Patents by Inventor Chao-Ching Cheng

Chao-Ching Cheng has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230389454
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory device includes the following operations. A first conductive plug is formed within a first dielectric layer over a substrate. A treating process is performed to transform a portion of the first conductive plug into a buffer layer, and the buffer layer caps the remaining portion of the first conductive plug. A phase change layer and a top electrode are sequentially formed over the buffer layer. A second dielectric layer is formed to encapsulate the top electrode and the underlying phase change layer. A second conductive plug is formed within the second dielectric layer and in physical contact with the top electrode. A filamentary bottom electrode is formed within the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Jer-Fu Wang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20230378334
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a low-k dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, an isolation layer over the low-k dielectric layer, and a work function layer over the isolation layer. The work function layer is an n-type work function layer. The device further includes a low-dimensional semiconductor layer on a top surface and a sidewall of the work function layer, source/drain contacts contacting opposing end portions of the low-dimensional semiconductor layer, and a dielectric doping layer over and contacting a channel portion of the low-dimensional semiconductor layer. The dielectric doping layer includes a metal selected from aluminum and hafnium, and the channel portion of the low-dimensional semiconductor layer further comprises the metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Lu, Tzu Ang Chao, Chao-Ching Cheng, Lain-Jong Li
  • Publication number: 20230377984
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers containing Ge and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed over a bottom fin structure. A Ge concentration in the first semiconductor layers is increased. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed over a source/drain region of the fin structure. The sacrificial gate structure is removed. The second semiconductor layers in a channel region are removed, thereby releasing the first semiconductor layers in which the Ge concentration is increased. A gate structure is formed around the first semiconductor layers in which the Ge concentration is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Chao-Ching CHENG, I-Sheng CHEN, Hung-Li CHIANG, Tzu-Chiang CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230378202
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is a memory device. The memory device includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate and a top electrode disposed over the bottom electrode. An upper surface of the bottom electrode faces away from the substrate. A bottom surface of the top electrode faces the substrate. A data storage layer is arranged between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. At least a portion of the bottom surface of the top electrode does not overlap with any portion of the top surface of the bottom electrode along a first direction parallel to the bottom surface of the top electrode. Furthermore, at least a portion of the top surface of the bottom electrode does not overlap with any portion of the bottom surface of the top electrode along the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Jung-Piao Chiu, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Yu-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11824106
    Abstract: A transistor device having fin structures, source and drain terminals, channel layers and a gate structure is provided. The fin structures are disposed on a material layer. The fin structures are arranged in parallel and extending in a first direction. The source and drain terminals are disposed on the fin structures and the material layer and cover opposite ends of the fin structures. The channel layers are disposed respectively on the fin structures, and each channel layer extends between the source and drain terminals on the same fin structure. The gate structure is disposed on the channel layers and across the fin structures. The gate structure extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The materials of the channel layers include a transition metal and a chalcogenide, the source and drain terminals include a metallic material, and the channel layers are covalently bonded with the source and drain terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Lu, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Ang Chao, Lain-Jong Li
  • Patent number: 11824088
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and first nanostructures and second nanostructures formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a first source/drain structure formed adjacent to the first nanostructures and a second source/drain structure formed adjacent to the second nanostructures. The semiconductor structure further includes a first contact plug formed over the first source/drain structure and a second contact plug formed over the second source/drain structure. In addition, a bottom portion of the first contact plug is lower than a bottom portion of the first nanostructures, and a bottom portion of the second contact plug is higher than a top portion of the second nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, I-Sheng Chen, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Shih-Syuan Huang, Hung-Li Chiang
  • Patent number: 11823957
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers containing Ge and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed over a bottom fin structure. A Ge concentration in the first semiconductor layers is increased. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed over a source/drain region of the fin structure. The sacrificial gate structure is removed. The second semiconductor layers in a channel region are removed, thereby releasing the first semiconductor layers in which the Ge concentration is increased. A gate structure is formed around the first semiconductor layers in which the Ge concentration is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, I-Sheng Chen, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20230361177
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor device includes a heat transfer layer disposed over a substrate, a channel material layer, a gate structure and source and drain terminals. The channel material layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the channel material layer is disposed on the heat transfer layer with the first surface in contact with the heat transfer layer. The gate structure is disposed above the channel material layer. The source and drain terminals are in contact with the channel material layer and located at two opposite sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Tse Hung, Ang-Sheng Chou, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Chao-Ching Cheng
  • Publication number: 20230361217
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first poly-material pattern, a first conductive element, a first semiconductor layer, and a first gate structure. The first poly-material pattern is over and protrudes outward from the substrate, wherein the first poly-material pattern includes a first active portion and a first poly-material portion joined to the first active portion. The first conductive element is over the substrate, wherein the first conductive element includes the first poly-material portion and a first metallic conductive portion covering at least one of a top surface and a sidewall of the first poly-material portion. The first semiconductor layer is over the substrate and covers the first active portion of the first poly-material pattern and the first conductive element. The first gate structure is over the first semiconductor layer located within the first active portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, Chun-Chieh Lu, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20230343876
    Abstract: A nanowire FET device includes a vertical stack of nanowire strips configured as the semiconductor body. One or more of the top nanowire strips are receded and are shorter than the rest of the nanowire strips stacked lower. Inner spacers are uniformly formed adjacent to the receded nanowire strips and the rest of the nanowire strips. Source/drain structures are formed outside the inner spacers and a gate structure is formed inside the inner spacers, which wraps around the nanowire strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: I-Sheng Chen, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Carlos H Diaz
  • Patent number: 11777008
    Abstract: A gate-all-around structure is provided. The gate-all-around structure includes a plurality of nanostructures stacked over a substrate in a vertically direction, and the nanostructures extends from a gate region to a source/drain (S/D) region. The gate-all-around structure includes a gate structure formed in the gate region around the first nanostructures, and a S/D structure formed in the S/D region. The S/D structure is in direct contact with a top surface of one of the nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, Yu-Lin Yang, I-Sheng Chen, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 11757045
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first poly-material pattern, a first conductive element, a first semiconductor layer, and a first gate structure. The first poly-material pattern is over and protrudes outward from the substrate, wherein the first poly-material pattern includes a first active portion and a first poly-material portion joined to the first active portion. The first conductive element is over the substrate, wherein the first conductive element includes the first poly-material portion and a first metallic conductive portion covering at least one of a top surface and a sidewall of the first poly-material portion. The first semiconductor layer is over the substrate and covers the first active portion of the first poly-material pattern and the first conductive element. The first gate structure is over the first semiconductor layer located within the first active portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, Chun-Chieh Lu, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 11749718
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The semiconductor device includes a heat transfer layer disposed over a substrate, a channel material layer, a gate structure and source and drain terminals. The channel material layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the channel material layer is disposed on the heat transfer layer with the first surface in contact with the heat transfer layer. The gate structure is disposed above the channel material layer. The source and drain terminals are in contact with the channel material layer and located at two opposite sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Tse Hung, Ang-Sheng Chou, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Chao-Ching Cheng
  • Publication number: 20230268418
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, is etched, thereby forming a source/drain space. The first semiconductor layers are laterally etched through the source/drain space. An inner spacer made of a dielectric material is formed on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the source/drain space to cover the inner spacer. A lateral end of each of the first semiconductor layers has a V-shape cross section after the first semiconductor layers are laterally etched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chen-Feng HSU, Chao-Ching CHENG, Tzu-Chiang CHEN, Tung Ying LEE, Wei-sheng YUN, Yu-Lin YANG
  • Publication number: 20230253503
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes forming a first gate electrode over a substrate. The method also includes forming a first gate dielectric layer over the first gate electrode. The method also includes depositing a semiconductor layer over the first gate dielectric layer. The method also includes forming source/drain regions over the first gate dielectric layer and the semiconductor layer, the source/drain regions overlapping ends of the semiconductor layer. The method also includes forming a second gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer and the source/drain regions. The method also includes and forming a second gate electrode over the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Yun-Yan Chung, Chao-Ching Cheng, Chao-Hsin Chien
  • Patent number: 11715802
    Abstract: A nanowire FET device includes a vertical stack of nanowire strips configured as the semiconductor body. One or more of the top nanowire strips are receded and are shorter than the rest of the nanowire strips stacked lower. Inner spacers are uniformly formed adjacent to the receded nanowire strips and the rest of the nanowire strips. Source/drain structures are formed outside the inner spacers and a gate structure is formed inside the inner spacers, which wraps around the nanowire strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: I-Sheng Chen, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Carlos H Diaz
  • Publication number: 20230205073
    Abstract: A pellicle for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) reflective mask includes a pellicle frame and a main membrane attached to the pellicle frame. The main membrane includes a plurality of nanotubes, each of which includes a single nanotube or a co-axial nanotube, and the single nanotube or an outermost nanotube of the co-axial nanotube is a non-carbon based nanotube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Tzu-Ang CHAO, Ming-Yang LI, Chao-Ching CHENG, Han WANG
  • Patent number: 11677010
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure, in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked, is formed. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A source/drain region of the fin structure, which is not covered by the sacrificial gate structure, is etched, thereby forming a source/drain space. The first semiconductor layers are laterally etched through the source/drain space. An inner spacer made of a dielectric material is formed on an end of each of the etched first semiconductor layers. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the source/drain space to cover the inner spacer. A lateral end of each of the first semiconductor layers has a V-shape cross section after the first semiconductor layers are laterally etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chen-Feng Hsu, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Tung Ying Lee, Wei-Sheng Yun, Yu-Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 11670720
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes forming a first gate electrode over a substrate. The method also includes forming a first gate dielectric layer over the first gate electrode. The method also includes depositing a semiconductor layer over the first gate dielectric layer. The method also includes forming source/drain regions over the first gate dielectric layer and the semiconductor layer, the source/drain regions overlapping ends of the semiconductor layer. The method also includes forming a second gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer and the source/drain regions. The method also includes and forming a second gate electrode over the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Yan Chung, Chao-Ching Cheng, Chao-Hsin Chien
  • Publication number: 20230170406
    Abstract: A process is provided to fabricate a finFET device having a semiconductor layer of a two-dimensional “2D” semiconductor material. The semiconductor layer of the 2D semiconductor material is a thin film layer formed over a dielectric fin-shaped structure. The 2D semiconductor layer extends over at least three surfaces of the dielectric fin structure, e.g., the upper surface and two sidewall surfaces. A vertical protrusion metal structure, referred to as “metal fin structure”, is formed about an edge of the dielectric fin structure and is used as a seed to grow the 2D semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Chao-Ching CHENG, Hung-Li CHIANG, Chun-Chieh LU, Ming-Yang LI, Tzu- Chiang CHEN