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).

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20250048703
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture are presented. In embodiments a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes forming a fin from a plurality of semiconductor materials, depositing a dummy gate over the fin, depositing a plurality of spacers adjacent to the dummy gate, removing the dummy gate to form an opening adjacent to the plurality of spacers, widening the opening adjacent to a top surface of the plurality of spacers, after the widening, removing one of the plurality of semiconductor materials to form nanowires, and depositing a gate electrode around the nanowires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Wei, Hao-Ming Tang, Cheng-I Lin, Shu-Han Chen, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20250048725
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and methods of forming the same are described. The structure includes a first semiconductor layer disposed over a substrate, the first semiconductor layer has an edge portion and a center portion, and a height of the center portion is substantially greater than a height of the edge portion. The structure further includes a dielectric spacer disposed below and in contact with the edge portion of the first semiconductor layer, a gate dielectric layer surrounding the center portion of the first semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode layer disposed on the gate dielectric layer surrounding the center portion of the first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Cheng-I LIN, Shu-Han CHEN, Chi On CHUI
  • Publication number: 20250048726
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In embodiments a dielectric fin is formed in order to help isolate adjacent semiconductor fins. The dielectric fin is formed using a deposition process in which deposition times and temperatures are utilized to increase the resistance of the dielectric fin to subsequent etching processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Hung Cheng Lin, Chunyao Wang, Yung-Cheng Lu, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12218209
    Abstract: Methods for forming contacts to source/drain regions and gate electrodes in low- and high-voltage devices and devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment a device includes a first channel region in a substrate adjacent a first source/drain region; a first gate over the first channel region; a second channel region in the substrate adjacent a second source/drain region, a top surface of the second channel region being below a top surface of the first channel region; a second gate over the second channel region; an ILD over the first gate and the second gate; a first contact extending through the ILD and coupled to the first source/drain region; and a second contact extending through the ILD, coupled to the second source/drain region, and having a width greater a width of the first contact and a height greater than a height of the first contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12218199
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure; a gate dielectric around the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the gate dielectric including dielectric materials; and a gate electrode including: a work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric, the work function tuning layer including a pure work function metal, the pure work function metal of the work function tuning layer and the dielectric materials of the gate dielectric completely filling a region between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the pure work function metal having a composition of greater than 95 at. % metals; an adhesion layer on the work function tuning layer; and a fill layer on the adhesion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Jia-Ming Lin, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12217826
    Abstract: A test structure for 3D memory arrays and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a memory array includes a first word line over a semiconductor substrate and extending in a first direction; a second word line over the first word line and extending in the first direction; a memory film contacting the first word line and the second word line; an oxide semiconductor (OS) layer contacting a first source line and a first bit line, the memory film being between the OS layer and each of the first word line and the second word line; and a test structure over the first word line and the second word line, the test structure including a first conductive line electrically coupling the first word line to the second word line, the first conductive line extending in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12218241
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a gate structure over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a spacer element covering a first sidewall of the gate structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes a source/drain portion in the substrate, and the spacer element is between the source/drain portion and the gate structure. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes an etch stop layer covering the source/drain portion. The etch stop layer includes a first nitride layer covering the source/drain portion and having a second sidewall, and the second sidewall is in direct contact with the spacer element. The etch stop layer also includes a first silicon layer covering the first nitride layer and having a third sidewall, and the third sidewall is in direct contact with the spacer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Ting Ko, Bo-Cyuan Lu, Jr-Hung Li, Chi-On Chui
  • Patent number: 12218197
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor nanostructure, and an oxide layer, which includes horizontal portions on a top surface and a bottom surface of the semiconductor nanostructure, vertical portions on sidewalls of the semiconductor nanostructure, and corner portions on corners of the semiconductor nanostructure. The horizontal portions have a first thickness. The vertical portions have a second thickness. The corner portions have a third thickness. Both of the second thickness and the third thickness are greater than the first thickness. A high-k dielectric layer surrounds the oxide layer. A gate electrode surrounds the high-k dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shu-Han Chen, Yi-Shao Li, Chun-Heng Chen, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 12218221
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including fin-shaped isolation structures and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) region over the semiconductor substrate adjacent the fin; and a dielectric fin structure over the STI region, the dielectric fin structure extending in a direction parallel to the fin, the dielectric fin structure including a first liner layer in contact with the STI region; and a first fill material over the first liner layer, the first fill material including a seam disposed in a lower portion of the first fill material and separated from a top surface of the first fill material, a first carbon concentration in the lower portion of the first fill material being greater than a second carbon concentration in an upper portion of the first fill material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Fang-Yi Liao, Shu Ling Liao, Yen-Chun Huang, Che-Hao Chang, Yung-Cheng Lu, Chi On Chui