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: 12279451
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. A semiconductor device according one embodiment of the present disclosure include a plurality of channel members disposed over a substrate, a plurality of inner spacer features interleaving the plurality of channel members, a gate structure wrapping around each of the plurality of channel members, and a source/drain feature. The source/drain feature includes a first epitaxial layer in contact with the substrate and the plurality of channel members, and a second epitaxial layer in contact with the first epitaxial layer and the plurality of inner spacer features. The first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer include silicon germanium. A germanium content of the second epitaxial layer is greater than a germanium content of the first epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Chung-Chi Wen, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 12272729
    Abstract: According to one example, a method includes performing a first etching process on a fin stack to form a first recess and a second recess at a first depth, the first recess and the second recess on opposite sides of a gate structure that is on the fin stack. The method further includes depositing inner spacers within the first recess and the second recess. The method further includes, after depositing the inner spacers, performing a second etching process to extend a depth of the first recess to a second depth. The method further includes forming a dummy contact region within the first recess, forming a source structure within the first recess on the dummy contact region, and forming a drain structure within the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 12245432
    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: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Feng-Cheng Yang, Katherine H. Chiang, Chung-Te Lin, Chieh-Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 12211749
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate, an isolation structure over the substrate, and two fins extending from the substrate and above the isolation structure. Two source/drain structures are over the two fins respectively and being side by side along a first direction generally perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the two fins from a top view. Each of the two source/drain structures has a near-vertical side, the two near-vertical sides facing each other along the first direction. A contact etch stop layer (CESL) is disposed on at least a lower portion of the near-vertical side of each of the two source/drain structures. And two contacts are disposed over the two source/drain structures, respectively, and over the CESL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20240387739
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. A semiconductor device according one embodiment of the present disclosure include a plurality of channel members disposed over a substrate, a plurality of inner spacer features interleaving the plurality of channel members, a gate structure wrapping around each of the plurality of channel members, and a source/drain feature. The source/drain feature includes a first epitaxial layer in contact with the substrate and the plurality of channel members, and a second epitaxial layer in contact with the first epitaxial layer and the plurality of inner spacer features. The first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer include silicon germanium. A germanium content of the second epitaxial layer is greater than a germanium content of the first epitaxial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Chung-Chi Wen, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20240387028
    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 and ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20240363438
    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 12, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20240363754
    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 adjacent to the first gate structure and the first S/D structure along the first direction. The isolation structure extends from the first gate structure to the first S/D structure, and the first S/D structure has a protruding portion toward to the isolation structure, and the protruding portion of the first S/D structure is separated from the isolation structure by the cap layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching CHU, Wei-Yang LEE, Feng-Cheng YANG, Yen-Ming CHEN
  • Publication number: 20240339541
    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: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20240339510
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a stack of channel structures and a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure adjacent to opposite sides of the channel structures. The semiconductor device structure also includes a gate stack wrapped around the channel structures and a backside conductive contact connected to the second epitaxial structure. The second epitaxial structure is between a top of the backside conductive contact and a top of the gate stack. The semiconductor device structure further includes an etch stop layer extending along a sidewall of the backside conductive contact and a bottom of the gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching CHU, Wei-Yang LEE, Chia-Pin LIN
  • Patent number: 12107165
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 12068204
    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: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20240251539
    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: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 12027626
    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: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 12015060
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a formation method are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a stack of channel structures and includes a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure adjacent to opposite sides of the channel structures. The semiconductor device structure also includes a gate stack wrapped around each of the channel structures and a backside conductive contact connected to the second epitaxial structure. The second epitaxial structure is between a top of the backside conductive contact and a top of the gate stack. The semiconductor device structure further includes a dielectric fin stacked over an isolation structure. The dielectric fin is adjacent to the second epitaxial structure, and the isolation structure is adjacent to the backside conductive contact. The isolation structure has a first height, the dielectric fin has a second height, and the second height is greater than the first height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20240194537
    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 in the first region, a first epitaxial feature over the first fin, a second fin protruding from the substrate in the second region, and a second epitaxial feature over the second fin. The isolation feature includes a first portion disposed on sidewalls of the first fin, a second portion disposed on sidewalls of the second fin, and a third portion located between the first fin and the second fin. The third portion has a thickness larger than the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20240186187
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) includes providing a structure having a fin over a substrate in a region of the IC, a sacrificial gate stack engaging a channel region of the fin, and gate spacers on sidewalls of the sacrificial gate stack. The first layers and the second layers are alternately stacked over the substrate. The method also includes etching the fin adjacent the gate spacers, resulting in source/drain trenches, partially recessing the second layers exposed in the source/drain trenches, resulting in gaps between adjacent layers of the first layers in the fin, depositing inner spacer features in the gaps in the fin, epitaxially growing source/drain features in the source/drain trenches, and replacing the sacrificial gate stack with a metal gate stack. The metal gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer disposed over top and sidewalls of the fin having both the first and the second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20240178271
    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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Yen-Ming Chen, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • 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