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: 20230335551
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices with differing threshold voltages are provided. In embodiments the threshold voltages of individual semiconductor devices are tuned through the deposition, diffusion, and removal of dipole materials in order to provide different dipole regions within different transistors. These different dipole regions cause the different transistors to have different threshold voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Yao-Teng Chuang, Kuei-Lun Lin, Te-Yang Lai, Da-Yuan Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11791421
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin protruding above a substrate; source/drain regions over the fin; nanosheets between the source/drain regions, where the nanosheets comprise a first semiconductor material; inner spacers between the nanosheets and at opposite ends of the nanosheets, where there is an air gap between each of the inner spacers and a respective source/drain region of the source/drain regions; and a gate structure over the fin and between the source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Bo-Feng Young, Chien Ning Yao, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11791393
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor nanosheets, a bottom dielectric layer, and a gate stack. The substrate includes at least one fin. The plurality of semiconductor nanosheets are stacked on the at least one fin. The bottom dielectric layer is vertically disposed between the at least one fin and the plurality of semiconductor nanosheets. The gate stack wraps the plurality of semiconductor nanosheets. An area of the gate stack projected on a top surface of the substrate is within an area of the bottom dielectric layer projected on the top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo-Feng Young, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi-On Chui
  • Patent number: 11791216
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming, in a first device region of the semiconductor device, first nanostructures over a first fin that protrudes above a substrate; forming, in a second device region of the semiconductor device, second nanostructures over a second fin that protrudes above the substrate, where the first and the second nanostructures include a semiconductor material and extend parallel to an upper surface of the substrate; forming a dielectric material around the first and the second nanostructures; forming a first hard mask layer in the first device region around the first nanostructures and in the second device region around the second nanostructures; removing the first hard mask layer from the second device region after forming the first hard mask layer; and after removing the first hard mask layer, increasing a first thickness of the dielectric material around the second nanostructures by performing an oxidization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Yang Lai, Hsueh-Ju Chen, Tsung-Da Lin, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230326967
    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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Jia-Ming Lin, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230326927
    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: June 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Hung Cheng Lin, Chunyao Wang, Yung-Cheng Lu, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11784252
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate, a first fin structure over the substrate, and a FeFET device over a first region of the substrate. The FeFET includes a first gate stack across the first fin structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes first gate spacer layers alongside the first gate stack, and a ferroelectric layer over the first gate stack. At least a portion of the ferroelectric layer is located between upper portions of the first gate spacer layers and is adjacent to the first gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi-On Chui, Chien-Ning Yao
  • Patent number: 11784052
    Abstract: A method includes forming an oxide layer on a semiconductor region, and depositing a first high-k dielectric layer over the oxide layer. The first high-k dielectric layer is formed of a first high-k dielectric material. The method further includes depositing a second high-k dielectric layer over the first high-k dielectric layer, wherein the second high-k dielectric layer is formed of a second high-k dielectric material different from the first high-k dielectric material, depositing a dipole film over and contacting a layer selected from the first high-k dielectric layer and the second high-k dielectric layer, performing an annealing process to drive-in a dipole dopant in the dipole film into the layer, removing the dipole film, and forming a gate electrode over the second high-k dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Yang Lai, Chun-Yen Peng, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230317523
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a first fin structure over a first region of a substrate and forming a second fin structure over a second region of a substrate, forming a first gate dielectric layer around the first fin structure and forming a second gate dielectric layer around the second fin structure, forming a barrier layer over the first gate dielectric layer, treating the substrate with a first fluorine-containing gas, forming a work function layer over the second gate dielectric layer after treating the substrate with the first fluorine-containing gas, and treating the substrate with a second fluorine-containing gas after forming the work function layer over the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Pei Ying LAI, Chia-Wei HSU, Tsung-Da LIN, Chi On CHUI
  • Publication number: 20230317859
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate; a vertically stacked set of nanostructures over the semiconductor substrate; a first source/drain region; and a second source/drain region, wherein the vertically stacked set of nanostructures extends between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region along a first cross-section. The device further includes a gate structure encasing the vertically stacked set of nanostructures along a second cross-section. The second cross-section is along a longitudinal axis of the gate structure. The gate structure comprises: a gate dielectric encasing each of the vertically stacked set of nanostructures; a first metal carbide layer over the gate dielectric; and a gate fill material over the first metal carbide layer. The first metal carbide layer comprises Ce, Hf, V, Nb, Sc, Y, or Mo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230317446
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming a semiconductor device having a work function metal layer doped with tantalum to mitigate oxygen diffusion and improve device threshold voltage. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer on a channel structure and forming a work function metal layer on the gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer includes an interfacial layer on the channel structure and a high-k dielectric layer on the interfacial layer. The method further includes doping the work function metal layer and the gate dielectric layer with tantalum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi LEE, Sheng-Yung Chang, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230317790
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided, which includes a first doped gate dielectric layer and a second doped gate dielectric layer, wherein the first doped gate dielectric layer and the second doped gate dielectric layer comprise a high-k material doped with a dipole dopant. The second doped gate dielectric layer has a second concentration of the first dipole dopant. The concentration of the dipole dopant in the first doped gate dielectric layer is greater than the concentration, and the concentration peak of the dipole dopant in the first doped gate dielectric layer is deeper than the concentration peak of the dipole dopant in the second doped gate dielectric layer. A first gate electrode over the first doped gate dielectric layer, and a second gate electrode over the second doped gate dielectric layer, the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode have a same width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Yao-Teng Chuang, Kuei-Lun Lin, Te-Yang Lai, Da-Yuan Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230317524
    Abstract: A nano-crystalline high-k film and methods of forming the same in a semiconductor device are disclosed herein. The nano-crystalline high-k film may be initially deposited as an amorphous matrix layer of dielectric material and self-contained nano-crystallite regions may be formed within and suspended in the amorphous matrix layer. As such, the amorphous matrix layer material separates the self-contained nano-crystallite regions from one another preventing grain boundaries from forming as leakage and/or oxidant paths within the dielectric layer. Dopants may be implanted in the dielectric material and crystal phase of the self-contained nano-crystallite regions maybe modified to change one or more of the permittivity of the high-k dielectric material and/or a ferroelectric property of the dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Chun-Yen Peng, Te-Yang Lai, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230317799
    Abstract: A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a substrate that includes a dummy gate stack wrapping over an active region, and a spacer layer extending along sidewalls of the dummy gate stack, selectively removing the dummy gate stack to form a gate trench exposing the active region, depositing a gate dielectric over the active region, depositing at least one work function layer over the gate dielectric layer, depositing a tungsten layer over the at least one work function layer, and depositing a tungsten nitride layer over the tungsten layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Shih-Hang Chiu, Wei-Cheng Wang, Kuan-Ting Liu, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11777017
    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: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Te-Yang Lai, Chun-Yen Peng, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11777031
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a metal gate layer over the substrate, a channel between a source region and a drain region in the substrate, and a ferroelectric layer, at least a portion of the ferroelectric layer is between the metal gate layer and the substrate, wherein the ferroelectric layer includes hafnium oxide-based material, the hafnium oxide-based material includes a first portion of hafnium oxide with orthorhombic phase, a second portion of hafnium oxide with monoclinic phase, and a third portion of the hafnium oxide with tetragonal phase, wherein a first volume of the first portion is greater than a second volume of the second portion, and the second volume of the second portion is greater than a third volume the third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Yen Peng, Chih-Yu Chang, Bo-Feng Young, Te-Yang Lai, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11776855
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a FinFET includes at last the following steps. A semiconductor substrate is patterned to form trenches in the semiconductor substrate and semiconductor fins located between two adjacent trenches of the trenches. Gate stacks is formed over portions of the semiconductor fins. Strained material portions are formed over the semiconductor fins revealed by the gate stacks. First metal contacts are formed over the gate stacks, the first metal contacts electrically connecting the strained material portions. Air gaps are formed in the FinFET at positions between two adjacent gate stacks and between two adjacent strained materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Kai-Hsuan Lee, Yu-Ming Lin, Chi-On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230299204
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a base and a fin over the base. The semiconductor device structure includes a nanostructure over the fin. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack wrapping around an upper portion of the fin and the nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes an inner spacer between the fin and the nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes a film in the inner spacer. A first dielectric constant of the film is lower than a second dielectric constant of the inner spacer. The semiconductor device structure includes a low dielectric constant structure in the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi YEONG, Chi-On CHUI, Chien-Ning YAO
  • Publication number: 20230299177
    Abstract: Embodiments utilize an electro-chemical process to deposit a metal gate electrode in a gate opening in a gate replacement process for a nanosheet FinFET device. Accelerators and suppressors may be used to achieve a bottom-up deposition for a fill material of the metal gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11764221
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Hung Cheng Lin, Chunyao Wang, Yung-Cheng Lu, Chi On Chui