Patents by Inventor Te-An Lin

Te-An Lin 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: 11508755
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC) in which a memory structure comprises a ferroelectric structure without critical-thickness limitations. The memory structure comprises a first electrode and the ferroelectric structure. The ferroelectric structure is vertically stacked with the first electrode and comprises a first ferroelectric layer, a second ferroelectric layer, and a first restoration layer. The second ferroelectric layer overlies the first ferroelectric layer, and the first restoration layer is between and borders the first and second ferroelectric layers. The first restoration layer is a different material type than that of the first and second ferroelectric layers and is configured to decouple crystalline lattices of the first and second ferroelectric layers so the first and second ferroelectric layers do not reach critical thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rainer Yen-Chieh Huang, Hai-Ching Chen, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11508753
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a ferroelectric memory device. The ferroelectric memory device includes a pair of source/drain regions disposed in a substrate. A gate dielectric is disposed over the substrate and between the source/drain regions. A gate electrode is disposed on the gate dielectric. A polarization switching structure is disposed on the gate electrode. A pair of sidewall spacers is disposed over the substrate and along opposite sidewalls of the gate electrode and the polarization switching structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo-Feng Young, Chung-Te Lin, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Yu-Ming Lin, Sheng-Chih Lai, Chih-Yu Chang, Han-Jong Chia
  • Publication number: 20220367201
    Abstract: A method of reducing corner rounding during patterning of a substrate to form a prescribed pattern comprising a corner includes dividing the pattern into a first pattern and a second pattern, the first pattern forming a first edge of the corner and the second pattern forming a second edge of the corner. At least a portion of the second pattern overlaps the first pattern such that the first edge intersects with the second edge to form a corner of the prescribed pattern. The method further includes forming the first pattern in a first mask layer disposed on a substrate to expose the substrate and forming the second pattern in the first mask layer to expose the substrate. The substrate exposed through the first mask layer is then etched to obtain the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Chin-Yuan TSENG, Yu-Tien SHEN, Wei-Liang LIN, Chih-Ming LAI, Kuo-Cheng CHING, Shi-Ning JU, Li-Te LIN, Ru-Gun LIU
  • Publication number: 20220367518
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a memory array is formed by manufacturing portions of a word line during different and separate processes, thereby allowing the portions formed first to act as a structural support during later processes that would otherwise cause undesired damage to the structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Cheng Yang, Meng-Han Lin, Han-Jong Chia, Sheng-Chen Wang, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20220367516
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first dielectric layer over a substrate; a word line over the first dielectric layer, the word line including a first main layer and a first glue layer, the first glue layer extending along a bottom surface, a top surface, and a first sidewall of the first main layer; a second dielectric layer over the word line; a first bit line extending through the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer; and a data storage strip disposed between the first bit line and the word line, the data storage strip extending along a second sidewall of the word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Han-Jong Chia, Chung-Te Lin, Feng-Cheng Yang, Meng-Han Lin, Sheng-Chen Wang
  • Publication number: 20220367665
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes following operations. A layer stack is formed over the substrate. The formation of the layer stack includes the following sub-operations: a blocking layer is formed over the substrate, a lower conductive layer is formed over the blocking layer, a first seed layer is formed over the lower conductive layer, a ferroelectric layer is formed over the first seed layer, and an upper conductive layer is formed over the ferroelectric layer. The layer stack is patterned to form a gate stack over the substrate. A spacer layer is formed over sidewalls of the gate stack. A pattered interlayer dielectric layer is formed over the substrate and the gate stack. A source region and a drain region are formed in the substrate through the patterned interlayer dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: YEN-CHIEH HUANG, HAI-CHING CHEN, YU-MING LIN, CHUNG-TE LIN
  • Publication number: 20220367517
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a source line extending in a first direction; a bit line extending in the first direction; a back gate between the source line and the bit line, the back gate extending in the first direction; a channel layer surrounding the back gate; a word line extending in a second direction, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a data storage layer extending along the word line, the data storage layer between the word line and the channel layer, the data storage layer between the word line and the bit line, the data storage layer between the word line and the source line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Han-Jong Chia, Sheng-Chen Wang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20220367648
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor feature includes: alternatingly forming first and second dielectric layers on a semiconductor substrate along a vertical direction; forming multiple spaced-apart trenches penetrating the first and second dielectric layers; forming multiple support segments filling the trenches; removing the second dielectric layers to form multiple spaces; forming multiple conductive layers filling the spaces; removing the support segments to expose the conductive layers and the first dielectric layers; selectively forming a blocking layer covering the first dielectric layers outside of the conductive layers; forming multiple selectively-deposited sub-layers on the exposed conductive layers outside of the blocking layer and each connected to one of the conductive layers; forming multiple channel sub-layers on the selectively-deposited sub-layers outside of the blocking layer; removing the blocking layer; forming multiple isolation sub-layers filling the trenches; and forming multiple
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Song-Fu LIAO, Hai-Ching CHEN, Chung-Te LIN
  • Publication number: 20220366996
    Abstract: A location of at least one fail bit to be repaired in a memory block of a memory is extracted from at least one memory test on the memory block. An available repair resource in the memory for repairing the memory block is obtained. It is checked, using machine learning, whether the at least one fail bit is unrepairable, according to the location of the at least one fail bit, and the available repair resource. When the checking indicates that the at least one fail bit is not unrepairable, it is determined whether a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) containing a plurality of constraints is solvable. The constraints correspond to the location of the at least one fail bit in the memory block, and the available repair resource. In response to determining that the CSP is not solvable, the memory block is marked as unrepairable or the memory is rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Katherine H. CHIANG, Chien-Hao HUANG, Cheng-Yi WU, Chung-Te LIN
  • Publication number: 20220366952
    Abstract: Routing arrangements for 3D memory arrays and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a memory array includes a first word line extending from a first edge of the memory array in a first direction, the first word line having a length less than a length of a second edge of the memory array perpendicular to the first edge of the memory array; a second word line extending from a third edge of the memory array opposite the first edge of the memory array, the second word line extending in the first direction, the second word line having a length less than the length of the second edge of the memory array; a memory film contacting the first word line; and an OS layer contacting a first source line and a first bit line, the memory film being disposed between the OS layer and the first word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Han-Jong Chia, Sheng-Chen Wang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20220359724
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin on a substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin; forming a metal gate electrode in the dielectric layer and extending across the semiconductor fin; forming a source/drain regions on the semiconductor fin and on opposite sides of the metal gate electrode; performing a first non-zero bias plasma etching process to the metal gate electrode; after performing the first non-zero bias plasma etching process, performing a first zero bias plasma etching process to the metal gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Chen LO, Li-Te LIN, Pinyen LIN
  • Publication number: 20220359270
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional (3D) memory device includes: forming a layer stack over a substrate, the layer stack including alternating layers of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material; forming trenches extending through the layer stack; replacing the second dielectric material with an electrically conductive material to form word lines (WLs); lining sidewalls and bottoms of the trenches with a ferroelectric material; filling the trenches with a third dielectric material; forming bit lines (BLs) and source lines (SLs) extending vertically through the third dielectric material; removing portions of the third dielectric material to form openings in the third dielectric material between the BLs and the SLs; forming a channel material along sidewalls of the openings; and filling the openings with a fourth dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Han-Jong Chia, Meng-Han Lin, Sheng-Chen Wang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20220359544
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes a gate electrode arranged over a substrate. A gate dielectric layer is arranged over the gate electrode, and an active structure is arranged over the gate dielectric layer. A source contact and a drain contact are arranged over the active structure. The active structure includes a stack of cocktail layers alternating with first active layers. The cocktail layers include a mixture of a first material and a second material. The first active layers include a third material that is different than the first and second materials. The bottommost layer of the active structure is one of the cocktail layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Rainer Yen-Chieh Huang, Hai-Ching Chen, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20220359524
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a two-dimensional array of unit cell structures overlying a substrate. Each unit cell structure includes an active layer, a gate dielectric underlying the active layer, two gate electrodes underlying the gate dielectric, and two source electrodes and a drain electrode overlying the active layer. Word lines underlie the active layers. Each unit cell structure includes portions of a respective set of four word lines, which includes two word lines that are electrically connected to two electrodes in the unit cell structure and two additional word lines that are electrically isolated from the two electrodes in the unit cell structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ming-Yen CHUANG, Chia LING, Katherine H. CHIANG, Chung-Te LIN
  • Patent number: 11495619
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a device layer having devices spaced in accordance with a predetermined device pitch, a first metal interconnection layer disposed above the device layer and coupled to the device layer, and a second metal interconnection layer disposed above the first metal interconnection layer and coupled to the first metal interconnection layer through a first via layer. The second metal interconnection layer has metal lines spaced in accordance with a predetermined metal line pitch, and a ratio of the predetermined metal line pitch to predetermined device pitch is less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fong-yuan Chang, Chun-Chen Chen, Po-Hsiang Huang, Lee-Chung Lu, Chung-Te Lin, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Chin-Chou Liu
  • Patent number: 11495618
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a source line extending in a first direction; a bit line extending in the first direction; a back gate between the source line and the bit line, the back gate extending in the first direction; a channel layer surrounding the back gate; a word line extending in a second direction, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a data storage layer extending along the word line, the data storage layer between the word line and the channel layer, the data storage layer between the word line and the bit line, the data storage layer between the word line and the source line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Han-Jong Chia, Sheng-Chen Wang, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Patent number: 11495314
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided, which contains a memory bank including M primary word lines and R replacement word lines, a row/column decoder, and an array of redundancy fuse elements. A sorted primary failed bit count list is generated in a descending order for the bit fail counts per word line. A sorted replacement failed bit count list is generated in an ascending order of the M primary word lines in an ascending order. The primary word lines are replaced with the replacement word lines from top to bottom on the lists until a primary failed bit count equals a replacement failed bit count or until all of the replacement word lines are used up. Optionally, the sorted primary failed bit count list may be re-sorted in an ascending or descending order of the word line address prior to the replacement process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chien-Hao Huang, Cheng-Yi Wu, Katherine H. Chiang, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20220352333
    Abstract: A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode embedded in an insulating layer that overlies a substrate, a gate dielectric overlying the gate electrode, an active layer comprising a compound semiconductor material and overlying the gate dielectric, and a source electrode and drain electrode contacting end portions of the active layer. The gate dielectric may have thicker portions over interfaces with the insulating layer to suppress hydrogen diffusion therethrough. Additionally or alternatively, a passivation capping dielectric including a dielectric metal oxide material may be interposed between the active layer and a dielectric layer overlying the active layer to suppress hydrogen diffusion therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Min-Kun DAI, Wei-Gang CHIU, I-Cheng CHANG, Cheng-Yi WU, Han-Ting TSAI, Tsann LIN, Chung-Te LIN
  • Publication number: 20220352385
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region spaced apart from each other; a channel layer electrically connected to the first and second source/drain regions; a gate insulator layer; a gate electrode isolated from the channel layer by the gate insulator layer; and a UV-attenuating layer disposed on the channel layer to protect the channel layer from characteristic degradation caused by UV light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Katherine H. CHIANG, Neil Quinn MURRAY, Ming-Yen CHUANG, Chung-Te LIN
  • Publication number: 20220352379
    Abstract: Ferroelectric devices, including FeFET and/or FeRAM devices, include ferroelectric material layers deposited using atomic layer deposition (ALD). By controlling parameters of the ALD deposition sequence, the crystal structure and ferroelectric properties of the ferroelectric layer may be engineered. An ALD deposition sequence including relatively shorter precursor pulse durations and purge durations between successive precursor pulses may provide a ferroelectric layer having relatively uniform crystal grain sizes and a small mean grain size (e.g., ?3 nm), which may provide effective ferroelectric performance. An ALD deposition sequence including relatively longer precursor pulse durations and purge durations between successive precursor pulses may provide a ferroelectric layer having less uniform crystal grain sizes and a larger mean grain size (e.g., ?7 nm).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Po-Ting LIN, Song-Fu LIAO, Rainer, Yen-Chieh HUANG, Hai-Ching CHEN, Yu-Ming LIN, Chung-Te LIN