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).

  • Patent number: 11417729
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first low-dimensional layer over an isolation layer, forming a first insulator over the first low-dimensional layer, forming a second low-dimensional layer over the first insulator, forming a second insulator over the second low-dimensional layer, and patterning the first low-dimensional layer, the first insulator, the second low-dimensional layer, and the second insulator into a protruding fin. Remaining portions of the first low-dimensional layer, the first insulator, the second low-dimensional layer, and the second insulator form a first low-dimensional strip, a first insulator strip, a second low-dimensional strip, and a second insulator strip, respectively. A transistor is then formed based on the protruding fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Ang Chao, Chun-Chieh Lu, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Lain-Jong Li
  • Publication number: 20220231153
    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 etch stop 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: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Lu, Tzu Ang Chao, Chao-Ching Cheng, Lain-Jong Li
  • Publication number: 20220231030
    Abstract: A memory array and a structure of the memory array are provided. The memory array includes flash transistors, word lines and bit lines. The flash transistors are arranged in columns and rows. The flash transistors in each column are in serial connection with one another. The word lines are respectively coupled to gate terminals of a row of the flash transistors. The bit lines are respectively coupled to opposite ends of a column of the flash transistors. Band-to-band tunneling current at a selected flash transistor is utilized as read current during a read operation. The BTB tunneling current flows from one of the source/drain terminals of the selected flash transistor to the substrate, rather than flowing from one of the source/drain terminals to the other. As a result, charges stored in multiple programming sites of each flash transistor can be respectively sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Jer-Fu Wang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Chih-Chieh Yeh
  • Patent number: 11393925
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first nanostructure over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack over the substrate and surrounding the first nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain structure and a second source/drain structure over the substrate. The gate stack is between the first source/drain structure and the second source/drain structure. The semiconductor device structure includes an inner spacer layer covering a sidewall of the first source/drain structure and partially between the gate stack and the first source/drain structure. The first nanostructure passes through the inner spacer layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric structure over the gate stack and extending into the inner spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Yu-Chao Lin, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Tung-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11380803
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation layer formed over a substrate, and a plurality of nanostructures formed over the isolation layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate structure wrapped around the nanostructures, and an S/D structure wrapped around the nanostructures. The semiconductor device structure includes a first oxide layer between the substrate and the S/D structure. The first oxide layer and the isolation layer are made of different materials. The first oxide layer is in direct contact with the isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hou-Yu Chen, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Yu-Lin Yang, I-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11380369
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes logic circuitry including a transistor disposed over a substrate, multiple layers each including metal wiring layers and an interlayer dielectric layer, respectively, disposed over the logic circuitry, and memory arrays. The multiple layers of metal wiring include, in order closer to the substrate, first, second, third and fourth layers, and the memory arrays include lower multiple layers disposed in the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Yu-Sheng Chen, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 11349069
    Abstract: An array of rail structures is formed over a substrate. Each rail structure includes at least one bit line. Dielectric isolation structures straddling the array of rail structures are formed. Line trenches are provided between neighboring pairs of the dielectric isolation structures. A layer stack of a resistive memory material layer and a selector material layer is formed within each of the line trenches. A word line is formed on each of the layer stacks within unfilled volumes of the line trenches. The word lines or at least a subset of the bit lines includes a carbon-based conductive material containing hybridized carbon atoms in a hexagonal arrangement to provide a low resistivity conductive structure. An array of resistive memory elements is formed over the substrate. A plurality of arrays of resistive memory elements may be formed at different levels over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Lain-Jong Li
  • Publication number: 20220165871
    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: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Yun-Yan Chung, Chao-Ching Cheng, Chao-Hsin Chien
  • Publication number: 20220157938
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and nanostructures formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate structure surrounding the nanostructures and a source/drain structure attached to the nanostructures. The semiconductor structure further includes a contact formed over the source/drain structure and extending into the source/drain structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon-Jhy LIAW, Chao-Ching CHENG, Hung-Li CHIANG, Shih-Syuan HUANG, Tzu-Chiang CHEN, I-Sheng CHEN, Sai-Hooi YEONG
  • Patent number: 11335604
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure having a lower fin structure and an upper fin structure disposed over the lower fin structure is formed. The upper fin structure includes first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternately stacked. The first semiconductor layers are partially etched to reduce widths of the first semiconductor layers. An oxide layer is formed over the upper fin structure. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the upper fin structure with the oxide layer. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed over a source/drain region of the fin structure. The sacrificial gate structure is removed to form a gate space. The oxide layer is removed to expose the second semiconductor layers in the gate space. A gate structure is formed around the second semiconductor layers in the gate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, I-Sheng Chen, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Kai-Tai Chang
  • Publication number: 20220149193
    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: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Lu, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Ang Chao, Lain-Jong Li
  • Publication number: 20220140098
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first sacrificial layer over a substrate, and forming a sandwich structure over the first sacrificial layer. The sandwich structure includes a first isolation layer, a two-dimensional material over the first isolation layer, and a second isolation layer over the two-dimensional material. The method further includes forming a second sacrificial layer over the sandwich structure, forming a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region on opposing ends of, and contacting sidewalls of, the two-dimensional material, removing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer to generate spaces, and forming a gate stack filling the spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, Yi-Tse Hung, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Lain-Jong Li, Jin Cai
  • Publication number: 20220131011
    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: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, Chun-Chieh Lu, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20220085162
    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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching CHENG, I-Sheng CHEN, Tzu-Chiang CHEN, Shih-Syuan HUANG, Hung-Li CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20220076741
    Abstract: A memory device that includes at least one memory cell is introduced. Each of the at least one memory cell is coupled to a bit line and a word line. Each of the at least one memory cell includes a memory element and a selector element, in which the memory element is configured to store data of the at least one memory cell. The selector element is coupled to the memory element in series and is configured to select the memory element for a read operation and amplify the data stored in the memory element in the read operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Yu-Sheng Chen, Hon-Sum Philip Wong
  • Publication number: 20220059580
    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: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Chao-Ching Cheng, Jung-Piao Chiu, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Yu-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11245005
    Abstract: Methods for forming semiconductor structures are provided. The method includes alternately stacking first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate and patterning the first semiconductor layers and the second semiconductor layers to form a first fin structure. The method further includes forming a first trench in the first fin structure and forming a first source/drain structure in the first trench. The method further includes partially removing the first source/drain structure to form a second trench in the first source/drain structure and forming a first contact in the second trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon-Jhy Liaw, Chao-Ching Cheng, Hung-Li Chiang, Shih-Syuan Huang, Tzu-Chiang Chen, I-Sheng Chen, Sai-Hooi Yeong
  • Patent number: 11244866
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a dielectric fin on a substrate; a low-dimensional layer on the dielectric fin, the low-dimensional layer including a source/drain region and a channel region; a source/drain contact on the source/drain region; and a gate structure on the channel region adjacent the source/drain contact, the gate structure having a first width at a top of the gate structure, a second width at a middle of the gate structure, and a third width at a bottom of the gate structure, the second width being less than each of the first width and the third width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Tse Hung, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tse-An Chen, Hung-Li Chiang, Lain-Jong Li, Tzu-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 11239354
    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: July 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Lu, Chao-Ching Cheng, Tzu-Ang Chao, Lain-Jong Li
  • Patent number: 11227955
    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: September 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ching Cheng, Chun-Chieh Lu, Hung-Li Chiang, Tzu-Chiang Chen