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: 10707326
    Abstract: A vertical field-effect transistor and a method for fabricating the same. The vertical field-effect transistor includes a substrate and a bottom source/drain region. The vertical field-effect transistor also includes at least one fin structure, and further includes a bottom spacer layer. The bottom spacer layer has a substantially uniform thickness with a thickness variation of less than 3 nm. A gate structure contacts the bottom spacer layer and at least one fin structure. The method includes forming a structure including a substrate, a source/drain region, and one or more fins. A polymer brush spacer is formed in contact with at least sidewalls of the one or more fins. A polymer brush layer is formed in contact with at least the source/drain region and the polymer brush spacer. The polymer brush spacer is removed. Then, the polymer brush layer is reflowed to the sidewalls of the at least one fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Sanjay Mehta, Luciana Meli, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian, Kristin Schmidt, Ankit Vora
  • Patent number: 10680064
    Abstract: Techniques for VFET top source and drain epitaxy are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a VFET includes: patterning a fin to form a bottom source/drain region and a fin channel of the VFET; forming bottom spacers on the bottom source/drain region; depositing a high-? gate dielectric onto the bottom spacers and along sidewalls of the fin channel; forming gates over the bottom spacers; forming top spacers on the gates; partially recessing the fin channel to create a trench between the top spacers; forming a nitride liner along sidewalls of the trench; fully recessing the fin channel through the trench such that side portions of the fin channel remain intact; and forming a doped epitaxial top source and drain region over the fin channel. Methods not requiring a nitride liner and VFET formed using the present techniques are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Cheng Chi, Chi-Chun Liu, Ruilong Xie, Tenko Yamashita, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 10651266
    Abstract: Capacitors include a stack that has a first metallic layer formed over a substrate with at least one high domain and at least one low domain, an insulator formed over the first metallic layer, and a second metallic layer formed over the insulator. A bottom contact is formed in the substrate having a top surface that is even with a top surface of the substrate in the at least one high domain. A cap layer is formed directly on the substrate in the high domains, under the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kisup Chung, Isabel C. Estrada-Raygoza, Hemanth Jagannathan, Chi-Chun Liu, Yann A. M. Mignot, Hao Tang
  • Publication number: 20200144406
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Chun Wing Yeung, Chen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200135539
    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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Chi-Chun Liu, Yann Mignot, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian
  • Publication number: 20200134251
    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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael A. Guillorn, Kafai Lai, Chi-Chun Liu, Ananthan Raghunathan, Hsinyu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20200119168
    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: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Yi Song, Junli Wang, Chi-Chun Liu, Liying Jiang
  • Patent number: 10613438
    Abstract: Lithographic patterning methods are provided which implement directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers to enable self-aligned cutting of features. A first layer and second layer of material are formed on a substrate. The second layer of material is lithographically patterning to form a guiding pattern. A DSA process is performed to form a block copolymer pattern around the guiding pattern, which comprises a repeating block chain that includes at least a first block material and a second block material, which have etch selectivity with respect to each other. A selective etch process is performed to selectively etching one of the first block material and the second block material to form self-aligned openings in the block copolymer pattern which expose portions of the first layer of material. The first layer of material is patterned by etching the exposed portions of the first layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sean D. Burns, Sivananda K Kanakasabapathy, Kafai Lai, Chi-Chun Liu, Kristin Schmidt, Ankit Vora
  • Publication number: 20200105628
    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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Yann Mignot, Alan Thomas, Daniel Sanders, Dario Goldfarb, Nelson Felix, Chi-Chun Liu, John Arnold
  • Patent number: 10606980
    Abstract: A method for reducing chemo-epitaxy directed-self assembly (DSA) defects of a layout of a guiding pattern, the method comprising: inserting a first external dummy along an external edge of the guiding pattern in a vertical direction; and inserting a second external dummy at a fixed distance from a second edge of the first external dummy, wherein the second external dummy includes a two-dimensional shape such that at least two edges of the second external dummy are parallel to the second edge of the first external dummy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Guillorn, Kafai Lai, Chi-Chun Liu, Ananthan Raghunathan, Hsinyu Tsai
  • Patent number: 10593782
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a first hardmask, a planarizing layer, and a second hardmask on a substrate. Removing portions of the second hardmask and forming alternating blocks of a first material and a second material over the second hardmask. The blocks of the second material are removed to expose portions of the planarizing layer. Exposed portions of the planarizing layer and the first hardmask are removed to expose portions of the first hardmask. Portions of the first hardmask and portions of the substrate are removed to form a first fin and a second fin. Portions of the substrate are removed to further increase the height of the first fin and substantially remove the second fin. A gate stack is formed over a channel region of the first fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng Chi, Fee Li Lie, Chi-Chun Liu, Ruilong Xie
  • Publication number: 20200070151
    Abstract: A microfluidic chip with a high volumetric flow rate is provided that includes at least two vertically stacked microfluidic channel layers, each microfluidic channel layer including an array of spaced apart pillars. Each microfluidic channel layer is interconnected by an inlet/outlet opening that extends through the microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip is created without wafer to wafer bonding thus circumventing the cost and yield issues associated with microfluidic chips that are created by wafer bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Yann Mignot, Joshua T. Smith, Bassem M. Hamieh, Nelson Felix, Robert L. Bruce
  • Publication number: 20200070150
    Abstract: A microfluidic chip with high volumetric flow rate is provided that includes at least two vertically stacked microfluidic channel layers, each microfluidic channel layer including an array of spaced apart pillars. Each microfluidic channel layer is interconnected by an inlet/outlet opening that extends through the microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip is created without wafer to wafer bonding thus circumventing the cost and yield issues associated with microfluidic chips that are created by wafer bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Yann Mignot, Joshua T. Smith, Bassem M. Hamieh, Nelson Felix, Robert L. Bruce
  • Patent number: 10580652
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Arnold, Anuja E. DeSilva, Nelson M. Felix, Chi-Chun Liu, Yann A. M. Mignot, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Patent number: 10580886
    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: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Chun Wing Yeung, Chen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200066520
    Abstract: A wafer element with a tight-pitch formation is provided. The wafer element includes an alternating material hard mask comprising a repeating array of abutting first, second and third vertical elements. The first, second and third vertical elements are formed of first, second and third materials, respectively. The first material is selectively etchable with respect to the second and third materials, the second material is selectively etchable with respect to the first and third materials and the third material is selectively etchable with respect to the first and second materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: JOHN C. ARNOLD, SEAN BURNS, NELSON FELIX, CHI-CHUN LIU, YANN MIGNOT, STUART A. SIEG
  • Publication number: 20200050108
    Abstract: A self-priming resist may be formed from a first random copolymer forming a resist and a polymer brush having the general formula poly(A-r-B)-C-D, wherein A is a first polymer unit, B is a second polymer unit, wherein A and B are the same or different polymer units, C is a cleavable unit, D is a grafting group and r indicates that poly(A-r-B) is a second random copolymer formed from the first and second polymer units. The first random copolymer may be the same or different from the second random polymer. The self-priming resist can create a one-step method for forming an adhesion layer and resist by using the resist/brush blend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Indira Seshadri, Kristin Schmidt, Nelson Felix, Daniel Sanders, Jing Guo, Ekmini Anuja De Silva, Hoa Truong
  • Patent number: 10559542
    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: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Shawn P. Fetterolf, Chi-Chun Liu
  • Publication number: 20200044055
    Abstract: Techniques for VFET gate length control are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a VFET device includes: patterning fins in a substrate; forming first polymer spacers alongside opposite sidewalls of the fins; forming second polymer spacers offset from the fins by the first polymer spacers; removing the first polymer spacers selective to the second polymer spacers; reflowing the second polymer spacers to close a gap to the fins; forming a cladding layer above the second polymer spacers; removing the second polymer spacers; forming gates along opposite sidewalls of the fins exposed in between the bottom spacers and the cladding layer, wherein the gates have a gate length Lg set by removal of the second polymer spacers; forming top spacers above the cladding layer; and forming top source and drains above the top spacers. A VFET device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Chun Wing Yeung, Robin Hsin Kuo Chao, Zhenxing Bi, Kristin Schmidt, Yann Mignot
  • Publication number: 20190371925
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Chi-Chun Liu, Chun Wing Yeung, Chen Zhang