Patents by Inventor Jhon-Jhy Liaw

Jhon-Jhy Liaw 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).

  • Publication number: 20240047561
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a substrate; forming isolation structures laterally surrounding the semiconductor fin; forming a gate structure over the semiconductor fin; forming a first spacer layer and a second spacer layer over the gate structure and the semiconductor fin; etching back the second spacer layer, such that a top surface of the second spacer layer is lower than a top surface of the first spacer layer; after etching back the second spacer layer, forming a third spacer layer over the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer; etching the first, second, and third spacer layers and the semiconductor fin to form recesses; and forming epitaxial source/drain structures in the recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Ming-Che CHEN, Chun-Jun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240047452
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and semiconductor cell arrays are provided herein. In some examples, a semiconductor device includes a multi-fin active region, a mono-fin active region, and an isolation feature between the multi-fin active region and the mono-fin active region. The multi-fin active region includes a first plurality of fins, a second plurality of fins parallel to the first plurality of fins, a first n-type field effect transistor (FET), and a first p-type FET. The mono-fin active region abuts the multi-fin active region. The mono-fin active region includes a first fin, a second fin different from the first fin, a second n-type FET, and a second p-type FET. The isolation feature is parallel to the first and second gate structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20240047522
    Abstract: A method includes doping a substrate to form a first well region and a second well region having a different conductivity type than the first well region; forming a first fin structure upwardly extending above the first well region and a second fin structure upwardly extending above the second well region; forming a first gate electrode surrounding the first fin structure and a second gate electrode surrounding the second fin structure; forming first source/drain regions adjoining the first fin structure and on opposite sides of the first gate electrode and second source/drain regions adjoining the second fin structure on opposite sides of the second gate electrode; forming an isolation line interposing the first and second gate electrodes and laterally between a first one of the first source/drain regions and a first one of the second source/drain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Patent number: 11895819
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first transistor including forming a first gate stack, epitaxially growing a first source/drain region on a side of the first gate stack, and performing a first implantation to implant the first source/drain region. The method further includes forming a second transistor including forming a second gate stack, forming a second gate spacer on a sidewall of the second gate stack, epitaxially growing a second source/drain region on a side of the second gate stack, and performing a second implantation to implant the second source/drain region. An inter-layer dielectric is formed to cover the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. The first implantation is performed before the inter-layer dielectric is formed, and the second implantation is performed after the inter-layer dielectric is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Dian-Sheg Yu, Ren-Fen Tsui, Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20240040762
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first channel pattern on a substrate from a top view; forming first and second gate patterns extending across the first channel pattern; forming first, second, and third source/drain patterns on the first channel pattern, the first and second source/drain patterns on opposite sides of the first gate pattern and the second and third source/drain patterns on opposite sides of the second gate pattern, wherein a first channel region of the first channel pattern, the first gate pattern, and the first and second source/drain patterns form a first read pull-down transistor of a first static random access memory (SRAM) cell, and a second channel region of the first channel pattern, the second gate pattern, and the second and third source/drain patterns form a second read pull-down transistor of a second SRAM cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240040763
    Abstract: A memory structure includes a static random-access memory (SRAM) cell having a cell boundary. The SRAM cell includes a first write-port pull-up (PU) transistor and a second write-port PU transistor, a first write-port pull-down (PD) transistor, a second write-port PD transistor, a first write-port pass-gate (PG) transistor, a second write-port PG transistor, a first read-port PD transistor, a second read-port PD transistor, a first read-port PG transistor, and a second read-port PG transistor respectively including nanostructures that are vertically stacked from each other. The memory structure further includes a write bit-line conductor and a write bit-line-bar conductor in a first metal layer under the SRAM cell, wherein the write bit-line conductor is electrically connected to a source/drain feature of the first write-port pass-gate transistor and the write bit-line-bar conductor is electrically connected to a source/drain feature of the second write-port pass-gate transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240021685
    Abstract: Structures and methods for the co-optimization of various device types include performing a first photolithography and etch process to simultaneously form a first source/drain recess for a first device in a first substrate region and a third source/drain recess for a third device in a third substrate region different than the first substrate region. In some embodiments, the method further includes performing a second photolithography and etch process to form a second source/drain recess for a second device in a second substrate region different than the first and third substrate regions. The method further includes forming a first source/drain feature within the first source/drain recess, a second source/drain feature within the second source/drain recess, and a third source/drain feature within the third source/drain recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Jyun-Yang SHEN, Chun-Jun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240021611
    Abstract: Transistors of different types of electronic devices on the same semiconductor substrate are configured with different transistor attributes to increase the performance of the different types of electronic devices. Fin height, shallow source drain (SSD) height, source or drain width, and/or one or more other transistor attributes may be co-optimized for the different types of electronic devices by various semiconductor manufacturing processes such as etching, lithography, process loading, and/or masking, among other examples. This enables the performance of a plurality of types of electronic devices on the same semiconductor substrate to be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240015952
    Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor on a front-side of a substrate, the transistor comprising a channel region, a gate structure surrounding the channel region, and source/drain regions on opposite sides of the gate structure; forming a front-side contact on a first one of the source/drain regions of the transistor, forming a back-side contact on a second one of the source/drain regions of the transistor; forming a back-side capacitor on the back-side contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240014074
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming first and second semiconductor fins; forming first and second gate structures respectively over first regions of the first and second semiconductor fins; forming a first dummy spacer at a sidewall of the first gate structure adjacent a second region of the first semiconductor fin; etching a first source/drain recess in the second region of the first semiconductor fin; forming a n-type source/drain epitaxial structure in the first source/drain recess; forming a second dummy spacer at a sidewall of the second gate structure adjacent a second region of the second semiconductor fin, wherein the second dummy spacer has a thickness less than that of the first dummy spacer; etching a second source/drain recess in the second region of the second semiconductor fin; and forming a p-type source/drain epitaxial structure in the second source/drain recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Ming-Che CHEN, Jyun-Yang SHEN, Yu-Chang LIANG, Chun-Jun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240014280
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first set of nanostructures that are stacked vertically and spaced apart from one another and formed in a first well, a source/drain feature adjoining the first set of nanostructures, a first top gate electrode layer above a topmost nanostructure in the first set of nanostructures, and an inner gate electrode layer sandwiched between the nanostructures. A first dimension of the inner gate electrode layer in a first direction is greater than a second dimension of the first top gate electrode layer in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Patent number: 11871552
    Abstract: A memory device including a rectangular shaped via for at least one Vss node connection. In some embodiments, the rectangular shaped via has a length/width of greater than 1.5. The rectangular shaped via may be disposed on the Via0 and/or Via1 layer interfacing a first metal layer (e.g., M1). The memory cell may also include circular/square shaped vias having a length/width of between approximately 0.8 and 1.2. The circular/square shaped vias may be coplanar with the rectangular shaped vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11869892
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The semiconductor device structure includes a first P-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (p-MOSFET) having a first fin extending along a first direction and comprising a first semiconductor layer, wherein the first fin comprises a first recess formed in a top of the first fin, the first recess having a bottom surface and a sidewall surface extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first gate structure disposed in the first recess and in contact with the bottom surface and the sidewall surface, the first gate structure extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first spacer disposed on opposite sidewalls of the first gate structure and in contact with the first fin and the first gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20240008238
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A memory cell includes a first pull-down transistor, a second pull-down transistor, a first pass-gate transistor, and a second pass-gate transistor formed over a P-type well region, and a first pull-up transistor, a second pull-up transistor, a first isolation transistor, and a second isolation transistor formed over an N-type well region. The first and second pull-down transistors and the first and second pass-gate transistors share a first active region. The first and second pull-up transistors and the first and second isolation transistors share a second active region. The gates of the first and second isolation transistors are electrically connected to a VDD line. The gates of the first and second pass-gate transistors are electrically connected to a WL landing pad. The sources of the first and second pass-gate transistors are electrically connected to the first bit line and the second bit line, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240006417
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first transistor. The first transistor includes a first set of nanostructures vertically stacked and spaced apart from one another, a first gate stack wrapping around the first set of nanostructures and extending in a first direction, and a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature adjoining opposite sides of the first set of nanostructures. The semiconductor structure also includes a first contact plug over the first source/drain feature and a second contact plug over the second source/drain feature. As measured in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, a width of the second contact plug is greater than a width of the first contact plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240008241
    Abstract: A memory structure includes a static random access memory (SRAM) cell having a first pass-gate transistor and a second pass-gate transistor, a word-line conductor extending in a first direction, a first source/drain contact, a second source/drain contact, a bit-line conductor in a second direction, and a bit-line-bar conductor extending in the second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The word-line conductor is over and electrically connected to gate electrodes of the first pass-gate transistor and the second pass-gate transistor. The first source/drain contact is under and electrically connected to a source/drain feature of the first pass-gate transistor. The second source/drain contact is under and electrically connected to a source/drain feature of the second pass-gate transistor. The bit-line conductor is under and electrically connected to the first source/drain contact. The bit-line conductor is under and electrically connected to the second source/drain contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240006414
    Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device are provided. The method includes forming a first dummy gate structure across a first fin in a first transistor region of a semiconductor substrate and a second dummy gate structure across a second fin in a second transistor region of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes selectively introducing atomic or ionic species into the second fin on opposite sides of the second dummy gate structure and etching portions of the first and second fins, so as to form first and second recesses. Each recess is in the respective fin on a side of the respective dummy gate structure. The first recess has a different depth than the second recess. The method further includes forming first and second source/drain features in the first and second recesses, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Chun-Jun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20240006513
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first channel member including a first channel portion and a first connection portion, a second channel member including a second channel portion and a second connection portion, a gate structure disposed around the first channel portion and the second channel portion, and an inner spacer feature disposed between the first connection portion and the second connection portion. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode. The gate dielectric layer extends partially between the inner spacer feature and the first connection portion and between the inner spacer feature and the second connection portion. The gate electrode does not extend between the inner spacer feature and the first connection portion and between the inner spacer feature and the second connection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11855094
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; semiconductor fins over the substrate and oriented lengthwise along a first direction; first multi-dielectric-layer (MDL) fins and second MDL fins over the substrate and oriented lengthwise along the first direction, wherein the first and the second MDL fins are intermixed with the semiconductor fins, wherein each of the first MDL fins and the second MDL fins includes an outer dielectric layer and an inner dielectric layer, wherein the outer dielectric layer and the inner dielectric layer have different dielectric materials; and gate structures oriented lengthwise along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the gate structures are spaced from each other along the first direction, and are separated by the first MDL fins along the second direction, wherein the gate structures engage the semiconductor fins and the second MDL fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11855072
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first standard cell having a first pFET and a first nFET integrated, and having a first dielectric gate on a first standard cell boundary. The integrated circuit further includes a second standard cell being adjacent to the first standard cell, having a second pFET and a second nFET integrated, and having a second dielectric gate on a second standard cell boundary. The integrated circuit also includes a first filler cell configured between the first and second standard cells, and spanning from the first dielectric gate to the second dielectric gate. The first pFET and the second pFET are formed on a first continuous active region. The first nFET and the second nFET are formed on a second continuous active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Fang Chen, Jhon Jhy Liaw