Patents by Inventor Ya-Chen Kao

Ya-Chen Kao 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: 20230221465
    Abstract: A display device includes a display module and an anti-glare film on the display module. The anti-glare film includes a first anti-glare layer and a second anti-glare layer. The first anti-glare layer has a plurality of microstructures at an upper surface of the first anti-glare layer. A root-mean-square slope of the microstructures is more than 0 and is 0.2 or less. The second anti-glare layer is between the first anti-glare layer and the display module, and an inner haze of the second anti-glare layer is from 20% to 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Shu-Cheng KUNG, Ya-Chen KAO, Ken-Yu LIU
  • Patent number: 11672124
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit that includes a semiconductor substrate having a periphery region and memory cell region separated by a boundary region. A pair of split gate flash memory cells are disposed on the memory cell region and include a first select gate and a first memory gate. A first gate electrode is disposed over a first gate dielectric layer on the periphery region. A second gate electrode is disposed over a second gate dielectric layer on the periphery region at a position between the boundary region and the first gate electrode. The second dielectric layer is thicker than the first gate dielectric layer. The first select gate and the first memory gate have upper surfaces that are co-planar or level with the upper surface of the second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao, Yi Hsien Lu
  • Patent number: 11600618
    Abstract: A includes depositing a gate electrode layer over a semiconductor substrate; patterning the gate electrode layer into a first gate electrode and a gate electrode extending portion; forming a first gate spacer alongside the first gate electrode; patterning the gate electrode extending portion into a second gate electrode after forming the first gate spacer; and forming a second gate spacer alongside the second gate electrode and a third gate spacer around the first spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Li-Feng Teng, Wei-Cheng Wu, Fang-Lan Chu, Ya-Chen Kao
  • Publication number: 20220302114
    Abstract: A includes depositing a gate electrode layer over a semiconductor substrate; patterning the gate electrode layer into a first gate electrode and a gate electrode extending portion; forming a first gate spacer alongside the first gate electrode; patterning the gate electrode extending portion into a second gate electrode after forming the first gate spacer; and forming a second gate spacer alongside the second gate electrode and a third gate spacer around the first spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay CHUANG, Li-Feng TENG, Wei-Cheng WU, Fang-Lan CHU, Ya-Chen KAO
  • Patent number: 11264292
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a floating gate test device with a cell-like top layout, as well as a method for forming the IC. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a semiconductor substrate and the floating gate test device. The floating gate test device is on the semiconductor substrate, and comprises a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode overlying the floating gate electrode. The floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode partially define an array of islands, and further partially define a plurality of bridges interconnecting the islands. The islands and the bridges define the cell-like top layout and may, for example, prevent process-induced damage to the floating gate test device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Chih-Ren Hsieh, Ya-Chen Kao, Chen-Chin Liu, Chih-Pin Huang
  • Patent number: 11257816
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes active gate structures and dummy gate electrodes. The active gate structures are above an active region of a substrate. The dummy gate electrodes are above the active region of the substrate. A number of the dummy gate electrodes is less than a number of the active gate structures. The active gate structures and the dummy gate electrodes have different materials, and a distance between adjacent one of the dummy gate electrodes and one of the active gate structures is substantially the same as a gate pitch of the active gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei-Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao
  • Patent number: 11088040
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a floating gate test device with a cell-like top layout, as well as a method for forming the IC. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a semiconductor substrate and the floating gate test device. The floating gate test device is on the semiconductor substrate, and comprises a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode overlying the floating gate electrode. The floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode partially define an array of islands, and further partially define a plurality of bridges interconnecting the islands. The islands and the bridges define the cell-like top layout and may, for example, prevent process-induced damage to the floating gate test device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Chih-Ren Hsieh, Ya-Chen Kao, Chen-Chin Liu, Chih-Pin Huang
  • Patent number: 11063058
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a select gate stack, a main gate, a charge trapping layer, and a spacer. The a select gate stack is over the semiconductor substrate. The main gate is over the semiconductor substrate. The charge trapping layer has a first portion between the main gate and the semiconductor substrate. The spacer is on a sidewall of the main gate. At least a portion of the main gate is between the spacer and the select gate stack, and a lowermost surface of the spacer is above a lowermost surface of the main gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei-Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao
  • Publication number: 20210183880
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit that includes a semiconductor substrate having a periphery region and memory cell region separated by a boundary region. A pair of split gate flash memory cells are disposed on the memory cell region and include a first select gate and a first memory gate. A first gate electrode is disposed over a first gate dielectric layer on the periphery region. A second gate electrode is disposed over a second gate dielectric layer on the periphery region at a position between the boundary region and the first gate electrode. The second dielectric layer is thicker than the first gate dielectric layer. The first select gate and the first memory gate have upper surfaces that are co-planar or level with the upper surface of the second gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao, Yi Hsien Lu
  • Patent number: 10971544
    Abstract: Methods for forming a magneto-resistive memory device and a capacitor in an interconnect structure are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a first level interconnect metal layer and a second level interconnect metal layer of an interconnect structure. The method further includes simultaneously forming a first plurality of layers in a first region of the interconnect structure and a second plurality of layers in a second region of the interconnect structure, wherein the first plurality of layers and the second plurality of layers are disposed between the first level interconnect metal layer and the second level interconnect metal layer. The first plurality of layers is configured as a magneto-resistive memory device. The second plurality of layers is configured as the capacitor. The magneto-resistive memory device and the capacitor are each coupled to the first level interconnect metal layer and the second level interconnect metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Chou, Ya-Chen Kao, Tien-Wei Chiang
  • Patent number: 10957704
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for embedding a non-volatile memory (NVM) in a HKMG (high-? metal gate) integrated circuit which includes a high-voltage (HV) HKMG transistor. NVM devices (e.g., flash memory) are operated at high voltages for its read and write operations and hence a HV device is necessary for integrated circuits involving non-volatile embedded memory and HKMG logic circuits. Forming a HV HKMG circuit along with the HKMG periphery circuit reduces the need for additional boundaries between the HV transistor and rest of the periphery circuit. This method further helps reduce divot issue and reduce cell size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao, Yi Hsien Lu
  • Publication number: 20210057409
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes active gate structures and dummy gate electrodes. The active gate structures are above an active region of a substrate. The dummy gate electrodes are above the active region of the substrate. A number of the dummy gate electrodes is less than a number of the active gate structures. The active gate structures and the dummy gate electrodes have different materials, and a distance between adjacent one of the dummy gate electrodes and one of the active gate structures is substantially the same as a gate pitch of the active gate structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay CHUANG, Wei-Cheng WU, Ya-Chen KAO
  • Patent number: 10827154
    Abstract: A display device of the present invention includes a light source apparatus and a rear light transmitting module disposed opposite a first light emitting surface of the light source apparatus. The rear light transmitting module includes a first transmitting layer and a second transmitting layer. The first transmitting layer has a plurality of first prisms arranged side by side and respectively protruding toward the first light emitting surface. The second transmitting layer is overlapped with the first transmitting layer on one side thereof opposite the first light emitting surface, and has a plurality of second prisms arranged side by side and respectively protruding toward the first transmitting layer. A vertical projection range of the first prisms on the first light emitting surface is misaligned with a vertical projection range of the second prisms on the first light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jui-Sheng Wu, Tsai-Fen Wu, Ya-Chen Kao
  • Publication number: 20200279857
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a select gate stack, a main gate, a charge trapping layer, and a spacer. The a select gate stack is over the semiconductor substrate. The main gate is over the semiconductor substrate. The charge trapping layer has a first portion between the main gate and the semiconductor substrate. The spacer is on a sidewall of the main gate. At least a portion of the main gate is between the spacer and the select gate stack, and a lowermost surface of the spacer is above a lowermost surface of the main gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay CHUANG, Wei-Cheng WU, Ya-Chen KAO
  • Patent number: 10658373
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a split gate stack having a main gate and a select gate and forming a logic gate stack having a logic gate over a semiconductor substrate. The main gate and the logic gate is respectively replaced with a metal memory gate and a metal logic gate, in which the main gate and the logic gate are replaced simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei-Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao
  • Publication number: 20200144279
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for embedding a non-volatile memory (NVM) in a HKMG (high-? metal gate) integrated circuit which includes a high-voltage (HV) HKMG transistor. NVM devices (e.g., flash memory) are operated at high voltages for its read and write operations and hence a HV device is necessary for integrated circuits involving non-volatile embedded memory and HKMG logic circuits. Forming a HV HKMG circuit along with the HKMG periphery circuit reduces the need for additional boundaries between the HV transistor and rest of the periphery circuit. This method further helps reduce divot issue and reduce cell size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao, Yi Hsien Lu
  • Publication number: 20200083126
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a floating gate test device with a cell-like top layout, as well as a method for forming the IC. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a semiconductor substrate and the floating gate test device. The floating gate test device is on the semiconductor substrate, and comprises a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode overlying the floating gate electrode. The floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode partially define an array of islands, and further partially define a plurality of bridges interconnecting the islands. The islands and the bridges define the cell-like top layout and may, for example, prevent process-induced damage to the floating gate test device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Chih-Ren Hsieh, Ya-Chen Kao, Chen-Chin Liu, Chih-Pin Huang
  • Publication number: 20200020601
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a floating gate test device with a cell-like top layout, as well as a method for forming the IC. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a semiconductor substrate and the floating gate test device. The floating gate test device is on the semiconductor substrate, and comprises a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode overlying the floating gate electrode. The floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode partially define an array of islands, and further partially define a plurality of bridges interconnecting the islands. The islands and the bridges define the cell-like top layout and may, for example, prevent process-induced damage to the floating gate test device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Chih-Ren Hsieh, Ya-Chen Kao, Chen-Chin Liu, Chih-Pin Huang
  • Patent number: 10535574
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a floating gate test device with a cell-like top layout, as well as a method for forming the IC. In some embodiments, the IC comprises a semiconductor substrate and the floating gate test device. The floating gate test device is on the semiconductor substrate, and comprises a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode overlying the floating gate electrode. The floating gate electrode and the control gate electrode partially define an array of islands, and further partially define a plurality of bridges interconnecting the islands. The islands and the bridges define the cell-like top layout and may, for example, prevent process-induced damage to the floating gate test device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Chih-Ren Hsieh, Ya-Chen Kao, Chen-Chin Liu, Chih-Pin Huang
  • Patent number: 10535675
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for embedding a non-volatile memory (NVM) in a HKMG (high-? metal gate) integrated circuit which includes a high-voltage (HV) HKMG transistor. NVM devices (e.g., flash memory) are operated at high voltages for its read and write operations and hence a HV device is necessary for integrated circuits involving non-volatile embedded memory and HKMG logic circuits. Forming a HV HKMG circuit along with the HKMG periphery circuit reduces the need for additional boundaries between the HV transistor and rest of the periphery circuit. This method further helps reduce divot issue and reduce cell size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Wei Cheng Wu, Ya-Chen Kao, Yi Hsien Lu