Patents by Inventor Wei-Chung HU

Wei-Chung HU 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: 11966628
    Abstract: A memory device, includes a memory array for storing a plurality of vector data each of which has an MSB vector and a LSB vector. The memory array includes a plurality of memory units each of which has a first bit and a second bit. The first bit is used to store the MSB vector of each vector data, the second bit is used to store the LSB vector of each vector data. A bit line corresponding to each vector data executes one time of bit-line-setup, and reads the MSB vector and the LSB vector of each vector data according to the bit line. The threshold voltage distribution of each memory unit is divided into N states, where N is a positive integer and N is less than 2 to the power of 2, and the effective bit number stored by each memory unit is less than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Chen Wang, Han-Wen Hu, Yung-Chun Li, Huai-Mu Wang, Chien-Chung Ho, Yuan-Hao Chang, Tei-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 11860530
    Abstract: A photolithographic mask assembly according to the present disclosure accompanies a photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a capping layer over a substrate and an absorber layer disposed over the capping layer. The absorber layer includes a first main feature area, a second main feature area, and a venting feature area disposed between the first main feature area and the second main feature area. The venting feature area includes a plurality of venting features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Ta Lu, Chih-Chiang Tu, Cheng-Ming Lin, Ching-Yueh Chen, Wei-Chung Hu, Ting-Chang Hsu, Yu-Tung Chen
  • Publication number: 20230367197
    Abstract: A photolithographic mask assembly according to the present disclosure accompanies a photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a capping layer over a substrate and an absorber layer disposed over the capping layer. The absorber layer includes a first main feature area, a second main feature area, and a venting feature area disposed between the first main feature area and the second main feature area. The venting feature area includes a plurality of venting features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chi-Ta Lu, Chih-Chiang Tu, Cheng-Ming Lin, Ching-Yueh Chen, Wei-Chung Hu, Ting-Chang Hsu, Yu-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 11669957
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a semiconductor wafer includes obtaining a graphic data system (GDS) file corresponding to the semiconductor wafer, using GDS information from the GDS file to provide coordinates of a layout feature of the semiconductor wafer to an electron microscope, using the electron microscope to capture a raw image from the semiconductor wafer based on the coordinates of the layout feature, and performing a measurement operation on the raw image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Peng-Ren Chen, Yi-An Huang, Jyun-Hong Chen, Wei-Chung Hu, Wen-Hao Cheng, Shiang-Bau Wang, Yung-Jung Chang
  • Publication number: 20220350235
    Abstract: A photolithographic mask assembly according to the present disclosure accompanies a photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a capping layer over a substrate and an absorber layer disposed over the capping layer. The absorber layer includes a first main feature area, a second main feature area, and a venting feature area disposed between the first main feature area and the second main feature area. The venting feature area includes a plurality of venting features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Chi-Ta Lu, Chih-Chiang Tu, Cheng-Ming Lin, Ching-Yueh Chen, Wei-Chung Hu, Ting-Chang Hsu, Yu-Tung Chen
  • Publication number: 20220342296
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the following operations. A first layout including a plurality of first features is provided. A modified second layout is determined. The modified second layout includes a plurality of modified features separated from each other, and each of the plurality of modified features respectively overlaps each of the plurality of first features. The modified second layout is outputted to a photomask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: WEI-CHUNG HU, CHI-TA LU, CHI-MING TSAI
  • Patent number: 11429019
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a first layout including a plurality of first features and a second layout including a plurality of second features; shifting the second layout to generate a plurality of virtual layouts; comparing a score of each of the plurality of virtual layouts and determining a modified second layout having a target score out of the plurality of virtual layouts; and outputting the modified second layout to a photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Chung Hu, Chi-Ta Lu, Chi-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 11402743
    Abstract: A photolithographic mask assembly according to the present disclosure accompanies a photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a capping layer over a substrate and an absorber layer disposed over the capping layer. The absorber layer includes a first main feature area, a second main feature area, and a venting feature area disposed between the first main feature area and the second main feature area. The venting feature area includes a plurality of venting features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Ta Lu, Chih-Chiang Tu, Cheng-Ming Lin, Ching-Yueh Chen, Wei-Chung Hu, Ting-Chang Hsu, Yu-Tung Chen
  • Publication number: 20220066312
    Abstract: A photolithographic mask assembly according to the present disclosure accompanies a photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a capping layer over a substrate and an absorber layer disposed over the capping layer. The absorber layer includes a first main feature area, a second main feature area, and a venting feature area disposed between the first main feature area and the second main feature area. The venting feature area includes a plurality of venting features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Chi-Ta Lu, Chih-Chiang Tu, Cheng-Ming Lin, Ching-Yueh Chen, Wei-Chung Hu, Ting-Chang Hsu, Yu-Tung Chen
  • Publication number: 20210342994
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a semiconductor wafer includes obtaining a graphic data system (GDS) file corresponding to the semiconductor wafer, using GDS information from the GDS file to provide coordinates of a layout feature of the semiconductor wafer to an electron microscope, using the electron microscope to capture a raw image from the semiconductor wafer based on the coordinates of the layout feature, and performing a measurement operation on the raw image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Peng-Ren CHEN, Yi-An HUANG, Jyun-Hong CHEN, Wei-Chung HU, Wen-Hao CHENG, Shiang-Bau WANG, Yung-Jung CHANG
  • Patent number: 11094057
    Abstract: A method includes capturing a raw image from a semiconductor wafer, using graphic data system (GDS) information corresponding to the wafer to assign a measurement box in the raw image, performing a distance measurement on a feature of the raw image in the measurement box, and performing a manufacturing activity based on the distance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Peng-Ren Chen, Shiang-Bau Wang, Wen-Hao Cheng, Yung-Jung Chang, Wei-Chung Hu, Yi-An Huang, Jyun-Hong Chen
  • Publication number: 20210116804
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a first layout including a plurality of first features and a second layout including a plurality of second features; shifting the second layout to generate a plurality of virtual layouts; comparing a score of each of the plurality of virtual layouts and determining a modified second layout having a target score out of the plurality of virtual layouts; and outputting the modified second layout to a photomask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: WEI-CHUNG HU, CHI-TA LU, CHI-MING TSAI
  • Patent number: 10866508
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photomask is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of virtual layouts; calculating a score for each of the plurality of virtual layouts in accordance with a total overlay area; comparing the scores of the plurality of virtual layouts and determining a modified layout having a target score out of the plurality of virtual layouts; and outputting the modified layout to a photomask. Each of the virtual layouts includes a plurality of the shifted features. A semiconductor manufacturing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Chung Hu, Chi-Ta Lu, Chi-Ming Tsai
  • Publication number: 20200364844
    Abstract: A method includes capturing a raw image from a semiconductor wafer, using graphic data system (GDS) information corresponding to the wafer to assign a measurement box in the raw image, performing a distance measurement on a feature of the raw image in the measurement box, and performing a manufacturing activity based on the distance measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Peng-Ren CHEN, Shiang-Bau WANG, Wen-Hao CHENG, Yung-Jung CHANG, Wei-Chung HU, Yi-An HUANG, Jyun-Hong CHEN
  • Patent number: 10762621
    Abstract: A method includes capturing a raw image from a semiconductor wafer, assigning a measurement box in the raw image, arranging a pair of indicators in the measurement box according to graphic data system (GDS) information of the semiconductor wafer, measuring a distance between the indicators, and performing a manufacturing activity based on the measured distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peng-Ren Chen, Shiang-Bau Wang, Wen-Hao Cheng, Yung-Jung Chang, Wei-Chung Hu, Yi-An Huang, Jyun-Hong Chen
  • Publication number: 20190354006
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photomask is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of virtual layouts; calculating a score for each of the plurality of virtual layouts in accordance with a total overlay area; comparing the scores of the plurality of virtual layouts and determining a modified layout having a target score out of the plurality of virtual layouts; and outputting the modified layout to a photomask. Each of the virtual layouts includes a plurality of the shifted features. A semiconductor manufacturing method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: WEI-CHUNG HU, CHI-TA LU, CHI-MING TSAI
  • Publication number: 20190259140
    Abstract: A method includes capturing a raw image from a semiconductor wafer, assigning a measurement box in the raw image, arranging a pair of indicators in the measurement box according to graphic data system (GDS) information of the semiconductor wafer, measuring a distance between the indicators, and performing a manufacturing activity based on the measured distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Peng-Ren CHEN, Shiang-Bau WANG, Wen-Hao CHENG, Yung-Jung CHANG, Wei-Chung HU, Yi-An HUANG, Jyun-Hong CHEN
  • Patent number: 10304178
    Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing semiconductor wafer are provided. A target image is obtained according to graphic data system (GDS) information of a specific layout in the semiconductor wafer, wherein the target image includes a first contour having a first pattern corresponding to the specific layout. Image-based alignment is performed to capture a raw image from the semiconductor wafer according to the first contour. The semiconductor wafer is analyzed by measuring the raw image, so as to provide a diagnostic result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Peng-Ren Chen, Shiang-Bau Wang, Wen-Hao Cheng, Yung-Jung Chang, Wei-Chung Hu, Yi-An Huang, Jyun-Hong Chen
  • Publication number: 20170084016
    Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing semiconductor wafer are provided. A target image is obtained according to graphic data system (GDS) information of a specific layout in the semiconductor wafer, wherein the target image includes a first contour having a first pattern corresponding to the specific layout. Image-based alignment is performed to capture a raw image from the semiconductor wafer according to the first contour. The semiconductor wafer is analyzed by measuring the raw image, so as to provide a diagnostic result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Peng-Ren CHEN, Shiang-Bau WANG, Wen-Hao CHENG, Yung-Jung CHANG, Wei-Chung HU, Yi-An HUANG, Jyun-Hong CHEN