Patents by Inventor Min-Feng Kao

Min-Feng Kao 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: 20210320052
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) in which a shield structure blocks the migration of charge to a semiconductor device from proximate a through substrate via (TSV). In some embodiments, the IC comprises a substrate, an interconnect structure, the semiconductor device, the TSV, and the shield structure. The interconnect structure is on a frontside of the substrate and comprises a wire. The semiconductor device is on the frontside of the substrate, between the substrate and the interconnect structure. The TSV extends completely through the substrate, from a backside of the substrate to the wire, and comprises metal. The shield structure comprises a PN junction extending completely through the substrate and directly between the semiconductor device and the TSV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Hsing-Chih Lin, Jen-Cheng Liu, Wei-Tao Tsai
  • Patent number: 11114486
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate and implant isolation region extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate surrounding an active region. A gate dielectric is disposed over an active region of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate dielectric extends over the implant isolation region. A gate electrode is disposed over the gate dielectric and an end cap dielectric layer is between the gate dielectric and the gate electrode over the implant isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Wen-De Wang, Wen-I Hsu
  • Patent number: 11107767
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first plurality of interconnect layers within a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure disposed along a front-side of a first substrate. A conductive pad is arranged along a back-side of the first substrate and a first through-substrate-via (TSV) extends between an interconnect wire of the first plurality of interconnect layers and the conductive pad. A second plurality of interconnect layers are within a second ILD structure disposed along a front-side of a second substrate that is bonded to the first substrate. A second through substrate via (TSV) extends through the second substrate. The second TSV has a greater width than the first TSV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Hsun-Ying Huang
  • Publication number: 20210242252
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate arranged over a back end of line (BEOL) metallization stack, and including a scribe line opening; a conductive pad having an upper surface that is substantially flush with an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the conductive pad including an upper conductive region and a lower conductive region, the upper conductive region being confined to the scribe line opening substantially from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a bottom of the scribe line opening, and the lower conductive region protruding downward from the upper conductive region, through the BEOL metallization stack; a passivation layer arranged over the semiconductor substrate; and an array of pixel sensors arranged in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the conductive pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: SHENG-CHAU CHEN, CHENG-HSIEN CHOU, MIN-FENG KAO
  • Patent number: 11062977
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) in which a shield structure blocks the migration of charge to a semiconductor device from proximate a through substrate via (TSV). In some embodiments, the IC comprises a substrate, an interconnect structure, the semiconductor device, the TSV, and the shield structure. The interconnect structure is on a frontside of the substrate and comprises a wire. The semiconductor device is on the frontside of the substrate, between the substrate and the interconnect structure. The TSV extends completely through the substrate, from a backside of the substrate to the wire, and comprises metal. The shield structure comprises a PN junction extending completely through the substrate and directly between the semiconductor device and the TSV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Hsing-Chih Lin, Jen-Cheng Liu, Wei-Tao Tsai
  • Publication number: 20210159176
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a conductive via and a first insulation layer. The conductive via is through the substrate. The first insulation layer is between the substrate and the conductive via. A first surface of the first insulation layer facing the substrate and a second surface of the first insulation layer facing the conductive via are extended along different directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: HSIN-HUNG CHEN, MIN-FENG KAO, HSING-CHIH LIN, JEN-CHENG LIU, DUN-NIAN YAUNG
  • Patent number: 11011568
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate arranged over a back end of line (BEOL) metallization stack, and including a scribe line opening; a conductive pad having an upper surface that is substantially flush with an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the conductive pad including an upper conductive region and a lower conductive region, the upper conductive region being confined to the scribe line opening substantially from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a bottom of the scribe line opening, and the lower conductive region protruding downward from the upper conductive region, through the BEOL metallization stack; a passivation layer arranged over the semiconductor substrate; and an array of pixel sensors arranged in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the conductive pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chau Chen, Cheng-Hsien Chou, Min-Feng Kao
  • Patent number: 11011567
    Abstract: An image sensor structure that includes a first semiconductor substrate having a plurality of imaging sensors; a first interconnect structure formed on the first semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor substrate having a logic circuit; a second interconnect structure formed on the second semiconductor substrate, wherein the first and the second semiconductor substrates are bonded together in a configuration that the first and second interconnect structures are sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor substrates; and a backside deep contact (BDCT) feature extended from the first interconnect structure to the second interconnect structure, thereby electrically coupling the logic circuit to the image sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Chun-Chieh Chuang, Feng-Chi Hung, Shuang-Ji Tsai, Jeng-Shyan Lin, Shu-Ting Tsai, Wen-I Hsu
  • Publication number: 20210082873
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a three dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) stack, including a first IC die having a first substrate and a first interconnect structure over a frontside of the first substrate; a second IC die having a second substrate and a second interconnect structure over the frontside of the second substrate; and a third IC die vertically between the first and second IC dies and having a third substrate, a third interconnect structure over the frontside of the third substrate, and a third bonding structure over a backside of the third substrate. A heat dissipation path extends from the third substrate to at least the first or second substrate, and includes a backside contact that extends from the third bonding structure to the backside of the third substrate and that is thermally coupled to at least the first or second interconnect structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Ping-Tzu Chen, Hsing-Chih Lin, Min-Feng Kao
  • Patent number: 10916502
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an underlying insulation layer, a conductive via and a sidewall insulation layer. The underlying insulation layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The conductive via is through the semiconductor substrate and the underlying insulation layer. The sidewall insulation layer is between the semiconductor substrate and the conductive via. The sidewall insulation layer includes a protrusion stopping at an interface between the semiconductor substrate and the underlying insulation layer, and protruding outwardly into the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hung Chen, Min-Feng Kao, Hsing-Chih Lin, Jen-Cheng Liu, Dun-Nian Yaung
  • Patent number: 10910420
    Abstract: A device including a gate structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure having extensions, a device isolation structure formed into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure, wherein the extensions are over a portion of the device isolation structure, and source/drain regions on both sides of the gate structure, the source/drain regions being formed in a gap in the device isolation structure and being partially enclosed by the extensions of the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Szu-Ying Chen, Wei-Cheng Hsu, Hsiao-Hui Tseng
  • Publication number: 20210020617
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate including a front surface and a back surface; a backside metallization layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, the backside metallization layer being closer to the back surface than to the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a portion of the backside metallization layer forming an inductor structure; and an electrically non-conductive material formed in the semiconductor substrate, the electrically non-conductive material at least partially overlapping the inductor structure from a top view, and the electrically non-conductive material including a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls, the top surface being adjacent to the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: MIN-FENG KAO, DUN-NIAN YAUNG, JEN-CHENG LIU, HSING-CHIH LIN, CHING-CHUN WANG
  • Publication number: 20200411636
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate having a frontside surface and a backside surface. An interconnect structure is disposed over the frontside surface. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of metal lines and vias that operably couple semiconductor transistor devices disposed in or on the frontside surface of the semiconductor substrate to one another. A trench is disposed in the backside surface of the semiconductor substrate. The trench is filled with an inner capacitor electrode, a capacitor dielectric layer overlying the inner capacitor electrode, and an outer capacitor electrode overlying the capacitor dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Hsing-Chih Lin, Jen-Cheng Liu
  • Publication number: 20200402954
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a semiconductor device structure. The method may be performed by forming a gate structure along a first side of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is thinned. Thinning the semiconductor substrate causes defects to form along a second side of the semiconductor substrate opposing the first side of the semiconductor substrate. Dopants are implanted into the second side of the semiconductor substrate after thinning the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is annealed to form a doped layer after implanting the dopants. The doped layer is formed along the second side of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Jeng-Shyan Lin, Hsun-Ying Huang
  • Publication number: 20200395398
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor die, and a second semiconductor die bonded on the first semiconductor die. A through-substrate via penetrates through a semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A passivation layer is disposed between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die, wherein the passivation layer is directly bonded to the semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A conductive feature passes through the passivation layer, wherein the conductive feature is bonded to the through-substrate via. A barrier layer is disposed between the conductive feature and the passivation layer. The barrier layer covers sidewalls of the conductive feature and separates the surface of the conductive feature from a nearest neighboring surface of the first or second semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Hsun-Ying Huang
  • Patent number: 10861899
    Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element includes a first substrate, a common conductive feature in the first substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer, a first interconnection feature and a conductive plug connecting the first interconnection feature to the common conductive feature. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate, a second ILD layers over the second substrate and a second interconnection feature in second ILD layers. The device also includes a conductive deep plug connecting to the common conductive feature in the first semiconductor element and the second interconnection feature. The conductive deep plug is separated with the conductive plug by the first ILD layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Chuang, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Feng-Chi Hung, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Shu-Ting Tsai, Min-Feng Kao
  • Publication number: 20200381512
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) in which a shield structure blocks the migration of charge to a semiconductor device from proximate a through substrate via (TSV). In some embodiments, the IC comprises a substrate, an interconnect structure, the semiconductor device, the TSV, and the shield structure. The interconnect structure is on a frontside of the substrate and comprises a wire. The semiconductor device is on the frontside of the substrate, between the substrate and the interconnect structure. The TSV extends completely through the substrate, from a backside of the substrate to the wire, and comprises metal. The shield structure comprises a PN junction extending completely through the substrate and directly between the semiconductor device and the TSV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Hsing-Chih Lin, Jen-Cheng Liu, Wei-Tao Tsai
  • Publication number: 20200365634
    Abstract: A device including a gate structure formed over a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure having extensions, a device isolation structure formed into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure, wherein the extensions are over a portion of the device isolation structure, and source/drain regions on both sides of the gate structure, the source/drain regions being formed in a gap in the device isolation structure and being partially enclosed by the extensions of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu, Szu-Ying Chen, Wei-Cheng Hsu, Hsiao-Hui Tseng
  • Publication number: 20200335427
    Abstract: Present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a semiconductor substrate, a first metal layer, and a through substrate via (TSV). The semiconductor substrate has an active side. The first metal layer is closest to the active side of the semiconductor substrate, and the first metal layer has a first continuous metal feature. The TSV is extending from the semiconductor substrate to the first continuous metal feature. A width of the TSV at the first metal layer is wider than a width of the first continuous metal feature. Present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the semiconductor structure described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: MIN-FENG KAO, DUN-NIAN YAUNG, JEN-CHENG LIU, CHING-CHUN WANG, KUAN-CHIEH HUANG, HSING-CHIH LIN, YI-SHIN CHU
  • Patent number: 10811398
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate including a front surface and a back surface; a backside metallization layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, the backside metallization layer being closer to the back surface than to the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a portion of the backside metallization layer forming an inductor structure; and an electrically non-conductive material formed in the semiconductor substrate, the electrically non-conductive material at least partially overlapping the inductor structure from a top view, and the electrically non-conductive material including a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls, the top surface being adjacent to the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Hsing-Chih Lin, Ching-Chun Wang