Patents by Inventor Chia-Hsin Hu

Chia-Hsin Hu 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: 10163899
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly to low-bias voltage reference circuits. The voltage reference circuits are capable of providing highly-accurate and temperature-insensitive outputs. Specifically, the present disclosure provides complementary-to-absolute-temperature circuits with low process variation and tunable temperature coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Kundu, Chia-Hsin Hu, Jaw-Juinn Horng
  • Publication number: 20180151562
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly to low-bias voltage reference circuits. The voltage reference circuits are capable of providing highly-accurate and temperature-insensitive outputs. Specifically, the present disclosure provides complementary-to-absolute-temperature circuits with low process variation and tunable temperature coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit KUNDU, Chia-Hsin Hu, Jaw-Juinn Horng
  • Publication number: 20180144989
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor fin, wherein the semiconductor fin forms a ring, and etching a portion of the semiconductor fin not covered by the gate stack to form a recess. The method further includes performing an epitaxy to grow an epitaxy semiconductor region from the recess, forming a first contact plug overlying and electrically coupled to the epitaxy semiconductor region, and forming a second contact plug, wherein the second contact plug is overlying and electrically coupled to the gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Min-Chang Liang
  • Patent number: 9875942
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor fin, wherein the semiconductor fin forms a ring, and etching a portion of the semiconductor fin not covered by the gate stack to form a recess. The method further includes performing an epitaxy to grow an epitaxy semiconductor region from the recess, forming a first contact plug overlying and electrically coupled to the epitaxy semiconductor region, and forming a second contact plug, wherein the second contact plug is overlying and electrically coupled to the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Min-Chang Liang
  • Patent number: 9865592
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate and a shallow trench isolation (STI) feature over the substrate. The STI feature includes first and second portions. A top surface of the first portion is lower than a top surface of the second portion. The semiconductor structure further comprises fin active regions; conductive features on the fin active regions and the STI feature; and dielectric features separating the conductive features from the fin active regions. The semiconductor structure further comprises a first gate stack having a first one of the dielectric features and a first one of the conductive features overlying the first one of the dielectric features; and a second gate stack having a second one of the dielectric features and a second one of the conductive features overlying the second one of the dielectric features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Sun-Jay Chang
  • Publication number: 20170365552
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a dummy fin structure disposed over a substrate, a dummy gate structure disposed over a part of the dummy fin structure, a first interlayer dielectric layer in which the dummy gate structure is embedded, a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer, and a resistor wire formed of a conductive material and embedded in the second interlayer dielectric layer. The resistor wire overlaps the dummy gate structure in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin HU, Yu-Chiun LIN, Yi-Hsuan CHUNG, Chung-Peng HSIEH, Chung-Chieh YANG, Po-Nien CHEN
  • Patent number: 9812444
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating such a device are presented. The semiconductor device includes a fin extending away from a substrate, a plurality of epitaxially grown regions disposed along a top surface of the fin, and at least two contacts that provide electrical contact to the fin. The plurality of epitaxially grown regions are arranged to alternate with regions having no epitaxial material grown on the top surface of the fin. A resistance exists between the two contacts that is at least partially based on the arrangement of the plurality of epitaxially grown regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Hsueh-Shih Fan, Huan-Tsung Huang
  • Publication number: 20170301785
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to semiconductor structures and methods that improve breakdown characteristics in finFET device designs, while retaining cost effectiveness for integration into the process flow. The semiconductor structure includes an extended lightly-doped-drain (LDD) region formed on a source/drain structure. The extended LDD regions provide extra separation between source and drain regions, which in turn provides for an increased source to drain resistance. The increased source to drain resistance improves the breakdown voltage of the semiconductor device, and significantly reduces its susceptibility to latch-up. The source to drain resistance may be tuned by adjusting the length of epi block regions, and may also be tuned by selecting desired doping profiles for the LDD and source/drain regions. The length of epi block regions may also be adjusted to maintain high uniformity of epitaxial growth in the S/D regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin HU, Huan-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 9780003
    Abstract: A method of forming a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) includes forming an elongated collector line, forming an elongated emitter line parallel to the collector line, and forming an elongated base line parallel to the collector line and positioned between the collector line and the base line. The emitter line, the base line, and the collector line are formed over fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Min-chang Liang, Sun-Jay Chang, Shien-Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 9773731
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a dummy fin structure disposed over a substrate, a dummy gate structure disposed over a part of the dummy fin structure, a first interlayer dielectric layer in which the dummy gate structure is embedded, a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer, and a resistor wire formed of a conductive material and embedded in the second interlayer dielectric layer. The resistor wire overlaps the dummy gate structure in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Yu-Chiun Lin, Yi-Hsuan Chung, Chung-Peng Hsieh, Chung-Chieh Yang, Po-Nien Chen
  • Publication number: 20170263602
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating such a device are presented. The semiconductor device includes a fin extending away from a substrate, a plurality of epitaxially grown regions disposed along a top surface of the fin, and at least two contacts that provide electrical contact to the fin. The plurality of epitaxially grown regions are arranged to alternate with regions having no epitaxial material grown on the top surface of the fin. A resistance exists between the two contacts that is at least partially based on the arrangement of the plurality of epitaxially grown regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin HU, Hsueh-Shih Fan, Huan-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 9755075
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods to form a FinFET diode of high efficiency, designed to resolve the degradation problem with a conventional FinFET diode arising from reduced active area, and a method of fabrication. The FinFET diode has a doped substrate, two spaced-apart groups of semiconductor fin structures, dielectric layers formed between the two groups and among the fin structures for insulation, a plurality of gate structures perpendicularly traversing both groups of the fin structures, and two groups of semiconductor strips respectively formed lengthwise upon the two groups of the fin structures. The two groups of semiconductor strips are doped to have opposite conductivity types, p-type and n-type. In an embodiment, the FinFET diode further has metal contacts formed upon the semiconductor strips. In another embodiment, the semiconductor strips may be integrally formed with the fin structures by epitaxial growth and in-situ doped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Hsueh-Shih Fan, Ching-Fang Huang, Chia-Hsin Hu, Min-Chang Liang, Sun-Jay Chang, Shien-Yang Wu, Wen-Hsing Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20170221821
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a dummy fin structure disposed over a substrate, a dummy gate structure disposed over a part of the dummy fin structure, a first interlayer dielectric layer in which the dummy gate structure is embedded, a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer, and a resistor wire formed of a conductive material and embedded in the second interlayer dielectric layer. The resistor wire overlaps the dummy gate structure in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin HU, Yu-Chiun LIN, Yi-Hsuan CHUNG, Chung-Peng HSIEH, Chung-Chieh YANG, Po-Nien CHEN
  • Patent number: 9691758
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating such a device are presented. The semiconductor device includes a fin extending away from a substrate, a plurality of epitaxially grown regions disposed along a top surface of the fin, and at least two contacts that provide electrical contact to the fin. The plurality of epitaxially grown regions are arranged to alternate with regions having no epitaxial material grown on the top surface of the fin. A resistance exists between the two contacts that is at least partially based on the arrangement of the plurality of epitaxially grown regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Hsueh-Shih Fan, Huan-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 9679992
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) and a method of forming the same are introduced. In an embodiment, trenches are formed in a substrate, wherein a region between adjacent trenches defines a fin. A dielectric material is formed in the trenches. A part of the substrate is doped and a region of high dopant concentration and a region of low dopant concentration are formed. Gate stacks are formed, portions of the fins are removed and source/drain regions are epitaxially grown in the regions of high/low dopant concentration. Contacts are formed to provide electrical contacts to source/gate/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Sun-Jay Chang
  • Publication number: 20170084495
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor fin, wherein the semiconductor fin forms a ring, and etching a portion of the semiconductor fin not covered by the gate stack to form a recess. The method further includes performing an epitaxy to grow an epitaxy semiconductor region from the recess, forming a first contact plug overlying and electrically coupled to the epitaxy semiconductor region, and forming a second contact plug, wherein the second contact plug is overlying and electrically coupled to the gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Min-Chang Liang
  • Publication number: 20160358822
    Abstract: A method of forming a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) includes forming an elongated collector line, forming an elongated emitter line parallel to the collector line, and forming an elongated base line parallel to the collector line and positioned between the collector line and the base line. The emitter line, the base line, and the collector line are formed over fin structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Min-chang Liang, Sun-Jay Chang, Shien-Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 9514989
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin, which forms a ring, forming a plurality of gate stacks on sidewalls and a top surface of each of sides of the ring, epitaxially growing a plurality of epitaxy regions between the plurality of gate stacks, and forming a plurality of metal contact plugs. Each of the plurality of metal contact plugs is over, and is electrically coupling to, one of the plurality of epitaxy regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Min-Chang Liang
  • Patent number: 9419087
    Abstract: A Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) includes an elongated collector line, an elongated emitter line parallel to the collector line, and an elongated base line parallel to the collector line and positioned between the collector line and the base line. The emitter line, the base line, and the collector line are formed over fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Hu, Sun-Jay Chang, Min-Chang Liang, Shien-Yang Wu
  • Publication number: 20160204259
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods to form a FinFET diode of high efficiency, designed to resolve the degradation problem with a conventional FinFET diode arising from reduced active area, and a method of fabrication. The FinFET diode has a doped substrate, two spaced-apart groups of semiconductor fin structures, dielectric layers formed between the two groups and among the fin structures for insulation, a plurality of gate structures perpendicularly traversing both groups of the fin structures, and two groups of semiconductor strips respectively formed lengthwise upon the two groups of the fin structures. The two groups of semiconductor strips are doped to have opposite conductivity types, p-type and n-type. In an embodiment, the FinFET diode further has metal contacts formed upon the semiconductor strips. In another embodiment, the semiconductor strips may be integrally formed with the fin structures by epitaxial growth and in-situ doped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Hsueh-Shih Fan, Ching-Fang Huang, CHIA-HSIN HU, MIN-CHANG LIANG, SUN-JAY Chang, SHIEN-YANG WU, WEN-HSING HSIEH