Patents by Inventor Cheng-Chi Chuang

Cheng-Chi Chuang 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: 11682707
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a metal gate structure having sidewall spacers disposed on sidewalls of the metal gate structure. In some embodiments, a top surface of the metal gate structure is recessed with respect to a top surface of the sidewall spacers. The semiconductor device may further include a metal cap layer disposed over and in contact with the metal gate structure, where a first width of a bottom portion of the metal cap layer is greater than a second width of a top portion of the metal cap layer. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device may further include a dielectric material disposed on either side of the metal cap layer, where the sidewall spacers and a portion of the metal gate structure are disposed beneath the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Li-Zhen Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11670581
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) feature formed in an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD), a S/D contact via electrically connected to the S/D feature, a metal feature formed over the S/D contact via, and a metal line formed over the metal feature and electrically connected to the S/D contact via. The metal line is formed of a material different from that of the S/D contact via, and the S/D contact via is spaced apart from the metal line. By providing the metal feature, electromigration between the metal line and the contact via may be advantageously reduced or substantially eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Li-Zhen Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11670691
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate, a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate structure, a source/drain (S/D) region adjacent to the gate spacer, a silicide on the S/D region, a dielectric liner over a sidewall of the gate spacer, wherein a bottom surface of the dielectric liner is spaced away from the silicide by a gap, and an S/D contact over the silicide and at least partially filling the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Li-Zhen Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11664280
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure has a frontside and a backside. The semiconductor structure includes an isolation structure at the backside; one or more transistors at the frontside, wherein the one or more transistors have source/drain electrodes; two metal plugs through the isolation structure and contacting two of the source/drain electrodes from the backside, wherein the two metal plugs and the isolation structure form sidewalls of a trench; and a dielectric liner on the sidewalls of the trench, wherein the dielectric liner partially or fully surrounds an air gap within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Yuan Chen, Huan-Chieh Su, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11664278
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor fin disposed over a substrate; a metal gate structure disposed over a channel region of the semiconductor fin; a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed over a source/drain (S/D) region next to the channel region of the semiconductor fin; and a first conductive feature including a first conductive portion disposed on the metal gate structure and a second conductive portion disposed on the first ILD layer, wherein a top surface of the first conductive portion is below a top surface of the second conductive portion, a first sidewall of the first conductive portion connects a lower portion of a first sidewall of the second conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chi Chuang, Li-Zhen Yu, Yi-Hsun Chiu, Yu-Ming Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11658220
    Abstract: A semiconductor transistor device includes a channel structure, a gate structure, a first source/drain epitaxial structure, a second source/drain epitaxial structure, a gate contact, and a back-side source/drain contact. The gate structure wraps around the channel structure. The first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure are disposed on opposite endings of the channel structure. The gate contact is disposed on the gate structure. The back-side source/drain contact is disposed under the first source/drain epitaxial structure. The second source/drain epitaxial structure has a concave bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Patent number: 11658226
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor structure according to one embodiment includes first nanostructures, a first gate structure wrapping around each of the first nanostructures and disposed over an isolation structure, and a backside gate contact disposed below the first nanostructures and adjacent to the isolation structure. A bottom surface of the first gate structure is in direct contact with the backside gate contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Chun-Yuan Chen, Li-Zhen Yu, Lin-Yu Huang, Lo-Heng Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230154921
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with air spacers and air caps and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a fin structure disposed on the substrate. The fin structure includes a first fin portion and a second fin portion. The semiconductor device further includes a source/drain (S/D) region disposed on the first fin portion, a contact structure disposed on the S/D region, a gate structure disposed on the second fin portion, an air spacer disposed between a sidewall of the gate structure and the contact structure, a cap seal disposed on the gate structure, and an air cap disposed between a top surface of the gate structure and the cap seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Publication number: 20230137307
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first nanosheet transistor and a second nanosheet transistor on a substrate. The integrated circuit includes a backside trench through the substrate that removes a lowest semiconductor nanosheet of the first nanosheet transistor while leaving the lowest semiconductor nanosheet of the second nanosheet transistor. The backside trench is filled with a dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Chun-Yuan CHEN, Li-Zhen YU, Huan-Chieh SU, Cheng-Chi CHUANG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Publication number: 20230138012
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate and a transistor on the substrate. The transistor includes a channel region that has at least one semiconductor nanostructure, and a gate electrode. A source/drain region is disposed adjacent to a first side of the channel region along a first direction. A hybrid fin structure is disposed adjacent to a second side of the channel region along a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. The hybrid fin structure includes a first hybrid fin dielectric layer and a second hybrid fin dielectric layer. The first and second hybrid fin dielectric layers include silicon, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen and have a different concentration of at least one of silicon oxygen, carbon, or nitrogen from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Chun-Yuan CHEN, Huan-Chieh SU, Li-Zhen YU, Cheng-Chi CHUANG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 11640941
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide semiconductor device structures. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device structure includes a gate dielectric layer, a gate electrode layer in contact with the gate dielectric layer, a first self-aligned contact (SAC) layer disposed over the gate electrode layer, an isolation layer disposed between the gate electrode layer and the first SAC layer, and a first sidewall spacer in contact with the gate dielectric layer, the isolation layer, and the first SAC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Tsung Wang, Lin-Yu Huang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11637064
    Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit a having an advanced two-dimensional (2D) metal connection with metal cut and methods of fabricating the same are provided. An example method for fabricating a conductive interconnection layer of an integrated circuit may include: patterning a conductive connector portion on the conductive interconnection layer of the integrated circuit using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, wherein the conductive connector portion is patterned to extend across multiple semiconductor structures in a different layer of the integrated circuit; and cutting the conductive connector portion into a plurality of conductive connector sections, wherein the conductive connector portion is cut by removing conductive material from the metal connector portion at one or more locations between the semiconductor structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chih-Liang Chen, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Ming Lai, Chia-Tien Wu, Charles Chew-Yuen Young, Hui-Ting Yang, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Kam-Tou Sio, Ru-Gun Liu, Shun Li Chen, Shih-Wei Peng, Tien-Lu Lin
  • Patent number: 11637066
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a strip structure having a front side and a back side. A gate structure is on the front side of the strip structure. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of channel layers above the front side of the strip structure, wherein each of the plurality of channel layers is enclosed within the gate structure. An isolation structure surrounds the strip structure. The integrated circuit includes a backside via in the isolation structure. An epitaxy structure is on the front side of the strip structure. The integrated circuit includes a contact over the epitaxy structure. The contact has a first portion on a first side of the epitaxy structure. The first portion of the contact extends into the isolation structure and contacts the backside via. The integrated circuit includes a backside power rail on the back side of the strip structure and contacting the backside via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Peng, Wei-Cheng Lin, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20230123733
    Abstract: A device includes a device layer including a first transistor, a first interconnect structure on a front-side of the device layer, and a second interconnect structure on a backside of the device layer. The second interconnect structure includes a first dielectric material on the backside of the device layer, a contact extending through the first dielectric material to a first source/drain region of the first transistor, and a first conductive layer including a first conductive line electrically connected to the first source/drain region through the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Li-Zhen Yu, Lin-Yu Huang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Huan-Chieh Su
  • Publication number: 20230120499
    Abstract: A device includes a device layer comprising a first transistor and a second transistor; a first interconnect structure on a front-side of the device layer; and a second interconnect structure on a backside of the device layer. The second interconnect structure comprising a first dielectric layer on the backside of the device layer, wherein a semiconductor material is disposed between the first dielectric layer and a first source/drain region of the first transistor; a contact extending through the first dielectric layer to a second source/drain region of the second transistor; and a first conductive line electrically connected to the second source/drain region of the second transistor through the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Li-Zhen Yu, Huan-Chieh Su, Lin-Yu Huang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230121408
    Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor over a substrate; forming a front-side interconnection structure over the transistor; after forming the front-side interconnection structure, removing the substrate; after removing the substrate, forming a backside via to be electrically connected to the transistor; depositing a dielectric layer to cover the backside via; forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose the backside via; forming a spacer structure on a sidewall of the opening; after forming a spacer structure, forming a conductive feature in the opening to be electrically connected to the backside via; and after forming the conductive feature, forming an air gap in the spacer structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Zhen Yu, Huan-Chieh Su, Lin-Yu Huang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11631638
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes first and second source/drain (S/D) features, one or more channel layers connecting the first and the second S/D features, a high-k metal gate engaging the one or more channel layers, an isolation structure, a power rail under the isolation structure, and a via structure extending through the isolation structure and electrically connecting the first S/D feature and the power rail. At least a portion of the isolation structure is under the first and the second S/D features. In a cross-section that extends through the first S/D feature and perpendicular to a direction from the first S/D feature to the second S/D feature along the one or more channel layers, the via structure extends into a gap vertically between the first S/D feature and the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Yuan Chen, Huan-Chieh Su, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230106478
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor transistor device. The method comprises forming a channel structure over a substrate and forming a first source/drain structure and a second source/drain structure on opposite sides of the fin structure. The method further comprises forming a gate structure surrounding the fin structure. The method further comprises flipping and partially removing the substrate to form a back-side capping trench while leaving a lower portion of the substrate along upper sidewalls of the first source/drain structure and the second source/drain structure as a protective spacer. The method further comprises forming a back-side dielectric cap in the back-side capping trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Li-Zhen Yu
  • Patent number: 11621197
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a workpiece that has a substrate, a first plurality of channel members, a second plurality of channel members, a first gate structure engaging the first plurality of channel members, a second gate structure engaging the second plurality of channel members, a hybrid fin disposed between the first and second gate structures, and an isolation feature disposed under the hybrid fin. The method also includes forming a metal cap layer at a frontside of the workpiece. The metal cap layer electrically connects the first and second gate structures. The method also includes etching the isolation feature, etching the hybrid fin, etching the metal cap layer, and depositing a dielectric material to form a gate isolation feature disposed between the first and second gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Li-Zhen Yu, Chun-Yuan Chen, Lo-Heng Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11621224
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a metal gate structure (MG) disposed over a semiconductor substrate, gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the MG, and a gate contact disposed on the MG. The semiconductor structure further includes an etch-stop layer (ESL) disposed on the gate spacers, and a source/drain (S/D) contact disposed adjacent to the gate spacers, where a top portion of the S/D contact defined by the ESL is narrower than a bottom portion of the S/D contact defined by the gate spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Zhen Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chih-Hao Wang