Patents by Inventor Keng-Chu Lin

Keng-Chu Lin 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: 20230387312
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a semiconductor device. A fin feature is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a dummy gate feature is formed over the fin feature. The fin feature includes a sacrificial portion disposed over the semiconductor substrate, and a fin portion disposed over the sacrificial portion. The dummy gate feature is connected to the fin feature and the semiconductor substrate. Then, the sacrificial portion is removed to form a gap between the semiconductor substrate and the fin portion. A dielectric isolation layer is formed to fill the gap for electrically isolating the fin portion from the semiconductor substrate. Subsequently, source/drain features are formed over the dielectric isolation layer, and the dummy gate feature is processed to form a gate electrode feature on the fin portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Yu YEN, Wei-Ting YEH, Ko-Feng CHEN, Keng-Chu LIN
  • Publication number: 20230387254
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to method for the fabrication of spacer structures between source/drain epitaxial structures and metal gate structures in nanostructure transistors. The method includes forming a fin structure with alternating first and second nanostructure elements on a substrate. The method also includes etching edge portions of the first nanostructure elements in the fin structure to form spacer cavities, and depositing a spacer layer on the fin structure to fill the spacer cavities. Further, treating the spacer layer with a microwave-generated plasma to form an oxygen concentration gradient within the spacer layer outside the spacer cavities and removing, with an etching process, the treated portion of the spacer layer. During the etching process, a removal rate of the etching process for the treated portion of the spacer layer is based on an oxygen concentration within the oxygen concentration gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mrunal Abhijith KHADERBAD, Keng-Chu LIN, Yu-Yun PENG
  • Publication number: 20230386912
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The semiconductor structure can include a substrate, a gate structure over the substrate, a source/drain (S/D) contact structure adjacent to the gate structure, a layer of dielectric material over the S/D contact structure and over the gate structure, a layer of organometallic material formed through the layer of dielectric material, and a trench conductor layer formed through the layer of dielectric material and in contact with the S/D contact structure and the gate structure. The layer of organometallic material can be between the layer of dielectric material and the trench conductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsu-Kai CHANG, Chia-Hung CHU, Shuen-Shin LIANG, Keng-Chu LIN, Pinyen LIN, Sung-Li WANG
  • Publication number: 20230387065
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure having bonded wafers with storage layers and a method to bond wafers with storage layers. The semiconductor structure includes a first wafer including a first storage layer with carbon, a second wafer including a second storage layer with carbon, and a bonding layer interposed between the first and second wafers and in contact with the first and second storage layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: De-Yang CHIOU, Yu-Yun Peng, Fu-Ting Yen, Keng-Chu Lin
  • Publication number: 20230378257
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for the fabrication of isolation structures between source/drain (S/D) epitaxial structures of stacked transistor structures. The method includes depositing an oxygen-free dielectric material in an opening over a first epitaxial structure, where the oxygen-free dielectric material covers top surfaces of the first epitaxial structure and sidewall surfaces of the opening. The method also includes exposing the oxygen-free dielectric material to an oxidizing process to oxidize the oxygen-free dielectric material so that the oxidizing process does not oxidize a portion of the oxygen-free dielectric material on the first epitaxial structure. Further, etching the oxidized oxygen-free dielectric material and forming a second epitaxial layer on the oxygen-free dielectric material not removed by the etching to substantially fill the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufactoring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mrunal Abhijith KHADERBAD, Dhanyakumar Mahaveer Sathaiya, Huicheng Chang, Ko-Feng Chen, Keng-Chu Lin
  • Patent number: 11823896
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric structure on a semiconductor substrate, introducing a first gas on the dielectric structure to form first conductive structures on the dielectric structure, and introducing a second gas on the first conductive structures and the dielectric structure. The second gas is different from the first gas. The method also includes introducing a third gas on the first conductive structures and the dielectric structure to form second conductive structures on the dielectric structure. The first gas and the third gas include the same metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mrunal A. Khaderbad, Keng-Chu Lin, Shuen-Shin Liang, Sung-Li Wang, Yasutoshi Okuno, Yu-Yun Peng
  • Publication number: 20230369335
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device and methods for forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor device of a first type and a second transistor device of a second type. The first transistor device includes first nanostructures, a first pair of source/drain structures, and a first gate structure on the first nanostructures. The second transistor device of a second type is formed over the first transistor device. The second transistor device includes second nanostructures over the first nanostructures, a second pair of source/drain structures over the first pair of source/drain structures, and a second gate structure on the second nanostructures and over the first nanostructures. The semiconductor device further includes a first isolation structure in contact with the first and second nanostructures and a second isolation structure in contact with a top surface of the first pair of source/drain structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mrunal Abhijith KHADERBAD, Sathaiya Mahaveer DHANYAKUMAR, Huicheng CHANG, Keng-Chu LIN
  • Patent number: 11817384
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an interconnect structure and a method for forming an interconnect structure. The method for forming an interconnect structure includes forming a bottom metal line in a first interlayer dielectric layer, forming a second interlayer dielectric layer over the bottom metal line, exposing a top surface of the bottom metal line, increasing a total surface area of the exposed top surface of the bottom metal line, forming a conductive via over the bottom metal line, and forming a top metal line over the conductive via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Shuen-Shin Liang, Ken-Yu Chang, Hung-Yi Huang, Chien Chang, Chi-Hung Chuang, Kai-Yi Chu, Chun-I Tsai, Chun-Hsien Huang, Chih-Wei Chang, Hsu-Kai Chang, Chia-Hung Chu, Keng-Chu Lin, Sung-Li Wang
  • Patent number: 11804539
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to method for the fabrication of spacer structures between source/drain epitaxial structures and metal gate structures in nanostructure transistors. The method includes forming a fin structure with alternating first and second nanostructure elements on a substrate. The method also includes etching edge portions of the first nanostructure elements in the fin structure to form spacer cavities, and depositing a spacer layer on the fin structure to fill the spacer cavities. Further, treating the spacer layer with a microwave-generated plasma to form an oxygen concentration gradient within the spacer layer outside the spacer cavities and removing, with an etching process, the treated portion of the spacer layer. During the etching process, a removal rate of the etching process for the treated portion of the spacer layer is based on an oxygen concentration within the oxygen concentration gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mrunal Abhijith Khaderbad, Keng-Chu Lin, Yu-Yun Peng
  • Patent number: 11798985
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for the fabrication of isolation structures between source/drain (S/D)) epitaxial structures of stacked transistor structures. The method includes depositing an oxygen-free dielectric material in an opening over a first epitaxial structure, where the oxygen-free dielectric material covers top surfaces of the first epitaxial structure and sidewall surfaces of the opening. The method also includes exposing the oxygen-free dielectric material to an oxidizing process to oxidize the oxygen-free dielectric material so that the oxidizing process does not oxidize a portion of the oxygen-free dielectric material on the first epitaxial structure. Further, etching the oxidized oxygen-free dielectric material and forming a second epitaxial layer on the oxygen-free dielectric material not removed by the etching to substantially the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mrunal Abhijith Khaderbad, Dhanyakumar Mahaveer Sathaiya, Huicheng Chang, Ko-Feng Chen, Keng-Chu Lin
  • Patent number: 11776960
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device and methods for forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor device of a first type and a second transistor device of a second type. The first transistor device includes first nanostructures, a first pair of source/drain structures, and a first gate structure on the first nanostructures. The second transistor device of a second type is formed over the first transistor device. The second transistor device includes second nanostructures over the first nanostructures, a second pair of source/drain structures over the first pair of source/drain structures, and a second gate structure on the second nanostructures and over the first nanostructures. The semiconductor device further includes a first isolation structure in contact with the first and second nanostructures and a second isolation structure in contact with a top surface of the first pair of source/drain structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mrunal Abhijith Khaderbad, Sathaiya Mahaveer Dhanyakumar, Huicheng Chang, Keng-Chu Lin
  • Publication number: 20230268387
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device including first and second terminals formed on a fin region and a seal layer formed between the first and second terminals. The seal layer includes a silicon carbide material doped with oxygen. The semiconductor device also includes an air gap surrounded by the seal layer, the fin region, and the first and second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuen-Shin LIANG, Tetsuji UENO, Ting-Ting CHEN, Chen-Han WANG, Keng-Chu LIN
  • Publication number: 20230268422
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a channel region, a gate structure, two epitaxial structures, and two silicide structures. The channel region is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and over the channel region. The epitaxial structures are connected at opposite ends of the channel region and are disposed opposite to each other relative to the gate structure. The silicide structures respectively surround the epitaxial structures. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chen-Han WANG, Keng-Chu LIN, Shuen-Shin LIANG
  • Publication number: 20230268268
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an interconnect structure and a method for forming an interconnect structure. The method for forming an interconnect structure includes forming a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate, forming a contact in the first ILD layer, forming a second ILD layer over the first ILD layer, forming a first opening in the second ILD layer and obtaining an exposed side surface of the second ILD layer over the contact, forming a densified dielectric layer at the exposed side surface of the second ILD layer, including oxidizing the exposed side surface of the second ILD layer by irradiating a microwave on the second ILD layer, and forming a via in contact with the densified dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: KHADERBAD MRUNAL ABHIJITH, YU-YUN PENG, FU-TING YEN, CHEN-HAN WANG, TSU-HSIU PERNG, KENG-CHU LIN
  • Publication number: 20230253240
    Abstract: An embodiment method includes depositing a first dielectric film over and along sidewalls of a semiconductor fin, the semiconductor fin extending upwards from a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes depositing a dielectric material over the first dielectric film; recessing the first dielectric film below a top surface of the semiconductor fin to define a dummy fin, the dummy fin comprising an upper portion of the dielectric material; and forming a gate stack over and along sidewalls of the semiconductor fin and the dummy fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Chin-Hsiang Lin, Keng-Chu Lin, Shwang-Ming Jeng, Teng-Chun Tsai, Tsu-Hsiu Perng, Fu-Ting Yen
  • Publication number: 20230251571
    Abstract: A system and method for depositing a photoresist and utilizing the photoresist are provided. In an embodiment a deposition chamber is utilized along with a first precursor material comprising carbon-carbon double bonds and a second precursor material comprising repeating units to deposit the photoresist onto a substrate. The first precursor material is turned into a plasma in a remote plasma chamber prior to being introduced into the deposition chamber. The resulting photoresist comprises a carbon backbone with carbon-carbon double bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Keng-Chu Lin, Joung-Wei Liou, Cheng-Han Wu, Ya Hui Chang
  • Publication number: 20230242115
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of forming an intermediate spacer structure between a gate structure and a source/drain (S/D) contact structure and removing a top portion of the intermediate spacer structure to form a recess. The intermediate spacer structure includes a first spacer layer, a second spacer layer, and a sacrificial spacer layer between the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial spacer layer to form an air gap between the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer and spinning a dielectric layer on the air gap, the first spacer layer, and the second spacer layer to fill in the recess and seal the air gap. The dielectric layer includes raw materials for a spin-on dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor For Manufactuing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting-Ting CHEN, Chen-Han Wang, Keng-Chu Lin, Shuen-Shin Liang, Tsu-Hsiu Perng, Tsai-Jung Ho, Tsung-Han Ko, Tetsuji Ueno, Yahru Cheng
  • Publication number: 20230246082
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure according to the present disclosure includes a source feature and a drain feature, at least one channel structure extending between the source feature and the drain feature, a gate structure wrapped around each of the at least one channel structure, a semiconductor layer over the gate structure, a dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer, a doped semiconductor feature extending through the semiconductor layer and the dielectric layer to be in contact with the source feature, a metal contact plug over the doped semiconductor feature, and a buried power rail disposed over the metal contact plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Chia-Hung Chu, Tsungyu Hung, Hsu-Kai Chang, Ding-Kang Shih, Keng-Chu Lin, Pang-Yen Tsai, Sung-Li Wang, Shuen-Shin Liang
  • Patent number: 11688766
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device including first and second terminals formed on a fin region and a seal layer formed between the first and second terminals. The seal layer includes a silicon carbide material doped with oxygen. The semiconductor device also includes an air gap surrounded by the seal layer, the fin region, and the first and second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuen-Shin Liang, Chen-Han Wang, Keng-Chu Lin, Tetsuji Ueno, Ting-Ting Chen
  • Publication number: 20230178593
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a formation method are provided. The method includes forming a sacrificial base layer over a substrate and forming a semiconductor stack over the sacrificial base layer. The semiconductor stack has multiple sacrificial layers and multiple semiconductor layers laid out alternately. The method also includes forming a gate stack to partially cover the sacrificial base layer, the semiconductor layers, and the sacrificial layers. The method further includes removing the sacrificial base layer to form a recess between the substrate and the semiconductor stack. In addition, the method includes forming a metal-containing dielectric structure to partially or completely fill the recess. The metal-containing dielectric structure has multiple sub-layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Wei-Ting Yeh, Hung-Yu Yen, Yu-Yun Peng, Keng-Chu Lin