Patents by Inventor CHERNG-SHIAW TSAI

CHERNG-SHIAW TSAI 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: 20240120272
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a semiconductor device structure. The method includes including forming one or more conductive features in a first interlayer dielectric (ILD), forming an etch stop layer on the first ILD, forming a second ILD over the etch stop layer, forming one or more openings through the second ILD and the etch stop layer to expose a top surface of the one or more first conductive features, wherein the one or more openings are formed by a first etch process in a first process chamber, exposing the one or more openings to a second etch process in a second process chamber so that the shape of the or more openings is elongated, and filling the one or more openings with a conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Wei-Hao LIAO, Hsi-Wen TIEN, Chih Wei LU, Yung-Hsu WU, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Chia-Wei SU
  • Publication number: 20240087980
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, and an interconnect structure extending through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer includes a low-k dielectric material which includes silicon carbonitride having a carbon content ranging from about 30 atomic % to about 45 atomic %. The semiconductor device further includes a thermal dissipation feature extending through the dielectric layer and disposed to be spaced apart from the interconnect structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Fang CHENG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Cheng-Chin LEE, Yen-Ju WU, Yen-Pin HSU, Li-Ling SU, Ming-Hsien LIN, Hsiao-Kang CHANG
  • Publication number: 20240088023
    Abstract: An interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, a hard mask layer, a conductive layer, and a capping layer. The first conductive feature is disposed in the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer is disposed on the first conductive feature. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the conductive layer is disposed over at least a first portion of the hard mask layer, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer and the conductive layer are formed by different materials. The capping layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and the conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan LEE, Kuang-Wei YANG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Cheng-Chin LEE, Ting-Ya LO, Chi-Lin TENG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Hsiao-Kang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Patent number: 11923357
    Abstract: An interfacial structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a first interfacial layer having a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the first dielectric layer, and a first thermal conductive layer disposed on the first dielectric layer. The structure further includes a second interfacial layer disposed on the first interfacial layer. The second interfacial layer is a mirror image of the first interfacial layer with respect to an interface between the first interfacial layer and the second interfacial layer. The second interfacial layer includes a second thermal conductive layer disposed on the first thermal conductive layer, a second dielectric layer disposed on the second thermal conductive layer, and a second conductive feature disposed in the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Fang Cheng, Kuang-Wei Yang, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai, Hsiaokang Chang
  • Publication number: 20240038665
    Abstract: An interconnection structure is provided to include an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer that is disposed over a substrate, a metal via that is disposed in the ILD layer, and a metal wire that is disposed over the metal via in the ILD layer and that is electrically connected to the metal via. The ILD layer includes silicon carbon nitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Fang CHENG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Cheng-Chin LEE, Yen-Ju WU, Hsiao-Kang CHANG
  • Patent number: 11854963
    Abstract: An interconnect structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature, a hard mask layer, a conductive layer, and a capping layer. The first conductive feature is disposed in the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer is disposed on the first conductive feature. The conductive layer includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the conductive layer is disposed over at least a first portion of the hard mask layer, and the second portion of the conductive layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer and the conductive layer are formed by different materials. The capping layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan Lee, Kuang-Wei Yang, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai, Cheng-Chin Lee, Ting-Ya Lo, Chi-Lin Teng, Hsin-Yen Huang, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Publication number: 20230378168
    Abstract: An interfacial structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a first interfacial layer having a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the first dielectric layer, and a first thermal conductive layer disposed on the first dielectric layer. The structure further includes a second interfacial layer disposed on the first interfacial layer. The second interfacial layer is a mirror image of the first interfacial layer with respect to an interface between the first interfacial layer and the second interfacial layer. The second interfacial layer includes a second thermal conductive layer disposed on the first thermal conductive layer, a second dielectric layer disposed on the second thermal conductive layer, and a second conductive feature disposed in the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Kai-Fang CHENG, Kuang-Wei YANG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Hsiaokang CHANG
  • Publication number: 20230298900
    Abstract: An example embodiment of the present disclosure involves a method for semiconductor device fabrication. The method comprises providing a structure that includes a conductive component and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) that includes silicon and surrounds the conductive component, and forming, over the conductive component and the ILD, an etch stop layer (ESL) that includes metal oxide. The ESL includes a first portion in contact with the conductive component and a second portion in contact with the ILD. The method further comprises baking the ESL to transform the metal oxide located in the second portion of the ESL into metal silicon oxide, and selectively etching the ESL so as to remove the first portion of the ESL but not the second portion of the ESL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Huang, Tzu-Hui Wei, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230290705
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a device region formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes an interconnect structure formed over the device region and a first passivation layer formed over the interconnect structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a metal pad formed over and extending into the first passivation layer and a second passivation layer formed over the first passivation layer. The second passivation layer includes a thermal conductive material, and the thermal conductivity of the thermal conductive material is higher than 4 W/mK.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Chin LEE, Shau-Lin SHUE, Shao-Kuan LEE, Hsiao-Kang CHANG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Kai-Fang CHENG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Ming-Hsien LIN, Chuan-Pu CHOU, Hsin-Ping CHEN, Chia-Tien WU, Kuang-Wei YANG
  • Publication number: 20230260867
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor structure including a device layer having a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A first heat dispersion layer is disposed along the back-side surface of the device layer. A second heat dispersion layer underlies the front-side surface of the device layer. The second heat dispersion layer has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the first heat dispersion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Yen Huang, Shao-Kuan Lee, Shau-Lin Shue, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230260831
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first feature and a second feature extending in a normal direction transverse to a substrate; directionally depositing a dielectric material upon the features at an inclined angle relative to the normal direction so as to form a cap layer including a top portion disposed on a top surface of each of the features, and two opposite wall portions extending downwardly from two opposite ends of the top portion to partially cover two opposite lateral surfaces of each of the features, respectively, the cap layer on the first feature being spaced apart from the cap layer on the second feature; forming a sacrificial feature in a recess between the features; forming a sustaining layer to cover the sacrificial feature; and removing the sacrificial feature to form an air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chin LEE, Ting-Ya LO, Chi-Lin TENG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Shao-Kuan LEE, Kuang-Wei YANG, Gary LIU, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Hsiao-Kang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Publication number: 20230253286
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes an electrical interconnect structure, a thermal interconnect structure, and a thermal passivation layer over a substrate. The electrical interconnect structure includes interconnect vias and interconnect wires embedded within interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure is arranged beside the electrical interconnect structure and includes thermal vias, thermal wires, and/or thermal layers. Further, the thermal interconnect structure is embedded within the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal passivation layer is arranged over a topmost one of the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure has a higher thermal conductivity than the interconnect dielectric layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan Lee, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai, Ting-Ya Lo, Cheng-Chin Lee, Chi-Lin Teng, Kai-Fang Cheng, Hsin-Yen Huang, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 11664237
    Abstract: An example embodiment of the present disclosure involves a method for semiconductor device fabrication. The method comprises providing a structure that includes a conductive component and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) that includes silicon and surrounds the conductive component, and forming, over the conductive component and the ILD, an etch stop layer (ESL) that includes metal oxide. The ESL includes a first portion in contact with the conductive component and a second portion in contact with the ILD. The method further comprises baking the ESL to transform the metal oxide located in the second portion of the ESL into metal silicon oxide, and selectively etching the ESL so as to remove the first portion of the ESL but not the second portion of the ESL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Huang, Tzu-Hui Wei, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai
  • Patent number: 11658092
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes an electrical interconnect structure, a thermal interconnect structure, and a thermal passivation layer over a substrate. The electrical interconnect structure includes interconnect vias and interconnect wires embedded within interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure is arranged beside the electrical interconnect structure and includes thermal vias, thermal wires, and/or thermal layers. Further, the thermal interconnect structure is embedded within the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal passivation layer is arranged over a topmost one of the interconnect dielectric layers. The thermal interconnect structure has a higher thermal conductivity than the interconnect dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan Lee, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai, Ting-Ya Lo, Cheng-Chin Lee, Chi-Lin Teng, Kai-Fang Cheng, Hsin-Yen Huang, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 11640928
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor structure including a device layer having a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A first heat dispersion layer is disposed along the back-side surface of the device layer. A second heat dispersion layer underlies the front-side surface of the device layer. The second heat dispersion layer has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the first heat dispersion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yen Huang, Shao-Kuan Lee, Shau-Lin Shue, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230066284
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor structure including a device layer having a front-side surface opposite a back-side surface. A first heat dispersion layer is disposed along the back-side surface of the device layer. A second heat dispersion layer underlies the front-side surface of the device layer. The second heat dispersion layer has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the first heat dispersion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Yen Huang, Shao-Kuan Lee, Shau-Lin Shue, Hsiao-Kang Chang, Cherng-Shiaw Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230065583
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing an electrically conductive structure including a plurality of electrically conductive features, conformally forming a thermally conductive dielectric capping layer on the electrically conductive structure, conformally forming a dielectric coating layer on the thermally conductive dielectric capping layer, filling a sacrificial material into recesses among the electrically conductive features, recessing the sacrificial material to form sacrificial features in the recesses, forming a sustaining layer over the dielectric coating layer to cover the sacrificial features, and removing the sacrificial features to form air gaps covered by the sustaining layer. The thermally conductive dielectric capping layer has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the dielectric coating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Ya LO, Shao-Kuan LEE, Chi-Lin TENG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Cheng-Chin LEE, Kuang-Wei YANG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Hsiao-Kang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Publication number: 20230067027
    Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a first conductive feature, a first liner having a first top surface disposed on the first conductive feature, a second conductive feature disposed adjacent the first conductive feature, and a second liner disposed on at least a portion of the second conductive feature. The second liner has a second top surface, and the first liner and the second liner each comprises a two-dimensional material. The structure further includes a first dielectric material disposed between the first and second conductive features and a dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric material. The dielectric layer has a third top surface, and the first, second, and third top surfaces are substantially co-planar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Chin LEE, Shao-Kuan LEE, Kuang-Wei YANG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Hsiaokang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Publication number: 20230067886
    Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a dielectric layer, a first conductive feature disposed in the dielectric layer, a second conductive feature disposed over the first conductive feature, a third conductive feature disposed adjacent the second conductive feature, a first dielectric material disposed between the second and third conductive features, a first one or more graphene layers disposed between the second conductive feature and the first dielectric material, and a second one or more graphene layers disposed between the third conductive feature and the first dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Shao-Kuan LEE, Cheng-Chin LEE, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Kuang-Wei YANG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Hsiaokang CHANG, Shau-Lin SHUE
  • Publication number: 20230066861
    Abstract: A method for forming an interconnect structure is described. In some embodiments, the method includes forming a conductive layer, removing portions of the conductive layer to form a via portion extending upward from a bottom portion, forming a sacrificial layer over the via portion and the bottom portion, recessing the sacrificial layer to a level substantially the same or below a level of a top surface of the bottom portion, forming a first dielectric material over the via portion, the bottom portion, and the sacrificial layer, and removing the sacrificial layer to form an air gap adjacent the bottom portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Chin LEE, Hsiao-Kang CHANG, Ting-Ya LO, Chi-Lin TENG, Cherng-Shiaw TSAI, Shao-Kuan LEE, Kuang-Wei YANG, Hsin-Yen HUANG, Shau-Lin SHUE