Patents by Inventor Jhon-Jhy Liaw

Jhon-Jhy Liaw 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: 20230387113
    Abstract: A method includes forming a fin protruding from a substrate, forming first and second gate structures across the fin, the first gate structure having a first gate sidewall facing the second gate structure, the second gate structure having a second gate sidewall facing the first gate structure, recessing a segment of the fin between the first and second gate sidewalls to form a trench, depositing a dielectric layer over the first and second gate sidewalls and within the trench, and depositing an inter-layer dielectric layer over the first and second gate structures and over the dielectric layer. A portion of the inter-layer dielectric layer is within the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: JHON JHY Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230389252
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method for forming the semiconductor structure includes forming a first trench and a second trench in a first semiconductor material. The first trench is deeper than the second trench. The method also includes forming a second semiconductor material in the first trench and the second trench, patterning a first portion of the second semiconductor material in the first trench and a first portion of the first semiconductor material below the first portion of the second semiconductor material into a first fin structure, and patterning a second portion of the second semiconductor material in the second trench and a second portion of the first semiconductor material below the second portion of the second semiconductor material into a second fin structure, and forming an isolation structure surrounding the first fin structure and the second fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Chun-Hung CHEN, Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Patent number: 11830878
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit device that comprises a semiconductor substrate having a top surface; a first and a second source/drain features over the semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor layer extending in parallel with the top surface and connecting the first and the second source/drain features, the first semiconductor layer having a center portion and two end portions, each of the two end portions connecting the center portion and one of the first and second source/drain features; a first spacer over the two end portions of the first semiconductor layer; a second spacer vertically between the two end portions of the first semiconductor layer and the top surface; and a gate electrode wrapping around and engaging the center portion of the first semiconductor layer. The center portion has a thickness smaller than the two end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11832431
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an SRAM device, an insulating layer is formed over a substrate. First dummy patterns are formed over the insulating layer. Sidewall spacer layers, as second dummy patterns, are formed on sidewalls of the first dummy patterns. The first dummy patterns are removed, thereby leaving the second dummy patterns over the insulating layer. After removing the first dummy patterns, the second dummy patterns are divided. A mask layer is formed over the insulating layer and between the divided second dummy patterns. After forming the mask layer, the divided second dummy patterns are removed, thereby forming a hard mask layer having openings that correspond to the patterned second dummy patterns. The insulating layer is formed by using the hard mask layer as an etching mask, thereby forming via openings in the insulating layer. A conductive material is filled in the via openings, thereby forming contact bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230378190
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A logic cell includes P-type GAA nanosheet transistor and N-type GAA nanosheet transistor. Each of the P-type and N-type GAA nanosheet transistors has two channel members vertically stacked. A back-side interconnect structure includes first and second back-side contacts, a VDD line formed in a back-side metal layer and coupled to a source feature of the P-type GAA nanosheet transistor through the first back-side contact, and a VSS line formed in the back-side metal layer and coupled to a source feature of the N-type GAA nanosheet transistor through the second back-side contact. A front-side interconnect structure includes first and second front-side contacts, and a metal line coupled to a drain feature of the P-type GAA nanosheet transistor through the first front-side contact or coupled to a drain feature of the N-type GAA nanosheet transistor through the second front-side contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20230378301
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC) device, including: a semiconductor substrate having a top surface; a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature disposed on the semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of semiconductor layers including a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer. Each of the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer extends longitudinally in a first direction and connects the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature. The first semiconductor layer is stacked over the second semiconductor layer in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A length of the first semiconductor layer along the first direction is less than a length of the second semiconductor layer along the first direction. The IC device further includes a gate structure engaging center portions of the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230378177
    Abstract: An IC structure includes first, second, and third circuits. The first circuit includes a first semiconductor fin, a first gate electrode extending across the first semiconductor fin, and a first gate dielectric layer spacing the first gate electrode apart from the first semiconductor fin. The second circuit includes a second semiconductor fin, a second gate electrode extending across the second semiconductor fin, and a second gate dielectric layer spacing the second gate electrode apart from the second semiconductor fin. The third circuit includes a third semiconductor fin, a third gate electrode extending across the third semiconductor fin, and a third gate dielectric layer spacing the third gate electrode apart from the third semiconductor fin. The first gate dielectric layer has a greater thickness than the second gate dielectric layer. The third semiconductor fin has a smaller width than the second semiconductor fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20230380149
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes first and second transistors each having a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a gate terminal. The semiconductor structure further includes a program line; a first metal plate over the first and the second transistors; a first insulator over the first metal plate; a second metal plate over the first insulator; a second insulator over the second metal plate; and a third metal plate over the second insulator. The first metal plate, the first insulator, and the second metal plate form a first anti-fuse element. The second metal plate, the second insulator, and the third metal plate form a second anti-fuse element. The source terminal of the first transistor is electrically connected to the first metal plate. The source terminal of the second transistor is electrically connected to the third metal plate. The program line is electrically connected to the second metal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230369122
    Abstract: Fin patterning methods disclosed herein achieve advantages of fin cut first techniques and fin cut last techniques while providing different numbers of fins in different IC regions. An exemplary method implements a spacer lithography technique that forms a fin pattern that includes a first fin line and a second fin line in a substrate. The first fin line and the second fin line have a first spacing in a first region corresponding with a single-fin FinFET and a second spacing in a second region corresponding with a multi-fin FinFET. The first spacing is greater than the second spacing, relaxing process margins during a fin cut last process, which partially removes a portion of the second line in the second region to form a dummy fin tip in the second region. Spacing between the dummy fin tip and the first fin in the second region is greater than the second spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230369434
    Abstract: An exemplary semiconductor memory chip includes a first static random access memory (SRAM) cell and a second SRAM cell. The first SRAM cell has a first GAA transistor, and the second SRAM cell has a second GAA transistor. The first and the second SRAM cells have a same cell size, and the first and the second GAA transistors are of a same transistor type. Moreover, the first GAA transistor has a first threshold voltage and the second GAA transistor has a second threshold voltage. The second threshold voltage is different than the first threshold voltage. Furthermore, the first GAA transistor has a first gate stack and the second GAA transistor has a second gate stack. The first gate stack has a first work function value, and the second gate stack has a second work function value. The second work function value is different than the first work function value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230369459
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a fin extending from a substrate, a gate structure over the channel region, a first spacer extending along a sidewall of the lower portion of the gate structure, and a second spacer extending along a sidewall of the upper portion of the gate structure. The fin includes a channel region and a source/drain (S/D) region adjacent to the channel region. The gate structure includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The second spacer is disposed on a top surface of the first spacer. The first spacer is formed of a first dielectric material and the second spacer is formed of a second dielectric material different from the first dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230371226
    Abstract: An structure includes: first, second, third, fourth, and fifth dielectric fins disposed in this order along a first direction and oriented lengthwise along a second direction; a first semiconductor fin structure disposed between the first and the second dielectric fins; a second semiconductor fin structure disposed between the fourth and the fifth dielectric fins; a third semiconductor fin structure disposed between the second and the third dielectric fins; a fourth semiconductor fin structure disposed between the third and the fourth dielectric fins, where each of the first, the second, the third and the fourth semiconductor fins are oriented lengthwise along the second direction; and gate structures oriented lengthwise along the first direction, where the gate structures engage with one or more of the dielectric fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230369133
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first transistor comprising a first channel region, a first gate structure surrounding the first channel region, and first source/drain regions on opposite sides of the first gate structure; forming a second transistor comprising a second channel region, a second gate structure surrounding the second channel region, and second source/drain regions on opposite sides of the second gate structure; forming a front-side contact on a top end of a first one of the first source/drain regions of the first transistor; forming a first back-side contact extending from a bottom end of the first one of the first source/drain regions of the first transistor to a bottom end of a first one of the second source/drain regions of the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20230369323
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin protruding from the substrate, where the semiconductor fin includes semiconductor layers stacked in a vertical direction, a gate stack engaging with channel regions of the semiconductor fin, and source/drain (S/D) features disposed adjacent to the gate stack in S/D regions of the semiconductor fin. In the present embodiments, the gate stack includes a first portion disposed over the semiconductor layers and a second portion disposed between the semiconductor layers, where the first portion includes a work-function metal (WFM) layer and a metal fill layer disposed over the WFM layer and the second portion includes the WFM layer but is free of the metal fill layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230369336
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a substrate, one hybrid fin, a gate, and a dielectric structure. The substrate includes at least two fins. The hybrid fin is disposed between the at least two fins. The gate covers portions of the at least two fins and the hybrid fin. The dielectric structure lands on the hybrid fin to divide the gate into two segment. The two segments are electrically isolated to each other by the dielectric structure and the hybrid fin. The hybrid fin includes a first portion, disposed between the two segments of the gate; and a second portion, disposed aside the first portion, wherein a top surface of the second portion is lower than a top surface of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-San Chien, Chun-Sheng Liang, Jhon-Jhy Liaw, Kuo-Hua Pan, Hsin-Che Chiang
  • Publication number: 20230369406
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods are provided. A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first gate-all-around (GAA) transistor having a first plurality of channel members, and a second GAA transistor having a second plurality of channel members. A pitch of the first plurality of channel members is substantially identical to a pitch of the second plurality of channel members. The first plurality of channel members has a first channel member thickness (MT1) and the second plurality of channel members has a second channel member thickness (MT2) greater than the first channel member thickness (MT1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230369514
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate and a first active region and a second active region extending lengthwise along a first direction over the substrate. The first active region includes vertically stacked multiple first channels, and the second active region includes vertically stacked multiple second channels. The integrated circuit further includes a dielectric gate extending between the first active region and the second active region and extending lengthwise along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a first metal gate structure disposed over the first active region and a second metal gate structure disposed over the second active region. The first metal gate structure and the second metal gate structure extend lengthwise along the second direction. The first channels have a first width along the second direction and the second channels have a second width along the second direction. The second width is less than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20230360961
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first well region of a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first fin structure and an adjacent second fin structure formed in and protruding from the first well region. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first isolation structure formed in the first well region between the first fin structure and the second fin structure. A first sidewall surface of the first fin structure faces to a second sidewall surface of the second fin structure. The first sidewall surface and the second sidewall surface each extend along at least two directions from a bottom of the first isolation structure to a top of the first isolation structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Tien-Shao CHUANG, Kuang-Cheng TAI, Chun-Hung CHEN, Chih-Hung HSIEH, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20230361114
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor device formed over a substrate. The first semiconductor device includes a first source/drain feature over the substrate, a first gate structure over the substrate, a first conductive feature over the first source/drain feature, and a first insulation layer between the first gate structure and the first conductive feature, wherein the first insulation layer comprises a first contact etching stop layer (CESL) in contact with the first source/drain feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Patent number: 11810981
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate, first and second n-type wells and a p-type well over the substrate, a first row of cells over the p-type well and the first n-type well, and a second row of cells over the p-type well and the second n-type well. The first and the second n-type wells sandwich the p-type well from a top view. The first row of cells include gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet (NS) cells and GAA nanowire (NW) cells. The second row of cells include GAA NS cells and GAA NW cells. Each GAA NS cell includes an NMOS GAA NS transistor and a PMOS GAA NS transistor, each GAA NW cell includes an NMOS GAA NW transistor and a PMOS GAA NW transistor. Each transistor includes vertically stacked multiple first channels. The first channels of the GAA NS transistors are wider than the first channels of the GAA NW transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw