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).

  • Publication number: 20230024339
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor memory structure is provided. The method includes forming a stack over a substrate, and the stack includes first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers vertically alternately arranged. The method also includes forming first dielectric pillars through the stack, and etching the stack to form first trenches. Sidewalls of the first dielectric pillars are exposed from the first trenches. The method also includes removing the first dielectric pillars to form through holes, removing the second dielectric layers of the stack to form gaps between the first dielectric layers, and forming first conductive lines in the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Chih-Hsuan Cheng, Chieh-Fang Chen, Sheng-Chen Wang, Chieh-Yi Shen, Han-Jong Chia, Feng-Ching Chu, Meng-Han Lin, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Te Lin
  • Publication number: 20220416035
    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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching CHU, Wei-Yang LEE, Chia-Pin LIN
  • Publication number: 20220384654
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching CHU, Wei-Yang LEE, Feng-Cheng YANG, Yen-Ming CHEN
  • Patent number: 11515211
    Abstract: A method includes etching two source/drain regions over a substrate to form two source/drain trenches; epitaxially growing two source/drain features in the two source/drain trenches respectively; performing a cut process to the two source/drain features; and after the cut process, depositing a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the two source/drain features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11508736
    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: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20220367277
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20220367720
    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: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11502005
    Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having first and second fins over a substrate and oriented lengthwise generally along a first direction and source/drain (S/D) features over the first and second fins; forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer covering the S/D features; performing a first etching process at least to an area between the S/D features, thereby forming a trench in the ILD layer; depositing a dielectric material in the trench; performing a second etching process to selectively recess the dielectric material; and performing a third etching process to selectively recess the ILD layer, thereby forming a contact hole that exposes the S/D features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20220359066
    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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20220359676
    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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20220352353
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes a merged source/drain feature extending between two adjacent fin structures is provided. 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Chung-Chi WEN, Wei-Yuan LU, Feng-Cheng YANG, Yen-Ming CHEN
  • Publication number: 20220344352
    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: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20220262683
    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: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20220223618
    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: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Feng-Cheng Yang, Katherine H. Chiang, Chung-Te Lin, Chieh-Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 11328960
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a stacked FinFET in a second area and a GAA transistor in a first area. The stacked FinFET includes two first source/drain, first and second semiconductor layers alternately stacked one over another and between the two first source/drain, a first gate dielectric layer over top and sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor layers, a first gate electrode layer over the first gate dielectric layer, and first spacer features laterally between the second semiconductor layers and the two first source/drain. The first and the second semiconductor layers include different materials. The GAA transistor includes two second source/drain, third semiconductor layers electrically connecting the two second source/drain, a second gate dielectric layer wrapping around the third semiconductor layers, a second gate electrode over the second gate dielectric layer, and second spacer features laterally between the second gate dielectric layer and the two second source/drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20220093591
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a stacked FinFET in a second area and a GAA transistor in a first area. The stacked FinFET includes two first source/drain, first and second semiconductor layers alternately stacked one over another and between the two first source/drain, a first gate dielectric layer over top and sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor layers, a first gate electrode layer over the first gate dielectric layer, and first spacer features laterally between the second semiconductor layers and the two first source/drain. The first and the second semiconductor layers include different materials. The GAA transistor includes two second source/drain, third semiconductor layers electrically connecting the two second source/drain, a second gate dielectric layer wrapping around the third semiconductor layers, a second gate electrode over the second gate dielectric layer, and second spacer features laterally between the second gate dielectric layer and the two second source/drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20220069135
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. A semiconductor 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: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Chung-Chi Wen, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11217490
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first device region and a second device region, a first fin over the substrate in the first device region, a second fin over the substrate in the second device region, a first epitaxial feature over the first fin in the source/drain region of the first fin, a second epitaxial feature over the second fin in the source/drain region of the second fin, and a dielectric layer on the first and second epitaxial features. The first epitaxial feature is doped with a first dopant of a first conductivity and the second epitaxial feature is doped with a second dopant of a second conductivity different from the first conductivity. The dielectric layer is doped with the first dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20210391421
    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: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Chia-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20210384198
    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: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Feng-Ching Chu, Wei-Yang Lee, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen