Patents by Inventor De-Wei Yu

De-Wei Yu 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: 20190103284
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a silicon layer, which includes first portions over a plurality of strips, and second portions filled into trenches between the plurality of strips. The plurality of strips protrudes higher than a base structure. The method further includes performing an anneal to allow parts of the first portions of the silicon layer to migrate toward lower parts of the plurality of trenches, and performing an etching on the silicon layer to remove some portions of the silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Chien-Hao Chen, Chia-Ao Chang, Pin-Ju Liang
  • Publication number: 20190103476
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a silicon layer on a plurality of strips. The silicon layer is etched back to remove top portions of the silicon layer, and to expose some portions of the plurality of strips. Some bottom portions of the silicon layer at bottoms of trenches between the plurality of strips remain after the etching back. A germanium layer is selectively grown from remaining portions of the silicon layer, and exposed portions of the plurality of strips remain exposed after the germanium layer is selectively grown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Chien-Hao Chen, Ziwei Fang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 10249530
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a flowable dielectric layer on a substrate and annealing the flowable dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a high temperature (HT) doping process on the flowable dielectric layer. The HT doping process may include implanting dopant ions into the flowable dielectric layer and heating the substrate during the implanting of the dopant ions. The heating of the substrate may include heating a substrate holder upon which the substrate is disposed and maintaining the substrate at a temperature above 100° C. An example benefit reduced the wet etch rate (WER) of the flowable dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, De-Wei Yu, Ziwei Fang, Yi-Fan Chen
  • Publication number: 20190067083
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor device fabrication includes providing a substrate having a hardmask layer thereover. The hardmask layer is patterned to expose the substrate. The substrate is etched through the patterned hardmask layer to form a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate. An isolation feature between the first and second fin elements is formed, where the isolation feature has a first etch rate in a first solution. A laser anneal process is performed to irradiate the isolation feature with a pulsed laser beam. A pulse duration of the pulsed laser beam is adjusted based on a height of the isolation feature. The isolation feature after performing the laser anneal process has a second etch rate less than the first etch rate in the first solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: De-Wei YU, Tsu-Hsiu PERNG, Ziwei FANG
  • Patent number: 10170305
    Abstract: A method includes etching a portion of a semiconductor material between isolation regions to form a trench, forming a semiconductor seed layer extending on a bottom surface and sidewalls of the trench, etching-back the first semiconductor seed layer until a top surface of the semiconductor seed layer is lower than top surfaces of the isolation regions, performing a selective epitaxy to grow a semiconductor region from the semiconductor seed layer, and forming an additional semiconductor region over the semiconductor region to fill the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Lien Huang, De-Wei Yu
  • Patent number: 10115624
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor device fabrication includes providing a substrate having a hardmask layer thereover. The hardmask layer is patterned to expose the substrate. The substrate is etched through the patterned hardmask layer to form a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate. An isolation feature between the first and second fin elements is formed, where the isolation feature has a first etch rate in a first solution. A laser anneal process is performed to irradiate the isolation feature with a pulsed laser beam. A pulse duration of the pulsed laser beam is adjusted based on a height of the isolation feature. The isolation feature after performing the laser anneal process has a second etch rate less than the first etch rate in the first solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Tsu-Hsiu Perng, Ziwei Fang
  • Publication number: 20180308765
    Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate including a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate. A first layer including an amorphous material is formed over the first and second fin elements, where the first layer includes a gap disposed between the first and second fin elements. An anneal process is performed to remove the gap in the first layer. The amorphous material of the first layer remains amorphous during the performing of the anneal process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: De-Wei YU, Chia Ping LO, Liang-Gi YAO, Weng CHANG, Yee-Chia YEO, Ziwei FANG
  • Patent number: 10008418
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor device fabrication includes providing a substrate including a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate. A first layer is formed over the first and second fin elements, where the first layer includes a gap. A laser anneal process is performed to the substrate to remove the gap in the first layer. An energy applied to the first layer during the laser anneal process is adjusted based on a height of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Chia-Ping Lo, Liang-Gi Yao, Weng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo, Ziwei Fang
  • Publication number: 20180096898
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor device fabrication includes providing a substrate including a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate. A first layer is formed over the first and second fin elements, where the first layer includes a gap. A laser anneal process is performed to the substrate to remove the gap in the first layer. An energy applied to the first layer during the laser anneal process is adjusted based on a height of the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: De-Wei YU, Chia-Ping LO, Liang-Gi YAO, Weng CHANG, Yee-Chia YEO, Ziwei FANG
  • Publication number: 20180005869
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor device fabrication includes providing a substrate having a hardmask layer thereover. The hardmask layer is patterned to expose the substrate. The substrate is etched through the patterned hardmask layer to form a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate. An isolation feature between the first and second fin elements is formed, where the isolation feature has a first etch rate in a first solution. A laser anneal process is performed to irradiate the isolation feature with a pulsed laser beam. A pulse duration of the pulsed laser beam is adjusted based on a height of the isolation feature. The isolation feature after performing the laser anneal process has a second etch rate less than the first etch rate in the first solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: De-Wei YU, Tsu-Hsiu PERNG, Ziwei FANG
  • Publication number: 20170207117
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a flowable dielectric layer on a substrate and annealing the flowable dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a high temperature (HT) doping process on the flowable dielectric layer. The FIT doping process may include implanting dopant ions into the flowable dielectric layer and heating the substrate during the implanting of the dopant ions. The heating of the substrate may include heating a substrate holder upon which the substrate is disposed and maintaining the substrate at a temperature above 100° C. An example benefit reduced the wet etch rate (WER) of the flowable dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun WANG, De-Wei YU, Ziwei FANG, Yi-Fan CHEN
  • Patent number: 9634141
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a flowable dielectric layer on a substrate and annealing the flowable dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a high temperature (HT) doping process on the flowable dielectric layer. The HT doping process may include implanting dopant ions into the flowable dielectric layer and heating the substrate during the implanting of the dopant ions. The heating of the substrate may include heating a substrate holder upon which the substrate is disposed and maintaining the substrate at a temperature above 100° C. An example benefit reduced the wet etch rate (WER) of the flowable dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, De-Wei Yu, Ziwei Fang, Yi-Fan Chen
  • Publication number: 20170110577
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a flowable dielectric layer on a substrate and annealing the flowable dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a high temperature (HT) doping process on the flowable dielectric layer. The HT doping process may include implanting dopant ions into the flowable dielectric layer and heating the substrate during the implanting of the dopant ions. The heating of the substrate may include heating a substrate holder upon which the substrate is disposed and maintaining the substrate at a temperature above 100° C. An example benefit reduced the wet etch rate (WER) of the flowable dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun WANG, De-Wei YU, Ziwei FANG, Yi-Fan CHEN
  • Patent number: 9482518
    Abstract: Methods and systems that include receiving a plurality of reflectivity measurements on a semiconductor wafer. A reflectivity map is generated based on the received plurality of reflectivity measurements. The generated reflectivity map is used to determine a process parameter of an epitaxial growth process using the reflectivity map. In an embodiment, the process parameter is a power setting (heating) of a lamp of a CVD epitaxy tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Sheng-Wen Yu, De-Wei Yu
  • Patent number: 9450097
    Abstract: A method of doping a fin field-effect transistor includes forming a plurality of semiconductor fins on a substrate wherein each semiconductor fin of the plurality of semiconductor fins has a top surface and sidewalls. The method includes forming a gate stack over the top surface and sidewalls of each semiconductor fin. The method includes removing a portion of a first semiconductor fin exposed by the gate stack. The method includes growing a first stressor region connected to a remaining portion of the first semiconductor fin. The method includes exposing a second semiconductor fin to a deposition process to form a dopant-rich layer comprising an n-type or a p-type dopant on the top surface and the sidewalls of the second semiconductor fin. The method includes diffusing the dopant from the dopant-rich layer into the second semiconductor fin using an annealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Yu-Lien Huang, De-Wei Yu
  • Patent number: 9324865
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having dislocations and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device is disclosed. The exemplary semiconductor device and method for fabricating the semiconductor device enhance carrier mobility. The method includes providing a substrate having an isolation feature therein and two gate stacks overlying the substrate, wherein one of the gate stacks is atop the isolation feature. The method further includes performing a pre-amorphous implantation process on the substrate. The method further includes forming a stress film over the substrate. The method also includes performing an annealing process on the substrate and the stress film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ziwei Fang, Tsan-Chun Wang, De-Wei Yu
  • Publication number: 20160071973
    Abstract: A method of doping a fin field-effect transistor includes forming a plurality of semiconductor fins on a substrate wherein each semiconductor fin of the plurality of semiconductor fins has a top surface and sidewalls. The method includes forming a gate stack over the top surface and sidewalls of each semiconductor fin. The method includes removing a portion of a first semiconductor fin exposed by the gate stack. The method includes growing a first stressor region connected to a remaining portion of the first semiconductor fin. The method includes exposing a second semiconductor fin to a deposition process to form a dopant-rich layer comprising an n-type or a p-type dopant on the top surface and the sidewalls of the second semiconductor fin. The method includes diffusing the dopant from the dopant-rich layer into the second semiconductor fin using an annealing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung TSAI, Yu-Lien HUANG, De-Wei YU
  • Patent number: 9209280
    Abstract: A method of doping a FinFET includes forming a semiconductor fin on a substrate, the substrate having a first device region and a second device region. The semiconductor fin is formed on a surface of the substrate in the second device region and has a top surface and sidewalls. The first device region is covered with a hard mask and the semiconductor fin and the hard mask are exposed to a deposition process to form a dopant-rich layer having an n-type or p-type dopant on the top surface and the sidewalls of the semiconductor fin. The dopant from the dopant-rich layer is diffused into the semiconductor fin by performing an annealing process in which the first device region is free of diffusion of the diffused dopant or another dopant from the hard mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Yu-Lien Huang, De-Wei Yu
  • Publication number: 20150292868
    Abstract: Methods and systems that include receiving a plurality of reflectivity measurements on a semiconductor wafer. A reflectivity map is generated based on the received plurality of reflectivity measurements. The generated reflectivity map is used to determine a process parameter of an epitaxial growth process using the reflectivity map. In an embodiment, the process parameter is a power setting (heating) of a lamp of a CVD epitaxy tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Sheng-Wen Yu, De-Wei Yu
  • Publication number: 20150155370
    Abstract: A method of doping a FinFET includes forming a semiconductor fin on a substrate, the substrate having a first device region and a second device region. The semiconductor fin is formed on a surface of the substrate in the second device region and has a top surface and sidewalls. The first device region is covered with a hard mask and the semiconductor fin and the hard mask are exposed to a deposition process to form a dopant-rich layer having an n-type or p-type dopant on the top surface and the sidewalls of the semiconductor fin. The dopant from the dopant-rich layer is diffused into the semiconductor fin by performing an annealing process in which the first device region is free of diffusion of the diffused dopant or another dopant from the hard mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung TSAI, Yu-Lien HUANG, De-Wei YU