Patents by Inventor Chih-Teng Liao

Chih-Teng Liao 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: 20210118816
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Wan-Chun Kuan, Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Patent number: 10910223
    Abstract: A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a first trench and a second trench. A remaining portion of the semiconductor substrate is left between the first trench and the second trench as a semiconductor region. A doped dielectric layer is formed on sidewalls of the semiconductor region and over a top surface of the semiconductor region. The doped dielectric layer includes a dopant. The first trench and the second trench are filled with a dielectric material. An anneal is then performed, and a p-type dopant or an n-type dopant in the doped dielectric layer is diffused into the semiconductor region to form a diffused semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chih Hsuan Cheng, Li-Te Hsu
  • Patent number: 10861800
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Chun Kuan, Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Patent number: 10679950
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Chun Kuan, Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Publication number: 20200119161
    Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure on the substrate, wherein the fin structure includes a first fin active region; a second fin active region; and an isolation feature separating the first and second fin active regions; forming a first gate stack on the first fin active region and a second gate stack on the second fin active region; performing a first recessing process to a first source/drain region of the first fin active region by a first dry etch; performing a first epitaxial growth to form a first source/drain feature on the first source/drain region; performing a fin sidewall pull back (FSWPB) process to remove a dielectric layer on the second fin active region; and performing a second epitaxial growth to form a second source/drain feature on a second source/drain region of the second fin active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chih-Shan Chen, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chih Hsuan Cheng, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Patent number: 10522408
    Abstract: A FinFET device and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a fin over a substrate. An isolation region is formed adjacent the fin. A dummy gate structure is formed over the fin. The fin adjacent the dummy gate structure is recessed to form a first recess. The first recess has a U-shaped bottom surface. The U-shaped bottom surface is below a top surface of the isolation region. The first recess is reshaped to form a reshaped first recess. The reshaped first recess has a V-shaped bottom surface. At least a portion of the V-shaped bottom surface comprises one or more steps. A source/drain region is epitaxially grown in the reshaped first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chih-Shan Chen, Yi-Wei Chiu, Ying Ting Hsia, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Patent number: 10510875
    Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure on the substrate, wherein the fin structure includes a first fin active region; a second fin active region; and an isolation feature separating the first and second fin active regions; forming a first gate stack on the first fin active region and a second gate stack on the second fin active region; performing a first recessing process to a first source/drain region of the first fin active region by a first dry etch; performing a first epitaxial growth to form a first source/drain feature on the first source/drain region; performing a fin sidewall pull back (FSWPB) process to remove a dielectric layer on the second fin active region; and performing a second epitaxial growth to form a second source/drain feature on a second source/drain region of the second fin active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chih-Shan Chen, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chih Hsuan Cheng, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Publication number: 20190371915
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin extending a first height above a substrate, forming a dummy dielectric material over the semiconductor fin and over the substrate, forming a dummy gate material over the dummy dielectric material, the dummy gate material extending a second height above the substrate, etching the dummy gate material using multiple etching processes to form a dummy gate stack, wherein each etching process of the multiple etching processes is a different etching process, wherein the dummy gate stack has a first width at the first height, and wherein the dummy gate stack has a second width at the second height that is different from the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chia-Cheng Tai, Tzu-Chan Weng, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chih Hsuan Cheng
  • Publication number: 20190295960
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Wan-Chun Kuan, Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Patent number: 10297555
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Chun Kuan, Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Publication number: 20190131176
    Abstract: A FinFET device and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a fin over a substrate. An isolation region is formed adjacent the fin. A dummy gate structure is formed over the fin. The fin adjacent the dummy gate structure is recessed to form a first recess. The first recess has a U-shaped bottom surface. The U-shaped bottom surface is below a top surface of the isolation region. The first recess is reshaped to form a reshaped first recess. The reshaped first recess has a V-shaped bottom surface. At least a portion of the V-shaped bottom surface comprises one or more steps. A source/drain region is epitaxially grown in the reshaped first recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chih-Shan Chen, Yi-Wei Chiu, Ying Ting Hsia, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Publication number: 20190096674
    Abstract: A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a first trench and a second trench. A remaining portion of the semiconductor substrate is left between the first trench and the second trench as a semiconductor region. A doped dielectric layer is formed on sidewalls of the semiconductor region and over a top surface of the semiconductor region. The doped dielectric layer includes a dopant. The first trench and the second trench are filled with a dielectric material. An anneal is then performed, and a p-type dopant or an n-type dopant in the doped dielectric layer is diffused into the semiconductor region to form a diffused semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chih Hsuan Cheng, Li-Te Hsu
  • Publication number: 20190035908
    Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure on the substrate, wherein the fin structure includes a first fin active region; a second fin active region; and an isolation feature separating the first and second fin active regions; forming a first gate stack on the first fin active region and a second gate stack on the second fin active region; performing a first recessing process to a first source/drain region of the first fin active region by a first dry etch; performing a first epitaxial growth to form a first source/drain feature on the first source/drain region; performing a fin sidewall pull back (FSWPB) process to remove a dielectric layer on the second fin active region; and performing a second epitaxial growth to form a second source/drain feature on a second source/drain region of the second fin active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chih-Shan Chen, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chih Hsuan Cheng, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Publication number: 20190006465
    Abstract: A method includes etching a substrate to form a first semiconductor strip. A first dummy gate structure is formed over a first channel region of the first semiconductor strip. First and second recesses are etched in the first semiconductor strip on either side of a first dummy gate. An intermetallic doping film is formed in the first recess and the second recess. A dopant of the intermetallic doping film is diffused into the first semiconductor strip proximate the recesses. Source/drain regions are epitaxially grown in the recesses. A device includes semiconductor strips and a plurality of gate stacks. A first epitaxial source/drain region is interposed between a first two of the plurality of gate stacks. A first dopant diffusion area surrounds the first epitaxial source/drain region and has a first concentration of a first dopant greater than a second concentration of the first dopant outside the first dopant diffusion area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng, Chih Hsuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 10170555
    Abstract: A method includes etching a substrate to form a first semiconductor strip. A first dummy gate structure is formed over a first channel region of the first semiconductor strip. First and second recesses are etched in the first semiconductor strip on either side of a first dummy gate. An intermetallic doping film is formed in the first recess and the second recess. A dopant of the intermetallic doping film is diffused into the first semiconductor strip proximate the recesses. Source/drain regions are epitaxially grown in the recesses. A device includes semiconductor strips and a plurality of gate stacks. A first epitaxial source/drain region is interposed between a first two of the plurality of gate stacks. A first dopant diffusion area surrounds the first epitaxial source/drain region and has a first concentration of a first dopant greater than a second concentration of the first dopant outside the first dopant diffusion area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng, Chih Hsuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 10163642
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing tool and process to form semiconductor devices is provided. An edge ring of the semiconductor manufacturing tool comprises a high electron mobility material in order to extend an electrical field and sheath such that curvature from the sheath is moved away from a semiconductor wafer so that an impact from the curvature is reduced or eliminated during an etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Tzu-Chan Weng, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chen Yung-Chan, Chia-Tsung Tso, Yu-Li Lin, Chun-Hung Liu, Kun-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10163715
    Abstract: A FinFET device and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a fin over a substrate. An isolation region is formed adjacent the fin. A dummy gate structure is formed over the fin. The fin adjacent the dummy gate structure is recessed to form a first recess. The first recess has a U-shaped bottom surface. The U-shaped bottom surface is below a top surface of the isolation region. The first recess is reshaped to form a reshaped first recess. The reshaped first recess has a V-shaped bottom surface. At least a portion of the V-shaped bottom surface comprises one or more steps. A source/drain region is epitaxially grown in the reshaped first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chih-Shan Chen, Yi-Wei Chiu, Ying Ting Hsia, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Publication number: 20180358306
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of semiconductor strips, a first recess being formed by two adjacent semiconductor strips among the plurality of semiconductor strips, a second recess being formed within the first recess, and an isolation region being provided in the first recess and the second recess. The second recess has a lower depth than the first recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Wan-Chun Kuan, Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Publication number: 20180350947
    Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack to form an opening, forming a replacement gate stack in the opening, recessing the replacement gate stack to form a recess, filling the recess with a conductive material, and performing a planarization to remove excess portions of the conductive material over the gate spacer. A remaining portion of the conductive material forms a gate contact plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Xi-Zong Chen, Chia-Ching Tsai
  • Patent number: 10121873
    Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack to form an opening, forming a replacement gate stack in the opening, recessing the replacement gate stack to form a recess, filling the recess with a conductive material, and performing a planarization to remove excess portions of the conductive material over the gate spacer. A remaining portion of the conductive material forms a gate contact plug. A top portion of the gate contact plug is at a same level as a top portion of the first gate spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Xi-Zong Chen, Chia-Ching Tsai