Patents by Inventor Hsin-Yi Lee
Hsin-Yi Lee 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).
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Publication number: 20250248094Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. The gate electrode includes a first work function metal; a second work function metal over the first work function metal; and a first metal residue at an interface between the first work function metal and the second work function metal, wherein the first metal residue has a metal element that is different than a metal element of the first work function metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2025Publication date: July 31, 2025Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12376340Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin protruding above a substrate; source/drain regions over the fin; nanosheets between the source/drain regions; and a gate structure over the fin and between the source/drain regions. The gate structure includes: a gate dielectric material around each of the nanosheets; a first liner material around the gate dielectric material; a work function material around the first liner material; a second liner material around the work function material; and a gate electrode material around at least portions of the second liner material.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2024Date of Patent: July 29, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12363974Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a fin extending from a substrate. A dummy gate is formed over the fin. The dummy gate extends along sidewalls and a top surface of the fin. The dummy gate is removed to form a recess. A replacement gate is formed in the recess. Forming the replacement gate includes forming an interfacial layer along sidewalls and a bottom of the recess. A dipole layer is formed over the interfacial layer. The dipole layer includes metal atoms. Fluorine atoms are incorporated in the dipole layer. The fluorine atoms and the metal atoms are driven from the dipole layer into the interfacial layer. The dipole layer is removed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2022Date of Patent: July 15, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12349410Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric disposed around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric being disposed around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first high-k gate dielectric and the second high-k gate dielectric. A portion of the gate electrode between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure comprises a first portion of a p-type work function metal filling an area between the first high-k gate dielectric and the second high-k gate dielectric.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2024Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Ji-Cheng Chen, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12334390Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first gate structure, and a second gate structure. The first gate structure is disposed on the substrate. The first gate structure includes a first capping layer and a first underlying layer below the first capping layer. The second gate structure is disposed on the substrate. The second gate structure includes a second capping layer and a second underlying layer below the second capping layer. The material of the first capping layer and the second capping layer have a material having higher resistant to oxygen or fluorine than materials of the first underlying layer and the second underlying layer. The first capping layer, the second capping layer and the second underlying layer include a same metal element.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2024Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Da-Yuan Lee
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Publication number: 20250142904Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure; a gate dielectric around the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the gate dielectric including dielectric materials; and a gate electrode including: a work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric, the work function tuning layer including a pure work function metal, the pure work function metal of the work function tuning layer and the dielectric materials of the gate dielectric completely filling a region between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the pure work function metal having a composition of greater than 95 at. % metals; an adhesion layer on the work function tuning layer; and a fill layer on the adhesion layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2024Publication date: May 1, 2025Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Jia-Ming Lin, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12283609Abstract: A method of forming semiconductor devices having improved work function layers and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes depositing a gate dielectric layer on a channel region over a semiconductor substrate; depositing a first p-type work function metal on the gate dielectric layer; performing an oxygen treatment on the first p-type work function metal; and after performing the oxygen treatment, depositing a second p-type work function metal on the first p-type work function metal.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2024Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Ji-Cheng Chen, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12283613Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. The gate electrode includes a first work function metal; a second work function metal over the first work function metal; and a first metal residue at an interface between the first work function metal and the second work function metal, wherein the first metal residue has a metal element that is different than a metal element of the first work function metal.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2024Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
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Publication number: 20250098223Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. A portion of the gate electrode between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure comprises: a first p-type work function metal; a barrier material over the first p-type work function metal; and a second p-type work function metal over the barrier material, the barrier material physically separating the first p-type work function metal from the second p-type work function metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2024Publication date: March 20, 2025Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12243925Abstract: A device includes a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure over the first nanostructure; a first high-k gate dielectric around the first nanostructure; a second high-k gate dielectric around the second nanostructure; and a gate electrode over the first and second high-k gate dielectrics. A portion of the gate electrode between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure comprises: a first p-type work function metal; a barrier material over the first p-type work function metal; and a second p-type work function metal over the barrier material, the barrier material physically separating the first p-type work function metal from the second p-type work function metal.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
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Publication number: 20250063778Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2024Publication date: February 20, 2025Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Hsiang-Pi Chang, Huang-Lin Chao, Chung-Liang Cheng, Chi On Chui, Kun-Yu Lee, Tzer-Min Shen, Yen-Tien Tung, Chun-I Wu
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Publication number: 20250056832Abstract: Methods for tuning effective work functions of gate electrodes in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a channel region over a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric layer over the channel region; and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode including a first work function metal layer over the gate dielectric layer, the first work function metal layer including aluminum (Al); a first work function tuning layer over the first work function metal layer, the first work function tuning layer including aluminum tungsten (AIW); and a fill material over the first work function tuning layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2024Publication date: February 13, 2025Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12218199Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a first nanostructure; a second nanostructure; a gate dielectric around the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the gate dielectric including dielectric materials; and a gate electrode including: a work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric, the work function tuning layer including a pure work function metal, the pure work function metal of the work function tuning layer and the dielectric materials of the gate dielectric completely filling a region between the first nanostructure and the second nanostructure, the pure work function metal having a composition of greater than 95 at. % metals; an adhesion layer on the work function tuning layer; and a fill layer on the adhesion layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Jia-Ming Lin, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12218200Abstract: An embodiment includes a device having nanostructures on a substrate, the nanostructures including a channel region. The device also includes a gate dielectric layer wrapping around each of the nanostructures. The device also includes a first work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric layer, the first work function tuning layer including a first n-type work function metal, aluminum, and carbon, the first n-type work function metal having a work function value less than titanium. The device also includes a glue layer on the first work function tuning layer. The device also includes and a fill layer on the glue layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12176401Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, forming epitaxial source/drain regions on opposite sides of the dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack to form a trench, depositing a gate dielectric layer extending into the trench, and depositing a work-function layer over the gate dielectric layer. The work-function layer comprises a seam therein. A silicon-containing layer is deposited to fill the seam. A planarization process is performed to remove excess portions of the silicon-containing layer, the work-function layer, and the gate dielectric layer. Remaining portions of the silicon-containing layer, the work-function layer, and the gate dielectric layer form a gate stack.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12176425Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including forming a fin structure having a stack of alternating first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate, the first semiconductor layers and the second semiconductor layers having different compositions, forming a dummy gate structure across the fin structure, forming gate spacers on opposite sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, respectively, removing the dummy gate structure to form a gate trench between the gate spacers, etching the first semiconductor layers in the gate trench, such that the second semiconductor layers are suspended in the gate trench to serve as nanosheets, forming a work function metal layer surrounding each of the nanosheets, and depositing a fill metal layer over the work function metal layer without using a fluorine-containing precursor.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12166095Abstract: Methods for tuning effective work functions of gate electrodes in semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a channel region over a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric layer over the channel region; and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode including a first work function metal layer over the gate dielectric layer, the first work function metal layer including aluminum (Al); a first work function tuning layer over the first work function metal layer, the first work function tuning layer including aluminum tungsten (AlW); and a fill material over the first work function tuning layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Cheng-Lung Hung, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
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Patent number: 12166074Abstract: A method includes removing a first dummy gate stack and a second dummy gate stack to form a first trench and a second trench. The first dummy gate stack and the second dummy gate stack are in a first device region and a second device region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer extending into the first trench and the second trench, respectively, forming a fluorine-containing layer comprising a first portion over the first gate dielectric layer, and a second portion over the second gate dielectric layer, removing the second portion, performing an annealing process to diffuse fluorine in the first portion into the first gate dielectric layer, and at a time after the annealing process, forming a first work-function layer and a second work-function layer over the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2022Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Hsiang-Pi Chang, Huang-Lin Chao, Chung-Liang Cheng, Chi On Chui, Kun-Yu Lee, Tzer-Min Shen, Yen-Tien Tung, Chun-I Wu
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Publication number: 20240395875Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the semiconductor devices are disclosed herein. The methods include forming nanostructures in a multilayer stack of semiconductor materials. An interlayer dielectric is formed surrounding the nanostructures and a gate dielectric is formed surrounding the interlayer dielectric. A first work function layer is formed over the gate dielectric. Once the first work function layer has been formed, an annealing process is performed on the resulting structure and oxygen is diffused from the gate dielectric into the interlayer dielectric. After performing the annealing process, a second work function layer is formed adjacent the first work function layer. A gate electrode stack of a nano-FET device is formed over the nanostructures by depositing a conductive fill material over the second work function layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2024Publication date: November 28, 2024Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui
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Publication number: 20240387647Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack over a semiconductor region, forming epitaxial source/drain regions on opposite sides of the dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack to form a trench, depositing a gate dielectric layer extending into the trench, and depositing a work-function layer over the gate dielectric layer. The work-function layer comprises a seam therein. A silicon-containing layer is deposited to fill the seam. A planarization process is performed to remove excess portions of the silicon-containing layer, the work-function layer, and the gate dielectric layer. Remaining portions of the silicon-containing layer, the work-function layer, and the gate dielectric layer form a gate stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Inventors: Hsin-Yi Lee, Weng Chang, Chi On Chui