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).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20180197783
    Abstract: A method of forming a fin structure of a semiconductor device, such as a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) is provided. In an embodiment, trenches are formed in a substrate, and a liner is formed along sidewalls of the trenches, wherein a region between adjacent trenches define a fin. A dielectric material is formed in the trenches. Portions of the semiconductor material of the fin are replaced with a second semiconductor material and a third semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material having a different lattice constant than the substrate and the third semiconductor material having a different lattice constant than the second semiconductor material. Portions of the second semiconductor material are oxidized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Jiun-Jia Huang, Chao-Hsiung Wang, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20180190652
    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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Chih-Hao WANG, Chih-Liang CHEN, Shi Ning JU
  • Publication number: 20180190796
    Abstract: Devices and structures that include a gate spacer having a gap or void are described along with methods of forming such devices and structures. In accordance with some embodiments, a structure includes a substrate, a gate stack over the substrate, a contact over the substrate, and a spacer disposed laterally between the gate stack and the contact. The spacer includes a first dielectric sidewall portion and a second dielectric sidewall portion. A void is disposed between the first dielectric sidewall portion and the second dielectric sidewall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chi-Wen Liu, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 10008566
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first type region including a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a second type region including a second conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a channel region extending between the first type region and the second type region. The channel region is separated a first distance from a first portion of the first type region. The semiconductor device includes a gate region surrounding the channel region. A first portion of the gate region is separated a second distance from the first portion of the first type region. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Colinge, Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ta-Pen Guo, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 10008414
    Abstract: A FinFET includes a semiconductor layer having a fin structure that protrudes out of the semiconductor layer. The fin structure includes a first segment and a second segment disposed over the first segment. A dielectric layer is disposed over the semiconductor layer. The first segment of the fin structure is surrounded by the dielectric layer. A metal layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. The second segment of the fin structure is surrounded by the metal layer. The dielectric layer has a greater nitrogen content than the metal layer. The first segment of the fin structure also has a first side surface that is rougher than a second side surface of the second segment of the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Publication number: 20180175029
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a fin structure on a substrate; a first gate stack and a second gate stack formed on the fin structure; a dielectric material layer disposed on the first and second gate stacks, wherein the dielectric layer includes a first portion disposed on a sidewall of the first gate stack with a first thickness and a second portion disposed on a sidewall of the second gate stack with a second thickness greater than the first thickness; a first gate spacer disposed on the first portion of the dielectric material layer; and a second gate spacer disposed on the second portion of the dielectric material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ying-Keung Leung, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20180174918
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a device includes first and second p-type transistors. The first transistor includes a first channel region including a first material of a first fin. The first transistor includes first and second epitaxial source/drain regions each in a respective first recess in the first material and on opposite sides of the first channel region. The first transistor includes a first gate stack on the first channel region. The second transistor includes a second channel region including a second material of a second fin. The second material is a different material from the first material. The second transistor includes third and fourth epitaxial source/drain regions each in a respective second recess in the second material and on opposite sides of the second channel region. The second transistor includes a second gate stack on the second channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chi-Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20180175036
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first and a second epitaxial layer, formed of a first semiconductor material. The second epitaxial layer is disposed over the first epitaxial layer. The first transistor also includes a first gate dielectric layer surrounds the first and second epitaxial layers and extends from a top surface of the first epitaxial layer to a bottom surface of the second epitaxial layer and a first metal gate layer surrounding the first gate dielectric layer. The second transistor includes a third epitaxial layer formed of the first semiconductor material and a fourth epitaxial layer disposed directly on the third epitaxial layer and formed of a second semiconductor. The second transistor also includes a second gate dielectric layer disposed over the third and fourth epitaxial layers and a second metal gate layer disposed over the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chung-Cheng Wu, Ching-Fang Huang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung, Cheng-Ting Chung
  • Publication number: 20180175162
    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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Ching-Wei TSAI, Chih-Hao WANG, Ying-Keung LEUNG
  • Publication number: 20180166551
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature disposed over a substrate. The source/drain feature includes a first nanowire, a second nanowire disposed over the first nanowire, a cladding layer disposed over the first nanowire and the second nanowire and a spacer layer extending from the first nanowire to the second nanowire. The device also includes a conductive feature disposed directly on the source/drain feature such that the conductive feature physically contacts the cladding layer and the spacer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Fang Huang, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 9991388
    Abstract: A device includes isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate, with a substrate strip between opposite portions of the isolation regions having a first width. A source/drain region has a portion overlapping the substrate strip, wherein an upper portion of the source/drain region has a second width greater than the first width. The upper portion of the source/drain region has substantially vertical sidewalls. A source/drain silicide region has inner sidewalls contacting the vertical sidewalls of the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chi-Wen Liu, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 9991262
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes PMOS and NMOS FinFET devices disposed on a hybrid substrate including a first substrate and a second substrate, in which a fin of the PMOS FinFET device is formed on the first substrate having a top surface with a (100) crystal orientation, and another fin of the NMOS FinFET device is formed on the second substrate having a top surface with a (110) crystal orientation. The semiconductor device further includes a capping layer enclosing a buried bottom portion of the fin of the PMOS FinFET device, and another capping layer enclosing an effective channel portion of the fin of the PMOS FinFET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20180151450
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor device fabrication is described that includes forming a first fin extending from a substrate. The first fin has a source/drain region and a channel region and the first fin is formed of a first stack of epitaxial layers that includes first epitaxial layers having a first composition interposed by second epitaxial layers having a second composition. The method also includes removing the second epitaxial layers from the source/drain region of the first fin to form first gaps, covering a portion of the first epitaxial layers with a dielectric layer and filling the first gaps with the dielectric material and growing another epitaxial material on at least two surfaces of each of the first epitaxial layers to form a first source/drain feature while the dielectric material fills the first gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wai-Yi Lien, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Publication number: 20180151688
    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: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi-Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 9984938
    Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having a first gate region for a first device and a second gate region for a second device, the first and second gate regions having different channel lengths. The method further includes forming first and second fins in at least the first and second gate regions respectively, and forming first and second stacks of semiconductor layers over the first and second fins respectively. The method further includes performing an oxidation process to the first and second stacks, thereby forming first and second semiconductor wires in the first and second gate regions respectively. Each of the first and second semiconductor wires is wrapped by a semiconductor oxide layer. The first and second semiconductor wires have different cross-sectional geometries in a respective plane that is perpendicular to their respective longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Jiun-Jia Huang
  • Patent number: 9978853
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate strip including a dummy electrode and a TiN layer. The method includes removing a first portion of the dummy electrode to form a first opening over a P-active region and an isolation region. The method includes performing an oxygen-containing plasma treatment on a first portion of the TiN layer; and filling the first opening with a first metal material. The method includes removing a second portion of the dummy electrode to form a second opening over an N-active region and the isolation region. The method includes performing a nitrogen-containing plasma treatment on a second portion of the TiN layer; and filling the second opening with a second metal material. The second portion of the TiN layer connects to the first portion of the TiN layer over the isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    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: 9978863
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Colinge, Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ta-Pen Guo, Carlos H. Diaz
  • Patent number: 9978870
    Abstract: A fin structure suitable for a FinFET and having a buried insulator layer is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate with a first semiconductor material and having a fin structure formed thereupon. The fin structure includes a lower region proximate to the substrate, a second semiconductor material disposed on the lower region, a third semiconductor material disposed on the second semiconductor material, and an insulating material selectively disposed on the second semiconductor material such that the insulating material electrically isolates a channel region of the fin structure and further such that the insulating material exerts a strain on the channel region. The semiconductor device further comprises an isolation feature disposed adjacent to the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chao-Hsiung Wang, Chi-Wen Liu, Guan-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 9966471
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chi-Wen Liu, Ying-Keung Leung