Patents by Inventor I-Ming Chang

I-Ming Chang 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: 20230057278
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of gate structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a gate opening on the fin structure, forming an interfacial oxide layer on the fin structure, forming a first dielectric layer over the interfacial oxide layer, forming a dipole layer between the interfacial oxide layer and the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer, forming a work function metal (WFM) layer on the second dielectric layer, and forming a gate metal fill layer on the WFM layer. The dipole layer includes ions of first and second metals that are different from each other. The first and second metals have electronegativity values greater than an electronegativity value of a metal or a semiconductor of the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Pi CHANG, Chung-Liang CHENG, I-Ming CHANG, Yao-Sheng HUANG, Huang-Lin CHAO
  • Patent number: 11581416
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with different configurations of gate structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a gate opening on the fin structure, forming an interfacial oxide layer on the fin structure, forming a first dielectric layer over the interfacial oxide layer, forming a dipole layer between the interfacial oxide layer and the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer, forming a work function metal (WFM) layer on the second dielectric layer, and forming a gate metal fill layer on the WFM layer. The dipole layer includes ions of first and second metals that are different from each other. The first and second metals have electronegativity values greater than an electronegativity value of a metal or a semiconductor of the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Pi Chang, Chung-Liang Cheng, I-Ming Chang, Yao-Sheng Huang, Huang-Lin Chao
  • Publication number: 20220399073
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circuit for detecting leakage between word lines in a memory device. The circuit includes a first and a second coupling capacitor. A first terminals of the first and second coupling capacitors are connected to a first word line and a second word line, respectively. The first terminals of the first and second coupling capacitors are also connected to a first and a second voltage supply, respectively. The circuit further includes a comparator, wherein a first input of the comparator is connected to a second terminal of the first coupling capacitor and a second input of the comparator is connected to a second terminal of the second coupling capacitor. The comparator is configured to send alarm signal when a differential voltage between the first input and the second input of the comparator is larger than a hysteresis level of the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun YANG, Min SHE, Albert I. Ming CHANG
  • Publication number: 20220359696
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain epitaxial feature formed over a substrate, a second source/drain epitaxial feature formed over the substrate, two or more semiconductor layers disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature, a gate electrode layer surrounding a portion of one of the two or more semiconductor layers, a first dielectric region disposed in the substrate and in contact with a first side of the first source/drain epitaxial feature, and a second dielectric region disposed in the substrate and in contact with a first side of the second source/drain epitaxial feature, the second dielectric region being separated from the first dielectric region by a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: I-Ming CHANG, Jung-Hung CHANG, Chung-Liang CHENG, Hsiang-Pi CHANG, Yao-Sheng HUANG, Huang-Lin CHAO
  • Publication number: 20220310457
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor comprising a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate by, at least, forming a first dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, forming a dipole layer on the dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the dipole layer, forming a conductive work function layer on the second dielectric layer, forming a gate electrode layer on the conductive work function layer. The method also includes varying a distance between dipole inducing elements in the dipole layer and a surface of the semiconductor substrate by tuning a thickness of the first dielectric layer to adjust a threshold voltage of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Huiching Chang, I-Ming Chang, Huang-Lin Chao
  • Publication number: 20220310846
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an interfacial layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a high-k dielectric layer formed on the interfacial layer, and a conductive gate electrode layer formed on the high-k dielectric layer. At least one of the high-k dielectric layer and the interfacial layer is doped with: a first dopant species, a second dopant species, and a third dopant species. The first dopant species and the second dopant species form a plurality of first dipole elements having a first polarity. The third dopant species forms a plurality of second dipole elements having a second polarity, and the first and second polarities are opposite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Hsiang-Pi Chang, Yen-Tien Tung, Dawei Heh, Chung-Liang Cheng, I-Ming Chang, Yao-Sheng Huang, Tzer-Min Shen, Huang-Lin Chao
  • Publication number: 20220278002
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of forming N-type and P-type source/drain features using one patterned mask and one self-aligned mask to increase windows of error tolerance and provide flexibilities for source/drain features of various shapes and/or volumes. In some embodiments, after forming a first type of source/drain features, a self-aligned mask layer is formed over the first type of source/drain features without using photolithography process, thus, avoid damaging the first type of source/drain features in the patterning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng Huang, I-MING CHANG, Huang-Lin Chao
  • Patent number: 11373910
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including a fin field effect transistor (FinFET), the method includes forming a first sacrificial layer over a source/drain structure of a FinFET structure and an isolation insulating layer. The first sacrificial layer is patterned, thereby forming an opening. A first liner layer is formed on the isolation insulating layer in a bottom of the opening and on at least side faces of the patterned first sacrificial layer. After the first liner layer is formed, forming a dielectric layer in the opening. After the dielectric layer is formed, removing the patterned first sacrificial layer, thereby forming a contact opening over the source/drain structure. A conductive layer is formed in the contact opening. The FinFET is an n-type FET, and the source/drain structure includes an epitaxial layer made of Si1-y-a-bGeaSnbM2y, wherein 0<a, 0<b, 0.01?(a+b)?0.1, 0.01?y?0.1, and M2 is P or As.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Okuno, Cheng-Yi Peng, Ziwei Fang, I-Ming Chang, Akira Mineji, Yu-Ming Lin, Meng-Hsuan Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20220172998
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin structure; forming a source/drain structure in the fin structure; and forming a gate electrode over the fin structure. The source/drain structure includes Si?x?yM1xM2y, where M1 includes Sn, M2 is one or more of P and As, 0.01?x?0.1, and 0.01?y?0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Yasutoshi OKUNO, Cheng-Yi PENG, Ziwei FANG, I-Ming CHANG, Akira MINEJI, Yu-Ming LIN, Meng-Hsuan HSIAO
  • Patent number: 11251087
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes forming a first sacrificial layer over a source/drain structure of a FinFET structure and an isolation insulating layer. The first sacrificial layer is patterned, thereby forming an opening. A first liner layer is formed on the isolation insulating layer in a bottom of the opening and on at least side faces of the patterned first sacrificial layer. After the first liner layer is formed, forming a dielectric layer in the opening. After the dielectric layer is formed, removing the patterned first sacrificial layer, thereby forming a contact opening over the source/drain structure. A conductive layer is formed in the contact opening. The FinFET is an n-type FET, and the source/drain structure includes an epitaxial layer including Si1?x?yM1xM2y, where M1 includes Sn, M2 is one or more of P and As, and 0.01?x?0.1, and 0.01?y?0.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Okuno, Cheng-Yi Peng, Ziwei Fang, I-Ming Chang, Akira Mineji, Yu-Ming Lin, Meng-Hsuan Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11177259
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor device that includes a first transistor having a first gate structure. The first gate structure includes a first gate dielectric layer doped with a first dopant at a first dopant concentration and a first work function layer on the first gate dielectric layer. The first gate structure also includes a first gate electrode on the first work function layer. The semiconductor device also includes a second transistor having a second gate structure, where the second gate structure includes a second gate dielectric layer doped with a second dopant at a second dopant concentration lower than the first dopant concentration. The second gate structure also includes a second work function layer on the second gate dielectric layer and a second gate electrode on the second work function layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Liang Cheng, I-Ming Chang, Ziwei Fang, Huang-Lin Chao
  • Patent number: 11145653
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor device that includes a first transistor having a first gate structure. The first gate structure includes a first gate dielectric layer doped with a first dopant at a first dopant concentration and a first work function layer on the first gate dielectric layer. The first gate structure also includes a first gate electrode on the first work function layer. The semiconductor device also includes a second transistor having a second gate structure, where the second gate structure includes a second gate dielectric layer doped with a second dopant at a second dopant concentration lower than the first dopant concentration. The second gate structure also includes a second work function layer on the second gate dielectric layer and a second gate electrode on the second work function layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Liang Cheng, I-Ming Chang, Ziwei Fang, Huang-Lin Chao
  • Publication number: 20210305376
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack over the substrate. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer, a first metal-containing layer, a silicon-containing layer, a second metal-containing layer, and a gate electrode layer sequentially stacked over the substrate. The silicon-containing layer is between the first metal-containing layer and the second metal-containing layer, and the silicon-containing layer is thinner than the second metal-containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsueh-Wen TSAU, Chun-I WU, Ziwei FANG, Huang-Lin CHAO, I-Ming CHANG, Chung-Liang CHENG, Chih-Cheng LIN
  • Publication number: 20210288166
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor fin extending from the semiconductor substrate, a gate structure extending across the semiconductor fin, and source/drain semiconductor layers on opposite sides of the gate structure. The source/drain semiconductor layers each have a first thickness over a top side of the semiconductor fin and a second thickness over a lateral side of the semiconductor fin. The first thickness and the second thickness have a difference smaller than about 20 percent of the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng HUANG, Hung-Chang SUN, I-Ming CHANG, Zi-Wei FANG
  • Publication number: 20210280468
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a first channel layer disposed in the first region and a second channel layer disposed in the second region, a first dielectric layer disposed on the first channel layer and a second dielectric layer disposed on the second channel layer, and a first gate electrode disposed on the first dielectric layer and a second gate electrode disposed on the second dielectric layer. The first channel layer in the first region includes Ge compound of a first Ge concentration, the second channel layer in the second region includes Ge compound of a second Ge concentration. The first Ge concentration in the first channel layer is greater than the second Ge concentration in the second channel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: I-MING CHANG, CHUNG-LIANG CHENG, HSIANG-PI CHANG, HUNG-CHANG SUN, YAO-SHENG HUANG, YU-WEI LU, FANG-WEI LEE, ZIWEI FANG, HUANG-LIN CHAO
  • Publication number: 20210280432
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a base portion and a fin portion over the base portion. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation layer over the base portion and surrounding the fin portion. The semiconductor device structure includes a metal gate stack over the isolation layer and wrapping around an upper part of the fin portion. The metal gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer and a metal gate electrode layer over the gate dielectric layer, and the gate dielectric layer includes fluorine. A first part of the isolation layer is not covered by the metal gate stack, the first part includes fluorine, and a first concentration of fluorine in the first part increases toward a first top surface of the first part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Ming CHANG, Chih-Cheng LIN, Chi-Ying WU, Wei-Ming YOU, Ziwei FANG, Huang-Lin CHAO
  • Publication number: 20210249308
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device is provided that includes a first fin structure and a second fin structure extending from a substrate. The first fin structure is a first composition, and includes rounded corners. The second fin structure is a second composition, different than the first composition. A first interface layer is formed directly on the first fin structure including the rounded corners and a second interface layer directly on the second fin structure. The first interface layer is an oxide of the first composition and the second interface layer is an oxide of the second composition. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the first interface layer and the second interface layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Chung-Liang CHENG, I-Ming CHANG, Hsiang-Pi CHANG, Yu-Wei LU, Ziwei FANG, Huang-Lin CHAO
  • Patent number: 11038029
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate and an insulating layer over the substrate. The insulating layer has a trench partially exposing the substrate. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer in the trench. The method includes forming a first metal-containing layer over the gate dielectric layer. The method includes forming a silicon-containing layer over the first metal-containing layer. The method includes forming a second metal-containing layer over the silicon-containing layer. The method includes forming a gate electrode layer in the trench and over the second metal-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsueh-Wen Tsau, Chun-I Wu, Ziwei Fang, Huang-Lin Chao, I-Ming Chang, Chung-Liang Cheng, Chih-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11031291
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a first channel layer disposed in the first region and a second channel layer disposed in the second region, a first dielectric layer disposed on the first channel layer and a second dielectric layer disposed on the second channel layer, and a first gate electrode disposed on the first dielectric layer and a second gate electrode disposed on the second dielectric layer. The first channel layer in the first region includes Ge compound of a first Ge concentration, the second channel layer in the second region includes Ge compound of a second Ge concentration. The first Ge concentration in the first channel layer is greater than the second Ge concentration in the second channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: I-Ming Chang, Chung-Liang Cheng, Hsiang-Pi Chang, Hung-Chang Sun, Yao-Sheng Huang, Yu-Wei Lu, Fang-Wei Lee, Ziwei Fang, Huang-Lin Chao
  • Patent number: 11024723
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin, an STI structure, a fin sidewall spacer, and a doped silicon layer. The semiconductor fin extends from the substrate. The STI structure laterally surrounds a lower portion of the semiconductor fin. The fin sidewall spacer extends along a middle portion of the semiconductor fin that is above the lower portion of the semiconductor fin. The doped silicon layer wraps around three sides of an upper portion of the semiconductor fin that is above the middle portion of the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Sheng Huang, Hung-Chang Sun, I-Ming Chang, Zi-Wei Fang