IP Library Granted Patent US 12,419,197
Granted Patent B2
US 12,419,197 · App. 17/832,601 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Memory device and method of forming the same

Inventors: Hsin-Wen Su (Hsinchu, TW); Jui-Lin Chen (Taipei, TW); Shih-Hao Lin (Hsinchu, TW); Chih-Chuan Yang (Hsinchu, TW); Ming-Yen Chuang (Hsinchu, TW); Chenchen Jacob Wang (Hsinchu, TW); Ping-Wei Wang (Hsin-Chu, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
H10N50/80H10B61/22H10N50/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,419,197
App. No.
17/832,601
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a memory device. The memory device includes a transistor having a first source/drain (S/D) region and a second S/D region, a first S/D contact disposed over the first S/D region, the first S/D contact extending lengthwise in a first direction, a second S/D contact disposed over the second S/D region, a first via landing on the first S/D contact, the first via extending lengthwise in a second direction different from the first direction, a second via landing on the second S/D contact, the first via having a length measured in the second direction that is larger than the second via, a first conductive line coupled to the first via, a second conductive line coupled to the second via, and a memory structure disposed above the transistor and coupled to the second conductive line.

Claims (47)

1. A memory device, comprising:

a transistor having an active region that includes a first source/drain (S/D) region and a second S/D region;

a first S/D contact disposed over the first S/D region, wherein the first S/D contact extends lengthwise in a first direction and the active region extends lengthwise in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein along the first direction the first S/D contact extends beyond a boundary of the active region in a top view of the memory device;

a second S/D contact disposed over the second S/D region;

a first via disposed on the first S/D contact, wherein the first via extends lengthwise in the second direction different from the first direction;

a second via disposed on the second S/D contact, wherein the first via has a length measured in the second direction that is larger than the second via;

a first conductive line coupled to the first via;

a second conductive line coupled to the second via; and

a memory structure disposed above the transistor and coupled to the second conductive line.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the memory structure is a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).

3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the MTJ has a bottom electrode coupled to the second conductive line.

4. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive line is directly above the first via, and the first conductive line extends lengthwise in the second direction.

5. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the first conductive line has a width measured in the first direction larger than that of the first via.

6. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first S/D region is a source region, the second S/D region is a drain region, the first conductive line couples to a common source line of the memory device, and the second conductive line couples to a bit line of the memory device.

7. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the transistor has a length measured in the second direction from an outer edge of the first S/D region to an outer edge of the second S/D region, and wherein the length of the first via is larger than the length of the transistor.

8. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the second via has a width measured in the second direction that is larger than a width of the second S/D contact.

9. The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the width of the second via is larger than the width of the second S/D contact for about 5% to about 30%.

10. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first via and the first conductive line have a same length measured in the second direction.

11. A memory device, comprising:

an active region having a first source region, a second source region, and a drain region sandwiched between the first and second source regions;

a first gate structure disposed between the first source region and the drain region;

a second gate structure disposed between the second source region and the drain region;

a first contact coupled to the first source region and a second contact coupled to the second source region, wherein each of the first and second contacts extends lengthwise along a first direction;

a via extending lengthwise along a second direction that is different from the first direction, wherein the via is in contact with the first and second contacts;

a conductive line extending lengthwise along the second direction and across both the first and second gate structures in a top view of the memory device, wherein the conductive line interfaces a top surface of the via; and

a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) disposed above the active region, wherein the MTJ has an electrode coupled to the drain region.

12. The memory device of claim 11 , wherein the conductive line is directly above the via.

13. The memory device of claim 11 , wherein the via has a width measured in the first direction that is smaller than the conductive line.

14. The memory device of claim 13 , wherein the width of the via is about 40% to about 60% smaller than the conductive line.

15. The memory device of claim 11 , wherein the via is a first via, further comprising:

a third contact coupled to the drain region; and

a second via in contact with the third contact, wherein the second via has a width measured in the second direction that is larger than the third contact.

16. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the first via is wider than the second via in the second direction.

17. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a continuous active region having a first source/drain (S/D) region, a second S/D region, and a third S/D region sandwiched between the first and second S/D regions along a first direction;

a first contact landing on the first S/D region;

a second contact landing on the second S/D region, wherein each of the first and second contacts extends lengthwise along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

a first via extending lengthwise along the first direction and coupled to the first and second contacts;

a third contact landing on the third S/D region;

a second via coupled to the third contact, wherein the first via has a length measured in the first direction that is larger than the second via; and

a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) coupled to the second via.

18. The semiconductor device of claim 17 , wherein the MTJ is disposed directly above the third S/D region.

19. The semiconductor device of claim 17 , further comprising:

a first gate structure disposed between the first and third S/D regions; and

a second gate structure disposed between the second and third S/D regions,

wherein the first and second gate structures are directly under the first via.

20. The semiconductor device of claim 17 , wherein in a cross-sectional view along the second direction, the first via has a top surface narrower than a bottom surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2022
From: SU, HSIN-WEN; CHEN, JUI-LIN; LIN, SHIH-HAO; YANG, CHIH-CHUAN; CHUANG, MING-YEN; WANG, CHENCHEN JACOB; WANG, PING-WEI
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 060968/0194 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63282880 · Nov 24, 2021
Related Publication 20230165160A1 · May 25, 2023
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