Patents by Inventor Yasutoshi Okuno

Yasutoshi Okuno 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: 11956938
    Abstract: A device incudes a substrate. A first fin and a second fin are over the substrate. An isolation structure is laterally between the first fin and the second fin. A gate structure crosses the first fin and the second fin. A first source/drain epitaxy structure is over the first fin. A second source/drain epitaxy structure is over the second fin. A spacer layer extends from a first sidewall of the first fin to a first sidewall of the second fin along a top surface of the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsu Ohtou, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Yasutoshi Okuno, Jiun-Jia Huang
  • Patent number: 11949013
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a channel region; a gate stack over the channel region; and an epitaxial source/drain region adjacent the gate stack, the epitaxial source/drain region including: a main portion in the semiconductor substrate, the main portion including a semiconductor material doped with gallium, a first concentration of gallium in the main portion being less than the solid solubility of gallium in the semiconductor material; and a finishing portion over the main portion, the finishing portion doped with gallium, a second concentration of gallium in the finishing portion being greater than the solid solubility of gallium in the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Christopher Holland, Blandine Duriez, Marcus Johannes Henricus van Dal, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Publication number: 20240088261
    Abstract: The structure of a semiconductor device with dual silicide contact structures and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device includes forming first and second fin structures on a substrate, forming first and second epitaxial regions on the first and second fin structures, respectively, forming first and second contact openings on the first and second epitaxial regions, respectively, selectively forming an oxide capping layer on exposed surfaces of the second epitaxial region, selectively forming a first metal silicide layer on exposed surfaces of the first epitaxial region, removing the oxide capping layer, and forming first and second conductive regions on the metal silicide layer and on the exposed surfaces of the second epitaxial region, respectively. The first metal silicide layer includes a first metal. The first and second conductive regions includes a second metal different from the first metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng-Wei CHU, Yasutoshi OKUNO, Ding-Kang SHIH, Sung-Li WANG
  • Publication number: 20240021501
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a gate over a semiconductor structure. An epitaxial source/drain region is formed adjacent the gate. A dielectric layer is formed over the epitaxial source/drain region. An opening extending through the dielectric layer and exposing the epitaxial source/drain region is formed. A conductive material is non-conformally deposited in the opening. The conductive material fills the opening in a bottom-up manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Mrunal A. Khaderbad, Yasutoshi Okuno, Sung-Li Wang, Pang-Yen Tsai, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai
  • Patent number: 11855177
    Abstract: The structure of a semiconductor device with dual silicide contact structures and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. A method of fabricating the semiconductor device includes forming first and second fin structures on a substrate, forming first and second epitaxial regions on the first and second fin structures, respectively, forming first and second contact openings on the first and second epitaxial regions, respectively, selectively forming an oxide capping layer on exposed surfaces of the second epitaxial region, selectively forming a first metal silicide layer on exposed surfaces of the first epitaxial region, removing the oxide capping layer, and forming first and second conductive regions on the metal silicide layer and on the exposed surfaces of the second epitaxial region, respectively. The first metal silicide layer includes a first metal. The first and second conductive regions includes a second metal different from the first metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng-Wei Chu, Ding-Kang Shih, Sung-Li Wang, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Patent number: 11823896
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric structure on a semiconductor substrate, introducing a first gas on the dielectric structure to form first conductive structures on the dielectric structure, and introducing a second gas on the first conductive structures and the dielectric structure. The second gas is different from the first gas. The method also includes introducing a third gas on the first conductive structures and the dielectric structure to form second conductive structures on the dielectric structure. The first gas and the third gas include the same metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mrunal A. Khaderbad, Keng-Chu Lin, Shuen-Shin Liang, Sung-Li Wang, Yasutoshi Okuno, Yu-Yun Peng
  • Publication number: 20230361125
    Abstract: A first dielectric layer is selectively formed such that the first dielectric layer is formed over a source/drain region of a first type of transistor but not over a source/drain region of a second type of transistor. The first type of transistor and the second type of transistor have different types of conductivity. A first silicide layer is selectively formed such that the first silicide layer is formed over the source/drain region of the second type of transistor but not over the source/drain region of the first type of transistor. The first dielectric layer is removed. A second silicide layer is formed over the source/drain region of the first type of transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Mrunal A. Khaderbad, Pang-Yen Tsai, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Publication number: 20230343595
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor fins, a first gate structure, and a second gate structure. The first and second semiconductor fins respectively includes a first channel region and a second channel region, which the first and second gate structures are respectively on. The first gate structure includes a first silicon oxide layer on the first channel region, a first high-k dielectric layer on the first silicon oxide layer, and a first metal gate on the first high-k dielectric layer. The second gate structure includes a second silicon oxide layer on the second channel region, a second high-k dielectric layer on the second silicon oxide layer, and a second metal gate on the second high-k dielectric layer. The first silicon oxide layer has a Si4+ ion concentration greater than a Si4+ ion concentration of a bottom portion of the second silicon oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph KELLY, Yusuke ONIKI, Yasutoshi OKUNO, Ta-Chun MA
  • Patent number: 11798945
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a semiconductor layer formed over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first channel layer and a second channel layer and a first insulating structure interposing the first channel layer and the semiconductor layer and a second insulating structure interposing the first channel layer and the second channel layer. The semiconductor device further includes a gate stack abutting the first channel layer and the second channel layer, and the gate stack includes a first portion vertically sandwiched between the first channel layer and the semiconductor layer and a second portion vertically sandwiched between the first channel layer and the second channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Winnie Victoria Wei-Ning Chen, Meng-Hsuan Hsiao, Tung-Ying Lee, Pang-Yen Tsai, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Publication number: 20230335592
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor fins extending from a substrate, and first and second epitaxial layers wrapping around the first and second semiconductor fins, respectively. The semiconductor device further includes a contact plug over the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer. The contact plug includes a first interfacial layer over the first epitaxial layer and a second interfacial layer over the second epitaxial layer. The first and second interfacial layers include a noble metal element and a Group IV element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Li WANG, Mrunal A. KHADERBAD, Yasutoshi OKUNO
  • Publication number: 20230301049
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory circuit includes generating a layout design of the memory circuit, and manufacturing the memory circuit based on the layout design. The generating of the layout design includes generating a first active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first active region of a first pull down transistor, generating a second active region layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a second active region of a first pass gate transistor, and generating a first metal contact layout pattern corresponding to fabricating a first metal contact. The first metal contact layout pattern overlaps the cell boundary of the memory circuit and the first active region layout pattern. The first metal contact electrically coupled to a source of the first pull down transistor. The memory circuit being a four transistor (4T) memory cell including a first and second pass gate transistor, and a first and second pull down transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Hidehiro FUJIWARA, Chih-Yu LIN, Hsien-Yu PAN, Yasutoshi OKUNO, Yen-Huei CHEN, Hung-Jen LIAO
  • Patent number: 11756864
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a gate over a semiconductor structure. An epitaxial source/drain region is formed adjacent the gate. A dielectric layer is formed over the epitaxial source/drain region. An opening extending through the dielectric layer and exposing the epitaxial source/drain region is formed. A conductive material is non-conformally deposited in the opening. The conductive material fills the opening in a bottom-up manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mrunal A Khaderbad, Yasutoshi Okuno, Sung-Li Wang, Pang-Yen Tsai, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai
  • Patent number: 11749682
    Abstract: A first dielectric layer is selectively formed such that the first dielectric layer is formed over a source/drain region of a first type of transistor but not over a source/drain region of a second type of transistor. The first type of transistor and the second type of transistor have different types of conductivity. A first silicide layer is selectively formed such that the first silicide layer is formed over the source/drain region of the second type of transistor but not over the source/drain region of the first type of transistor. The first dielectric layer is removed. A second silicide layer is formed over the source/drain region of the first type of transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mrunal A. Khaderbad, Pang-Yen Tsai, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Patent number: 11742248
    Abstract: A method includes etching a hybrid substrate to form a recess in the hybrid substrate, in which the hybrid substrate includes a first semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer over the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer, in which after the etching, a top surface of the first semiconductor layer is exposed to the recess; forming a spacer on a sidewall of the recess, in which the spacer is slanted at a first angle relative to a top surface of the first semiconductor layer; reshaping the spacer such that the a first sidewall of the reshaped spacer is slanted at a second angle relative to the top surface of the first semiconductor layer, in which the second angle is greater than the first angle; and performing a first epitaxy process to grow an epitaxy semiconductor layer in the recess after reshaping the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pei-Wei Lee, Tsung-Yu Hung, Pang-Yen Tsai, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Patent number: 11728169
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor fins, a first gate structure, and a second gate structure. The first and second semiconductor fins respectively includes a first channel region and a second channel region, which the first and second gate structures are respectively on. The first gate structure includes a first silicon oxide layer on the first channel region, a first high-k dielectric layer on the first silicon oxide layer, and a first metal gate on the first high-k dielectric layer. The second gate structure includes a second silicon oxide layer on the second channel region, a second high-k dielectric layer on the second silicon oxide layer, and a second metal gate on the second high-k dielectric layer. The first silicon oxide layer has a Si4+ ion concentration greater than a Si4+ ion concentration of a bottom portion of the second silicon oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Kelly, Yusuke Oniki, Yasutoshi Okuno, Ta-Chun Ma
  • Patent number: 11728414
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a fin structure; forming a source/drain structure in the fin structure; and forming a gate electrode over the fin structure. The source/drain structure includes Si1?x?yM1xM2y, where M1 includes Sn, M2 is one or more of P and As, 0.01?x?0.1, and 0.01?y?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Okuno, Cheng-Yi Peng, Ziwei Fang, I-Ming Chang, Akira Mineji, Yu-Ming Lin, Meng-Hsuan Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11715763
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor fin, a first epitaxial layer, a first alloy layer and a contact plug. The first semiconductor fin is on a substrate. The first epitaxial layer is on the first semiconductor fin. The first alloy layer is on the first epitaxial layer. The first alloy layer is made of one or more Group IV elements and one or more metal elements, and the first alloy layer comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending downwardly from a bottom of the first sidewall along a direction non-parallel to the first sidewall. The contact plug is in contact with the first and second sidewalls of the first alloy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Li Wang, Mrunal A. Khaderbad, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Patent number: 11682588
    Abstract: A method for forming an epitaxial source/drain structure in a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a plurality of fins extending from the substrate. In some embodiments, a liner layer is formed over the plurality of fins. The liner layer is patterned to expose a first group of fins of the plurality of fins in a first region. In some embodiments, a first epitaxial layer is formed over the exposed first group of fins and a barrier layer is formed over the first epitaxial layer. Thereafter, the patterned liner layer may be removed. In various examples, a second epitaxial layer is selectively formed over a second group of fins of the plurality of fins in a second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Long Chen, Yasutoshi Okuno, Pang-Yen Tsai
  • Publication number: 20230154845
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to one or more methods for forming an interconnect structure, such as a dual damascene interconnect structure comprising a conductive line and a conductive via, and structures formed thereby. In some embodiments, an interconnect opening is formed through one or more dielectric layers over a semiconductor substrate. The interconnect opening has a via opening and a trench over the via opening. A conductive via is formed in the via opening. A nucleation enhancement treatment is performed on one or more exposed dielectric surfaces of the trench. A conductive line is formed in the trench on the one or more exposed dielectric surfaces of the trench and on the conductive via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Sung-Li Wang, Yasutoshi Okuno
  • Publication number: 20230154758
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region on a substrate, depositing a metal-rich metal silicide layer on the source/drain region, depositing a silicon-rich metal silicide layer on the metal-rich metal silicide layer, and forming a contact plug on the silicon-rich metal silicide layer. This disclosure also describes a semiconductor device including a fin structure on a substrate, a source/drain region on the fin structure, a metal-rich metal silicide layer on the source/drain region, a silicon-rich metal silicide layer on the metal-rich metal silicide layer, and a contact plug on the silicon-rich metal silicide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Li WANG, Yasutoshi OKUNO, Shih-Chuan CHIU