Patents by Inventor Hsueh-Chang Sung

Hsueh-Chang Sung 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: 11217672
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a way of treating source/drain recesses with a high heat treatment and an optional hydrogen plasma treatment. The high heat treatment smooths the surfaces inside the recesses and remove oxides and etching byproducts. The hydrogen plasma treatment enlarges the recesses vertically and horizontally and inhibits further oxidation of the surfaces in the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee
  • Patent number: 11211473
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device having first and second fin structures on a substrate includes forming a first epitaxial region of the first fin structure and forming a second epitaxial region of the second fin structure. The method further includes forming a buffer region on the first epitaxial region of the first fin structure and performing an etch process to etch back a portion of the second epitaxial region. The buffer region helps to prevents etch back of a top surface of the first epitaxial region during the etch process. Further, a capping region is formed on the buffer region and the etched second epitaxial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chang Sung, Kun-Mu Li
  • Publication number: 20210391456
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a substrate, etching the semiconductor fin to form a recess, wherein the recess extends into the substrate, and forming a source/drain region in the recess, wherein forming the source/drain region includes epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material on sidewalls of the recess, wherein the first semiconductor material includes silicon germanium, wherein the first semiconductor material has a first germanium concentration from 10 to 40 atomic percent, epitaxially growing a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the second semiconductor material has a second germanium concentration that is greater than the first germanium concentration, and epitaxially growing a third semiconductor material over the second semiconductor material, the third semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the third semiconductor material has a third germanium con
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Heng-Wen Ting, Yen-Ru Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung
  • Publication number: 20210351081
    Abstract: A device includes a fin over a substrate, the fin including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fin has a convex profile, an isolation region adjacent the fin, a gate structure along sidewalls of the fin and over the top surface of the fin, a gate spacer laterally adjacent the gate structure, and an epitaxial region adjacent the first end of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Heng-Wen Ting, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Chien-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 11171209
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having an improved source/drain region profile and a method for forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes etching one or more semiconductor fins to form one or more recesses; and forming a source/drain region in the one ore more recesses, the forming the source/drain region including epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material in the one or more recesses at a temperature of 600° C. to 800° C., the first semiconductor material including doped silicon germanium; and conformally depositing a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material at a temperature of 300° C. to 600° C., the second semiconductor material including doped silicon germanium and having a different composition than the first semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heng-Wen Ting, Kei-Wei Chen, Chii-Horng Li, Pei-Ren Jeng, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Chun-An Lin
  • Patent number: 11164944
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having an improved source/drain region profile and a method for forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes etching a semiconductor fin to form a first recess; and forming a source/drain region in the first recess, forming the source/drain region including epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material in the first recess, the first semiconductor material being silicon; epitaxially growing a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material including silicon germanium; and epitaxially growing a third semiconductor material over the second semiconductor material, and the third semiconductor material having a germanium concentration from 60 to 80 atomic percent, the third semiconductor material having a germanium concentration greater than the germanium concentration of the second semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heng-Wen Ting, Hsueh-Chang Sung
  • Publication number: 20210336048
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a source/drain region having a V-shaped bottom surface and extending below gate spacers adjacent a gate stack and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a gate stack over a fin; forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; etching the fin with a first anisotropic etch process to form a first recess adjacent the gate spacer; etching the fin with a second etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to remove an etching residue from the first recess; etching surfaces of the first recess with a third anisotropic etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to form a second recess extending below the gate spacer and having a V-shaped bottom surface; and epitaxially forming a source/drain region in the second recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Jyun-Chih Lin, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 11158508
    Abstract: A fin field device structure and method for forming the same are provided. The FinFET device structure includes a protruding structure extending from a substrate and an anti-punch through implant (APT) region formed in the protruding structure. The FinFET device structure includes a barrier layer formed on the APT region, and the barrier layer has a width in a horizontal direction. The width gradually tapers from a bottom of the barrier layer to a top of the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yao Wen, Sheng-Chen Wang, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Ya-Yun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11145759
    Abstract: A source/drain (S/D) structure includes a SiGe structure epitaxially grown and having sloped facets on a recessed fin structure disposed adjacent to a channel portion of a finFET, a first Ge structure having a rounded surface epitaxially grown on the SiGe structure, and a capping layer formed over the rounded surface of the Ge structure. The capping layer may be formed of Si. Such S/D structures provide both a larger physical size for lower contact resistance, and greater volume and concentration of Ge for higher compressive strain applied to the channel portion of the finFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chang Sung, Liang-Yi Chen
  • Publication number: 20210313443
    Abstract: A method for forming a fin field effect transistor device structure includes forming a fin structure over a substrate. The method also includes forming a gate structure across the fin structure. The method also includes forming a source/drain recess adjacent to the gate structure. The method also includes wet cleaning the source/drain recess in a first wet cleaning process. The method also includes treating the source/drain recess with a plasma process. The method also includes wet cleaning the source/drain recess in a second wet cleaning process after treating the source/drain recess via the plasma process. The method also includes growing a source/drain epitaxial structure in the source/drain recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Wei LEE, Yen-Ru LEE, Hsueh-Chang SUNG, Yee-Chia YEO
  • Patent number: 11133416
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a fin extending from a substrate; a gate stack over a channel region of the fin; and a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the channel region, the source/drain region including: a first epitaxial layer contacting sidewalls of the fin, the first epitaxial layer including silicon and germanium doped with a dopant, the first epitaxial layer having a first concentration of the dopant; and a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, the second epitaxial layer including silicon and germanium doped with the dopant, the second epitaxial layer having a second concentration of the dopant, the second concentration being greater than the first concentration, the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer having a same germanium concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yan-Ting Lin, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee
  • Patent number: 11107923
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a substrate, etching the semiconductor fin to form a recess, wherein the recess extends into the substrate, and forming a source/drain region in the recess, wherein forming the source/drain region includes epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material on sidewalls of the recess, wherein the first semiconductor material includes silicon germanium, wherein the first semiconductor material has a first germanium concentration from 10 to 40 atomic percent, epitaxially growing a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the second semiconductor material has a second germanium concentration that is greater than the first germanium concentration, and epitaxially growing a third semiconductor material over the second semiconductor material, the third semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the third semiconductor material has a third germanium con
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Heng-Wen Ting, Yen-Ru Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung
  • Patent number: 11075120
    Abstract: A device includes a fin over a substrate, the fin including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fin has a convex profile, an isolation region adjacent the fin, a gate structure along sidewalls of the fin and over the top surface of the fin, a gate spacer laterally adjacent the gate structure, and an epitaxial region adjacent the first end of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Heng-Wen Ting, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Chien-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 11063152
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a source/drain region having a V-shaped bottom surface and extending below gate spacers adjacent a gate stack and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a gate stack over a fin; forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; etching the fin with a first anisotropic etch process to form a first recess adjacent the gate spacer; etching the fin with a second etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to remove an etching residue from the first recess; etching surfaces of the first recess with a third anisotropic etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to form a second recess extending below the gate spacer and having a V-shaped bottom surface; and epitaxially forming a source/drain region in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Jyun-Chih Lin, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • Publication number: 20210202740
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate stack over an active region and a source/drain region in the active region adjacent the gate stack. The source/drain region includes a first semiconductor layer having a first germanium concentration and a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer has a second germanium concentration greater than the first germanium concentration. The source/drain region further includes a third semiconductor layer over the second semiconductor layer and a fourth semiconductor layer over the third semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer has a third germanium concentration greater than the second germanium concentration. The fourth semiconductor layer has a fourth germanium concentration less than the third germanium concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Hsueh-Chang Sung
  • Publication number: 20210193831
    Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate. A fin is on the substrate. The fin includes silicon germanium. An interfacial layer is over the fin. The interfacial layer has a thickness in a range from greater than 0 nm to about 4 nm. A source/drain region is over the interfacial layer. The source/drain region includes silicon germanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Chih-Yun Chin, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Heng-Wen Ting, Roger Tai, Pei-Ren Jeng, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Yen-Ru Lee, Yan-Ting Lin, Davie Liu
  • Publication number: 20210184037
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is over the first silicon germanium region. The second silicon germanium region comprises a portion in the opening. The second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage greater than the first germanium percentage. A silicon cap substantially free from germanium is over the second silicon germanium region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chang Sung, Kun-Mu Li, Tze-Liang Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Tsz-Mei Kwok
  • Publication number: 20210134681
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate structure over fins protruding from a semiconductor substrate; forming an isolation region surrounding the fins; depositing a spacer layer over the gate structure and over the fins, wherein the spacer layer fills the regions extending between pairs of adjacent fins; performing a first etch on the spacer layer, wherein after performing the first etch, first remaining portions of the spacer layer that are within inner regions extending between pairs of adjacent fins have a first thickness and second remaining portions of the spacer layer that are not within the inner regions have a second thickness less than the first thickness; and forming an epitaxial source/drain region adjacent the gate structure and extending over the fins, wherein portions of the epitaxial source/drain region within the inner regions are separated from the first remaining portions of the spacer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Wei-Min Liu, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20210119048
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device. The method may be performed by forming a gate structure onto a semiconductor substrate and forming a source/drain recess within the semiconductor substrate adjacent to a side of the gate structure. One or more strain inducing materials are formed within the source/drain recess. The one or more strain inducing materials include a strain inducing component with a strain inducing component concentration profile that continuously decreases from a bottommost surface of the one or more strain inducing materials to a position above the bottommost surface. The bottommost surface contacts the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hsueh-Chang Sung, Tsz-Mei Kwok, Kun-Mu Li, Tze-Liang Lee, Chii-Horng Li
  • Patent number: 10950725
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate stack over an active region and a source/drain region in the active region adjacent the gate stack. The source/drain region includes a first semiconductor layer having a first germanium concentration and a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer has a second germanium concentration greater than the first germanium concentration. The source/drain region further includes a third semiconductor layer over the second semiconductor layer and a fourth semiconductor layer over the third semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer has a third germanium concentration greater than the second germanium concentration. The fourth semiconductor layer has a fourth germanium concentration less than the third germanium concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Hsueh-Chang Sung