Patents by Inventor Zhi-Chang Lin

Zhi-Chang Lin 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: 11978802
    Abstract: Provided are FinFET devices and methods of forming the same. A dummy gate having gate spacers on opposing sidewalls thereof is formed over a substrate. A dielectric layer is formed around the dummy gate. An upper portion of the dummy gate is removed and upper portions of the gate spacers are removed, so as to form a first opening in the dielectric layer. A lower portion of the dummy gate is removed to form a second opening below the first opening. A metal layer is formed in the first and second openings. The metal layer is partially removed to form a metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Hsu, Chih-Hao Wang, Huan-Chieh Su, Wei-Hao Wu, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jia-Ni Yu
  • Patent number: 11967594
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a stack of semiconductor layers spaced apart from and aligned with each other, a first source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a first one or more semiconductor layers of the stack of semiconductor layers, and a second source/drain epitaxial feature disposed over the first source/drain epitaxial feature. The second source/drain epitaxial feature is in contact with a second one or more semiconductor layers of the stack of semiconductor layers. The structure further includes a first dielectric material disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature and a first liner disposed between the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the second source/drain epitaxial feature. The first liner is in contact with the first source/drain epitaxial feature and the first dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo Heng Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20240112959
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a device includes forming a dummy gate over a plurality of fins. Thereafter, a first portion of the dummy gate is removed to form a first trench that exposes a first hybrid fin and a first part of a second hybrid fin. The method further includes filling the first trench with a dielectric material disposed over the first hybrid fin and over the first part of the second hybrid fin. Thereafter, a second portion of the dummy gate is removed to form a second trench and the second trench is filled with a metal layer. The method further includes etching-back the metal layer, where a first plane defined by a first top surface of the metal layer is disposed beneath a second plane defined by a second top surface of a second part of the second hybrid fin after the etching-back the metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Kuan-Ting PAN, Zhi-Chang LIN, Yi-Ruei JHAN, Chi-Hao WANG, Huan-Chieh SU, Shi Ning JU, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20240105719
    Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with FinFET devices and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, an integrated circuit device includes a substrate, a fin extending from the substrate, a gate disposed on a first side of the fin, and a gate spacer disposed alongside the gate. The gate spacer has a first portion extending along the gate that has a first width and a second portion extending above the first gate that has a second width that is greater than the first width. In some such examples, the second portion of the gate spacer includes a gate spacer layer disposed on the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20240096895
    Abstract: According to one example, a semiconductor device includes a substrate and a fin stack that includes a plurality of nanostructures, a gate device surrounding each of the nanostructures, and inner spacers along the gate device and between the nanostructures. A width of the inner spacers differs between different layers of the fin stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Jui-Chien Huang, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Shi Ning Ju, Guan-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 11935794
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor transistor device. The method comprises forming a channel structure over a substrate and forming a first source/drain structure and a second source/drain structure on opposite sides of the fin structure. The method further comprises forming a gate structure surrounding the fin structure. The method further comprises flipping and partially removing the substrate to form a back-side capping trench while leaving a lower portion of the substrate along upper sidewalls of the first source/drain structure and the second source/drain structure as a protective spacer. The method further comprises forming a back-side dielectric cap in the back-side capping trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Li-Zhen Yu
  • Publication number: 20240088145
    Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with gate cut features and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, a workpiece is received that includes a substrate and a plurality of fins extending from the substrate. A first layer is formed on a side surface of each of the plurality of fins such that a trench bounded by the first layer extends between the plurality of fins. A cut feature is formed in the trench. A first gate structure is formed on a first fin of the plurality of fins, and a second gate structure is formed on a second fin of the plurality of fins such that the cut feature is disposed between the first gate structure and the second gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Wei-Hao Wu, Jia-Ni Yu, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Ching
  • Patent number: 11929287
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor structure with a dielectric liner. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a fin structure on the substrate. The fin structure includes a stacked fin structure, a fin bottom portion below the stacked fin structure, and an isolation layer between the stacked fin structure and the bottom fin portion. The semiconductor structure further includes a dielectric liner in contact with an end of the stacked fin structure and a spacer structure in contact with the dielectric liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Kuan-Ting Pan, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Chien Ning Yao
  • Publication number: 20240077875
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a positioning method, including: obtaining a current local topology map established based on objects in an environment currently observed by a robot, obtaining a full topology map pre-established based on objects in a full environment in a preset area, the current local topology map and the full topology map including nodes representing the objects; matching a node pair to be associated constructed by two nodes in the current local topology map and two nodes in the full topology map; if a degree of association of the node pair to be associated is greater than a threshold, determining that the node pair to be associated is an associated node pair; and determining a pose of the robot according to one of a plurality of search ranches, with a largest number of associated node pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: ZHI-GUANG XIAO, SI-BO LAI, MING-HUI GU, ZHI-CHANG QIU, WEI-LIN LIN
  • Patent number: 11923251
    Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack, which includes a gate dielectric and a metal gate electrode over the gate dielectric. An inter-layer dielectric is formed on opposite sides of the gate stack. The gate stack and the inter-layer dielectric are planarized. The method further includes forming an inhibitor film on the gate stack, with at least a portion of the inter-layer dielectric exposed, selectively depositing a dielectric hard mask on the inter-layer dielectric, with the inhibitor film preventing the dielectric hard mask from being formed thereon, and etching to remove a portion of the gate stack, with the dielectric hard mask acting as a portion of a corresponding etching mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsu-Hsiu Perng, Kai-Chieh Yang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Teng-Chun Tsai, Wei-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 11916122
    Abstract: A method for forming a gate all around transistor includes forming a plurality of semiconductor nanosheets. The method includes forming a cladding inner spacer between a source region of the transistor and a gate region of the transistor. The method includes forming sheet inner spacers between the semiconductor nanosheets in a separate deposition process from the cladding inner spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Kuan-Ting Pan, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Chien-Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Patent number: 11901364
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a plurality of semiconductor layers having a first group of semiconductor layers, a second group of semiconductor layers disposed over and aligned with the first group of semiconductor layers, and a third group of semiconductor layers disposed over and aligned with the second group of semiconductor layers. The structure further includes a first source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a first number of semiconductor layers of the first group of semiconductor layers and a second source/drain epitaxial feature in contact with a second number of semiconductor layers of the third group of semiconductor layers. The first number of semiconductor layers of the first group of semiconductor layers is different from the second number of semiconductor layers of the third group of semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20240006536
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a stack of first channel members, a stack of second channel members disposed directly over the stack of first channel members, a bottom source/drain feature in contact with the stack of the first channel members, a separation layer disposed over the bottom source/drain feature, a top source/drain feature in contact with the stack of second channel members and disposed over the separation layer, and a frontside contact that extends through the top source/drain feature and the separation layer to be electrically coupled to the bottom source/drain feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230420520
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: first nanostructures; a first undoped semiconductor layer contacting a first dummy region of the first nanostructures; a first spacer on the first undoped semiconductor layer; a first source/drain region on the first spacer, the first source/drain region contacting a first channel region of the first nanostructures; and a first gate structure wrapped around the first channel region and the first dummy region of the first nanostructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Tsung-Han Chuang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kai-Lin Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20230420513
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a nanostructure transistor including a plurality of first semiconductor nanostructures over a substrate and a source/drain region in contact with each of the semiconductor nanostructures. The integrated circuit includes a fin sidewall spacer laterally bounding a lower portion of the source/drain region. The integrated circuit also includes a bottom isolation structure electrically isolating the source/drain region from the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Jung-Hung CHANG, Zhi-Chang LIN, Shih-Cheng CHEN, Tsung-Han CHUANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 11855084
    Abstract: Examples of an integrated circuit with FinFET devices and a method for forming the integrated circuit are provided herein. In some examples, an integrated circuit device includes a substrate, a fin extending from the substrate, a gate disposed on a first side of the fin, and a gate spacer disposed alongside the gate. The gate spacer has a first portion extending along the gate that has a first width and a second portion extending above the first gate that has a second width that is greater than the first width. In some such examples, the second portion of the gate spacer includes a gate spacer layer disposed on the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11855096
    Abstract: According to one example, a semiconductor device includes a substrate and a fin stack that includes a plurality of nanostructures, a gate device surrounding each of the nanostructures, and inner spacers along the gate device and between the nanostructures. A width of the inner spacers differs between different layers of the fin stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jui-Chien Huang, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Shi Ning Ju, Guan-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 11854908
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a device includes forming a dummy gate over a plurality of fins. Thereafter, a first portion of the dummy gate is removed to form a first trench that exposes a first hybrid fin and a first part of a second hybrid fin. The method further includes filling the first trench with a dielectric material disposed over the first hybrid fin and over the first part of the second hybrid fin. Thereafter, a second portion of the dummy gate is removed to form a second trench and the second trench is filled with a metal layer. The method further includes etching-back the metal layer, where a first plane defined by a first top surface of the metal layer is disposed beneath a second plane defined by a second top surface of a second part of the second hybrid fin after the etching-back the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuan-Ting Pan, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shi Ning Ju, Yi-Ruei Jhan, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11855168
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first device formed over a substrate. The first device includes a first device formed over a substrate, and the first device includes a first gate stack structure encircling a plurality of first nanostructures. The semiconductor device includes a first epitaxy structure wrapping an end of one of the first nanostructures, and a second device formed over the first device, wherein the second device includes a second gate stack structure encircling a plurality of second nanostructures. The semiconductor device includes a second epitaxy structure wrapping an end of one of the second nanostructures, and the second epitaxy structure is directly above the first epitaxy structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Hao Wu, Zhi-Chang Lin, Ting-Hung Hsu, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11855216
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first source/drain feature, a second source/drain feature, a first semiconductor channel member and a second semiconductor channel member extending between the first and second source/drain features, and a first dielectric feature and a second dielectric feature each including a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer different from the first dielectric layer. The first and second dielectric features are sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor channel members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chih-Hao Wang, Pei-Hsun Wang, Lo-Heng Chang, Jung-Hung Chang