Patents by Inventor Chi-Wen Liu

Chi-Wen Liu 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: 20190043762
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a n-type gate structure over a first semiconductor fin, in which the n-type gate structure includes a n-type work function metal layer overlying the first high-k dielectric layer. The n-type work function metal layer includes a TiAl (titanium aluminum) alloy, in which an atom ratio of Ti (titanium) to Al (aluminum) is in a range substantially from 1 to 3. The semiconductor device further includes a p-type gate structure over a second semiconductor fin, in which the p-type gate structure includes a p-type work function metal layer overlying the second high-k dielectric layer. The p-type work function metal layer includes titanium nitride (TiN), in which an atom ratio of Ti to N (nitrogen) is in a range substantially from 1:0.9 to 1:1.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Shiu-Ko JangJian, Chi-Cheng Hung, Chi-Wen Liu, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Publication number: 20190006183
    Abstract: Gate stacks for improving integrated circuit device performance and methods for fabricating such gate stacks are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate and at least partially removing the gate stack, thereby forming an opening. A multi-function layer is deposited in the opening and a work function layer is deposited over the multi-function layer. The multi-function layer includes nitrogen and one of titanium or tantalum. The work function layer includes nitrogen and one of titanium or tantalum. A concentration of the nitrogen of the work function layer is different than a concentration of the nitrogen of the multi-function layer. In some implementations, the concentration of the nitrogen of the work function layer from about 2% to about 5% and the concentration of the nitrogen of the multi-function layer from about 5% to about 15%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: SHIU-KO JANGJIAN, TING-CHUN WANG, CHI-CHERNG JENG, CHI-WEN LIU
  • Patent number: 10170365
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack on a middle portion of s semiconductor fin, and forming a first gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack. After the first gate spacer is formed, a template dielectric region is formed to cover the semiconductor fin. The method further includes recessing the template dielectric region. After the recessing, a second gate spacer is formed on the sidewall of the gate stack. The end portion of the semiconductor fin is etched to form a recess in the template dielectric region. A source/drain region is epitaxially grown in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chi-Wen Liu, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 10164022
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate, insulation regions extending into the substrate, a first semiconductor region between the insulation regions and having a first valence band, and a second semiconductor region over and adjoining the first semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region has a compressive strain and a second valence band higher than the first valence band. The second semiconductor region includes an upper portion higher than top surfaces of the insulation regions to form a semiconductor fin, and a lower portion lower than the top surfaces of the insulation regions. The upper portion and the lower portion are intrinsic. A semiconductor cap adjoins a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin. The semiconductor cap has a third valence band lower than the second valence band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Jing Lee, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 10164023
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate and insulation regions over a portion of the substrate. A first semiconductor region is between the insulation regions and having a first conduction band. A second semiconductor region is over and adjoining the first semiconductor region, wherein the second semiconductor region includes an upper portion higher than top surfaces of the insulation regions to form a semiconductor fin. The second semiconductor region also includes a wide portion and a narrow portion over the wide portion, wherein the narrow portion is narrower than the wide portion. The semiconductor fin has a tensile strain and has a second conduction band lower than the first conduction band. A third semiconductor region is over and adjoining a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin, wherein the third semiconductor region has a third conduction band higher than the second conduction band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Jing Lee, Chi-Wen Liu, Cheng-Hsien Wu, Chih-Hsin Ko, Clement Hsingjen Wann
  • Patent number: 10164076
    Abstract: A method for forming a tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET) is disclosed. The method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor protrusion that protrudes out from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a drain region in lower portion of the semiconductor protrusion, and patterning a gate stack layer to form a gate stack. The gate stack has a gating surface that directly contacts and wraps around a middle portion of the semiconductor protrusion. The method further includes forming a source region in an upper portion of the semiconductor protrusion and forming a source contact over the source region, the source contact have a first width that is larger than a width of the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Cheng-Cheng Kuo, Chi-Wen Liu, Ming Zhu
  • Patent number: 10164059
    Abstract: A FinFET device includes a substrate, a fin formed on the substrate, and a gate electrode crossing the fin. The gate electrode includes a head portion and a tail portion, and the tail portion is connected to the head portion and extended toward the substrate. The width of the head portion is greater than that of the tail portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ming Peng, Chi-Wen Liu, Hsin-Chieh Huang, Yi-Ju Hsu, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 10164072
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one active semiconductor fin, at least one first dummy semiconductor fin, and at least one second dummy semiconductor fin. The active semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The first dummy semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The second dummy semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate and between the active semiconductor fin and the first dummy semiconductor fin. A top surface of the first dummy semiconductor fin and a top surface of the second dummy semiconductor fin are curved in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Li, Hsin-Chieh Huang, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 10163903
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor strip on a substrate, the first semiconductor strip including a first crystalline semiconductor material on a substrate and a second crystalline semiconductor material above the first crystalline semiconductor material. A first portion of the first crystalline semiconductor material in first semiconductor strip is converted to a dielectric material, where a second portion of the first crystalline semiconductor material remains unconverted. Gate structures are formed over the first semiconductor strip and source/drain regions are formed on opposing sides of the gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chi-Wen Liu, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 10164069
    Abstract: Devices and structures that include a gate spacer having a gap or void are described along with methods of forming such devices and structures. In accordance with some embodiments, a structure includes a substrate, a gate stack over the substrate, a contact over the substrate, and a spacer disposed laterally between the gate stack and the contact. The spacer includes a first dielectric sidewall portion and a second dielectric sidewall portion. A void is disposed between the first dielectric sidewall portion and the second dielectric sidewall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chi-Wen Liu, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 10164016
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a fin active region formed on a semiconductor substrate and spanning between a first sidewall of a first shallow trench isolation (STI) feature and a second sidewall of a second STI feature; an anti-punch through (APT) feature of a first type conductivity; and a channel material layer of the first type conductivity, disposed on the APT feature and having a second doping concentration less than the first doping concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Peng, Ling-Yen Yeh, Chi-Wen Liu, Chih-Sheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 10163717
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first insulating structure, a second insulating structure, at least one first active semiconductor fin, and at least one second active semiconductor fin. The first insulating structure and the second insulating structure are disposed on the substrate. The first active semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate and has a protruding portion protruding from the first insulating structure. The second active semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate and has a protruding portion protruding from the second insulating structure. The protruding portion of the first active semiconductor fin and the protruding portion of the second active semiconductor fin have different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Sheng Li, Hsin-Chieh Huang, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 10163896
    Abstract: An integrated circuit can include a MOM capacitor formed simultaneously with other devices, such as finFETs. A dielectric layer formed on a substrate has a first semiconductor fin therein and a second semiconductor fin therein. Respective top portions of the fins are removed to form respective recesses in the dielectric layer. First and second electrodes are formed in the recesses. The first and second electrodes and the interjacent dielectric layer form a MOM capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Wen Liu, Chao-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 10164116
    Abstract: FETs and methods for forming FETs are disclosed. A structure comprises a substrate, a gate dielectric and a gate electrode. The substrate comprises a fin, and the fin comprises an epitaxial channel region. The epitaxial channel has a major surface portion of an exterior surface. The major surface portion comprising at least one lattice shift, and the at least one lattice shift comprises an inward or outward shift relative to a center of the fin. The gate dielectric is on the major surface portion of the exterior surface. The gate electrode is on the gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Lien Huang, Chun-Hsiang Fan, Tung Ying Lee, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 10163726
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a device includes first and second p-type transistors. The first transistor includes a first channel region including a first material of a first fin. The first transistor includes first and second epitaxial source/drain regions each in a respective first recess in the first material and on opposite sides of the first channel region. The first transistor includes a first gate stack on the first channel region. The second transistor includes a second channel region including a second material of a second fin. The second material is a different material from the first material. The second transistor includes third and fourth epitaxial source/drain regions each in a respective second recess in the second material and on opposite sides of the second channel region. The second transistor includes a second gate stack on the second channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 10164071
    Abstract: A FinFET device includes a substrate, a fin formed on the substrate, and a gate electrode crossing the fin. The gate electrode includes a head portion and a tail portion, and the tail portion is connected to the head portion and extended toward the substrate. The width of the head portion is greater than that of the tail portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ming Peng, Chi-Wen Liu, Hsin-Chieh Huang, Yi-Ju Hsu, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 10164032
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the semiconductor device is disclosed. A sacrificial film is used to pattern a contact to a semiconductor structure, such as a contact to a source/drain region of a transistor. The contact may include a tapered profile along an axis parallel to the gate electrode such that an outermost width of the contact decreases as the contact extends away from the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung Ying Lee, Chih Chieh Yeh, Jeng-Ya David Yeh, Yuan-Hung Chiu, Chi-Wen Liu, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 10164068
    Abstract: A method comprises removing a portion of a fin to form a trench over a lower portion of the fin, wherein the lower portion is formed of a first semiconductor material, growing a second semiconductor material in the trench to form a middle portion of the fin, forming a first carbon doped layer over the middle portion of the fin, growing the first semiconductor material over the first carbon doped layer to form an upper portion of the fin, replacing outer portions of the upper portion of the fin with a second carbon doped layer and drain/source regions, wherein the first carbon doped layer and the second carbon doped layer are separated by the upper portion of the fin and applying a thermal oxidation process to the middle portion of the fin to form an oxide outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Guan-Lin Chen, Chao-Hsiung Wang, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 10164122
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a first transition metal film having a first transition metal on a substrate and performing a first sulfurization process to the first transition metal film, thereby forming a first transition metal sulfide film. The method further includes depositing a second transition metal film having a second transition metal on the first transition metal sulfide film and performing a second sulfurization process to the second transition metal film, thereby forming a second transition metal sulfide film. The first and the second transition metals are different. The method further includes forming a gate stack, and source and drain features over the second transition metal sulfide film. The gate stack is interposed between the source and drain features. The gate stack, source and drain features, the first transition metal sulfide film and the second transition metal sulfide film are configured to function as a hetero-structure transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Yen Lin, Chi-Wen Liu, Chong-Rong Wu, Xiang-Rui Chang
  • Patent number: 10157920
    Abstract: A multiple-fin device includes a substrate and a plurality of fins formed on the substrate. Source and drain regions are formed in the respective fins. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. The dielectric layer has a first thickness adjacent one side of a first fin and having a second thickness, different from the first thickness, adjacent an opposite side of the fin. A continuous gate structure is formed overlying the plurality of fins, the continuous gate structure being adjacent a top surface of each fin and at least one sidewall surface of at least one fin. By adjusting the dielectric layer thickness, channel width of the resulting device can be fine-tuned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Wen Liu, Chao-Hsiung Wang