Patents by Inventor Li-Chun Tien

Li-Chun Tien 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: 20240387373
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a cell that is between a substrate and a supply conductive line and that includes a source region, a contact conductive line, a power conductive line, and a power via. The contact conductive line extends from the source region. The power conductive line is coupled to the contact conductive line. The power via interconnects the supply conductive line and the power conductive line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Chung-Hsing Wang, Fong-yuan Chang, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Po-Hsiang Huang, Shao-huan Wang, Ting Yu Chen, Yen-Pin Chen, Chun-Chen Chen, Tzu-Hen Lin, Tai-Yu Cheng
  • Publication number: 20240371768
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and second conductor, and a first and second pair of transistors. The first conductor is on a back-side of a substrate, extending in a first direction, and being configured to supply a first supply voltage. The second conductor is on the back-side of the substrate, and extending in the first direction. The first pair of transistors includes a first gate extending in a second direction, overlapping at least the second conductor, being located on a first level of a front-side of the substrate opposite from the back-side. The second pair of transistors includes a second gate extending in the second direction, overlapping at least the second conductor, being on the first level, and being separated from the first gate in the first direction. The second conductor electrically couples the first gate and the second gate together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Guo-Huei WU, Pochun WANG, Wei-Hsin TSAI, Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20240355821
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a first electrical conductor, a first additional electrical conductor, a first active region, a second electrical conductor, a second additional electrical conductor, and a second active region. The first electrical conductor has a first width and extends along a first direction. The first additional electrical conductor has a second width and extends along the first direction. The second width is greater than the first width. The first active region extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first active region overlaps the first electrical conductor and the first additional electrical conductor from a top view perspective. The second electrical conductor has the first width and extends along the first direction. The second additional electrical conductor has the second width and extends along the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: YUNG-CHIN HOU, LI-CHUN TIEN, CHIH-LIANG CHEN, WEI-HUNG WANG, SHUN LI CHEN, JIANN-TYNG TZENG
  • Publication number: 20240355707
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a first-type active-region semiconductor structure extending and a second-type active-region semiconductor structure both extending in a first direction. The second-type active-region semiconductor structure is stacked with the first-type active-region semiconductor structure. The integrated circuit device also includes a front-side conductive layer above the two active-region semiconductor structures and a back-side conductive layer below the two active-region semiconductor structures. The integrated circuit device still includes a front-side power rail extending in the second direction in the front-side conductive layer and a back-side power rail extending in the second direction in the back-side conductive layer. The integrated circuit device further includes a first source conductive segment connected to the front-side power rail and a second source conductive segment connected to the back-side power rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Yung-Chin HOU, Li-Chun TIEN, Chih-LIang CHEN, Chi-Yu LU, Wei-Cheng LIN, Guo-Huei WU
  • Publication number: 20240347546
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes manufacturing a first bridge pillar; manufacturing a first transistor channel bar and first transistor source/drain electrode, the first transistor S/D electrode electrically connecting to the first bridge pillar; manufacturing a second transistor channel bar and second transistor S/D electrode; manufacturing a first metal electrode, the first bridge pillar connecting the first transistor S/D electrode and first metal electrode; manufacturing a first via connected to the first metal electrode; and manufacturing a first conductive line connected to the first via. The first transistor S/D electrode and the second transistor S/D electrode are spaced apart by a first height, the first metal electrode is separate from the second transistor S/D electrode, the first bridge pillar is separate from the second transistor S/D electrode, and the first bridge pillar has a height in the first direction substantially equal to the first height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Chih-Yu LAI, Chih-Liang CHEN, Ching-Wei TSAI, Shang-Wen CHANG, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20240332187
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure, source/drain structures, a backside via, and a power rail. The gate structure extends along a first direction parallel with a front-side surface of the substrate. The backside via extends along a second direction parallel with the front-side surface of the substrate but perpendicular to the first direction, the backside via has a first portion aligned with one of the source/drain structures along the first direction and a second portion aligned with the gate structure along the first direction, the first portion of the backside via has a first width along the first direction, and the second portion of the backside via has a second width along the first direction, in which the first width is greater than the second width. The power rail is on a backside surface of the substrate and in contact with the backside via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Patent number: 12094880
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first diffusion area for a first type transistor. The first type transistor includes a first drain region and a first source region. A second diffusion area for a second type transistor is separated from the first diffusion area. The second type transistor includes a second drain region and a second source region. A gate electrode continuously extends across the first diffusion area and the second diffusion area in a routing direction. A first metallic structure is electrically coupled with the first source region. A second metallic structure is electrically coupled with the second drain region. A third metallic structure is disposed over and electrically coupled with the first and second metallic structures. A width of the first metallic structure is substantially equal to or larger than a width of the third metallic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ali Keshavarzi, Ta-Pen Guo, Shu-Hui Sung, Hsiang-Jen Tseng, Shyue-Shyh Lin, Lee-Chung Lu, Chung-Cheng Wu, Li-Chun Tien, Jung-Chan Yang, Ting Yu Chen, Min Cao, Yung-Chin Hou
  • Patent number: 12087690
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a cell that is between a substrate and a supply conductive line and that includes a source region, a contact conductive line, a power conductive line, and a power via. The contact conductive line extends from the source region. The power conductive line is coupled to the contact conductive line. The power via interconnects the supply conductive line and the power conductive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Chung-Hsing Wang, Fong-yuan Chang, Lee-Chung Lu, Li-Chun Tien, Po-Hsiang Huang, Shao-huan Wang, Ting Yu Chen, Yen-Pin Chen, Chun-Chen Chen, Tzu-Hen Lin, Tai-Yu Cheng
  • Publication number: 20240296273
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first power rail extending in a first direction, and configured to supply a first supply voltage, and a first region next to the first power rail. The first region includes a first conductive structure extending in the first direction, a first set of conductive structures extending in a second direction, and a first set of vias between the first set of conductive structures and the first conductive structure. The first set of conductive structures overlaps the first conductive structure and the first power rail, and is located on a second level. Each conductive structure of the first set of conductive structures is separated from each other in the first direction. Each via of the first set of vias is located where the first set of conductive structures overlaps the first conductive structure and couples the first set of conductive structures to the first conductive structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    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: 20240296272
    Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor layer; forming a first metallization layer, including: forming first conductors, aligned along alpha tracks, and representing input pins of a cell region including first and second input pins; and cutting lengths of the first and second input pins to accommodate at most two access points, each aligned to a different one of first to fourth beta tracks, the beta tracks to which are aligned the access points of the first input pin being different than the beta tracks to which are aligned the access points of the second input pin; and forming a second metallization layer, including: forming second conductors representing routing segments and a representing a power grid segment aligned with one of the beta tracks of access points of the first input pin or the access points of the second input pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Pin-Dai SUE, Po-Hsiang HUANG, Fong-Yuan CHANG, Chi-Yu LU, Sheng-Hsiung CHEN, Chin-Chou LIU, Lee-Chung LU, Yen-Hung LIN, Li-Chun TIEN, Yi-Kan CHENG
  • Patent number: 12080647
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a conductive structure, a first active region of a first set of transistors and a second active region of a second set of transistors. The first power rail is on a back-side of a substrate, extends in a first direction, and is configured to supply a first supply voltage. The first active region extends in the first direction, and is on a first level of a front-side of the substrate opposite from the back-side. The second active region extends in the first direction, is on the first level of the front-side of the substrate, and is separated from the first active region in a second direction different from the first direction. The conductive structure is on the back-side of the substrate, extends in the first direction, and is electrically coupled to the first active region and the second active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Pochun Wang, Wei-Hsin Tsai, Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien
  • Publication number: 20240274607
    Abstract: A method includes fabricating a first-voltage underlayer power rail conductively connecting to the source region of a first-type transistor and fabricating a second-voltage underlayer power rail conductively connecting to the source region of a second-type transistor. Each of the first-voltage and second-voltage underlayer power rails extends in a first direction. The method also includes patterning a first connection layer to form a first-voltage power rail and a second-voltage power rail extending in the second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. The first-voltage power rail is directly connected with the first-voltage underlayer power rail through a first via-connector and the second-voltage power rail is directly connected with the second-voltage underlayer power rail through a second via-connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Guo-Huei WU, Shih-Wei PENG, Wei-Cheng LIN, Hui-Zhong ZHUANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Li-Chun TIEN, 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
  • Patent number: 12034009
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a base isolation layer, a first transistor with a first source electrode at a first side of the base isolation layer. A bridge pillar extends through the base isolation layer, and a metal electrode electrically connects the bridge pillar to the first source electrode. The metal electrode and the first source electrode are at the same side of the base isolation layer. A second metal electrode at an opposite side of the base isolation layer electrically connects to the bridge pillar and to a conductive line at the second side of the base isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Lai, Chih-Liang Chen, Ching-Wei Tsai, Shang-Wen Chang, Li-Chun Tien
  • Patent number: 12027461
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, includes a semiconductor substrate with active regions and a first buried metal layer provided below the semiconductor substrate. The first buried metal layer includes a first buried conductive rail, a first set of buried conductive fingers that extends from the first buried conductive rail, and a second set of buried conductive fingers that are interleaved with the first set of buried conductive fingers. The first set and the second set of buried conductive fingers extends beneath more than one of the active regions. In this manner, the first set and the second set of buried conductive fingers can be utilized to distribute different voltages, such as a ungated reference voltage TVDD and a gated reference voltage VVDD in a header circuit with reduced resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Liang Chen, Guo-Huei Wu, Li-Chun Tien
  • Patent number: 12027598
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation structure formed on a substrate, a gate-all-around transistor structure formed on the isolation structure, a via electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the gate-all-around transistor structure, and a buried conductive pad formed within the isolation structure and electrically coupled to the via. The buried conductive pad can extend through the isolation structure in two dimensions, such as in both a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension. The semiconductor structure can provide advantages in terms of routing flexibility, among other possible advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Guo-Huei Wu, Pochun Wang, Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien
  • Patent number: 12009304
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure, source/drain structures, a backside via, and a power rail. The gate structure extends along a first direction parallel with a front-side surface of the substrate. The backside via extends along a second direction parallel with the front-side surface of the substrate but perpendicular to the first direction, the backside via has a first portion aligned with one of the source/drain structures along the first direction and a second portion aligned with the gate structure along the first direction, the first portion of the backside via has a first width along the first direction, and the second portion of the backside via has a second width along the first direction, in which the first width is greater than the second width. The power rail is on a backside surface of the substrate and in contact with the backside via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien
  • Publication number: 20240186326
    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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Pen GUO, Lee-Chung LU, Li-Chun TIEN
  • Publication number: 20240178215
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first power line, and a second power line. The first transistor has a first active region and a first gate structure, in which the first active region has a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of the first gate structure. The second transistor is below the first transistor, and has a second active region and a second gate structure, in which the second active region has a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of the second gate structure. The first power line is above the first transistor, in which the first power line is electrically connected to the source region of first active region. The second power line is below the second transistor, in which the second power line is electrically connected to the source region of second active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicants: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TSMC China Company Limited
    Inventors: Xin-Yong WANG, Li-Chun TIEN, Chih-Liang CHEN
  • Patent number: 11983475
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: M*1st conductors in a first layer of metallization (M*1st layer) and being aligned correspondingly along different corresponding ones of alpha tracks and representing corresponding inputs of a cell region in the semiconductor device; and M*2nd conductors in a second layer of metallization (M*2nd layer) aligned correspondingly along beta tracks, and the M*2nd conductors including at least one power grid (PG) segment and one or more of an output pin or a routing segment; and each of first and second ones of the input pins having a length sufficient to accommodate at most two access points; each of the access points of the first and second input pins being aligned to a corresponding different one of first to fourth beta tracks; and the PG segment being aligned with one of the first to fourth beta tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Pin-Dai Sue, Po-Hsiang Huang, Fong-Yuan Chang, Chi-Yu Lu, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Chin-Chou Liu, Lee-Chung Lu, Yen-Hung Lin, Li-Chun Tien, Yi-Kan Cheng