Patents by Inventor Chii-Horng Li

Chii-Horng Li 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: 11257951
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate stack over a substrate. The method further includes etching the substrate to define a cavity. The method further includes growing a first epitaxial (epi) material in the cavity, wherein the first epi material includes a first upper surface having a first crystal plane. The method further includes growing a second epi material on the first epi material, wherein the second epi material includes a second upper surface having the first crystal plane. The method further includes treating the second epi material, wherein treating the second epi material comprises causing the second upper surface to transform to a second crystal plane different from the first crystal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lilly Su, Chii-Horng Li, Ming-Hua Yu, Pang-Yen Tsai, Tze-Liang Lee, Yen-Ru Lee
  • Publication number: 20220028856
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack on a first portion of a semiconductor fin, removing a second portion of the semiconductor fin to form a recess, and forming a source/drain region starting from the recess. The formation of the source/drain region includes performing a first epitaxy process to grow a first semiconductor layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer has straight-and-vertical edges, and performing a second epitaxy process to grow a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are of a same conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jung-Chi Tai, Yi-Fang Pai, Tsz-Mei Kwok, Tsung-Hsi Yang, Jeng-Wei Yu, Cheng-Hsiung Yen, Jui-Hsuan Chen, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo, Heng-Wen Ting, Ming-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 11211470
    Abstract: An improved dummy gate and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes depositing a first material in a trench, the trench being disposed between a first fin and a second fin; etching the first material to expose an upper portion of sidewalls of the trench; and depositing a second material on the first material without the second material being deposited on the exposed upper portion of the sidewalls of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Ku Chen, Chii-Horng Li, Cheng-Po Chau, Pei-Ren Jeng, Yee-Chia Yeo, Chia-Ao Chang
  • Patent number: 11205713
    Abstract: An embodiment is a method including forming a raised portion of a substrate, forming fins on the raised portion of the substrate, forming an isolation region surrounding the fins, a first portion of the isolation region being on a top surface of the raised portion of the substrate between adjacent fins, forming a gate structure over the fins, and forming source/drain regions on opposing sides of the gate structure, wherein forming the source/drain regions includes epitaxially growing a first epitaxial layer on the fin adjacent the gate structure, etching back the first epitaxial layer, epitaxially growing a second epitaxial layer on the etched first epitaxial layer, and etching back the second epitaxial layer, the etched second epitaxial layer having a non-faceted top surface, the etched first epitaxial layer and the etched second epitaxial layer forming source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Ching Lin, Chien-I Kuo, Wei Te Chiang, Wei Hao Lu, Li-Li Su, Chii-Horng Li
  • Publication number: 20210391465
    Abstract: A device including a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate having a pair of spacers abutting sidewalls of the gate stack. A recess is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate stack. The recess has a first profile having substantially vertical sidewalls and a second profile contiguous with and below the first profile. The first and second profiles provide a bottle-neck shaped profile of the recess in the semiconductor substrate, the second profile having a greater width within the semiconductor substrate than the first profile. The recess is filled with a semiconductor material. A pair of spacers are disposed overly the semiconductor substrate adjacent the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Eric PENG, Chao-Cheng CHEN, Chii-Horng LI, Ming-Hua YU, Shih-Hao LO, Syun-Ming JANG, Tze-Liang LEE, Ying-Hao HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20210366715
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first fin extending from a substrate, the substrate including silicon, the first fin including silicon germanium; forming an isolation region around the first fin, an oxide layer being formed on the first fin during formation of the isolation region; removing the oxide layer from the first fin with a hydrogen-based etching process, silicon at a surface of the first fin being terminated with hydrogen after the hydrogen-based etching process; desorbing the hydrogen from the silicon at the surface of the first fin to depassivate the silicon; and exchanging the depassivated silicon at the surface of the first fin with germanium at a subsurface of the first fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Ma, Yi-Cheng Li, Pin-Ju Liang, Cheng-Po Chau, Jung-Jen Chen, Pei-Ren Jeng, Chii-Horng Li, Kei-Wei Chen, Cheng-Hsiung Yen
  • Patent number: 11171209
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having an improved source/drain region profile and a method for forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes etching one or more semiconductor fins to form one or more recesses; and forming a source/drain region in the one ore more recesses, the forming the source/drain region including epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material in the one or more recesses at a temperature of 600° C. to 800° C., the first semiconductor material including doped silicon germanium; and conformally depositing a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material at a temperature of 300° C. to 600° C., the second semiconductor material including doped silicon germanium and having a different composition than the first semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heng-Wen Ting, Kei-Wei Chen, Chii-Horng Li, Pei-Ren Jeng, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Chun-An Lin
  • Patent number: 11127637
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an epitaxy scheme for forming source/drain regions in a semiconductor device, such as an n-channel device. In an example, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method generally includes forming a recess in a fin, the fin being on a substrate. The recess is proximate a gate structure over the fin. The method includes epitaxially growing a source/drain region in the recess using a remote plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) process. The RPCVD process includes using a silicon source precursor and a hydrogen carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Ching Lin, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Li-Li Su
  • Patent number: 11121255
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor base. A dielectric isolation structure is formed in the semiconductor base. A source/drain of a FinFET transistor is formed on the semiconductor base. A bottom segment of the source/drain is embedded into the semiconductor base. The bottom segment of the source/drain has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile. The bottom segment of the source/drain is separated from the dielectric isolation structure by portions of the semiconductor base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chii-Horng Li, Chih-Shan Chen, Roger Tai, Yih-Ann Lin, Yen-Ru Lee, Tzu-Ching Lin
  • Publication number: 20210273101
    Abstract: A method includes forming a fin in a substrate. The fin is etched to create a source/drain recess. A source/drain feature is formed in the source/drain recess, in which a lattice constant of the source/drain feature is greater than a lattice constant of the fin. An epitaxy coat is grown over the source/drain feature, in which a lattice constant of the epitaxy coat is smaller than a lattice constant of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Yang LEE, Ting-Yeh CHEN, Chii-Horng LI, Feng-Cheng YANG
  • Patent number: 11107921
    Abstract: A device including a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate having a pair of spacers abutting sidewalls of the gate stack. A recess is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate stack. The recess has a first profile having substantially vertical sidewalls and a second profile contiguous with and below the first profile. The first and second profiles provide a bottle-neck shaped profile of the recess in the semiconductor substrate, the second profile having a greater width within the semiconductor substrate than the first profile. The recess is filled with a semiconductor material. A pair of spacers are disposed overly the semiconductor substrate adjacent the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Peng, Chao-Cheng Chen, Chii-Horng Li, Ming-Hua Yu, Shih-Hao Lo, Syun-Ming Jang, Tze-Liang Lee, Ying Hao Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20210265195
    Abstract: An embodiment is a structure including a first fin over a substrate, a second fin over the substrate, the second fin being adjacent the first fin, an isolation region surrounding the first fin and the second fin, a gate structure along sidewalls and over upper surfaces of the first fin and the second fin, the gate structure defining channel regions in the first fin and the second fin, a source/drain region on the first fin and the second fin adjacent the gate structure, and an air gap separating the source/drain region from a top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Yen-Ru Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Li-Li Su, Chien-Chang Su, Heng-Wen Ting, Jung-Chi Tai, Che-Hui Lee, Ying-Wei Li
  • Publication number: 20210265350
    Abstract: A method includes forming first devices in a first region of a substrate, wherein each first device has a first number of fins; forming second devices in a second region of the substrate that is different from the first region, wherein each second device has a second number of fins that is different from the first number of fins; forming first recesses in the fins of the first devices, wherein the first recesses have a first depth; after forming the first recesses, forming second recesses in the fins of the second devices, wherein the second recesses have a second depth different from the first depth; growing a first epitaxial source/drain region in the first recesses; and growing a second epitaxial source/drain region in the second recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Chih-Yun Chin, Yen-Ru Lee, Chien-Chang Su, Yan-Ting Lin, Chien-Wei Lee, Bang-Ting Yan, Heng-Wen Ting, Chii-Horng Li, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11087987
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first fin extending from a substrate, the substrate including silicon, the first fin including silicon germanium; forming an isolation region around the first fin, an oxide layer being formed on the first fin during formation of the isolation region; removing the oxide layer from the first fin with a hydrogen-based etching process, silicon at a surface of the first fin being terminated with hydrogen after the hydrogen-based etching process; desorbing the hydrogen from the silicon at the surface of the first fin to depassivate the silicon; and exchanging the depassivated silicon at the surface of the first fin with germanium at a subsurface of the first fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Ma, Yi-Cheng Li, Pin-Ju Liang, Cheng-Po Chau, Jung-Jen Chen, Pei-Ren Jeng, Chii-Horng Li, Kei-Wei Chen, Cheng-Hsiung Yen
  • Publication number: 20210193831
    Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate. A fin is on the substrate. The fin includes silicon germanium. An interfacial layer is over the fin. The interfacial layer has a thickness in a range from greater than 0 nm to about 4 nm. A source/drain region is over the interfacial layer. The source/drain region includes silicon germanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Chih-Yun Chin, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Heng-Wen Ting, Roger Tai, Pei-Ren Jeng, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Yen-Ru Lee, Yan-Ting Lin, Davie Liu
  • Publication number: 20210184037
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is over the first silicon germanium region. The second silicon germanium region comprises a portion in the opening. The second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage greater than the first germanium percentage. A silicon cap substantially free from germanium is over the second silicon germanium region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chang Sung, Kun-Mu Li, Tze-Liang Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Tsz-Mei Kwok
  • Patent number: 11011634
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an n-type fin field effect transistor. The n-type fin field effect transistor includes a fin structure, a gate stack, and a source/drain region. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode. The gate dielectric is disposed in between the fin structure and the gate electrode. The source/drain region includes an epitaxial structure and an epitaxy coat covering the epitaxial structure. The epitaxial structure is made of a material having a lattice constant larger than a channel region. The epitaxy coat is made of a material having a lattice constant lower than the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Yang Lee, Ting-Yeh Chen, Chii-Horng Li, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 11004724
    Abstract: An embodiment is a structure including a first fin over a substrate, a second fin over the substrate, the second fin being adjacent the first fin, an isolation region surrounding the first fin and the second fin, a gate structure along sidewalls and over upper surfaces of the first fin and the second fin, the gate structure defining channel regions in the first fin and the second fin, a source/drain region on the first fin and the second fin adjacent the gate structure, and an air gap separating the source/drain region from a top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ru Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Li-Li Su, Chien-Chang Su, Heng-Wen Ting, Jung-Chi Tai, Che-Hui Lee, Ying-Wei Li
  • Patent number: 11004745
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an epitaxy scheme for forming source/drain regions in a semiconductor device, such as an n-channel device. In an example, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method generally includes forming a recess in a fin, the fin being on a substrate. The recess is proximate a gate structure over the fin. The method includes epitaxially growing a source/drain region in the recess using a remote plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) process. The RPCVD process includes using a silicon source precursor and a hydrogen carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tzu-Ching Lin, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Li-Li Su
  • Patent number: 10991795
    Abstract: A method includes forming a crown structure over a substrate; forming fins in the crown structure; forming an intra-device isolation region between the fins and forming inter-device isolation regions on opposing sides of the crown structure; forming a gate structure over the fins; forming a dielectric layer that extends continuously over the inter-device isolation regions, the fins and the intra-device isolation region; performing an etching process to reduce a thickness of the dielectric layer, where after the etching process, upper surfaces of the inter-device isolation regions and upper surfaces of the fins are exposed while an upper surface of the intra-device isolation region is covered by a remaining portion of the dielectric layer; and forming an epitaxial structure over the exposed upper surfaces of the fins, where after the epitaxial structure is formed, there is a void between the epitaxial structure and the intra-device isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ru Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Heng-Wen Ting, Jung-Chi Tai, Li-Li Su, Tzu-Ching Lin