Patents by Inventor Ching-I Li

Ching-I Li 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: 20230282612
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes performing a bonding process to bond a first semiconductor substrate to a second semiconductor substrate. A shift measurement process is performed on the first and second semiconductor substrates. The shift measurement process includes moving a plurality of substrate pins from a plurality of initial positions to a plurality of measurement positions. The plurality of substrate pins are disposed outside of perimeters of the first and second semiconductor substrates. A shift value is determined between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate based at least in part on a difference between the plurality of initial positions and the plurality of measurement positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Wang, Yeong-Jyh Lin, Ching I Li, Tzu-Wei Yu, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 11721774
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor having a photodetector disposed in a semiconductor substrate. The photodetector comprises a first doped region comprising a dopant having a first doping type. A deep well region is disposed within the semiconductor substrate, where the deep well region extends from a back-side surface of the semiconductor substrate to a top surface of the first doped region. A second doped region is disposed within the semiconductor substrate and abuts the first doped region. The second doped region and the deep well region comprise a second dopant having a second doping type opposite the first doping type, where the second dopant comprises gallium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Yun Yang, Chun-Yuan Chen, Ching I Li
  • Patent number: 11688717
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes loading a first wafer and a second wafer onto a bonding platform such that the second wafer overlies the first wafer. An alignment process is performed to align the second wafer over the first wafer by virtue of a plurality of wafer pins, where a plurality of first parameters are associated with the wafer pins during the alignment process. The second wafer is bonded to the first wafer. An overlay (OVL) measurement process is performed on the first wafer and the second wafer by virtue of the plurality of wafer pins, where a plurality of second parameters are associated with the wafer pins during the alignment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Wang, Yeong-Jyh Lin, Ching I Li, Tzu-Wei Yu, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 11682578
    Abstract: Deep trench isolation structures for high voltage semiconductor-on-insulator devices are disclosed herein. An exemplary deep trench isolation structure surrounds an active region of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The deep trench isolation structure includes a first insulator sidewall spacer, a second insulator sidewall spacer, and a multilayer silicon-comprising isolation structure disposed between the first insulator sidewall spacer and the second insulator sidewall spacer. The multilayer silicon-comprising isolation structure includes a top polysilicon portion disposed over a bottom silicon portion. The bottom polysilicon portion is formed by a selective deposition process, while the top polysilicon portion is formed by a non-selective deposition process. In some embodiments, the bottom silicon portion is doped with boron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Yu-Chun Chang, Ching I Li, Ru-Liang Lee
  • Patent number: 11664425
    Abstract: A method for fabricating p-type field effect transistor (FET) includes the steps of first providing a substrate, forming a pad layer on the substrate, forming a well in the substrate, performing an ion implantation process to implant germanium ions into the substrate to form a channel region, and then conducting an anneal process to divide the channel region into a top portion and a bottom portion. After removing the pad layer, a gate structure is formed on the substrate and a lightly doped drain (LDD) is formed adjacent to two sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Shi-You Liu, Tsai-Yu Wen, Ching-I Li, Ya-Yin Hsiao, Chih-Chiang Wu, Yu-Chun Liu, Ti-Bin Chen, Shao-Ping Chen, Huan-Chi Ma, Chien-Wen Yu
  • Publication number: 20230066574
    Abstract: A method for forming an SOI substrate is provided. The method includes following operations. A recycle substrate is received. A first multilayered structure is formed on the recycle substrate. A trench is formed in the first multilayered structure. A lateral etching is performed to remove portions of sidewalls of the trench to form a recess in the first multilayered structure. The trench and the recess are sealed with an epitaxial layer, and a potential cracking interface is formed in the first multilayered structure. A second multilayered structure is formed over the first multilayered structure. The device layer of the recycle substrate is bonded to an insulator layer over an carrier substrate. The first multilayered structure is cleaved along the potential cracking interface to separate the recycle substrate from the second multilayered structure, the insulator layer and the carrier substrate. The device layer is exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: YU-HUNG CHENG, CHING I LI, CHIA-SHIUNG TSAI
  • Publication number: 20230066893
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes loading a first wafer and a second wafer onto a bonding platform such that the second wafer overlies the first wafer. An alignment process is performed to align the second wafer over the first wafer by virtue of a plurality of wafer pins, where a plurality of first parameters are associated with the wafer pins during the alignment process. The second wafer is bonded to the first wafer. An overlay (OVL) measurement process is performed on the first wafer and the second wafer by virtue of the plurality of wafer pins, where a plurality of second parameters are associated with the wafer pins during the alignment process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Ching-Hung Wang, Yeong-Jyh Lin, Ching I Li, Tzu-Wei Yu, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Publication number: 20230033270
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a sensor semiconductor layer. The sensor semiconductor layer is doped with a first dopant. A photodetector is along a frontside of the sensor semiconductor layer. A backside semiconductor layer is along a backside of the sensor semiconductor layer, opposite the frontside. The backside semiconductor layer is doped with a second dopant. A diffusion barrier structure is between the sensor semiconductor layer and the backside semiconductor layer. The diffusion barrier structure includes a third dopant different from the first dopant and the second dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Ching I Li, Chen-Hao Chiang, Eugene I-Chun Chen, Chin-Chia Kuo
  • Publication number: 20220384496
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having a photodiode surrounded by a back-side deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, a plurality of pixel regions is disposed within an image sensing die and respectively comprises a photodiode configured to convert radiation into an electrical signal. The photodiode comprises a photodiode doping column with a first doping type surrounded by a photodiode doping layer with a second doping type that is different than the first doping type. A BDTI structure is disposed between adjacent pixel regions and extending from the back-side of the image sensor die to a position within the photodiode doping layer. The BDTI structure comprises a doped liner with the second doping type and a dielectric fill layer. The doped liner lines a sidewall surface of the dielectric fill layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Chun-Tsung Kuo, Jiech-Fun Lu, Min-Ying Tsai, Chiao-Chun Hsu, Ching I Li
  • Publication number: 20220367535
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method for forming an integrated chip (IC), including forming a plurality of image sensing elements including a first doping type within a substrate, performing a first removal process to form deep trenches within the substrate, the deep trenches separating the plurality of image sensing elements from one another, performing an epitaxial growth process to form an isolation epitaxial precursor including a first material within the deep trenches and to form a light absorbing layer including a second material different than the first material within the deep trenches and between sidewalls of the isolation epitaxial precursor, performing a dopant activation process on the light absorbing layer and the isolation epitaxial precursor to form a doped isolation layer including a second doping type opposite the first doping type, and filling remaining portions of the deep trenches with an isolation filler structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Ching I Li, Yu-Siang Fang, Yu-Yao Hsia, Min-Ying Tsai
  • Publication number: 20220328419
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor processing system including an overlay (OVL) shift measurement device. The OVL shift measurement device is configured to determine an OVL shift between a first wafer and a second wafer, where the second wafer overlies the first wafer. A photolithography device is configured to perform one or more photolithography processes on the second wafer. A controller is configured to perform an alignment process on the photolithography device according to the determined OVL shift. The photolithography device performs the one or more photolithography processes based on the OVL shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Yeong-Jyh Lin, Ching I. Li, De-Yang Chiou, Sz-Fan Chen, Han-Jui Hu, Ching-Hung Wang, Ru-Liang Lee, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Publication number: 20220320154
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having an epitaxial deposited photodiode structure surrounded by an isolation structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, a first epitaxial deposition process is performed to form a first doped EPI layer over a substrate. The first doped EPI layer is of a first doping type. Then, a second epitaxial deposition process is performed to form a second doped EPI layer on the first doped EPI layer. The second doped EPI layer is of a second doping type opposite from the first doping type. Then, an isolation structure is formed to separate the first doped EPI layer and the second doped EPI layer as a plurality of photodiode structures within a plurality of pixel regions. The plurality of photodiode structures is configured to convert radiation that enters from a first side of the image sensor into an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Min-Ying Tsai, Ching I Li
  • Publication number: 20220293642
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip, including a substrate, a first image sensing element and a second image sensing element arranged next to one another over the substrate, the first image sensing element and the second image sensing element having a first doping type, and a backside deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure arranged between the first and second image sensing elements and including a first isolation epitaxial layer setting an outermost sidewall of the BDTI structure and having the first doping type, a second isolation epitaxial layer arranged along inner sidewalls of the first isolation epitaxial layer and having a second doping type different than the first doping type, and an isolation filler structure filling between inner sidewalls of the second isolation epitaxial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Ching I Li
  • Patent number: 11362038
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a plurality of upper alignment marks on a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of lower alignment marks is formed on a handle wafer and correspond to the upper alignment marks. The semiconductor wafer is bonded to the handle wafer such that centers of the upper alignment marks are laterally offset from centers of corresponding lower alignment marks. An overlay (OVL) shift is measured between the handle wafer and the semiconductor wafer by detecting the plurality of upper alignment marks and the plurality of lower alignment marks. A photolithography process is performed by a photolithography tool to partially form an integrated circuit (IC) structure over the semiconductor wafer. During the photolithography process the photolithography tool is compensatively aligned according to the OVL shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong-Jyh Lin, Ching I Li, De-Yang Chiou, Sz-Fan Chen, Han-Jui Hu, Ching-Hung Wang, Ru-Liang Lee, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Publication number: 20220140080
    Abstract: A method for fabricating p-type field effect transistor (FET) includes the steps of first providing a substrate, forming a pad layer on the substrate, forming a well in the substrate, performing an ion implantation process to implant germanium ions into the substrate to form a channel region, and then conducting an anneal process to divide the channel region into a top portion and a bottom portion. After removing the pad layer, a gate structure is formed on the substrate and a lightly doped drain (LDD) is formed adjacent to two sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Shi-You Liu, Tsai-Yu Wen, Ching-I Li, Ya-Yin Hsiao, Chih-Chiang Wu, Yu-Chun Liu, Ti-Bin Chen, Shao-Ping Chen, Huan-Chi Ma, Chien-Wen Yu
  • Publication number: 20220123031
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor comprising a substrate. A photodetector is in the substrate. A trench is in the substrate and is defined by sidewalls and an upper surface of the substrate. A first isolation layer extends along the sidewalls and the upper surface of the substrate that define the trench. The first isolation layer comprises a first dielectric material. A second isolation layer is over the first isolation layer. The second isolation layer lines the first isolation layer. The second isolation layer comprises a second dielectric material. A third isolation layer is over the second isolation layer. The third isolation layer fills the trench and lines the second isolation layer. The third isolation layer comprises a third material. A ratio of a first thickness of the first isolation layer to a second thickness of the second isolation layer is about 0.17 to 0.38.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Min-Ying Tsai, Cheng-Te Lee, Rei-Lin Chu, Ching I Li, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 11271078
    Abstract: A p-type field effect transistor (pFET) includes a gate structure on a substrate, a channel region in the substrate directly under the gate structure, and a source/drain region adjacent to two sides of the gate structure. Preferably, the channel region includes a top portion and a bottom portion, in which a concentration of germanium in the bottom portion is lower than a concentration of germanium in the top portion and a depth of the top portion is equal to a depth of the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Shi-You Liu, Tsai-Yu Wen, Ching-I Li, Ya-Yin Hsiao, Chih-Chiang Wu, Yu-Chun Liu, Ti-Bin Chen, Shao-Ping Chen, Huan-Chi Ma, Chien-Wen Yu
  • Publication number: 20220037199
    Abstract: Deep trench isolation structures for high voltage semiconductor-on-insulator devices are disclosed herein. An exemplary deep trench isolation structure surrounds an active region of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The deep trench isolation structure includes a first insulator sidewall spacer, a second insulator sidewall spacer, and a multilayer silicon-comprising isolation structure disposed between the first insulator sidewall spacer and the second insulator sidewall spacer. The multilayer silicon-comprising isolation structure includes a top polysilicon portion disposed over a bottom silicon portion. The bottom polysilicon portion is formed by a selective deposition process, while the top polysilicon portion is formed by a non-selective deposition process. In some embodiments, the bottom silicon portion is doped with boron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Yu-Chun Chang, Ching I Li, Ru-Liang Lee
  • Publication number: 20210375781
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a plurality of upper alignment marks on a semiconductor wafer. A plurality of lower alignment marks is formed on a handle wafer and correspond to the upper alignment marks. The semiconductor wafer is bonded to the handle wafer such that centers of the upper alignment marks are laterally offset from centers of corresponding lower alignment marks. An overlay (OVL) shift is measured between the handle wafer and the semiconductor wafer by detecting the plurality of upper alignment marks and the plurality of lower alignment marks. A photolithography process is performed by a photolithography tool to partially form an integrated circuit (IC) structure over the semiconductor wafer. During the photolithography process the photolithography tool is compensatively aligned according to the OVL shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Yeong-Jyh Lin, Ching I Li, De-Yang Chiou, Sz-Fan Chen, Han-Jui Hu, Ching-Hung Wang, Ru-Liang Lee, Chung-Yi Yu
  • Publication number: 20210335861
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having a photodiode surrounded by a back-side deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, a plurality of pixel regions is disposed within an image sensing die and respectively comprises a photodiode configured to convert radiation into an electrical signal. The photodiode comprises a photodiode doping column with a first doping type surrounded by a photodiode doping layer with a second doping type that is different than the first doping type. A BDTI structure is disposed between adjacent pixel regions and extending from the back-side of the image sensing die to a position within the photodiode doping layer. The BDTI structure comprises a doped liner with the second doping type and a dielectric fill layer. The doped liner lines a sidewall surface of the dielectric fill layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Cheng, Chun-Tsung Kuo, Jiech-Fun Lu, Min-Ying Tsai, Chiao-Chun Hsu, Ching I Li