Patents by Inventor Kuan-Lun Cheng

Kuan-Lun Cheng 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: 11682707
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a metal gate structure having sidewall spacers disposed on sidewalls of the metal gate structure. In some embodiments, a top surface of the metal gate structure is recessed with respect to a top surface of the sidewall spacers. The semiconductor device may further include a metal cap layer disposed over and in contact with the metal gate structure, where a first width of a bottom portion of the metal cap layer is greater than a second width of a top portion of the metal cap layer. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device may further include a dielectric material disposed on either side of the metal cap layer, where the sidewall spacers and a portion of the metal gate structure are disposed beneath the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Li-Zhen Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230187545
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure with a nanowire power switch device and a method of forming the IC structure are disclosed. The IC structure includes a front end of line (FEOL) device layer having a plurality of active devices, a first back end of line (BEOL) interconnect structure on the (FEOL) device layer, and a nanowire switch on the first BEOL interconnect structure. A first end of the nanowire switch is connected to an active device of the plurality of active devices through the first BEOL interconnect structure. The IC structure further includes a second BEOL interconnect structure on the nanowire switch. A second end of the nanowire switch is connected to a power source through the second BEOL interconnect structure and the second end is opposite to the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Yang CHUANG, Ching-Wei TSAI, Wang-Chun HUANG, Kuan-Lun CHENG
  • Patent number: 11676819
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first fin, a second fin, a first gate electrode having a first portion that at least partially wraps around an upper portion of the first fin and a second portion that at least partially wraps around an upper portion of the second fin, a second gate electrode having a portion that at least partially wraps around the upper portion of the first fin, and a gate-cut feature having a first portion in the first gate electrode between the first and second portions of the first gate electrode. The gate-cut feature is at least partially filled with one or more dielectric materials. In a direction of a longitudinal axis of the first fin, the gate-cut feature has a second portion extending to a sidewall of the second gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pei-Yu Wang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Publication number: 20230178555
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a semiconductor fin including a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface, and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The semiconductor device structure further includes a gate electrode layer disposed adjacent the first, third, and fourth surfaces of the semiconductor fin, a first source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with the semiconductor fin, and a first inner spacer disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the gate electrode layer. The first inner spacer is in contact with the first source/drain epitaxial feature, and the first inner spacer comprises a first material. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first spacer in contact with the first inner spacer, and the first spacer comprises a second material different from the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Kuan-Ting PAN, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Shi-Ning JU, Yi-Ruei JHAN, Kuan-Lun CHENG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 11670692
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes power rails in a first interconnect structure on a backside of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device further includes a gate-all-around (GAA) transistor having multiple channel layers stacked over the first interconnect structure, a gate stack wrapping around each of the multiple channel layers except a bottommost one of the multiple channel layers, and a source/drain feature adjoining the channel layers. The semiconductor device further includes a first conductive via connecting the first interconnect structure to a bottom of the source/drain feature and a dielectric feature isolating the bottommost one of the multiple channel layers from the first conductive via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Hsu, Lung-Kun Chu, Mao-Lin Huang, Jia-Ni Yu, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11670581
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor structure includes a source/drain (S/D) feature formed in an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD), a S/D contact via electrically connected to the S/D feature, a metal feature formed over the S/D contact via, and a metal line formed over the metal feature and electrically connected to the S/D contact via. The metal line is formed of a material different from that of the S/D contact via, and the S/D contact via is spaced apart from the metal line. By providing the metal feature, electromigration between the metal line and the contact via may be advantageously reduced or substantially eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Li-Zhen Yu, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11670550
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a fin structure protruding above a substrate, where the fin structure comprises a fin and a layer stack overlying the fin, where the layer stack comprises alternating layers of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material; forming a dummy gate structure over the fin structure; forming openings in the fin structure on opposing sides of the dummy gate structure, where the openings extend through the layer stack into the fin; forming a dielectric layer in bottom portions of the openings; and forming source/drain regions in the openings on the dielectric layer, where the source/drain regions are separated from the fin by the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guan-Lin Chen, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Shi Ning Ju, Jung-Chien Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11670723
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a fin structure over a substrate, a vertical stack of silicon nanostructures disposed over the fin structure, an isolation structure disposed around the fin structure, a germanium-containing interfacial layer wrapping around each of the vertical stack of silicon nanostructures, a gate dielectric layer wrapping around the germanium-containing interfacial layer, and a gate electrode layer wrapping around the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mao-Lin Huang, Lung-Kun Chu, Chung-Wei Hsu, Jia-Ni Yu, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11664454
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor fin structure over a substrate, forming a dielectric fin structure laterally spaced apart from the semiconductor fin structure, forming a source/drain spacer between the semiconductor fin structure and the dielectric fin structure, etching an upper portion of the semiconductor fin structure to expose a lower portion of the semiconductor fin structure, and forming a source/drain feature over the lower portion of the semiconductor fin structure. The source/drain spacer is interposed between the source/drain feature and the dielectric fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Shi-Ning Ju, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11664451
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a P-type field effect transistor (PFET) and an N-type field effect transistor (NFET). The PFET includes a first gate structure formed over a substrate, a first spacer disposed on a sidewall of the first gate structure, and an unstrained spacer disposed on a sidewall of the first spacer. The NET includes a second gate structure formed over the substrate, the first spacer disposed on a sidewall of the second gate structure, and a strained spacer disposed on a sidewall of the first spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Chieh Yang, Li-Yang Chuang, Pei-Yu Wang, Wei Ju Lee, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11664378
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a semiconductor fin having a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width substantially less than the first width. The first portion has a first surface, the second portion has a second surface, and the first and second surfaces are connected by a third surface. The third surface forms an angle with respect to the second surface, and the angle ranges from about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees. The structure further includes a gate electrode layer disposed over the semiconductor fin and source/drain epitaxial features disposed on the semiconductor fin on opposite sides of the gate electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Ting Lan, Shi Ning Ju, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11658119
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first transistor having a first source/drain (S/D) feature and a first gate; a second transistor having a second S/D feature and a second gate; a multi-layer interconnection disposed over the first and the second transistors; a signal interconnection under the first and the second transistors; and a power rail under the signal interconnection and electrically isolated from the signal interconnection, wherein the signal interconnection electrically connects one of the first S/D feature and the first gate to one of the second S/D feature and the second gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Xuan Huang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Yi-Hsun Chiu, Yi-Bo Liao, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Wei-Cheng Lin, Wei-An Lai, Ming Chian Tsai, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng, Hou-Yu Chen, Chun-Yuan Chen, Huan-Chieh Su
  • Publication number: 20230155003
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a fin structure over a semiconductor substrate and a dummy gate stack formed over the fin structure and having a first sidewall and an opposite second sidewall. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first and second source or drain (S/D) structures in the fin structure and respectively adjacent to the first and second sidewalls of the dummy gate stack. The semiconductor device structure further includes an isolation feature formed in the fin structure below the dummy gate stack and having a third sidewall and an opposite fourth sidewall. A first end of the third sidewall overlaps the first end of the fourth sidewall. A second end of the third sidewall is in direct contact with a bottom of the dummy gate stack. A second end of the fourth sidewall is separated from the bottom of the dummy gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Shi-Ning JU, Kuan-Ting PAN, Kuan-Lun CHENG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Publication number: 20230155008
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure includes a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes first suspended nanostructures vertically stacked over one another and disposed on a substrate, a first gate stack engaging the first suspended nanostructures, a first gate spacer disposed on sidewalls of the first gate stack, second suspended nanostructures vertically stacked over one another and disposed on the substrate, a second gate stack engaging the second suspended nanostructures, and a second gate spacer disposed on sidewalls of the second gate stack. A middle portion of the first suspended nanostructures has a first thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate. A middle portion of the second suspended nanostructures has a second thickness measured in the direction. The second thickness is smaller than the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Chih-Ching Wang, Chia-Ying Su, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chung-Wei Wu, Zhiqiang Wu
  • Publication number: 20230154921
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with air spacers and air caps and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a fin structure disposed on the substrate. The fin structure includes a first fin portion and a second fin portion. The semiconductor device further includes a source/drain (S/D) region disposed on the first fin portion, a contact structure disposed on the S/D region, a gate structure disposed on the second fin portion, an air spacer disposed between a sidewall of the gate structure and the contact structure, a cap seal disposed on the gate structure, and an air cap disposed between a top surface of the gate structure and the cap seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin-Yu Huang, Chia-Hao Chang, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11652160
    Abstract: FinFET patterning methods are disclosed for achieving fin width uniformity. An exemplary method includes forming a mandrel layer over a substrate. A first cut removes a portion of the mandrel layer, leaving a mandrel feature disposed directly adjacent to a dummy mandrel feature. The substrate is etched using the mandrel feature and the dummy mandrel feature as an etch mask, forming a dummy fin feature and an active fin feature separated by a first spacing along a first direction. A second cut removes a portion of the dummy fin feature and a portion of the active fin feature, forming dummy fins separated by a second spacing and active fins separated by the second spacing. The second spacing is along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A third cut removes the dummy fins, forming fin openings, which are filled with a dielectric material to form dielectric fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi Ning Ju, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11652140
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes first and second source/drain epitaxial features, a first gate electrode layer disposed between the first and second source/drain epitaxial features, third and fourth source/drain epitaxial features, a second gate electrode layer disposed between the third and fourth source/drain epitaxial features, fifth and sixth source/drain epitaxial features disposed over the first and second source/drain epitaxial features, and a third gate electrode layer disposed between the fifth and sixth source/drain epitaxial features. The third gate electrode layer is electrically connected to the second source/drain epitaxial feature. The structure further includes a seventh source/drain epitaxial feature disposed over the third source/drain epitaxial feature and an eighth source/drain epitaxial feature disposed over the fourth source/drain epitaxial feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Yi Chuang, Cheng-Ting Chung, Hou-Yu Chen, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11646238
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method, and more particularly to a semiconductor device with fin structures having different top surface crystal orientations and/or different materials. The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure including n-type FinFET devices and p-type FinFET devices with different top surface crystal orientations and with fin structures having different materials. The present disclosure provides a method to fabricate a semiconductor structure including n-type FinFET devices and p-type FinFET devices with different top surface crystal orientations and different materials to achieve optimized electron transport and hole transport. The present disclosure also provides a diode structure and a bipolar junction transistor structure that includes SiGe in the fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11640052
    Abstract: A light path adjustment mechanism includes a carrier, an optical plate member, a support, a base, a first pair of transmission mechanical pieces, and a second pair of transmission mechanical pieces. One side of the support is provided with a first actuator, and one side of the base is provided with a second actuator. The first pair of transmission mechanical pieces are connected between the base and the support, and the second pair of transmission mechanical pieces are connected between the carrier and the support. The first pair of transmission mechanical pieces are entirely disposed on only one side of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Szu Lin, Chih-Chien Lin, Yu-Chen Chang, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11640989
    Abstract: A structure and formation method of a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor stack having first sacrificial layers and first semiconductor layers laid out alternately. The method also includes patterning the semiconductor stack to form a first structure and a second structure. The method further includes replacing the second structure with a third structure having second sacrificial layers and second semiconductor layers laid out alternately. In addition, the method includes removing the first sacrificial layers in the first structure and the second sacrificial layers in the third structure. The method includes forming a first metal gate stack and a second metal gate stack to wrap around each of the first semiconductor layers in the first structure and each of the second semiconductor layers in the third structure, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wang-Chun Huang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang