Patents Examined by Andre? C. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 11551924
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate; forming a gate structure on the substrate, the gate structure extending along a first direction; removing a portion of the gate structure to form a trench in the gate structure, the trench penetrating through the gate structure along a second direction which is different form the first direction; performing a first cleaning treatment process on the trench to remove non-metal residues; and performing a second cleaning treatment process on the trench to remove metal residues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventors: Shiliang Ji, Bo Su, Haiyang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11538818
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a memory structure including the following steps is provided. A spacer layer is formed on sidewalls of gate stack structures. A protective material layer covering the spacer layer and the gate stack structures is formed. A mask material layer is formed on the protective material layer. There is a void located in the mask material layer between two adjacent gate stack structures. A first distance is between a top of the protective material layer and a top of the mask material layer. A second distance is between a top of the void and a top of the mask material layer above the void. A third distance is between a bottom of the void and a bottom of the mask material layer below the void. The first distance is greater than a sum of the second and third distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Che-Jui Hsu, Chun-Sheng Lu, Ying-Fu Tung, Chen-Wei Liao
  • Patent number: 11536999
    Abstract: A LCD device having a large pixel holding capacitance includes opposedly facing first and second substrates, and liquid crystal between them. The first substrate includes a video signal line, a pixel electrode, a thin film transistor having a first electrode connected to the video signal line and a second electrode connected to the pixel electrode, a first silicon nitride film formed above the second electrode, an organic insulation film above the first silicon nitride film, a capacitance electrode above the organic insulation film, and a second silicon nitride film above the capacitance electrode and below the pixel electrode. A contact hole etched in both the first and second silicon nitride films connects the second electrode and the pixel electrode to each other. A holding capacitance is formed by the pixel electrode, the second silicon nitride film and the capacitance electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Tanabe, Masaru Takabatake, Toshiki Kaneko, Atsushi Hasegawa, Hiroko Sehata
  • Patent number: 11515400
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the semiconductor structure are provided. The method includes: providing a substrate; forming a dummy gate structure including a dummy gate dielectric layer, an initial dummy gate electrode layer, and a first sidewall spacer; forming an isolation layer having a surface lower than or coplanar with the dummy gate structure; forming a dummy gate electrode layer having a surface lower than the isolation layer, and forming a first opening to expose a portion of the first sidewall spacer; forming a modified sidewall spacer from the exposed first sidewall spacer; forming a second opening by removing the dummy gate electrode layer; forming a third opening by removing the dummy gate dielectric layer and the modified sidewall spacer, where top of the third opening has a size larger than bottom of the third opening; and forming a gate structure in the third opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventors: Ruizhi Tang, Jinyu Fu, Lin Liu, Bo Li, Peng Yang, Haojun Huang, Jialei Liu
  • Patent number: 11508628
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a crystalline protective polysilicon layer which does not create defective voids during subsequent processes so as to provide effective protection to devices underneath. In one embodiment, a method for forming a semiconductor device, includes: depositing a protective coating on a first polysilicon layer; forming an epitaxial layer on the protective coating; and depositing a second polysilicon layer over the epitaxial layer, wherein the protective coating comprises a third polysilicon layer, wherein the third polysilicon layer is deposited at a first temperature in a range of 600-700 degree Celsius, and wherein the third polysilicon layer in the protect coating is configured to protect the first polysilicon layer when the second polysilicon layer is etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hung Wang, Tsung-Lin Lee, Wen-Chih Chiang, Kuan-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 11508572
    Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate structure over a wafer. Gate spacers are formed on either side of the dummy gate structure. The dummy gate structure is removed to form a gate trench between the gate spacers. A gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate trench. A gate electrode is formed over the gate dielectric layer. Forming the gate dielectric layer includes applying a first bias to the wafer. With the first bias turned on, first precursors are fed to the wafer. The first bias is turned off. After turning off the first bias, second precursors are fed to the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chun-Yi Chou, Po-Hsien Cheng, Tse-An Chen, Miin-Jang Chen
  • Patent number: 11502041
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method of forming a pattern, including the steps of: providing a structure including a substrate and a target layer, in which the target layer is disposed on the substrate, and the target layer includes a central area and a periphery area; forming a plurality of core patterns and a linear spacer pattern on the central area, in which a width of the linear spacer pattern is wider than 50 nm; covering a photoresist on the periphery area; removing a portion of the central area not covered by the plurality of core patterns and not covered by the linear spacer pattern to form a pattern in the central area, and removing the photoresist, the linear spacer pattern and the plurality of core patterns to expose the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ying-Cheng Chuang
  • Patent number: 11495681
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a recess, a first gate oxide layer, and a gate structure. The semiconductor substrate includes a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region. The recess is disposed in the first region of the semiconductor substrate, and an edge of the recess is located at an interface between the first region and the second region. At least a part of the first gate oxide layer is disposed in the recess. The first gate oxide layer includes a hump portion disposed adjacent to the edge of the recess, and a height of the hump portion is less than a depth of the recess. The gate structure is disposed on the first region and the second region of the semiconductor substrate, and the gate structure overlaps the hump portion of the first gate oxide layer in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chang-Po Hsiung, Ching-Chung Yang, Shan-Shi Huang, Shin-Hung Li, Nien-Chung Li, Wen-Fang Lee, Chiu-Te Lee, Chih-Kai Hsu, Chun-Ya Chiu, Chin-Hung Chen, Chia-Jung Hsu, Ssu-I Fu, Yu-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 11488870
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region, a second region, and a third region; forming a first gate structure on the first region, a second gate structure on the second region, and a third gate structure on the third region; forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer around the first gate structure, the second gate structure, and the third gate structure; removing the first gate structure, the second gate structure, and the third gate structure to form a first recess, a second recess, and a third recess; forming a first interfacial layer in the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess; removing the first interfacial layer in the second recess; and forming a second interfacial layer in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Tien-Yu Hsieh, Kuan-Ti Wang, Han-Chen Chen, Kun-Hsien Lee
  • Patent number: 11482426
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a hard mask over a dielectric layer of a substrate. A blocking layer is formed on the hard mask and spacers are formed over the blocking layer. The spacers laterally straddle opposing edges of the blocking layer. The hard mask is etched according to the spacers and the blocking layer. The dielectric layer is etched according to the hard mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Lee, Jyu-Horng Shieh
  • Patent number: 11476113
    Abstract: There is provided a technique having a process that includes forming a film, which contains a first element and a second element on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle sequentially performing: (a) supplying a first precursor gas containing the first element to the substrate in a process chamber; (b) supplying a second precursor gas, which contains the first element and has a pyrolysis temperature lower than a pyrolysis temperature of the first precursor gas, to the substrate; and (c) supplying a reaction gas, which contains the second element that is different from the first element, to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Kataoka, Hiroaki Hiramatsu, Kiyohisa Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 11476108
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a spin on carbon layer comprising a spin on carbon composition over a semiconductor substrate. The spin on carbon layer is first heated at a first temperature to partially crosslink the spin on carbon layer. The spin on carbon layer is second heated at a second temperature to further crosslink the spin on carbon layer. An overlayer is formed over the spin on carbon layer. The second temperature is higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jing Hong Huang, Ching-Yu Chang, Wei-Han Lai
  • Patent number: 11465397
    Abstract: An economical, efficient, and effective formation of a high resolution pattern of conductive material on a variety of films by polymer casting. This allows, for example, quite small-scale patterns with sufficient resolution for such things as effective microelectronics without complex systems or steps and with substantial control over the characteristics of the film. A final end product that includes that high resolution functional pattern on any of a variety of substrates, including flexible, stretchable, porous, biodegradable, and/or biocompatible. This allows, for example, highly beneficial options in design of high resolution conductive patterns for a wide variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Metin Uz, Surya Mallapragada
  • Patent number: 11462397
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following operations. A substrate is provided with a device and an insulating layer disposed over the device. A silicon-containing heterocyclic compound precursor and a first oxygen-containing compound precursor are introduced to the substrate, so as to form a zeroth dielectric layer on the insulating layer. A zeroth metal layer is formed in the zeroth dielectric layer. A silicon-containing linear compound precursor and a second oxygen-containing compound precursor are introduced to the substrate to form a first dielectric layer on the zeroth dielectric layer. A first metal layer is formed in the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 11437245
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of forming semiconductor devices. A method according to the present disclosure includes receiving a workpiece that includes a stack of semiconductor layers, depositing a first pad oxide layer on a germanium-containing top layer of the stack, depositing a second pad oxide layer on the first pad oxide layer, depositing a pad nitride layer on the second pad oxide layer, and patterning the stack using the first pad oxide layer, the second pad oxide layer, and the pad nitride layer as a hard mask layer. The depositing of the first pad oxide layer includes a first oxygen plasma power and the depositing of the second pad oxide layer includes a second oxygen plasma power greater than the first oxygen plasma power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Fu, Hung-Ju Chou, Che-Lun Chang, Jiun-Ming Kuo, Yuan-Ching Peng, Sung-En Lin, Nung-Che Cheng, Chunyao Wang
  • Patent number: 11417763
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes transistors respectively including channel layers in a substrate, source electrodes and drain electrodes respectively contacting both sides of the channel layers, gate electrodes on the channel layers, and ferroelectrics layers between the channel layers and the gate electrodes. Electrical characteristics of the ferroelectrics layers of at least two of the transistors are different. Accordingly, threshold voltages of the transistors are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangwook Kim, Yunseong Lee, Sanghyun Jo, Jinseong Heo
  • Patent number: 11411021
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a second deck over a first deck. The first deck has first memory cell levels, and the second deck has second memory cell levels. A pair of cell-material-pillars pass through the first and second decks. Memory cells are along the first and second memory cell levels. The cell-material-pillars are a first pillar and a second pillar. An intermediate level is between the first and second decks. The intermediate level includes a region between the first and second pillars. The region includes a first segment adjacent the first pillar, a second segment adjacent the second pillar, and a third segment between the first and second segments. The first and second segments include a first composition, and the third segment includes a second composition different from the first composition. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11398561
    Abstract: A MOSFET is made by: forming a trench extending from an upper surface of a base layer to an internal portion of the base layer; forming a first insulating layer and a shield conductor occupying a lower portion of the trench; forming a gate dielectric layer and a gate conductor occupying an upper portion of the trench, where a top surface of the gate conductor is lower than the upper surface of the base layer; and before forming a body region, forming a blocking region on a region of the top surface of the gate conductor adjacent to sidewalls of the trench to prevent impurities from being implanted into the base layer from the sidewalls of the trench during subsequent ion implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: HANGZHOU SILICON-MAGIC SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jinyong Cai
  • Patent number: 11398492
    Abstract: A memory circuit includes: (i) a semiconductor substrate having a planar surface, the semiconductor substrate having formed therein circuitry for memory operations; (ii) a memory array formed above the planar surface, the memory array having one or more electrodes to memory circuits in the memory array, the conductors each extending along a direction substantially parallel to the planar surface; and (iii) one or more transistors each formed above, alongside or below a corresponding one of the electrodes but above the planar surface of the semiconductor substrate, each transistor (a) having first and second drain/source region and a gate region each formed out of a semiconductor material, wherein the first drain/source region, the second drain/source region or the gate region has formed thereon a metal silicide layer, and (b) selectively connecting the corresponding electrode to the circuitry for memory operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tianhong Yan, Scott Brad Herner, Jie Zhou, Wu-Yi Henry Chien, Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 11393754
    Abstract: Contact over active gate (COAG) structures with etch stop layers, and methods of fabricating contact over active gate (COAG) structures using etch stop layers, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of gate structures above substrate, each of the gate structures including a gate insulating layer thereon. A plurality of conductive trench contact structures is alternating with the plurality of gate structures, each of the conductive trench contact structures including a trench insulating layer thereon. A first dielectric etch stop layer is directly on and continuous over the trench insulating layers and the gate insulating layers. A second dielectric etch stop layer is directly on and continuous over the first dielectric etch stop layer, the second dielectric etch stop layer distinct from the first dielectric etch stop layer. An interlayer dielectric material is on the second dielectric etch stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Atul Madhavan, Nicholas J. Kybert, Mohit K. Haran, Hiten Kothari