Patents by Inventor Yueh-Ching Pai

Yueh-Ching Pai 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: 20240105787
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of forming a contact opening using selective ALE operations to remove ILD layer along an upper profile of a source/drain region, and then form a source/drain contact feature having a concave bottom profile with increased contact area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Chi-Yu CHOU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20240055476
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a dummy structure that includes channel layers, inner spacers disposed between adjacent ones of the channel layers, and a gate structure extending lengthwise in a first direction. A first trench extending lengthwise perpendicular to the first direction is formed, which divides the gate structure into segments. A first isolation feature is deposited in the first trench. The method also includes etching the gate structure and the channel layers to form a second trench extending lengthwise in the first direction. The second trench exposes the inner spacers. A second isolation feature is deposited in the second trench. The second isolation feature intersects the first isolation feature in a top view of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Chang, Shahaji B. More, Lun-Kuang Tan, Chi-Yu Chou, Yueh-Ching Pai
  • Publication number: 20240030136
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, a source/drain epitaxial feature disposed adjacent the first side of the substrate, wherein the source/drain epitaxial feature comprises a first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer in contact with the first epitaxial layer, and a third epitaxial layer having sidewalls surrounded by and in contact with the second epitaxial layer. The device structure also includes a first silicide layer in contact with the substrate, the first, second, and third epitaxial layers, a first source/drain contact extending through the substrate from the first side to the second side, and a first metal capping layer disposed between the first silicide layer and the first source/drain contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Yi-Ying LIU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20240030318
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a first plurality of vertically aligned semiconductor layers disposed over a substrate and a first gate electrode layer surrounding each of the first plurality of vertically aligned semiconductor layers. The first gate electrode layer includes first one or more work function metal layers disposed between adjacent semiconductor layers of the first plurality of vertically aligned semiconductor layers and two first conductive layers disposed on opposite sides of the first one or more work function metal layers. The first conductive layers include a material different from the first one or more work function metal layers. The first gate electrode layer further includes a second conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layers, and the second conductive layer and the first conductive layers include a same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Chi-Yu CHOU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20240021687
    Abstract: A source/drain component is disposed over an active region and surrounded by a dielectric material. A source/drain contact is disposed over the source/drain component. The source/drain contact includes a conductive capping layer and a conductive material having a different material composition than the conductive capping layer. The conductive material has a recessed bottom surface that is in direct contact with the conductive capping layer. A source/drain via is disposed over the source/drain contact. The source/drain via and the conductive material have different material compositions. The conductive capping layer contains tungsten, the conductive material contains molybdenum, and the source/drain via contains tungsten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Chang, Chien Chang, Kan-Ju Lin, Harry Chien, Shuen-Shin Liang, Chia-Hung Chu, Sung-Li Wang, Shahaji B. More, Yueh-Ching Pai
  • Publication number: 20230411453
    Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a semiconductor device having an oxide-filled barrier structure between structures of gate-all-around transistors included in the semiconductor device. The use of the oxide-filled barrier structure may reduce a distance separating nanosheet structures of a p-type metal-oxide semiconductor fin structure and an n-type metal-oxide semiconductor fin structure, broaden an availability of work-function metals for gate structures formed around nanochannels of the p-type metal-oxide semiconductor fin structure and n-type metal-oxide semiconductor structure, and improve a performance of the gate-all-around transistors by reducing miller capacitances of the gate-all-around transistors. Furthermore, the oxide-filled barrier structure may enable the combining of the p-type metal-oxide semiconductor fin structure and the n-type metal-oxide semiconductor fin structure to form a type of integrated circuitry, such as an inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Chi-Yu CHOU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20230402508
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fin base disposed on the substrate, a stack of nanostructured channel regions disposed on a first portion of the fin base, a gate structure surrounding the nanostructured channel regions, a source/drain (S/D) region disposed on a second portion of the fin base, an air spacer disposed between the S/D region and the fin base, and a dielectric layer disposed between the air spacer and the fin base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Lun-Kuang TAN, Chi-Yu CHOU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20230387328
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a device having a first set of nanostructures on a substrate, the first set of nanostructures including a first channel region, a second set of nanostructures on the substrate, the second set of nanostructures including a second channel region, a gate dielectric layer wrapping around each of the first and second sets of nanostructures, a first work function tuning layer on the gate dielectric layer of the first set of nanostructures, the first work function tuning layer wrapping around each of the first set of nanostructures, a glue layer on the first work function tuning layer, the glue layer wrapping around each of the first set of nanostructures, a second work function tuning layer on the glue layer of the first set of nanostructures and on the gate dielectric layer of the second set of nanostructures, and a fill layer on the second work function tuning layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Chunchieh Wang, Yueh-Ching Pai
  • Publication number: 20230378316
    Abstract: In method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a source/drain epitaxial layer is formed, one or more dielectric layers are formed over the source/drain epitaxial layer, an opening is formed in the one or more dielectric layers to expose the source/drain epitaxial layer, a first silicide layer is formed on the exposed source/drain epitaxial layer, a second silicide layer different from the first silicide layer is formed on the first silicide layer, and a source/drain contact is formed over the second silicide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Yi-Ying LIU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20230369395
    Abstract: Nanostructure transistors are formed in a manner that may reduce the likelihood of source/drain region merging in the nanostructure transistors. In a top-down view of a nanostructure transistor described herein, source/drain regions on opposing sides of a nanostructure channel of the nanostructure transistor are staggered such that the distance between the source/drain regions is increased. This reduces the likelihood of the source/drain regions merging, which reduces the likelihood of failures and/or other defects forming in the nanostructure transistor. Accordingly, staggering the source/drain regions, as described herein, may facilitate the miniaturization of semiconductor devices that include nanostructure transistors while maintaining and/or increasing the semiconductor device yield of the semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Lun-Kuang TAN, Chi-Yu CHOU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20230352550
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate space is formed by removing a sacrificial gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space, conductive layers are formed on the gate dielectric layer to fully fill the gate space, the gate dielectric layer and the conducive layers are recessed to form a recessed gate electrode, and a contact metal layer is formed on the recessed gate electrode. The recessed gate electrode does not include tungsten, and the contact metal layer includes tungsten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Chun Chieh WANG, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20230352546
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes one or more semiconductor layers, an interfacial layer surrounding at least one semiconductor layer of the one or more semiconductor layers, a work function metal disposed over the interfacial layer, and a high-K (HK) dielectric layer disposed between the interfacial layer and the work function metal. The HK dielectric layer includes a first dopant region adjacent to a first interface of the HK dielectric layer and the interfacial layer, wherein the first dopant region comprises first dopants having a first polarity. The HK dielectric layer also includes a second dopant region adjacent to a second interface of the HK dielectric layer and the work function metal, wherein the second dopant region comprises second dopants having a second polarity opposite the first polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei Chang, Shahaji B. More, Chi-Yu Chou, Yueh-Ching Pai
  • Publication number: 20230352564
    Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a nanostructure transistor including inner spacers between a gate structure and a source/drain region. The inner spacers, formed in cavities at end regions of sacrificial nanosheets during fabrication of the nanostructure transistor, include concave-regions that face the source/drain region. Formation techniques include forming the sacrificial nanosheets and inner spacers to include certain geometric and/or dimensional properties, such that a likelihood of defects and/or voids within the inner spacers and/or the gate structure are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Chi-Yu CHOU, Chun Chieh WANG, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Patent number: 11742404
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate space is formed by removing a sacrificial gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer is formed in the gate space, conductive layers are formed on the gate dielectric layer to fully fill the gate space, the gate dielectric layer and the conducive layers are recessed to form a recessed gate electrode, and a contact metal layer is formed on the recessed gate electrode. The recessed gate electrode does not includes tungsten, and the contact metal layer includes tungsten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun Chieh Wang, Yueh-Ching Pai
  • Publication number: 20230141521
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming an opening in a substrate and depositing a conformal metal layer in the opening. The depositing includes performing one or more deposition cycles. The deposition includes flowing a first precursor into a deposition chamber and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the first precursor. The method also includes flowing a second precursor into the deposition chamber to form a sublayer of the conformal metal layer and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the second precursor. The method further includes performing a metallic halide etching (MHE) process that includes flowing a third precursor into the deposition chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Yu LIN, Chi-Yu Chou, Hsien-Ming Lee, Huai-Tei Yang, Chun-Chieh Wang, Yueh-Ching Pai, Chi-Jen Yang, Tsung-Ta Tang, Yi-Ting Wang
  • Publication number: 20230138401
    Abstract: In method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a source/drain epitaxial layer is formed, one or more dielectric layers are formed over the source/drain epitaxial layer, an opening is formed in the one or more dielectric layers to expose the source/drain epitaxial layer, a first silicide layer is formed on the exposed source/drain epitaxial layer, a second silicide layer different from the first silicide layer is formed on the first silicide layer, and a source/drain contact is formed over the second silicide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Cheng-Wei CHANG, Shahaji B. MORE, Yi-Ying LIU, Yueh-Ching PAI
  • Publication number: 20230116357
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a gate dielectric on a wafer, forming a work function layer over the gate dielectric, depositing a capping layer over the work function layer, soaking the capping layer in a silicon-containing gas to form a silicon-containing layer, forming a blocking layer after the silicon-containing layer is formed, and forming a metal-filling region over the blocking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Wang, Yueh-Ching Pai, Kuo-Jung Huang, Huai-Tei Yang
  • Publication number: 20230109135
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a gate structure formed over a fin structure, and a source/drain (S/D) epitaxial layer formed in the fin structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a S/D silicide layer formed on the S/D epitaxial layer, and the S/D silicide layer has a first width, the S/D epitaxial layer has a second width, and the first width is smaller than the second width. The semiconductor structure includes a dielectric spacer between the gate structure and the S/D silicide layer, and a top surface of the dielectric spacer is lower than a top surface of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh WANG, Yu-Ting LIN, Yueh-Ching PAI, Shih-Chieh CHANG, Huai-Tei YANG
  • Patent number: 11587791
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a gate dielectric on a wafer, forming a work function layer over the gate dielectric, depositing a capping layer over the work function layer, soaking the capping layer in a silicon-containing gas to form a silicon-containing layer, forming a blocking layer after the silicon-containing layer is formed, and forming a metal-filling region over the blocking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Wang, Kuo-Jung Huang, Yueh-Ching Pai, Huai-Tei Yang
  • Patent number: 11545363
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes forming an opening in a substrate and depositing a conformal metal layer in the opening. The depositing includes performing one or more deposition cycles. The deposition includes flowing a first precursor into a deposition chamber and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the first precursor. The method also includes flowing a second precursor into the deposition chamber to form a sublayer of the conformal metal layer and purging the deposition chamber to remove at least a portion of the second precursor. The method further includes performing a metallic halide etching (MHE) process that includes flowing a third precursor into the deposition chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Po-Yu Lin, Chi-Yu Chou, Hsien-Ming Lee, Huai-Tei Yang, Chun-Chieh Wang, Yueh-Ching Pai, Chi-Jen Yang, Tsung-Ta Tang, Yi-Ting Wang