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).

  • Publication number: 20240234419
    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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng CHEN, Zhi-Chang LIN, Jung-Hung CHANG, Lo Heng CHANG, CHIH-HAO WANG, Chien Ning YAO, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG
  • Patent number: 12034004
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin projecting from a substrate. Semiconductor nanostructures are disposed over the semiconductor fin. A gate electrode is disposed over the semiconductor fin and around the semiconductor nanostructures. A dielectric fin is disposed over the substrate. A dielectric structure is disposed over the dielectric fin. An upper surface of the dielectric structure is disposed over the upper surface of the gate electrode. A dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The dielectric fin laterally separates both the gate electrode and the semiconductor nanostructures from the dielectric layer. An upper surface of the dielectric layer is disposed over the upper surface of the gate electrode structure and the upper surface of the dielectric structure. A lower surface of the dielectric layer is disposed below the upper surface of the dielectric fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Huan-Chieh Su, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Patent number: 12034062
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first stacked nanostructure and a second stacked nanostructure formed over a substrate, and a dummy fin structure between the first stacked nanostructure and the second stacked nanostructure. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate structure formed over the first stacked nanostructure and the second stacked nanostructure, and a conductive layer formed over the gate structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a capping layer formed over the dummy fin structure, and each of the gate structure and the conductive layer is divided into two portions by the capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Zhi-Chang Lin, Kuan-Ting Pan, Chih-Hao Wang, Shi-Ning Ju
  • Publication number: 20240194758
    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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang LIN, Kuan-Ting PAN, Shih-Cheng CHEN, Jung-Hung CHANG, Lo-Heng CHANG, Chien-Ning YAO, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG
  • Patent number: 12009410
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active fin disposed on a substrate, a gate structure, and a pair of gate spacers disposed on sidewalls of the gate structure, in which the gate structure and the gate spacers extend across a first portion of the active fin, and a bottom surface of the gate structure is higher than a bottom surface of the gate spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Wei-Hao Wu, Jia-Ni Yu
  • Patent number: 12009253
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature disposed on the semiconductor substrate; and a staggered dielectric feature interposed between the first and second conductive feature. The staggered dielectric feature includes first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers being interdigitated. The first dielectric layers include a first dielectric material and the second dielectric layers include a second dielectric material being different from the first dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Teng-Chun Tsai, Wei-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 11996293
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin protruding from the substrate, an isolation feature disposed on the substrate and on sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor fins, a gate structure disposed on the isolation feature. The semiconductor device also includes a dielectric fin disposed on the isolation feature and sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor fins. A middle portion of the dielectric fin separates the gate structure into a first gate structure segment engaging the first semiconductor fin and a second gate structure segment engaging the second semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pei-Yu Wang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
  • Patent number: 11996482
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a channel layer, a gate structure, source/drain epitaxial structures, and a dielectric isolation layer. The channel layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure is over the semiconductor substrate and surrounds the channel layer. The source/drain epitaxial structures are connected to the channel layer and arranged in a first direction. The dielectric isolation layer is between the gate structure and the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric isolation layer is wider than the gate structure but narrower than the channel layer in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Chien-Ning Yao
  • Patent number: 11996481
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer. A gate structure is disposed over the semiconductor layer. A spacer is disposed on a sidewall of the gate structure. A height of the spacer is greater than a height of the gate structure. A liner is disposed on the gate structure and on the spacer. The spacer and the liner have different material compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Wei-Hao Wu, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jia-Ni Yu, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Wei Hsu
  • Publication number: 20240170556
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a spacer layer along a first fin structure and a second fin structure, etching a first portion of the spacer layer and the first fin structure to form first fin spacers and a first recess between the first fin spacers, etching a second portion of the spacer layer and the second fin structure to form second fin spacers and a second recess between the second fin spacers, and forming a first source/drain feature in the first recess and a second source/drain feature in the second recess. The second fin structure is wider than the first fin structure. The first fin spacers have a first height, and the second fin spacers have a second height that is greater than the first height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng CHEN, Zhi-Chang LIN, Jung-Hung CHANG, Chien-Ning YAO, Tsung-Han CHUANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20240170534
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nanosheet semiconductor device includes: forming a liner layer to cover first and second fin structures, each of the fin structures including a stacked structure, a poly gate disposed on the stacked structure, and inner spacers, the stacked structure including sacrificial features covered by the inner spacers, and channel features disposed to alternate with the sacrificial features; forming a dielectric layer to cover the liner layer, the dielectric layer including an upper portion, a lower portion, and an interconnecting portion that interconnects the upper and lower portions and that laterally covers the liner layer; subjecting the upper and lower portions to a directional treatment; and removing the upper and interconnecting portions of the dielectric layer and a portion of the liner layer, to form a liner and a bottom dielectric insulator disposed on the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang LIN, Ko-Feng CHEN, Chien-Ning YAO, Chien-Hung LIN
  • Publication number: 20240170337
    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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 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: 20240153958
    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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Jung-Hung CHANG, Zhi-Chang LIN, Shih-Cheng CHEN, Chien Ning YAO, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • 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