Patents by Inventor Kuo-Feng Yu

Kuo-Feng Yu 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: 11233140
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a field effect transistor (FET), a sacrificial region is formed in a substrate, and a trench is formed in the substrate. A part of the sacrificial region is exposed in the trench. A space is formed by at least partially etching the sacrificial region, an isolation insulating layer is formed in the trench and the space, and a gate structure and a source/drain region are formed. An air spacer is formed in the space under the source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Clement Hsingjen Wann, Kuo-Feng Yu, Yi-Tang Lin, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Publication number: 20210391219
    Abstract: A dummy gate electrode and a dummy gate dielectric are removed to form a recess between adjacent gate spacers. A gate dielectric is deposited in the recess, and a barrier layer is deposited over the gate dielectric. A first work function layer is deposited over the barrier layer. A first anti-reaction layer is formed over the first work function layer, the first anti-reaction layer reducing oxidation of the first work function layer. A fill material is deposited over the first anti-reaction layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Chia-Ching Lee, Hsin-Han Tsai, Shih-Hang Chiu, Tsung-Ta Tang, Chung-Chiang Wu, Hung-Chin Chung, Hsien-Ming Lee, Da-Yuan Lee, Jian-Hao Chen, Chien-Hao Chen, Kuo-Feng Yu, Chia-Wei Chen, Chih-Yu Hsu
  • Patent number: 11195931
    Abstract: A gate structure, a semiconductor device, and the method of forming a semiconductor device are provided. In various embodiments, the gate structure includes a gate stack and a doped spacer overlying a sidewall of the gate stack. The gate stack contains a doped work function metal (WFM) stack and a metal gate electrode overlying the doped WFM stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Tsai, Kuo-Feng Yu, Chien-Tai Chan, Ziwei Fang, Kei-Wei Chen, Huai-Tei Yang
  • Publication number: 20210351080
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure is formed by patterning a semiconductor layer, and an annealing operation is performed on the fin structure. In the patterning of the semiconductor layer, a damaged area is formed on a sidewall of the fin structure, and the annealing operation eliminates the damaged area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung TSAI, Yu-Ming LIN, Kuo-Feng YU, Ming-Hsi YEH, Shahaji B. MORE, Chandrashekhar Prakash SAVANT, Chih-Hsin KO, Clement Hsingjen WANN
  • Publication number: 20210305258
    Abstract: A transistor includes a gate structure that has a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer. The first gate dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The first gate dielectric layer contains a first type of dielectric material that has a first dielectric constant. The second gate dielectric layer is disposed over the first gate dielectric layer. The second gate dielectric layer contains a second type of dielectric material that has a second dielectric constant. The second dielectric constant is greater than the first dielectric constant. The first dielectric constant and the second dielectric constant are each greater than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Chih-Yu Hsu, Jian-Hao Chen, Chia-Wei Chen, Shan-Mei Liao, Hui-Chi Chen, Yu-Chia Liang, Shih-Hao Lin, Kuei-Lun Lin, Kuo-Feng Yu, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yen-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20210257258
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate dielectric, a second gate dielectric, and a third gate dielectric over a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, and a third semiconductor region, respectively. The method further includes depositing a first lanthanum-containing layer overlapping the first gate dielectric, and depositing a second lanthanum-containing layer overlapping the second gate dielectric. The second lanthanum-containing layer is thinner than the first lanthanum-containing layer. An anneal process is then performed to drive lanthanum in the first lanthanum-containing layer and the second lanthanum-containing layer into the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric, respectively. During the anneal process, the third gate dielectric is free from lanthanum-containing layers thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Wen-Hung Huang, Kuo-Feng Yu, Jian-Hao Chen, Shan-Mei Liao, Jer-Fu Wang, Yung-Hsiang Chan
  • Publication number: 20210249271
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a structure includes: a semiconductor substrate; a gate spacer over the semiconductor substrate, the gate spacer having an upper portion and a lower portion, a first width of the upper portion decreasing continually in a first direction extending away from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second width of the lower portion being constant along the first direction; a gate stack extending along a first sidewall of the gate spacer and the top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an epitaxial source/drain region adjacent a second sidewall of the gate spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Yu-Jiun Peng, Hsiu-Hao Tsao, Shu-Han Chen, Chang-Jhih Syu, Kuo-Feng Yu, Jian-Hao Chen, Chih-Hao Yu, Chang-Yun Chang
  • Publication number: 20210242310
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; an isolation structure over the substrate; a fin over the substrate and the isolation structure; a gate structure engaging a first portion of the fin; first sidewall spacers over sidewalls of the gate structure and over a second portion of the fin; source/drain (S/D) features adjacent to the first sidewall spacers; and second sidewall spacers over the isolation structure and over sidewalls of a portion of the S/D features. The second sidewall spacers include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride. The second sidewall spacers and the second portion of the fin include a same dopant, wherein the dopant includes phosphorus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Ya-Yun Cheng, Shahaji B. More, Cheng-Yi Peng, Wei-Yang Lee, Kuo-Feng Yu, Yen-Ming Chen, Jian-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 10991800
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an isolation structure over the substrate, a fin over the substrate and the isolation structure, a gate structure engaging a first portion of the fin, first sidewall spacers over sidewalls of the gate structure and over a second portion of the fin, source/drain (S/D) features adjacent to the first sidewall spacers, and second sidewall spacers over the isolation structure and over sidewalls of a portion of the S/D features. The second sidewall spacers and the second portion of the fin include a same dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Ya-Yun Cheng, Shahaji B. More, Cheng-Yi Peng, Wei-Yang Lee, Kuo-Feng Yu, Yen-Ming Chen, Jian-Hao Chen
  • Publication number: 20210082706
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate dielectric and a second gate dielectric over a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region, respectively, depositing a lanthanum-containing layer including a first portion and a second portion overlapping the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric, respectively, and depositing a hard mask including a first portion and a second portion overlapping the first portion and the second portion of the lanthanum-containing layer, respectively. The hard mask is free from both of titanium and tantalum. The method further includes forming a patterned etching mask to cover the first portion of the hard mask, with the second portion of the hard mask being exposed, removing the second portion of the hard mask and the second portion of the lanthanum-containing layer, and performing an anneal to drive lanthanum in the first portion of the lanthanum-containing layer into the first gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kuo-Feng Yu, Chun Hsiung Tsai, Jian-Hao Chen, Hoong Shing Wong, Chih-Yu Hsu
  • Patent number: 10923355
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a source/drain (S/D) junction, and an S/D contact. The S/D junction is associated with the substrate and includes a trench-defining wall, a semiconductor layer, and a semiconductor material. The trench-defining wall defines a trench. The semiconductor layer is formed over the trench-defining wall, partially fills the trench, substantially covers the trench-defining wall, and includes germanium. The semiconductor material is formed over the semiconductor layer and includes germanium, a percentage composition of which is greater than a percentage composition of the germanium of the semiconductor layer. The S/D contact is formed over the S/D junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Tsai, Huai-Tei Yang, Kuo-Feng Yu, Kei-Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20210020761
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate comprising a surface; depositing a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the substrate; forming a dummy gate electrode over the second dielectric layer; forming a gate spacer surrounding the dummy gate electrode; forming lightly-doped source/drain (LDD) regions in the substrate on two sides of the gate spacer; forming source/drain regions in the respective LDD regions; removing the dummy gate electrode to form a replacement gate; forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer over the replacement gate and the source/drain regions; and performing a treatment by introducing a trap-repairing element into at least one of the gate spacer, the second dielectric layer, the surface and the LDD regions at a time before the forming of the source/drain regions or subsequent to the formation of the ILD layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: CHUN HSIUNG TSAI, KUO-FENG YU, YU-MING LIN, CLEMENT HSINGJEN WANN
  • Patent number: 10872970
    Abstract: Source and drain formation techniques for fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a fin structure, wherein the fin structure include a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region; forming a gate structure over the channel region of the fin structure; forming a solid phase diffusion (SPD) layer over the source region and the drain region of the fin structure; and performing a microwave annealing (MWA) process to diffuse a dopant from the SPD layer into the source region and the drain region of fin structure. In some implementations, the SPD layer is disposed over the fin structure, such that the dopant diffuses laterally and vertically into the source region and the drain region to form heavily doped source/drain features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Kuo-Feng Yu, Ziwei Fang
  • Patent number: 10868129
    Abstract: Methods and structures for forming devices, such as transistors, are discussed. A method embodiment includes forming a gate spacer along a sidewall of a gate stack on a substrate; passivating at least a portion of an exterior surface of the gate spacer; and epitaxially growing a material in the substrate proximate the gate spacer while the at least the portion of the exterior surface of the gate spacer remains passivated. The passivating can include using at least one of a thermal treatment, a plasma treatment, or a thermal treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Kuo-Feng Yu
  • Publication number: 20200381534
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a fin structure protruding from a substrate and a doped region formed in the fin structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a metal gate structure formed across the fin structure and a gate spacer formed on a sidewall of the metal gate structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a source/drain structure formed over the doped region. In addition, the doped region continuously surrounds the source/drain structure and is in direct contact with the gate spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shahaji B. MORE, Chun-Hsiung TSAI, Cheng-Yi PENG, Shih-Chieh CHANG, Kuo-Feng YU
  • Publication number: 20200381529
    Abstract: A gate structure, a semiconductor device, and the method of forming a semiconductor device are provided. In various embodiments, the gate structure includes a gate stack and a doped spacer overlying a sidewall of the gate stack. The gate stack contains a doped work function metal (WFM) stack and a metal gate electrode overlying the doped WFM stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Tsai, Kuo-Feng Yu, Chien-Tai Chan, Ziwei Fang, Kei-Wei Chen, Huai-Tei Yang
  • Publication number: 20200343373
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a field effect transistor (FET), a sacrificial region is formed in a substrate, and a trench is formed in the substrate. A part of the sacrificial region is exposed in the trench. A space is formed by at least partially etching the sacrificial region, an isolation insulating layer is formed in the trench and the space, and a gate structure and a source/drain region are formed. An air spacer is formed in the space under the source/drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung TSAI, Clement Hsingjen WANN, Kuo-Feng YU, Yi-Tang LIN, Yu-Ming LIN
  • Publication number: 20200303549
    Abstract: A method for forming a FinFET device structure is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure extended above a substrate and forming a gate structure formed over a portion of the fin structure. The method also includes forming a source/drain (S/D) structure over the fin structure, and the S/D structure is adjacent to the gate structure. The method further includes doping an outer portion of the S/D structure to form a doped region, and the doped region includes gallium (Ga). The method includes forming a metal silicide layer over the doped region; and forming an S/D contact structure over the metal silicide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung TSAI, Shahaji B. MORE, Cheng-Yi PENG, Yu-Ming LIN, Kuo-Feng YU, Ziwei FANG
  • Publication number: 20200273963
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor fin connected to the substrate, an epitaxial layer disposed over the semiconductor fin, and a silicide feature over and in contact with the epitaxial layer. The epitaxial layer including silicon germanium and further includes gallium in an upper portion of the epitaxial layer that is in contact with the silicide feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Shahaji B. More, Chun Hsiung Tsai, Shih-Chieh Chang, Kuo-Feng Yu, Cheng-Yi Peng
  • Patent number: 10749008
    Abstract: A gate structure, a semiconductor device, and the method of forming a semiconductor device are provided. In various embodiments, the gate structure includes a gate stack and a doped spacer overlying a sidewall of the gate stack. The gate stack contains a doped work function metal (WFM) stack and a metal gate electrode overlying the doped WFM stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Tsai, Kuo-Feng Yu, Chien-Tai Chan, Ziwei Fang, Kei-Wei Chen, Huai-Tei Yang