Patents by Inventor Chi-chun Liu

Chi-chun Liu 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: 10964648
    Abstract: Various methods and structures for fabricating a semiconductor chip structure comprising a chip identification “fingerprint” layer. A semiconductor chip structure includes a substrate and a chip identification layer disposed on the substrate, the chip identification layer comprising random patterns of electrically conductive material in trenches formed in a semiconductor layer. The chip identification layer is sandwiched between two layers of electrodes that have a crossbar structure. A first crossbar in the crossbar structure is located on a first side of the chip identification layer and includes a first set of electrical contacts in a first grid pattern contacting the first side of the chip identification layer. A second crossbar in the crossbar structure is located on a second side of the chip identification layer and includes a second set of electrical contacts in a second grid pattern contacting the second side of the chip identification layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Shawn P. Fetterolf, Chi-Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 10949601
    Abstract: A method for reducing chemo-epitaxy directed-self assembly (DSA) defects of a layout of a guiding pattern, the method comprising expanding a shape of the guiding pattern by a predetermined distance in both lateral directions to form a fin keep mask, where the fin keep mask comprises a stand-alone mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Guillorn, Kafai Lai, Chi-Chun Liu, Ananthan Raghunathan, Hsinyu Tsai
  • Patent number: 10916630
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include forming spacers on respective sidewalls above a stack of alternating channel layers and sacrificial layers, leaving an opening between the spacers. The stack is etched, between the spacers, to form a central opening in the stack that separates the channel layers into respective pairs of channel structures. The sacrificial material is etched away to expose top and bottom surfaces of the channel structures. A gate stack is formed on, between, and around the channel structures, including in the central opening between pairs of channel structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Chi-Chun Liu, Cheng Chi, Kangguo Cheng
  • Patent number: 10892328
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a nanosheet stack over a substrate, the nanosheet stack including alternating sacrificial and channel layers, the channel layers providing nanosheet channels for nanosheet field-effect transistors. The method also includes forming vertical fins in the nanosheet stack and a portion of the substrate, and forming indents in sidewalls of the sacrificial layers at sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming nanosheet extension regions in portions of the channel layers which extend from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins, the nanosheet extension regions increasing in thickness from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming inner spacers using a conformal deposition process that forms air gaps in spaces between the nanosheet extension regions and the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Song, Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu
  • Publication number: 20200395293
    Abstract: An interconnect structure is provided. The interconnect structure includes a first metallization layer, an insulating layer and a second metallization layer. The first metallization layer includes, at an uppermost surface thereof, a first body formed of first dielectric material, first metallic elements and buffer elements formed of second dielectric material adjacent the first metallic elements. The insulating layer is disposed on the uppermost surface of the first metallization layer and defines apertures located at the first metallic elements and the corresponding buffer elements. The second metallization layer is disposed on the insulating layer and includes a second body formed of first dielectric material and second metallic elements located at the apertures and extending through the apertures to contact the corresponding first metallic elements and the corresponding buffer elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: YANN MIGNOT, HSUEH-CHUNG CHEN, JUNLI WANG, CHI-CHUN LIU, MARY CLAIRE SILVESTRE
  • Publication number: 20200365519
    Abstract: A security region is provided. The security region includes a plurality of parallel conductive lines on a substrate, wherein each of the parallel conductive lines has a width and includes a bend, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of parallel conductive lines is discontinuous, and an electrically insulating material between each adjacent pair of parallel conductive lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 10833180
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include forming a doped drain structure having a first conductivity type on sidewalls of an intrinsic channel layer. An opening is etched in a middle of the channel layer. A doped source structure is formed having a second conductivity type in the opening of the channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi Song, Junli Wang, Chi-Chun Liu, Liying Jiang
  • Publication number: 20200343186
    Abstract: Integrated chips and methods for forming vias in the same include forming a multi-layer isolation structure on an underlying layer. The multi-layer isolation structure includes a first isolation layer around a second isolation layer. Conductive material is formed around the multi-layer isolation structure. The first isolation layer is etched back to expose at least a portion of a sidewall of the conductive material. A conductive via is formed to contact a top surface and the exposed portion of the sidewall of the conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Chih-Chao Yang, Chi-Chun Liu, Kangguo Cheng
  • Publication number: 20200343342
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same include forming spacers on respective sidewalls above a stack of alternating channel layers and sacrificial layers, leaving an opening between the spacers. The stack is etched, between the spacers, to form a central opening in the stack that separates the channel layers into respective pairs of channel structures. The sacrificial material is etched away to expose top and bottom surfaces of the channel structures. A gate stack is formed on, between, and around the channel structures, including in the central opening between pairs of channel structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Chi-Chun Liu, Cheng Chi, Kangguo Cheng
  • Patent number: 10784333
    Abstract: Techniques for generating enhanced inductors and other electronic devices are presented. A device generator component (DGC) performs directed-self assembly (DSA) co-polymer deposition on a circular guide pattern formed in low-k dielectric film, and DSA annealing to form two polymers in the form of alternating concentric rings; performs a loop cut in the concentric rings to form concentric segments; fills the cut portion with insulator material; selectively removes first polymer, fills the space with low-k dielectric, and planarizes the surface; selectively removes the second polymer, fills the space with conductive material, and planarizes the surface; deposits low-k film on top of the concentric segments and insulator material that filled the loop cut portion; forms vias in the low-k film, wherein each via spans from an end of one segment to an end of another segment; and fills vias with conductive material to form conductive connectors to form substantially spiral conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peng Xu, Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Chi-Chun Liu, Yongan Xu
  • Publication number: 20200286992
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a nanosheet stack over a substrate, the nanosheet stack including alternating sacrificial and channel layers, the channel layers providing nanosheet channels for nanosheet field-effect transistors. The method also includes forming vertical fins in the nanosheet stack and a portion of the substrate, and forming indents in sidewalls of the sacrificial layers at sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming nanosheet extension regions in portions of the channel layers which extend from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins, the nanosheet extension regions increasing in thickness from the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to the sidewalls of the vertical fins. The method further includes forming inner spacers using a conformal deposition process that forms air gaps in spaces between the nanosheet extension regions and the indented sidewalls of the sacrificial layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Yi Song, Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu
  • Publication number: 20200273947
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a stack. The stack has a first metallic layer formed over a substrate, an insulator formed over the first metallic layer, and a second metallic layer formed over the insulator. The first metallic layer has at least one high domain and at least one low domain, where a surface of the substrate in the at least one low domain has a height that is lower than a surface of the substrate in the at least one high domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kisup Chung, Isabel C. Estrada-Raygoza, Hemanth Jagannathan, Chi-Chun Liu, Yann A.M. Mignot, Hao Tang
  • Patent number: 10755976
    Abstract: A method of forming source/drain contacts with reduced capacitance and resistance, including, forming a source/drain and a channel region on an active region of a substrate, forming a dielectric fill on the source/drain, forming a trench in the dielectric fill, forming a source/drain contact in the trench, forming an inner contact mask section on a portion of an exposed top surface of the source/drain contact, removing a portion of the source/drain contact to form a channel between a sidewall of the dielectric fill and a remaining portion of the source/drain contact, where a surface area of the remaining portion of the source/drain contact is greater than the surface area of the exposed top surface of the source/drain contact, and forming a source/drain electrode fill on the remaining portion of the source/drain contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 10755928
    Abstract: A plurality of mandrels and silicon dioxide spacer structures are formed, with the spacer structures interdigitated between the mandrels. An organic planarization layer is applied, as are a thin oxide layer and a layer of photoresist patterned in hole tone over the oxide layer, thereby defining a domain. At least one hole is etched in the thin oxide layer and the organic planarization layer to expose a portion of a hard mask layer surface between the spacer structures. A selective polymer brush is applied, which grafts only to the exposed hard mask surface, followed by solvent rinsing the domain to remove ungrafted polymer brush. At least one precursor is infused to an etch resistant material into the polymer brush by a sequential infiltration synthesis process. The organic planarization layer is ashed to convert the infused precursor into oxide form to further enhance etch selectivity to the hard mask layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Kristin Schmidt, Yann Mignot, Martha Inez Sanchez, Daniel Paul Sanders, Nelson Felix, Ekmini Anuja De Silva
  • Patent number: 10755963
    Abstract: A method for forming a silicon structure. A non-limiting example of the method includes forming at least two semiconductor fins on a substrate. A polymer brush material is formed over the fins and the substrate. A block copolymer (BCP) composed of a first polymer and a second polymer which are covalently bound together is applied over the polymer brush material, such that the first polymer and second polymer self-assemble into a plurality of interleaved first microdomains and second microdomains perpendicular to and within a trench between the fins. The first microdomains are composed of the first polymer and the second microdomains are composed of the second polymer. The second microdomains can be selectively removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu, Yann Mignot, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian
  • Publication number: 20200266066
    Abstract: Methods of forming fins include masking a region on a three-color hardmask fin pattern, leaving a fin of a first color exposed. The exposed fin of the first color is etched away with a selective etch that does not remove fins of a second color or a third color. The mask and all fins of a second color are etched away. Fins are etched into a fin base layer using the fins of the first color and the fins of the third color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: TESSERA, INC.
    Inventors: John C. Arnold, Anuja E. DeSilva, Nelson M. Felix, Chi-Chun Liu, Yann A.M. Mignot, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Patent number: 10748823
    Abstract: An exemplary semiconductor wafer includes a lower sublayer of a first organic planarization layer (OPL) material; an upper sublayer of a second OPL material deposited onto the lower sublayer; and a detectable interface between the lower sublayer and the upper sublayer. The exemplary wafer is fabricated by depositing the lower sublayer; curing the lower sublayer; and after curing the lower sublayer, depositing the upper sublayer directly onto the lower sublayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yann Mignot, Alan Thomas, Daniel Sanders, Dario Goldfarb, Nelson Felix, Chi-Chun Liu, John Arnold
  • Patent number: 10741681
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a structure of increasing source and drain contact edge width in a two-dimensional material field effect transistor. The method includes patterning a two-dimensional material over an insulating substrate; depositing a gate dielectric over the two-dimensional material; depositing a top gate over the gate dielectric, wherein the top gate has a hard mask thereon; forming a sidewall spacer around the top gate; depositing an interlayer dielectric oxide over the sidewall spacer and the hard mask; removing the interlayer dielectric oxide adjacent to the sidewall spacer to form an open contact trench; depositing a copolymer coating in the contact trench region; annealing the copolymer to induce a directed self-assembly; performing a two-dimensional material etch over the two-dimensional material; removing the unetched copolymer without etching the gate dielectric; and etching the exposed gate in the source and the drain region to form a metal contact layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Chun Wing Yeung, Chen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200243335
    Abstract: A plurality of mandrels and silicon dioxide spacer structures are formed, with the spacer structures interdigitated between the mandrels. An organic planarization layer is applied, as are a thin oxide layer and a layer of photoresist patterned in hole tone over the oxide layer, thereby defining a domain. At least one hole is etched in the thin oxide layer and the organic planarization layer to expose a portion of a hard mask layer surface between the spacer structures. A selective polymer brush is applied, which grafts only to the exposed hard mask surface, followed by solvent rinsing the domain to remove ungrafted polymer brush. At least one precursor is infused to an etch resistant material into the polymer brush by a sequential infiltration synthesis process. The organic planarization layer is ashed to convert the infused precursor into oxide form to further enhance etch selectivity to the hard mask layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Kristin Schmidt, Yann Mignot, Martha Inez Sanchez, Daniel Paul Sanders, Nelson Felix, Ekmini Anuja De Silva
  • Publication number: 20200234957
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes depositing an oxide material on a patterned mask arranged on a substrate. The method further includes removing a portion of the oxide material such that the patterned mask is exposed. The method also includes removing the patterned mask such that the substrate is exposed between areas of remaining oxide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Yann MIGNOT, Yongan XU, Ekmini Anuja DE SILVA, Ashim DUTTA, Chi-Chun LIU