Patents by Inventor Shih-Chang Liu

Shih-Chang Liu 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: 20180076276
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, comprising a substrate, dielectric layers and conductive layers. A first dielectric layer is disposed on a bottom surface and sidewall surfaces of a filled trench of the substrate. A first conductive layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer and has a first surface in the filled trench and a second surface above the substrate. A second dielectric layer is disposed on the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is disposed on the second dielectric layer and has a first surface in the filled trench and a second surface above the substrate. A third dielectric layer is disposed on the second conductive layer. A third conductive layer is disposed in the filled trench and on the third dielectric layer. A top surface of the third conductive layer is lower than the second surface of the second conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: CHUNG-YEN CHOU, CHIH-JEN CHAN, SHIH-CHANG LIU, CHIA-SHIUNG TSAI
  • Patent number: 9917165
    Abstract: A split-gate flash memory cell for improved erase speed is provided. An erase gate and a floating gate are laterally spaced over a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate has a height increasing towards the erase gate, a concave sidewall surface neighboring the erase gate, and a tip defined an interface of the concave sidewall surface and an upper surface of the floating gate. A control gate and a sidewall spacer are arranged over the upper surface of the floating gate. The control gate is laterally offset from the tip of the floating gate, and the sidewall spacer is laterally arranged between the control gate and the tip. A method for manufacturing the split-gate flash memory cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9911734
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with a MISFET and a HEMT region includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A third III-V compound layer is disposed on the second III-V compound layer is different from the second III-V compound layer in composition. A source feature and a drain feature are disposed in each of the MISFET and HEMT regions on the third III-V compound layer. A gate electrode is disposed over the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature. A gate dielectric layer is disposed under the gate electrode in the MISFET region but above the top surface of the third III-V compound layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Yen Chou, Sheng-De Liu, Fu-Chih Yang, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20180062074
    Abstract: A memory structure includes a first dielectric layer, having a first top surface, over a conductive structure. A first opening in the first dielectric layer exposes an area of the conductive structure, and has an interior sidewall. A first electrode structure, having a first portion and a second portion, is over the exposed area of the conductive structure. The second portion extends upwardly along the interior sidewall. A resistance variable layer is disposed over the first electrode. A second electrode structure, having a third portion and a fourth portion, is over the resistance variable layer. The third portion has a second top surface below the first top surface of the first dielectric layer. The fourth portion extends upwardly along the resistance variable layer. A second opening is defined by the second electrode structure. At least a part of a second dielectric layer is disposed in the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Ching-Pei Hsieh, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20180047895
    Abstract: A storage device includes a first electrode, a stacked feature, a spacer and a barrier structure. The stacked feature is position over the first electrode, and includes a storage element and a second electrode over the storage element. The spacer is positioned on a sidewall of the stacked feature, the spacer having a notch positioned on a top surface of the spacer, in which the notch of the spacer has a surface which is continuous with a top surface of the stacked feature. The barrier structure is embedded in a lateral of the spacer. The barrier structure has a top extending upwards past a bottom of the notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting SUNG, Chern-Yow HSU, Shih-Chang LIU
  • Patent number: 9878899
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves forming a method of fabricating a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device. A plurality of openings is formed in a first side of a first substrate. A dielectric layer is formed over the first side of the substrate. A plurality of segments of the dielectric layer fills the openings. The first side of the first substrate is bonded to a second substrate that contains a cavity. The bonding is performed such that the segments of the dielectric layer are disposed over the cavity. A portion of the first substrate disposed over the cavity is transformed into a plurality of movable components of a MEMS device. The movable components are in physical contact with the dielectric the layer. Thereafter, a portion of the dielectric layer is removed without using liquid chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lee-Chuan Tseng, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Yuan-Chih Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9876169
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to integrated circuits having a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell, and associated methods of forming such RRAM cells. In some embodiments, the RRAM cell includes a bottom electrode and a top electrode which are separated from one another by an RRAM dielectric. A bottom electrode sidewall and a top electrode sidewall are vertically aligned to one another, and an RRAM dielectric sidewall is recessed back from the bottom electrode sidewall and the top electrode sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Chung-Yen Chou, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9865610
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a substrate, which includes a periphery region having a first substrate surface and a memory cell region having a second substrate surface. The second substrate surface is recessed within the substrate relative to the first substrate surface. A high k metal gate (HKMG) transistor is disposed on the first substrate surface and includes a HKMG gate. Two neighboring flash memory cells are disposed on the second substrate surface and include a pair of flash memory cell control gates. Top surfaces of the HKMG gate and flash memory cell control gates are co-planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semicondutor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Chin-Yi Huang, Shih-Chang Liu, Chang-Ming Wu
  • Publication number: 20180006085
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor memory device is provided. The method includes: etching a first region of the semiconductor memory device to expose a first capping layer; forming a second capping layer on the first capping layer; etching a portion of the first capping layer and a portion of the second capping layer to form a first trench reaching a first metal line; and forming a second metal line in the first trench to contact the first metal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: HARRY-HAK-LAY CHUANG, SHENG-HAUNG HAUNG, SHIH-CHANG LIU, CHERN-YOW HSU
  • Patent number: 9859295
    Abstract: Methods for forming semiconductor structures are provided. The method for forming the semiconductor structure includes forming a word line cell over a substrate and forming a dielectric layer over the word line cell. The method further includes forming a conductive layer over the dielectric layer and polishing the conductive layer until the dielectric layer is exposed. The method further includes forming an oxide layer on a top surface of the conductive layer and removing portions of the conductive layer not covered by the oxide layer to form a memory gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Chung-Chiang Min, Wei-Hang Huang, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 9853091
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuits device having an RRAM cell, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit device has a lower metal interconnect line disposed within a lower inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer and an upper metal interconnect line disposed within an upper inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer. The integrated circuit device also has a memory cell array disposed between the lower metal interconnect line and the upper metal interconnect line, including memory cells arranged in rows and columns, the memory cells respectively includes a bottom electrode and a top electrode separated by a RRAM dielectric having a variable resistance. A bottom contact structure is disposed on the lower metal interconnect line and along sidewalls of the bottom electrode, electrically coupling the lower metal interconnect line and the bottom electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Yen Chou, Ching-Pei Hsieh, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9847473
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell having an extended upper electrode, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) arranged over a conductive lower electrode. A conductive upper electrode is arranged over the magnetic tunnel junction. The conductive upper electrode has a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion overlies the magnetic tunnel junction and is laterally surrounded by an encapsulation structure. The upper portion is arranged onto the lower portion and the encapsulation structure, and laterally extends past the lower portion of the conductive upper electrode. By laterally extending past the lower portion, the upper portion of the conductive upper electrode gives a via a larger landing area than the lower portion of the upper electrode would provide, thereby mitigating via punch through resulting from overlay errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9837421
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes an active region including a semiconductor device. The semiconductor arrangement includes a capacitor having a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an insulating layer between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. At least three dielectric layers are between a bottom surface of the capacitor and the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Cheng-Jong Wang, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu, Xiaomeng Chen
  • Patent number: 9837606
    Abstract: A memory structure includes a first dielectric layer, having a first top surface, over a conductive structure. A first opening in the first dielectric layer exposes an area of the conductive structure, and has an interior sidewall. A first electrode structure, having a first portion and a second portion, is over the exposed area of the conductive structure. The second portion extends upwardly along the interior sidewall. A resistance variable layer is disposed over the first electrode. A second electrode structure, having a third portion and a fourth portion, is over the resistance variable layer. The third portion has a second top surface below the first top surface of the first dielectric layer. The fourth portion extends upwardly along the resistance variable layer. A second opening is defined by the second electrode structure. At least a part of a second dielectric layer is disposed in the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Ching-Pei Hsieh, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 9837605
    Abstract: A manufacture includes a first electrode having an upper surface and a side surface, a resistance variable film over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the resistance variable film. The resistance variable film extends along the upper surface and the side surface of the first electrode. The second electrode has a side surface. A portion of the side surface of the first electrode and a portion of the side surface of the second electrode sandwich a portion of the resistance variable film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Pei Hsieh, Fu-Ting Sung, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 9837322
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement is provided comprising a guard region. The semiconductor arrangement comprises an active region disposed on a first side of the guard region. The active region comprises an active device. The guard region of the semiconductor arrangement comprises residue from the active region. A method of forming a semiconductor arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Chin-Yi Huang, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20170345812
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) with a through via extending through a group III-V layer to a diode is provided. An etch is performed through the group III-V layer, into a semiconductor substrate underlying the group III-V layer, to form a via opening. A doped region is formed in the semiconductor substrate, through the via opening. Further, the doped region is formed with an opposite doping type as a surrounding region of the semiconductor substrate. The through via is formed in the via opening and in electrical communication with the doped region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Chung-Yen Chou, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu, Yung-Chang Chang
  • Publication number: 20170345835
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved integrated circuit having an embedded flash memory device with a word line having its height reduced, and associated processing methods. In some embodiments, the flash memory device includes a gate stack separated from a substrate by a gate dielectric. The gate stack includes a control gate separated from a floating gate by a control gate dielectric. An erase gate is disposed on a first side of the gate stack and a word line is disposed on a second side of the gate stack that is opposite to the first side. The word line has a height that monotonically increases from an outer side opposite to the gate stack to an inner side closer to the gate stack. A word line height at the outer side is smaller than an erase gate height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Ming-Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Sheng-Chieh Chen
  • Patent number: 9825040
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes an active region including a semiconductor device. The semiconductor arrangement includes a capacitor. The capacitor includes a first electrode over at least one dielectric layer over the active region. The first electrode surrounds an open space within the capacitor. The first electrode has a non-linear first electrode sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Xiaomeng Chen, Chen-Jong Wang
  • Patent number: 9825224
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit device having an RRAM cell, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit device has a bottom electrode disposed over a lower metal interconnect layer. The integrated circuit device also has a resistance switching layer with a variable resistance located on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode located over the resistance switching layer. The integrated circuit device also has a self-sputtering spacer having a lateral portion that surrounds the bottom electrode at a position that is vertically disposed between the resistance switching layer and a bottom etch stop layer and a vertical portion abutting sidewalls of the resistance switching layer and the top electrode. The integrated circuit device also has a top etch stop layer located over the bottom etch stop layer abutting sidewalls of the self-sputtering spacer and overlying the top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Pei Hsieh, Chung-Yen Chou, Shih-Chang Liu