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).

  • Patent number: 10868028
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a flash memory device with enlarged spacing between select and memory gate structures is provided. The enlarged spacing is obtained by forming corner recesses at the select gate structure so that a top surface with a reduced dimension of the select gate structure is obtained. In one example, a semiconductor substrate having memory cell devices formed thereon, the memory cell devices include a semiconductor substrate having memory cell devices formed thereon, the memory cell devices includes a plurality of select gate structures and a plurality of memory gate structures formed adjacent to the plurality of select gate structures, wherein at least one of the plurality of select gate structures have a corner recess formed below a top surface of the at least one of the plurality of select gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Chen, Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20200381423
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first gate structure on a first side of an active area and a second gate structure on a second side of the active area, where the first gate structure and the second gate structure share the active area. A method of forming the semiconductor arrangement includes forming a deep implant of the active area before forming the first gate structure, and then forming a shallow implant of the active area. Forming the deep implant prior to forming the first gate structure alleviates the need for an etching process that degrades the first gate structure. The first gate structure thus has a desired configuration and is able to be formed closer to other gate structures to enhance device density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay CHUANG, Wei Cheng Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Ming Chyi Liu
  • Publication number: 20200381477
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a transistor layer, a memory region over the transistor layer, and a logic region adjacent to the memory region. The memory region includes a first Nth metal line, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over the first Nth metal line, a cap over the MTJ, a first stop layer on the cap; and a first (N+1)th metal via over the MTJ. The first (N+1)th metal via is laterally surrounded by the cap and the first stop layer. The logic region includes a second Nth metal line, a second stop layer being disposed over an (N+1)th metal line, and a second (N+1)th metal via over the (N+1)th metal line. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: CHERN-YOW HSU, YUAN-TAI TSENG, SHIH-CHANG LIU
  • Publication number: 20200373484
    Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) cell with a low deviation contact area between a heater and a phase change element is provided. The PCM cell comprises a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer, a heater, a phase change element, and a top electrode. The dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode. The heater extends upward from the bottom electrode, through the dielectric layer. Further, the heater has a top surface that is substantially planar and that is spaced below a top surface of the dielectric layer. The phase change element overlies the dielectric layer and protrudes into the dielectric layer to contact with the top surface of the heater. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the PCM cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Yi Jen Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10840287
    Abstract: An interconnect apparatus and a method of forming the interconnect apparatus is provided. Two substrates, such as wafers, dies, or a wafer and a die, are bonded together. A first mask is used to form a first opening extending partially to an interconnect formed on the first wafer. A dielectric liner is formed, and then another etch process is performed using the same mask. The etch process continues to expose interconnects formed on the first substrate and the second substrate. The opening is filled with a conductive material to form a conductive plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih Pei Chou, Hung-Wen Hsu, Ching-Chung Su, Chun-Han Tsao, Chia-Chieh Lin, Shu-Ting Tsai, Jiech-Fun Lu, Shih-Chang Liu, Yeur-Luen Tu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 10840438
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate and a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ). The MTJ includes at least a pinned layer, a barrier layer, and a free layer. The MTJ is formed over a surface of the substrate. Of the pinned layer, the barrier layer, and the free layer, the free layer is formed first and is closest to the surface. This enables a spacer to be formed over a perimeter region of the free layer prior to etching the free layer. Any damage to the free layer that results from etching or other free layer edge-defining process is kept at a distance from the tunneling junction by the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Hang Huang, Fu-Ting Sung, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Publication number: 20200350491
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including an Nth metal layer over a transistor region, where N is a natural number, and a bottom electrode over the Nth metal layer. The bottom electrode comprises a bottom portion having a first width, disposed in a bottom electrode via (BEVA), the first width being measured at a top surface of the BEVA, and an upper portion having a second width, disposed over the bottom portion. The semiconductor structure also includes a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) layer having a third width, disposed over the upper portion, a top electrode over the MTJ layer and an (N+1)th metal layer over the top electrode. The first width is greater than the third width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay CHUANG, Shih-Chang LIU, Chern-Yow HSU, Kuei-Hung SHEN
  • Patent number: 10825825
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a first gate electrode formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a dielectric layer formed on a sidewall of the first gate electrode and a second gate electrode formed over the substrate and separated from the first gate electrode by the dielectric layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a contact formed over the second gate electrode. In addition, the contact has a first extending portion and a second extending portion extending along opposite sidewalls of the second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Chung-Chiang Min, Wei-Hang Huang, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 10811504
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes forming a common source region in a substrate, and forming an isolation feature over the common source region. The common source region is disposed between the substrate and the isolation feature. The common source region and the isolation feature span a plurality of active regions of the substrate. A gate, such as an erase gate, may be formed after forming the common source region. In some implementations, the common source region is formed by etching the substrate to form a saw-tooth shaped recess region (or a U-shaped recess region) and performing an ion implantation process to form a doped region in a portion of the saw-tooth shaped recess region (or the U-shaped recess region), such that the common source region has a sawtooth profile (or a U-shaped profile).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ming Chyi Liu, Chang-Ming Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Wei Cheng Wu, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee
  • Patent number: 10804411
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a capacitive device, a first conductive via, and a second conductive via. The capacitive device includes a first conductive plate, a first insulating plate, a second conductive plate, a second insulating plate, and a third conductive plate. The first conductive via is electrically coupled to the first conductive plate and the third conductive plate, and the first conductive via penetrated through a first film stack with a first thickness. The second conductive via is electrically coupled to the second conductive plate, and the second conductive via penetrated through a second film stack with a second thickness. The second thickness is substantially equal to the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsing Chang, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20200321345
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a method for forming an embedded memory boundary structure with a boundary sidewall spacer. In some embodiments, an isolation structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate to separate a memory region from a logic region. A multilayer film is formed covering the semiconductor substrate. A memory structure is formed on the memory region from the multilayer film. An etch is performed into the multilayer film to remove the multilayer film from the logic region, such that the multilayer film at least partially defines a dummy sidewall on the isolation structure. A spacer layer is formed covering the memory structure, the isolation structure, and the logic region, and further lining the dummy sidewall. An etch is performed into the spacer layer to form a spacer on dummy sidewall from the spacer layer. A logic device structure is formed on the logic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Sheng-Chieh Chen, Yu-Hsing Chang
  • Patent number: 10790444
    Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) cell with a low deviation contact area between a heater and a phase change element is provided. The PCM cell comprises a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer, a heater, a phase change element, and a top electrode. The dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode. The heater extends upward from the bottom electrode, through the dielectric layer. Further, the heater has a top surface that is substantially planar and that is spaced below a top surface of the dielectric layer. The phase change element overlies the dielectric layer and protrudes into the dielectric layer to contact with the top surface of the heater. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the PCM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Jen Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10763304
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a memory region and a logic region adjacent to the memory region. The memory region includes a first Nth metal line, a first stop layer being disposed over a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over the first Nth metal line, and a first (N+1)th metal via being disposed over the MTJ and surrounded by the first stop layer, the first (N+1)th metal via having a first height. The logic region includes a second Nth metal line, a second stop layer being disposed over an (N+1)th metal line, and a second (N+1)th metal via over the (N+1)th metal line and having a second height. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and the first height is greater than the second height. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Yuan-Tai Tseng, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20200266205
    Abstract: A device comprises a control gate structure and a memory gate structure over a substrate, a charge storage layer formed between the control gate structure and the memory gate structure, a first spacer along a sidewall of the memory gate structure, a second spacer along a sidewall of the control gate structure, an oxide layer over a top surface of the memory gate structure, a top spacer over the oxide layer, a first drain/source region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the memory gate structure and a second drain/source region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the control gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Wei Cheng Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Chia-Shiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 10748895
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first gate structure on a first side of an active area and a second gate structure on a second side of the active area, where the first gate structure and the second gate structure share the active area. A method of forming the semiconductor arrangement includes forming a deep implant of the active area before forming the first gate structure, and then forming a shallow implant of the active area. Forming the deep implant prior to forming the first gate structure alleviates the need for an etching process that degrades the first gate structure. The first gate structure thus has a desired configuration and is able to be formed closer to other gate structures to enhance device density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Shih-Chang Liu, Ming Chyi Liu
  • Publication number: 20200251649
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including an Nth metal layer, a bottom electrode over the Nth metal layer, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) over the bottom electrode, a top electrode over the MTJ, and an (N+M)th metal layer over the Nth metal layer. N and M are positive integers. The (N+M)th metal layer surrounds a portion of a sidewall of the top electrode. A manufacturing method of forming the semiconductor structure is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Fu-Ting SUNG, Chung-Chiang MIN, Yuan-Tai TSENG, Chern-Yow HSU, Shih-Chang LIU
  • Publication number: 20200251653
    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: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Ching-Pei Hsieh, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10734394
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to a method for forming an embedded memory boundary structure with a boundary sidewall spacer. In some embodiments, an isolation structure is formed in a semiconductor substrate to separate a memory region from a logic region. A multilayer film is formed covering the semiconductor substrate. A memory structure is formed on the memory region from the multilayer film. An etch is performed into the multilayer film to remove the multilayer film from the logic region, such that the multilayer film at least partially defines a dummy sidewall on the isolation structure. A spacer layer is formed covering the memory structure, the isolation structure, and the logic region, and further lining the dummy sidewall. An etch is performed into the spacer layer to form a spacer on dummy sidewall from the spacer layer. A logic device structure is formed on the logic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Sheng-Chieh Chen, Yu-Hsing Chang
  • Publication number: 20200243675
    Abstract: Present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including providing a substrate, forming a first III-V compound layer over the substrate, forming a first passivation layer over the first III-V compound layer, forming a first opening from a top surface of the first passivation layer to the first III-V compound layer, each opening having a stair-shaped sidewall at the first passivation layer, depositing a metal layer over the first passivation layer and in the first opening, the metal layer having a second opening above the corresponding first opening, and removing a portion of the metal layer to form a source electrode and a drain electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: SHENG-DE LIU, CHUNG-YEN CHOU, SHIH-CHANG LIU
  • Patent number: 10725212
    Abstract: A lens includes a curved surface. A plurality of taper shape structures is formed on the curved surface, and each taper shape structure has at least three substantial flat surfaces. P is less than or equal to 500 nm. H is less than or equal to 500 nm. The P refers to the pitch between two adjacent taper shape structures. The H refers to maximum vertical distance between each taper shape structure and the curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Liu, Chih-Chun Huang, Kai-Wei Hu