The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 2025
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2022
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsinchu, TW;
Min-Feng Ku, Hsinchu, TW;
Yao-Chun Chuang, Hsinchu, TW;
Cheng-Chien Li, Hsinchu, TW;
Ching-Pin Lin, Hsinchu, TW;
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., Hsinchu, TW;
Abstract
Integrated circuit (IC) structures and methods for forming the same are provided. An IC structure according to the present disclosure includes a substrate, an interconnect structure over the substrate, a guard ring structure disposed in the interconnect structure, a via structure vertically extending through the guard ring structure, and a top metal feature disposed directly over and in contact with the guard ring structure and the via structure. The guard ring structure includes a plurality of guard ring layers. Each of the plurality of guard ring layers includes a lower portion and an upper portion disposed over the lower portion. Sidewalls of the lower portions and upper portions of the plurality of guard ring layers facing toward the via structure are substantially vertically aligned to form a smooth inner surface of the guard ring structure.