Patents by Inventor Kuo-Cheng Ching

Kuo-Cheng Ching 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: 10141419
    Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate, and recessing the isolation regions. A portion of the semiconductor substrate between the isolation regions protrudes higher than the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin. A dummy gate electrode is formed to cover a middle portion of the semiconductor fin, with an end portion of the semiconductor fin uncovered by the dummy gate electrode. The dummy gate electrode includes a lower dummy gate electrode portion, and an upper dummy gate electrode portion including polysilicon over the lower dummy gate electrode portion. The lower dummy gate electrode portion and the upper dummy gate electrode portion are formed of different materials. Source/drain regions are formed on opposite sides of the dummy gate electrode. The dummy gate electrode is replaced with a replacement gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Kuan-Ting Pan, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 10134870
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a fin, a bottom capping structure and a top capping structure. The fin disposed on the substrate, the fin has a lower portion and an upper portion extending upwards from the lower portion. The bottom capping structure covers a sidewall of the lower portion of the fin. The top capping structure covers a sidewall of the upper portion of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi-Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 10121851
    Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending from a top surface of a semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate, and forming a hard mask strip over the isolation regions and a semiconductor strip, wherein the semiconductor strip is between two neighboring ones of the isolation regions. A dummy gate strip is formed over the hard mask strip, wherein a lengthwise direction of the dummy gate strip is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the semiconductor strip, and wherein a portion of the dummy gate strip is aligned to a portion of the semiconductor strip. The method further includes removing the dummy gate strip, removing the hard mask strip, and recessing first portions of the isolation regions that are overlapped by the removed hard mask strip. A portion of the semiconductor strip between and contacting the removed first portions of the isolation regions forms a semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi Ning Ju, Guan-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10115788
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a horizontal gate all around structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a fin. The fin is disposed on the substrate, and includes an anti-punch through (APT) layer formed of a material at a dose of about 1E18 atoms/cm2 to about 1E19 atoms/cm2, and a barrier layer formed above the APT layer. A method of forming a semiconductor device having a horizontal gate all around structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Guan-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10115823
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a fin structure including a well layer, an oxide layer disposed over the well layer and a channel layer disposed over the oxide layer. An isolation insulating layer is formed so that the channel layer of the fin structure protrudes from the isolation insulating layer and a part of or an entirety of the oxide layer is embedded in the isolation insulating layer. A gate structure is formed over the fin structure. A recessed portion is formed by etching a part of the fin structure not covered by the gate structure such that the oxide layer is exposed. A recess is formed in the exposed oxide layer. An epitaxial seed layer in the recess in the oxide layer. An epitaxial layer is formed in and above the recessed portion. The epitaxial layer is in contact with the epitaxial seed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chih-Hao Wang, Ching-Wei Tsai, Wai-Yi Lien
  • Publication number: 20180301384
    Abstract: A FinFET semiconductor structure includes first fins and second fins extended from a semiconductor substrate, and a gate structure disposed over the first fins and the second fins. Each first fin includes a first semiconductor portion connected to the semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor portion over the semiconductor substrate. Each second fin includes the first semiconductor portion connected to the semiconductor substrate, the second semiconductor portion, and at least one spacer at least partially disposed between the first semiconductor portion and the second semiconductor portion. The semiconductor substrate and the first semiconductor portion respectively have a surface oriented on a first crystal plane, the second semiconductor portion has a surface oriented on a second crystal plane, wherein the first crystal plane is oriented differently than the second crystal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 10103264
    Abstract: A circuit device having differently-strained NMOS and PMOS FinFETs is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate with a first fin structure and a second fin structure formed thereup. The first fin structure includes opposing source/drain regions disposed above a surface of the substrate; a channel region disposed between the opposing source/drain regions and disposed above the surface of the substrate; and a first buried layer disposed between the channel region and the substrate. The first buried layer includes a compound semiconductor oxide. The second fin structure includes a second buried layer disposed between the substrate and a channel region of the second fin structure, such that the second buried layer is different in composition from the first. For example, the second fin structure may be free of the compound semiconductor oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kuo-Cheng Ching
  • Patent number: 10096693
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate and a gate structure formed across the fin structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a bottom spacer formed on a lower part of a sidewall of the gate structure and an upper spacer formed on an upper part of the sidewall of the gate structure. In addition, the upper spacer includes an air gap formed in a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Publication number: 20180277654
    Abstract: A CMOS semiconductor device includes a substrate comprising an isolation region separating a P-active region and an N-active region. The CMOS semiconductor device further includes a P-metal gate electrode over the P-active region and extending over the isolation region, wherein the P-metal gate electrode includes a P-work function metal and a doped TiN layer between the P-work function metal and substrate. The CMOS semiconductor device further includes an N-metal gate electrode over the N-active region and extending over the isolation region, wherein the N-metal gate electrode includes an N-work function metal and a nitrogen-rich TiN layer between the N-work function metal and substrate, wherein a portion of the P-metal gate electrode is between a portion of the N-metal gate electrode and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ming ZHU, Hui-Wen LIN, Harry Hak-Lay CHUANG, Bao-Ru YOUNG, Yuan-Sheng HUANG, Ryan Chia-Jen CHEN, Chao-Cheng CHEN, Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ting-Hua HSIEH, Carlos H. DIAZ
  • Patent number: 10084071
    Abstract: A representative fin field effect transistor (FinFET) includes a substrate having a major surface; a fin structure protruding from the major surface having a lower portion comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant; an upper portion comprising the first semiconductor material. A bottom portion of the upper portion comprises a dopant with a first peak concentration. A middle portion is disposed between the lower portion and upper portion, where the middle portion comprises a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant different from the first lattice constant. An isolation structure surrounds the fin structure, where a portion of the isolation structure adjacent to the bottom portion of the upper portion comprises the dopant with a second peak concentration equal to or greater than the first peak concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Guan-Lin Chen, Chao-Hsiung Wang, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20180269109
    Abstract: A semiconductor layer is etched into a plurality of fin structures. A first nitridation process is performed to side surfaces of the fin structures. The first nitridation process forms a first oxynitride layer at the side surfaces of the fin structures. A liner oxide layer is formed on the first oxynitride layer. An isolation structure is formed around the fin structures after the forming of the liner oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Publication number: 20180269321
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement comprises a substrate region and a first semiconductor column projecting from the substrate region. The semiconductor arrangement comprises a second semiconductor column projecting from the substrate region. The second semiconductor column is separated a first distance from the first semiconductor column. The first distance is between about 10 nm to about 30 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre COLINGE, Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ta-Pen Guo, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 10074668
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first FinFET device and a second FinFET device. The first FinFET device includes a first gate, a first source, and a first drain. The first FinFET device has a first source/drain proximity. The second FinFET device includes a second gate, a second source, and a second drain. The second FinFET device has a second source/drain proximity that is smaller than the first source/drain proximity. In some embodiments, \the first FinFET device is an Input/Output (I/O) device, and the second FinFET device is a non-I/O device such as a core device. In some embodiments, the greater source/drain proximity of the first FinFET device is due to an extra spacer of the first FinFET device that does not exist for the second FinFET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Publication number: 20180254348
    Abstract: A device includes a first semiconductor strip, a first gate dielectric encircling the first semiconductor strip, a second semiconductor strip overlapping the first semiconductor strip, and a second gate dielectric encircling the second semiconductor strip. The first gate dielectric contacts the first gate dielectric. A gate electrode has a portion over the second semiconductor strip, and additional portions on opposite sides of the first and the second semiconductor strips and the first and the second gate dielectrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chi-Wen Liu, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Publication number: 20180240712
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, which includes forming a first fin structure and a second fin structure over a substrate, which has a first trench positioned between the first and second fin structures. The method also includes forming a first dielectric layer within the first trench, recessing the first dielectric layer to expose a portion of the first fin structure, forming a first capping layer over the exposed portion of the first fin structure and the recessed first dielectric layer in the first trench, forming a second dielectric layer over the first capping layer in the first trench while the first capping layer covers the exposed portion of the first fin feature and removing the first capping layer from the first fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Publication number: 20180233586
    Abstract: One or more semiconductor arrangements and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. A semiconductor arrangement comprises a channel, such as an un-doped channel, over a substrate. The semiconductor arrangement comprises a gate, such as a gate-all-around structure gate, around the channel. The semiconductor arrangement comprises an isolation structure, such as a silicon germanium oxide structure, between the gate and the substrate. The isolation structure blocks current leakage into the substrate. Because the semiconductor arrangement comprises the isolation structure, the channel can be left un-doped, which improves electron mobility and decreases gate capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ching-Wei TSAI, Chih-Hao WANG, Carlos H. DIAZ
  • Publication number: 20180226504
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first fin element, a second fin element, and a third fin element. A first source/drain epitaxial feature is disposed over the first and second fin elements. A first portion of the first source/drain epitaxial feature disposed on the first fin element and a second portion of the first source/drain epitaxial feature disposed on the second fin element merge at a merge point. A second source/drain epitaxial feature is disposed over the third fin element. A first sidewall of the second source/drain epitaxial feature interfaces a first third-fin spacer disposed along a first sidewall of the third fin element. A second sidewall of the second source/drain epitaxial feature interfaces a second third-fin spacer disposed along a second sidewall of the third fin element. The merge point has a first height less than a second height of the first third-fin spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ching-Wei TSAI, Chih-Hao WANG, Ying-Keung LEUNG
  • Publication number: 20180211884
    Abstract: Among other things, one or semiconductor arrangements, and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. For example, one or more silicon and silicon germanium stacks are utilized to form PMOS transistors comprising germanium nanowire channels and NMOS transistors comprising silicon nanowire channels. In an example, a first silicon and silicon germanium stack is oxidized to transform silicon to silicon oxide regions, which are removed to form germanium nanowire channels for PMOS transistors. In another example, silicon and germanium layers within a second silicon and silicon germanium stack are removed to form silicon nanowire channels for NMOS transistors. PMOS transistors having germanium nanowire channels and NMOS transistors having silicon nanowire channels are formed as part of a single fabrication process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Carlos H. Diaz, Jean-Pierre Colinge
  • Patent number: 10026737
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a separation wall made of a dielectric material is formed between two fin structures. A dummy gate structure is formed over the separation wall and the two fin structures. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is formed over the dummy gate structure. An upper portion of the ILD layer is removed, thereby exposing the dummy gate structure. The dummy gate structure is replaced with a metal gate structure. A planarization operation is performed to expose the separation wall, thereby dividing the metal gate structure into a first gate structure and a second gate structure. The first gate structure and the second gate structure are separated by the separation wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chih-Hao Wang, Chih-Liang Chen, Shi Ning Ju
  • Publication number: 20180197782
    Abstract: A method includes forming Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) regions in a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor strip between the STI regions. The method also include replacing a top portion of the semiconductor strip with a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer has a first germanium percentage higher than a second germanium percentage of the second semiconductor layer. The method also includes recessing the STI regions to form semiconductor fins, forming a gate stack over a middle portion of the semiconductor fin, and forming gate spacers on sidewalls of the gate stack. The method further includes forming fin spacers on sidewalls of an end portion of the semiconductor fin, recessing the end portion of the semiconductor fin, and growing an epitaxial region over the end portion of the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ting-Hung Hsu, Chao-Hsiung Wang, Chi-Wen Liu