Patents by Inventor Shau-Lin Shue

Shau-Lin Shue 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: 20230253330
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a lower conductive wire within a first dielectric layer over a substrate. A second dielectric layer is over the first dielectric layer. A conductive via is over the lower conductive wire and within the second dielectric layer. A conductive liner layer lines sidewalls of the via. A barrier layer lines sidewalls of the conductive liner layer and lines sidewalls of the second dielectric layer. The conductive liner layer is laterally separated from the second dielectric layer by the barrier layer. The conductive liner layer vertically extends between sidewalls of the barrier layer from a bottom surface of the conductive via to a top surface of the lower conductive wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Shu-Wei Li, Shin-Yi Yang, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 11721627
    Abstract: A method includes forming a trench within a dielectric layer, the trench comprising an interconnect portion and a via portion, the via portion exposing an underlying conductive feature. The method further includes depositing a seed layer within the trench, depositing a carbon layer on the seed layer, performing a carbon dissolution process to cause a graphene layer to form between the seed layer and the underlying conductive feature, and filling a remainder of the trench with a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Yi Yang, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 11715689
    Abstract: A device includes a first conductive feature disposed over a substrate; a second conductive feature disposed directly on and in physical contact with the first conductive feature; a dielectric layer surrounding sidewalls of the second conductive feature; and a first barrier layer interposed between the second conductive feature and the dielectric layer and in physical contact with both the second conductive feature and the dielectric layer. The first barrier layer and the dielectric layer comprise at least two common elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Yi Yang, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue, Tz-Jun Kuo
  • Patent number: 11710700
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first conductive feature embedded within a first dielectric layer, a via disposed over the first conductive feature, a second conductive feature disposed over the via, and a graphene layer disposed over at least a portion of the first conductive feature. The via electrically couples the first conductive feature to the second conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Yi Yang, Yu-Chen Chan, Ming-Han Lee, Hai-Ching Chen, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Publication number: 20230223334
    Abstract: A interconnect structure includes a lower metal, a dielectric layer, an upper metal, and a graphene layer. The dielectric layer laterally surrounds the lower metal. The upper metal is over the lower metal. The graphene layer is over a top surface of the upper metal and opposite side surfaces of the upper metal from a cross-sectional view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Yi YANG, Ming-Han LEE, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Publication number: 20230178427
    Abstract: An interconnection structure is provided. The interconnection structure includes an etching-process-free first dielectric layer, a first conductive structure extending within the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer formed under the first dielectric layer, and a second conductive structure extending through both the first dielectric layer and the second conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Chin LEE, Ting-Ya LO, Hsiao-Kang CHANG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Patent number: 11670595
    Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a first conductive feature having a two-dimensional material layer, a second conductive feature disposed over the first conductive feature, and a dielectric material disposed adjacent the first and second conductive features. The dielectric material extends from a level of a bottom of the first conductive feature to a level of a top of the second conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Chan, Shu-Wei Li, Shin-Yi Yang, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 11658092
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes an electrical interconnect structure, a thermal interconnect structure, and a thermal passivation layer over a substrate. The electrical interconnect structure includes interconnect vias and interconnect wires embedded within interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure is arranged beside the electrical interconnect structure and includes thermal vias, thermal wires, and/or thermal layers. Further, the thermal interconnect structure is embedded within the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal passivation layer is arranged over a topmost one of the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure has a higher thermal conductivity than the interconnect dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan Lee, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai, Ting-Ya Lo, Cheng-Chin Lee, Chi-Lin Teng, Kai-Fang Cheng, Hsin-Yen Huang, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Publication number: 20230154789
    Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, and a conductive layer disposed over the dielectric layer. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion adj acent the first portion, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the first conductive feature. The structure further includes a first barrier layer in contact with the first portion of the conductive layer, a second barrier layer in contact with the second portion of the conductive layer, and a support layer in contact with the first and second barrier layers. An air gap is located between the first and second barrier layers, and the dielectric layer and the support layer are exposed to the air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Yen HUANG, Ting-Ya LO, Shao-Kuan LEE, Chi-Lin TENG, Cheng-Chin LEE, Hsiaokang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Patent number: 11652055
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a lower conductive wire within a first dielectric layer over a substrate. A second dielectric layer is over the first dielectric layer. A conductive via is over the lower conductive wire and within the second dielectric layer. A conductive liner layer lines sidewalls of the via. A barrier layer lines sidewalls of the conductive liner layer and lines sidewalls of the second dielectric layer. The conductive liner layer is laterally separated from the second dielectric layer by the barrier layer. The conductive liner layer vertically extends between sidewalls of the barrier layer from a bottom surface of the conductive via to a top surface of the lower conductive wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu-Wei Li, Shin-Yi Yang, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 11640928
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor structure including a device layer having a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A first heat dispersion layer is disposed along the back-side surface of the device layer. A second heat dispersion layer underlies the front-side surface of the device layer. The second heat dispersion layer has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the first heat dispersion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yen Huang, Shao-Kuan Lee, Shau-Lin Shue, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai
  • Patent number: 11640924
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming an integrated circuit structure. The method includes depositing a first metal layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask on the first metal layer; patterning the first metal layer to form first metal features using the hard mask as an etch mask; depositing a dielectric layer of a first dielectric material on the first metal features and in gaps among the first metal features; performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process to both the dielectric layer and the hard mask; removing the hard mask, thereby having portions of the dielectric layer extruded above the metal features; forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer of the second dielectric material different from the first dielectric material; and patterning the ILD layer to form openings that expose the first metal features and are constrained to be self-aligned with the first metal features by the extruded portions of the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tai-I Yang, Yu-Chieh Liao, Chia-Tien Wu, Hsin-Ping Chen, Hai-Ching Chen, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 11640940
    Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The interconnection structure includes a first portion of a conductive layer, and the conductive layer includes one or more graphene layers. The first portion of the conductive layer includes a first interface portion and a second interface portion opposite the first interface portion, and each of the first and second interface portion includes a metal disposed between adjacent graphene layers. The structure further includes a second portion of the conductive layer disposed adjacent the first portion of the conductive layer, and the second portion of the conductive layer includes a third interface portion and a fourth interface portion opposite the third interface portion. Each of the third and fourth interface portion includes the metal disposed between adjacent graphene layers. The structure further includes a dielectric material disposed between the first and second portions of the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shu-Wei Li, Yu-Chen Chan, Shin-Yi Yang, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Publication number: 20230118565
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method that includes depositing a metal layer onto a substrate, subtractive patterning the metal layer into first metal lines, and forming at least one second metal line between two adjacent ones of the first metal lines using a damascene process. The first metal lines have a different metallization structure from the at least one second metal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Shih-Kang Fu, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Publication number: 20230112282
    Abstract: A method and structure for forming an enhanced metal capping layer includes forming a portion of a multi-level metal interconnect network over a substrate. In some embodiments, the portion of the multi-level metal interconnect network includes a plurality of metal regions. In some cases, a dielectric region is disposed between each of the plurality of metal regions. By way of example, a metal capping layer may be deposited over each of the plurality of metal regions. Thereafter, in some embodiments, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) may be deposited, where the SAM forms selectively on the metal capping layer, while the dielectric region is substantially free of the SAM. In various examples, after selectively forming the SAM on the metal capping layer, a thermal process may be performed, where the SAM prevents diffusion of the metal capping layer during the thermal process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan Lee, Cheng-Chin Lee, Hsin-Yen Huang, Hai-Ching Chen, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Publication number: 20230073811
    Abstract: Interconnect structures and method of forming the same are disclosed herein. An exemplary interconnect structure includes a first contact feature in a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, a second contact feature over the first contact feature, a barrier layer between the second dielectric layer and the second contact feature, and a liner between the barrier layer and the second contact feature. An interface between the first contact feature and the second contact feature includes the liner but is free of the barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Ping Chen, Yung-Hsu Wu, Chia-Tien Wu, Min Cao, Ming-Han Lee, Shau-Lin Shue, Shin-Yi Yang
  • Publication number: 20230066284
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor structure including a device layer having a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A first heat dispersion layer is disposed along the back-side surface of the device layer. A second heat dispersion layer underlies the front-side surface of the device layer. The second heat dispersion layer has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the first heat dispersion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Yen Huang, Shao-Kuan Lee, Shau-Lin Shue, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230061501
    Abstract: An interconnect structure is provided. The structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, a capping layer having a first portion, a second portion opposing the first portion, and a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion is in contact with the dielectric layer. The structure also includes a support layer in contact with the first and second portions of the capping layer, a first conductive layer disposed over the first conductive feature, a second conductive layer disposed over the dielectric layer, and a two-dimensional (2D) material layer in contact with a top surface of the first conductive layer, wherein the support layer, the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion define an air gap, and the air gap is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Ting-Ya LO, Cheng-Chin LEE, Shao-Kuan LEE, Chi-Lin TENG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Hsiaokang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Publication number: 20230068760
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes preparing a dielectric structure formed with trenches respectively defined by lateral surfaces of the dielectric structure, forming spacer layers on the lateral surfaces, filling an electrically conductive material into the trenches to form electrically conductive features, selectively depositing a blocking layer on the dielectric structure, selectively depositing a dielectric material on the electrically conductive features to form a capping layer, removing the blocking layer and the dielectric structure to form recesses, forming sacrificial features in the recesses, forming a sustaining layer to cover the sacrificial features; and removing the sacrificial features to obtain the semiconductor structure formed with air gaps confined by the sustaining layer and the spacer layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yen HUANG, Ting-Ya LO, Shao-Kuan LEE, Chi-Lin TENG, Cheng-Chin LEE, Shau-Lin SHUE, Hsiao-Kang CHANG
  • Publication number: 20230067886
    Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, a second conductive feature disposed over the first conductive feature, a third conductive feature disposed adjacent the second conductive feature, a first dielectric material disposed between the second and third conductive features, a first one or more graphene layers disposed between the second conductive feature and the first dielectric material, and a second one or more graphene layers disposed between the third conductive feature and the first dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan LEE, Cheng-Chin LEE, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Kuang-Wei YANG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Hsiaokang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE