Patents by Inventor Shih-Hao Lin

Shih-Hao Lin 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: 12363893
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a workpiece. The workpiece includes a first dummy gate, a second dummy gate adjacent the first dummy gate, a first gate spacer disposed along sidewalls of the first dummy gate, and a second gate spacer disposed along sidewalls of the second dummy gate. The method further includes removing the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate to form a first gate trench and a second gate trench, respectively, enlarging the first gate trench and the second gate trench, forming a first metal gate structure in the enlarged first gate trench, and forming a second metal gate structure in the enlarged second gate trench. The enlarged second gate trench is wider than the enlarged first gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Wen Su, Shih-Hao Lin, Yu-Kuan Lin, Lien-Jung Hung, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 12363959
    Abstract: Nanostructure field-effect transistors (NSFETs) including isolation layers formed between epitaxial source/drain regions and semiconductor substrates and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, the gate stack including a gate electrode and a gate dielectric layer; a first epitaxial source/drain region adjacent the gate stack; and a high-k dielectric layer extending between the semiconductor substrate and the first epitaxial source/drain region, the high-k dielectric layer contacting the first epitaxial source/drain region, the gate dielectric layer and the high-k dielectric layer including the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chuan Yang, Shih-Hao Lin
  • Patent number: 12349329
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin over a substrate; forming a first gate structure over the substrate and crossing the first semiconductor fin; forming a second gate structure over the substrate and crossing the second semiconductor fin; forming a first gate spacer on a sidewall of the first gate structure; and forming a second gate spacer on a sidewall of the second gate structure, wherein in a top view, an outer sidewall of the first gate spacer farthest from the first gate structure is coterminous with an outer sidewall of the second gate spacer farthest from the second gate structure, and an inner sidewall of the first gate spacer in contact with the first gate structure is misaligned with an inner sidewall of the second gate spacer in contact with the second gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Wen Su, Chih-Chuan Yang, Shih-Hao Lin, Yu-Kuan Lin, Lien-Jung Hung, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 12349330
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a memory structure including a memory cell array. The memory cell array includes memory cells and first n-type wells extending in a first direction. The memory structure also includes a second n-type well formed in a peripheral region of the memory structure. The second n-type well extends in a second direction and is in contact with a first n-type well of the first n-type wells. The memory structure further includes a pick-up region formed in the second n-type well. The pick-up region is electrically coupled to the first n-type well of first n-type wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chuan Yang, Chao-Yuan Chang, Shih-Hao Lin, Chia-Hao Pao, Feng-Ming Chang, Lien-Jung Hung, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Publication number: 20250204014
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods are provided. An exemplary method according to the present disclosure includes forming a dielectric layer over a portion of a substrate, forming an aluminum-containing work function layer over the dielectric layer, where a concentration of aluminum in a first portion of the aluminum-containing work function layer is different than the concentration of aluminum in a second portion of the aluminum-containing work function layer, and forming a metal layer over the aluminum-containing work function layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Lin, Chih-Hsiang Huang
  • Publication number: 20250203966
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having improved source/drain features and methods for fabricating such are disclosed herein. An exemplary device includes a semiconductor layer stack disposed over a mesa structure of a substrate. The device further includes a metal gate disposed over the semiconductor layer stack and an inner spacer disposed on the mesa structure of the substrate. The device further includes a first epitaxial source/drain feature and a second epitaxial source/drain feature where the semiconductor layer stack is disposed between the first epitaxial source/drain feature and the second epitaxial source/drain feature. The device further includes a void disposed between the inner spacer and the first epitaxial source/drain feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Chih-Chuan Yang, Wen-Chun Keng, Chong-De Lien, Shih-Hao Lin, Hsin-Wen Su, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 12336246
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes N-type MBC transistors formed over a first region of a hybrid substrate and P-type MBC transistors formed over a second region of the hybrid substrate. The first region and the second region have top surfaces with different crystal orientations. Particularly, the first region for forming the N-type MBC transistors includes a top surface having a (100) crystal plane and the second region for forming P-type MBC transistors includes a top surface having a (110) crystal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Shuan Li, Chih Chieh Yeh, Shih-Hao Lin
  • Publication number: 20250185228
    Abstract: SRAM designs based on GAA transistors are disclosed that provide flexibility for increasing channel widths of transistors at scaled IC technology nodes and relax limits on SRAM performance optimization imposed by FinFET-based SRAMs. GAA-based SRAM cells described have active region layouts with active regions shared by pull-down GAA transistors and pass-gate GAA transistors. A width of shared active regions that correspond with the pull-down GAA transistors are enlarged with respect to widths of the shared active regions that correspond with the pass-gate GAA transistors. A ratio of the widths is tuned to obtain ratios of pull-down transistor effective channel width to pass-gate effective channel width greater than 1, increase an on-current of pull-down GAA transistors relative to an on-current of pass-gate GAA transistors, decrease a threshold voltage of pull-down GAA transistors relative to a threshold voltage of pass-gate GAA transistors, and/or increases a ? ratio of an SRAM cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Chia-Hao PAO, Chih-Chuan YANG, Shih-Hao LIN, Chih-Hsuan CHEN, Chao-Yuan CHANG, Feng-Ming CHANG, Kian-Long LIM, Lien-Jung HUNG, Ping-Wei WANG
  • Patent number: 12317550
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor stack including semiconductor layers over a substrate, wherein the semiconductor layers are separated from each other and are stacked up along a direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate; an isolation structure around a bottom portion of the semiconductor stack and separating active regions; a metal gate structure over a channel region of the semiconductor stack and wrapping each of the semiconductor layers; a gate spacer over a source/drain (S/D) region of the semiconductor stack and along sidewalls of a top portion of the metal gate structure; and an inner spacer over the S/D region of the semiconductor stack and along sidewalls of lower portions of the metal gate structure and wrapping edge portions of each of the semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bwo-Ning Chen, Xusheng Wu, Pin-Ju Liang, Chang-Miao Liu, Shih-Hao Lin
  • Patent number: 12315738
    Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method according to the present disclosure includes forming, over a workpiece, a dummy gate stack comprising a first semiconductor material, depositing a first dielectric layer over the dummy gate stack using a first process, implanting the workpiece with a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material, annealing the dummy gate stack after the implanting, and replacing the dummy gate stack with a metal gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Lin, Jui-Lin Chen, Hsin-Wen Su, Kian-Long Lim, Bwo-Ning Chen, Chih-Hsuan Chen
  • Patent number: 12302604
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a device includes providing a fin extending from a substrate in a device type region, where the fin includes a plurality of semiconductor channel layers. In some embodiments, the method further includes forming a gate structure over the fin. Thereafter, in some examples, the method includes removing a portion of the plurality of semiconductor channel layers within a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure to form a trench in the source/drain region. In some cases, the method further includes after forming the trench, depositing an adhesion layer within the source/drain region along a sidewall surface of the trench. In various embodiments, and after depositing the adhesion layer, the method further includes epitaxially growing a continuous first source/drain layer over the adhesion layer along the sidewall surface of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Lin, Chong-De Lien, Chih-Chuan Yang, Chih-Yu Hsu, Ming-Shuan Li, Hsin-Wen Su
  • Patent number: 12302609
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, a first transistor and a second transistor, a first word line, a second word line, and a bit line. The first transistor and the second transistor are over the substrate and are electrically connected to each other, in which each of the first and second transistors includes first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers, a gate structure, and source/drain structures, in which the first semiconductor layers are in contact with the second semiconductor layers, and a width of the first semiconductor layers is narrower than a width of the second semiconductor layers. The first word line is electrically connected to the gate structure of the first transistor. The second word line is electrically connected to the gate structure of the second transistor. The bit line is electrically connected to a first one of the source/drain structures of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Wen Su, Yu-Kuan Lin, Shih-Hao Lin, Lien-Jung Hung, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 12294030
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first pair of source/drain features (S/D), a first stack of channel layers connected to the first pair of S/D, a second pair of S/D, and a second stack of channel layers connected to the second pair of S/D. The first pair of S/D each include a first epitaxial layer having a first dopant, a second epitaxial layer having a second dopant and disposed over the first epitaxial layer and connected to the first stack of channel layers, and a third epitaxial layer having a third dopant and disposed over the second epitaxial layer. The second pair of S/D each include a fourth epitaxial layer having a fourth dopant and connected to the second stack of channel layers, and a fifth epitaxial layer having a fifth dopant and disposed over the fourth epitaxial layer. The first dopant through the fourth dopant are of different species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hao Lin, Chih-Hsuan Chen, Chia-Hao Pao, Chih-Chuan Yang, Chih-Yu Hsu, Hsin-Wen Su, Chia-Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20250133761
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, semiconductor layers, source/drain features, metal oxide layers, and a gate structure. The semiconductor layers are over the substrate and spaced apart from each other in a Z-direction. The source/drain features are over the substrate. The semiconductor layers are between the source/drain features. The metal oxide layers are on top surfaces and bottom surfaces of the semiconductor layers. The gate structure covers and is in contact with center portions of the metal oxide layers on top surfaces and bottom surfaces of the semiconductor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hao LIN, Chia-Hung CHOU, Chih-Hsuan CHEN, Ping-En CHENG, Hsin-Wen SU, Chien-Chih LIN, Szu-Chi YANG
  • Publication number: 20250132252
    Abstract: A chip structure is provided. The chip structure includes a substrate. The chip structure includes a conductive pad over the substrate. The chip structure includes a passivation layer covering the substrate and exposing the conductive pad. The chip structure includes a first etch stop layer over the passivation layer. The chip structure includes a first buffer layer over the first etch stop layer. The first etch stop layer and the first buffer layer are made of different materials. The chip structure includes a second etch stop layer over the first buffer layer. The second etch stop layer and the first buffer layer are made of different materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Ping-En CHENG, Wei-Li HUANG, Kun-Ming TSAI, Shih-Hao LIN
  • Patent number: 12261203
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate including a base and a fin structure over the base. The fin structure includes a nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate stack over the base and wrapped around the nanostructure. The gate stack has an upper portion and a sidewall portion, the upper portion is over the nanostructure, and the sidewall portion is over a first sidewall of the nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first inner spacer and a second inner spacer over opposite sides of the sidewall portion. A sum of a first width of the first inner spacer and a second width of the second inner spacer is greater than a third width of the sidewall portion as measured along a longitudinal axis of the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Chih Lin, Yun-Ju Pan, Szu-Chi Yang, Jhih-Yang Yan, Shih-Hao Lin, Chung-Shu Wu, Te-An Yu, Shih-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20250098296
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming an epitaxial structure having a first doping type over a first portion of a semiconductor substrate. A second portion of the semiconductor substrate is formed over the epitaxial structure and the first portion of the semiconductor substrate. A first doped region having the first doping type is formed in the second portion of the semiconductor substrate and directly over the epitaxial structure. A second doped region having a second doping type opposite the first doping type is formed in the second portion of the semiconductor substrate, where the second doped region is formed on a side of the epitaxial structure. A plurality of fins of the semiconductor substrate are formed by selectively removing portions of the second portion of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Jing-Yi Lin, Chih-Chuan Yang, Shih-Hao Lin
  • Patent number: 12256058
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides an image processing method for a virtual reality display system. The method includes: enabling a first shared buffer and a second shared buffer; performing an image capturing operation to obtain a first image from a virtual reality scene; storing the first image to the first shared buffer; in response to that the storing of the first image is finished, reading the first image from the first shared buffer; performing a depth estimation operation on the first image to obtain depth information corresponding to the first image; storing the depth information to the second shared buffer; in response to that the storing of the depth information is finished, reading the depth information from the second shared buffer; performing an image generation operation according to the depth information to generate a pair of second images corresponding to the virtual reality scene; and outputting the pair of second images by a display of the virtual reality display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Sergio Cantero Clares, Wen-Cheng Hsu, Shih-Hao Lin, Chih-Haw Tan
  • Patent number: 12249636
    Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having a first region and a second region, forming a fin protruding from the first region, where the fin includes a first SiGe layer and a stack alternating Si layers and second SiGe layers disposed over the first SiGe layer and the first SiGe layer has a first concentration of Ge and each of the second SiGe layers has a second concentration of Ge that is greater than the first concentration, recessing the fin to form an S/D recess, recessing the first SiGe layer and the second SiGe layers exposed in the S/D recess, where the second SiGe layers are recessed more than the first SiGe layer, forming an S/D feature in the S/D recess, removing the recessed first SiGe layer and the second SiGe layers to form openings, and forming a metal gate structure over the fin and in the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Pao, Chih-Chuan Yang, Shih-Hao Lin, Kian-Long Lim, Chih-Hsuan Chen, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 12250803
    Abstract: A Static Radom Access Memory (SRAM) cell includes a pass-gate transistor and a pull-down transistor. The pass-gate transistor includes a first active region and a first gate structure engaging the first active region. The pull-down transistor includes a second active region and a second gate structure engaging the second active region. The SRAM cell further includes a first isolation feature abutting the first gate structure and a second isolation feature abutting the second gate structure. The first isolation feature is spaced from the first active region of the pass-gate transistor for a first distance. The second isolation feature is spaced from the second active region of the pull-down transistor for a second distance that is larger than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTORING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsuan Chen, Chia-Hao Pao, Shih-Hao Lin