Patents by Inventor Tsan-Chun Wang

Tsan-Chun Wang 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: 20240072128
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region and a gate electrode adjacent the source/drain region, forming a hard mask over the gate electrode, forming a bottom mask over the source/drain region, wherein the gate electrode is exposed, and performing a nitridation process on the hard mask over the gate electrode. The bottom mask remains over the source/drain region during the nitridation process and is removed after the nitridation. The method further includes forming a silicide over the source/drain region after removing the bottom mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Su-Hao Liu, Liang-Yin Chen, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11848361
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region and a gate electrode adjacent the source/drain region, forming a hard mask over the gate electrode, forming a bottom mask over the source/drain region, wherein the gate electrode is exposed, and performing a nitridation process on the hard mask over the gate electrode. The bottom mask remains over the source/drain region during the nitridation process and is removed after the nitridation. The method further includes forming a silicide over the source/drain region after removing the bottom mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Su-Hao Liu, Liang-Yin Chen, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11728219
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin extending along a first direction on a semiconductor substrate and forming a sacrificial gate electrode structure extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction over the fin. The sacrificial gate electrode structure comprises a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode layer disposed over the sacrificial gate dielectric layer. Opposing gate sidewall spacers are formed extending along the second direction, on opposing sides of the sacrificial gate electrode layer. The sacrificial gate electrode layer is removed to form a gate space. Fluorine is implanted into the gate sidewall spacers after removing the gate electrode layer by performing a first fluorine implantation. The sacrificial gate dielectric layer is removed and a high-k gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Patent number: 11677012
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, fin structures each having an upper portion and a lower portion, are formed. The lower portion is embedded in an isolation insulating layer disposed over a substrate and the upper portion protrudes the isolation insulating layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the upper portion of each of the fin structures. A conductive layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed over the conductive layer. An ion implantation operation is performed on the fin structures with the cap layer. The ion implantation operation is performed multiple times using different implantation angles to introduce ions into one side surface of each of the fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Patent number: 11532485
    Abstract: In a gate last metal gate process for forming a transistor, a dielectric layer is formed over an intermediate transistor structure, the intermediate structure including a dummy gate electrode, typically formed of polysilicon. Various processes, such as patterning the polysilicon, planarizing top layers of the structure, and the like can remove top portions of the dielectric layer, which can result in decreased control of gate height when a metal gate is formed in place of the dummy gate electrode, decreased control of fin height for finFETs, and the like. Increasing the resistance of the dielectric layer to attack from these processes, such as by implanting silicon or the like into the dielectric layer before such other processes are performed, results in less removal of the top surface, and hence improved control of the resulting structure dimensions and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Su-Hao Liu, Tsan-Chun Wang, Liang-Yin Chen, Jing-Huei Huang, Lun-Kuang Tan, Huicheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20220310405
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In some embodiments a divergent ion beam is utilized to implant ions into a capping layer, wherein the capping layer is located over a first metal layer, a dielectric layer, and an interfacial layer over a semiconductor fin. The ions are then driven from the capping layer into one or more of the first metal layer, the dielectric layer, and the interfacial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh
  • Publication number: 20220216202
    Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, at least one gate stack and epitaxy material portions is described. The substrate has fins and insulators located between the fins, and the fins include channel portions and flank portions beside the channel portions. The at least one gate stack is disposed over the insulators and over the channel portions of the fins. The epitaxy material portions are disposed over the flank portions of the fins and at two opposite sides of the at least one gate stack. The epitaxy material portions disposed on the flank portions of the fins are separate from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Tsai, Ziwei Fang, Tsan-Chun Wang, Kei-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 11361977
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. In some embodiments a divergent ion beam is utilized to implant ions into a capping layer, wherein the capping layer is located over a first metal layer, a dielectric layer, and an interfacial layer over a semiconductor fin. The ions are then driven from the capping layer into one or more of the first metal layer, the dielectric layer, and the interfacial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh
  • Publication number: 20220181451
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region and a gate electrode adjacent the source/drain region, forming a hard mask over the gate electrode, forming a bottom mask over the source/drain region, wherein the gate electrode is exposed, and performing a nitridation process on the hard mask over the gate electrode. The bottom mask remains over the source/drain region during the nitridation process and is removed after the nitridation. The method further includes forming a silicide over the source/drain region after removing the bottom mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Su-Hao Liu, Liang-Yin Chen, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11289479
    Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, at least one gate stack and epitaxy material portions is described. The substrate has fins and insulators located between the fins, and the fins include channel portions and flank portions beside the channel portions. The at least one gate stack is disposed over the insulators and over the channel portions of the fins. The epitaxy material portions are disposed over the flank portions of the fins and at two opposite sides of the at least one gate stack. The epitaxy material portions disposed on the flank portions of the fins are separate from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Tsai, Ziwei Fang, Tsan-Chun Wang, Kei-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 11257911
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region and a gate electrode adjacent the source/drain region, forming a hard mask over the gate electrode, forming a bottom mask over the source/drain region, wherein the gate electrode is exposed, and performing a nitridation process on the hard mask over the gate electrode. The bottom mask remains over the source/drain region during the nitridation process and is removed after the nitridation. The method further includes forming a silicide over the source/drain region after removing the bottom mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Su-Hao Liu, Liang-Yin Chen, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20210313456
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, fin structures each having an upper portion and a lower portion, are formed. The lower portion is embedded in an isolation insulating layer disposed over a substrate and the upper portion protrudes the isolation insulating layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the upper portion of each of the fin structures. A conductive layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed over the conductive layer. An ion implantation operation is performed on the fin structures with the cap layer. The ion implantation operation is performed multiple times using different implantation angles to introduce ions into one side surface of each of the fin structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun WANG, Chun-Feng NIEH, Chiao-Ting TAI
  • Publication number: 20210313435
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region and a gate electrode adjacent the source/drain region, forming a hard mask over the gate electrode, forming a bottom mask over the source/drain region, wherein the gate electrode is exposed, and performing a nitridation process on the hard mask over the gate electrode. The bottom mask remains over the source/drain region during the nitridation process and is removed after the nitridation. The method further includes forming a silicide over the source/drain region after removing the bottom mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Su-Hao Liu, Liang-Yin Chen, Huicheng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 11127817
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor structure over a semiconductor substrate. The method also includes implanting carbon into the semiconductor structure. The method further includes implanting gallium into the semiconductor structure. In addition, the method includes heating the semiconductor structure after the implanting of carbon and gallium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chiao-Ting Tai, Che-Fu Chiu, Chun-Feng Nieh
  • Publication number: 20210272850
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin extending along a first direction on a semiconductor substrate and forming a sacrificial gate electrode structure extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction over the fin. The sacrificial gate electrode structure comprises a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode layer disposed over the sacrificial gate dielectric layer. Opposing gate sidewall spacers are formed extending along the second direction, on opposing sides of the sacrificial gate electrode layer. The sacrificial gate electrode layer is removed to form a gate space. Fluorine is implanted into the gate sidewall spacers after removing the gate electrode layer by performing a first fluorine implantation. The sacrificial gate dielectric layer is removed and a high-k gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun WANG, Chun-Feng NIEH, Chiao-Ting TAI
  • Patent number: 11043580
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, fin structures each having an upper portion and a lower portion, are formed. The lower portion is embedded in an isolation insulating layer disposed over a substrate and the upper portion protrudes the isolation insulating layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the upper portion of each of the fin structures. A conductive layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A cap layer is formed over the conductive layer. An ion implantation operation is performed on the fin structures with the cap layer. The ion implantation operation is performed multiple times using different implantation angles to introduce ions into one side surface of each of the fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Patent number: 11031293
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin extending along a first direction on a semiconductor substrate and forming a sacrificial gate electrode structure extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction over the fin. The sacrificial gate electrode structure comprises a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode layer disposed over the sacrificial gate dielectric layer. Opposing gate sidewall spacers are formed extending along the second direction, on opposing sides of the sacrificial gate electrode layer. The sacrificial gate electrode layer is removed to form a gate space. Fluorine is implanted into the gate sidewall spacers after removing the gate electrode layer by performing a first fluorine implantation. The sacrificial gate dielectric layer is removed and a high-k gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Patent number: 11011428
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a fin extending along a first direction on a semiconductor substrate and forming a sacrificial gate electrode structure extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction over the fin. The sacrificial gate electrode structure comprises a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode layer disposed over the sacrificial gate dielectric layer. Opposing gate sidewall spacers are formed extending along the second direction, on opposing sides of the sacrificial gate electrode layer. The sacrificial gate electrode layer is removed to form a gate space. Fluorine is implanted into the gate sidewall spacers after removing the gate electrode layer by performing a first fluorine implantation. The sacrificial gate dielectric layer is removed and a high-k gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Chun-Feng Nieh, Chiao-Ting Tai
  • Publication number: 20210111035
    Abstract: In a gate last metal gate process for forming a transistor, a dielectric layer is formed over an intermediate transistor structure, the intermediate structure including a dummy gate electrode, typically formed of polysilicon. Various processes, such as patterning the polysilicon, planarizing top layers of the structure, and the like can remove top portions of the dielectric layer, which can result in decreased control of gate height when a metal gate is formed in place of the dummy gate electrode, decreased control of fin height for finFETs, and the like. Increasing the resistance of the dielectric layer to attack from these processes, such as by implanting silicon or the like into the dielectric layer before such other processes are performed, results in less removal of the top surface, and hence improved control of the resulting structure dimensions and performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Su-Hao Liu, Tsan-Chun Wang, Liang-Yin Chen, Jing-Huei Huang, Lun-Kuang Tan, Huicheng Chang
  • Patent number: 10854729
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device. In this method, first and second well regions are formed within a semiconductor substrate. The first and second well regions have first and second etch rates, respectively, which are different from one another. Dopants are selectively implanted into the first well region to alter the first etch rate to make the first etch rate substantially equal to the second etch rate. The first, selectively implanted well region and the second well region are etched to form channel recesses having equal recess depths. An epitaxial growth process is performed to form one or more epitaxial layers within the channel recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Ziwei Fang, Chii-Horng Li, Tze-Liang Lee, Chao-Cheng Chen, Syun-Ming Jang