Patents by Inventor Che-Cheng Chang

Che-Cheng Chang 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: 10861954
    Abstract: A device may include: a high-k layer disposed on a substrate and over a channel region in the substrate. The high-k layer may include a high-k dielectric material having one or more impurities therein, and the one or more impurities may include at least one of C, Cl, or N. The one or more impurities may have a molecular concentration of less than about 50%. The device may further include a cap layer over the high-k layer over the channel region, the high-k layer separating the cap layer and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Yi-Ren Chen, Chang-Yin Chen, Yi-Jen Chen, Ming Zhu, Yung-Jung Chang, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang
  • Patent number: 10861977
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductive substrate, a stop layer over the semiconductive substrate, first and second semiconductive fins over the stop layer, a fin isolation structure between the first and second semiconductive fins, and a spacer at least partially extending along a sidewall of the fin isolation structure. A bottom of the fin isolation structure is lower than a top of the stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Publication number: 20200381532
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin projecting upwardly from a substrate; a gate stack engaging the fin; a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack and in contact with the gate stack; and a dielectric layer on the sidewall of the gate stack and in contact with the gate stack, the dielectric layer being vertically between the fin and the gate spacer, wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness small than the gate spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Jr-Jung Lin, Shih-Hao Chen, Chih-Han Lin, Mu-Tsang Lin, Yung Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 10854542
    Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a conductive feature in a top portion of the substrate; forming a buffer layer over the substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the buffer layer; performing a first etching process to form an opening in the dielectric layer, thereby exposing a top surface of the buffer layer; and performing a second etching process to extend the opening downwardly into the buffer layer, thereby exposing a top surface of the conductive feature, wherein the performing of the second etching process includes laterally enlarging a footing profile of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 10854505
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a mask layer over a dielectric layer, patterning the mask layer to form a trench, applying a patterned photo resist having a portion over the mask layer, and etching the dielectric layer using the patterned photo resist as an etching mask to form a via opening, which is in a top portion of the dielectric layer. The method further includes removing the patterned photo resist, and etching the dielectric layer to form a trench and a via opening underlying and connected to the trench. The dielectric layer is etched using the mask layer as an additional etching mask. A polymer formed in at least one of the trench and the via opening is removed using nitrogen and argon as a process gas. The trench and the via opening are filled to form a metal line and a via, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Hao Chen, Che-Cheng Chang, Wen-Tung Chen, Yu-Cheng Liu, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 10854504
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure having a semiconductor layer; a gate with a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) surrounding the sidewall spacer; and a nitrogen-containing protection layer, positioning at least on the top surface of the conductive portion of the gate. A top surface of the conductive portion and a top surface of the sidewall spacer are substantially coplanar. The nitrogen-containing protection layer is not covering the sidewall surface of the sidewall spacer. The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a metal gate structure having a conductive portion and a sidewall spacer surrounded by a first ILD; forming a protection layer over the metal gate structure, and the protection layer is formed to cover at least the conductive portion of the metal gate structure; and forming a second ILD over the metal gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chang-Yin Chen, Jr-Jung Lin, Chih-Han Lin, Yung Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 10854507
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a material layer over a substrate and forming a first trench in the material layer, forming a conformal capping layer along sidewalls of the first trench, forming a second trench in the material layer while the capping layer is disposed along sidewalls of the first trench and forming a conductive feature within the first trench and the second trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 10840144
    Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a fin structure over a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack covering a portion of the fin structure. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer, a work function layer, and a conductive filling over the work function layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a dielectric layer covering the fin structure. The dielectric layer is in direct contact with the conductive filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 10840379
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductive fin, a first gate stack, a second gate stack, an insulating structure, and a spacer. The semiconductive fin extends along a first direction. The first gate stack extends along a second direction and across the semiconductive fin. The first gate stack includes a high-? dielectric layer and a gate electrode. The high-? dielectric layer is over the semiconductive fin. The gate electrode is over the high-? dielectric layer. The second gate stack extends along the second direction and is substantially aligned with the first gate stack along the second direction. The insulating structure is between the first gate stack and the second gate stack. The high-? dielectric layer is spaced apart from the insulating structure. The spacer extends along a sidewall of the first gate stack and beyond a first sidewall of the insulating structure that faces the first gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 10840242
    Abstract: A method includes, in a first etching step, etching a semiconductor substrate to form first recesses in a first device region and second recesses in a second device regions simultaneously. A first semiconductor strip is formed between the first recesses. A second semiconductor strip is formed between the second recesses. In a second etching step, the semiconductor substrate in the second device region is etched to extend the second recesses. The first recesses and the second recesses are filled with a dielectric material to form first and second isolation regions in the first and second recesses, respectively. The first isolation regions and the second isolation regions are recessed. Portions of the semiconductor substrate in the first and the second device regions protrude higher than top surfaces of the respective first and second isolation regions to form a first and a second semiconductor fin, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 10840153
    Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having a first region and a second region, the first region including a first channel region, the second region including a second channel region; forming a gate stack layer over the first and second regions; patterning the gate stack layer, thereby forming a first gate stack over the first channel region and a second gate stack over the second channel region; and laterally etching bottom portions of the first and second gate stacks by applying different etchant concentrations to the first and second regions simultaneously, thereby forming notches at the bottom portions of the first and second gate stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Yin Chen, Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 10840378
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure and method for forming FinFET device structure are provided. The FinFET structure includes a substrate and an isolation structure formed on the substrate. The FinFET structure also includes a fin structure extending above the substrate, and the fin structure is embedded in the isolation structure. The FinFET structure further includes an epitaxial structure formed on the fin structure, the epitaxial structure has a pentagon-like shape, and an interface between the epitaxial structure and the fin structure is lower than a top surface of the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhe-Hao Zhang, Tung-Wen Cheng, Chang-Yin Chen, Che-Cheng Chang, Yung-Jung Chang
  • Patent number: 10830906
    Abstract: A method of adaptive weighting adjustment positioning has the following steps: performing an initialization procedure, determining whether a first feature point is detected; when the first feature point is detected, based on multiple positioning methods, multiple positioning information will be generated, and multiple weightings will be set, and then based on the weightings and the positioning information, calculating the positioning information output; by way of adaptive weighting adjustment among the multiple positioning methods, the multiple positioning methods can be integrated. In this way, even if one of the positioning methods is temporarily unavailable, the positioning information can still be calculated by weighting adjustment between the positioning information of the remaining two available methods, and that allows users to continue to obtain accurate positioning information to confirm the current location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH & TESTING CENTER
    Inventors: Wun-Sheng Yao, Che-Cheng Chang, Yi Yan
  • Patent number: 10825892
    Abstract: A method includes forming a capacitor, which includes depositing a bottom electrode layer, depositing a capacitor insulator layer over the bottom electrode layer, depositing a top electrode layer over the capacitor insulator layer, and depositing a dielectric layer over the top electrode layer. The dielectric layer is etched using a process gas until the top electrode layer is exposed. In the etching of the dielectric layer, the dielectric layer has a first etching rate, and the top electrode layer has a second etching rate, and a ratio of the first etching rate to the second etching rate is higher than about 5.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Hao Chen, Che-Cheng Chang, Wen-Tung Chen, Yu-Cheng Liu, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Publication number: 20200343355
    Abstract: A Fin FET semiconductor device includes a fin structure extending in a first direction and extending from an isolation insulating layer. The Fin FET device also includes a gate stack including a gate electrode layer, a gate dielectric layer, side wall insulating layers disposed at both sides of the gate electrode layer, and interlayer dielectric layers disposed at both sides of the side wall insulating layers. The gate stack is disposed over the isolation insulating layer, covers a portion of the fin structure, and extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A recess is formed in an upper surface of the isolation insulating layer not covered by the side wall insulating layers and the interlayer dielectric layers. At least part of the gate electrode layer and the gate dielectric layer fill the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Che-Cheng CHANG, Chih-Han LIN
  • Patent number: 10818794
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of fabricating the semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate; a metal gate structure on the substrate; and a spacer next to the metal gate structure having a skirting part extending into the metal gate structure and contacting the substrate. The metal gate structure includes a high-k dielectric layer and a metal gate electrode on the high-k dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Tung-Wen Cheng, Chang-Yin Chen, Mu-Tsang Lin
  • Publication number: 20200335499
    Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, at least one gate structure, spacers and source and drain regions is described. The substrate has a plurality of fins and a plurality of insulators disposed between the fins. The source and drain regions are disposed on two opposite sides of the at least one gate structure. The gate structure is disposed over the plurality of fins and disposed on the plurality of insulators. The gate structure includes a stacked strip disposed on the substrate and a gate electrode stack disposed on the stacked strip. The spacers are disposed on opposite sidewalls of the gate structure, and the gate electrode stack contacts sidewalls of the opposite spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 10811538
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate. The gate stack has a work function layer and a gate dielectric layer, and tops of the work function layer and the gate dielectric layer are at different height levels. The semiconductor device also includes a protection element over the gate stack. The semiconductor device further includes a spacer extending along a side surface of the protection element and a sidewall of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 10811516
    Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a source/drain structure adjacent to the gate electrode. The semiconductor device structure further includes a spacer element over a sidewall of the gate electrode, and the spacer element has an upper portion having a first exterior surface and a lower portion having a second exterior surface. Lateral distances between the first exterior surface and the sidewall of the gate electrode are substantially the same. Lateral distances between the second exterior surface and the sidewall of the gate electrode increase along a direction from a top of the lower portion towards the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo-Feng Young, Che-Cheng Chang, Mu-Tsang Lin, Tung-Wen Cheng, Zhe-Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 10811412
    Abstract: A FinFET including a gate stack, a semiconductor fin embedded in the gate stack, a source and a drain disposed is provided. The semiconductor fin extends along a widthwise direction of the gate stack and has a first concave and a second concave exposed at sidewalls of the gate stack respectively. The source and drain are disposed at two opposite sides of the gate stack. The source includes a first portion in contact with and embedded in the first concave. The drain includes a second portion in contact with and embedded in the second concave. The first portion and the second portion are covered by the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin, Horng-Huei Tseng