Patents by Inventor Ziwei Fang

Ziwei Fang 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: 10629596
    Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, at least one gate stack and epitaxy material portions is described. The substrate has fins and insulators located between the fins, and the fins include channel portions and flank portions beside the channel portions. The at least one gate stack is disposed over the insulators and over the channel portions of the fins. The epitaxy material portions are disposed over the flank portions of the fins and at two opposite sides of the at least one gate stack. The epitaxy material portions disposed on the flank portions of the fins are separate from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Ziwei Fang, Tsan-Chun Wang, Kei-Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20200119164
    Abstract: A method includes removing a dummy gate structure to form a gate trench over a semiconductor layer, forming a high-k gate dielectric layer over an interfacial layer exposed in the gate trench, depositing a metal-containing precursor over the high-k gate dielectric layer to form a metal-containing layer, and subsequently depositing an aluminum-containing precursor over the metal-containing layer, where depositing the aluminum-containing precursor forms an aluminum oxide layer at an interface between the high-k gate dielectric layer and the interfacial layer and where the metal-containing precursor includes a metal different from aluminum. The method further includes, subsequent to depositing the aluminum-containing precursor, removing a portion of the metal-containing layer, depositing a work-function metal layer over a remaining portion of the metal-containing layer, and forming a bulk conductive layer over the work-function metal layer, resulting in a metal gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hsueh Wen Tsau, Ziwei Fang, Huang-Lin Chao, Kuo-Liang Sung
  • Publication number: 20200105594
    Abstract: A method for forming a gate structure includes forming a trench within an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD) that is disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the trench exposing a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming an interfacial layer at a bottom of the trench, forming a dielectric layer within the trench, forming a work function metal layer on the dielectric layer, forming an in-situ nitride layer on the work function metal layer in the trench, performing a first cobalt deposition process to form a cobalt layer within the trench, performing a second cobalt deposition process to increase a thickness of the cobalt layer within the trench, and performing an electrochemical plating (ECP) process to fill the trench with cobalt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Chung-Liang Cheng, Ziwei Fang
  • Publication number: 20200098623
    Abstract: A first conductive feature has a dielectric layer formed thereover. An opening is formed in the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the first conductive feature. A first barrier layer is formed over the first conductive feature and over a top surface of the dielectric layer. A second barrier layer is formed over the first barrier layer and on sidewalls of the opening. The second barrier layer is removed, resulting in at least a portion of the first barrier layer disposed over the first conductive feature. A second conductive feature is formed over the portion of the first barrier layer. Sidewalls of the second conductive feature directly contact the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Chung-Liang Cheng, Ziwei Fang
  • Publication number: 20200083112
    Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate including a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate, and forming a first layer including a first material over the first and second fin elements, wherein the first layer includes a gap disposed between the first and second fin elements. An anneal process is performed to remove the gap in the first layer, wherein performing the anneal process includes adjusting an energy applied to the first layer during the anneal process. The gap is filled by a portion of the first material around the gap reaching a sub-melt temperature that is different from a melting point of the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: De-Wei YU, Chia Ping LO, Liang-Gi YAO, Weng CHANG, Yee-Chia YEO, Ziwei FANG
  • Patent number: 10573749
    Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, at least one gate structure, first spacers, second spacers and source and drain regions is described. The substrate has fins and insulators disposed between the fins. The at least one gate structure is disposed over the fins and disposed on the insulators. The first spacers are disposed on opposite sidewalls of the at least one gate structure. The source and drain regions are disposed on two opposite sides of the at least one gate structure and beside the first spacers. The second spacers are disposed on the two opposite sides of the at least one gate structure and beside the first spacers. The source and drain regions are sandwiched between the opposite second spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Ziwei Fang, Shiu-Ko JangJian, Kei-Wei Chen, Huai-Tei Yang, Ying-Lang Wang
  • Publication number: 20200052089
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a silicon layer on a plurality of strips. The silicon layer is etched back to remove top portions of the silicon layer, and to expose some portions of the plurality of strips. Some bottom portions of the silicon layer at bottoms of trenches between the plurality of strips remain after the etching back. A germanium layer is selectively grown from remaining portions of the silicon layer, and exposed portions of the plurality of strips remain exposed after the germanium layer is selectively grown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Chien-Hao Chen, Ziwei Fang, Yee-Chia Yeo
  • Publication number: 20200035812
    Abstract: Source and drain formation techniques for fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a fin structure, wherein the fin structure include a channel region disposed between a source region and a drain region; forming a gate structure over the channel region of the fin structure; forming a solid phase diffusion (SPD) layer over the source region and the drain region of the fin structure; and performing a microwave annealing (MWA) process to diffuse a dopant from the SPD layer into the source region and the drain region of fin structure. In some implementations, the SPD layer is disposed over the fin structure, such that the dopant diffuses laterally and vertically into the source region and the drain region to form heavily doped source/drain features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Tsai, Kuo-Feng Yu, Ziwei Fang
  • Patent number: 10541175
    Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes forming a first fin structure, a second fin structure, and a third fin structure over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming first spacer elements over sidewalls of the first fin structure and the second fin structure and partially removing the first fin structure and the second fin structure. The method includes forming second spacer elements over sidewalls of the third fin structure and partially removing the third fin structure. The second spacer element is taller than the first spacer element. The method includes epitaxially growing a semiconductor material over the first fin structure, the second fin structure, and the third fin structure such that a merged semiconductor element is formed on the first fin structure and the second fin structure, and a semiconductor element is formed on the third fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Liang Cheng, Ziwei Fang
  • Publication number: 20200020582
    Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes forming a first fin structure, a second fin structure, and a third fin structure over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming first spacer elements over sidewalls of the first fin structure and the second fin structure and partially removing the first fin structure and the second fin structure. The method includes forming second spacer elements over sidewalls of the third fin structure and partially removing the third fin structure. The second spacer element is taller than the first spacer element. The method includes epitaxially growing a semiconductor material over the first fin structure, the second fin structure, and the third fin structure such that a merged semiconductor element is formed on the first fin structure and the second fin structure, and a semiconductor element is formed on the third fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Liang CHENG, Ziwei FANG
  • Publication number: 20200020567
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure in accordance with some embodiments. The method includes receiving a substrate having an active region and an isolation region; forming gate stacks on the substrate and extending from the active region to the isolation region; forming an inner gate spacer and an outer gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stacks; forming an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer on the substrate; removing the outer gate spacer in the isolation region, resulting in an air gap between the inner gate spacer and the ILD layer; and performing an ion implantation process to the ILD layer, thereby expanding the ILD layer to cap the air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Sun, Akira Mineji, Ziwei Fang
  • Publication number: 20200020784
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device. In this method, first and second well regions are formed within a semiconductor substrate. The first and second well regions have first and second etch rates, respectively, which are different from one another. Dopants are selectively implanted into the first well region to alter the first etch rate to make the first etch rate substantially equal to the second etch rate. The first, selectively implanted well region and the second well region are etched to form channel recesses having equal recess depths. An epitaxial growth process is performed to form one or more epitaxial layers within the channel recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Ziwei Fang, Chii-Horng Li, Tze-Liang Lee, Chao-Cheng Chen, Syun-Ming Jang
  • Publication number: 20200020544
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes depositing a gate dielectric layer over a substrate. The substrate has a base portion and a first fin portion over the base portion, and the gate dielectric layer is over the first fin portion. The method includes forming a gate electrode layer over the gate dielectric layer. The gate electrode layer includes fluorine. The method includes annealing the gate electrode layer and the gate dielectric layer so that fluorine from the gate electrode layer diffuses into the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Ming CHANG, Chih-Cheng LIN, Chi-Ying WU, Wei-Ming YOU, Ziwei FANG, Huang-Lin CHAO
  • Patent number: 10535557
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes depositing a flowable dielectric layer on a substrate and annealing the flowable dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a high temperature (HT) doping process on the flowable dielectric layer. The HT doping process may include implanting dopant ions into the flowable dielectric layer and heating the substrate during the implanting of the dopant ions. The heating of the substrate may include heating a substrate holder upon which the substrate is disposed and maintaining the substrate at a temperature above 100° C. An example benefit reduced the wet etch rate (WER) of the flowable dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, De-Wei Yu, Ziwei Fang, Yi-Fan Chen
  • Publication number: 20200013622
    Abstract: A method includes removing a dummy gate stack to form an opening between gate spacers, selectively forming an inhibitor film on sidewalls of the gate spacers, with the sidewalls of the gate spacers facing the opening, and selectively forming a dielectric layer over a surface of a semiconductor region. The inhibitor film inhibits growth of the dielectric layer on the inhibitor film. The method further includes removing the inhibitor film, and forming a replacement gate electrode in a remaining portion of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Okuno, Teng-Chun Tsai, Ziwei Fang, Fu-Ting Yen
  • Patent number: 10515809
    Abstract: A method includes removing a dummy gate stack to form an opening between gate spacers, selectively forming an inhibitor film on sidewalls of the gate spacers, with the sidewalls of the gate spacers facing the opening, and selectively forming a dielectric layer over a surface of a semiconductor region. The inhibitor film inhibits growth of the dielectric layer on the inhibitor film. The method further includes removing the inhibitor film, and forming a replacement gate electrode in a remaining portion of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Okuno, Teng-Chun Tsai, Ziwei Fang, Fu-Ting Yen
  • Patent number: 10515963
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a first gate within the first region and a second gate within the second region on the semiconductor substrate; forming first source/drain features of a first semiconductor material with an n-type dopant in the semiconductor substrate within the first region; forming second source/drain features of a second semiconductor material with a p-type dopant in the semiconductor substrate within the second region. The second semiconductor material is different from the first semiconductor material in composition. The method further includes forming first silicide features to the first source/drain features and second silicide features to the second source/drain features; and performing an ion implantation process of a species to both the first and second regions, thereby introducing the species to first silicide features and the second source/drain features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Su-Hao Liu, Yan-Ming Tsai, Chung-Ting Wei, Ziwei Fang, Chih-Wei Chang, Chien-Hao Chen, Huicheng Chang
  • Patent number: 10490648
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a transistor device. In this method, first and second well regions are formed within a semiconductor substrate. The first and second well regions have first and second etch rates, respectively, which are different from one another. Dopants are selectively implanted into the first well region to alter the first etch rate to make the first etch rate substantially equal to the second etch rate. The first, selectively implanted well region and the second well region are etched to form channel recesses having equal recess depths. An epitaxial growth process is performed to form one or more epitaxial layers within the channel recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsan-Chun Wang, Ziwei Fang, Chii-Horng Li, Tze-Liang Lee, Chao-Cheng Chen, Syun-Ming Jang
  • Patent number: 10483170
    Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate including a first fin element and a second fin element extending from the substrate. A first layer including an amorphous material is formed over the first and second fin elements, where the first layer includes a gap disposed between the first and second fin elements. An anneal process is performed to remove the gap in the first layer. The amorphous material of the first layer remains amorphous during the performing of the anneal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Chia Ping Lo, Liang-Gi Yao, Weng Chang, Yee-Chia Yeo, Ziwei Fang
  • Patent number: 10468501
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a silicon layer on a plurality of strips. The silicon layer is etched back to remove top portions of the silicon layer, and to expose some portions of the plurality of strips. Some bottom portions of the silicon layer at bottoms of trenches between the plurality of strips remain after the etching back. A germanium layer is selectively grown from remaining portions of the silicon layer, and exposed portions of the plurality of strips remain exposed after the germanium layer is selectively grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Chien-Hao Chen, Ziwei Fang, Yee-Chia Yeo