Patents by Inventor Tzu-Heng Chang

Tzu-Heng Chang 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: 11942441
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a through-silicon via (TSV) in a TSV zone in a substrate and the TSV extends through the substrate; an ESD cell proximal to a first end of the TSV and in contact with the TSV zone, the ESD cell including a set of diodes electrically connected in parallel to each other; an antenna pad electrically connected to a second end of the TSV; and an antenna electrically connected to the antenna pad and extending in a first direction, the first direction is parallel to a major axis of the TSV. The semiconductor device includes a conductive pillar extending parallel to the TSV at a same side of the substrate as the antenna pad, wherein a first end of the conductive pillar electrically connects to the antenna pad, and a second end of the conductive pillar electrically connects to the set of diodes of the ESD cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC CHINA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: HoChe Yu, Fong-Yuan Chang, XinYong Wang, Chih-Liang Chen, Tzu-Heng Chang
  • Patent number: 11935885
    Abstract: A device includes standard cells in a layout of an integrated circuit. The standard cells include a first standard cell and a second standard cell disposed next to each other. The first standard cell is configured to operate as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and includes a first gate and a second gate. The first gate includes a first gate finger and a second gate finger that are arranged over a first active region, for forming a first transistor and a second transistor, respectively. The second gate is separate from the first gate. The second gate includes a third gate finger and a fourth gate finger that are arranged over a second active region, for forming a third transistor and a fourth transistor, respectively. The first transistor and the second transistor are connected in parallel, and the third transistor and the fourth transistor are connected in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Kuo-Ji Chen, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Publication number: 20240088651
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fail-safe protection of circuitry from electrostatic discharge due through input and output connections. The power circuitry may include a string of diodes, connections to power lines, and particular diodes for voltage pull-up and pull-down clamping. There may be both a pull-up third diode in the diode string for connection between I/O and VDD and a pull-down third diode between I/O and VSS. During an ESD event the ESD device is configured to hold voltage from exceeding a threshold voltage and damaging internal circuitry. During operational mode the ESD device is turned off and does not interfere with circuit operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Hsin-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11870247
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fail-safe protection of circuitry from electrostatic discharge due through input and output connections. The power circuitry may include a string of diodes, connections to power lines, and particular diodes for voltage pull-up and pull-down clamping. There may be both a pull-up third diode in the diode string for connection between I/O and VDD and a pull-down third diode between I/O and VSS. During an ESD event the ESD device is configured to hold voltage from exceeding a threshold voltage and damaging internal circuitry. During operational mode the ESD device is turned off and does not interfere with circuit operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Hsin-Yu Chen
  • Publication number: 20240006877
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a power clamp device. The power clamp device includes a delay element, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a gate control circuit. The delay element has an input terminal and an output terminal. The first transistor has a gate electrically connected to the output terminal of the delay element. The second transistor has a source electrically connected to a drain of the first transistor. The gate control circuit has a first terminal electrically connected to the input terminal of the delay element, a second terminal electrically connected to the output terminal of the delay element, and a third terminal electrically connected to a gate of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: PIN-HSIN CHANG, HSIN-YU CHEN, TZU-HENG CHANG
  • Publication number: 20230369316
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides electrostatic discharge circuits and structures and methods for operating the electrostatic discharge circuits and structures. A circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk. The drain of the first transistor is connected to a first terminal. The source of the first transistor is connected to receive a first voltage. The gate and the bulk of the first transistor is connected to receive a second voltage. The second transistor includes a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk. The source, the gate, and the bulk of the second transistor is connected to receive the second voltage. The drain of the second transistor is connected to the first terminal. In response to the terminal reaching a trigger voltage, the first transistor is configured to be turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: TZU-HENG CHANG, HSIN-YU CHEN, PIN-HSIN CHANG
  • Patent number: 11798936
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides electrostatic discharge circuits and structures and methods for operating the electrostatic discharge circuits and structures. A circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk. The drain of the first transistor is connected to a first terminal. The source of the first transistor is connected to receive a first voltage. The gate and the bulk of the first transistor is connected to receive a second voltage. The second transistor includes a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk. The source, the gate, and the bulk of the second transistor is connected to receive the second voltage. The drain of the second transistor is connected to the first terminal. In response to the terminal reaching a trigger voltage, the first transistor is configured to be turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Hsin-Yu Chen, Pin-Hsin Chang
  • Patent number: 11676959
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between first and second power supply buses. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the detection circuit, comprising at least a first n-type transistor; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the pull-up circuit, comprising at least a second n-type transistor; and a bypass circuit, coupled to the pull-up and pull-down circuits, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect whether an ESD event is present on either the first or the second bus so as to cause the pull-up and pull-down circuits to selectively enable the bypass circuit for providing a discharging path between the first and second power supply buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Tsai, Tzu-Heng Chang, Yu-Ti Su, Kai-Ping Huang
  • Publication number: 20230123887
    Abstract: A device includes standard cells in a layout of an integrated circuit. The standard cells include a first standard cell and a second standard cell disposed next to each other. The first standard cell is configured to operate as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and includes a first gate and a second gate. The first gate includes a first gate finger and a second gate finger that are arranged over a first active region, for forming a first transistor and a second transistor, respectively. The second gate is separate from the first gate. The second gate includes a third gate finger and a fourth gate finger that are arranged over a second active region, for forming a third transistor and a fourth transistor, respectively. The first transistor and the second transistor are connected in parallel, and the third transistor and the fourth transistor are connected in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng CHANG, Kuo-Ji CHEN, Ming-Hsiang SONG
  • Publication number: 20230061812
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a through-silicon via (TSV) in a TSV zone in a substrate and the TSV extends through the substrate; an ESD cell proximal to a first end of the TSV and in contact with the TSV zone, the ESD cell including a set of diodes electrically connected in parallel to each other; an antenna pad electrically connected to a second end of the TSV; and an antenna electrically connected to the antenna pad and extending in a first direction, the first direction is parallel to a major axis of the TSV. The semiconductor device includes a conductive pillar extending parallel to the TSV at a same side of the substrate as the antenna pad, wherein a first end of the conductive pillar electrically connects to the antenna pad, and a second end of the conductive pillar electrically connects to the set of diodes of the ESD cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: HoChe YU, Fong-Yuan CHANG, XinYong WANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Tzu-Heng CHANG
  • Patent number: 11562996
    Abstract: A device includes first and second standard cells in a layout of an integrated circuit, and first and second active regions. The first standard cell includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection unit, and the second standard cell includes first and second transistors that connect to the ESD protection unit. The first active region includes first, second, and third source/drain regions. The first standard cell includes a first gate arranged across the first active region; and a second gate that is separated from the first gate and is arranged across the first active region and the second active region. The first gate, the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region together correspond to a third transistor of the ESD protection unit. The second gate, the second source/drain region and the third source/drain region together correspond to the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Kuo-Ji Chen, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Patent number: 11557586
    Abstract: A device includes standard cells in a layout of an integrated circuit, the standard cells includes first and second standard cells sharing a first active region and a second active region. The first standard cell includes first and second gates. The first gate includes a first gate finger and a second gate finger that are arranged over the first active region, for forming the first transistor and the second transistor. The second gate is separate from the first gate, the second gate includes a third gate finger and a fourth gate finger that are arranged over the second active region, for forming the third transistor and the fourth transistor. The second standard cell includes a third gate arranged over the first active region and the second active region, for forming the fifth transistor and the sixth transistor. The first to fourth transistors operate as an electrostatic discharge protection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Kuo-Ji Chen, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Publication number: 20220302105
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between first and second power supply buses. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the detection circuit, comprising at least a first n-type transistor; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the pull-up circuit, comprising at least a second n-type transistor; and a bypass circuit, coupled to the pull-up and pull-down circuits, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect whether an ESD event is present on either the first or the second bus so as to cause the pull-up and pull-down circuits to selectively enable the bypass circuit for providing a discharging path between the first and second power supply buses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Tsai, Tzu-Heng Chang, Yu-Ti Su, Kai-Ping Huang
  • Publication number: 20220294211
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fail-safe protection of circuitry from electrostatic discharge due through input and output connections. The power circuitry may include a string of diodes, connections to power lines, and particular diodes for voltage pull-up and pull-down clamping. There may be both a pull-up third diode in the diode string for connection between I/O and VDD and a pull-down third diode between I/O and VSS. During an ESD event the ESD device is configured to hold voltage from exceeding a threshold voltage and damaging internal circuitry. During operational mode the ESD device is turned off and does not interfere with circuit operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Hsin-Yu Chen
  • Publication number: 20220285339
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides electrostatic discharge circuits and structures and methods for operating the electrostatic discharge circuits and structures. A circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk. The drain of the first transistor is connected to a first terminal. The source of the first transistor is connected to receive a first voltage. The gate and the bulk of the first transistor is connected to receive a second voltage. The second transistor includes a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk. The source, the gate, and the bulk of the second transistor is connected to receive the second voltage. The drain of the second transistor is connected to the first terminal. In response to the terminal reaching a trigger voltage, the first transistor is configured to be turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Hsin-Yu Chen, Pin-Hsin Chang
  • Patent number: 11404409
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between first and second power supply buses. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the detection circuit, comprising at least a first n-type transistor; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the pull-up circuit, comprising at least a second n-type transistor; and a bypass circuit, coupled to the pull-up and pull-down circuits, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect whether an ESD event is present on either the first or the second bus so as to cause the pull-up and pull-down circuits to selectively enable the bypass circuit for providing a discharging path between the first and second power supply buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Tsai, Tzu-Heng Chang, Yu-Ti Su, Kai-Ping Huang
  • Patent number: 11264374
    Abstract: A method of making an electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing structure includes forming, in a first die, a first measurement device. The method further includes forming, in a second die, a fuse, a first trim pad, and a second trim pad. The method further includes forming, between the first die and the second die, a plurality of electrical bonds, wherein a first bond of the plurality of bonds is electrically connected to the first trim pad and a first side of the fuse, and a second bond of the plurality of bonds is electrically connected to the second trim pad and a second side of the fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Heng Chang, Jen-Chou Tseng, Ming-Hsiang Song
  • Patent number: 10964651
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an interposer and a plurality of dies stacked on the interposer. The interposer includes a first conductive network of a first trigger bus. Each of the plurality of dies includes a second conductive network of a second trigger bus, and an ESD detection circuit and an ESD power clamp electrically connected between a first power line and a second power line, and electrically connected to the second conductive network of the second trigger bus. The second conductive network of the second trigger bus in each of the plurality of dies is electrically connected to the first conductive network of the first trigger bus. Upon receiving an input signal, the ESD detection circuit is configured to generate an output signal to the corresponding second conductive network of the second trigger bus to control the ESD power clamps in each of the plurality of dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Chou Tseng, Tzu-Heng Chang
  • Patent number: 10957687
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor device on a substrate. An interconnect structure is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. A first conductive pad is disposed over the interconnect structure. A second conductive pad is disposed over the interconnect structure and spaced apart from the first conductive pad. A third conductive pad is disposed over the interconnect structure and spaced apart from the first and second conductive pads. A first ESD protection element is electrically coupled between the first and second conductive pads. A first device under test (DUT) is electrically coupled between the first and third conductive pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Chou Tseng, Ming-Fu Tsai, Tzu-Heng Chang
  • Publication number: 20210066287
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between first and second power supply buses. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the detection circuit, comprising at least a first n-type transistor; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the pull-up circuit, comprising at least a second n-type transistor; and a bypass circuit, coupled to the pull-up and pull-down circuits, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect whether an ESD event is present on either the first or the second bus so as to cause the pull-up and pull-down circuits to selectively enable the bypass circuit for providing a discharging path between the first and second power supply buses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ming-Fu TSAI, Tzu-Heng CHANG, Yu-Ti SU, Kai-Ping HUANG