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: 20220336452
    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: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11469326
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an un-doped or low-doped epitaxial layer formed below the source/drain features. The un-doped or low-doped epitaxial layer protects the source/drain features from damage during replacement gate processes, and also prevent leakage currents in the mesa device. A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes an epitaxial feature having a dopant of a first concentration, and a source/drain feature in contact with the epitaxial feature. The source/drain feature comprises the dopant of a second concentration, and the second concentration is higher than the first concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., 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: 20220320348
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Lo-Heng Chang, Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220320309
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature over the substrate, a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer between the first and the second source/drain features, and a gate between the first and the second source/drain features. A portion of the gate is further between the first and the second semiconductor layers. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes a first inner spacer and a second inner spacer. The first inner spacer is between the first and the second semiconductor layers and further between the portion of the gate and a portion of the first source/drain feature. Furthermore, the portion of the first source/drain feature is between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The first inner spacer has a U-shaped profile. Additionally, the second inner spacer is between the first inner spacer and the portion of the first source/drain feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Shih-Cheng Chen, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Zhi-Chang Lin
  • Publication number: 20220301938
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor structure with a metal gate. The semiconductor structure is formed by first fabricating fins over a semiconductor substrate, followed by a formation of a source and a drain recess. A source and a drain region may then be deposited into the source and the drain recess. The gate structure may be deposited into the region between the fins. The gate structure includes dielectric and metallic layers. In the regions between the fins, the gate structure is isolated from the source and the drain region by an insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng CHING, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shi Ning Ju, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuan-Ting Pan
  • Patent number: 11450663
    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: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    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
  • Patent number: 11450754
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Lo-Heng Chang, Jung-Hung Chang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Patent number: 11430892
    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: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    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
  • Publication number: 20220270934
    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: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Kuan-Ting PAN, Huan-Chieh SU, Zhi-Chang LIN, Shi Ning JU, Yi-Ruei JHAN, Kuo-Cheng CHIANG, Chih-Hao WANG
  • Patent number: 11417777
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lo-Heng Chang, Jung-Hung Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220254780
    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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Huan-Chieh Su, Kuo-Cheng Chiang
  • Publication number: 20220246768
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer, a gate structure, source/drain regions, a bottom isolation layer, and a bottom spacer. The semiconductor layer is above the substrate. The gate structure is above the substrate and surrounds the semiconductor layer. The source/drain regions are on opposite sides of the semiconductor layer. The bottom isolation layer is between the substrate and the semiconductor layer. The bottom spacer is on a sidewall of the bottom isolation layer. The bottom isolation layer has a seam therein, and the seam exposes a sidewall of the bottom spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang LIN, Shih-Cheng CHEN, Jung-Hung CHANG, Lo-Heng CHANG, Chien-Ning YAO
  • Publication number: 20220246614
    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: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    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
  • Publication number: 20220238683
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Hao WU, Zhi-Chang LIN, Ting-Hung HSU, Kuan-Lun CHENG
  • Patent number: 11398550
    Abstract: Semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises alternately forming first semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers over a substrate, wherein the first semiconductor layers and the second semiconductor layers include different materials and are stacked up along a direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate; forming a dummy gate structure over the first and second semiconductor layers; forming a source/drain (S/D) trench along a sidewall of the dummy gate structure; forming inner spacers between edge portions of the first semiconductor layers, wherein the inner spacers are bended towards the second semiconductor layers; and epitaxially growing a S/D feature in the S/D trench, wherein the S/D feature contacts the first semiconductor layers and includes facets forming a recession away from the inner spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang
  • Publication number: 20220216340
    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: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Jung-Hung Chang, Chien Ning Yao, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11380682
    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: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220208762
    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: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Huan-Chieh Su, Zhi-Chang Lin, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20220190137
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20220181490
    Abstract: A method of independently forming source/drain regions in NMOS regions including nanosheet field-effect transistors (NSFETs), NMOS regions including fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) PMOS regions including NSFETs, and PMOS regions including FinFETs and semiconductor devices formed by the method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a device includes a semiconductor substrate; a first nanostructure over the semiconductor substrate; a first epitaxial source/drain region adjacent the first nanostructure; a first inner spacer layer adjacent the first epitaxial source/drain region, the first inner spacer layer comprising a first material; a second nanostructure over the semiconductor substrate; a second epitaxial source/drain region adjacent the second nanostructure; and a second inner spacer layer adjacent the second epitaxial source/drain region, the second inner spacer layer comprising a second material different from the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Jung-Hung Chang, Lo-Heng Chang, Zhi-Chang Lin, Shih-Cheng Chen, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Chih-Hao Wang