Patents by Inventor Wei-Chih Kao

Wei-Chih Kao 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: 12349447
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a formation method are provided. The method includes forming a first dielectric fin and a second dielectric fin over a substrate, and the second dielectric fin is taller than the first dielectric fin. The method also includes forming a gate stack over the substrate, and the gate stack extends across the first dielectric fin and the second dielectric fin. The method further includes partially removing the gate stack such that an opening exposing the second dielectric fin is formed and forming an isolation structure in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hsin-Che Chiang, Wei-Chih Kao
  • Publication number: 20250142893
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes first nanostructures formed over a substrate along a first direction, and second nanostructures formed over the substrate along the first direction. The semiconductor structure includes a first gate structure formed over the first nanostructures along a second direction, and a second gate structure formed over the second nanostructures along the second direction. The semiconductor structure also includes a dielectric wall structure between the first gate structure and the second gate structure along the second direction. The semiconductor structure also includes a dielectric strip structure formed along the second direction. The dielectric strip structure includes a protruding portion which is lower than a bottom surface of a bottommost first nanostructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Hsin-Che CHIANG, Wei-Chih KAO, Ju-Li HUANG, Jeng-Ya YEH, Mu-Chi CHIANG, Jhon-Jhy LIAW
  • Publication number: 20250126858
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes first nanostructures formed over a substrate along a first direction, and second nanostructures formed over the substrate along the first direction. The semiconductor structure includes a first gate structure formed over the first nanostructures along a second direction, and a second gate structure formed over the second nanostructures along the second direction. The semiconductor structure also includes a dielectric wall structure between the first gate structure and the second gate structure along the second direction. The dielectric wall structure includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and a top width of a top surface of the top portion is smaller than a bottom width of a bottom surface of the bottom portion of the dielectric wall structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Hsin-Che CHIANG, Chi-Wei WU, Pang-Hsuan LIU, Wei-Chih KAO, Jeng-Ya YEH, Mu-Chi CHIANG, 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20240429308
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a first active region and a second active region, forming a first n-type work function layer and a first p-type work function layer along the first active region and the second active region, respectively, forming a semiconductor material along the first n-type work function layer and the first p-type work function layer, removing a first portion of the semiconductor material along the first p-type work function layer, thereby leaving a second portion of the semiconductor material as a first protection layer over the first n-type work function layer, and diffusing a dopant into the first p-type work function layer to form a doped p-type work function layer while the first protection layer blocks the dopant from diffusing into the first n-type work function layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih KAO, Hsin-Che Chiang, Chia-Lin Chiang, Chi-Wei Wu
  • 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
  • Patent number: 12087844
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Kao, Hsin-Che Chiang, Yu-San Chien, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Publication number: 20240266167
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first lattice constant, a fin-shape base protruding from the semiconductor substrate and extending lengthwise in a first direction, nanostructures suspended above the fin-shape base, a metal gate structure wrapping around each of the nanostructures, an epitaxial feature abutting the nanostructures, and inner spacers interposing the epitaxial feature and the metal gate structure. In a cross section perpendicular to the first direction the fin-shape base includes a first layer and a second layer over the first layer. The first layer has a second lattice constant different from the first lattice constant, and the second layer has a third lattice constant different from the second lattice constant. A portion of the metal gate structure is sandwiched between the second layer and a bottommost one of the nanostructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Hsin-Che Chiang, Wei-Chih Kao, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Publication number: 20240258394
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method for forming the semiconductor structure includes forming an active region extending in a first horizontal direction, forming an isolation structure surrounding the active region, forming a gate dielectric layer over the active region and the isolation structure, forming a gate electrode layer nested within the gate dielectric layer, and removing the gate electrode layer and a first portion of the gate dielectric layer over the isolation structure to form a trench. A second portion of the gate dielectric layer over the active region is left to form first protection features. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer in the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyun-Hong HUANG, Hsin-Che CHIANG, Wei-Chih KAO
  • Publication number: 20240178128
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure includes a first dielectric wall, a plurality of first semiconductor layers vertically stacked and extending outwardly from a first side of the first dielectric wall, a plurality of second semiconductor layers vertically stacked and extending outwardly from a second side of the first dielectric wall. The structure also includes a first gate electrode layer surrounding at least three surfaces of each of the first semiconductor layers, the first gate electrode layer having a first conductivity type, and a second gate electrode layer surrounding at least three surfaces of each of the second semiconductor layers, the second gate electrode layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. The structure further includes a gate bridge contact disposed on the first dielectric wall, and a gate via contact disposed on the gate bridge contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Hong-Chih CHEN, Chun-Sheng LIANG, Yu-San CHIEN, Wei-Chih KAO
  • Publication number: 20240120334
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming an isolation layer over a substrate. The method includes forming a spacer layer over the first fin, the second fin, and the isolation layer. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer in the first trench and covering the first fin, the second fin, and the isolation layer exposed by the first trench. The method includes partially removing the gate dielectric layer to form a second trench in the gate dielectric layer and between the first fin and the second fin. The method includes forming a gate electrode in the first trench of the spacer layer and over the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih KAO, Hsin-Che CHIANG, Jeng-Ya YEH
  • Patent number: 11923194
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first lattice constant, a dopant blocking layer disposed over the semiconductor substrate, the dopant blocking layer having a second lattice constant different from the first lattice constant, and a buffer layer disposed over the dopant blocking layer, the buffer layer having a third lattice constant different from the second lattice constant. The semiconductor device also includes a plurality of channel members suspended over the buffer layer, an epitaxial feature abutting the channel members, and a gate structure wrapping each of the channel members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hsin-Che Chiang, Wei-Chih Kao, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Publication number: 20240021480
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a formation method are provided. The method includes forming a first dielectric fin and a second dielectric fin over a substrate, and the second dielectric fin is taller than the first dielectric fin. The method also includes forming a gate stack over the substrate, and the gate stack extends across the first dielectric fin and the second dielectric fin. The method further includes partially removing the gate stack such that an opening exposing the second dielectric fin is formed and forming an isolation structure in the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Che CHIANG, Wei-Chih KAO
  • Publication number: 20230420505
    Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes first and second gate structures formed over a semiconductor substrate and a multilayer gate isolation structure separating the first gate structure from the second gate structure. The multilayer gate isolation structure includes a first insulating feature adjacent to upper portions of the first gate structure and the second gate structure, and a second insulating feature separating the semiconductor substrate from the first insulating feature. The material of the second insulating feature is different than that of the first insulating feature. The second insulating feature has a lower dielectric constant or lower etch resistance than the first insulating feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Chih CHEN, Wei-Chih KAO, Chun-Yi CHANG, Yu-San CHIEN, Hsin-Che CHIANG, Chun-Sheng LIANG
  • Patent number: 11848373
    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: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Kao, Hsin-Che Chiang, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Publication number: 20230387274
    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: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Wei-Chih KAO, Hsin-Che CHIANG, Chun-Sheng LIANG, Kuo-Hua PAN
  • Publication number: 20230369465
    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 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Kao, Hsin-Che Chiang, Yu-San Chien, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Patent number: 11799017
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Kao, Hsin-Che Chiang, Yu-San Chien, Chun-Sheng Liang, Kuo-Hua Pan
  • Patent number: 11502189
    Abstract: Charge storage and sensing devices having a tunnel diode operable to sense charges stored in a charge storage structure are provided. In some embodiments, a device includes a substrate, a charge storage device on the substrate, and tunnel diode on the substrate adjacent to the charge storage device. The tunnel diode includes a tunnel diode dielectric layer on the substrate, and a tunnel diode electrode on the tunnel diode dielectric layer. A substrate electrode is disposed on the doped region of the substrate, and the tunnel diode electrode is positioned between the charge storage device and the substrate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Jenn-Gwo Hwu, Chien-Shun Liao, Wei-Chih Kao