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: 10516107
    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: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Pei Hsieh, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Chern-Yow Hsu, Fu-Ting Sung, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10510766
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor memory device structure includes forming a select gate structure and a dielectric layer, forming a charge trapping layer along a sidewall of a lower portion of the select gate structure and a sidewall of the dielectric layer, and forming a memory gate structure over the charge trapping layer. The select gate structure and the memory gate structure contact opposing sidewalls of the charge trapping layer. The dielectric layer is interposed between the charge trapping layer and the select gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO,. LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Chen, Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10510763
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory embedded in an advanced logic circuit and a method forming the same are provided. In the nonvolatile memory, the word lines and erase gates have top surfaces lower than the top surfaces of the control gate. In addition, the word lines and the erase gates are surrounded by dielectric material before a self-aligned silicidation process is performed. Therefore, no metal silicide can be formed on the word lines and the erase gate to produce problems of short circuit and current leakage in a later chemical mechanical polishing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Wu, Wei-Cheng Wu, Yuan-Tai Tseng, Shih-Chang Liu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ru-Liang Lee, Harry Hak-Lay Chuang
  • Patent number: 10510803
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Sheng-Huang Huang, Shih-Chang Liu, Chern-Yow Hsu
  • Patent number: 10509169
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a substrate and a gate element over the substrate. The gate element includes: a gate dielectric layer over the substrate; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer; and a waveguide passing through the gate electrode from a top surface of the gate electrode to a bottom surface of the gate electrode. A manufacturing method of the same is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Chang Chang, Chung-Yen Chou, Ming-Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10510952
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10505110
    Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) cell with enhanced thermal isolation and low power consumption is provided. In some embodiments, the PCM cell comprises a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer, a heating element, and a phase change element. The dielectric layer is on the bottom electrode. The heating element extends through the dielectric layer, from a top of the dielectric layer to the bottom electrode. Further, the heating element has a pair of opposite sidewalls laterally spaced from the dielectric layer by a cavity. The phase change element overlies and contacts the heating element. An interface between the phase change element and the heating element extends continuously respectively from and to the opposite sidewalls of the heating element. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the PCM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Jen Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10504904
    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: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Chen-Jong Wang, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Xiaomeng Chen
  • Publication number: 20190363126
    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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    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: 10490460
    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: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Chin-Yi Huang, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10490742
    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: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Seminconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Jen Tsai, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10475998
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a bottom electrode having a first width and a dielectric structure having a second width formed over the bottom electrode. The semiconductor structure further includes a top electrode having a third width formed over the dielectric structure. In addition, the second width of the dielectric structure is greater than the first width of the bottom electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chern-Yow Hsu, Fu-Ting Sung, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 10468587
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an Nth metal layer, a diffusion barrier layer over the Nth metal layer, a first deposition of bottom electrode material over the diffusion barrier layer, a second deposition of bottom electrode material over the first deposition of bottom electrode material, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) layer over the second deposition of bottom electrode material, a top electrode over the MTJ layer; and an (N+1)th metal layer over the top electrode; wherein the diffusion barrier layer and the first deposition of bottom electrode material are laterally in contact with a dielectric layer, the first deposition of bottom electrode material spacing the diffusion barrier layer and the second deposition of bottom electrode material apart, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. An associated electrode structure and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Yen Chou, Fu-Ting Sung, Yao-Wen Chang, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20190333926
    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: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting SUNG, Chung-Chiang MIN, Wei-Hang HUANG, Shih-Chang LIU, Chia-Shiung TSAI
  • Publication number: 20190333921
    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: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Sheng-Chieh Chen, Yu-Hsing Chang
  • Patent number: 10461089
    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: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu, Sheng-Chieh Chen, Yu-Hsing Chang
  • Patent number: 10453932
    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: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    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: 10454021
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Ting Sung, Chung-Chiang Min, Yuan-Tai Tseng, Chern-Yow Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20190279995
    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 includes 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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Chen, Ming Chyi Liu, Shih-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20190252389
    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: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Chern-Yow HSU, Chen-Jong WANG, Chia-Shiung TSAI, Shih-Chang LIU, Xiaomeng CHEN