Patents by Inventor Feng-Ching Chu

Feng-Ching Chu 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: 11937426
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure and a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, and a dielectric stack over the substrate. The dielectric stack includes a first layer over the substrate and a second layer over the first layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate layer including a first portion traversing the second layer and a second portion extending between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Feng-Cheng Yang, Katherine H. Chiang, Chung-Te Lin, Chieh-Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 11917803
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a gate-all-around (GAA) transistor in a first device area and a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) in a second device area. The GAA transistor includes a plurality of vertically stacked channel members and a first gate structure over and around the plurality of vertically stacked channel members. The FinFET includes a fin-shaped channel member and a second gate structure over the fin-shaped channel member. The fin-shaped channel member includes semiconductor layers interleaved by sacrificial layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11908748
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first region and a second region of opposite conductivity types, an isolation feature over the substrate, a first fin protruding from the substrate and through the isolation feature in the first region, a first epitaxial feature over the first fin, a second fin protruding from the substrate and through the isolation feature in the second region, and a second epitaxial feature over the second fin. A portion of the isolation feature located between the first fin and the second fin protrudes from a top surface of the isolation feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11901236
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate and a first transistor on the substrate. The first transistor includes two first source/drain features, a stack of first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers alternately stacked one over another and disposed between the two first source/drain features, a first gate dielectric layer disposed over top and sidewalls of the stack of the first and the second semiconductor layers, a first gate electrode layer disposed over the first gate dielectric layer, and first spacer features disposed laterally between each of the second semiconductor layers and each of the two first source/drain features and electrically isolating each of the second semiconductor layers from each of the two first source/drain features. The first semiconductor layers electrically connect the two first source/drain features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11894421
    Abstract: Various examples of an integrated circuit device and a method for forming the device are disclosed herein. In an example, a method includes receiving a workpiece that includes a substrate, and a device fin extending above the substrate. The device fin includes a channel region. A portion of the device fin adjacent the channel region is etched, and the etching creates a source/drain recess and forms a dielectric barrier within the source/drain recess. The workpiece is cleaned such that a bottommost portion of the dielectric barrier remains within a bottommost portion of the source/drain recess. A source/drain feature is formed within the source/drain recess such that the bottommost portion of the dielectric barrier is disposed between the source/drain feature and a remainder of the device fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.V
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Yen-Ming Chen, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 11862712
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes a merged source/drain feature extending between two adjacent fin structures. An air gap is formed under the merged source/drain feature. Forming the epitaxial feature includes growing a first epitaxial feature having a first portion over the first fin structure and a second portion over the second fin structure, growing a second epitaxial feature over the first and second portions of the first epitaxial feature, and growing a third epitaxial feature over the second epitaxial feature. The second epitaxial feature includes a merged portion between the first fin structure and the second fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Chung-Chi Wen, Wei-Yuan Lu, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11854688
    Abstract: Methods for performing a pre-clean process to remove an oxide in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a shallow trench isolation region over a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack over the shallow trench isolation region; etching the shallow trench isolation region adjacent the gate stack using an anisotropic etching process; and after etching the shallow trench isolation region with the anisotropic etching process, etching the shallow trench isolation region with an isotropic etching process, process gases for the isotropic etching process including hydrogen fluoride (HF) and ammonia (NH3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20230389320
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure and a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, and a dielectric stack over the substrate. The dielectric stack includes a first layer over the substrate and a second layer over the first layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate layer including a first portion traversing the second layer and a second portion extending between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Feng-Cheng Yang, Katherine H. Chiang, Chung-Te Lin, Chieh-Fang Chen
  • Publication number: 20230377987
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fin-like field effect transistor (FinFET) device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a region for forming p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) devices and a region for forming n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) devices, forming fin structures in both regions of the substrate separated by isolation features, first forming source/drain (S/D) features in the PMOS region, and subsequently forming S/D features in the NMOS region. First forming the PMOS S/D features and then forming the NMOS S/D features results in a greater extent of loss of isolation features in the PMOS region than in the NMOS region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20230378290
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin stack, a gate structure on the fin stack, a source region on a first side of the gate structure, a drain region on a second side of the gate structure opposite the first side, and a source contact extending to and connecting the source region. The source region and the drain region are asymmetric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11810825
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fin-like field effect transistor (FinFET) device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a region for forming p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) devices and a region for forming n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) devices, forming fin structures in both regions of the substrate separated by isolation features, first forming source/drain (S/D) features in the PMOS region, and subsequently forming S/D features in the NMOS region. First forming the PMOS S/D features and then forming the NMOS S/D features results in a greater extent of loss of isolation features in the PMOS region than in the NMOS region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11769820
    Abstract: Methods and devices formed thereof that include a fin structure extending from a substrate and a gate structure is formed over the fin structure. An epitaxial feature is formed over the fin structure adjacent the gate structure. The epitaxial feature can include a hollow region (or dielectric filled hollow region) in the epitaxial source/drain region. A selective etching process is performed to remove at least a portion of an epitaxial region having a second dopant type to form the hollow area between the first epitaxial portion and the third epitaxial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20230253450
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation structure; first and second source/drain (S/D) features over the isolation structure, defining a first direction from the first S/D feature to the second S/D feature from a top view; one or more channel layers connecting the first and the second S/D features; a gate structure between the first and the second S/D features and engaging each of the one or more channel layers; and a via structure under the first S/D feature and electrically connecting to the first S/D feature. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the first direction, the via structure has a profile that widens and then narrows along a bottom-up direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20230119318
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first fin structure extended above a substrate along a first direction, and a first gate structure formed over the first fin structure along a second direction. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain (S/D) structure formed over the first fin structure and adjacent to the first gate structure, and a cap layer formed on and in direct contact with the first S/D structure. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation structure formed adjacent to the first gate structure and the first S/D structure along the first direction, and a bottom surface of the isolation structure is lower than a bottom surface of the first gate structure and a bottom surface of the first S/D structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching CHU, Wei-Yang LEE, Feng-Cheng YANG, Yen-Ming CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230117516
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary method of manufacture comprises receiving a substrate including a semiconductor material stack formed thereon, wherein the semiconductor material stack includes a first semiconductor layer of a first semiconductor material and second semiconductor layer of a second semiconductor material that is different than the first semiconductor material. Patterning the semiconductor material stack to form a trench. The patterning includes performing a first etch process with a first etchant for a first duration and then performing a second etch process with a second etchant for a second duration, where the second etchant is different from the first etchant and the second duration is greater than the first duration. The first etch process and the second etch process are repeated a number of times. Then epitaxially growing a third semiconductor layer of the first semiconductor material on a sidewall of the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11631736
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an isolation structure; first and second source/drain (S/D) features over the isolation structure, defining a first direction from the first S/D feature to the second S/D feature from a top view; one or more channel layers connecting the first and the second S/D features; a gate structure between the first and the second S/D features and engaging each of the one or more channel layers; and a via structure under the first S/D feature and electrically connecting to the first S/D feature. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the first direction, the via structure has a profile that widens and then narrows along a bottom-up direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20230084821
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first region and a second region of opposite conductivity types, an isolation feature over the substrate, a first fin protruding from the substrate and through the isolation feature in the first region, a first epitaxial feature over the first fin, a second fin protruding from the substrate and through the isolation feature in the second region, and a second epitaxial feature over the second fin. A portion of the isolation feature located between the first fin and the second fin protrudes from a top surface of the isolation feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20230063984
    Abstract: Methods and associated devices including the fabrication of a semiconductor structure that provides a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The semiconductor structure may be formed by providing a base substrate, forming a sacrificial layer over the base structure, and forming a semiconductor layer over the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed to form a void that is filled with oxide. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric support feature extending through the semiconductor and oxide layers and/or a portion of the oxide layer extends to the surface of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Feng-Ching CHU, I-Hsieh WONG, Wei-Yang LEE, Chia-Pin LIN
  • Patent number: 11575047
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary method of manufacture comprises receiving a substrate including a semiconductor material stack formed thereon, wherein the semiconductor material stack includes a first semiconductor layer of a first semiconductor material and second semiconductor layer of a second semiconductor material that is different than the first semiconductor material. Patterning the semiconductor material stack to form a trench. The patterning includes performing a first etch process with a first etchant for a first duration and then performing a second etch process with a second etchant for a second duration, where the second etchant is different from the first etchant and the second duration is greater than the first duration. The first etch process and the second etch process are repeated a number of times. Then epitaxially growing a third semiconductor layer of the first semiconductor material on a sidewall of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11569386
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure extended above a substrate, and a first source/drain structure formed over the first fin structure. The first source/drain structure is made of an N-type conductivity material. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second source/drain structure formed over the second fin structure, and the second source/drain structure is made of an P-type conductivity material. The semiconductor device structure also includes a cap layer formed over the first source/drain structure, wherein the cap layer is made of P-type conductivity material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen