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).
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Publication number: 20250254987Abstract: Self-aligned gate cutting techniques are disclosed herein that provide dielectric gate isolation fins for isolating gates of multigate devices from one another. An exemplary device includes a first multigate device having first source/drain features and a first metal gate that surrounds a first channel layer and a second multigate device having second source/drain features and a second metal gate that surrounds a second channel layer. A dielectric gate isolation fin separates the first metal gate from the second metal gate. The dielectric gate isolation fin includes a first dielectric layer having a first dielectric constant and a second dielectric layer having a second dielectric constant disposed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric constant is greater than the first dielectric constant. The first metal gate and the second metal gate physically contact the first channel layer and the second channel layer, respectively, and the dielectric gate isolation fin.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2025Publication date: August 7, 2025Inventors: Shi Ning JU, Zhi-Chang LIN, Shih-Cheng CHEN, Chih-Hao WANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Kuan-Ting PAN
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Patent number: 12382666Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a fin of alternating layers of semiconductor nanostructures and sacrificial layers, laterally etching sidewall portions of the sacrificial layers, and depositing additional semiconductor material over the sidewalls of the semiconductor nanostructures and sacrificial layers. Following deposition of a dielectric material over the additional semiconductor material and additional etching, the remaining portions of the semiconductor structures and additional semiconductor material collectively form a hammer shape at each opposing side of the fin. Epitaxial source/drain regions formed on the opposing sides of the fin will contact the heads of the hammer shapes.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Lo-Heng Chang, Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
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Patent number: 12382710Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 13, 2024Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Cheng-Chi Chuang, Chih-Hao Wang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Li-Zhen Yu
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Publication number: 20250248069Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2025Publication date: July 31, 2025Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20250234582Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming N-type and P-type source/drain features using one patterned mask and one self-aligned mask to increase windows of error tolerance and provide flexibilities for source/drain features of various shapes and/or volumes. The present disclosure also includes forming a trench between neighboring source/drain features to remove bridging between the neighboring source/drain features. In some embodiments, the trenches between the source/drain features are formed by etching from the backside of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2025Publication date: July 17, 2025Inventors: Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chien Ning YAO, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
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Patent number: 12363980Abstract: The present disclosure describes an inner spacer structure for a semiconductor device and a method for forming the same. The method for forming the inner spacer structure in the semiconductor device can include forming a vertical structure over a substrate, forming a gate structure over a portion of the vertical structure, exposing sidewalls of the portion of the vertical structure, forming multiple spacers over the sidewalls of the portion of the vertical structure, and forming a void in each of the multiple spacers.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: July 15, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chen-Han Wang, Ding-Kang Shih, Chun-Hsiung Lin, Teng-Chun Tsai, Zhi-Chang Lin, Akira Mineji, Yao-Sheng Huang
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Patent number: 12349379Abstract: Semiconductor devices using a dielectric structure and methods of manufacturing are described herein. The semiconductor devices are directed towards gate-all-around (GAA) devices that are formed over a substrate and are isolated from one another by the dielectric structure. The dielectric structure is formed over the fin between two GAA devices and cuts a gate electrode that is formed over the fin into two separate gate electrodes. The two GAA devices are also formed with bottom spacers underlying source/drain regions of the GAA devices. The bottom spacers isolate the source/drain regions from the substrate. The dielectric structure is formed with a shallow bottom that is located above the bottoms of the bottom spacers.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Lo-Heng Chang, Jung-Hung Chang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
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Patent number: 12347690Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first fin protruding upwardly from a substrate, a second fin protruding upwardly from the substrate, a first gate structure having a first portion that at least partially wraps around an upper portion of the first fin and a second portion that at least partially wraps around an upper portion of the second fin, a second gate structure having a portion that at least partially wraps around the upper portion of the first fin, and a dielectric feature having a first portion between the first and second portions of the first gate structure. In a lengthwise direction of the first fin, the dielectric feature has a second portion extending to a sidewall of the second gate structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2024Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Pei-Yu Wang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng
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Patent number: 12347775Abstract: Corner portions of a semiconductor fin are kept on the device while removing a semiconductor fin prior to forming a backside contact. The corner portions of the semiconductor fin protect source/drain regions from etchant during backside processing. The corner portions allow the source/drain features to be formed with a convex profile on the backside. The convex profile increases volume of the source/drain features, thus, improving device performance. The convex profile also increases processing window of backside contact recess formation.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Lo-Heng Chang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Shih-Cheng Chen, Shi-Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang
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Patent number: 12342616Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2024Date of Patent: June 24, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo Heng Chang, Chih-Hao Wang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
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Patent number: 12342587Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first nanostructure transistor including a plurality of first semiconductor nanostructures over a substrate and a source/drain region in contact with each of the first semiconductor nanostructures. The integrated circuit includes a second nanostructure transistor including a plurality of second semiconductor nanostructures and a second source/drain region in contact with one or more of the second semiconductor nanostructures but not in contact with one or more other second semiconductor nanostructures.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2022Date of Patent: June 24, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Chien Ning Yao, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Tsung-Han Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
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Publication number: 20250203939Abstract: A method includes forming a multi-layer stack including a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures. The multi-layer stack includes a semiconductor nanostructure, and a sacrificial semiconductor layer over the semiconductor nanostructure. The method further includes depositing a semiconductor layer over and contacting the semiconductor nanostructure, removing the sacrificial semiconductor layer, and forming a replacement gate stack encircling a combined region of the semiconductor nanostructure and the semiconductor layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2024Publication date: June 19, 2025Inventors: Che Chi Shih, Chia-Hao Yu, Zhi-Chang Lin, Ku-Feng Yang, Tsung-Kai Chiu, Szuya Liao
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Patent number: 12336226Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a plurality of first nanostructures stacked over a substrate in a vertical direction. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first bottom layer formed adjacent to the first nanostructures, and a first dielectric liner layer formed over the first bottom layer and adjacent to the first nanostructures. The semiconductor device structure further includes a first source/drain (S/D) structure formed over the first dielectric liner layer, and the first S/D structure is isolated from the first bottom layer by the first dielectric liner layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2022Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chien-Ning Yao, Tsung-Han Chuang, Kai-Lin Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
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Patent number: 12336240Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first nanostructure transistor and a second nanostructure transistor on a substrate. The source/drain regions of the first nanostructure are electrically isolated from the semiconductor substrate by dielectric barriers. The source/drain regions of the second nanostructure transistor in direct contact with the semiconductor substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
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Publication number: 20250194237Abstract: Provided are FinFET devices and methods of forming the same. A FinFET device includes a substrate, a metal gate strip, gate spacers and a dielectric helmet. The substrate has fins. The metal gate strip is disposed across the fins and has a reversed T-shaped portion between two adjacent fins. The gate spacers are disposed on opposing sidewalls of the metal gate strip. A dielectric helmet is disposed over the metal gate strip.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2025Publication date: June 12, 2025Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Chih-Hao Wang, Huan-Chieh Su, Mao-Lin Huang, Zhi-Chang Lin
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Patent number: 12317540Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a bottom isolation feature formed over the substrate. The semiconductor structure also includes a bottom semiconductor layer formed over the bottom isolation feature and nanostructures formed over the bottom semiconductor layer. The semiconductor structure also includes a source/drain structure attached to the nanostructures and covering a portion of the bottom isolation feature.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2022Date of Patent: May 27, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien-Ning Yao, Tsung-Han Chuang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
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Publication number: 20250169158Abstract: Source/drain fabrication methods for stacked device structures are disclosed herein. An exemplary method for forming a source/drain stack may include a frontside process and a backside process. The frontside process may include forming a frontside source/drain trench, forming a dummy source/drain in the frontside source/drain trench, and forming an upper source/drain in the frontside source/drain trench over the dummy source/drain. The backside process may include exposing a backside of the dummy source/drain, removing (partially or completely) the dummy source/drain to form a backside source/drain trench, and forming a lower source/drain in the backside source/drain trench. The dummy source/drain may be formed of semiconductor material or dielectric material, and a portion of the dummy source/drain may remain between the upper source/drain and the lower source/drain.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2024Publication date: May 22, 2025Inventors: Che Chi SHIH, Zhi-Chang LIN, Tsung-Kai CHIU, Ku-Feng YANG, Szuya LIAO
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Patent number: 12300732Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 22, 2024Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20250126837Abstract: A device includes a substrate. A first channel region of a first transistor overlies the substrate and a source/drain region is in contact with the first channel region. The source/drain region is adjacent to the first channel region along a first direction, and the source/drain region has a first surface opposite the substrate and side surfaces extending from the first surface. A dielectric fin structure is adjacent to the source/drain region along a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, and the dielectric fin structure has an upper surface, a lower surface, and an intermediate surface that is disposed between the upper and lower surfaces. A silicide layer is disposed on the first surface and the side surfaces of the source/drain region and on the intermediate surface of the dielectric fin structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2024Publication date: April 17, 2025Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shih-Cheng CHEN, Zhi-Chang LIN, Jung-Hung CHANG, Chien-Ning YAO, Tsung-Han CHUANG, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
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Patent number: 12272732Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming N-type and P-type source/drain features using one patterned mask and one self-aligned mask to increase windows of error tolerance and provide flexibilities for source/drain features of various shapes and/or volumes. The present disclosure also includes forming a trench between neighboring source/drain features to remove bridging between the neighboring source/drain features. In some embodiments, the trenches between the source/drain features are formed by etching from the backside of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang