Patents by Inventor Wen-Hsing Hsieh

Wen-Hsing Hsieh 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: 10790280
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first and a second epitaxial layer, formed of a first semiconductor material. The second epitaxial layer is disposed over the first epitaxial layer. The first transistor also includes a first gate dielectric layer surrounds the first and second epitaxial layers and extends from a top surface of the first epitaxial layer to a bottom surface of the second epitaxial layer and a first metal gate layer surrounding the first gate dielectric layer. The second transistor includes a third epitaxial layer formed of the first semiconductor material and a fourth epitaxial layer disposed directly on the third epitaxial layer and formed of a second semiconductor. The second transistor also includes a second gate dielectric layer disposed over the third and fourth epitaxial layers and a second metal gate layer disposed over the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chung-Cheng Wu, Ching-Fang Huang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung, Cheng-Ting Chung
  • Patent number: 10734500
    Abstract: Various transistors, such as horizontal gate-all-around transistors, and methods of fabricating such are disclosed herein. An exemplary transistor includes a first nanowire and a second nanowire that include a first semiconductor material, a gate that wraps a channel region of the first nanowire and the second nanowire, and source/drain feature that wraps source/drain regions of the first nanowire and the second nanowire. The source/drain feature includes a second semiconductor material that is configured differently than the first semiconductor material. In some implementations, the transistor further includes a fin-like semiconductor layer disposed over a substrate. The first nanowire and the second nanowire are disposed over the fin-like semiconductor layer, such that the first nanowire, the second nanowire, and the fin-like semiconductor layer extend substantially parallel to one another along the same length-wise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Lin, Chung-Cheng Wu, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Yi-Ming Sheu
  • Publication number: 20200168716
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a channel region, a source/drain region adjacent to the channel region, and a source/drain epitaxial layer. The source/drain epitaxial layer includes a first epitaxial layer epitaxially formed on the source/drain region, a second epitaxial layer epitaxially formed on the first epitaxial layer and a third epitaxial layer epitaxially formed on the second epitaxial layer. The first epitaxial layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a SiAs layer, a SiC layer and a SiCP layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi PENG, Wen-Hsing HSIEH, Wen-Yuan CHEN, Jon-Hsu HO, Song-Bor LEE, Bor-Zen TIEN
  • Publication number: 20200135891
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a plurality of fin structures are formed over a semiconductor substrate. The fin structures extend along a first direction and are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction. A plurality of sacrificial gate structures extending in the second direction are formed over the fin structures. An interlayer dielectric layer is formed over the plurality of fin structures between adjacent sacrificial gate structures. The sacrificial gate structures are cut into a plurality of pieces of sacrificial gate structures by forming gate end spaces along the second direction. Gate separation plugs are formed by filling the gate end spaces with two or more dielectric materials. The two or more dielectric materials includes a first layer and a second layer formed on the first layer, and a dielectric constant of the second layer is smaller than a dielectric constant of the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi PENG, Wen-Yuan CHEN, Wen-Hsing HSIEH, Yi-Ju HSU, Jon-Hsu HO, Song-Bor LEE, Bor-Zen TIEN
  • Publication number: 20200035562
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of first semiconductor layers interleaved with a plurality of second semiconductor layers. The first and second semiconductor layers have different material compositions. A dummy gate stack is formed over an uppermost first semiconductor layer. A first etching process is performed to remove portions of the second semiconductor layer that are not disposed below the dummy gate stack, thereby forming a plurality of voids. The first etching process has an etching selectivity between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. Thereafter, a second etching process is performed to enlarge the voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Szu-Wei Huang, Huan-Sheng Wei, Jon-Hsu Ho, Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Chung-Cheng Wu, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20190340328
    Abstract: A method of generating a netlist of an IC device includes extracting dimensions of a gate region of the IC device, the dimensions including a width of the gate region, the width extending at least from a first edge of an active region to a second edge of the active region, and a distance from a first end of the width to a gate via positioned along the width. A first gate resistance value corresponding to the gate region is received, a second gate resistance value is determined based on the distance and the width, and the netlist is updated based on the first and second gate resistance values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Ke-Ying SU, Jon-Hsu HO, Ke-Wei SU, Liang-Yi CHEN, Wen-Hsing HSIEH, Wen-Koi LAI, Keng-Hua KUO, KuoPei LU, Lester CHANG, Ze-Ming WU
  • Patent number: 10438851
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of first semiconductor layers interleaved with a plurality of second semiconductor layers. The first and second semiconductor layers have different material compositions. A dummy gate stack is formed over an uppermost first semiconductor layer. A first etching process is performed to remove portions of the second semiconductor layer that are not disposed below the dummy gate stack, thereby forming a plurality of voids. The first etching process has an etching selectivity between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. Thereafter, a second etching process is performed to enlarge the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Szu-Wei Huang, Huan-Sheng Wei, Jon-Hsu Ho, Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Chung-Cheng Wu, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 10367063
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first source/drain (S/D) region, a second S/D region, and a semiconductor sheet. The first S/D region is disposed on the substrate. The second S/D region is disposed above the first S/D region. The semiconductor sheet interconnects the first and second S/D regions and includes a plurality of turns. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Hao-Ling Tang, Jon-Hsu Ho, Shao-Hwang Sia, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ching-Wei Tsai
  • Patent number: 10290546
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of first semiconductor layers interleaved with a plurality of second semiconductor layers. The first and second semiconductor layers have different material compositions. A dummy gate stack is formed over an uppermost first semiconductor layer. A first etching process is performed to remove portions of the second semiconductor layer that are not disposed below the dummy gate stack, thereby forming a plurality of voids. The first etching process has an etching selectivity between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. Thereafter, a second etching process is performed to enlarge the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Szu-Wei Huang, Huan-Sheng Wei, Jon-Hsu Ho, Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Chung-Cheng Wu, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20190131423
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a bottom semiconductor fin, at least one sidewall structure, a top semiconductor fin, and a gate structure. The bottom semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The sidewall structure protrudes from the semiconductor fin. The top semiconductor fin is disposed on the bottom semiconductor fin. The top semiconductor fin includes a channel portion and at least one source/drain portion. The source/drain portion is disposed between the channel portion and the sidewall structure. The gate structure covers the channel portion of the top semiconductor fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-An LIN, Chun-Hsiung LIN, Chia-Ta YU, Sai-Hooi YEONG, Ching-Fang HUANG, Wen-Hsing HSIEH
  • Patent number: 10276693
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a bottom semiconductor fin, at least one sidewall structure, a top semiconductor fin, and a gate structure. The bottom semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The sidewall structure protrudes from the semiconductor fin. The top semiconductor fin is disposed on the bottom semiconductor fin. The top semiconductor fin includes a channel portion and at least one source/drain portion. The source/drain portion is disposed between the channel portion and the sidewall structure. The gate structure covers the channel portion of the top semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-An Lin, Chun-Hsiung Lin, Chia-Ta Yu, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Ching-Fang Huang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20190051734
    Abstract: Various transistors, such as horizontal gate-all-around transistors, and methods of fabricating such are disclosed herein. An exemplary transistor includes a first nanowire and a second nanowire that include a first semiconductor material, a gate that wraps a channel region of the first nanowire and the second nanowire, and source/drain feature that wraps source/drain regions of the first nanowire and the second nanowire. The source/drain feature includes a second semiconductor material that is configured differently than the first semiconductor material. In some implementations, the transistor further includes a fin-like semiconductor layer disposed over a substrate. The first nanowire and the second nanowire are disposed over the fin-like semiconductor layer, such that the first nanowire, the second nanowire, and the fin-like semiconductor layer extend substantially parallel to one another along the same length-wise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Lin, Chung-Cheng Wu, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Yi-Ming Sheu
  • Publication number: 20180337094
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of first semiconductor layers interleaved with a plurality of second semiconductor layers. The first and second semiconductor layers have different material compositions. A dummy gate stack is formed over an uppermost first semiconductor layer. A first etching process is performed to remove portions of the second semiconductor layer that are not disposed below the dummy gate stack, thereby forming a plurality of voids. The first etching process has an etching selectivity between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. Thereafter, a second etching process is performed to enlarge the voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Szu-Wei Huang, Huan-Sheng Wei, Jon-Hsu Ho, Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Chung-Cheng Wu, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 10109721
    Abstract: Various semiconductor devices, such as horizontal gate-all-around devices, and methods of fabricating such are disclosed herein. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a fin structure having a channel region disposed between a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. The fin structure includes a first nanowire and a second nanowire disposed in the channel region, the first source/drain region, and the second source/drain region. The fin structure further includes an epitaxial layer that wraps the first nanowire and the second nanowire in the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region. A gate is disposed over the channel region of the fin structure, such that the gate wraps the first nanowire and the second nanowire in the channel region. In some implementations, the first nanowire, the second nanowire, and the epitaxial layer combine to have a vertical bar-like shape in the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Lin, Chung-Cheng Wu, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Yi-Ming Sheu
  • Publication number: 20180175036
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first and a second epitaxial layer, formed of a first semiconductor material. The second epitaxial layer is disposed over the first epitaxial layer. The first transistor also includes a first gate dielectric layer surrounds the first and second epitaxial layers and extends from a top surface of the first epitaxial layer to a bottom surface of the second epitaxial layer and a first metal gate layer surrounding the first gate dielectric layer. The second transistor includes a third epitaxial layer formed of the first semiconductor material and a fourth epitaxial layer disposed directly on the third epitaxial layer and formed of a second semiconductor. The second transistor also includes a second gate dielectric layer disposed over the third and fourth epitaxial layers and a second metal gate layer disposed over the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chung-Cheng Wu, Ching-Fang Huang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung, Cheng-Ting Chung
  • Publication number: 20180166551
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature disposed over a substrate. The source/drain feature includes a first nanowire, a second nanowire disposed over the first nanowire, a cladding layer disposed over the first nanowire and the second nanowire and a spacer layer extending from the first nanowire to the second nanowire. The device also includes a conductive feature disposed directly on the source/drain feature such that the conductive feature physically contacts the cladding layer and the spacer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Fang Huang, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Publication number: 20180151438
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of first semiconductor layers interleaved with a plurality of second semiconductor layers. The first and second semiconductor layers have different material compositions. A dummy gate stack is formed over an uppermost first semiconductor layer. A first etching process is performed to remove portions of the second semiconductor layer that are not disposed below the dummy gate stack, thereby forming a plurality of voids. The first etching process has an etching selectivity between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. Thereafter, a second etching process is performed to enlarge the voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Szu-Wei Huang, Huan-Sheng Wei, Jon-Hsu Ho, Chih Chieh Yeh, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Chung-Cheng Wu, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Patent number: 9960273
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a first region and a second region; a first fin feature formed on the substrate within the first region; and a second fin feature formed on the substrate within the second region. The first fin feature includes a first semiconductor feature of a first semiconductor material formed on a dielectric feature that is an oxide of a second semiconductor material. The second fin feature includes a second semiconductor feature of the first semiconductor material formed on a third semiconductor feature of the second semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chung-Cheng Wu, Chih-Hao Wang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung
  • Patent number: 9899387
    Abstract: A semiconductor includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first and a second epitaxial layer, formed of a first semiconductor material. The second epitaxial layer is disposed over the first epitaxial layer. The first transistor also includes a first gate dielectric layer surrounds the first and second epitaxial layers and extends from a top surface of the first epitaxial layer to a bottom surface of the second epitaxial layer and a first metal gate layer surrounding the first gate dielectric layer. The second transistor includes a third epitaxial layer formed of the first semiconductor material and a fourth epitaxial layer disposed directly on the third epitaxial layer and formed of a second semiconductor. The second transistor also includes a second gate dielectric layer disposed over the third and fourth epitaxial layers and a second metal gate layer disposed over the second gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chung-Cheng Wu, Ching-Fang Huang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung, Cheng-Ting Chung
  • Patent number: 9887269
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature disposed over a substrate. The source/drain feature includes a first nanowire, a second nanowire disposed over the first nanowire, a cladding layer disposed over the first nanowire and the second nanowire and a spacer layer extending from the first nanowire to the second nanowire. The device also includes a conductive feature disposed directly on the source/drain feature such that the conductive feature physically contacts the cladding layer and the spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Ching-Fang Huang, Carlos H. Diaz, Chih-Hao Wang, Wen-Hsing Hsieh, Ying-Keung Leung