Patents by Inventor Ning Yao

Ning Yao 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: 20240143739
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for intelligent obfuscation of mobile applications. The method includes: performing call detection on a method chain through aspect-oriented security to detect an abnormal call; identifying an attacked node in the method chain with respect to the abnormal call to determine a hardening location; identifying an attack means with respect to the abnormal call to determine hardening strength; selecting an automated hardening solution based on the hardening strength; and executing the selected automated hardening solution at the hardening location to control impact of the automated hardening on performance in a threshold range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Shijie CAO, Jiantao ZHANG, Ning ZHANG, Rao YAO
  • Patent number: 11967594
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a stack of semiconductor layers spaced apart from and aligned with each other, a first source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a first one or more semiconductor layers of the stack of semiconductor layers, and a second source/drain epitaxial feature disposed over the first source/drain epitaxial feature. The second source/drain epitaxial feature is in contact with a second one or more semiconductor layers of the stack of semiconductor layers. The structure further includes a first dielectric material disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature and a first liner disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature. The first liner is in contact with the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the first dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo Heng Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11929287
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure with a dielectric liner. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a fin structure on the substrate. The fin structure includes a stacked fin structure, a fin bottom portion below the stacked fin structure, and an isolation layer between the stacked fin structure and the bottom fin portion. The semiconductor structure further includes a dielectric liner in contact with an end of the stacked fin structure and a spacer structure in contact with the dielectric liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Ting Pan, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Chien Ning Yao
  • Patent number: 11916122
    Abstract: A method for forming a gate all around transistor includes forming a plurality of semiconductor nanosheets. The method includes forming a cladding inner spacer between a source region of the transistor and a gate region of the transistor. The method includes forming sheet inner spacers between the semiconductor nanosheets in a separate deposition process from the cladding inner spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Kuan-Ting Pan, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Chien-Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Patent number: 11901364
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a plurality of semiconductor layers having a first group of semiconductor layers, a second group of semiconductor layers disposed over and aligned with the first group of semiconductor layers, and a third group of semiconductor layers disposed over and aligned with the second group of semiconductor layers. The structure further includes a first source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a first number of semiconductor layers of the first group of semiconductor layers and a second source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a second number of semiconductor layers of the third group of semiconductor layers. The first number of semiconductor layers of the first group of semiconductor layers is different from the second number of semiconductor layers of the third group of semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20240006536
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a stack of first channel members, a stack of second channel members disposed directly over the stack of first channel members, a bottom source/drain feature in contact with the stack of the first channel members, a separation layer disposed over the bottom source/drain feature, a top source/drain feature in contact with the stack of second channel members and disposed over the separation layer, and a frontside contact that extends through the top source/drain feature and the separation layer to be electrically coupled to the bottom source/drain feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230420520
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: first nanostructures; a first undoped semiconductor layer contacting a first dummy region of the first nanostructures; a first spacer on the first undoped semiconductor layer; a first source/drain region on the first spacer, the first source/drain region contacting a first channel region of the first nanostructures; and a first gate structure wrapped around the first channel region and the first dummy region of the first nanostructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Tsung-Han Chuang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kai-Lin Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230411527
    Abstract: A device includes a channel layer, a gate structure, a first source/drain epitaxial structure, a second source/drain epitaxial structure, and a sidewall spacer. The channel layer is over a substrate. The gate structure wraps around the channel layer. The first source/drain epitaxial structure and the second source/drain epitaxial structure are on opposite sides of the channel layer. The sidewall spacer is on a sidewall of the first source/drain epitaxial structure and includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and in contact with first source/drain epitaxial structure. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer include different materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng CHEN, Zhi-Chang LIN, Jung-Hung CHANG, Chien Ning YAO, Tsung-Han CHUANG, Kai-Lin CHUANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20230402543
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a transistor which includes a source/drain feature adjoining an active region, and a gate stack over the active region. The semiconductor device structure further includes a capacitor above the transistor, the capacitor including a bottom electrode layer on the gate stack and a ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode layer. The ferroelectric layer is made of a Hf-based dielectric material. The semiconductor device structure further includes gate spacer layers surrounding the gate stack, the bottom electrode layer and the ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi YEONG, Chi-On CHUI, Chien-Ning YAO
  • Publication number: 20230395655
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes at least two active strip regions, a hybrid fin structure, and a gate stack. The hybrid fin structure is disposed between the at least two active strip regions. The gate stack is across the at least two active strip regions and the hybrid fin structure. A portion of the hybrid fin structure exposed by the gate stack is free of a high dielectric constant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien-Ning Yao, Tsung-Han Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230369512
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin protruding above a substrate; source/drain regions over the fin; nanosheets between the source/drain regions, where the nanosheets comprise a first semiconductor material; inner spacers between the nanosheets and at opposite ends of the nanosheets, where there is an air gap between each of the inner spacers and a respective source/drain region of the source/drain regions; and a gate structure over the fin and between the source/drain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Bo-Feng Young, Chien Ning Yao, Chi On Chui
  • Publication number: 20230369443
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor fin formed on a substrate; and a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the semiconductor fin, the gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, wherein the gate dielectric layer includes a bottom portion and a side portion, and the gate electrode is separated from the side portion of the gate dielectric layer by a first air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chien Ning Yao, Kai-Hsuan Lee, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Wei-Yang Lee, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230369456
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with back-side contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes first and second S/D regions, a stack of nanostructured semiconductor layers disposed adjacent to the first S/D region, a gate structure surrounding each of the nanostructured semiconductor layers, a first pair of spacers disposed on opposite sidewalls of the first S/D region, a second pair of spacers disposed on opposite sidewalls of the second S/D region, a third pair of spacers disposed on opposite sidewalls of the gate structure, a first contact structure disposed on a first surface of the first S/D region, and a second contact structure disposed on a second surface of the first S/D region. The first and second surfaces are opposite to each other. The first pair of spacers are disposed on opposite sidewalls of the second contact structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chih-Hao Wang, Chien Ning Yao, Tsung-Han Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Publication number: 20230361192
    Abstract: Gates having air gaps therein, and methods of fabrication thereof, are disclosed herein. An exemplary gate includes a gate electrode and a gate dielectric. A first air gap is between and/or separates a first sidewall of the gate electrode from the gate dielectric, and a second air gap is between and/or separates a second sidewall of the gate electrode from the gate dielectric. A dielectric cap may be disposed over the gate electrode, and the dielectric cap may wrap a top of the gate electrode. The dielectric cap may fill a top portion of the first air gap and a top portion of the second air gap. The gate may be disposed between a first epitaxial source/drain and a second epitaxial source/drain, and a width of the gate is about the same as a distance between the first epitaxial source/drain and the second epitaxial source/drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Chien-Ning Yao, Bo-Feng Young, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230335607
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming N-type and P-type source/drain features using one patterned mask and one self-aligned mask to increase windows of error tolerance and provide flexibilities for source/drain features of various shapes and/or volumes. The present disclosure also includes forming a trench between neighboring source/drain features to remove bridging between the neighboring source/drain features. In some embodiments, the trenches between the source/drain features are formed by etching from the backside of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chien Ning YAO, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 11791421
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a fin protruding above a substrate; source/drain regions over the fin; nanosheets between the source/drain regions, where the nanosheets comprise a first semiconductor material; inner spacers between the nanosheets and at opposite ends of the nanosheets, where there is an air gap between each of the inner spacers and a respective source/drain region of the source/drain regions; and a gate structure over the fin and between the source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Bo-Feng Young, Chien Ning Yao, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11784252
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate, a first fin structure over the substrate, and a FeFET device over a first region of the substrate. The FeFET includes a first gate stack across the first fin structure. The semiconductor device structure also includes first gate spacer layers alongside the first gate stack, and a ferroelectric layer over the first gate stack. At least a portion of the ferroelectric layer is located between upper portions of the first gate spacer layers and is adjacent to the first gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi Yeong, Chi-On Chui, Chien-Ning Yao
  • Publication number: 20230299204
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a base and a fin over the base. The semiconductor device structure includes a nanostructure over the fin. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack wrapping around an upper portion of the fin and the nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes an inner spacer between the fin and the nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes a film in the inner spacer. A first dielectric constant of the film is lower than a second dielectric constant of the inner spacer. The semiconductor device structure includes a low dielectric constant structure in the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sai-Hooi YEONG, Chi-On CHUI, Chien-Ning YAO
  • Patent number: 11764281
    Abstract: Fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed herein. The FinFETs disclosed herein have gate air spacers integrated into their gate structures. An exemplary transistor includes a fin and a gate structure disposed over the fin between a first epitaxial source/drain feature and a second epitaxial source/drain feature. The gate structure includes a gate electrode, a gate dielectric, and gate air spacers disposed between the gate dielectric and sidewalls of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chien-Ning Yao, Bo-Feng Young, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11735641
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor fin formed on a substrate; and a gate structure disposed over a channel region of the semiconductor fin, the gate structure including a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode, wherein the gate dielectric layer includes a bottom portion and a side portion, and the gate electrode is separated from the side portion of the gate dielectric layer by a first air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chien Ning Yao, Kai-Hsuan Lee, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Wei-Yang Lee, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang