Patents by Inventor Hui-Zhong ZHUANG

Hui-Zhong ZHUANG 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: 20240250671
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a master latch circuit having a data output, a slave latch circuit having a data input electrically coupled to the data output of the master latch circuit, and a clock circuit electrically coupled to the master latch circuit and the slave latch circuit. The slave latch circuit is physically between the master latch circuit and at least a part of the clock circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu LIN, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Jia-Hong GAO, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG
  • Patent number: 12047079
    Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a first inverter configured to receive a first clock signal and output a second clock signal, a second inverter configured to receive the second clock signal and output a third clock signal, a master stage, and a slave stage including a first feedback inverter and a first transmission gate. The first feedback inverter includes a first transistor configured to receive the first clock signal and a second transistor configured to receive the second clock signal, and the first transmission gate includes first and second input terminals configured to receive the second and third clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chen Chien, Xiangdong Chen, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Tzu-Ying Lin, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Publication number: 20240243065
    Abstract: A device includes: at a front side of a substrate, a first conductive line; and at a back side of the substrate, first to fifth power rails in a same back side metal layer; and wherein, within a span of a first cell, the second power rail is between the third and fourth power rails; each of the first to fifth power rails is configured different reference voltages first to third reference voltages, the first conductive line is configured to receive a control signal, an input signal, an output signal or one of the reference voltages; and relative to a center of the second power rail, a distribution of the first, second and third reference voltages amongst the first to fifth power rails is (A) symmetric with respect to a first direction and (B) symmetric with respect to perpendicular second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Guo-Huei WU, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20240243168
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a first capacitor. The substrate includes an active region. The first capacitor is over the substrate and free from overlapping the active region from a top view perspective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: CHE-YUAN CHANG, HUI-ZHONG ZHUANG, CHIH-LIANG CHEN
  • Patent number: 12039242
    Abstract: A layout method includes generating a design data comprising an electronic circuit, and generating a design layout by placing a first cell corresponding to the electronic circuit. The first cell includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region extending in a first direction in a first layer, a gate electrode extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a second layer, and a first conductive line arranged in a third layer over the second layer and electrically connected to one of the first source/drain region, the second source/drain region and the gate electrode. The first cell is defined by a left cell side and a right cell side. At least one of the left cell side, the right cell side, the gate electrode and the first conductive line extends in a third direction not parallel to the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Pochun Wang, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Jung-Chan Yang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Tzu-Ying Lin, Chung-Hsing Wang
  • Patent number: 12033998
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a gated circuit configured to operate on at least a first or a second voltage, a header circuit coupled to the gated circuit, a first and second power rail on a back-side of a wafer, and a third power rail on a front-side of the wafer. The header circuit is configured to supply the first voltage to the gated circuit by the first power rail. The first power rail includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the third portion being between the first portion and the second portion. The second power rail is configured to supply the second voltage to the gated circuit, and is between the first portion and the second portion. The third power rail includes a first set of conductors. Each of the first set of conductors being configured to supply a third voltage to the header circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuang-Ching Chang, Jung-Chan Yang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen, Kuo-Nan Yang
  • Patent number: 12033935
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, disposed above the first gate structure, that extends along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The first interconnect structure includes a first portion and a second portion electrically isolated from each other by a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure, disposed between the first gate structure and the first interconnect structure, that electrically couples the first gate structure to the first portion of the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure includes a recessed portion that is substantially aligned with the first gate structure and the dielectric structure along a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Shang-Wen Chang, Yi-Hsun Chiu
  • Publication number: 20240222269
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, disposed above the first gate structure, that extends along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The first interconnect structure includes a first portion and a second portion electrically isolated from each other by a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure, disposed between the first gate structure and the first interconnect structure, that electrically couples the first gate structure to the first portion of the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure includes a recessed portion that is substantially aligned with the first gate structure and the dielectric structure along a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Shang-Wen Chang, Yi-Hsun Chiu
  • Patent number: 12019969
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least one source/drain (S/D) line extending in second direction in a cell of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit further includes a conductive element extending in a first direction in the cell of the integrated circuit, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction. The integrated circuit further includes a power rail extending over the conductive element, wherein the power rail includes a first power rail portion and a second power rail portion, and an inner edge of the first power rail portion is offset from an inner edge of the second power rail portion, wherein the first power rail portion has a first edge and the second power rail portion has a second edge on the same side as the first edge of the first power rail portion, and the first edge and the second edge are laterally separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Chan Yang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Chi-Yu Lu
  • Patent number: 12014982
    Abstract: An IC device includes first and second cells adjacent each other and over a substrate. The first cell includes a first IO pattern along a first track among a plurality of tracks in a first metal layer, the plurality of tracks elongated along a first axis and spaced from each other along a second axis. The second cell includes a plurality of conductive patterns along corresponding different tracks among the plurality of tracks in the first metal layer, each of the plurality of conductive patterns being an IO pattern of the second cell or a floating conductive pattern. The first metal layer further includes a first connecting pattern along the first track and connects the first IO pattern and a second IO pattern of the second cell. The second IO pattern is one of the plurality of conductive patterns of the second cell and is along the first track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Lin, Jung-Chan Yang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Kuo-Nan Yang, Chih-Liang Chen, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 12015409
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a flip-flop is disposed as an integrated circuit layout on a flip-flop region of a semiconductor substrate. The flip-flop includes a first clock inverter circuit that resides within the flip-flop region, and a second clock inverter circuit residing within the flip-flop region. The first clock inverter circuit and the second clock inverter circuit are disposed on a first line. Master switch circuitry is made up of a first plurality of devices which are circumscribed by a master switch perimeter that resides within the flip-flop region of the integrated circuit layout. The master switch circuitry and the first clock inverter circuit are disposed on a second line perpendicular to the first line. Slave switch circuitry is operably coupled to an output of the master switch circuitry. The slave switch circuitry is made up of a third plurality of devices that are circumscribed by a slave switch perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Liu, Ting-Wei Chiang, Jerry Chang-Jui Kao, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Lee-Chung Lu, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Che Min Huang
  • Patent number: 12009824
    Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes a NOR logic gate, a transmission gate, a cross-coupled pair of transistors, and a first transistor. The NOR logic gate is coupled to a first node, and receives a first and a second enable signal, and outputs a first control signal. The transmission gate is coupled between the first and a second node, and receives the first control signal, an inverted clock input signal and a clock output signal. The cross-coupled pair of transistors is coupled between the second node and an output node, and receives at least a second control signal. The first transistor includes a first gate terminal configured to receive the inverted clock input signal, a first drain terminal coupled to the output node, and a first source terminal coupled to a reference voltage supply. The first transistor adjusts the clock output signal responsive to the inverted clock input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seid Hadi Rasouli, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Xiangdong Chen, Tzu-Ying Lin, Yung-Chen Chien, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chi-Lin Liu
  • Patent number: 12009362
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a first active region on a first side of a substrate. The method further includes forming a first source/drain (S/D) electrode surrounding a first portion of the first active region. The method further includes forming an S/D connect via extending through the substrate. The method further includes flipping the substrate. The method further includes forming a second active region on a second side of the substrate, wherein the second side of the substrate is opposite to the first side of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second S/D electrode surrounding a first portion of the second active region, wherein the S/D connect directly contacts both the first S/D electrode and the second S/D electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Lai, Chih-Liang Chen, Chi-Yu Lu, Shang-Syuan Ciou, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Shang-Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 11995390
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor, a second type-one transistor, a first type-two transistor, a third type-one transistor, a fourth type-one transistor, and a fifth type-one transistor. The first type-one transistor has a gate configured to have a first supply voltage of a first power supply. The first type-two transistor has a gate configured to have a second supply voltage of the first power supply. The third type-one transistor has a first active-region conductively connected with an active-region of the first type-one transistor. Third type-one transistor has a second active-region and a gate conductively connected to each other. The fifth type-one transistor has a first active-region conductively connected with the gate of the third type-one transistor and has a second active-region configured to have a first supply voltage of a second power supply. The fifth type-one transistor is configured to be at a conducting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Yu Lu, Ting-Wei Chiang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Pin-Dai Sue, Jiun-Jia Huang, Yu-Ti Su, Wei-Hsiang Ma
  • Patent number: 11990477
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit cell includes a first circuit component and a second circuit component. The first circuit component includes fin field-effect transistors (finFETs) formed in a high fin portion of the integrated circuit cell, the high fin portion of the integrated circuit including a plurality of fin structures arranged in rows. The second circuit component that includes finFETs formed in a less fin portion of the integrated circuit cell, the less fin portion of the integrated circuit including a lesser number of fin structures than the high fin portion of the integrated circuit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Wei-An Lai, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Wei-Cheng Lin, Lipen Yuan, Yan-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 11983479
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit includes placing a first set of conductive feature patterns on a first level, placing a second set of conductive feature patterns on a second level, placing a first set of via patterns between the second set of conductive feature patterns and the first set of conductive feature patterns, placing a third set of conductive feature patterns on a third level different from the first level and the second level, placing a second set of via patterns between the third set of conductive feature patterns and the second set of conductive feature patterns, and manufacturing the integrated circuit based on at least one of the above patterns of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Chan Yang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Jerry Chang-Jui Kao, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Meng-Hung Shen, Shang-Chih Hsieh, Chi-Yu Lu
  • Publication number: 20240153942
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided and includes a multi-bit cell having multiple bit cells disposed in multiple cell rows. The bit cells include M bit cells, M being positive integers. A first bit cell of the bit cells and a M-th bit cell of the bit cells are arranged diagonally in different cell rows in the multi-bit cell. The multi-bit cell includes first to fourth cell boundaries. The first and second boundaries extend in a first direction and the third and fourth boundaries extend in a second direction different from the first direction. The first bit cell and a second bit cell of the bit cells abut the third cell boundary, and the first bit cell and a (M/2+1)-th bit cell of the bit cells abut the first cell boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shao-Lun CHIEN, Po-Chun WANG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20240153940
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin structure, a first conductive line, a second conductive line and a first conductive rail. The fin structure is disposed on a substrate. The first conductive line is arranged to wrap a first portion of the fin structure. The second conductive line is attached on a second portion of the fin structure. The second portion is different from the first portion. The first conductive rail is disposed in a same layer as the first conductive line and the second conductive line on the substrate. The first conductive rail is attached on one end of the first conductive line and one end of the second conductive line for electrically connecting the first conductive line and the second conductive line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: SHUN-LI CHEN, CHUNG-TE LIN, HUI-ZHONG ZHUANG, PIN-DAI SUE, JUNG-CHAN YANG
  • Patent number: 11979158
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a master latch circuit having a first clock input and a data output, a slave latch circuit having a second clock input and a data input electrically coupled to the data output of the master latch circuit, and a clock circuit. The clock circuit is electrically coupled to the first clock input by a first electrical connection configured to have a first time delay between the clock circuit and the first clock input. The clock circuit is electrically coupled to the second clock input by a second electrical connection configured to have a second time delay between the clock circuit and the second clock input. The first time delay is longer than the second time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Lin, Yung-Chen Chien, Jia-Hong Gao, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Hui-Zhong Zhuang
  • Publication number: 20240145481
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first dummy source/drain, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a second dummy source/drain. The first transistor and a second transistor adjacent to the first transistor are at a first elevation. The first dummy source/drain is disposed at the first elevation. The third transistor and a fourth transistor adjacent to the third transistor, are at a second elevation different from the first elevation. The second dummy source/drain is disposed at the second elevation. The second transistor is vertically aligned with the third transistor. The first dummy source/drain is vertically aligned with a source/drain of the fourth transistor. The second dummy source/drain is vertically aligned with a source/drain of the first transistor. The gate structure between the second dummy source/drain and a source/drain of the third transistor is absent. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: POCHUN WANG, GUO-HUEI WU, HUI-ZHONG ZHUANG, CHIH-LIANG CHEN, LI-CHUN TIEN