Patents Examined by Theresa T. Doan
  • Patent number: 12046663
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first fin and a second fin over a substrate. The method includes forming a first dummy gate structure that straddles the first fin and the second fin. The first dummy gate structure includes a first dummy gate dielectric and a first dummy gate disposed over the first dummy gate dielectric. The method includes replacing a portion of the first dummy gate with a gate isolation structure. The portion of the first dummy gate is disposed over the second fin. The method includes removing the first dummy gate. The method includes removing a first portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the first fin, while leaving a second portion of the first dummy gate dielectric around the second fin intact. The method includes forming a gate feature straddling the first fin and the second fin, wherein the gate isolation structure intersects the gate feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Lin, Chih-Han Lin, Shu-Uei Jang, Ya-Yi Tsai, Chi-Hsiang Chang, Tzu-Chung Wang, Shu-Yuan Ku
  • Patent number: 12046630
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure, and relates to the technical field of semiconductors. The manufacturing method includes: providing a base, wherein the base is provided with an active region; forming a gate layer on the base; forming isolation structures on a periphery of the gate layer, wherein in a direction away from the gate layer, each of the isolation structures at least includes a hollow portion and an isolation portion; forming an insulating structure on top surfaces of the isolation structures; forming contact plugs, wherein the contact plugs penetrate the insulating structure; an end of each of the contact plugs close to the base is electrically connected to the active region; each of the contact plugs is located on a side of each of the isolation structures away from the gate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Qiang Wan, Kangshu Zhan, Jun Xia, Sen Li, Penghui Xu, Tao Liu
  • Patent number: 12046631
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second active patterns extending in a first direction, a first epitaxial pattern on the first active pattern and adjacent to the second active pattern, a second epitaxial pattern on the second active pattern and adjacent to the first active pattern, an element separation structure separating the first and second active patterns between the first and second epitaxial patterns, and including a core separation pattern, and a separation side wall pattern on a side wall of the core separation pattern, and a gate structure extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, on the first active pattern. An upper surface of the gate structure is on the same plane as an upper surface of the core separation pattern. The separation side wall pattern includes a high dielectric constant liner, which includes a high dielectric constant dielectric film including a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Sik Park, Sang Jin Kim, Tae Hwan Oh, Hyun Jeong Lee, Sung Jin Jang, Gyu Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 12040402
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including first fin-shaped patterns in a first region of a substrate and spaced apart from each other in a first direction, second fin-shaped patterns in a second region of the substrate and spaced apart from each other in a second direction, a first field insulating film on the substrate and covering sidewalls of the first fin-shaped patterns, a second field insulating film on the substrate and covering sidewalls of the second fin-shaped patterns, a first source/drain pattern on the first field insulating film, connected to the first fin-shaped patterns, and including a first silicon-germanium pattern, and a second source/drain pattern on the second field insulating film, connected to the second fin-shaped patterns, and including a second silicon-germanium pattern, the second source/drain pattern and the second field insulating film defining one or more first air gaps therebetween may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Nam Kyu Cho, Seok Hoon Kim, Yong Seung Kim, Pan Kwi Park, Dong Suk Shin, Sang Gil Lee, Si Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 12040329
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a semiconductor fin having a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width substantially less than the first width. The first portion has a first surface, the second portion has a second surface, and the first and second surfaces are connected by a third surface. The third surface forms an angle with respect to the second surface, and the angle ranges from about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees. The structure further includes a gate electrode layer disposed over the semiconductor fin and source/drain epitaxial features disposed on the semiconductor fin on opposite sides of the gate electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Ting Lan, Shi Ning Ju, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 12031070
    Abstract: A quantum dot, and a quantum dot composite and a device including the same are disclosed, wherein the quantum dot includes a template including a first semiconductor nanocrystal, a quantum well (e.g., quantum well layer) disposed on the template and a shell disposed on the quantum well, the shell including a second semiconductor nanocrystal, and wherein the quantum dot does not include cadmium, wherein the first semiconductor nanocrystal includes a first zinc chalcogenide, wherein the second semiconductor nanocrystal includes a second zinc chalcogenide, and the quantum well layer includes an alloy semiconductor nanocrystal including indium (In), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), and a chalcogen element wherein a bandgap energy of the alloy semiconductor nanocrystal is less than a bandgap energy of the first semiconductor nanocrystal and less than a bandgap energy of the second semiconductor nanocrystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jooyeon Ahn, Hyeyeon Yang, Tae Gon Kim, Jongmin Lee, Shin Ae Jun
  • Patent number: 12034063
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is described. A plurality of semiconductor fins is formed in a first region on a substrate. An isolation region is formed around the plurality of semiconductor fins. Dummy fins are formed extending above the isolation region and laterally adjacent the plurality of semiconductor fins. A first etch is performed to etch the plurality of semiconductor fins such that a top surface of the plurality of semiconductor fins has a same height as a top surface of the isolation region. A second etch is performed selectively etching the isolation region to form a first recess in the isolation region laterally adjacent the semiconductor fins. A third etch is performed selectively etching the plurality of semiconductor fins to remove the plurality of semiconductor fins and to etch a second recess through the isolation region into the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ya-Yi Tsai, Yi-Chun Chen, Wei-Han Chen, Wei-Ting Guo, Shu-Yuan Ku
  • Patent number: 12034041
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes active regions on a substrate, a gate structure intersecting the active regions, a source/drain region on the active regions and at a side surface of the gate structure, a gate spacer between the gate structure and the source/drain region, the gate spacer contacting the side surface of the gate structure, a lower source/drain contact plug connected to the source/drain region, a gate isolation layer on the gate spacer, an upper end of the gate isolation layer being at a higher level than an upper surface of the gate structure and an upper surface of the lower source/drain contact plug, a capping layer covering the gate structure, the lower source/drain contact plug, and the gate isolation layer, and an upper source/drain contact plug connected to the lower source/drain contact plug and extending through the capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seonbae Kim, Woojin Lee, Seunghoon Choi
  • Patent number: 12029102
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide systems and methods of depositing a film on a selective area of a substrate. A first jet of a first material may be ejected from a first nozzle assembly of a jet head having a plurality of nozzle assemblies to form a first portion of a film deposition on the substrate. A second jet of a second material may be ejected from a second nozzle assembly of the plurality of nozzle assemblies, the second nozzle assembly being aligned with the first nozzle assembly parallel to a direction of motion between the plurality of nozzle assemblies and the substrate, and the second material being different than the first material. The second material may react with the first portion of the film deposition to form a composite film deposition on the substrate when using reactive gas precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Hack, William E. Quinn, Gregory McGraw, William T. Mayweather, III, Julia J. Brown
  • Patent number: 12027581
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate oxide layer formed on the substrate, a gate formed on the gate oxide layer, and a spacer formed adjacent the gate and over the substrate. The spacer includes a void filled with air to prevent leakage of charge to and from the gate, thereby reducing data loss and providing better memory retention. The reduction in charge leakage results from reduced parasitic capacitances, fringing capacitances, and overlap capacitances due to the low dielectric constant of air relative to other spacer materials. The spacer can include multiple layers such as oxide and nitride layers. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device is a multiple-time programmable (MTP) memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gulbagh Singh, Kun-Tsang Chuang, Hsin-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 12027624
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in a first area includes first non-planar semiconductor structures separated with a first distance, and a first isolation region including a first layer and a second layer that collectively embed a lower portion of each of the first non-planar semiconductor structures. At least one of the first layer or second layer of the first isolation region is in a cured state. The semiconductor device in a second area includes second non-planar semiconductor structures separated with a second distance, and a second isolation region including a first layer and a second layer that collectively embed a lower portion of each of the second non-planar semiconductor structures. At least one of the first or second layer of the second isolation region is in a cured state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Lin, Hsiao Wen Lee, Li-Jung Kuo, Chen-Ping Chen, Ming-Ching Chang
  • Patent number: 12020986
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure are provided. The method includes receiving a substrate with fin features; forming a first gate stack over the substrate, wherein the first gate stack comprise at least one void exposed from a surface of the first gate stack; forming a fill material in the at least one void; partially removing the fill material outside the at least one void, wherein a portion of the fill material is left in the at least one void; forming sidewall spacers besides the first gate stack; removing the first gate stack; and forming a second gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Yuan-Sheng Huang, Ryan Chia-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 12021129
    Abstract: A work function metal gate device includes a gate, a drift region, a source, a drain and a first isolation structure. The gate includes a convex stair-shaped work function metal stack or a concave stair-shaped work function metal stack disposed on a substrate. The drift region is disposed in the substrate below a part of the gate. The source is located in the substrate and the drain is located in the drift region beside the gate. The first isolation structure is disposed in the drift region between the gate and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Wen Huang, Shih-An Huang
  • Patent number: 12015031
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first fin and a second fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; depositing a liner layer along a first sidewall of the first fin, a second sidewall of the second fin, and a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, the liner layer formed of silicon oxynitride having a nitrogen concentration; depositing a fill material on the liner layer, the fill material formed of silicon; annealing the liner layer and the fill material, the annealing converting the fill material to silicon oxide, the annealing decreasing the nitrogen concentration of the liner layer; and recessing the liner layer and the fill material to form an isolation region between the first fin and the second fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Szu-Ping Lee, Che-Hao Chang, Chun-Heng Chen, Yung-Cheng Lu, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12009364
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a recess in a first region of a first dielectric material, the first dielectric material at least partially embedding a semiconductor region, the recess having a first surface portion separated by a distance in a first direction from the semiconductor region by a portion of the first dielectric material; depositing a second dielectric material in the recess to form a second surface portion oriented at an oblique angle from the first surface portion; and depositing a conductive material in the recess. In some embodiments, the method further includes partially exposing the semiconductor region in a second recess in the first dielectric material and selectively depositing the second dielectric material on the first dielectric material, but not the semiconductor region, in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Hsin Chiu, Shih-Wei Peng, Meng-Hung Shen, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Patent number: 12009299
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes; a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region, a first interlayer insulating layer on the second region, a capping layer disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer, an upper surface of the capping layer includes a first trench, conductive patterns spaced apart on the capping layer, side surfaces of the conductive patterns are aligned with inner side surfaces of the first trench, and a peripheral separation pattern disposed in the first trench to cover the side surfaces of the conductive patterns. The peripheral separation pattern has a first thickness on the side surfaces of the conductive patterns and a second thickness greater than or equal to the first thickness on a lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Hyuk Choi, Wonchul Lee, Joonhyoung Yang
  • Patent number: 12009200
    Abstract: A nitrogen plasma treatment is used on an adhesion layer of a contact plug. As a result of the nitrogen plasma treatment, nitrogen is incorporated into the adhesion layer. When a contact plug is deposited in the opening, an interlayer of a metal nitride is formed between the contact plug and the adhesion layer. A nitrogen plasma treatment is used on an opening in an insulating layer. As a result of the nitrogen plasma treatment, nitrogen is incorporated into the insulating layer at the opening. When a contact plug is deposited in the opening, an interlayer of a metal nitride is formed between the contact plug and the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Yi Chen, Wei-Yip Loh, Hung-Hsu Chen, Chih-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 12009426
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a method of forming an integrated circuit structure. The method includes forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure in a semiconductor substrate of a first semiconductor material, thereby defining a plurality of fin-type active regions separated from each other by the STI structure; forming gate stacks on the fin-type active regions; forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer filling in gaps between the gate stacks; patterning the ILD layer to form a trench between adjacent two of the gate stacks; depositing a first dielectric material layer that is conformal in the trench; filling the trench with a second dielectric material layer; patterning the second dielectric material layer to form a contact opening; and filling a conductive material in the contact opening to form a contact feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 12002845
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, which includes a stacked layer of first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers disposed over a bottom fin structure and a hard mask layer over the stacked layer, is formed. An isolation insulating layer is formed. A sacrificial cladding layer is formed over at least sidewalls of the exposed hard mask layer and stacked layer. A first dielectric layer is formed. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is recessed. A third dielectric layer is formed on the recessed second dielectric layer. The third dielectric layer is partially removed to form a trench. A fourth dielectric layer is formed by filling the trench with a dielectric material, thereby forming a wall fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Yeh Chen, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin, Yuan-Ching Peng
  • Patent number: 11996412
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes forming a plurality of fins adjacent to a substrate, the plurality of fins comprising a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin; forming a first insulation material adjacent to the plurality of fins; reducing a thickness of the first insulation material; after reducing the thickness of the first insulation material, forming a second insulation material adjacent to the first insulation material and the plurality of fins; and recessing the first insulation material and the second insulation material to form a first shallow trench isolation (STI) region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Szu-Ying Chen, Sen-Hong Syue, Li-Ting Wang, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo