Patents by Inventor Chi On Chui

Chi On Chui 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: 20250098205
    Abstract: A method includes forming a fin protruding over a substrate; forming a conformal oxide layer over an upper surface and along sidewalls of the fin; performing an anisotropic oxide deposition or an anisotropic plasma treatment to form a non-conformal oxide layer over the upper surface and along the sidewalls of the fin; and forming a gate electrode over the fin, the conformal oxide layer and the non-conformal oxide layer being between the fin and the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Ming-Ho Lin, Chun-Heng Chen, Xiong-Fei Yu, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20250098223
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12255205
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with isolation structures of different dielectric constants and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes fin structures with first and second fin portions disposed on first and second device areas on a substrate and first and second pair of gate structures disposed on the first and second fin portions. The second pair of gate structures is electrically isolated from the first pair of gate structures. The semiconductor device further includes a first isolation structure interposed between the first pair of gate structures and a second isolation structure interposed between the second pair of gate structures. The first isolation structure includes a first nitride liner and a first oxide fill layer. The second isolation structure includes a second nitride liner and a second oxide fill layer. The second nitride layer is thicker than the first nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chieh-Ping Wang, Tai-Chun Huang, Yung-Cheng Lu, Ting-Gang Chen, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20250089330
    Abstract: A method includes forming a protruding fin, and forming a first dielectric layer including a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer includes a first top portion on a top surface of the protruding fin, and a sidewall portion on a sidewall of the protruding fin. The second dielectric layer is over the first top portion and the top surface of the protruding fin, and is formed using an anisotropic deposition process. The method further includes forming a dummy gate electrode on the second dielectric layer, forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the dummy gate electrode, removing the dummy gate electrode, and forming a replacement gate electrode in a space left by the dummy gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Wei, Cheng-I Lin, Hao-Ming Tang, Shu-Han Chen, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20250089313
    Abstract: A method includes: epitaxially growing a first multi-layer stack over a first substrate; epitaxially growing a second multi-layer stack over a second substrate; and bonding the first multi-layer stack to the second multi-layer stack. The first substrate and the second substrate have different crystalline orientations. The method further includes patterning the first multi-layer stack and the second multi-layer stack to form a fin, the fin comprising a plurality of lower nanostructures alternatingly stacked with first dummy nanostructures and a plurality of upper nanostructures alternatingly stacked with second dummy nanostructure; replacing the first dummy nanostructures with a first gate stack, the first gate stack surrounding each of the plurality of lower nanostructures; and replacing the second dummy nanostructures with a second gate stack, the second gate stack surrounding each of the plurality of upper nanostructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Chen-Fong Tsai, Han-De Chen, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12249639
    Abstract: Improved inner spacers for semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Kai Lin, Che-Hao Chang, Chi On Chui, Yung-Cheng Lu
  • Publication number: 20250081572
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and methods of forming the same are described. The structure includes a first semiconductor material disposed over a substrate and a dielectric layer disposed on the first semiconductor material. The dielectric layer includes a dopant. The structure further includes a second semiconductor material disposed on the dielectric layer, a first semiconductor layer in contact with the second semiconductor material, and a first dielectric spacer in contact with the first semiconductor layer, wherein the first dielectric spacer includes the dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Yu-Chang LIN, Po-Kang HO, Liang-Yin CHEN, Tsai-Yu HUANG, Chi On CHUI
  • Patent number: 12243925
    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 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12243573
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a capacitor, with a memory film isolating a first electrode from a contact, formed over a transistor and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate; a capacitor over the gate stack, the capacitor including a first electrode extending along a top surface of the gate stack, the first electrode being U-shaped; a first ferroelectric layer over the first electrode; and a second electrode over the first ferroelectric layer, a top surface of the second electrode being level with a top surface of the first ferroelectric layer, and the top surface of the first ferroelectric layer and the top surface of the second electrode being disposed further from the semiconductor substrate than a topmost surface of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenchen Wang, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 12243786
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a device including a first semiconductor fin extending from a substrate, a second semiconductor fin extending from the substrate, a hybrid fin over the substrate, the hybrid fin disposed between the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin, and the hybrid fin having an oxide inner portion extending downward from a top surface of the hybrid fin. The device also includes a first isolation region between the second semiconductor fin, the first semiconductor fin, and the hybrid fin, the hybrid fin extending above a top surface of the first isolation region, a high-k gate dielectric over sidewalls of the hybrid fin, sidewalls of the first semiconductor fin, and sidewalls of the second semiconductor fin, a gate electrode on the high-k gate dielectric, and source/drain regions on the first semiconductor fin on opposing sides of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-I Lin, Da-Yuan Lee, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12243932
    Abstract: Negative capacitance field-effect transistor (NCFET) and ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FE-FET) devices and methods of forming are provided. The gate dielectric stack of the NCFET and FE-FET devices includes a non-ferroelectric interfacial layer formed over the semiconductor channel, and a ferroelectric gate dielectric layer formed over the interfacial layer. The ferroelectric gate dielectric layer is formed by inserting dopant-source layers in between amorphous high-k dielectric layers and then converting the alternating sequence of dielectric layers to a ferroelectric gate dielectric layer by a post-deposition anneal (PDA). The ferroelectric gate dielectric layer has adjustable ferroelectric properties that may be varied by altering the precisely-controlled locations of the dopant-source layers using ALD/PEALD techniques. Accordingly, the methods described herein enable fabrication of stable NCFET and FE-FET FinFET devices that exhibit steep subthreshold slopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Yang Lai, Chun-Yen Peng, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12245436
    Abstract: A ferroelectric device structure includes an array of ferroelectric capacitors overlying a substrate, first metal interconnect structures electrically connecting each of first electrodes of the array of ferroelectric capacitors to a first metal pad embedded in a dielectric material layer, and second metal interconnect structures electrically connecting each of the second electrodes of the array of ferroelectric capacitors to a second metal pad embedded in the dielectric material layer. The second metal pad may be vertically spaced from the substrate by a same vertical separation distance as the first metal pad is from the substrate. First metal lines laterally extending along a first horizontal direction may electrically connect the first electrodes to the first metal pad, and second metal lines laterally extending along the first horizontal direction may electrically connect each of the second electrodes to the second metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chenchen Jacob Wang, Bo-Feng Young, Yu-Ming Lin, Chi On Chui, Sai-Hooi Yeong
  • Publication number: 20250072002
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a thin film transistor over a semiconductor substrate. The thin film transistor includes a memory film contacting a word line, an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer contacting a source line and a bit line, and a conductive feature interposed between the memory film and the OS layer. The memory film is disposed between the OS layer and the word line. A dielectric material covers sidewalls of the source line, the memory film, and the OS layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Bo-Feng Young, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Yu-Ming Lin, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12237393
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a gate structure disposed on a substrate is provided. The gate structure includes a work function setting layer and a work function tuning layer sequentially disposed on substrate. The work function tuning layer is in contact with an interface surface positioned between the work function setting layer and the work function tuning layer, and a material of the interface surface is different from the work function setting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Ting Ko, Bi-Fen Wu, Chi-On Chui
  • Patent number: 12237399
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a sacrificial layer over a first stack of nanostructures and an isolation region. A dummy gate structure is formed over the first stack of nanostructures, and a first portion of the sacrificial layer. A second portion of the sacrificial layer is removed to expose a sidewall of the first stack of nanostructures adjacent the dummy gate structure. A spacer layer is formed over the dummy gate structure. A first portion of the spacer layer physically contacts the first stack of nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Te-En Cheng, Yung-Cheng Lu, Chi On Chui, Wei-Yang Lee
  • Publication number: 20250063778
    Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Hsiang-Pi Chang, Huang-Lin Chao, Chung-Liang Cheng, Chi On Chui, Kun-Yu Lee, Tzer-Min Shen, Yen-Tien Tung, Chun-I Wu
  • Publication number: 20250063736
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first word line over a substrate, the first word line including a first conductive material; a first bit line intersecting the first word line; a first memory film between the first bit line and the first word line; and a first conductive spacer between the first memory film and the first word line, the first conductive spacer including a second conductive material, the second conductive material having a different work function than the first conductive material, the first conductive material having a lower resistivity than the second conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui, Sheng-Chen Wang
  • Publication number: 20250056852
    Abstract: A method includes forming first nanostructures over a substrate, then forming second nanostructures over the plurality of first nanostructures. A first source/drain region is epitaxially grown adjacent the first nanostructures, and a second source/drain region is epitaxially grown over the first source/drain region and adjacent the second nanostructures. An implantation process is performed to implant impurities into the second source/drain region, wherein the implantation process forms an amorphous region within the second source/drain region. At least one rapid thermal process is performed on the second source/drain region, wherein performing each rapid thermal process recrystallizes a portion of the amorphous region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Lin, Liang-Yin Chen, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20250056832
    Abstract: Methods for tuning effective work functions of gate electrodes in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a channel region over a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric layer over the channel region; and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode including a first work function metal layer over the gate dielectric layer, the first work function metal layer including aluminum (Al); a first work function tuning layer over the first work function metal layer, the first work function tuning layer including aluminum tungsten (AIW); and a fill material over the first work function tuning layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12225733
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first dielectric layer over the substrate; a memory cell over the substrate in a first region of the semiconductor device, where the memory cell includes a first ferroelectric structure in the first dielectric layer, where the first ferroelectric structure includes a first bottom electrode, a first top electrode, and a first ferroelectric layer in between; and a tunable capacitor over the substrate in a second region of the semiconductor device, where the tunable capacitor includes a second ferroelectric structure, where the second ferroelectric structure includes a second bottom electrode, a second top electrode, and a second ferroelectric layer in between, where at least a portion of the second ferroelectric structure is in the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui, Chenchen Jacob Wang