Patents by Inventor Chun-Feng Nieh

Chun-Feng Nieh 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: 11043580
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, fin structures each having an upper portion and a lower portion, are formed. The lower portion is embedded in an isolation insulating layer disposed over a substrate and the upper portion protrudes the isolation insulating layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the upper portion of each of the fin structures. A conductive layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed over the conductive layer. An ion implantation operation is performed on the fin structures with the cap layer. The ion implantation operation is performed multiple times using different implantation angles to introduce ions into one side surface of each of the fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Patent number: 11031293
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin extending along a first direction on a semiconductor substrate and forming a sacrificial gate electrode structure extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction over the fin. The sacrificial gate electrode structure comprises a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode layer disposed over the sacrificial gate dielectric layer. Opposing gate sidewall spacers are formed extending along the second direction, on opposing sides of the sacrificial gate electrode layer. The sacrificial gate electrode layer is removed to form a gate space. Fluorine is implanted into the gate sidewall spacers after removing the gate electrode layer by performing a first fluorine implantation. The sacrificial gate dielectric layer is removed and a high-k gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Publication number: 20210159226
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure and an isolation layer formed on the substrate and adjacent to the fin structure. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed on at least a portion of the fin structure and the isolation layer. The semiconductor device includes an epitaxial layer including a strained material that provides stress to a channel region of the fin structure. The epitaxial layer has a first region and a second region, in which the first region has a first doping concentration of a first doping agent and the second region has a second doping concentration of a second doping agent. The first doping concentration is greater than the second doping concentration. The epitaxial layer is doped by ion implantation using phosphorous dimer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Chang LIN, Chun-Feng NIEH, Huicheng CHANG, Hou-Yu CHEN, Yong-Yan LU
  • Patent number: 11011428
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin extending along a first direction on a semiconductor substrate and forming a sacrificial gate electrode structure extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction over the fin. The sacrificial gate electrode structure comprises a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode layer disposed over the sacrificial gate dielectric layer. Opposing gate sidewall spacers are formed extending along the second direction, on opposing sides of the sacrificial gate electrode layer. The sacrificial gate electrode layer is removed to form a gate space. Fluorine is implanted into the gate sidewall spacers after removing the gate electrode layer by performing a first fluorine implantation. The sacrificial gate dielectric layer is removed and a high-k gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Publication number: 20210083056
    Abstract: A FinFET is provided including a channel region containing a constituent element and excess atoms, the constituent element belonging to a group of the periodic table of elements, wherein said excess atoms are nitrogen, or belong to said group of the periodic table of elements, and a concentration of said excess atoms in the channel region is in the range between about 1019 cm?3 and about 1020 cm?3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Lin, Tien-Shun Chang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang
  • Patent number: 10930507
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes performing a first implantation process on a semiconductor substrate to form a deep p-well region, performing a second implantation process on the semiconductor substrate with a diffusion-retarding element to form a co-implantation region, and performing a third implantation process on the semiconductor substrate to form a shallow p-well region over the deep p-well region. The co-implantation region is spaced apart from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate by a portion of the shallow p-well region, and the dee p-well region and the shallow p-well region are joined with each other. An n-type Fin Field-Effect Transistor (FinFET) is formed, with the deep p-well region and the shallow p-well region acting as a well region of the n-type FinFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sih-Jie Liu, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang
  • Patent number: 10916546
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure and an isolation layer formed on the substrate and adjacent to the fin structure. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed on at least a portion of the fin structure and the isolation layer. The semiconductor device includes an epitaxial layer including a strained material that provides stress to a channel region of the fin structure. The epitaxial layer has a first region and a second region, in which the first region has a first doping concentration of a first doping agent and the second region has a second doping concentration of a second doping agent. The first doping concentration is greater than the second doping concentration. The epitaxial layer is doped by ion implantation using phosphorous dimer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Lin, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang, Hou-Yu Chen, Yong-Yan Lu
  • Publication number: 20200411672
    Abstract: A finFET device and methods of forming a finFET device are provided. The method includes depositing a dummy gate over and along sidewalls of a fin extending upwards from a semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate spacer along a sidewall of the dummy gate, and plasma-doping the first gate spacer with carbon to form a carbon-doped gate spacer. The method further includes forming a source/drain region adjacent a channel region of the fin and diffusing carbon from the carbon-doped gate spacer into a first region of the fin to provide a first carbon-doped region. The first carbon-doped region is disposed between at least a portion of the source/drain region and the channel region of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Lin, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang, Wei-Ting Chien, Chih-Pin Tsao, Hou-Ju Li, Tien-Shun Chang
  • Publication number: 20200395481
    Abstract: An embodiment is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a fin on a substrate. A gate structure is formed over the fin. A recess is formed in the fin proximate the gate structure. A gradient doped region is formed in the fin with a p-type dopant. The gradient doped region extends from a bottom surface of the recess to a vertical depth below the recess in the fin. A source/drain region is formed in the recess and on the gradient doped regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jyun-Hao Lin, Chun-Feng Nieh, Yu-Chang Lin, Huicheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20200395462
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing, is provided. A dummy gate is formed on a semiconductor substrate. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) is formed over the semiconductor fin. A dopant is implanted into the ILD. The dummy gate is removed and an anneal is performed on the ILD. The implantation and the anneal lead to an enhancement of channel resistance by a reduction in gate dielectric thickness and to an enlargement of critical dimensions of a metal gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Lin, Tien-Shun Chang, Szu-Ying Chen, Chun-Feng Nieh, Sen-Hong Syue, Huicheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20200365414
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In some embodiments a divergent ion beam is utilized to implant ions into a capping layer, wherein the capping layer is located over a first metal layer, a dielectric layer, and an interfacial layer over a semiconductor fin. The ions are then driven from the capping layer into one or more of the first metal layer, the dielectric layer, and the interfacial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh
  • Patent number: 10832913
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure comprises heating a solid material to form a gaseous substance; ionizing the gaseous substance to produce a first type of ions; and implanting the first type of ions into a semiconductor substrate. The method can achieve better abruptness, better shallow junction depth, and better sheet resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chiao-Ting Tai, Che-Fu Chiu, Chun-Feng Nieh
  • Patent number: 10770570
    Abstract: A finFET device and methods of forming a finFET device are provided. The method includes depositing a dummy gate over and along sidewalls of a fin extending upwards from a semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate spacer along a sidewall of the dummy gate, and plasma-doping the first gate spacer with carbon to form a carbon-doped gate spacer. The method further includes forming a source/drain region adjacent a channel region of the fin and diffusing carbon from the carbon-doped gate spacer into a first region of the fin to provide a first carbon-doped region. The first carbon-doped region is disposed between at least a portion of the source/drain region and the channel region of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Lin, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang, Wei-Ting Chien, Chih-Pin Tsao, Hou-Ju Li, Tien-Shun Chang
  • Patent number: 10763363
    Abstract: An embodiment is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a fin on a substrate. A gate structure is formed over the fin. A recess is formed in the fin proximate the gate structure. A gradient doped region is formed in the fin with a p-type dopant. The gradient doped region extends from a bottom surface of the recess to a vertical depth below the recess in the fin. A source/drain region is formed in the recess and on the gradient doped regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Hao Lin, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang, Yu-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 10741412
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In some embodiments a divergent ion beam is utilized to implant ions into a capping layer, wherein the capping layer is located over a first metal layer, a dielectric layer, and an interfacial layer over a semiconductor fin. The ions are then driven from the capping layer into one or more of the first metal layer, the dielectric layer, and the interfacial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh
  • Patent number: 10714598
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, fin structures each having an upper portion and a lower portion, are formed. The lower portion is embedded in an isolation insulating layer disposed over a substrate and the upper portion protrudes the isolation insulating layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the upper portion of each of the fin structures. A conductive layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed over the conductive layer. An ion implantation operation is performed on the fin structures with the cap layer. The ion implantation operation is performed multiple times using different implantation angles to introduce ions into one side surface of each of the fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Patent number: 10714344
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to methods for forming a mask for patterning a feature in semiconductor processing. In an embodiment, a dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A mask is formed over the dielectric layer. Forming the mask includes depositing a first layer over the dielectric layer; implanting in a first implant process a dopant species through a patterned material and into the first layer at a first energy; after implanting in the first implant process, implanting in a second implant process the dopant species through the patterned material and into the first layer at a second energy greater than the first energy; and forming mask portions of the mask comprising selectively removing portions of the first layer that are not implanted with the dopant species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Shun Chang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20200203507
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, fin structures each having an upper portion and a lower portion, are formed. The lower portion is embedded in an isolation insulating layer disposed over a substrate and the upper portion protrudes the isolation insulating layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the upper portion of each of the fin structures. A conductive layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed over the conductive layer. An ion implantation operation is performed on the fin structures with the cap layer. The ion implantation operation is performed multiple times using different implantation angles to introduce ions into one side surface of each of the fin structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun WANG, Chun-Feng NIEH, Chiao-Ting TAI
  • Publication number: 20200135736
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin structure and an isolation layer formed on the substrate and adjacent to the fin structure. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure formed on at least a portion of the fin structure and the isolation layer. The semiconductor device includes an epitaxial layer including a strained material that provides stress to a channel region of the fin structure. The epitaxial layer has a first region and a second region, in which the first region has a first doping concentration of a first doping agent and the second region has a second doping concentration of a second doping agent. The first doping concentration is greater than the second doping concentration. The epitaxial layer is doped by ion implantation using phosphorous dimer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Yu-Chang LIN, Chun-Feng NIEH, Huicheng CHANG, Hou-Yu CHEN, Yong-Yan LU
  • Publication number: 20200135469
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes performing a first implantation process on a semiconductor substrate to form a deep p-well region, performing a second implantation process on the semiconductor substrate with a diffusion-retarding element to form a co-implantation region, and performing a third implantation process on the semiconductor substrate to form a shallow p-well region over the deep p-well region. The co-implantation region is spaced apart from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate by a portion of the shallow p-well region, and the dee p-well region and the shallow p-well region are joined with each other. An n-type Fin Field-Effect Transistor (FinFET) is formed, with the deep p-well region and the shallow p-well region acting as a well region of the n-type FinFET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Sih-Jie Liu, Chun-Feng Nieh, Huicheng Chang