Patents by Inventor Ching-Wei Tsai

Ching-Wei Tsai 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: 11158721
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor device including an nFET structure and a pFET structure where each of the nFET and pFET structures include a semiconductor substrate and a gate trench. The method includes depositing an interfacial layer in each gate trench; depositing a first metal oxide layer over the interfacial layer; removing the first metal oxide layer from the pFET structure; depositing a ferroelectric layer in each gate trench; depositing a second metal oxide layer over the ferroelectric layer; removing the second metal oxide layer from the nFET structure; and depositing a gate electrode in each gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Cao, Pei-Yu Wang, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11158728
    Abstract: Multi-gate semiconductor devices and methods for forming thereof including forming air gaps between the gate and the adjacent source/drain features. A first fin element including a plurality of silicon layers is disposed on a substrate, a first gate structure is formed over a channel region of the first fin element. An air gap is formed such that it is disposed on a sidewall of the portion of the first gate structure. An epitaxial source/drain feature abuts the air gap. A portion of the first gate structure may also be disposed between first and second layers of the plurality of silicon layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ting Chung, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11158727
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of semiconductor fabrication that includes forming a semiconductor fin protruding from a substrate, the semiconductor fin including a plurality of first semiconductor layers of a first semiconductor material and second semiconductor layers of a second semiconductor material alternatively stacked, the second semiconductor material being different from the first semiconductor material in composition; forming a first gate stack on the semiconductor fin; forming a recess in the semiconductor fin within a source/drain (S/D) region adjacent to the first gate stack, a sidewall of the first and second semiconductor material layers being exposed within the recess; performing an etching process to the semiconductor fin, resulting in an undercut below the first gate stack; epitaxially growing on the sidewall of the semiconductor fin to fill in the undercut with a semiconductor extended feature of the first semiconductor material; and growing an epitaxial S/D feature from the rece
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pei-Hsun Wang, Chih-Chao Chou, Chun-Hsiung Lin, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11158634
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of semiconductor devices. A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure include an elongated semiconductor member surrounded by an isolation feature and extending lengthwise along a first direction, a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature over a top surface of the elongated semiconductor member, a vertical stack of channel members each extending lengthwise between the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature along the first direction, a gate structure wrapping around each of the channel members, an epitaxial layer deposited on the bottom surface of the elongated semiconductor member, a silicide layer disposed on the epitaxial layer, and a conductive layer disposed on the silicide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Xuan Huang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Jam-Wem Lee, Kuo-Ji Chen, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Publication number: 20210328059
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a plurality of first channel members and a first gate structure wrapping around each of the plurality of first channel members. The second transistor includes a plurality of second channel members and a second gate structure disposed over the plurality of second channel members. Each of the plurality of first channel members has a first width and a first height smaller than the first width. Each of the plurality of second channel members has a second width and a second height greater than the second width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Cheng-Ting Chung, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11152358
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method to form a fin field effect transistor (finFET) and a nano-sheet transistor on a substrate. The method can include forming first and second vertical structures over a substrate, where each of the first and the second vertical structures can include a buffer region and a first channel layer formed over the buffer region. The method can further include disposing a masking layer over the first channel layer of the first and second vertical structures, removing a portion of the first vertical structure to form a first recess, forming a second channel layer in the first recess, forming a second recess in the second channel layer, and disposing an insulating layer in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wang-Chun Huang, Chih-Hao Wang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11145765
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a fin substrate having a first dopant concentration; an anti-punch through (APT) layer disposed over the fin substrate, wherein the APT layer has a second dopant concentration that is greater than the first dopant concentration; a nanostructure including semiconductor layers disposed over the APT layer; a gate structure disposed over the nanostructure and wrapping each of the semiconductor layers, wherein the gate structure includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode; a first epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature and a second epitaxial S/D feature disposed over the APT layer, wherein the gate structure is disposed between the first epitaxial S/D feature and the second epitaxial S/D feature; and an isolation layer disposed between the APT layer and the fin substrate, wherein a material of the isolation layer is the same as a material of the gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ting Chung, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11145748
    Abstract: One or more semiconductor arrangements and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. A semiconductor arrangement comprises a channel, such as an un-doped channel, over a substrate. The semiconductor arrangement comprises a gate, such as a gate-all-around structure gate, around the channel. The semiconductor arrangement comprises an isolation structure, such as a silicon germanium oxide structure, between the gate and the substrate. The isolation structure blocks current leakage into the substrate. Because the semiconductor arrangement comprises the isolation structure, the channel can be left un-doped, which improves electron mobility and decreases gate capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chih-Hao Wang, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Publication number: 20210313235
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first recess and a second recess in a substrate; growing a first epitaxial material stack in the first recess, the first epitaxial material stack including alternating layers of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, the layers of the first epitaxial material stack being undoped; growing a second epitaxial material stack in the second recess, the second epitaxial material stack including alternating layers of the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material, a first subset of the second epitaxial material stack being undoped, a second subset of the second epitaxial material stack being doped; patterning the first epitaxial material stack and the second epitaxial material stack to respectively form first nanowires and second nanowires; and forming a first gate structure around the first nanowires and a second gate structure around the second nanowires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Yi-Bo Liao, Kai-Chieh Yang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11139381
    Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, in a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure in which first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately stacked is formed. A sacrificial gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A first cover layer is formed over the sacrificial gate structure, and a second cover layer is formed over the first cover layer. A source/drain epitaxial layer is formed. After the source/drain epitaxial layer is formed, the second cover layer is removed, thereby forming a gap between the source/drain epitaxial layer and the first cover layer, from which a part of the fin structure is exposed. Part of the first semiconductor layers is removed in the gap, thereby forming spaces between the second semiconductor layers. The spaces are filled with a first insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20210305246
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with air spacers and air caps and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a fin structure disposed on the substrate. The fin structure includes a first fin portion and a second fin portion. The semiconductor device further includes a source/drain (S/D) region disposed on the first fin portion, a contact structure disposed on the S/D region, a gate structure disposed on the second fin portion, an air spacer disposed between a sidewall of the gate structure and the contact structure, a cap seal disposed on the gate structure, and an air cap disposed between a top surface of the gate structure and the cap seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu HUANG, Chiao-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Publication number: 20210305249
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit that includes a circuit formed on a semiconductor substrate; and a de-cap device formed on the semiconductor substrate and integrated with the circuit. The de-cap device includes a filed-effect transistor (FET) that further includes a source and a drain connected through contact features landing on the source and drain, respectively; a gate stack overlying a channel and interposed between the source and the drain; and a doped feature disposed underlying the channel and connecting to the source and the drain, wherein the doped feature is doped with a dopant of a same type of the source and the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Ching-Wei Tsai, Yu-Xuan Huang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Wei Ju Lee, Chun-Fu Cheng, Chung-Wei Wu
  • Publication number: 20210296317
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the formation of gate-all-around nano-sheet FETs with tunable performance. The method includes disposing a first and a second vertical structure with different widths over a substrate, where the first and the second vertical structures have a top portion comprising a multilayer nano-sheet stack with alternating first and second nano-sheet layers. The method also includes disposing a sacrificial gate structure over the top portion of the first and second vertical structures; depositing an isolation layer over the first and second vertical structures so that the isolation layer surrounds a sidewall of the sacrificial gate structure; etching the sacrificial gate structure to expose each multilayer nano-sheet stack from the first and second vertical structures; removing the second nano-sheet layers from each exposed multilayer nano-sheet stack to form suspended first nano-sheet layers; forming a metal gate structure to surround the suspended first nano-sheet layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsu Ohtou, Ching-Wei Tsai, Jiun-Jia Huang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chi-Hsing Hsu
  • Publication number: 20210296179
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a device includes providing a first fin in a first device type region and a second fin in a second device type region. Each of the first and second fins include a plurality of semiconductor channel layers. A two-step recess of an STI region on opposing sides of each of the first and second fins is performed to expose a first number of semiconductor channel layers of the first fin and a second number of semiconductor channel layers of the second fin. A first gate structure is formed in the first device type region and a second gate structure is formed in the second device type region. The first gate structure is formed over the first fin having the first number of exposed semiconductor channel layers, and the second gate structure is formed over the second fin having the second number of exposed semiconductor channel layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Shi Ning JU, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Ching-Wei TSAI, Kuan-Lun CHENG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Publication number: 20210296177
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a substantially undoped channel region includes forming a plurality of fins extending from a substrate. In various embodiments, each of the plurality of fins includes a portion of a substrate, a portion of a first epitaxial layer on the portion of the substrate, and a portion of a second epitaxial layer on the portion of the first epitaxial layer. The portion of the first epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins is oxidized, and a liner layer is formed over each of the plurality of fins. Recessed isolation regions are then formed adjacent to the liner layer. The liner layer may then be etched to expose a residual material portion (e.g., Ge residue) adjacent to a bottom surface of the portion of the second epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins, and the residual material portion is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ching-Wei TSAI, Ying-Keung LEUNG
  • Publication number: 20210296485
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region; a first fin active region of a first semiconductor material disposed within the first region, oriented in a first direction, wherein the first fin active region has a <100> crystalline direction along the first direction; and a second fin active region of a second semiconductor material disposed within the second region and oriented in the first direction, wherein the second fin active region has a <110> crystalline direction along the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Tzer-Min Shen, Zhiqiang Wu, Chung-Cheng Wu, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang, Min Cao
  • Publication number: 20210288076
    Abstract: A finFET device that includes a substrate and at least one semiconductor fin extending from the substrate. The fin may include a plurality of wide portions comprising a first semiconductor material and one or more narrow portions. The one or more narrow portions have a second width less than the first width of the wide portions. Each of the one or more narrow portions separates two of the plurality of wide portions from one another such that the plurality of wide portions and the one or more narrow portions are arranged alternatingly in a substantially vertical direction that is substantially perpendicular with a surface of the substrate. The fin may also include a channel layer covering sidewalls of the plurality of wide portions and a sidewall of the one or more narrow portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: WANG-CHUN HUANG, KAI-CHIEH YANG, CHING-WEI TSAI, KUAN-LUN CHENG, CHIH-HAO WANG
  • Patent number: 11121037
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first gate stack and a second gate stack over a substrate. The substrate has a base, a first fin structure, and a second fin structure over the base, the second fin structure is wider than the first fin structure. The method includes partially removing the first fin structure, which is not covered by the first gate stack, and the second fin structure, which is not covered by the second gate stack. The method includes forming an inner spacer layer over the first fin structure, which is not covered by the first gate stack. The method includes forming a first stressor and a second stressor respectively over the inner spacer layer and the second fin structure, which is not covered by the second gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Wei Tsai, Yu-Xuan Huang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang, Min Cao, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Pei-Hsun Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Publication number: 20210280709
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor fin structure over a substrate, forming a dielectric fin structure laterally spaced apart from the semiconductor fin structure, forming a source/drain spacer between the semiconductor fin structure and the dielectric fin structure, etching an upper portion of the semiconductor fin structure to expose a lower portion of the semiconductor fin structure, and forming a source/drain feature over the lower portion of the semiconductor fin structure. The source/drain spacer is interposed between the source/drain feature and the dielectric fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Shi-Ning JU, Ching-Wei TSAI, Kuan-Lun CHENG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Publication number: 20210273100
    Abstract: A multi-gate semiconductor device is formed that provides a first fin element extending from a substrate. A gate structure extends over a channel region of the first fin element. The channel region of the first fin element includes a plurality of channel semiconductor layers each surrounded by a portion of the gate structure. A source/drain region of the first fin element is adjacent the gate structure. The source/drain region includes a first semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer over the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer over the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ching-Wei TSAI, Carlos H. DIAZ, Chih-Hao WANG, Wai-Yi LIEN, Ying-Keung LEUNG