Patents by Inventor Hung-Chang Sun

Hung-Chang Sun 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: 11729988
    Abstract: A memory device includes a multi-layer stack, a channel layer, a memory material layer and at least three conductive pillars. The multi-layer stack is disposed on a substrate and includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layers stacked alternately. The channel layer penetrates through the plurality of conductive layers and the plurality of dielectric layers. The memory material layer is disposed between the channel layer and each of the plurality of conductive layers and the plurality of dielectric layers. The conductive pillars are surrounded by the channel layer and the memory material layer, wherein the at least three conductive pillars are electrically connected to conductive lines respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Wei Jiang, Sheng-Chih Lai, Tsuching Yang, Hung-Chang Sun, Kuo-Chang Chiang
  • Patent number: 11729987
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a thin film transistor over a semiconductor substrate, the thin film transistor including: a memory film contacting a word line; and an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer contacting a source line and a bit line, wherein the memory film is disposed between the OS layer and the word line, wherein the source line and the bit line each comprise a first conductive material touching the OS layer, and wherein the first conductive material has a work function less than 4.6. The memory cell further includes a dielectric material separating the source line and the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chang Chiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang, Yu-Wei Jiang
  • Publication number: 20230253464
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a thin film transistor over a semiconductor substrate. The thin film transistor includes a memory film contacting a word line; and an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer contacting a source line and a bit line, wherein the memory film is disposed between the OS layer and the word line; and a dielectric material separating the source line and the bit line. The dielectric material forms an interface with the OS layer. The dielectric material comprises hydrogen, and a hydrogen concentration at the interface between the dielectric material and the OS layer is no more than 3 atomic percent (at %).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Kuo-Chang Chiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang, Yu-Wei Jiang
  • Patent number: 11723199
    Abstract: A memory device includes a stack of gate electrode layers and interconnect layers arranged over a substrate. A first memory cell that is arranged over the substrate includes a first source/drain conductive lines and a second source/drain conductive line extending vertically through the stack of gate electrode layers. A channel layer and a memory layer are arranged on outer sidewalls of the first and second source/drain conductive lines. A first barrier structure is arranged between the first and second source/drain conductive lines. A first protective liner layer separates the first barrier structure from each of the first and second source/drain conductive lines. A second barrier structure is arranged on an opposite side of the first source/drain conductive line and is spaced apart from the first source/drain conductive line by a second protective liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsu Ching Yang, Sheng-Chih Lai, Yu-Wei Jiang, Kuo-Chang Chiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Chen-Jun Wu, Feng-Cheng Yang, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11723210
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a memory device, including forming a plurality of word line stacks respectively including a plurality of word lines alternatingly stacked with a plurality of insulating layers over a semiconductor substrate, forming a data storage layer along opposing sidewalls of the word line stacks, forming a channel layer along opposing sidewalls of the data storage layer, forming an inner insulating layer between inner sidewalls of the channel layer and including a first dielectric material, performing an isolation cut process including a first etching process through the inner insulating layer and the channel layer to form an isolation opening, forming an isolation structure filling the isolation opening and including a second dielectric material, performing a second etching process through the inner insulating layer on opposing sides of the isolation structure to form source/drain openings, and forming source/drain contacts in the source/drain
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsu Ching Yang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Sheng-Chih Lai, Yu-Wei Jiang, Kuo-Chang Chiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Chen-Jun Wu, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11721767
    Abstract: A transistor including a channel layer including an oxide semiconductor material and methods of making the same. The transistor includes a channel layer having a first oxide semiconductor layer having a first oxygen concentration, a second oxide semiconductor layer having a second oxygen concentration and a third oxide semiconductor layer having a third oxygen concentration. The second oxide semiconductor layer is located between the first semiconductor oxide layer and the third oxide semiconductor layer. The second oxygen concentration is lower than the first oxygen concentration and the third oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Kuo Chiang, Hung-Chang Sun, TsuChing Yang, Sheng-Chih Lai, Yu-Wei Jiang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Neil Quinn Murray
  • Patent number: 11710790
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a ferroelectric (FE) material contacting a word line; and an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer contacting a source line and a bit line, wherein the FE material is disposed between the OS layer and the word line. The OS layer comprises: a first region adjacent the FE material, the first region having a first concentration of a semiconductor element; a second region adjacent the source line, the second region having a second concentration of the semiconductor element; and a third region between the first region and the second region, the third region having a third concentration of the semiconductor element, the third concentration is greater than the second concentration and less than the first concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chang Chiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang, Yu-Wei Jiang
  • Patent number: 11705507
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor fin extending from the semiconductor substrate, a gate structure extending across the semiconductor fin, and source/drain semiconductor layers on opposite sides of the gate structure. The source/drain semiconductor layers each have a first thickness over a top side of the semiconductor fin and a second thickness over a lateral side of the semiconductor fin. The first thickness and the second thickness have a difference smaller than about 20 percent of the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng Huang, Hung-Chang Sun, I-Ming Chang, Zi-Wei Fang
  • Patent number: 11696448
    Abstract: A device includes a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, electrode layers and an oxide semiconductor layer. The dielectric layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric layer. The electrode layers are disposed on the second surface of the dielectric layer. The oxide semiconductor layer is disposed in between the second surface of the dielectric layer and the electrode layers, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a material represented by formula 1 (InxSnyTizMmOn). In formula 1, 0<x<1, 0?y<1, 0<z<1, 0<m<1, 0<n<1, and M represents at least one metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang, Yu-Wei Jiang, Kuo-Chang Chiang
  • Patent number: 11688631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure in accordance with some embodiments. The method includes receiving a substrate having an active region and an isolation region; forming gate stacks on the substrate that extends from the active region to the isolation region; forming an inner gate spacer and an outer gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stacks; forming an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer on the substrate; forming a mask layer over the substrate that exposes a portion of the ILD layer and a portion of the outer gate spacer; selectively etching the exposed portion of the outer gate spacer, resulting in an air gap between the inner gate spacer and the ILD layer; and performing an ion implantation process on the exposed portion of the ILD layer to seal the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Sun, Akira Mineji, Ziwei Fang
  • Patent number: 11640974
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a thin film transistor over a semiconductor substrate. The thin film transistor includes a memory film contacting a word line; and an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer contacting a source line and a bit line, wherein the memory film is disposed between the OS layer and the word line; and a dielectric material separating the source line and the bit line. The dielectric material forms an interface with the OS layer. The dielectric material comprises hydrogen, and a hydrogen concentration at the interface between the dielectric material and the OS layer is no more than 3 atomic percent (at %).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chang Chiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, Tsuching Yang, Yu-Wei Jiang
  • Publication number: 20230120530
    Abstract: A memory device includes a stacked structure including a plurality of memory cells, and first and second flights of steps. The first flights of steps are disposed at an end of the stacked structure along the first direction. The second flights of steps are adjacent to the first flights of steps disposed at the end of the stacked structure along the first direction. The first flights of steps and the second flights of steps comprise first portions and second portions alternately disposed along the first direction. The second portions are wider than the first portions along the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: TsuChing Yang, Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, Yu-Wei Jiang, Kuo-Chang Chiang
  • Publication number: 20230109296
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, word line layers, insulating layers, and memory cells. The word line layers are stacked above the substrate. The insulating layers are stacked above the substrate respectively alternating with the word line layers. The memory cells are distributed along a stacking direction of the word line layers and the insulating layers perpendicularly to a major surface of the substrate. Each memory cell includes a source line electrode and a bit line electrode, a first oxide semiconductor layer, and a second oxide semiconductor layer. The first oxide semiconductor layer is peripherally surrounded by one of the word line layers, the source line electrode, and the bit line electrode. The second oxide semiconductor layer is disposed between the one of the word line layers and the first oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Wei Jiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Kuo-Chang Chiang, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang
  • Publication number: 20230060819
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory structure includes a plurality of gate layers and a plurality of insulating layers alternately stacked over a substrate, and at least an active column disposed over the substrate. The gate layers and the insulating layers are alternately stacked along a first direction. The active column extends along the first direction and penetrates the gate layer and the insulating layer. The active column includes a central portion, a charge-trapping layer surrounding the central portion, and a channel layer between the central portion and the charge-trapping layer. The central portion of the active column includes an isolation structure, a source structure and a drain structure. The source structure and the drain structure are disposed at two sides of the isolation structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: YU-WEI JIANG, HUNG-CHANG SUN, SHENG-CHIH LAI, KUO-CHANG CHIANG, TSUCHING YANG
  • Publication number: 20230066393
    Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of memory cells, which includes a plurality of first conductive lines over a substrate, charge-trapping layers coupled to the conductive lines, channel layers arranged adjacent to the charge-trapping layers, and a plurality of first filling regions arranged between the channel layers; etching the first filling regions to form first trenches; depositing a liner over upper surfaces of the charge-trapping layers and the channel layers and sidewalls of the first trenches; forming second filling regions in the first trenches; patterning the second filling regions to form second trenches; depositing a partition region in each of the second trenches; and removing the liner to expose the charge-trapping layers and the channel layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: YU-WEI JIANG, SHENG-CHIH LAI, KUO-CHANG CHIANG, HUNG-CHANG SUN, TSUCHING YANG, FENG-CHENG YANG, CHUNG-TE LIN
  • Publication number: 20230049651
    Abstract: A transistor includes an insulating layer, a source region, a drain region, a channel layer, a ferroelectric layer, an interfacial layer, and a gate electrode. The source region and the drain region are respectively disposed on two opposite ends of the insulating layer. The channel layer is disposed on the insulating layer, the source region, and the drain region. The ferroelectric layer is disposed over the channel layer. The interfacial layer is sandwiched between the channel layer and the ferroelectric layer. The gate electrode is disposed on the ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, Yu-Wei Jiang, Kuo-Chang Chiang, TsuChing Yang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11569165
    Abstract: A tridimensional memory cell array includes vertically stacked first conductive lines, vertically stacked second conductive lines, and first and second flights of steps. First and second conductive lines extend along a first direction. The second conductive lines are disposed at a distance along a second direction from the first conductive lines. First and second directions are orthogonal. Along the first direction, the first flights are disposed at opposite ends of the first conductive lines and the second flights are disposed at opposite ends of the second conductive lines. The first and second flights include landing pads and connective lines alternately disposed along the first direction. The landing pads are wider than the connective lines along the second direction. Along the second direction, landing pads of the first flights face connective lines of the second flights and landing pads of the second flights face connective lines of the first flights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: TsuChing Yang, Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, Yu-Wei Jiang, Kuo-Chang Chiang
  • Patent number: 11545507
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, word line layers, insulating layers, and memory cells. The word line layers are stacked above the substrate. The insulating layers are stacked above the substrate respectively alternating with the word line layers. The memory cells are distributed along a stacking direction of the word line layers and the insulating layers perpendicularly to a major surface of the substrate. Each memory cell includes a source line electrode and a bit line electrode, a first oxide semiconductor layer, and a second oxide semiconductor layer. The first oxide semiconductor layer is peripherally surrounded by one of the word line layers, the source line electrode, and the bit line electrode. The second oxide semiconductor layer is disposed between the one of the word line layers and the first oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Wei Jiang, Hung-Chang Sun, Kuo-Chang Chiang, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang
  • Publication number: 20220384486
    Abstract: A first conductive pillar is formed. A plurality of second conductive pillars are formed at different sides of the first conductive pillar. A plurality of dielectric pillars are respectively formed between the first conductive pillar and the plurality of second conductive pillars. A channel layer is formed to continuously surround the first conductive pillar, the plurality of second conductive pillars and the plurality of dielectric pillars. A memory material layer is formed to surround the channel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Wei Jiang, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang, Hung-Chang Sun, Kuo-Chang Chiang
  • Publication number: 20220384487
    Abstract: A device includes a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, electrode layers and an oxide semiconductor layer. The dielectric layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric layer. The electrode layers are disposed on the second surface of the dielectric layer. The oxide semiconductor layer is disposed in between the second surface of the dielectric layer and the electrode layers, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a material represented by formula 1 (InxSnyTizMmOn). In formula 1, 0<x<1, 0?y<1, 0<z<1, 0<m<1, 0<n<1, and M represents at least one metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Sun, Sheng-Chih Lai, TsuChing Yang, Yu-Wei Jiang, Kuo-Chang Chiang