Patents by Inventor Cheng-Lung Hung

Cheng-Lung Hung 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: 11444198
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with different gate structure configurations and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a fin structure disposed on a substrate, a nanostructured channel region disposed on the fin structure, and a gate-all-around (GAA) structure surrounding the nanostructured channel region. The GAA structure includes a high-K (HK) gate dielectric layer with a metal doped region having dopants of a first metallic material, a p-type work function metal (pWFM) layer disposed on the HK gate dielectric layer, a bimetallic nitride layer interposed between the HK gate dielectric layer and the pWFM layer, an n-type work function metal (nWFM) layer disposed on the pWFM layer, and a gate metal fill layer disposed on the nWFM layer. The pWFM layer includes a second metallic material and the bimetallic nitride layer includes the first and second metallic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Ji-Cheng Chen, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11443979
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, a first transistor disposed on the substrate, and a second transistor disposed on the substrate. The first transistor includes a first gate structure. The first gate structure of the first transistor may include a first high-k layer, a first work function layer, an overlying work function layer, and a first capping layer sequentially disposed on the substrate. The second transistor includes a second gate structure. The second gate structure comprises a second gate structure, the second gate structure comprising a second high-k layer, a second work function layer, and a second capping layer sequentially disposed on the substrate. The first capping layer and the second capping layer comprise a material having higher resistant to oxygen or fluorine than materials of the second work function layer and the overlying work function layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Da-Yuan Lee
  • Publication number: 20220285159
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes forming a plurality of nanostructures over a substrate; etching the plurality of nanostructures to form first recesses; forming source/drain regions in the first recesses; removing first nanostructures of the plurality of nanostructures leaving second nanostructures of the plurality of nanostructures; depositing a gate dielectric over and around the second nanostructures; performing an aluminum treatment on the gate dielectric; depositing a first conductive material over and around the gate dielectric; performing a fluorine treatment on the first conductive material; and depositing a second conductive material over and around the first conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11437474
    Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. The gate electrode includes a first work function metal; a second work function metal over the first work function metal; and a first metal residue at an interface between the first work function metal and the second work function metal, wherein the first metal residue has a metal element that is different than a metal element of the first work function metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11437240
    Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the high-k gate dielectric having a first portion on a top surface of the first nanostructure and a second portion on a bottom surface of the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the high-k gate dielectric. The gate electrode comprises: a first work function metal around the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the first work function metal filling a region between the first portion of the high-k gate dielectric and the second portion of the high-k gate dielectric; and a tungsten layer over the first work function metal, the tungsten layer being free of fluorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20220278224
    Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack, forming a dielectric layer, with the dummy gate stack located in the dielectric layer, removing the dummy gate stack to form a opening in the dielectric layer, forming a metal layer extending into the opening, and etching back the metal layer. The remaining portions of the metal layer in the opening have edges lower than a top surface of the dielectric layer. A conductive layer is selectively deposited in the opening. The conductive layer is over the metal layer, and the metal layer and the conductive layer in combination form a replacement gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Peng-Soon Lim, Cheng-Lung Hung, Mao-Lin Huang, Weng Chang
  • Patent number: 11430698
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate dielectric on a semiconductor region, depositing a work-function layer over the gate dielectric, depositing a silicon layer over the work-function layer, and depositing a glue layer over the silicon layer. The work-function layer, the silicon layer, and the glue layer are in-situ deposited. The method further includes depositing a filling-metal over the glue layer; and performing a planarization process, wherein remaining portions of the glue layer, the silicon layer, and the work-function layer form portions of a gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Han Tsai, Chung-Chiang Wu, Cheng-Lung Hung, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11404554
    Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. A portion of the gate electrode between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure comprises: a first p-type work function metal; a barrier material over the first p-type work function metal; and a second p-type work function metal over the barrier material, the barrier material physically separating the first p-type work function metal from the second p-type work function metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11404312
    Abstract: A method includes forming an opening in a dielectric layer, depositing a seed layer in the opening, wherein first portions of the seed layer have a first concentration of impurities, exposing the first portions of the seed layer to a plasma, wherein after exposure to the plasma the first portions have a second concentration of impurities that is less than the first concentration of impurities, and filling the opening with a conductive material to form a conductive feature. In an embodiment, the seed layer includes tungsten, and the conductive material includes tungsten. In an embodiment, the impurities include boron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Chiang Wu, Hsueh Wen Tsau, Chia-Ching Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Ching-Hwanq Su
  • Publication number: 20220238681
    Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric disposed around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric being disposed around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first high-k gate dielectric and the second high-k gate dielectric. A portion of the gate electrode between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure comprises a first portion of a p-type work function metal filling an area between the first high-k gate dielectric and the second high-k gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Ji-Cheng Chen, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20220238686
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first channel region; a second channel region; and a gate structure around the first channel region and the second channel region, the gate structure including: a gate dielectric layer; a first p-type work function metal on the gate dielectric layer, the first p-type work function metal including fluorine and aluminum; a second p-type work function metal on the first p-type work function metal, the second p-type work function metal having a lower concentration of fluorine and a lower concentration of aluminum than the first p-type work function metal; and a fill layer on the second p-type work function metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20220238649
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a channel region; a gate dielectric layer on the channel region; a first work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric layer, the first work function tuning layer including a p-type work function metal; a barrier layer on the first work function tuning layer; a second work function tuning layer on the barrier layer, the second work function tuning layer including a n-type work function metal, the n-type work function metal different from the p-type work function metal; and a fill layer on the second work function tuning layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20220216323
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including forming a fin structure having a stack of alternating first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate, the first semiconductor layers and the second semiconductor layers having different compositions, forming a dummy gate structure across the fin structure, forming gate spacers on opposite sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, respectively, removing the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench between the gate spacers, etching the first semiconductor layers in the gate trench, such that the second semiconductor layers are suspended in the gate trench to serve as nanosheets, forming a work function metal layer surrounding each of the nanosheets, and depositing a fill metal layer over the work function metal layer without using a fluorine-containing precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi LEE, Cheng-Lung HUNG, Chi On CHUI
  • Publication number: 20220216201
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor fin in a substrate, forming a metal gate structure over the first semiconductor fin, removing a portion of the metal gate structure to form a first recess in the metal gate structure that is laterally separated from the first semiconductor fin by a first distance, wherein the first distance is determined according to a first desired threshold voltage associated with the first semiconductor fin, and filling the recess with a dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Chung-Chiang Wu, Shih-Hang Chiu, Chih-Chang Hung, I-Wei Yang, Shu-Yuan Ku, Cheng-Lung Hung, Da-Yuan Lee, Ching-Hwanq Su
  • Patent number: 11380774
    Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack, forming a dielectric layer, with the dummy gate stack located in the dielectric layer, removing the dummy gate stack to form a opening in the dielectric layer, forming a metal layer extending into the opening, and etching back the metal layer. The remaining portions of the metal layer in the opening have edges lower than a top surface of the dielectric layer. A conductive layer is selectively deposited in the opening. The conductive layer is over the metal layer, and the metal layer and the conductive layer in combination form a replacement gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng-Soon Lim, Cheng-Lung Hung, Mao-Lin Huang, Weng Chang
  • Patent number: 11362002
    Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate, and recessing the isolation regions. After the recessing, a portion of a semiconductor material between the isolation region protrudes higher than top surfaces of the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin. The method further includes forming a gate stack, which includes forming a gate dielectric on sidewalls and a top surface of the semiconductor fin, and depositing a titanium nitride layer over the gate dielectric as a work-function layer. The titanium nitride layer is deposited at a temperature in a range between about 300° C. and about 400° C. A source region and a drain region are formed on opposing sides of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Ji-Cheng Chen, Cheng-Lung Hung, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20220173222
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices are provided. In embodiments a passivation process is utilized in order to reduce dangling bonds and defects within work function layers within a gate stack. The passivation process introduces a passivating element which will react with the dangling bonds to passivate the dangling bonds. Additionally, in some embodiments the passivating elements will trap other elements and reduce or prevent them from diffusing into other portions of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Hsuan-Yu Tung, Chin-You Hsu, Cheng-Lung Hung
  • Patent number: 11302793
    Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric disposed around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric being disposed around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first high-k gate dielectric and the second high-k gate dielectric. A portion of the gate electrode between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure comprises a first portion of a p-type work function metal filling an area between the first high-k gate dielectric and the second high-k gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Ji-Cheng Chen, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11289480
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor fin in a substrate, forming a metal gate structure over the first semiconductor fin, removing a portion of the metal gate structure to form a first recess in the metal gate structure that is laterally separated from the first semiconductor fin by a first distance, wherein the first distance is determined according to a first desired threshold voltage associated with the first semiconductor fin, and filling the recess with a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Chiang Wu, Shih-Hang Chiu, Chih-Chang Hung, I-Wei Yang, Shu-Yuan Ku, Cheng-Lung Hung, Da-Yuan Lee, Ching-Hwanq Su
  • Publication number: 20220093468
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a fin structure having a stack of alternating first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate, the first semiconductor layers and the second semiconductor layers having different compositions, forming a dummy gate structure across the fin structure, forming gate spacers on opposite sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, respectively, removing the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench between the gate spacers, removing portions of the first semiconductor layers in the gate trench, such that the second semiconductor layers are suspended in the gate trench to serve as nanosheets, forming a first titanium nitride layer wrapping around the nanosheets, wherein an atomic ratio of titanium to nitrogen of the first titanium nitride layer is less than 1, and forming a metal fill layer over the first titanium nitride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi LEE, Kuan-Yu WANG, Cheng-Lung HUNG, Chi-On CHUI