Patents Examined by Sonya McCall-Shepard
  • Patent number: 11728170
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin structure disposed on a substrate; a gate feature that traverses the fin structure to overlay a central portion of the fin structure; a pair of source/drain features, along the fin structure, that are disposed at respective sides of the gate feature; and a plurality of contact structures that are formed of tungsten, wherein a gate electrode of the gate feature and the pair of source/drain features are each directly coupled to a respective one of the plurality of contact structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Ying Lin, Cheng-Yi Wu, Alan Tu, Chung-Liang Cheng, Li-Hsuan Chu, Ethan Hsiao, Hui-Lin Sung, Sz-Yuan Hung, Sheng-Yung Lo, C. W. Chiu, Chih-Wei Hsieh, Chin-Szu Lee
  • Patent number: 11728376
    Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer and a work function layer. The gate dielectric layer is between the semiconductor substrate and the work function layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a halogen source layer. The gate dielectric layer is between the semiconductor substrate and the halogen source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Lin, Chih-Lin Wang, Kang-Min Kuo
  • Patent number: 11723207
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip comprising a substrate having a first pair of opposing sidewalls that define a trench. The trench extends into a front-side surface of the substrate. A first source/drain region is disposed along the front-side surface of the substrate. A second source/drain region is disposed along the front-side surface of the substrate. A gate structure is disposed within the trench and is arranged laterally between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. The gate structure extends along the first pair of opposing sidewalls to an upper surface of the substrate. A bottom surface of the gate structure is disposed below a bottom surface of the first source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Sheng Huang, Ming Chyi Liu
  • Patent number: 11721546
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice above a semiconductor layer, the superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include selectively etching the superlattice to remove semiconductor atoms and cause non-semiconductor atoms to accumulate adjacent the semiconductor layer, epitaxially growing an active semiconductor device layer above the semiconductor layer and accumulated non-semiconductor atoms after the selective etching, and forming at least one circuit in the epitaxially grown active semiconductor device layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Marek Hytha, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody
  • Patent number: 11715736
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin extending along a first direction. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric fin, extending along the first direction, that is disposed between the first and second semiconductor fins. The semiconductor device includes a gate isolation structure vertically disposed above the dielectric fin. The semiconductor device includes a metal gate layer extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the metal gate layer includes a first portion straddling the first semiconductor fin and a second portion straddling the second semiconductor fin. The gate isolation structure has a central portion and one or more side portions, the central portion extends toward the dielectric fin a further distance than at least one of the one or more side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ya-Yi Tsai, Wen-Shuo Hsieh, Shu-Yuan Ku, Chieh-Ning Feng
  • Patent number: 11710791
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a gate structure on the substrate. The substrate contains source-drain openings on both sides of the gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a first stress layer formed in a source-drain opening of the source-drain openings. The first stress layer is doped with first ions. In addition, the semiconductor structure includes a protection layer over the first stress layer, and an inversion layer between the first stress layer and the protection layer. The protection layer is doped with second ions, and the inversion layer is doped with third ions. A conductivity type of the third ions is opposite to a conductivity type of the second ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: Meng Zhao
  • Patent number: 11705451
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a boundary region between first and second regions, first active patterns on the first region, second active patterns on the second region, and an isolation insulating pattern on the boundary region between the first and second active patterns. A width of at least some of the first active patterns have different widths. Widths of the second active patterns may be equal to each other. A bottom surface of the isolation insulating pattern includes a first bottom surface adjacent to a corresponding first active pattern, a second bottom surface adjacent to a corresponding second active pattern, and a third bottom surface between the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface. The third bottom surface is located at a different height from those of the first and second bottom surfaces with respect to a bottom surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Inwon Park, Bosoon Kim, Jongsoon Park
  • Patent number: 11705371
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for forming merged source/drain features from two or more fin structures. The merged source/drain features according to the present disclosure have a merged portion with an increased height percentage over the overall height of the source/drain feature. The increase height percentage provides an increased landing range for source/drain contact features, therefore, reducing the connection resistance between the source/drain feature and the source/drain contact features. In some embodiments, the emerged source/drain features include one or more voids formed within the merged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shahaji B. More, Chung-Hsien Yeh, Chih-Yu Ma
  • Patent number: 11705526
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate having a first active area and a second active area in proximity to the first active area. A trench isolation region is between the first active area and the second active area. A source line region is disposed in the first active area and adjacent to the trench isolation region. An erase gate is disposed on the source line region. A floating gate is disposed on a first side of the erase gate. A first control gate is disposed on the floating gate. A first word line is disposed adjacent to the floating gate and the first control gate and insulated therefrom. A second control gate is disposed on a second side of the erase gate and directly on the trench isolation region. A second word line is disposed adjacent to the second control gate and insulated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hung-Hsun Shuai, Chih-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 11699620
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method that includes forming a fin protruding from a substrate, the fin including a first sidewall and a second sidewall formed opposite to the first sidewall. The method also includes depositing a shallow-trench isolation (STI) material on the substrate. Depositing the STI material includes depositing a first portion of the STI material in contact with the first sidewall and depositing a second portion of the STI material in contact with the second sidewall. The method also includes performing a first etching process on the STI material to etch the first portion of the STI material at a first etching rate and the second portion of the STI material at a second etching rate greater than the first etching rate. The method also includes performing a second etching process on the STI material to etch the first portion of the STI material at a third etching rate and the second portion of the STI material at a fourth etching rate less than the third etching rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Sheng Chen, Yi-Jing Li, Chen-Heng Li
  • Patent number: 11699752
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region having a first conductivity type and a second semiconductor region having a second conductivity type, a source region and a body contact region in the second semiconductor region. The semiconductor device also includes a channel region, in the second semiconductor region, located laterally between the source region and the first semiconductor region, a gate dielectric layer overlying both the channel region and a portion of the first semiconductor region, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a conformal conductive layer covering an upper surface of the body contact region and a side surface of the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC CHINA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Zheng Long Chen
  • Patent number: 11695039
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and method of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes active components and a first barrier pattern. The active components are on a substrate. Each of the active components includes base insulation patterns on the substrate, gate electrodes on the substrate and spaced apart from each other with the base insulation patterns interposed therebetween, a gate dielectric layer on the gate electrodes and the base insulation patterns, a channel pattern on the gate dielectric layer, source electrodes on the channel pattern and spaced apart from each other, a drain electrode on the channel pattern and between the source electrodes, and second insulation patterns between the source electrodes and the drain electrode. The first barrier pattern disposed on the gate dielectric layer surrounds the channel patterns, the source electrodes, the drain electrodes, and the second insulation patterns of each of the active components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Hao Huang, Gao-Ming Wu, Yun-Feng Kao, Ming-Yen Chuang, Katherine H. Chiang
  • Patent number: 11695046
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region on a substrate, a gate structure on the substrate and intersecting the active region, a source/drain region on the active region on both sides of the gate structure and including silicon (Si), and a contact structure on the source/drain region. The source/drain region includes a shallow doping region doped with germanium (Ge) and is in an upper region including an upper surface of the source/drain region. A concentration of germanium (Ge) in the shallow doping region gradually decreases from the upper surface of the source/drain region toward an upper surface of the substrate in a direction that is perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Sahwan Hong, Hanki Lee, Jeongmin Lee
  • Patent number: 11695042
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a gate structure on a channel region of a substrate; a gate mask on the gate structure, the gate mask including a first dielectric material and an impurity, a concentration of the impurity in the gate mask decreasing in a direction extending from an upper region of the gate mask to a lower region of the gate mask; a gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate mask and the gate structure, the gate spacer including the first dielectric material and the impurity, a concentration of the impurity in the gate spacer decreasing in a direction extending from an upper region of the gate spacer to a lower region of the gate spacer; and a source/drain region adjoining the gate spacer and the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Ting Chien, Wen-Yen Chen, Li-Ting Wang, Su-Hao Liu, Liang-Yin Chen, Huicheng Chang
  • Patent number: 11688645
    Abstract: A structure and formation method of a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes an epitaxial structure over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a dielectric fin over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric fin extends upwards to exceed a bottom surface of the epitaxial structure. The dielectric fin has a dielectric structure and a protective shell, and the protective shell extends along sidewalls and a bottom of the dielectric structure. The protective shell has a first average grain size, and the dielectric structure has a second average grain size. The first average grain size is larger than the second average grain size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kun-Yu Lee, Chunyao Wang, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11688758
    Abstract: Solid state transducer devices having integrated electrostatic discharge protection and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a solid state transducer device includes a solid state emitter, and an electrostatic discharge device carried by the solid state emitter. In some embodiments, the electrostatic discharge device and the solid state emitter share a common first contact and a common second contact. In further embodiments, the solid state lighting device and the electrostatic discharge device share a common epitaxial substrate. In still further embodiments, the electrostatic discharge device is positioned between the solid state lighting device and a support substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Odnoblyudov, Martin F. Schubert
  • Patent number: 11688805
    Abstract: A method for forming an integrated circuit structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate; depositing a first gate electrode layer over the gate dielectric layer; etching the first gate electrode layer to form a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer; forming a drift region in the semiconductor substrate; depositing a dielectric layer over the gate dielectric layer and the gate electrode, in which the dielectric layer has a first portion alongside a first sidewall of the gate electrode; depositing a second gate electrode layer over the dielectric layer; etching the second gate electrode layer to form a field plate electrode alongside the first portion of the dielectric layer; and forming source/drain features in the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Bo Shu, Yun-Chi Wu
  • Patent number: 11688625
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming at least one epitaxial layer over a substrate; forming a mask over the epitaxial layer; patterning the epitaxial layer into a semiconductor fin; depositing a semiconductor capping layer over the semiconductor fin and the mask, wherein the semiconductor capping layer has a first portion that is amorphous on a sidewall of the mask; performing a thermal treatment such that the first portion of the semiconductor capping layer is converted from amorphous into crystalline; forming an isolation structure around the semiconductor fin; and forming a gate structure over the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Kai Hsiao, Tsai-Yu Huang, Hui-Cheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11688779
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate having a first active pattern including first and second source/drain regions, a gate electrode intersecting the first active pattern and disposed between the first and second source/drain regions, a bit line intersecting the first active pattern and electrically connected to the first source/drain region, a spacer disposed on a sidewall of the bit line, a contact electrically connected to the second source/drain region and spaced apart from the bit line with the spacer interposed therebetween, an interface layer disposed between the second source/drain region and the contact, and forming an ohmic contact between the second source/drain region and the contact, and a data storage element disposed on the contact. A bottom of the contact is lower than a top surface of the substrate. The contact is formed of a metal, a conductive metal nitride, and/or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hui-Jung Kim, Junhyeok Ahn, Jae Hyun Yoon, Myeong-Dong Lee, Seok Hwan Lee, Sunghee Han, Inkyoung Heo
  • Patent number: 11682698
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including an active region protruding from an upper surface of a substrate and extending in a first horizontal direction, at least two gate electrodes extending in a second horizontal direction and crossing the active region, the second horizontal direction crossing the first horizontal direction, a source/drain region in the active region between the gate electrodes may be provided. The source/drain region includes a recess region, an outer doped layer on an inner wall of the recess region, an intermediate doped layer on the outer doped layer, and an inner doped layer on the intermediate doped layer and filling the recess region. One of the outer doped layer or the intermediate doped layer includes antimony, and the inner doped layer includes phosphorous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junghan Lee, Changhee Kim, Kihwan Kim, Suhyueon Park, Jaehong Choi