Patents by Inventor Kuo-Hua Pan

Kuo-Hua Pan 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: 12389645
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and nanostructures formed over the substrate. In addition, the nanostructures includes channel regions and source/drain regions. The semiconductor structure further includes a gate structure vertically sandwiched the channel regions of the nanostructures and a contact wrapping around and vertically sandwiched between the source/drain regions of the nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon-Jhy Liaw, Chao-Ching Cheng, Hung-Li Chiang, Shih-Syuan Huang, Tzu-Chiang Chen, I-Sheng Chen, Sai-Hooi Yeong
  • Publication number: 20250246215
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a memory cell connected to a signal line, a first voltage line for receiving a power supply voltage, and a second voltage line for receiving an electric ground voltage, a logic cell configured to provide logic function to the memory cell, a transition region extending from a first boundary of the memory cell to a second boundary of the logic cell, and an interconnect structure disposed over the memory cell and the logic cell. The interconnect structure includes the signal line, the first voltage line, and the second voltage line located in a same metal line layer of the interconnect structure. The signal line extends from inside the second boundary of the logic cell and into the first boundary of the memory cell. The transition region includes one or more functional transistors electrically coupled to the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Chia He Chung, Chih-Yung Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Chih-Hung Hsieh, Dian-Sheng Yu
  • Publication number: 20250227986
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor device formed in a first device region of a substrate. The first semiconductor device includes a first gate structure comprising a first spacer layer, wherein the first spacer layer has a first thickness. The first semiconductor device also includes a first conductive feature disposed over a first source/drain feature, and the first conductive feature has a first width. The semiconductor structure further includes a second semiconductor device formed in a second device region of the substrate. The second semiconductor device includes a second gate structure comprising a second spacer layer, wherein the second spacer layer has a second thickness different than the first thickness. The second semiconductor device also includes a second conductive feature disposed over a second source/drain feature, and the second conductive feature has a second width different than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2025
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Patent number: 12324235
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a substrate, one hybrid fin, a gate, and a dielectric structure. The substrate includes at least two fins. The hybrid fin is disposed between the at least two fins. The gate covers portions of the at least two fins and the hybrid fin. The dielectric structure lands on the hybrid fin to divide the gate into two segment. The two segments are electrically isolated to each other by the dielectric structure and the hybrid fin. The hybrid fin includes a first portion, disposed between the two segments of the gate; and a second portion, disposed aside the first portion, wherein a top surface of the second portion is lower than a top surface of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-San Chien, Chun-Sheng Liang, Jhon-Jhy Liaw, Kuo-Hua Pan, Hsin-Che Chiang
  • Patent number: 12317567
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate. The method includes forming a spacer structure over a sidewall of the gate stack. The method includes forming a source/drain structure in and over the substrate, wherein a portion of the spacer structure is between the source/drain structure and the gate stack. The method includes partially removing the outer layer, wherein a first lower portion of the outer layer remains between the source/drain structure and the gate stack. The method includes partially removing the middle layer, wherein a second lower portion of the middle layer remains between the source/drain structure and the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Ming-Che Chen, Chun-Jun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon-Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 12300698
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first active region and a second active region disposed over a substrate. A first source/drain component is grown on the first active region. A second source/drain component is grown on the second active region. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) is disposed around the first source/drain component and the second source/drain component. An isolation structure extends vertically through the ILD. The isolation structure separates the first source/drain component from the second source/drain component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuan-Lin Yeh, Chun-Jun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Mu-Chi Chiang
  • Patent number: 12288822
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an epitaxial structure over the substrate, a conductive structure, and a dielectric liner. The conductive structure extends from within the epitaxial structure to above the epitaxial structure. The dielectric liner extends along a sidewall of the conductive structure. The dielectric liner has a top end capped by the conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Che Tsai, Min-Yann Hsieh, Hua-Feng Chen, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Patent number: 12266653
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor device formed over a substrate. The first semiconductor device includes a first source/drain feature over the substrate, a first gate structure over the substrate, a first conductive feature over the first source/drain feature, and a first insulation layer between the first gate structure and the first conductive feature, wherein the first insulation layer comprises a first contact etching stop layer (CESL) in contact with the first source/drain feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20250081497
    Abstract: A dummy fin described herein includes a low dielectric constant (low-k or LK) material outer shell. A leakage path that would otherwise occur due to a void being formed in the low-k material outer shell is filled with a high dielectric constant (high-k or HK) material inner core. This increases the effectiveness of the dummy fin to provide electrical isolation and increases device performance of a semiconductor device in which the dummy fin is included. Moreover, the dummy fin described herein may not suffer from bending issues experienced in other types of dummy fins, which may otherwise cause high-k induced alternating current (AC) performance degradation. The processes for forming the dummy fins described herein are compatible with other fin field effect transistor (finFET) formation processes and are be easily integrated to minimize and/or prevent polishing issues, etch back issues, and/or other types of semiconductor processing issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Wei-Chih KAO, Hsin-Che CHIANG, Chun-Sheng LIANG, Kuo-Hua PAN
  • Publication number: 20250081602
    Abstract: Transistors of different types of electronic devices on the same semiconductor substrate are configured with different transistor attributes to increase the performance of the different types of electronic devices. Fin height, shallow source drain (SSD) height, source or drain width, and/or one or more other transistor attributes may be co-optimized for the different types of electronic devices by various semiconductor manufacturing processes such as etching, lithography, process loading, and/or masking, among other examples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN, Jhon Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20250031358
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first pull-down transistor, a first pull-up transistor, a second pull-down transistor, a second pull-up transistor, a first pass gate transistor, a second pass gate transistor, a first bit line, a second bit line, a word line and a voltage supply line. The first pull-down transistor and the first pull-up transistor form a first inverter. The second pull-down transistor and the second pull-up transistor form a second inverter. An input of the first inverter is connected to an output of the second inverter through a first node butted contact. The first node butted contact includes a metal contact directly contacted a gate of the first pull-down transistor and the first pull-up transistor and directly contacted a source/drain of the second pull-down transistor, the second pull-up transistor and the second pass gate transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dian-Sheng YU, Jhon-Jhy LIAW, Kuo-Hua PAN, Chia-He CHUNG
  • Patent number: 12205849
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a base, a first fin, and a second fin over the base. The method includes forming a gate stack over the first fin and the second fin. The method includes forming a first spacer over gate sidewalls of the gate stack and a second spacer adjacent to the second fin. The method includes partially removing the first fin and the second fin. The method includes forming a first source/drain structure and a second source/drain structure in the first trench and the second trench respectively. A first ratio of a first height of the first merged portion to a second height of a first top surface of the first source/drain structure is greater than or equal to about 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Hou-Ju Li, Chun-Jun Lin, Yi-Fang Pai, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon-Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 12183810
    Abstract: A dummy fin described herein includes a low dielectric constant (low-k or LK) material outer shell. A leakage path that would otherwise occur due to a void being formed in the low-k material outer shell is filled with a high dielectric constant (high-k or HK) material inner core. This increases the effectiveness of the dummy fin to provide electrical isolation and increases device performance of a semiconductor device in which the dummy fin is included. Moreover, the dummy fin described herein may not suffer from bending issues experienced in other types of dummy fins, which may otherwise cause high-k induced alternating current (AC) performance degradation. The processes for forming the dummy fins described herein are compatible with other fin field effect transistor (finFET) formation processes and are be easily integrated to minimize and/or prevent polishing issues, etch back issues, and/or other types of semiconductor processing issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Kao, Hsin-Che Chiang, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Patent number: 12183735
    Abstract: Transistors of different types of electronic devices on the same semiconductor substrate are configured with different transistor attributes to increase the performance of the different types of electronic devices. Fin height, shallow source drain (SSD) height, source or drain width, and/or one or more other transistor attributes may be co-optimized for the different types of electronic devices by various semiconductor manufacturing processes such as etching, lithography, process loading, and/or masking, among other examples. This enables the performance of a plurality of types of electronic devices on the same semiconductor substrate to be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20240363731
    Abstract: An embodiment method includes: forming a semiconductor liner layer on exposed surfaces of a fin structure that extends above a dielectric isolation structure disposed over a substrate; forming a first capping layer to laterally surround a bottom portion of the semiconductor liner layer; forming a second capping layer over an upper portion of the semiconductor liner layer; and annealing the fin structure having the semiconductor liner layer, the first capping layer, and the second capping layer thereon, the annealing driving a dopant from the semiconductor liner layer into the fin structure, wherein a dopant concentration profile in a bottom portion of the fin structure is different from a dopant concentration profile in an upper portion of the fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Kao, Hsin-Che Chiang, Yu-San Chien, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Publication number: 20240363397
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first well doped with a first dopant and a second well doped with a second dopant different from the first dopant. From a top view, the first well includes a first base extending lengthwise along a direction, and a first letter-shaped portion and a second letter-shaped portion connected to the first base. From the top view, the second well includes a second base extending lengthwise along the direction and a third letter-shaped portion connected to the second base. The third letter-shaped portion extends into the first well and is keyed to the first letter-shaped portion and the second letter-shaped portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20240363435
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method that includes providing a workpiece having a semiconductor substrate that includes a first circuit area and a second circuit area, forming a first active region in the first circuit area and a second active region on the second circuit area, forming first gate stacks on the first active region and second gate stacks on the second active region, performing a plurality of implantation processes to introduce a doping species to the first active region with a first dosage and to the second active region with a second dosage different from the first dosage, and forming first source/drain features within first source/drain regions of the first active region and second source/drain features within second source/drain regions of the second active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20240355896
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a device includes forming a plurality of stacks of alternating layers on a substrate, constructing a plurality of nanosheets from the plurality of stacks of alternating layers, and forming a plurality of gate dielectrics over the plurality of nanosheets, respectively. The method allows for the modulation of nanosheet width, thickness, spacing, and stack number and can be employed on single substrates. This design flexibility provides for design optimization over a wide tuning range of circuit performance and power usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Shien-Yang Wu, Ta-Chun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Publication number: 20240334671
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first device formed over a substrate, and the first device comprises a first channel structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first gate stack wrapped around the first channel structure, and a second device formed over the first device. The second device comprises a plurality of second nanostructures stacked in a vertical direction. The semiconductor device structure include a second gate stack wrapped around the second nanostructures, and a portion of the first gate stack is higher than a topmost second nanostructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ta-Chun LIN, Kuo-Hua PAN
  • Publication number: 20240313072
    Abstract: A first source/drain structure is disposed over a substrate. A second source/drain structure is disposed over the substrate. An isolation structure is disposed between the first source/drain structure and the second source/drain structure. The first source/drain structure and a first sidewall of the isolation structure form a first interface that is substantially linear. The second source/drain structure and a second sidewall of the isolation structure form a second interface that is substantially linear. A first source/drain contact surrounds the first source/drain structure in multiple directions. A second source/drain contact surrounds the second source/drain structure in multiple directions. The isolation structure is disposed between the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Lin, Kuan-Lin Yeh, Chun-Jun Lin, Kuo-Hua Pan, Mu-Chi Chiang, Jhon Jhy Liaw