Patents by Inventor Tzu-Yu Chen

Tzu-Yu Chen 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: 20240363155
    Abstract: A method for efficiently waking up ferroelectric memory is provided. A wafer is formed with a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, a plurality of third signal lines, and a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells that constitute a ferroelectric memory array. Each of the ferroelectric memory cells is electrically connected to one of the first signal lines, one of the second signal lines and one of the third signal lines. Voltage signals are simultaneously applied to the first signal lines, the second signal lines and the third signal lines to induce occurrence of a wake-up effect in the ferroelectric memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu CHEN, Sheng-Hung SHIH, Fu-Chen CHANG, Kuo-Chi TU, Wen-Ting CHU
  • Publication number: 20240357833
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device. The FeRAM device includes a bottom electrode structure and a top electrode overlying the ferroelectric structure. The top electrode has a first width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the top electrode. A ferroelectric structure separates the bottom electrode structure from the top electrode. The ferroelectric structure has a second width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the ferroelectric structure. The second width is greater than the first width such that the ferroelectric structure includes a ledge that reflects a difference between the first width and the second width. A dielectric sidewall spacer structure is disposed on the ledge and covers the outermost sidewalls of the top electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Sheng-Hung Shih, Fu-Chen Chang
  • Patent number: 12114509
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a structure includes one or more first transistors in a first region of a device, the one or more first transistors supporting a memory access function of the device. The structure includes one or more ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) capacitors in a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer over the one or more first transistors in the first region. The structure also includes one or more metal-ferroelectric insulator-metal (MFM) decoupling capacitors in the first IMD layer in a second region of the device. The MFM capacitors may include two or more capacitors coupled in series to act as a voltage divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Fu-Chen Chang, Chih-Hsiang Chang, Sheng-Hung Shih
  • Patent number: 12082421
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode, a sidewall spacer, and a data storage element. The sidewall spacer is disposed aside the top electrode. The data storage element is located between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, and includes a ferroelectric material. The data storage element has a peripheral region which is disposed beneath the sidewall spacer and which has at least 60% of ferroelectric phase. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device and a method for transforming a non-ferroelectric phase of a ferroelectric material to a ferroelectric phase are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Sheng-Hung Shih, Fu-Chen Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu
  • Patent number: 12057154
    Abstract: A method for efficiently waking up ferroelectric memory is provided. A wafer is formed with a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, a plurality of third signal lines, and a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells that constitute a ferroelectric memory array. Each of the ferroelectric memory cells is electrically connected to one of the first signal lines, one of the second signal lines and one of the third signal lines. Voltage signals are simultaneously applied to the first signal lines, the second signal lines and the third signal lines to induce occurrence of a wake-up effect in the ferroelectric memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Sheng-Hung Shih, Fu-Chen Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu
  • Publication number: 20240114698
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric layer, a noble metal electrode, and a non-noble metal electrode. The bottom electrode is over the substrate. The ferroelectric layer is over the bottom electrode. The noble metal electrode is over the ferroelectric layer. The non-noble metal electrode is over the noble metal electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu CHEN, Sheng-Hung SHIH, Fu-Chen CHANG, Kuo-Chi TU, Wen-Ting CHU, Alexander KALNITSKY
  • Patent number: 11921940
    Abstract: A method of an optical navigation device having a plurality of different tracking modes includes: using an image sensor to sense and generate a plurality of image frames; and, controlling and changing a tracking mode of the optical navigation device from a first tracking mode into a second tracking mode in response to an event that the optical navigation device changes from a first surface operation condition into a second surface operation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Tzu-Yu Chen
  • Publication number: 20240074206
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a random access memory (RAM) structure and a dielectric layer. The RAM structure is over a substrate and includes a bottom electrode layer, a ferroelectric layer over the bottom electrode layer, and a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer. The dielectric layer is over the substrate and laterally surrounds a lower portion of the RAM structure. From a cross-sectional view, the bottom electrode layer of the RAM structure has a lateral portion and a vertical portion, and the vertical portion upwardly extends from the lateral portion to a position higher than a top surface of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Chen CHANG, Kuo-Chi TU, Tzu-Yu CHEN, Sheng-Hung SHIH
  • Publication number: 20240071455
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region disposed within a substrate. A select gate is over the substrate between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. A ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device is over the substrate between the select gate and the first source/drain region. A transistor device is disposed on an upper surface of the substrate. The substrate has a recessed surface that is below the upper surface of the substrate and that is laterally separated from the upper surface of the substrate by a boundary isolation structure extending into a trench within the upper surface of the substrate. The FeRAM device is arranged over the recessed surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Yong-Shiuan Tsair
  • Publication number: 20240040800
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a memory cell comprising a blocking layer configured to block diffusion of metal from an electrode of the memory cell to a ferroelectric layer of the memory cell. More particularly, the blocking layer and the ferroelectric layer are between a top electrode of the memory cell and a bottom electrode of the memory cell, which both comprise metal. Further, the blocking layer is between the ferroelectric layer and the electrode, which corresponds to one of the top and bottom electrodes. In some embodiments, the metal of the one of the top and bottom electrodes has a lowest electronegativity amongst the metals of top and bottom electrodes and is hence the most reactive and likely to diffuse amongst the metals of top and bottom electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Chu-Jie Huang, Wan-Chen Chen, Fu-Chen Chang, Sheng-Hung Shih, Kuo-Chi Tu
  • Patent number: 11869564
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region disposed within a substrate. A select gate is disposed over the substrate between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. A ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM) device is disposed over the substrate between the select gate and the first source/drain region. A first sidewall spacer, including one or more dielectric materials, is arranged laterally between the select gate and the FeRAM device. An inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure laterally surrounds the FeRAM device and the select gate and vertically overlies a top surface of the first sidewall spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Yong-Shiuan Tsair
  • Publication number: 20240004074
    Abstract: A tracking device including an image sensor, a light source and a processor is provided. The image sensor senses reflected light or scattered light formed by the light source illuminating a work surface. The processor calculates a trace of the tracking device according to one of the reflected light and the scattered light that generates more apparent image features so as to increase the adaptable work surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: HUI-HSUAN CHEN, CHENG-LIN YANG, TZU-YU CHEN
  • Patent number: 11856788
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes depositing a bottom electrode layer over a substrate; depositing a ferroelectric layer over the bottom electrode layer; depositing a first top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer, wherein the first top electrode layer comprises a first metal; depositing a second top electrode layer over the first top electrode layer, wherein the second top electrode layer comprises a second metal, and a standard reduction potential of the first metal is greater than a standard reduction potential of the second metal; and removing portions of the second top electrode layer, the first top electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the bottom electrode layer to form a memory stack, the memory stack comprising remaining portions of the second top electrode layer, the first top electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the bottom electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Sheng-Hung Shih, Fu-Chen Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Wen-Ting Chu, Alexander Kalnitsky
  • Patent number: 11849588
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming an inter-metal dielectric layer over a substrate; forming a first conductive line embedded in the inter-metal dielectric layer; forming a dielectric structure over the inter-metal dielectric layer and the first conductive line; etching the dielectric structure until the first conductive line is exposed; forming a bottom electrode layer on the exposed first conductive line such that the bottom electrode layer has an U-shaped when viewed in a cross section; forming a ferroelectric layer over the bottom electrode layer; forming a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Chen Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Tzu-Yu Chen, Sheng-Hung Shih
  • Publication number: 20230389331
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a memory cell on the semiconductor substrate, where the memory cell includes a bottom contact, a memory material on the bottom contact, a top contact on the memory material, a first electrical isolation structure laterally surrounding the top contact, and a second electrical isolation structure laterally surrounding the memory material and the bottom contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Sheng-Hung Shih, Fu-Chen Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu
  • Publication number: 20230371263
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip including forming a ferroelectric layer over a bottom electrode layer, forming a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer, performing a first removal process to remove peripheral portions of the bottom electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the top electrode layer, and performing a second removal process using a second etch that is selective to the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer to remove portions of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer, so that after the second removal process the ferroelectric layer has a surface that protrudes past a surface of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Chang, Kuo-Chi Tu, Sheng-Hung Shih, Wen-Ting Chu, Tzu-Yu Chen, Fu-Chen Chang
  • Publication number: 20230363176
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a memory gate, and a data storage element. The semiconductor substrate includes a memory well which has two source/drain regions and a channel region between the source/drain regions. The memory gate is disposed above the channel region. The data storage element includes a ferroelectric material, and is disposed around the memory gate to separate the memory gate from the channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu CHEN, Sheng-Hung SHIH, Kuo-Chi TU
  • Patent number: 11808853
    Abstract: A tracking device including an image sensor, a light source and a processor is provided. The image sensor senses reflected light or scattered light formed by the light source illuminating a work surface. The processor calculates a trace of the tracking device according to one of the reflected light and the scattered light that generates more apparent image features so as to increase the adaptable work surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Hui-Hsuan Chen, Cheng-Lin Yang, Tzu-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11800720
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. A data storage structure is disposed on the bottom electrode and is configured to store a data state. A top electrode is disposed on the data storage structure. The top electrode has interior surfaces defining a recess within an upper surface of the top electrode. A masking layer contacts a bottom of the recess and extends to over the upper surface of the top electrode. An interconnect extends through the masking layer and to the top electrode. The interconnect is directly over the upper surface of the top electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Sheng-Hung Shih, Wen-Ting Chu, Chih-Hsiang Chang, Fu-Chen Chang
  • Publication number: 20230337440
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device. The FeRAM device includes a bottom electrode structure and a top electrode overlying the ferroelectric structure. The top electrode has a first width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the top electrode. A ferroelectric structure separates the bottom electrode structure from the top electrode. The ferroelectric structure has a second width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the ferroelectric structure. The second width is greater than the first width such that the ferroelectric structure includes a ledge that reflects a difference between the first width and the second width. A dielectric sidewall spacer structure is disposed on the ledge and covers the outermost sidewalls of the top electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Tzu-Yu Chen, Kuo-Chi Tu, Sheng-Hung Shih, Fu-Chen Chang