang, Ching-Ray Chen, Yi-Hsien Chang, Yi-Shao Liu, Chun-Ren Cheng, Chun-Wen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20180311955
    Abstract: MEMS devices and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In one embodiment, the MEMS device includes a bottom alloy layer disposed over a substrate. An inner material layer is disposed on the bottom alloy layer, and a top alloy layer is disposed on the inner material layer, the top and bottom alloy layers including an alloy of at least two metals, wherein the inner material layer includes the alloy and nitrogen. The top alloy layer, the inner material layer, and the bottom alloy layer form a MEMS feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jung-Huei Peng, Chun-Ren Cheng, Jiou-Kang Lee, Shang-Ying Tsai, Ting-Hau Wu
  • Patent number: 10101295
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a biosensor with an on-chip reference electrode embedded within the semiconductor device, and associated manufacturing methods are provided. In some embodiments, a pair of source/drain regions is disposed within a device substrate and separated by a channel region. An isolation layer is disposed over the device substrate. A sensing well is disposed from an upper surface of the isolation layer overlying the channel region. A bio-sensing film is disposed along the upper surface of the isolation layer and extended along sidewall and lower surfaces of the sensing well. A reference electrode is disposed vertically between the bio-sensing film and the isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng, Shih-Fen Huang, Ching-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 10077187
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing method includes providing a wafer. A layer is formed over a surface of the wafer where the layer is able to form a eutectic layer with a conductive element. The layer is partially removed so as to form a plurality of mesas. The wafer is bonded to a substrate through the plurality of mesas. The substrate is thinned down to a thickness so as to be less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Chen Yen, Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng
  • Publication number: 20180195998
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bio-field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET device may include a substrate; a gate structure disposed on a first surface of the substrate and an interface layer formed on the second surface of the substrate. The interface layer may allow for a receptor to be placed on the interface layer to detect the presence of a biomolecule or bio-entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Yi-Shao Liu, Kai-Chih Liang, Chia-Hua Chu, Chun-Ren Cheng, Chun-Wen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20180195999
    Abstract: A method of sensing a biological sample includes introducing a fluid containing the biological sample through a first opening in a substrate. The method further includes passing the fluid from the first opening to a first cavity through at least one microfluidic channel. The method further includes repelling the biological sample from a first surface of the first cavity using a first surface modification layer. The method further includes attracting the biological sample to a sensing device using a plurality of modified surface patterns, wherein a first modified surface pattern of the plurality of modified surface patterns has different surface properties from a second modified surface pattern of the plurality of modified surface patterns. The method further includes outputting the fluid through a second opening in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Yi-Shao LIU, Chun-Wen CHENG, Chun-Ren CHENG
  • Publication number: 20180172627
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a biosensor with an on-chip reference electrode embedded within the semiconductor device, and associated manufacturing methods are provided. In some embodiments, a pair of source/drain regions is disposed within a device substrate and separated by a channel region. An isolation layer is disposed over the device substrate. A sensing well is disposed from an upper surface of the isolation layer overlying the channel region. A bio-sensing film is disposed along the upper surface of the isolation layer and extended along sidewall and lower surfaces of the sensing well. A reference electrode is disposed vertically between the bio-sensing film and the isolation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng, Shih-Fen Huang, Ching-Hui Lin
  • Publication number: 20180141800
    Abstract: A method includes the following operations: forming a piezoelectric substrate including a piezoelectric structure and a conductive contact structure, in which the piezoelectric structure has a conductive layer and a piezoelectric layer in contact with the conductive layer, and the conductive contact structure is electrically connected to the piezoelectric structure and protrudes beyond a principal surface of the piezoelectric substrate; forming a semiconductor substrate having a conductive receiving feature and a semiconductor device electrically connected thereto; aligning the conductive contact structure of the piezoelectric substrate with the conductive receiving feature of the semiconductor substrate; and bonding the piezoelectric substrate with the semiconductor substrate such that the conductive contact structure is in contact with the conductive receiving feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Ren CHENG, Richard YEN, Yi-Hsien CHANG, Wei-Cheng SHEN
  • Patent number: 9975754
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes receiving a first substrate including a dielectric layer disposed over the first substrate; forming a sensing structure and a bonding structure over the dielectric layer; disposing a conductive layer on the sensing structure; disposing a barrier layer over the dielectric layer; removing a first portion of the barrier layer to at least partially expose the conductive layer on the sensing structure; and removing a second portion of the barrier layer to at least partially expose the bonding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Chun Huang, Li-Chen Yen, Tzu-Heng Wu, Yi-Heng Tsai, Chun-Ren Cheng
  • Patent number: 9976983
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of formation are provided. The semiconductor arrangement includes an electro-wetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) device. The EWOD device includes a top portion over a bottom portion and a channel gap between the top portion and the bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a driving dielectric layer over a first electrode, a second electrode and a first separating portion of an ILD layer between the first electrode and a second electrode. The driving dielectric layer has a first thickness less than about 1,000 ?. An EWOD device with a driving dielectric layer having a first thickness less 1000 ? requires a lower applied voltage to alter a shape of a droplet within the device and has a longer operating life than an EWOD device that requires a higher applied voltage to alter the shape of the droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng
  • Patent number: 9968927
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having an integrated optical bio-sensor, and an associated method of fabrication. In some embodiments, the integrated optical bio-sensor has a sensing device arranged within a semiconductor substrate. An optical waveguide structure is located over a first side of the semiconductor substrate at a position over the sensing device. A dielectric structure is disposed onto the optical waveguide structure at a position that separates the optical waveguide structure from a sample retention area configured to receive a sample solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Shao Liu, Emerson Cheng, Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng, Ching-Ray Chen, Alex Kalnitsky, Allen Timothy Chang