Patents Examined by Christine Enad
  • Patent number: 11735425
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin. The semiconductor device includes a metal gate disposed over the semiconductor fin. The semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric layer disposed between the semiconductor fin and the metal gate. The semiconductor device includes first spacers sandwiching the metal gate. The first spacers have a first top surface and the gate dielectric layer has a second top surface, and the first top surface and a first portion of the second top surface are coplanar with each other. The semiconductor device includes second spacers further sandwiching the first spacers. The second spacers have a third top surface above the first top surface and the second top surface. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode disposed over the metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu Ang Chiang, Ming-Hsi Yeh, Chun-Neng Lin, Jian-Jou Lian, Po-Yuan Wang, Chieh-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 11728244
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin, a source/drain structure, a first buried power line, a contact, a first through substrate via (TSV), and a second TSV. The substrate has a well region extending a frontside surface of the substrate into the substrate. The semiconductor fin is on the well region. The source/drain structure is on the semiconductor fin. The first buried power line is electrically coupled to the source/drain structure on the first semiconductor fin. The first buried power line has a length extending along a lengthwise direction of the first semiconductor fin and a height extending within the well region. The first TSV extends from a backside surface of the substrate through the substrate to the first buried power line. The second TSV extends from the backside surface of the substrate to the well region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Marcus Johannes Henricus Van Dal, Gerben Doornbos
  • Patent number: 11728342
    Abstract: Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes first and second gate patterns that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction on a substrate and extend in the first direction, a separation pattern that is disposed between and being in direct contact with the first and second gate patterns and extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a third gate pattern that is spaced apart in the second direction from the first gate pattern and extends in the first direction, and an interlayer dielectric layer disposed between the first gate pattern and the third gate pattern. The separation pattern includes a material different from a material of the interlayer dielectric layer. A bottom surface of the separation pattern has an uneven structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hyun Park, Heonjong Shin
  • Patent number: 11721699
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a dielectric fin is formed in order to help isolate adjacent semiconductor fins. The dielectric fin is formed using a deposition process in which deposition times and temperatures are utilized to increase the resistance of the dielectric fin to subsequent etching processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Hung Cheng Lin, Chunyao Wang, Yung-Cheng Lu, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11721695
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin protruding from the substrate, where the semiconductor fin includes semiconductor layers stacked in a vertical direction, a gate stack engaging with channel regions of the semiconductor fin, and source/drain (S/D) features disposed adjacent to the gate stack in S/D regions of the semiconductor fin. In the present embodiments, the gate stack includes a first portion disposed over the semiconductor layers and a second portion disposed between the semiconductor layers, where the first portion includes a work-function metal (WFM) layer and a metal fill layer disposed over the WFM layer and the second portion includes the WFM layer but is free of the metal fill layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11721700
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric fin that is formed over the substrate and extends along a first direction. The semiconductor device includes a gate isolation structure vertically disposed above the dielectric fin. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The gate structure includes a first portion and a second portion separated by the gate isolation structure and the dielectric fin. The first portion of the gate structure presents a first beak profile and the second portion of the gate structure presents a second beak profile. The first and second beak profiles point toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Lin, Chih-Han Lin, Ming-Ching Chang, Shu-Yuan Ku, Tzu-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 11715670
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a first work function layer over a first and second gate trench. The method includes depositing a second work function layer over the first work function layer. The method includes etching the second work function layer in the first gate trench while covering the second work function layer in the second gate trench, causing the first work function layer in the first gate trench to contain metal dopants that are left from the second work function layer etched in the first gate trench. The method includes forming a first active gate structure and second active gate structure, which include the first work function layer and the metal dopants left from the second work function layer in the first gate trench, and the first work function layer and no metal dopants left behind from the second work function layer, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Pan, Kuo-Bin Huang, Ming-Hsi Yeh, Ying-Liang Chuang, Yu-Te Su, Kuan-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 11705460
    Abstract: A panel comprises a substrate; a transistor disposed on the substrate and including: a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer, an active layer, an auxiliary source electrode configured to electrically connect one end of the active layer to the source electrode, and an auxiliary drain electrode configured to electrically connect an other end of the active layer to the drain electrode; and a capacitor disposed on the substrate and including a first plate and a second plate. The first plate of the capacitor is made of a same material as the auxiliary source electrode and the auxiliary drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwanghwan Ji, HongRak Choi, Jeyong Jeon, Jaeyoon Park
  • Patent number: 11699702
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods are provided. A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first transistor in a first area and a second transistor in a second area. The first transistor includes a first gate structure extending lengthwise along a first direction, and a first gate spacer, a second gate spacer, and a third gate spacer over sidewalls of the first gate structure. The second transistor includes a second gate structure extending lengthwise along the first direction, and the first gate spacer and the third gate spacer over sidewalls of the second gate structure. The first gate spacer, the second gate spacer and the third gate spacer are of different compositions and the third gate spacer is directly on the first gate spacer in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Hsin Yang, Jung-Chi Jeng, Ru-Shang Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11699637
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure comprises a lower device layer that includes a first structure comprising a first set of transistor fins and a first set of contact metallization. An upper device layer is bonded onto the lower device layer, where the upper device layer includes a second structure comprising a second set of transistor fins and a second set of contact metallization. At least one power isolation wall extends from a top of the upper device layer to the bottom of the lower device layer, wherein the power isolation wall is filled with a conductive material such that power is routed between transistor devices on the upper device layer and the lower device layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron D. Lilak, Anh Phan, Patrick Morrow, Stephanie A. Bojarski
  • Patent number: 11688797
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including forming a fin structure having a stack of alternating first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate, the first semiconductor layers and the second semiconductor layers having different compositions, forming a dummy gate structure across the fin structure, forming gate spacers on opposite sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, respectively, removing the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench between the gate spacers, etching the first semiconductor layers in the gate trench, such that the second semiconductor layers are suspended in the gate trench to serve as nanosheets, forming a work function metal layer surrounding each of the nanosheets, and depositing a fill metal layer over the work function metal layer without using a fluorine-containing precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11688643
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may be formed by forming a first fin and a second fin in a first area and a second area of a substrate, respectively; which may be followed by forming of a first dummy gate structure and a second dummy gate structure straddling the first fin and second fin, respectively and forming a sacrificial layer extending along a bottom portion of the second dummy gate structure. The first dummy gate structure may be replaced with a first metal gate structure, while the second dummy gate structure and the sacrificial layer may be replaced with a second metal gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Lin, Hsiao Wen Lee, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 11688798
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a first gate structure over the first region, and first source-drain doped layers in the first region of the substrate on both sides of the first gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a second gate structure over the second region, and second source-drain doped layers in the second region of the substrate on both sides of the second gate structure. Further, the semiconductor structure includes a first protection layer over the second gate structure, a first conductive structure over a first source-drain doped layer, and an isolation layer over the first conductive structure. The first conductive structure is also formed on the first gate structure, and the first conductive structure has a top surface lower than the first protection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: Xiang Hu
  • Patent number: 11688648
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a gate structure and a method of forming same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate structure over the substrate. The substrate has a first region and a second region. The gate structure extends across an interface between the first region and the second region. The gate structure includes a first gate dielectric layer over the first region, a second gate dielectric layer over the second region, a first work function layer over the first gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer along a sidewall of the first work function layer and above the interface between the first region and the second region, and a second work function layer over the first work function layer, the barrier layer and the second gate dielectric layer. The second work function layer is in physical contact with a top surface of the first work function layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shahaji B. More, Chandrashekhar Prakash Savant, Chun Hsiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 11685015
    Abstract: A method of using a polishing system includes securing a wafer in a carrier head, the carrier head including a housing enclosing the wafer, in which the housing includes a retainer ring recess and a retainer ring positioned in the retainer ring recess, the retainer ring surrounding the wafer, in which the retainer ring includes a main body portion and a bottom portion connected to the main body portion, and a bottom surface of the bottom portion includes at least one first engraved region and a first non-engraved region adjacent to the first engraved region; pressing the wafer against a polishing pad; and moving the carrier head or the polishing pad relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Yang, Huai-Tei Yang, Yu-Chen Wei, Szu-Cheng Wang, Li-Hsiang Chao, Jen-Chieh Lai, Shih-Ho Lin
  • Patent number: 11682669
    Abstract: Provided is a metal gate structure and related methods that include performing a metal gate cut process. The metal gate cut process includes a plurality of etching steps. For example, a first anisotropic dry etch is performed, a second isotropic dry etch is performed, and a third wet etch is performed. In some embodiments, the second isotropic etch removes a residual portion of a metal gate layer including a metal containing layer. In some embodiments, the third etch removes a residual portion of a dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chi Huang, Ying-Liang Chuang, Ming-Hsi Yeh, Kuo-Bin Huang
  • Patent number: 11677013
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for forming source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structures with a hexagonal shape. The method includes forming a fin structure that includes a first portion and a second portion proximate to the first portion, forming a gate structure on the first portion of the fin structure, and recessing the second portion of the fin structure. The method further includes growing a S/D epitaxial structure on the recessed second portion of the fin structure, where growing the S/D epitaxial structure includes exposing the recessed second portion of the fin structure to a precursor and one or more reactant gases to form a portion of the S/D epitaxial structure. Growing the S/D epitaxial structure further includes exposing the portion of the S/D structure to an etching chemistry and exposing the portion of the S/D epitaxial structure to a hydrogen treatment to enhance growth of the S/D epitaxial structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Li-Li Su, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11676978
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device including a semiconductor layer comprising a plurality of photodiodes, a first antireflection film located over a first surface of the semiconductor layer, a second antireflection film located over the first antireflection film, a light shielding layer having side surfaces which are adjacent to at least one of first and the second antireflection film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Hiyama, Kazufumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11676970
    Abstract: A panel comprises a substrate; a transistor disposed on the substrate and including: a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer, an active layer, an auxiliary source electrode configured to electrically connect one end of the active layer to the source electrode, and an auxiliary drain electrode configured to electrically connect an other end of the active layer to the drain electrode; and a capacitor disposed on the substrate and including a first plate and a second plate. The first plate of the capacitor is made of a same material as the auxiliary source electrode and the auxiliary drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwanghwan Ji, HongRak Choi, Jeyong Jeon, Jaeyoon Park
  • Patent number: 11670636
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having first and second regions, first fin groups spaced along a first direction on the first region, each of the first fin groups including adjacent first and second fins having longitudinal directions in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and third to fifth fins spaced along a third direction on the second region, the third to fifth fins having longitudinal directions in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction. The third through fifth fins are at a first pitch, the first and second fins are at a second pitch equal to or smaller than the first pitch, each of the first fin groups is at a first group pitch greater than three times the first pitch and smaller than four times the first pitch, and a width of the first and second fins is same as width of the third fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Yong Kwon, Byoung-Gi Kim, Ki Hwan Lee, Jung Han Lee