Patents Examined by Andre? C. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 11361991
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to processes for filling trenches. The process includes depositing a first amorphous silicon layer on a surface of a layer and a second amorphous silicon layer in a portion of a trench formed in the layer, and portions of side walls of the trench are exposed. The first amorphous silicon layer is removed. The process further includes depositing a third amorphous silicon layer on the surface of the layer and a fourth amorphous silicon layer on the second amorphous silicon layer. The third amorphous silicon layer is removed. The deposition/removal cyclic processes may be repeated until the trench is filled with amorphous silicon layers. The amorphous silicon layers form a seamless amorphous silicon gap fill in the trench since the amorphous silicon layers are formed from bottom up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Liu, Fei Wang, Rui Cheng, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Robert Jan Visser
  • Patent number: 11355378
    Abstract: A method includes forming an adhesive layer over a carrier, forming a sacrificial layer over the adhesive layer, forming through-vias over the sacrificial layer, and placing a device die over the sacrificial layer. The Method further includes molding and planarizing the device die and the through-vias, de-bonding the carrier by removing the adhesive layer, and removing the sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsiang Hu, Chung-Shi Liu, Hung-Jui Kuo, Ming-Da Cheng
  • Patent number: 11335598
    Abstract: Embodiments include an interconnect structure and methods of forming such an interconnect structure. In an embodiment, the interconnect structure comprises a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) and a first interconnect layer with a plurality of first conductive traces partially embedded in the first ILD. In an embodiment, an etch stop layer is formed over surfaces of the first ILD and sidewall surfaces of the first conductive traces. In an embodiment, the interconnect structure further comprises a second interconnect layer that includes a plurality of second conductive traces. In an embodiment, a via between the first interconnect layer and the second interconnect layer may be self-aligned with the first interconnect layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Lin, Sudipto Naskar, Manish Chandhok, Miriam Reshotko, Rami Hourani
  • Patent number: 11335562
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the semiconductor device are disclosed. A method includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor structure. The gate stack is recessed to form a first recess. A first dielectric layer is formed along a bottom and sidewalls of the first recess, the first dielectric layer having a first etch rate. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer having a second etch rate, the first etch rate being higher than the second etch rate. A third dielectric layer is formed over the second dielectric layer. An etch rate of a portion of the third dielectric layer is altered. The first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, and the third dielectric layer are recessed to form a second recess. A capping layer is formed in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bang-Tai Tang, Tai-Chun Huang
  • Patent number: 11329219
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive random access memory, a memory structure may be formed on a substrate. The memory structure may include a lower electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure, and an upper electrode sequentially stacked. A protection layer including silicon nitride may be formed to cover a surface of the memory structure. The protection layer may be formed by a chemical vapor deposition process using plasma and introducing deposition gases including a silicon source gas, a nitrogen source gas containing no hydrogen and a dissociation gas. Damages of the MTJ structure may be decreased during forming the protection layer. Thus, the MRAM may have improved characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungmin Lee, Younghyun Kim, Junghwan Park, Sechung Oh, Kyungil Hong
  • Patent number: 11309398
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device, including a substrate, a fin over the substrate, a multilayer gate dielectric stack over the fin, wherein the multilayer gate dielectric stack includes a first ferroelectric layer, and a first dielectric layer coupled to the first ferroelectric layer, and a gate over the multilayer gate dielectric stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Yen Peng, Te-Yang Lai, Bo-Feng Young, Chih-Yu Chang, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11302592
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a package substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a stiffener ring mounted on the top surface of the package substrate. The stiffener ring includes a reinforcement rib that is coplanar with the stiffener ring on the top surface of the package substrate. At least two compartments are defined by the stiffener ring and the reinforcement rib. At least two individual chip packages are mounted on chip mounting regions within the at least two compartments, respectively, thereby constituting a package array on the package substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Chi-Wen Pan, I-Hsuan Peng, Sheng-Liang Kuo, Yi-Jou Lin, Tai-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11289371
    Abstract: Integrated chips and methods of forming the same include forming conductive lines on an underlying layer, between regions of dielectric material. The regions of dielectric material are selectively patterned, leaving at least one dielectric remnant region. An interlayer dielectric is formed over the underlying layer and the at least one dielectric remnant region, between the conductive lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Christopher J. Penny, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Kisik Choi, Robert Robison
  • Patent number: 11282944
    Abstract: In a method, a first dielectric layer is formed over semiconductor fins, a second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer is recessed below a top of each of the semiconductor fins, a third dielectric layer is formed over the recessed second dielectric layer, and the third dielectric layer is recessed below the top of the semiconductor fin, thereby forming a wall fin. The wall fin includes the recessed third dielectric layer and the recessed second dielectric layer disposed over the recessed third dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is recessed below a top of the wall fin, a fin liner layer is formed, the fin liner layer is recessed and the semiconductor fins are recessed, and source/drain epitaxial layers are formed over the recessed semiconductor fins, respectively. The source/drain epitaxial layers are separated by the wall fin from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Chi Yu, Jui Fu Hseih, Yu-Li Lin, Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 11282743
    Abstract: The present application discloses a semiconductor device with the multi-layered connecting structure and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a single-layered connecting structure positioned above the substrate, and a multi-layered connecting structure positioned above the substrate and including a plurality of first conductive layers and a plurality of second conductive layers alternatively stacked. A top surface of the multi-layered connecting structure is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the single-layered connecting structure and a width of the multi-layered connecting structure is less than a width of the single-layered connecting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cheng-Hsiang Fan
  • Patent number: 11280558
    Abstract: A composite sheet, including: a buffer sheet; and a heat dissipation sheet on one surface of the buffer sheet. One surface of the heat dissipation sheet facing the one surface of the buffer sheet may have a smaller area than the one surface of the buffer sheet. A display device includes a display panel and a composite sheet on one surface of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Il Lee, Min Seop Kim
  • Patent number: 11276609
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same, and a transistor are provided. In one form, a method includes: providing a base, where a dummy gate layer is formed on the base, a spacer is formed on a side wall of the dummy gate layer, an interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the base exposed from the dummy gate layer and the spacer, and the interlayer dielectric layer exposes a top of the dummy gate layer and a top of the spacer; removing a portion of a height of the dummy gate layer to form a remaining dummy gate layer, where the remaining dummy gate layer and the spacer enclose a trench; thinning a spacer exposed from the remaining dummy gate layer along a direction perpendicular to a side wall of the trench; after the thinning, removing the remaining dummy gate layer to form a gate opening within the interlayer dielectric layer; and forming a metal gate structure in the gate opening. Through the thinning, a gate opening whose side wall is provided with a remaining spacer is T-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: Fei Zhou
  • Patent number: 11271011
    Abstract: Inventive concepts describe a method for high performance standard cell design techniques in FinFET based library using LLE. Inventive concepts describe a fabrication process using a standard FinFET cell layout having double diffusion breaks (DDBs) and single diffusion breaks (SDBs). According to one example embodiment, the method comprises of removing one or more fingers of a P-type FinFet (PFET) from a standard FinFET cell layout. After removing the one or more fingers, a Half-Double Diffusion Break (Half-DDB) is introduced on a N-type FinFET (NFET) side inside a cell boundary using a cut-poly layer. The cut-poly layer not only isolates the PFET and NFET gates and also becomes an integral part of hybrid structure. Further, the removed one or more fingers of PFET gates are converted to two floating PFET gates by shorting a drain terminal and a source terminal of the PFET gate to a common power net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyam Agarwal, Abhishek Ghosh, Parvinder Kumar Rana
  • Patent number: 11264270
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure that includes forming a dummy gate structure over a substrate, forming a first spacer on a sidewall of the dummy gate structure and a second spacer on the first spacer, forming a source/drain structure on the substrate, removing the second spacer, forming a dielectric structure over the source/drain structure, replacing the dummy gate structure with a metal gate structure and a capping structure on the metal gate structure, and forming an opening in the dielectric structure. The opening exposes the source/drain structure. The method further includes forming a dummy spacer on a sidewall of the opening, forming a contact structure in the opening, and removing the dummy spacer to form an air gap between the contact structure and the metal gate structure. The contact structure is in contact with the source/drain structure in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Yu Lin, Chun-Fu Cheng, Chung-Wei Wu, Zhiqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11264236
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes: providing a substrate having a pattern formed on a surface layer thereof; setting a temperature of the substrate such that a change in the pattern becomes a predetermined change amount; forming a reaction layer having a thickness corresponding to the temperature set in the setting on the surface layer of the substrate; and applying energy to the substrate formed with the reaction layer thereby removing the reaction layer from the surface layer of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Toru Hisamatsu, Takayuki Katsunuma, Shinya Ishikawa, Yoshihide Kihara, Masanobu Honda
  • Patent number: 11257926
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate structure sandwiched between and in contact with a first spacer feature and a second spacer feature, a top surface of the first spacer feature and a top surface of the second spacer feature extending above a top surface of the gate structure, a gate self-aligned contact (SAC) dielectric feature over the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature, a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the gate SAC dielectric feature, a dielectric layer over the CESL, a gate contact feature extending through the dielectric layer, the CESL, the gate SAC dielectric feature, and between the first spacer feature and the second spacer feature to be in contact with the gate structure, and a liner disposed between the first spacer feature and the gate contact feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Zhen Yu, Lin-Yu Huang, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11257805
    Abstract: A chip includes a semiconductor substrate, integrated circuits with at least portions in the semiconductor substrate, and a surface dielectric layer over the integrated circuits. A plurality of metal pads is distributed substantially uniformly throughout substantially an entirety of a surface of the chip. The plurality of metal pads has top surfaces level with a top surface of the surface dielectric layer. The plurality of metal pads includes active metal pads and dummy metal pads. The active metal pads are electrically coupled to the integrated circuits. The dummy metal pads are electrically decoupled from the integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dun-Nian Yaung, Szu-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 11257711
    Abstract: A fabricating method of transistors includes providing a substrate with numerous transistors thereon. Each of the transistors includes a gate structure. A gap is disposed between gate structures adjacent to each other. Later, a protective layer and a first dielectric layer are formed in sequence to cover the substrate and the transistors and to fill in the gap. Next, numerous buffering particles are formed to contact the first dielectric layer. The buffering particles do not contact each other. Subsequently, a second dielectric layer is formed to cover the buffering particles. After that, a first planarization process is performed to remove part of the first dielectric layer, part of the second dielectric layer and buffering particles by taking the protective layer as a stop layer, wherein a removing rate of the second dielectric layer is greater than a removing rate of the buffering particles during the first planarization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Fu-Shou Tsai, Yang-Ju Lu, Yong-Yi Lin, Yu-Lung Shih, Ching-Yang Chuang, Ji-Min Lin, Kun-Ju Li
  • Patent number: 11251279
    Abstract: A high voltage transistor structure includes a substrate. A metal gate is disposed on the substrate. At least one insulating material structure penetrates the metal gate. A metal compound layer is disposed between the metal gate and the substrate, between the insulating material structure and the substrate. The metal compound layer is a continuous structure. Agate dielectric layer is disposed under the metal compound layer and contacts the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Zhi-Cheng Lee, Kai-Lin Lee, Wei-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 11251088
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active area having source and drain regions and a channel region between the source and drain regions, an isolation structure surrounding the active area, and a gate structure over the channel region of the active area and over the isolation structure, wherein the isolation structure has a first portion under the gate structure and a second portion free from coverage by the gate structure, and a top of the first portion of the isolation structure is lower than a top of the second portion of the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Long-Jie Hong, Chih-Lin Wang, Kang-Min Kuo