Patents by Inventor Kai-Lin Chuang
Kai-Lin Chuang 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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Patent number: 12272576Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor substrate includes a rotatable base configured to support a substrate, and a nozzle arm includes a nozzle and a light monitoring device. The light monitoring device includes a laser transmitter and an array of light sensors arranged in the nozzle arm and facing the substrate. The light monitoring device is configured to transmit a laser pulse towards the substrate, wherein the laser pulse impinges on the substrate, receive a reflected laser pulse from the substrate, calculate whether one or more light sensors received the laser pulse, and calculate a distance between the light monitoring device and the substrate using the turnaround time for determining a process quality on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Chung-Pin Chou, Kai-Lin Chuang, Yan-Cheng Chen, Jui Kuo Lai, Jun Xiu Liu
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Publication number: 20250096022Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing system includes: a nozzle including a first channel that allows a fluid to flow through; a light source configured to emit light; and a light sensor configured to receive light, the light source and the light sensor being disposed within the first channel and opposite to each other. The semiconductor manufacturing system is configured to: emit light, by the light source, from within the nozzle toward a surface while the nozzle is dispensing the fluid; receive the light reflected from the surface by the light sensor, the emitted light and the reflected light adapted to be contained within the fluid; and examine a status of the reflected light. The emitted light and the reflected light propagate in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2024Publication date: March 20, 2025Inventors: KAI-LIN CHUANG, TSUNG-CHI CHEN, PEI-JUNG CHANG, CHUN-WEI HUANG, JUN XIU LIU
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Patent number: 12191175Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: receiving a workpiece on which the semiconductor device is manufactured; causing a nozzle to dispense a fluid toward a surface of the workpiece external to the nozzle, wherein the nozzle includes a first channel and a second channel that allow the fluid to flow through; emitting light, by a light source, from within the nozzle toward the surface while the nozzle is dispensing the fluid; receiving light reflected from the surface by a light sensor, the light source and the light sensor being disposed within the nozzle and opposite to each other, and the emitted light and the reflected light adapted to be contained within the fluid; and examining a status of the reflected light. The emitted light and the reflected light propagate in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of the first channel and the second channel.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Kai-Lin Chuang, Tsung-Chi Chen, Pei-Jung Chang, Chun-Wei Huang, Jun Xiu Liu
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Publication number: 20240387212Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor substrate includes a rotatable base configured to support a substrate, and a nozzle arm includes a nozzle and a light monitoring device. The light monitoring device includes a laser transmitter and an array of light sensors arranged in the nozzle arm and facing the substrate. The light monitoring device is configured to transmit a laser pulse towards the substrate, wherein the laser pulse impinges on the substrate, receive a reflected laser pulse from the substrate, calculate whether one or more light sensors received the laser pulse, and calculate a distance between the light monitoring device and the substrate using the turnaround time for determining a process quality on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chung-Pin CHOU, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Yan-Cheng CHEN, Jui Kuo LAI, Jun Xiu LIU
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Publication number: 20240379401Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a semiconductor processing tool including an electrostatic chuck having a voltage-regulation system to regulate an electrical potential throughout regions of a semiconductor substrate positioned above the electrostatic chuck. The voltage-regulation system may determine that an electrical potential within a region of the semiconductor substrate does not satisfy a threshold. The voltage-regulation system may, based on determining that the electrical potential throughout the region does not satisfy the threshold, position one or more electrically-conductive pins within the region. While positioned within the region, the one or more electrically-conductive pins may change the electrical potential of the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Inventors: Chung-Pin CHOU, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Sheng-Wen HUANG, Yan-Cheng CHEN, Jun Xiu LIU
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Publication number: 20240379875Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate. The method includes forming a dummy gate structure over the first fin structure and the second fin structure, and removing a portion of the first fin structure and the second fin structure to form a first source/drain (S/D) recess and a second S/D recess. The method includes forming a first bottom layer in the first S/D recess and a second bottom layer in the second S/D recess, and forming a first dielectric liner layer over the first bottom layer. The method includes forming a first top layer over the first dielectric liner layer, and forming a first S/D structure over the first top layer and a second S/D structure over the second bottom layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jung-Hung CHANG, Zhi-Chang LIN, Shih-Cheng CHEN, Chien-Ning YAO, Tsung-Han CHUANG, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
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Patent number: 12087611Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a semiconductor processing tool including an electrostatic chuck having a voltage-regulation system to regulate an electrical potential throughout regions of a semiconductor substrate positioned above the electrostatic chuck. The voltage-regulation system may determine that an electrical potential within a region of the semiconductor substrate does not satisfy a threshold. The voltage-regulation system may, based on determining that the electrical potential throughout the region does not satisfy the threshold, position one or more electrically-conductive pins within the region. While positioned within the region, the one or more electrically-conductive pins may change the electrical potential of the region.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2023Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chung-Pin Chou, Kai-Lin Chuang, Sheng-Wen Huang, Yan-Cheng Chen, Jun Xiu Liu
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Publication number: 20230420520Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: first nanostructures; a first undoped semiconductor layer contacting a first dummy region of the first nanostructures; a first spacer on the first undoped semiconductor layer; a first source/drain region on the first spacer, the first source/drain region contacting a first channel region of the first nanostructures; and a first gate structure wrapped around the first channel region and the first dummy region of the first nanostructures.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Tsung-Han Chuang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kai-Lin Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
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Publication number: 20230411527Abstract: A device includes a channel layer, a gate structure, a first source/drain epitaxial structure, a second source/drain epitaxial structure, and a sidewall spacer. The channel layer is over a substrate. The gate structure wraps around the channel layer. The first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure are on opposite sides of the channel layer. The sidewall spacer is on a sidewall of the first source/drain epitaxial structure and includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and in contact with first source/drain epitaxial structure. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer include different materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Shih-Cheng CHEN, Zhi-Chang LIN, Jung-Hung CHANG, Chien Ning YAO, Tsung-Han CHUANG, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG
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Publication number: 20230384211Abstract: A process tube device can detect the presence of any external materials that may reside within a fluid flowing in the tube. The process tube device detects the external materials in-situ which obviates the need for a separate inspection device to inspect the surface of a wafer after applying fluid on the surface of the wafer. The process tube device utilizes at least two methods of detecting the presence of external materials. The first is the direct measurement method in which a light detecting sensor is used. The second is the indirect measurement method in which a sensor utilizing the principles of Doppler shift is used. Here, contrary to the first method that at least partially used reflected or refracted light, the second method uses a Doppler shift sensor to detect the presence of the external material by measuring the velocity of the fluid flowing in the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Yu-Jen YANG, Chung-Pin CHOU, Yan-Cheng CHEN, Kai-Lin Chuang, Jun-Xiu Liu, Sheng-Ching Kao
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Publication number: 20230369092Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a semiconductor processing tool including an electrostatic chuck having a voltage-regulation system to regulate an electrical potential throughout regions of a semiconductor substrate positioned above the electrostatic chuck. The voltage-regulation system may determine that an electrical potential within a region of the semiconductor substrate does not satisfy a threshold. The voltage-regulation system may, based on determining that the electrical potential throughout the region does not satisfy the threshold, position one or more electrically-conductive pins within the region. While positioned within the region, the one or more electrically-conductive pins may change the electrical potential of the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Chung-Pin CHOU, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Sheng-Wen HUANG, Yan-Cheng CHEN, Jun Xiu LIU
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Patent number: 11764094Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a semiconductor processing tool including an electrostatic chuck having a voltage-regulation system to regulate an electrical potential throughout regions of a semiconductor substrate positioned above the electrostatic chuck. The voltage-regulation system may determine that an electrical potential within a region of the semiconductor substrate does not satisfy a threshold. The voltage-regulation system may, based on determining that the electrical potential throughout the region does not satisfy the threshold, position one or more electrically-conductive pins within the region. While positioned within the region, the one or more electrically-conductive pins may change the electrical potential of the region.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chung-Pin Chou, Kai-Lin Chuang, Sheng-Wen Huang, Yan-Cheng Chen, Jun Xiu Liu
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Publication number: 20230268215Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a semiconductor processing tool including an electrostatic chuck having a voltage-regulation system to regulate an electrical potential throughout regions of a semiconductor substrate positioned above the electrostatic chuck. The voltage-regulation system may determine that an electrical potential within a region of the semiconductor substrate does not satisfy a threshold. The voltage-regulation system may, based on determining that the electrical potential throughout the region does not satisfy the threshold, position one or more electrically-conductive pins within the region. While positioned within the region, the one or more electrically-conductive pins may change the electrical potential of the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Chung-Pin CHOU, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Sheng-Wen HUANG, Yan-Cheng CHEN, Jun Xiu LIU
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Publication number: 20230178600Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a plurality of first nanostructures stacked over a substrate in a vertical direction. The semiconductor device structure includes a first bottom layer formed adjacent to the first nanostructures, and a first insulating layer formed over the first bottom layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a first source/drain (S/D) structure formed over the first insulating layer, and the first insulating layer is in direct contact with one of the first nanostructures.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Tsung-Han Chuang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kai-Lin Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
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Publication number: 20230113269Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a plurality of first nanostructures stacked over a substrate in a vertical direction. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first bottom layer formed adjacent to the first nanostructures, and a first dielectric liner layer formed over the first bottom layer and adjacent to the first nanostructures. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first source/drain (S/D) structure formed over the first dielectric liner layer, and the first S/D structure is isolated from the first bottom layer by the first dielectric liner layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jung-Hung CHANG, Zhi-Chang LIN, Shih-Cheng CHEN, Chien-Ning YAO, Tsung-Han CHUANG, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
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Publication number: 20230060183Abstract: A process tube device can detect the presence of any external materials that may reside within a fluid flowing in the tube. The process tube device detects the external materials in-situ which obviates the need for a separate inspection device to inspect the surface of a wafer after applying fluid on the surface of the wafer. The process tube device utilizes at least two methods of detecting the presence of external materials. The first is the direct measurement method in which a light detecting sensor is used. The second is the indirect measurement method in which a sensor utilizing the principles of Doppler shift is used. Here, contrary to the first method that at least partially used reflected or refracted light, the second method uses a Doppler shift sensor to detect the presence of the external material by measuring the velocity of the fluid flowing in the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Yu-Jen YANG, Chung-Pin CHOU, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Yan-Cheng CHEN, Sheng-Ching KAO, Jun-Xiu LIU
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Publication number: 20220406632Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor substrate includes a rotatable base configured to support a substrate, and a nozzle arm includes a nozzle and a light monitoring device. The light monitoring device includes a laser transmitter and an array of light sensors arranged in the nozzle arm and facing the substrate. The light monitoring device is configured to transmit a laser pulse towards the substrate, wherein the laser pulse impinges on the substrate, receive a reflected laser pulse from the substrate, calculate whether one or more light sensors received the laser pulse, and calculate a distance between the light monitoring device and the substrate using the turnaround time for determining a process quality on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Chung-Pin CHOU, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Yan-Cheng CHEN, Jui Kuo LAI, Jun Xiu LIU
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Publication number: 20220293443Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: receiving a workpiece on which the semiconductor device is manufactured; causing a nozzle to dispense a fluid toward a surface of the workpiece external to the nozzle, wherein the nozzle includes a first channel and a second channel that allow the fluid to flow through; emitting light, by a light source, from within the nozzle toward the surface while the nozzle is dispensing the fluid; receiving light reflected from the surface by a light sensor, the light source and the light sensor being disposed within the nozzle and opposite to each other, and the emitted light and the reflected light adapted to be contained within the fluid; and examining a status of the reflected light. The emitted light and the reflected light propagate in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of each of the first channel and the second channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: KAI-LIN CHUANG, TSUNG-CHI CHEN, PEI-JUNG CHANG, CHUN-WEI HUANG, JUN XIU LIU
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Patent number: 11355370Abstract: A method of monitoring a fluid includes: applying the fluid from within a nozzle to a surface of a wafer outside of the nozzle; emitting light, by a light source, from the nozzle to the surface; receiving light reflected from the surface by a light sensor and causing the reflected light to propagate into the nozzle; and determining whether a variation of the fluid occurs according to the reflected light.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Kai-Lin Chuang, Tsung-Chi Chen, Pei-Jung Chang, Chun-Wei Huang, Jun Xiu Liu
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Patent number: 11107671Abstract: A method includes disposing a semiconductor substrate over a chuck. The chuck has a plurality of holes therein. The semiconductor substrate has a first surface facing the chuck and a second surface opposite thereto. A liquid layer is formed flowing over a top surface of the chuck by supplying liquid to the top surface of the chuck through the holes of the chuck. The semiconductor substrate is moved toward the chuck such that the first surface of the semiconductor substrate is in contact with the liquid layer and the liquid layer flows between the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and the top surface of the chuck.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Wei-Chih Hsu, Kai-Lin Chuang, Yuan-Chi Chien, Jeng-Huei Yang, Jun-Xiu Liu