Patents by Inventor En-Chiuan Liou

En-Chiuan Liou 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: 10373915
    Abstract: A measurement make includes four rectangular regions having a first region and a second region arranged diagonally, and a third region and a fourth region arranged diagonally. A plurality sets of first inner pattern blocks, first middle pattern blocks, and first outer reference pattern blocks, are disposed within the first region. Each first inner pattern block comprises line patterns and a block pattern. The block pattern has multiple space patterns arranged therein. The first inner pattern block is rotational symmetrical to the first middle pattern block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP., Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Lin Hsu, En-Chiuan Liou, Yi-Ting Chen, Sho-Shen Lee
  • Publication number: 20190229024
    Abstract: The present invention provides an overlay mark, including a substrate and plural sets of first pattern block and second pattern block. A first direction and a second direction are defined on the substrate, wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. In each set, the first pattern block is rotational symmetrical to the second pattern block. Each first pattern block includes a big frame and plural small frame. Each second pattern block includes a big frame and plural small frame. The width of the big frame is greater than three times of the width of the small frame. The present invention further provides a method for evaluating the stability of a semiconductor manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Publication number: 20190221482
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure, and a spacer. The semiconductor substrate includes at least one fin structure. The isolation structure is partly disposed in the fin structure and partly disposed above the fin structure. The fin structure includes a first fin and a second fin elongated in the same direction. A part of the isolation structure is disposed between the first fin and the second fin in the direction where the first fin and the second fin are elongated. The spacer is disposed on sidewalls of the isolation structure on the fin structure. The isolation structure in the present invention is partly disposed in the fin structure and partly disposed above the fin structure. The negative influence of a gate structure formed on the isolation structure and sinking into the isolation structure on the isolation performance of the isolation structure may be avoided accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung, Chih-Wei Yang
  • Publication number: 20190214480
    Abstract: A fabricating method of a semiconductor structure includes the following steps. A gate material layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A patterned mask layer is formed on the gate material layer. The pattern mask layer includes at least one opening exposing a part of the gate material layer. An impurity treatment is performed to the gate material layer partially covered by the pattern mask layer for forming at least one doped region in the gate material layer. An etching process is performed to remove the gate material layer including the doped region. A dummy gate may be formed by patterning the gate material layer, and the impurity treatment may be performed after the step of forming the dummy gate. The performance of the etching processes for removing the gate material layer and/or the dummy gate may be enhanced, and the gate material residue issue may be solved accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Wen-Chien Hsieh, En-Chiuan Liou, Chih-Wei Yang, Yu-Cheng Tung, Po-Wen Su
  • Patent number: 10347716
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a plurality of fin-shaped structures and a first shallow trench isolation (STI) around the fin-shaped structures on the first region and the second region; forming a patterned hard mask on the second region; removing the fin-shaped structures and the first STI from the first region; forming a second STI on the first region; removing the patterned hard mask; and forming a gate structure on the second STI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Chih-Wei Yang, Yu-Cheng Tung, Chun-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 10340381
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure, the method at least comprises: firstly, a substrate is provided, a dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, a gate conductive layer and two spacers are formed and disposed in the dielectric layer, wherein the two spacers are respectively disposed on both sides of the gate conductive layer, next, parts of the gate conductive layer are removed, and parts of the two spacers are removed, wherein a top surface of the two spacers is lower than a top surface of the gate conductive layer, and afterwards, a stress cap layer is then formed, overlying the gate conductive layer and the two spacers, wherein parts of the stress cap layer is located right above the two spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Patent number: 10332877
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A semiconductor substrate including at least one fin structure is provided. A gate material layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the fin structure is covered by the gate material layer. A trench is formed partly in the gate material layer and partly in the fin structure. An isolation structure is formed partly in the trench and partly outside the trench. At least one gate structure is formed straddling the fin structure by patterning the gate material layer after the step of forming the isolation structure. A top surface of the isolation structure is higher than a top surface of the gate structure in a vertical direction for enhancing the isolation performance of the isolation structure. A sidewall spacer is formed on sidewalls of the isolation structure, and there is no gate structure formed on the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung, Chih-Wei Yang
  • Patent number: 10319597
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first fin-shaped structures and second fin-shaped structures, which are separately disposed on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the first and second fin-shaped structures includes a base portion and a top portion protruding from the top portion. The base portions of the second fin-shaped structures are wider than the top portions of the second fin-shaped structures, and the top portions of the second fin-shaped structures are as wide as the top portions of the first fin-shaped structures. Each second fin-shaped structure further includes a recessed region on its sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Patent number: 10319856
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device, including a substrate, two gate structures disposed on a channel region of the substrate, an epitaxial layer disposed in the substrate between two gate structures, a first dislocation disposed in the epitaxial layer, wherein the profile of the first dislocation has at least two non-parallel slanting lines, and a second dislocation disposed adjacent to a top surface of the epitaxial layer, and the profile of the second dislocation has at least two non-parallel slanting lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Patent number: 10319641
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first insulating structure and a gate structure. The substrate includes at least two fin structures protruding from a top surface of the substrate, the substrate includes a first recess and a second recess under the first recess, and the first recess and the second recess are disposed between the fin structures, in which a width of the first recess is larger than a width of the second recess, and the first recess and the second recess form a step structure. The first insulating structure fills the second recess. The gate structure is disposed on the first insulating structure, in which the first recess and the second recess are filled up with the gate structure and the first insulating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Chao-Hung Lin, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Patent number: 10312353
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure is provided in the present invention. The method includes the steps of forming a plurality of fins in a first region, a second region and a dummy region, forming a first solid-state dopant source layer and a first insulating buffer layer in the first region, forming a second solid-state dopant source layer and a second insulating buffer layer in the second region and the dummy region, and performing an etch process to cut the fin in the dummy region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Patent number: 10290551
    Abstract: The present invention provides an overlay mark, including a substrate and plural sets of first pattern block and second pattern block. A first direction and a second direction are defined on the substrate, wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. In each set, the first pattern block is rotational symmetrical to the second pattern block. Each first pattern block includes a big frame and plural small frame. Each second pattern block includes a big frame and plural small frame. The width of the big frame is greater than three times of the width of the small frame. The present invention further provides a method for evaluating the stability of a semiconductor manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Patent number: 10283413
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure, and a spacer. The semiconductor substrate includes at least one fin structure. The isolation structure is partly disposed in the fin structure and partly disposed above the fin structure. The fin structure includes a first fin and a second fin elongated in the same direction. A part of the isolation structure is disposed between the first fin and the second fin in the direction where the first fin and the second fin are elongated. The spacer is disposed on sidewalls of the isolation structure on the fin structure. The isolation structure in the present invention is partly disposed in the fin structure and partly disposed above the fin structure. The negative influence of a gate structure formed on the isolation structure and sinking into the isolation structure on the isolation performance of the isolation structure may be avoided accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung, Chih-Wei Yang
  • Patent number: 10283616
    Abstract: A fabricating method of a semiconductor structure includes the following steps. A gate material layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A patterned mask layer is formed on the gate material layer. The pattern mask layer includes at least one opening exposing a part of the gate material layer. An impurity treatment is performed to the gate material layer partially covered by the pattern mask layer for forming at least one doped region in the gate material layer. An etching process is performed to remove the gate material layer including the doped region. A dummy gate may be formed by patterning the gate material layer, and the impurity treatment may be performed after the step of forming the dummy gate. The performance of the etching processes for removing the gate material layer and/or the dummy gate may be enhanced, and the gate material residue issue may be solved accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Chien Hsieh, En-Chiuan Liou, Chih-Wei Yang, Yu-Cheng Tung, Po-Wen Su
  • Publication number: 20190109050
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a fin structure extending along a first direction. The fin structure protrudes from a top surface of a trench isolation region and has a first height. A plurality of gate lines including a first gate line and a second gate line extend along a second direction and striding across the fin structure. The first gate line has a discontinuity directly above a gate cut region. The second gate line is disposed in proximity to a dummy fin region, and does not overlap with the dummy fin region. The fin structure has a second height within the dummy fin region, and the second height is smaller than the first height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Hsiao-Lin Hsu, En-Chiuan Liou
  • Publication number: 20190109207
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure is provided in the present invention. The method includes the steps of forming a plurality of fins in a first region, a second region and a dummy region, forming a first solid-state dopant source layer and a first insulating buffer layer in the first region, forming a second solid-state dopant source layer and a second insulating buffer layer in the second region and the dummy region, and performing an etch process to cut the fin in the dummy region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Publication number: 20190088782
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure, the method at least comprises: firstly, a substrate is provided, a dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, a gate conductive layer and two spacers are formed and disposed in the dielectric layer, wherein the two spacers are respectively disposed on both sides of the gate conductive layer, next, parts of the gate conductive layer are removed, and parts of the two spacers are removed, wherein a top surface of the two spacers is lower than a top surface of the gate conductive layer, and afterwards, a stress cap layer is then formed, overlying the gate conductive layer and the two spacers, wherein parts of the stress cap layer is located right above the two spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Publication number: 20190081150
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a semiconductor structure, including the following steps: first, a substrate is provided, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) is formed on the substrate, a first dummy gate is formed in the ILD, wherein the first dummy gate includes a dummy gate electrode and two spacers disposed on two sides of the dummy gate electrode respectively. Next, two contact holes are formed in the ILD at two sides of the first dummy gate respectively. Afterwards, the dummy gate electrode is removed, so as to form a gate recess in the ILD, a first material layer is filled in the gate recess and a second material layer is filled in the two contact holes respectively, and an anneal process is performed on the first material layer and the second material layer, to bend the two spacers into two inward curving spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung, Rung-Yuan Lee, Chih-Wei Yang
  • Publication number: 20190051731
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure is provided in the present invention. The method includes the steps of forming a plurality of fins in a first region, a second region and a dummy region, forming a first solid-state dopant source layer and a first insulating buffer layer in the first region, forming a second solid-state dopant source layer and a second insulating buffer layer in the second region and the dummy region, and performing an etch process to cut the fin in the dummy region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung
  • Patent number: 10205005
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure is provided in the present invention. The method includes the steps of forming a plurality of fins in a first region, a second region and a dummy region, forming a first solid-state dopant source layer and a first insulating buffer layer in the first region, forming a second solid-state dopant source layer and a second insulating buffer layer in the second region and the dummy region, and performing an etch process to cut the fin in the dummy region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: En-Chiuan Liou, Yu-Cheng Tung