Patents by Inventor Yen-Ru LEE

Yen-Ru LEE 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: 11063152
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a source/drain region having a V-shaped bottom surface and extending below gate spacers adjacent a gate stack and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a gate stack over a fin; forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; etching the fin with a first anisotropic etch process to form a first recess adjacent the gate spacer; etching the fin with a second etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to remove an etching residue from the first recess; etching surfaces of the first recess with a third anisotropic etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to form a second recess extending below the gate spacer and having a V-shaped bottom surface; and epitaxially forming a source/drain region in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Jyun-Chih Lin, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • Publication number: 20210193831
    Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate. A fin is on the substrate. The fin includes silicon germanium. An interfacial layer is over the fin. The interfacial layer has a thickness in a range from greater than 0 nm to about 4 nm. A source/drain region is over the interfacial layer. The source/drain region includes silicon germanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Chih-Yun Chin, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Heng-Wen Ting, Roger Tai, Pei-Ren Jeng, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Yen-Ru Lee, Yan-Ting Lin, Davie Liu
  • Patent number: 11004724
    Abstract: An embodiment is a structure including a first fin over a substrate, a second fin over the substrate, the second fin being adjacent the first fin, an isolation region surrounding the first fin and the second fin, a gate structure along sidewalls and over upper surfaces of the first fin and the second fin, the gate structure defining channel regions in the first fin and the second fin, a source/drain region on the first fin and the second fin adjacent the gate structure, and an air gap separating the source/drain region from a top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ru Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Li-Li Su, Chien-Chang Su, Heng-Wen Ting, Jung-Chi Tai, Che-Hui Lee, Ying-Wei Li
  • Patent number: 10991795
    Abstract: A method includes forming a crown structure over a substrate; forming fins in the crown structure; forming an intra-device isolation region between the fins and forming inter-device isolation regions on opposing sides of the crown structure; forming a gate structure over the fins; forming a dielectric layer that extends continuously over the inter-device isolation regions, the fins and the intra-device isolation region; performing an etching process to reduce a thickness of the dielectric layer, where after the etching process, upper surfaces of the inter-device isolation regions and upper surfaces of the fins are exposed while an upper surface of the intra-device isolation region is covered by a remaining portion of the dielectric layer; and forming an epitaxial structure over the exposed upper surfaces of the fins, where after the epitaxial structure is formed, there is a void between the epitaxial structure and the intra-device isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Ru Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Heng-Wen Ting, Jung-Chi Tai, Li-Li Su, Tzu-Ching Lin
  • Publication number: 20210083052
    Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a fin on a substrate. A gate structure is over the fin. A source/drain is in the fin proximate the gate structure. The source/drain includes a bottom layer, a supportive layer over the bottom layer, and a top layer over the supportive layer. The supportive layer has a different property than the bottom layer and the top layer, such as a different material, a different natural lattice constant, a different dopant concentration, and/or a different alloy percent content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Jung-Chi Tai, Chii-Horng Li, Pei-Ren Jeng, Yen-Ru Lee, Yan-Ting Lin, Chih-Yun Chin
  • Publication number: 20210083115
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate stack over a substrate. The method further includes etching the substrate to define a cavity. The method further includes growing a first epitaxial (epi) material in the cavity, wherein the first epi material includes a first upper surface having a first crystal plane. The method further includes growing a second epi material on the first epi material, wherein the second epi material includes a second upper surface having the first crystal plane. The method further includes treating the second epi material, wherein treating the second epi material comprises causing the second upper surface to transform to a second crystal plane different from the first crystal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Lilly SU, Chii-Horng LI, Ming-Hua YU, Pang-Yen TSAI, Tze-Liang LEE, Yen-Ru LEE
  • Patent number: 10944005
    Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate. A fin is on the substrate. The fin includes silicon germanium. An interfacial layer is over the fin. The interfacial layer has a thickness in a range from greater than 0 nm to about 4 nm. A source/drain region is over the interfacial layer. The source/drain region includes silicon germanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Yun Chin, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Heng-Wen Ting, Roger Tai, Pei-Ren Jeng, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Yen-Ru Lee, Yan-Ting Lin, Davie Liu
  • Publication number: 20210066465
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a way of treating source/drain recesses with a high heat treatment and an optional hydrogen plasma treatment. The high heat treatment smooths the surfaces inside the recesses and remove oxides and etching byproducts. The hydrogen plasma treatment enlarges the recesses vertically and horizontally and inhibits further oxidation of the surfaces in the recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee
  • Publication number: 20210057570
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a fin extending from a substrate; a gate stack over a channel region of the fin; and a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the channel region, the source/drain region including: a first epitaxial layer contacting sidewalls of the fin, the first epitaxial layer including silicon and germanium doped with a dopant, the first epitaxial layer having a first concentration of the dopant; and a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, the second epitaxial layer including silicon and germanium doped with the dopant, the second epitaxial layer having a second concentration of the dopant, the second concentration being greater than the first concentration, the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer having a same germanium concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yan-Ting Lin, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee
  • Publication number: 20210057567
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a source/drain region having a V-shaped bottom surface and extending below gate spacers adjacent a gate stack and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a gate stack over a fin; forming a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; etching the fin with a first anisotropic etch process to form a first recess adjacent the gate spacer; etching the fin with a second etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to remove an etching residue from the first recess; etching surfaces of the first recess with a third anisotropic etch process using etchants different from the first etch process to form a second recess extending below the gate spacer and having a V-shaped bottom surface; and epitaxially forming a source/drain region in the second recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Jyun-Chih Lin, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu, Feng-Cheng Yang
  • Publication number: 20210050267
    Abstract: A device includes a fin over a substrate, the fin including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fin has a convex profile, an isolation region adjacent the fin, a gate structure along sidewalls of the fin and over the top surface of the fin, a gate spacer laterally adjacent the gate structure, and an epitaxial region adjacent the first end of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Heng-Wen Ting, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Yen-Ru Lee, Chien-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 10879355
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing, is provided. A first recess in the semiconductor layer may be disposed between a first dummy gate and a second dummy gate. A first spacer is formed on sidewalls of the first dummy gate and a second spacer is formed on sidewalls of the second dummy gate. The first and second spacers form triangular spacer extensions contacting the bottom surface of the first recess. After forming the first spacer and the second spacer, a second recess is formed in the semiconductor layer disposed between the first dummy gate and the second dummy gate. A source/drain region is epitaxially grown in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Yen-Ru Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung
  • Publication number: 20200395477
    Abstract: A method includes forming a semiconductor fin over a substrate, etching the semiconductor fin to form a recess, wherein the recess extends into the substrate, and forming a source/drain region in the recess, wherein forming the source/drain region includes epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material on sidewalls of the recess, wherein the first semiconductor material includes silicon germanium, wherein the first semiconductor material has a first germanium concentration from 10 to 40 atomic percent, epitaxially growing a second semiconductor material over the first semiconductor material, the second semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the second semiconductor material has a second germanium concentration that is greater than the first germanium concentration, and epitaxially growing a third semiconductor material over the second semiconductor material, the third semiconductor material including silicon germanium, wherein the third semiconductor material has a third germanium con
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kun-Mu Li, Heng-Wen Ting, Yen-Ru Lee, Hsueh-Chang Sung
  • Publication number: 20200381539
    Abstract: A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a plurality of semiconductor fins. The semiconductor fins are etched to form a recess. An epitaxy structure is grown in the recess. The epitaxy structure has a W-shape cross section. A capping layer is formed over the epitaxy structure. The capping layer is at least conformal to a sidewall of the epitaxy structure. The capping layer is etched to expose a top surface of the epitaxy structure. A first portion of the capping layer remains over the sidewall of the epitaxy structure after etching the capping layer. A contact is formed in contact with the exposed top surface of the epitaxy structure and the first portion of the capping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yen-Ru LEE, Chii-Horng LI, Chien-I KUO, Heng-Wen TING, Jung-Chi TAI, Lilly SU, Yang-Tai HSIAO
  • Patent number: 10854715
    Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a fin on a substrate. A gate structure is over the fin. A source/drain is in the fin proximate the gate structure. The source/drain includes a bottom layer, a supportive layer over the bottom layer, and a top layer over the supportive layer. The supportive layer has a different property than the bottom layer and the top layer, such as a different material, a different natural lattice constant, a different dopant concentration, and/or a different alloy percent content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Chi Tai, Chii-Horng Li, Pei-Ren Jeng, Yen-Ru Lee, Yan-Ting Lin, Chih-Yun Chin
  • Patent number: 10854748
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate stack over a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first epitaxial (epi) material in the substrate on a first side of the first gate stack. The first epi material includes a first upper surface having a first crystal plane. The semiconductor device further includes a second epi material in the substrate on a second side of the first gate stack opposite the first side. The second epi material includes a second upper surface having a second crystal plane, and the first crystal plane is different from the second crystal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lilly SU, Pang-Yen Tsai, Tze-Liang Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Yen-Ru Lee, Ming-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 10763366
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor base. A dielectric isolation structure is formed in the semiconductor base. A source/drain of a FinFET transistor is formed on the semiconductor base. A bottom segment of the source/drain is embedded into the semiconductor base. The bottom segment of the source/drain has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile. The bottom segment of the source/drain is separated from the dielectric isolation structure by portions of the semiconductor base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chii-Horng Li, Chih-Shan Chen, Roger Tai, Yih-Ann Lin, Yen-Ru Lee, Tzu-Ching Lin
  • Publication number: 20200273993
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor base. A dielectric isolation structure is formed in the semiconductor base. A source/drain of a FinFET transistor is formed on the semiconductor base. A bottom segment of the source/drain is embedded into the semiconductor base. The bottom segment of the source/drain has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile. The bottom segment of the source/drain is separated from the dielectric isolation structure by portions of the semiconductor base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Chii-Horng Li, Chih-Shan Chen, Roger Tai, Yih-Ann Lin, Yen-Ru Lee, Tzu-Ching Lin
  • Patent number: 10749013
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor fins, an epitaxy structure, a capping layer, and a contact. The epitaxy structure adjoins the semiconductor fins. The epitaxy structure has a plurality of protrusive portions. The capping layer is over a sidewall of the epitaxy structure. The contact is in contact with the epitaxy structure and the capping layer. The contact has a portion between the protrusive portions. The portion of the contact between the protrusive portions has a bottom in contact with the epitaxy structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yen-Ru Lee, Chii-Horng Li, Chien-I Kuo, Heng-Wen Ting, Jung-Chi Tai, Lilly Su, Yang-Tai Hsiao
  • Patent number: 10651309
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor base. A dielectric isolation structure is formed in the semiconductor base. A source/drain of a FinFET transistor is formed on the semiconductor base. A bottom segment of the source/drain is embedded into the semiconductor base. The bottom segment of the source/drain has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile. The bottom segment of the source/drain is separated from the dielectric isolation structure by portions of the semiconductor base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chii-Horng Li, Chih-Shan Chen, Roger Tai, Yih-Ann Lin, Yen-Ru Lee, Tzu-Ching Lin