Patents by Inventor Kuo-Cheng Ching

Kuo-Cheng Ching 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: 20220319929
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a substantially undoped channel region includes forming a plurality of fins extending from a substrate. In various embodiments, each of the plurality of fins includes a portion of a substrate, a portion of a first epitaxial layer on the portion of the substrate, and a portion of a second epitaxial layer on the portion of the first epitaxial layer. The portion of the first epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins is oxidized, and a liner layer is formed over each of the plurality of fins. Recessed isolation regions are then formed adjacent to the liner layer. The liner layer may then be etched to expose a residual material portion (e.g., Ge residue) adjacent to a bottom surface of the portion of the second epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins, and the residual material portion is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ching-Wei TSAI, Ying-Keung LEUNG
  • Publication number: 20220320314
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes depositing a TiN layer over a substrate. The method further includes doping a first portion of the TiN layer using an oxygen-containing plasma treatment. The method further includes doping a second portion of the TiN layer using a nitrogen-containing plasma treatment, wherein the second portion of the TiN layer directly contacts the first portion of the TiN layer. The method further includes forming a first metal gate electrode over the first portion of the TiN layer. The method further includes forming a second metal gate electrode over the second portion of the TiN layer, wherein the first metal gate electrode has a different work function from the second metal gate electrode, and the second metal gate electrode directly contacts the first metal gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Ming ZHU, Hui-Wen LIN, Harry Hak-Lay CHUANG, Bao-Ru YOUNG, Yuan-Sheng HUANG, Ryan Chia-Jen CHEN, Chao-Cheng CHEN, Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ting-Hua HSIEH, Carlos H. DIAZ
  • Publication number: 20220301938
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor structure with a metal gate. The semiconductor structure is formed by first fabricating fins over a semiconductor substrate, followed by a formation of a source and a drain recess. A source and a drain region may then be deposited into the source and the drain recess. The gate structure may be deposited into the region between the fins. The gate structure includes dielectric and metallic layers. In the regions between the fins, the gate structure is isolated from the source and the drain region by an insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shi Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuan-Ting Pan
  • Publication number: 20220293774
    Abstract: A method for forming a fin field effect transistor device structure includes forming a first fin structure in an input/output region of the substrate with a fin top layer and a hard mask layer over the first fin structure. The method also includes forming a dummy oxide layer across the first fin structure. The method also includes forming a dummy gate structure over the dummy oxide layer across the first fin structure. The method also includes forming spacers on opposite sides of the dummy gate structure. The method also includes removing the dummy gate structure over the first fin structure. The method also includes removing the dummy oxide layer and trimming the first fin structure. The method also includes forming a first oxide layer across the first fin structure. The method also includes forming a first gate structure over the first oxide layer across the first fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Kuan-Ting PAN, Shi-Ning JU, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 11437513
    Abstract: A multi-gate semiconductor device is formed that provides a first fin element extending from a substrate. A gate structure extends over a channel region of the first fin element. The channel region of the first fin element includes a plurality of channel semiconductor layers each surrounded by a portion of the gate structure. A source/drain region of the first fin element is adjacent the gate structure. The source/drain region includes a first semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer over the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer over the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wai-Yi Lien, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 11424243
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a separation wall made of a dielectric material is formed between two fin structures. A dummy gate structure is formed over the separation wall and the two fin structures. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is formed over the dummy gate structure. An upper portion of the ILD layer is removed, thereby exposing the dummy gate structure. The dummy gate structure is replaced with a metal gate structure. A planarization operation is performed to expose the separation wall, thereby dividing the metal gate structure into a first gate structure and a second gate structure. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are separated by the separation wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chih-Hao Wang, Chih-Liang Chen, Shi Ning Ju
  • Patent number: 11410887
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, which includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate, which has a first trench positioned between the first and second fin structures. The method also includes forming a first dielectric layer within the first trench, recessing the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of the first fin structure, forming a first capping layer over the exposed portion of the first fin structure and the recessed first dielectric layer in the first trench, forming a second dielectric layer over the first capping layer in the first trench while the first capping layer covers the exposed portion of the first fin feature and removing the first capping layer from the first fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 11393814
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a semiconductor fin extending upwardly from a substrate; breaking the semiconductor fin into two separate fin structures; conformally forming a first dielectric layer over the fin structures; after conformally forming the first dielectric layer, filling a recess between the fin structures with a first flowable oxide; etching back the first flowable oxide to lower a top surface of the first flowable oxide to a level below top surfaces of the fin structures; conformally forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and the etched back first flowable oxide, such that a laterally portion of the second dielectric layer in the recess is lower than the top surfaces of the fin structures; planarizing the first and second dielectric layers to expose the fin structures, while leaving the laterally portion of the second dielectric layer covering the first flowable oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi-Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11387237
    Abstract: A FinFET device includes a fin, an epitaxial layer disposed at a side surface of the fin, a contact disposed on the epitaxial layer and on the fin. The contact includes an epitaxial contact portion and a metal contact portion disposed on the epitaxial contact portion. The doping concentration of the epitaxial contact portion is higher than a doping concentration of the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11380591
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing semiconductor structures are provided. The method includes alternately stacking sacrificial layers and semiconductor layers over a substrate to form a semiconductor stack and forming a first mask structure and a second mask structure over the semiconductor stack. In addition, a width of the first mask structure is substantially equal to a width of the second mask structure. The method further includes forming spacers on sidewalls of the second mask structure and patterning the semiconductor stack to form a first fin structure overlapping the first mask structure and a second fin structure overlapping the second mask structure and the spacers. In addition, the first fin structure has a first width and the second fin structure has a second width different from the first width. The method further includes removing the sacrificial layers to form first nanostructures and second nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi-Ning Ju, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11380775
    Abstract: A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) semiconductor device includes a substrate. The CMOS semiconductor device further includes an isolation region in the substrate. The CMOS semiconductor device further includes a P-metal gate electrode extending over the isolation region, wherein the P-metal gate electrode includes a first function metal and a TiN layer doped with a first material. The CMOS semiconductor device further includes an N-metal gate electrode extending over the isolation region, wherein the N-metal gate electrode includes a second function metal and a TiN layer doped with a second material different from the first material, a portion of the P-metal gate electrode is between a portion of the N-metal gate electrode and the substrate, and a portion of the TiN layer doped with the second material is between the portion of the P-metal gate electrode and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ming Zhu, Hui-Wen Lin, Harry Hak-Lay Chuang, Bao-Ru Young, Yuan-Sheng Huang, Ryan Chia-Jen Chen, Chao-Cheng Chen, Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ting-Hua Hsieh, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 11380682
    Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with FinFET devices and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, an integrated circuit device includes a substrate, a fin extending from the substrate, a gate disposed on a first side of the fin, and a gate spacer disposed alongside the gate. The gate spacer has a first portion extending along the gate that has a first width and a second portion extending above the first gate that has a second width that is greater than the first width. In some such examples, the second portion of the gate spacer includes a gate spacer layer disposed on the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220208762
    Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with FinFET devices and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, an integrated circuit device includes a substrate, a fin extending from the substrate, a gate disposed on a first side of the fin, and a gate spacer disposed alongside the gate. The gate spacer has a first portion extending along the gate that has a first width and a second portion extending above the first gate that has a second width that is greater than the first width. In some such examples, the second portion of the gate spacer includes a gate spacer layer disposed on the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220208763
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a fin in a first region of a substrate. The fin includes a plurality of a first type of epitaxial layers and a plurality of a second type of epitaxial layers. A portion of a layer of the second type of epitaxial layers in a channel region of the first fin is removed to form a first gap between a first layer of the first type of epitaxial layers and a second layer of the first type of epitaxial layers. A first portion of a first gate structure is formed within the first gap and extending from a first surface of the first layer of the first type of epitaxial layers to a second surface of the second layer of the first type of epitaxial layers. A first source/drain feature is formed abutting the first portion of the first gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11367659
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a substantially undoped channel region includes forming a plurality of fins extending from a substrate. In various embodiments, each of the plurality of fins includes a portion of a substrate, a portion of a first epitaxial layer on the portion of the substrate, and a portion of a second epitaxial layer on the portion of the first epitaxial layer. The portion of the first epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins is oxidized, and a liner layer is formed over each of the plurality of fins. Recessed isolation regions are then formed adjacent to the liner layer. The liner layer may then be etched to expose a residual material portion (e.g., Ge residue) adjacent to a bottom surface of the portion of the second epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins, and the residual material portion is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 11355611
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature disposed over a substrate. The source/drain feature includes a first nanowire, a second nanowire disposed over the first nanowire, a cladding layer disposed over the first nanowire and the second nanowire and a spacer layer extending from the first nanowire to the second nanowire. The device also includes a conductive feature disposed directly on the source/drain feature such that the conductive feature physically contacts the cladding layer and the spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Fang Huang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung, Chih-Hao Wang, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 11355396
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor structure with a metal gate. The semiconductor structure is formed by first fabricating fins over a semiconductor substrate, followed by a formation of a source and a drain recess. A source and a drain region may then be deposited into the source and the drain recess. The gate structure may be deposited into the region between the fins. The gate structure includes dielectric and metallic layers. In the regions between the fins, the gate structure is isolated from the source and the drain region by an insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shi Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuan-Ting Pan
  • Patent number: 11349016
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor device structure includes a first fin structure formed over a substrate. The structure also includes a fin top layer formed over a top portion of the first fin structure. The structure also includes a first oxide layer formed across the first fin structure and the fin top layer. The structure also includes a first gate structure formed over the first oxide layer across the first fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Kuan-Ting Pan, Shi-Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220140103
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for forming a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) incorporating a fin top hardmask on top of a channel region of a fin. Because of the presence of the fin top hardmask, a gate height of the FinFET can be reduced without affecting proper operations of vertical gate channels on sidewalls of the fin. Consequently, parasitic capacitance between a gate stack and source/drain contacts of the FinFET can be reduced by lowering the gate height of the FinFET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Kai-Chieh YANG, Ching-Wei TSAI, Kuan-Lun CHENG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 11302825
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a channel member above the substrate; a gate structure wrapping the channel member; a source/drain (S/D) feature abutting the channel member; and an inner spacer interposing the S/D feature and the gate structure, wherein a first sidewall of the inner spacer facing the gate structure has a curvature surface in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate and along a lengthwise direction of the channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi Ning Ju, Guan-Lin Chen, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang