Patents by Inventor Che-Lun Chang

Che-Lun 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).

  • Publication number: 20240297038
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method. In some embodiments, the method includes forming a first porogen over a dielectric film; depositing a first dielectric monolayer over the first porogen and in contact with the dielectric film; removing the first porogen. In some embodiments, the method includes forming a first porogen over a substrate; forming a first dielectric film over the first porogen; after forming the first dielectric film, performing an UV treatment on the first porogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Chen HO, You-Hua CHOU, Yen-Hao LIAO, Che-Lun CHANG, Zhen-Cheng WU
  • Publication number: 20240266396
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, and a plurality of first nanostructures stacked in a vertical direction in the first region. The semiconductor device structure includes a plurality of second nanostructures stacked in the vertical direction in the second region, and a silicon germanium (SiGe) layer formed below the first nanostructures in the first region. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first gate structure surrounding the first nanostructures in the first region, and a second gate structure surrounding the second nanostructures in the second region. The bottommost surface of the second gate structure is lower than the bottommost surface of the first gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Ting PAN, Che-Lun CHANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 12040407
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including backside vias with enlarged backside portions and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a device includes a first transistor structure in a first device layer; a front-side interconnect structure on a front-side of the first device layer; a first dielectric layer on a backside of the first device layer; a first contact extending through the first dielectric layer to a source/drain region of the first transistor structure; and a backside interconnect structure on a backside of the first dielectric layer and the first contact, the first contact including a first portion having first tapered sidewalls and a second portion having second tapered sidewalls, widths of the first tapered sidewalls narrowing in a direction towards the backside interconnect structure, and widths of the second tapered sidewalls widening in a direction towards the backside interconnect structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin, Yuan-Ching Peng
  • Patent number: 12014919
    Abstract: A structure includes a first dielectric film and a second dielectric film. The second dielectric film is formed on and in contact with the first dielectric film, in which a first pore is formed between the first dielectric film and the second dielectric film, and a thickness of the first dielectric film is smaller than a diameter of the first pore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Chen Ho, You-Hua Chou, Yen-Hao Liao, Che-Lun Chang, Zhen-Cheng Wu
  • Publication number: 20240186180
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a gate structure, a source epitaxial structure, a drain epitaxial structure, a front-side interconnection structure, a backside dielectric layer, and a backside via. The source epitaxial structure and the drain epitaxial structure are respectively on opposite sides of the gate structure. The front-side interconnection structure is on a front-side of the source epitaxial structure and a front-side of the drain epitaxial structure. The backside dielectric layer is on a backside of the source epitaxial structure and a backside of the drain epitaxial structure and has an air gap therein. The backside via extends through the backside dielectric layer to a first one of the source epitaxial structure and the drain epitaxial structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin, Yuan-Ching Peng
  • Publication number: 20240113214
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first channel member suspended over a substrate and a second channel member suspended over the first channel member and spaced apart from the first channel member along a first direction. The semiconductor structure also includes a gate structure wrapping around the first channel member and the second channel member and a dielectric structure encircled by the first channel member, the second channel member, the gate structure, and the source/drain structure. In addition, the dielectric structure includes a porous material or an air gap. The semiconductor structure also includes a first epitaxial layer attached to the first channel member, and the first epitaxial layer has a first extending portion protruding from a bottom surface of the first channel member along the first direction and extending into the dielectric structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Kuan-Ting Pan, Wei-Yang Lee
  • Publication number: 20240113203
    Abstract: A method includes providing a fin extending from a substrate, the fin including a plurality of semiconductor channel layers, and where a gate is disposed over the fin. A first spacer layer is deposited over the gate and over the fin in a source/drain region. The first spacer layer has a first etch rate. A second spacer layer is deposited over the first spacer layer. The second spacer layer has a second etch rate less than the first etch rate. The plurality of semiconductor channel layers are removed from the source/drain region to form a trench having a funnel shape. After forming the trench, inner spacers are formed along a sidewall surface of the trench. In various embodiments, lateral sidewall surfaces of each semiconductor channel layer of the plurality of semiconductor channel layers is substantially free of an inner spacer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Che-Lun CHANG, Wei-Yang LEE, Chia-Pin LIN
  • Publication number: 20240105806
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. In an embodiment, an exemplary semiconductor structure includes a vertical stack of channel members disposed over a substrate, a gate structure wrapping around each channel member of the vertical stack of channel members, a source/drain feature coupled to the vertical stack of channel members and adjacent the gate structure; and a dielectric feature disposed between the source/drain feature and the substrate, in a cross-sectional view, the dielectric feature includes a V-shape sidewall surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Kuan-Ting Pan, Wei-Yang Lee
  • Publication number: 20240105814
    Abstract: A first layer is formed over a substrate; a second layer is formed over the first layer; and a third layer is formed over the second layer. The first and third layers each have a first semiconductor element; the second layer has a second semiconductor element different from the first semiconductor element. The second layer has the second semiconductor element at a first concentration in a first region and at a second concentration in a second region of the second layer. A source/drain trench is formed in a region of the stack to expose side surfaces of the layers. A first portion of the second layer is removed from the exposed side surface to form a gap between the first and the third layers. A spacer is formed in the gap. A source/drain feature is formed in the source/drain trench and on a sidewall of the spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Jiun-Ming Kuo, Ji-Yin Tsai, Yuan-Ching Peng
  • Patent number: 11935781
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a gate structure, a source epitaxial structure, a drain epitaxial structure, a front-side interconnection structure, a backside dielectric layer, and a backside via. The source epitaxial structure and the drain epitaxial structure are respectively on opposite sides of the gate structure. The front-side interconnection structure is on a front-side of the source epitaxial structure and a front-side of the drain epitaxial structure. The backside dielectric layer is on a backside of the source epitaxial structure and a backside of the drain epitaxial structure and has an air gap therein. The backside via extends through the backside dielectric layer to a first one of the source epitaxial structure and the drain epitaxial structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin, Yuan-Ching Peng
  • Publication number: 20240047546
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a gate structure, source/drain epitaxial structures, a front-side interconnection structure, a backside dielectric layer, and a backside via. The source/drain epitaxial structures are respectively on opposite sides of the gate structure. The front-side interconnection structure is on front-sides of the source/drain epitaxial structures. The backside dielectric layer is on backsides of the source/drain epitaxial structures. The backside via extends through the backside dielectric layer to one of the source/drain epitaxial structures, and has a maximal lateral dimension larger than a lateral dimension of the source/drain epitaxial structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Lun CHANG, Wei-Yang LEE, Chia-Pin LIN
  • Patent number: 11862709
    Abstract: A first layer is formed over a substrate; a second layer is formed over the first layer; and a third layer is formed over the second layer. The first and third layers each have a first semiconductor element; the second layer has a second semiconductor element different from the first semiconductor element. The second layer has the second semiconductor element at a first concentration in a first region and at a second concentration in a second region of the second layer. A source/drain trench is formed in a region of the stack to expose side surfaces of the layers. A first portion of the second layer is removed from the exposed side surface to form a gap between the first and the third layers. A spacer is formed in the gap. A source/drain feature is formed in the source/drain trench and on a sidewall of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Jiun-Ming Kuo, Ji-Yin Tsai, Yuan-Ching Peng
  • Patent number: 11854819
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of forming semiconductor devices. A method according to the present disclosure includes receiving a workpiece that includes a stack of semiconductor layers, depositing a first pad oxide layer on a germanium-containing top layer of the stack, depositing a second pad oxide layer on the first pad oxide layer, depositing a pad nitride layer on the second pad oxide layer, and patterning the stack using the first pad oxide layer, the second pad oxide layer, and the pad nitride layer as a hard mask layer. The depositing of the first pad oxide layer includes a first oxygen plasma power and the depositing of the second pad oxide layer includes a second oxygen plasma power greater than the first oxygen plasma power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Fu, Hung-Ju Chou, Che-Lun Chang, Jiun-Ming Kuo, Yuan-Ching Peng, Sung-En Lin, Nung-Che Cheng, Chunyao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230411481
    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 over a substrate, a sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure, a source/drain region of the fin structure is etched thereby forming a source/drain space, ends of the first semiconductor layers is laterally etched, an insulating layer is formed on a sidewall of the source/drain space, the insulating layer is partially etched, thereby forming one or more inner spacers on an etched end face of each of one or more first semiconductor layers and leaving a part of the insulating layer as a remaining insulating layer, and a source/drain epitaxial layer is formed in the source/drain space. After the source/drain epitaxial layer is formed, an end face of at least one of the second semiconductor layers is covered by the remaining insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Che-Lun CHANG, Kuan-Ting PAN, Wei-Yang LEE, Chia-Pin LIN
  • Publication number: 20230361176
    Abstract: Multi-gate transistor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes forming a fin-shaped structure over a substrate and including channel layers interleaved by sacrificial layers, recessing the fin-shaped structure to form a source/drain recess, recessing the sidewalls of the sacrificial layers to form inner spacer recesses, depositing a dielectric layer over the substrate and the inner spacer recesses, depositing a polymer layer over the dielectric layer, etching back the polymer layer and the dielectric layer to form inner spacer features in the inner spacer recesses and an inner spacer layer over the portion of the substrate, and epitaxially depositing more than one epitaxial layer from the sidewalls of the plurality of channel layers to form a source/drain feature in the source/drain recess. The source/drain feature and the inner spacer layer define a gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11616133
    Abstract: A method includes forming a doped region on a top portion of a substrate, forming a first epitaxial layer over the substrate, forming a recess in the first epitaxial layer, the recess being aligned to the doped region, performing a surface clean treatment in the recess, the surface clean treatment includes: oxidizing surfaces of the recess to form an oxide layer in the recess, and removing the oxide layer from the surfaces of the recess, and forming a second epitaxial layer in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Shiao-Shin Cheng, Ji-Yin Tsai, Yu-Lin Tsai, Hsin-Chieh Huang, Ming-Yuan Wu, Jiun-Ming Kuo, Ming-Jie Huang, Yu-Wen Wang, Che-Yuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20220375756
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of forming semiconductor devices. A method according to the present disclosure includes receiving a workpiece that includes a stack of semiconductor layers, depositing a first pad oxide layer on a germanium-containing top layer of the stack, depositing a second pad oxide layer on the first pad oxide layer, depositing a pad nitride layer on the second pad oxide layer, and patterning the stack using the first pad oxide layer, the second pad oxide layer, and the pad nitride layer as a hard mask layer. The depositing of the first pad oxide layer includes a first oxygen plasma power and the depositing of the second pad oxide layer includes a second oxygen plasma power greater than the first oxygen plasma power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Fu, Hung-Ju Chou, Che-Lun Chang, Jiun-Ming Kuo, Yuan-Ching Peng, Sung-En Lin, Nung-Che Cheng, Chunyao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220367243
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a gate structure, a source epitaxial structure, a drain epitaxial structure, a front-side interconnection structure, a backside dielectric layer, and a backside via. The source epitaxial structure and the drain epitaxial structure are respectively on opposite sides of the gate structure. The front-side interconnection structure is on a front-side of the source epitaxial structure and a front-side of the drain epitaxial structure. The backside dielectric layer is on a backside of the source epitaxial structure and a backside of the drain epitaxial structure and has an air gap therein. The backside via extends through the backside dielectric layer to a first one of the source epitaxial structure and the drain epitaxial structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin, Yuan-Ching Peng
  • Publication number: 20220367200
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first epitaxial layer over a substrate to form a wafer, depositing a dielectric layer over the first epitaxial layer, patterning the dielectric layer to form an opening, etching the first epitaxial layer through the opening to form a recess, forming a second epitaxial layer in the recess, etching the dielectric layer to expose a top surface of the first epitaxial layer, and planarizing the exposed top surface of the first epitaxial layer and a top surface of the second epitaxial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Pin-Chuan Su, Hsin-Chieh Huang, Ming-Yuan Wu, Tzu kai Lin, Yu-Wen Wang, Che-Yuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20220367727
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including backside vias with enlarged backside portions and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a device includes a first transistor structure in a first device layer; a front-side interconnect structure on a front-side of the first device layer; a first dielectric layer on a backside of the first device layer; a first contact extending through the first dielectric layer to a source/drain region of the first transistor structure; and a backside interconnect structure on a backside of the first dielectric layer and the first contact, the first contact including a first portion having first tapered sidewalls and a second portion having second tapered sidewalls, widths of the first tapered sidewalls narrowing in a direction towards the backside interconnect structure, and widths of the second tapered sidewalls widening in a direction towards the backside interconnect structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chang, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin, Yuan-Ching Peng