Patents by Inventor Lee Chung Lu

Lee Chung Lu 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: 11967596
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first-voltage power rail and a second-voltage power rail in a first connection layer, and includes a first-voltage underlayer power rail and a second-voltage underlayer power rail below the first connection layer. Each of the first-voltage and second-voltage power rails extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to a first direction. Each of the first-voltage and second-voltage underlayer power rails extends in the first direction. The integrated circuit includes a first via-connector connecting the first-voltage power rail with the first-voltage underlayer power rail, and a second via-connector connecting the second-voltage power rail with the second-voltage underlayer power rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Shih-Wei Peng, Wei-Cheng Lin, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11935894
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a device layer having devices spaced in accordance with a predetermined device pitch, a first metal interconnection layer disposed above the device layer and coupled to the device layer, and a second metal interconnection layer disposed above the first metal interconnection layer and coupled to the first metal interconnection layer through a first via layer. The second metal interconnection layer has metal lines spaced in accordance with a predetermined metal line pitch, and a ratio of the predetermined metal line pitch to predetermined device pitch is less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fong-yuan Chang, Chun-Chen Chen, Po-Hsiang Huang, Lee-Chung Lu, Chung-Te Lin, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Chin-Chou Liu
  • Patent number: 11935893
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of standard cells. The plurality of standard cells include a first group of standard cells arranged in a first row extending in a row direction and a second group of standard cells arranged in a second row extending in the row direction. The first group of standard cells and the second group of standard cells are arranged in a column direction. A cell height of the first group of standard cells in the column direction is different from a cell height of the second group of standard cells in the column direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Pen Guo, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien
  • Publication number: 20240088024
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor layer, a first via layer over the transistor layer, a first metallization layer over the first via layer, the first metallization layer including first conductors having long axes extending substantially in a first direction, a second via layer over the first metallization layer, and a conductive deep via extending in the second via layer, the first metallization layer, and the first via layer. The first conductors represent a majority of conductive material in the first metallization layer, and a size of the deep via in the first direction in the first metallization layer is substantially less than a minimum length of the first conductors in the first metallization layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Ta-Pen GUO, Chien-Ying CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN, Lee-Chung LU
  • Publication number: 20240071865
    Abstract: Packaged semiconductor devices including high-thermal conductivity molding compounds and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first redistribution structure; a first die over and electrically coupled to the first redistribution structure; a first through via over and electrically coupled to the first redistribution structure; an insulation layer extending along the first redistribution structure, the first die, and the first through via; and an encapsulant over the insulation layer, the encapsulant surrounding portions of the first through via and the first die, the encapsulant including conductive fillers at a concentration ranging from 70% to about 95% by volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Xinyu Bao, Lee-Chung Lu, Jyh Chwen Frank Lee, Fong-Yuan Chang, Sam Vaziri, Po-Hsiang Huang
  • Patent number: 11908853
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a cell layer including a first cell and a second cell, a first metal layer over the cell layer and having a first conductive feature, a second metal layer over the first metal layer and having a second conductive feature, and a first via between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and connecting the first conductive feature to the second conductive feature. The first conductive feature spans over a boundary between the first and second cells, and has a lengthwise direction along a first direction. The second conductive feature spans over the boundary between the first and second cells, and has a lengthwise direction along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fong-Yuan Chang, Kuo-Nan Yang, Chung-Hsing Wang, Lee-Chung Lu, Sheng-Fong Chen, Po-Hsiang Huang, Hiranmay Biswas, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Aftab Alam Khan
  • Publication number: 20240047338
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first integrated circuit die including a first device layer and a first front-side interconnect structure, the first front-side interconnect structure including first interconnects interconnecting first devices of the first device layer; a second integrated circuit die including a second device layer and a second front-side interconnect structure, the second front-side interconnect structure including second interconnects interconnecting second devices of the second device layer; and an interposer bonded to a back-side of the first integrated circuit die and to a back-side of the second integrated circuit die, the interposer including a die-to-die interconnect structure, the die-to-die interconnect structure including a pillar, the first integrated circuit die overlapping the pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Ming-Fa Chen, Yun-Han Lee, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11893333
    Abstract: A method of generating an IC layout diagram includes abutting a first row of cells with a second row of cells along a border, the first row including first and second active sheets, the second row including third and fourth active sheets, the active sheets extending along a row direction and having width values. The active sheets are overlapped with first through fourth back-side via regions, the first active sheet width value is greater than the third active sheet width value, a first back-side via region width values is greater than a third back-side via region width value, and a value of a distance from the first active sheet to the border is less than a minimum spacing rule for metal-like defined regions. At least one of abutting the first row with the second row or overlapping the active sheets with the back-side via regions is performed by a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shang-Wei Fang, Kam-Tou Sio, Wei-Cheng Lin, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Lee-Chung Lu, Yi-Kan Cheng, Chung-Hsing Wang
  • Patent number: 11854943
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package includes a logic die, a substrate, a memory die positioned between the logic die and the substrate, and a power distribution structure configured to electrically couple the logic die to the substrate. The power distribution structure includes a plurality of conductive segments positioned between the logic die and the memory die, a plurality of bump structures positioned between the memory die and the substrate, and a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) electrically coupled to the plurality of conductive segments and the plurality of bump structures, and a TSV of the plurality of TSVs extends through, and is electrically isolated from, a memory macro of the memory die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Tze-Chiang Huang, Hong-Chen Cheng, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang, Yun-Han Lee, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11854966
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming via structures in a first via layer over a transistor layer, the forming the via structures in the first via layer including forming a first via structure in the first via layer, the first via structure being included in a first deep via arrangement; forming conductive segments in a first metallization layer over the first via layer, the forming the conductive segments in the first metallization layer including forming M_1st routing segments at least a majority of which, relative to a first direction, have corresponding long axes with lengths which at least equal if not exceed a first permissible minimum value for routing segments in the first metallization layer; and forming an M_1st interconnection segment having a long axis which is less than the first permissible minimum value, the M_1st interconnection segment being included in the first deep via arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Pen Guo, Chien-Ying Chen, Li-Chun Tien, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Publication number: 20230401372
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes first through fourth nano-sheet structures extending in a first direction and having respective first through fourth widths along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and first through fourth via structures electrically connected to corresponding ones of the first through fourth nano-sheet structures. The second width has a value greater than that of the third width. A width of the second via structure along the second direction has a value greater than that of a width of the third via structure along the second direction. The second and third nano-sheet structures are positioned between the first and fourth nano-sheet structures. The second and third via structures are configured to electrically connect the second and third nano-sheet structures to a first portion of a back-side power distribution structure configured to carry one of a power supply voltage or a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Shang-Wei FANG, Kam-Tou SIO, Wei-Cheng LIN, Jiann-Tyng TZENG, Lee-Chung LU, Yi-Kan CHENG, Chung-Hsing WANG
  • Patent number: 11842946
    Abstract: Packaged semiconductor devices including high-thermal conductivity molding compounds and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first redistribution structure; a first die over and electrically coupled to the first redistribution structure; a first through via over and electrically coupled to the first redistribution structure; an insulation layer extending along the first redistribution structure, the first die, and the first through via; and an encapsulant over the insulation layer, the encapsulant surrounding portions of the first through via and the first die, the encapsulant including conductive fillers at a concentration ranging from 70% to about 95% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinyu Bao, Lee-Chung Lu, Jyh Chwen Frank Lee, Fong-yuan Chang, Sam Vaziri, Po-Hsiang Huang
  • Publication number: 20230387894
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first power node having a first voltage level, a second power node having a second voltage level different from the first voltage level, a reference node having a reference voltage level, a master latch that outputs a first bit based on a received bit, a slave latch that outputs a second bit based on the first bit and an output bit based on a selected one of the first bit or a third bit, a first level shifter that outputs the third bit based on a complementary bit pair, and a retention latch including a second level shifter and a pair of inverters that outputs the complementary bit pair based on the second bit. The slave latch and the first level shifter are coupled between the first power and reference nodes, and the retention latch is coupled between the second power and reference nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kai-Chi HUANG, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Chi-Lin LIU, Wei-Hsiang MA, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Shang-Chih HSIEH, Lee-Chung LU
  • Publication number: 20230378267
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: fins configured to include: first active fins having a first conductivity type; and second active fins having a second conductivity type; and at least one gate structure formed over corresponding ones of the fins; and wherein the fins and the at least one gate structure are located in at least one cell region; and each cell region, relative to the second direction, including: a first active region which includes a sequence of three or more consecutive first active fins located in a central portion of the cell region; a second active region which includes one or more second active fins located between the first active region and a first edge of the cell region; and a third active region which includes one or more second active fins located between the first active region and a second edge of the cell region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Jung-Chan YANG, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Lee-Chung LU, Ting-Wei CHIANG, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20230376661
    Abstract: A logic circuit (for providing a multibit flip-flop (MBFF) function) includes: a first inverter to receive a clock signal and generate a corresponding clock_bar signal; a second inverter to receive the clock_bar signal and generate a corresponding clock_bar_bar signal; a third inverter to receive a control signal and generate a corresponding control_bar signal; and a series-chain of 1-bit transfer flip-flop (TXFF) circuits, each including: a NAND circuit to receive data signals; and a 1-bit transmit gate flip-flop (TGFF) circuit to output signals Q and q, and receive an output of the NAND circuit, the signal q from the TGFF circuit of a preceding TXFF circuit in the series-chain, the clock_bar and clock_bar_bar signals, and the control and control_bar signals; and the first transfer TXFF circuit in the series-chain being configured to receive a start signal in place of the signal q from an otherwise preceding TGFF circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Chi-Lin LIU, Jerry Chang-Jui KAO, Wei-Hsiang MA, Lee-Chung LU, Fong-Yuan CHANG, Sheng-Hsiung CHEN, Shang-Chih HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20230378159
    Abstract: An IC device includes first through third active areas extending in a first direction and a first gate structure extending perpendicular to and overlying each of the first through third active areas. Each of the first through third active areas includes a first portion adjacent to the first gate structure in the first direction and a second portion adjacent to the first portion and including an endpoint of the corresponding active area, the first active area is positioned between the second and third active areas and includes the endpoint positioned under the first gate structure, and each of the second and third active areas includes the endpoint positioned away from the gate structure in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Chien-Ying CHEN, Lee-Chung LU, Li-Chun TIEN, Ta-Pen GUO
  • Publication number: 20230376672
    Abstract: An IC structure includes a first cell and a first and second rail. The first cell includes a first and second active region and a first, a second and a third gate structure. The first active region having a first dopant type. The second active region having a second dopant type. The first gate structure extending in a second direction, overlapping the first or the second active region. The second gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping a first edge of the first or second active region. The third gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping at least a second edge of the first or second active region. The first rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the first active region. The second rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the second active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Ting-Wei CHIANG, Li-Chun TIEN, Shun Li CHEN, Lee-Chung LU
  • Publication number: 20230336177
    Abstract: A circuit includes an input circuit, a level shifter circuit, an output circuit, and a first and a second feedback circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a first voltage supply, and configured to receive a first input signal, and to generate at least a second input signal. The level shifter circuit is coupled to a second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least a first and second signal responsive to at least the enable signal or the first input signal. The output circuit is coupled to at least the level shifter circuit and the second voltage supply, and configured to generate at least an output signal, a first and second feedback signal responsive to the first signal. The first and second feedback circuit are configured to receive the enable signal, and the inverted enable signal, and the corresponding first and second feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Lun OU, Ji-Yung LIN, Yung-Chen CHIEN, Ruei-Wun SUN, Wei-Hsiang MA, Jerry Chang Jui KAO, Shang-Chih HSIEH, Lee-Chung LU
  • Patent number: 11790148
    Abstract: An IC structure includes a first cell and a first and second rail. The first cell includes a first and second active region and a first, a second and a third gate structure. The first active region having a first dopant type. The second active region having a second dopant type. The first gate structure extending in a second direction, overlapping the first or the second active region. The second gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping a first edge of the first or second active region. The third gate structure extending in the second direction, and overlapping at least a second edge of the first or second active region. The first rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the first active region. The second rail extending in the first direction and overlapping a middle portion of the second active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Ting-Wei Chang, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Shun Li Chen
  • Patent number: 11776949
    Abstract: An IC device includes a first active area extending away from a first endpoint in a first direction, a second active area extending away from a second endpoint in the first direction, a third active area positioned between the first and second active areas, and a gate structure perpendicular to the first through third active areas. The gate structure overlies each of the first and second endpoints and the third active area, and the third active area extends away from the gate structure in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Ying Chen, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Ta-Pen Guo