Patents Issued in December 17, 2019
  • Patent number: 10510840
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a channel region, extending along a direction, that has a U-shaped cross-section; a gate dielectric layer wrapping around the channel region; and a gate electrode wrapping around respective central portions of the gate dielectric layer and the channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie-Cheng Deng, Yi-Jen Chen, Chia-Yang Liao
  • Patent number: 10510841
    Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes: n type regions formed on a surface of the n? type epitaxial layer; p type body regions formed at positions deeper than the n type regions; p? type channel regions each reaching the p type body region; and n++ type source regions formed toward the p type body region from the front surface side of the epitaxial layer, and the p? type channel regions and the n++ type source regions are formed at a planar position where the n type region remains between the p? type channel region and the n++ type source region, and out of boundary surfaces which are formed between the p? type channel region and the n type regions, the boundary surface on an outer peripheral side is positioned inside an outer peripheral surface 116a of the p type body region as viewed in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunichi Nakamura, Akihiko Sugai, Tetsuto Inoue
  • Patent number: 10510842
    Abstract: Most semiconductor devices manufactured today, have uniform dopant concentration, either in the lateral or vertical device active (and isolation) regions. By grading the dopant concentration, the performance in various semiconductor devices can be significantly improved. Performance improvements can be obtained in application specific areas like increase in frequency of operation for digital logic, various power MOFSFET and IGBT ICs, improvement in refresh time for DRAMs, decrease in programming time for nonvolatile memory, better visual quality including pixel resolution and color sensitivity for imaging ICs, better sensitivity for varactors in tunable filters, higher drive capabilities for JFETs, and a host of other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GREENTHREAD, LLC
    Inventor: G.R. Mohan Rao
  • Patent number: 10510843
    Abstract: An insulated gate silicon carbide semiconductor device includes: a drift layer of a first conductivity type on a silicon carbide substrate of 4H type with a {0001} plane having an off-angle of more than 0° as a main surface; a first base region; a source region; a trench; a gate insulating film; a protective diffusion layer; and a second base region. The trench sidewall surface in contact with the second base region is a surface having a trench off-angle of more than 0° in a <0001> direction with respect to a plane parallel to the <0001> direction. The insulated gate silicon carbide semiconductor device can relieve an electric field of a gate insulating film and suppress an increase in on-resistance and provide a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kagawa, Rina Tanaka, Yutaka Fukui, Naruhisa Miura, Yuji Abe, Masayuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 10510844
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer provided on a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of first semiconductor regions selectively provided at upper layer parts of the semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor region selectively provided at an upper layer part of each of the first semiconductor regions, a second semiconductor layer provided on a JFET region corresponding to the first semiconductor layer between the first semiconductor regions, and configured to cover at least a part of the JFET region, a gate insulating film covering the first semiconductor regions and the second semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer provided on the second semiconductor layer, a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film, an interlayer insulating film covering the gate electrode and the gate insulating film, a contact hole penetrating through the gate insulating film and the interlayer insulating film, at least the second semiconductor region b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Munetaka Noguchi, Toshiaki Iwamatsu
  • Patent number: 10510845
    Abstract: The invention disclosed a method for manufacturing an electrode of a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a first interlayer dielectric layer having a first opening on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a first resist mask having a second opening on a surface of the first interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the first opening and the second opening are connected to form a first stacked opening; forming a first conductive layer on the first resist mask, wherein the first conductive layer comprises a first portion being located on a surface of the first resist mask and a second portion being located inside the first stacked opening; and removing the first resist mask, wherein the first portion of the first conductive layer is removed together with the first resist mask, and the second portion of the first conductive layer is retained as a first surface electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SILERGY SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY (HANGZHOU) LTD.
    Inventors: Dengping Yin, Shijun Wang, Fei Yao
  • Patent number: 10510846
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a transistor cell region formed in the semiconductor substrate and an inner termination region formed in the semiconductor substrate and devoid of transistor cells. The transistor cell region includes a plurality of transistor cells and a gate structure that forms a grid separating transistor sections of the transistor cells from each other, each of the transistor sections including a needle-shaped first field plate structure extending from a first surface into the semiconductor substrate. The inner termination region surrounds the transistor cell region and includes needle-shaped second field plate structures extending from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate. The first field plate structures form a first portion of a regular pattern and the second field plate structures form a second portion of the same regular pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Ralf Siemieniec, Oliver Blank, Franz Hirler, Michael Hutzler, David Laforet, Cedric Ouvrard, Li Juin Yip
  • Patent number: 10510847
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a field plate extending from a source contact layer and defining an opening above a gate metal layer. Coplanar with the source contact layer, the field plate is positioned close to the channel region, which helps reduce its parasitic capacitance. Meanwhile, the opening allows a gate runner layer above the field plate to access and connect to the gate metal layer, which helps reduce the resistance of the gate structure. By vertically overlapping the metal gate layer, the field plate, and the gate runner layer, the transistor device may achieve fast switching performance without incurring any size penalty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tomomatsu, Hiroshi Yamasaki, Sameer Pendharkar
  • Patent number: 10510848
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing off-state leakage of fin-based transistors through the use of a sub-fin passivation layer. In some cases, the techniques include forming sacrificial fins in a bulk silicon substrate and depositing and planarizing shallow trench isolation (STI) material, removing and replacing the sacrificial silicon fins with a replacement material (e.g., SiGe or III-V material), removing at least a portion of the STI material to expose the sub-fin areas of the replacement fins, applying a passivating layer/treatment/agent to the exposed sub-fins, and re-depositing and planarizing additional STI material. Standard transistor forming processes can then be carried out to complete the transistor device. The techniques generally provide the ability to add arbitrary passivation layers for structures that are grown in STI-based trenches. The passivation layer inhibits sub-fin source-to-drain (and drain-to-source) current leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn A. Glass, Ying Pang, Anand S. Murthy, Tahir Ghani, Karthik Jambunathan
  • Patent number: 10510849
    Abstract: A MOS transistor, in particular a vertical channel transistor, includes a semiconductor body housing a body region, a source region, a drain electrode and gate electrodes. The gate electrodes extend in corresponding recesses which are symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry of the semiconductor body. The transistor also has spacers which are also symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry. A source electrode extends in electrical contact with the source region at a surface portion of the semiconductor body surrounded by the spacers and is in particular adjacent to the spacers. During manufacture the spacers are used to form in an auto-aligning way the source electrode which is symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry and equidistant from the gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Vincenzo Enea
  • Patent number: 10510850
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. A source/drain region is formed next to a spacer, which is adjacent to a gate electrode. An implantation is performed through an implantation mask into the source/drain region as well as the first spacer, forming an implantation region within the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 10510851
    Abstract: A device includes a metal-silicide region formed in a semiconductor material in a contact opening. A concentration of a material, including chlorine, fluorine, or a combination thereof is in the metal-silicide region near an uppermost surface of the metal-silicide region. The presence of chlorine or fluorine results from a physical bombarding of the chlorine or fluorine in the contact opening. As a result of the physical bombard, the opening becomes wider at the bottom of the opening and the sidewalls of the opening are thinned. A capping layer is over the metal-silicide region and over sidewalls of a contact plug opening. A contact plug is formed over the capping layer, filling the contact plug opening. Before the contact plug is formed, a silicidation occurs to form the metal-silicide and the metal-silicide is wider than the bottom of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Sheng Wang, Yu-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 10510852
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of forming a low-k dielectric material, for example, a low-k gate spacer layer in a FinFET device. The low-k dielectric material may be formed using a precursor having a general chemical structure comprising at least one carbon atom bonded between two silicon atoms. A target k-value of the dielectric material may be achieved by controlling carbon concentration in the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Yi Kao, Chung-Chi Ko
  • Patent number: 10510853
    Abstract: A fin structure for a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device is provided. The device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor material disposed on the substrate, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region disposed over the substrate and formed on opposing sides of the first semiconductor material, and a second semiconductor material forming a first fin and a second fin disposed on the STI region, the first fin spaced apart from the second fin by a width of the first semiconductor material. The fin structure may be used to generate the FinFET device by forming a gate layer formed over the first fin, a top surface of the first semiconductor material disposed between the first and second fins, and the second fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Georgios Vellianitis, Mark van Dal, Blandine Duriez, Richard Kenneth Oxland
  • Patent number: 10510854
    Abstract: One or more semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a gate body, a conductive prelayer over the gate body, at least one inhibitor film over the conductive prelayer and a conductive layer over the at least one inhibitor film, where the conductive layer is tapered so as to have a top portion width that is greater than the bottom portion width. One or more methods of forming a semiconductor device are also provided, where an etching process is performed to form a tapered opening such that the tapered conductive layer is formed in the tapered opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Mrunal A. Khaderbad, Hsueh Wen Tsau, Chia-Ching Lee, Da-Yuan Lee, Hsiao-Kuan Wei, Chih-Chang Hung, Huicheng Chang, Weng Chang
  • Patent number: 10510855
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a transistor device within an active area having a shape configured to reduce a susceptibility of the transistor device to performance degradation (e.g., the kink effect) caused by divots in an adjacent isolation structure. The transistor device has a substrate including interior surfaces defining a trench within an upper surface of the substrate. One or more dielectric materials are arranged within the trench. The one or more dielectric materials define an opening exposing the upper surface of the substrate. The opening has a source opening over a source region within the substrate, a drain opening over a drain region within the substrate, and a channel opening between the source opening and the drain opening. The source opening and the drain opening have widths smaller than the channel opening. A gate structure extends over the opening between the source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-Han Lin, Te-Hsin Chiu, Wei Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 10510856
    Abstract: A vertical gate all around (VGAA) is provided. In embodiments, the VGAA has a nanowire with a first contact pad and a second contact pad. A gate electrode is utilized to help define a channel region within the nanowire. In additional embodiments multiple nanowires, multiple bottom contacts, multiple top contacts, and multiple gate contacts are utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ming-Ta Hsieh, Tetsu Ohtou, Ching-Wei Tsai, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 10510857
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor includes: forming a source electrode and a first insulation pattern, where an orthographic projection of the first insulation pattern at a substrate is within an orthographic projection of the source electrode at the substrate; forming an active layer, a second insulation pattern and a gate electrode on the substrate, an exposed portion of the source electrode not covered by the first insulation pattern and the first insulation pattern; exposing a first portion of the action layer on the first insulation pattern by removing parts of the gate electrode and the second insulation pattern; and performing a plasma treatment to the exposed first portion, thereby forming a drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinhong Lu, Ke Wang, Wei Yang
  • Patent number: 10510858
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure having a metal gate on the substrate, and a contact member extending into the metal gate. The contact member includes a first region on the metal gate and a second region on the first region. The first region has a cross-sectional size larger than a cross-sectional size of the second region. The semiconductor device has a reduced contact resistance between the contact member and the metal gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (BEIJING) CORPORATION, SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lin Chen, Qiang Lei
  • Patent number: 10510859
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with reduce capacitance coupling effect which can reduce the overall parasitic capacitances is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a gate sidewall spacer with a negative capacitance dielectric layer with and without a dielectric layer. The semiconductor device may also include a plurality of interlevel dielectric (ILD) with a layer of negative capacitance dielectric layer followed by a dielectric layer disposed in-between metal lines in any ILD and combinations. The negative capacitance dielectric layer includes a ferroelectric material which has calculated and selected thicknesses with desired negative capacitance to provide optimal total overlap capacitance in the circuit component which aims to reduce the overall capacitance coupling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Shyue Seng Tan, Kiok Boone Elgin Quek, Eng Huat Toh
  • Patent number: 10510860
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate structure is formed over a channel layer and an isolation insulating layer. A first sidewall spacer layer is formed on a side surface of the gate structure. A sacrificial layer is formed so that an upper portion of the gate structure with the first sidewall spacer layer is exposed from the sacrificial layer and a bottom portion of the gate structure with the first sidewall spacer layer is embedded in the first sacrificial layer. A space is formed between the bottom portion of the gate structure and the sacrificial layer by removing at least part of the first sidewall spacer layer. After the first sidewall spacer layer is removed, an air gap is formed between the bottom portion of the gate structure and the sacrificial layer by forming a second sidewall spacer layer over the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Lin, Chia-Hao Chang, Chih-Hao Wang, Wai-Yi Lien, Chih-Chao Chou, Pei-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 10510861
    Abstract: A method for forming a gaseous spacer in a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device including the gaseous spacer are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method may include forming a gate stack over a substrate, depositing a first gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stack, epitaxially growing source/drain regions on opposite sides of the gate stack, and depositing a second gate spacer over the first gate spacer to form a gaseous spacer below the second gate spacer. The gaseous spacer may be disposed laterally between the source/drain regions and the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hao Yeh, Ching Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 10510862
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device of an embodiment includes a semiconductor layer; a gate electrode including a first portion, a second portion provided to be spaced apart from the first portion, and a spacer provided between the first portion and the second portion; and a first insulating layer provided between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode and including a first region containing a ferroelectric, a ferrielectric, or an anti-ferroelectric, a second region containing a ferroelectric, a ferrielectric, or an anti-ferroelectric, and a boundary region provided between the first region and the second region. The first region is positioned between the first portion and the semiconductor layer, the second region is positioned between the second portion and the semiconductor layer, the boundary region is positioned between the spacer and the semiconductor layer, and the boundary region has a chemical composition different from that of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Tsunehiro Ino, Yusuke Higashi, Toshinori Numata, Yuuichi Kamimuta
  • Patent number: 10510863
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a power MOSFET vertically conducts current. A bottom electrode may be connected to a positive voltage, and a top electrode may be connected to a low voltage, such as a load connected to ground. A gate and/or a field plate, such as polysilicon, is within a trench. The trench has a tapered oxide layer insulating the polysilicon from the silicon walls. The oxide is much thicker near the bottom of the trench than near the top to increase the breakdown voltage. The tapered oxide is formed by implanting nitrogen into the trench walls to form a tapered nitrogen dopant concentration. This forms a tapered silicon nitride layer after an anneal. The tapered silicon nitride variably inhibits oxide growth in a subsequent oxidation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: MAXPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Blanchard, Mohamed N. Darwish, Jun Zeng
  • Patent number: 10510865
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to forming a gate layer in high aspect ratio trenches using a cyclic deposition-etch process. In an embodiment, a method for semiconductor processing is provided. The method includes performing a cyclic deposition-etch process to form a conformal film over a bottom surface and along sidewall surfaces of a feature on a substrate. The method includes forming a dielectric cap layer on the conformal film. The method includes performing an anneal process on the conformal film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: De-Wei Yu, Chien-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 10510866
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed that includes the fin structure and the plurality of gates. The plurality of gates disposed with respect to the fin structure and including the first gate, the second gate, and the third gate. The spacing between the first gate and the second gate is smaller than the spacing between the second gate and the third gate. The second gate is disposed between the first gate and the third gate. The foot portion of the first gate, facing the second gate, and the first foot portion of the second gate, facing the first gate, have no lateral extension. The second foot portion of the second gate, facing the third gate, and the foot portion of the third gate, facing the second gate, have no lateral extension and/or cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-An Liu, Chan-Lon Yang, Bharath Kumar Pulicherla, Zhi-Qiang Wu, Chung-Cheng Wu, Chih-Han Lin, Gwan-Sin Chang
  • Patent number: 10510867
    Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate stack on a substrate, forming a spacer layer on the dummy gate stack, forming an etch stop layer over the spacer layer and the dummy gate stack, the etch stop layer comprising a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, and performing a densification process on the etch stop layer, wherein the horizontal portion is denser than the vertical portion after the densification process The method also includes forming an oxide layer over the etch stop layer, performing an anneal process on the oxide layer and the etch stop layer, wherein the vertical portion has a greater concentration of oxygen than the horizontal portion after the anneal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bor Chiuan Hsieh, Chung-Ting Ko, Ting-Gang Chen, Chien Chung Huang, Tai-Chun Huang, Tze-Liang Lee
  • Patent number: 10510868
    Abstract: A method includes forming first spacers on opposing sidewalls of a first fin, where the first fin protrudes above a substrate, recessing the first fin to form a first recess between the first spacers, and treating the first spacers using a baking process, where treating the first spacers changes a profile of the first spacers. The method further includes epitaxially growing a first semiconductor material over a top surface of the first fin after treating the first spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacutring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Jing Lee, Ming-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 10510869
    Abstract: Devices, structures, and methods thereof for providing a Schottky or Schottky-like contact as a source region and/or a drain region of a power transistor are disclosed. A power transistor structure comprises a substrate of a first dopant polarity, a drift region formed on or within the substrate, a body region formed on or within the drift region, a gate structure formed on or within the substrate, a source region adjacent to the gate structure, a drain region formed adjacent to the gate structure. At least one of the source region and the drain region is formed from a Schottky or Schottky-like contact substantially near a surface of the substrate, comprising a silicide layer and an interfacial dopant segregation layer. The Schottky or Schottky-like contact is formed by low-temperature annealing a dopant segregation implant in the source and/or drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SILICET, LLC
    Inventors: Gary M. Dolny, William R. Richards, Jr., Randall Milanowski
  • Patent number: 10510870
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device may include providing a transistor structure. The transistor structure may include a set of semiconductor fins and a set of gate structures, disposed on the set of semiconductor fins, wherein an isolation layer is disposed between the set of semiconductor fins and between the set of gate structures. The method may include implanting ions into an exposed area of the isolation layer, wherein an altered portion of the isolation layer is formed in the exposed area, wherein an altered region of the set of semiconductor fins is formed in an exposed portion of the set of semiconductor fins. The altered portion of the isolation layer may have a first etch rate, wherein an unaltered portion of the isolation layer, not exposed to the ions, has a second etch rate, greater than the first etch rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Sony Varghese, Jae Young Lee, Johannes Van Meer
  • Patent number: 10510871
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for forming a multi-layer structure including highly controlled diffusion interfaces between alternating layers of different semiconductor materials. According to embodiments, during a deposition of semiconductor layers, the process is controlled to remain at low temperatures such that an inter-diffusion rate between the materials of the deposited layers is managed to provide diffusion interfaces with abrupt Si/SiGe interfaces. The highly controlled interfaces and first and second layers provide a multi-layer structure with improved etching selectivity. In an embodiment, a gate all-around (GAA) transistor is formed with horizontal nanowires (NWs) from the multi-layer structure with improved etching selectivity. In embodiments, horizontal NWs of a GAA transistor may be formed with substantially the same size diameters and silicon germanium (SiGe) NWs may be formed with “all-in-one” silicon (Si) caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shahaji B. More, Shih-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 10510872
    Abstract: A FinFET includes a semiconductor fin including an inner region, and a germanium-doped layer on a top surface and sidewall surfaces of the inner region. The germanium-doped layer has a higher germanium concentration than the inner region. The FinFET further includes a gate dielectric over the germanium-doped layer, a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, a source region connected to a first end of the semiconductor fin, and a drain region connected to a second end of the semiconductor fin opposite the first end. Through the doping of germanium in the semiconductor fin, the threshold voltage may be tuned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Junhao Xu
  • Patent number: 10510873
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a substrate, a first dielectric fin, and an isolation structure. The substrate has a first semiconductor fin. The first dielectric fin is disposed over the substrate and in contact with a first sidewall of the first semiconductor fin, in which a width of the first semiconductor fin is substantially equal to a width of the first dielectric fin. The isolation structure is in contact with the first semiconductor fin and the first dielectric fin, in which a top surface of the isolation structure is in a position lower than a top surface of the first semiconductor fin and a top surface of the first dielectric fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Shi-Ning Ju, Kuan-Ting Pan, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 10510874
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a plurality of isolation regions. A fin is arranged between the plurality of isolation regions. One of the plurality of isolation regions includes a first atomic layer deposition (ALD) layer, a second ALD layer, a flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) layer, and a third ALD layer. The first ALD layer includes a first trench. The second ALD layer is formed in the first trench of the first ALD layer. The FCVD layer is formed in the first trench of the first ALD layer and on the second ALD layer. The third ALD layer is formed on the FCVD layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Ching, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang, Keng-Chu Lin, Shi-Ning Ju
  • Patent number: 10510875
    Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure on the substrate, wherein the fin structure includes a first fin active region; a second fin active region; and an isolation feature separating the first and second fin active regions; forming a first gate stack on the first fin active region and a second gate stack on the second fin active region; performing a first recessing process to a first source/drain region of the first fin active region by a first dry etch; performing a first epitaxial growth to form a first source/drain feature on the first source/drain region; performing a fin sidewall pull back (FSWPB) process to remove a dielectric layer on the second fin active region; and performing a second epitaxial growth to form a second source/drain feature on a second source/drain region of the second fin active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Teng Liao, Chih-Shan Chen, Yi-Wei Chiu, Chih Hsuan Cheng, Tzu-Chan Weng
  • Patent number: 10510876
    Abstract: A novel doping technology for semiconductor wafers has been developed, referred to as a “quantum doping” process that permits the deposition of only a fixed, controlled number of atoms in the form of a monolayer in a substitutional condition where only unterminated surface bonds react with the dopant, thus depositing only a number of atoms equal to the atomic surface density of the substrate material. This technique results in providing a “quantized” set of possible dopant concentration values that depend only on the additional number of layers of substrate material formed over the single layer of dopant atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Anatoly Feygenson
  • Patent number: 10510877
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a source/drain region, a composite layer and a plug. The source/drain region and the composite layer are over the substrate. The composite layer includes a first sublayer having a first material, a second sublayer having a second material, and a third sublayer having the first material. A bandgap of the second material is larger than that of the first material. The second sublayer is between the first sublayer and the third sublayer. The plug is through the composite layer, and electrically connected to the source/drain region. The plug includes a first portion laterally adjoining the first sublayer, a second portion laterally adjoining the second sublayer, and a third portion laterally adjoining the third sublayer, and a first width of the first portion and a third width of the third portion is smaller than a second width of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Ru-Shang Hsiao, Chi-Cherng Jeng, Chih-Mu Huang
  • Patent number: 10510878
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. A plurality of trenches are formed in the substrate. An isolation oxide layer is formed in the trenches and on the substrate. A shield polysilicon is deposited in the trenches and on the isolation oxide layer on the substrate. A first etching process is performed to remove a first portion of the shield polysilicon. A first removal process is performed to remove a first portion of the isolation oxide layer. A second etching process is performed to remove a second portion of the shield polysilicon. A second removal process is performed to remove a second portion of the isolation oxide layer. An inter-poly oxide layer is formed on the remaining shield polysilicon and the remaining isolation oxide layer, wherein the inter-poly oxide layer has a concave top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Yen Chien, Sheng-Wei Fu, Chung-Yeh Lee
  • Patent number: 10510879
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first to third semiconductor layers stacked, and control electrodes provided in trenches extending in a stacking direction. The device further includes an insulating region and a fourth semiconductor layer. The insulating region is provided between first and second control electrodes adjacent to each other. The fourth semiconductor layer is provided between the insulating region and the first and second control electrodes, and between the insulating region and the first semiconductor layer. A first insulating film is provided between the first control electrode and the fourth semiconductor layer, and contacts the first control electrode and the fourth semiconductor layer. A second insulating film is provided between the second control electrode and the fourth semiconductor layer, and contacts the second control electrode and the fourth semiconductor layer. The insulating region has an end positioned at a level lower than a level of ends of the control electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10510880
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a trench extending into the semiconductor region, and a conductive field plate in the trench. A first dielectric layer separates a bottom and sidewalls of the field plate from the semiconductor region. A main gate is disposed in the trench and overlapping the field plate. A second dielectric layer is disposed between and separating the main gate and the field plate from each other. A Doped Drain (DD) region of the first conductivity type is under the second dielectric layer, wherein an edge portion of the main gate overlaps the DD region. A body region includes a first portion at a same level as a portion of the main gate, and a second portion at a same level as, and contacting, the DD region, wherein the body region is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Wai Ng, Hsueh-Liang Chou, Ruey-Hsin Liu, Po-Chih Su
  • Patent number: 10510881
    Abstract: A well of a first type of conductivity is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and wells of a second type of conductivity are formed in the well of the first type of conductivity at a distance from one another. By an implantation of dopants, a doped region of the second type of conductivity is formed in the well of the first type of conductivity between the wells of the second type of conductivity and at a distance from the wells of the second type of conductivity. Source/drain contacts are applied to the wells of the second type of conductivity, and a gate dielectric and a gate electrode are arranged above regions of the well of the first type of conductivity that are located between the wells of the second type of conductivity and the doped region of the second type of conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Jong Mun Park, Georg Roehrer
  • Patent number: 10510882
    Abstract: A device includes a buried well region and a first HVW region of the first conductivity, and an insulation region over the first HVW region. A drain region of the first conductivity type is disposed on a first side of the insulation region and in a top surface region of the first HVW region. A first well region and a second well region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type are on the second side of the insulation region. A second HVW region of the first conductivity type is disposed between the first and the second well regions, wherein the second HVW region is connected to the buried well region. A source region of the first conductivity type is in a top surface region of the second HVW region, wherein the source region, the drain region, and the buried well region form a JFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Hao Yeh, Chih-Chang Cheng, Ru-Yi Su, Ker Hsiao Huo, Po-Chih Chen, Fu-Chih Yang, Chun Lin Tsai
  • Patent number: 10510883
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides semiconductor devices with asymmetric source/drain structures. In one example, a semiconductor device includes a first group of source/drain structures on a first group of fin structures on a substrate, a second group of source/drain structures on a second group of fin structures on the substrate, and a first gate structure and a second gate structure over the first and the second group of fin structures, respectively, the first and second groups of source/drain structures being proximate the first and second gate structures, respectively, wherein the first group of source/drain structures on the first group of fin structures has a first source/drain structure having a first vertical height different from a second vertical height of a second source/drain structure of the second group of source/drain structures on the second group of fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Lien Huang, Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 10510884
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A dummy gate is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The dummy gate has a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall. A low-k dielectric layer is formed on the first sidewall of the dummy gate and the semiconductor substrate. A spacer material layer is deposited on the low-k dielectric layer, the second sidewall of the dummy gate, and the semiconductor substrate. The spacer material layer and the low-k dielectric layer are etched to form a first spacer structure on the first sidewall and a second spacer structure on the second sidewall. A drain doping region is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the first spacer structure. A source doping region is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the second spacer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Ching-Wen Hung, Chun-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 10510885
    Abstract: An asymmetric field-effect transistor having different gate-to-source and gate-to-drain overlaps allows lower parasitic capacitance on the drain side of the device and lower resistance on the source side. Source and drain regions having different configurations can be formed simultaneously using the same precursor materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Peng Xu, Heng Wu, Zhenxing Bi
  • Patent number: 10510886
    Abstract: A method provides a source-drain stressor for a semiconductor device including source and drain regions. Recesses are formed in the source and drain regions. An insulating layer covers the source and drain regions. The recesses extend through the insulating layer above the source and drain regions. An intimate mixture layer of materials A and B is provided. Portions of the intimate mixture layer are in the recesses. The portions of the intimate mixture layer have a height and a width. The height divided by the width is greater than three. A top surface of the portions of the intimate mixture layer in the recesses is free. The intimate mixture layer is reacted to form a reacted intimate mixture layer including a compound AxBy. The compound AxBy occupies less volume than a corresponding portion of the intimate mixture layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jorge A. Kittl, Ganesh Hegde
  • Patent number: 10510887
    Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a substrate comprising a fin structure. The field effect transistor further includes an isolation structure in the substrate. The field effect transistor further includes a source/drain (S/D) recess cavity below a top surface of the substrate. The S/D recess cavity is between the fin structure and the isolation structure. The field effect transistor further includes a strained structure in the S/D recess cavity. The strain structure includes a lower portion. The lower portion includes a first strained layer, wherein the first strained layer is in direct contact with the isolation structure, and a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is in direct contact with the substrate, and the first strained layer is in direct contact with the dielectric layer. The strained structure further includes an upper portion comprising a second strained layer overlying the first strained layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsung-Lin Lee, Chih-Hao Chang, Chih-Hsin Ko, Feng Yuan, Jeff J. Xu
  • Patent number: 10510888
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an alloy semiconductor material layer comprising a first element and a second element on a semiconductor substrate. A mask is formed on the alloy semiconductor material layer to provide a masked portion and an unmasked portion of the alloy semiconductor material layer. The unmasked portion of the alloy semiconductor material layer not covered by the mask is irradiated with radiation from a radiation source to transform the alloy semiconductor material layer so that a surface region of the unmasked portion of the alloy semiconductor material layer has a higher concentration of the second element than an internal region of the unmasked portion of the alloy semiconductor material layer. The surface region surrounds the internal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fang-Liang Lu, I-Hsieh Wong, Shih-Ya Lin, CheeWee Liu, Samuel C. Pan
  • Patent number: 10510889
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a semiconductor device includes a substrate having an n-doped well feature and an epitaxial silicon germanium fin formed over the n-doped well feature. The epitaxial silicon germanium fin has a lower part and an upper part. The lower part has a lower germanium content than the upper part. A channel is formed from the epitaxial silicon germanium fin. A gate is formed over the epitaxial silicon germanium fin. A doped source-drain is formed proximate the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shahaji B. More, Huai-Tei Yang, Shih-Chieh Chang, Shu Kuan, Cheng-Han Lee
  • Patent number: 10510890
    Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, a plurality of insulators, at least one gate stack and strained material portions is described. The substrate has a plurality of fins thereon and the fin comprises a stop layer embedded therein. The plurality of insulators is disposed on the substrate and between the plurality of fins. The at least one gate stack is disposed over the plurality of fins and on the plurality of insulators. The strained material portions are disposed on two opposite sides of the at least one gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin