Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090065817 | DIELECTRIC SPACER REMOVAL - The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a process and structure for removing a dielectric spacer selective to a surface of a semiconductor substrate with substantially no removal of the semiconductor substrate. The method of the present invention can be integrated into a conventional CMOS processing scheme or into a conventional BiCMOS processing scheme. The method includes forming a field effect transistor on a semiconductor substrate, the FET comprising a dielectric spacer and the gate structure, the dielectric spacer located adjacent a sidewall of the gate structure and over a source/drain region in the semiconductor substrate; depositing a first nitride layer over the FET; and removing the nitride layer and the dielectric spacer selective to the semiconductor substrate with substantially no removal of the semiconductor substrate. | 03-12-2009 |
20110248326 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD TO INTEGRATE EMBEDDED DRAM WITH FINFET - A transistor includes a first fin structure and at least a second fin structure formed on a substrate. A deep trench area is formed between the first and second fin structures. The deep trench area extends through an insulator layer of the substrate and a semiconductor layer of the substrate. A high-k metal gate is formed within the deep trench area. A polysilicon layer is formed within the deep trench area adjacent to the metal layer. The polysilicon layer and the high-k metal layer are recessed below a top surface of the insulator layer. A poly strap in the deep trench area is formed on top of the high-k metal gate and the polysilicon material. The poly strap is dimensioned to be below a top surface of the first and second fin structures. The first fin structure and the second fin structure are electrically coupled to the poly strap. | 10-13-2011 |
20120139014 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR LOW TEMPERATURE GATE STACK FOR ADVANCED SUBSTRATES - A low-temperature metal gate stack for a field-effect transistor that is electrically activated at temperatures below 1000° C. The metal gate stack is composed of low melting materials that can be deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) onto a substrate. | 06-07-2012 |
20130005129 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD TO INTEGRATE EMBEDDED DRAM WITH FINFET - Various embodiment integrate embedded dynamic random access memory with fin field effect transistors. In one embodiment, a first fin structure and at least a second fin structure are formed on a substrate. A deep trench area is formed between the first and second fin structures. A high-k metal gate is formed within the deep trench area. The high-k metal gate includes a high-k dielectric layer and a metal layer. A polysilicon material is deposited within the deep trench area adjacent to the metal layer. The high-k metal gate and the polysilicon material are recessed and etched to an area below a top surface of a substrate insulator layer. A poly strap is formed in the deep trench area. The poly strap is dimensioned to be below a top surface of the first and second fin structures. The first and second fin structures are electrically coupled to the poly strap. | 01-03-2013 |
20130175579 | TRANSISTOR WITH RECESSED CHANNEL AND RAISED SOURCE/DRAIN - A transistor includes a first semiconductor layer. A second semiconductor layer is located on the first semiconductor layer. A portion of the second semiconductor layer is removed to expose a first portion of the first semiconductor layer and to provide vertical sidewalls of the second semiconductor layer. A gate spacer is located on the second semiconductor layer. A gate dielectric includes a first portion located on the first portion of the first semiconductor layer and a second portion adjacent to the vertical sidewalls of the second semiconductor layer. A gate conductor is located on the first portion of the gate dielectric and abuts the gate dielectric second portion. A channel region is located in at least part of the first portion of the first semiconductor layer. Raised source/drain regions are located in the second semiconductor layer. At least part of the raised source/drain regions is located below the gate spacer. | 07-11-2013 |
20130178022 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING TRANSISTOR WITH RECESSED CHANNEL AND RAISED SOURCE/DRAIN - A method is provided for fabricating a transistor. According to the method, a second semiconductor layer is formed on a first semiconductor layer, and a dummy gate structure is formed on the second semiconductor layer. A gate spacer is formed on sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, and the dummy gate structure is removed to form a cavity. The second semiconductor layer beneath the cavity is removed. A gate dielectric is formed on the first portion of the first semiconductor layer and adjacent to the sidewalls of the second semiconductor layer and sidewalls of the gate spacer. A gate conductor is formed on the first portion of the gate dielectric and abutting the second portion of the gate dielectric. Raised source/drain regions are formed in the second semiconductor layer, with at least part of the raised source/drain regions being below the gate spacer. | 07-11-2013 |
20140017859 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING TRANSISTOR WITH RECESSED CHANNEL AND RAISED SOURCE/DRAIN - A method is provided for fabricating a transistor. According to the method, a second semiconductor layer is formed on a first semiconductor layer, and a dummy gate structure is formed on the second semiconductor layer. A gate spacer is formed on sidewalls of the dummy gate structure, and the dummy gate structure is removed to form a cavity. The second semiconductor layer beneath the cavity is removed. A gate dielectric is formed on the first portion of the first semiconductor layer and adjacent to the sidewalls of the second semiconductor layer and sidewalls of the gate spacer. A gate conductor is formed on the first portion of the gate dielectric and abutting the second portion of the gate dielectric. Raised source/drain regions are formed in the second semiconductor layer, with at least part of the raised source/drain regions being below the gate spacer. | 01-16-2014 |
20140027831 | Method of eDRAM DT Strap Formation in FinFET Device Structure - The specification and drawings present a new method, device and computer/software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) are presented for realizing eDRAM strap formation in Fin FET device structures. Semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate comprising at least an insulator layer between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer is provided. The (metal) strap formation is accomplished by depositing conductive layer on fins portion of the second semiconductor layer (Si) and a semiconductor material (polysilicon) in each DT capacitor extending to the second semiconductor layer. The metal strap is sealed by a nitride spacer to prevent the shorts between PWL and DT capacitors. | 01-30-2014 |
20140030864 | Method of eDRAM DT Strap Formation In FinFET Device Structure - The specification and drawings present a new method, device and computer/software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) are presented for realizing eDRAM strap formation in Fin FET device structures. Semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate comprising at least an insulator layer between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer is provided. The (metal) strap formation is accomplished by depositing conductive layer on fins portion of the second semiconductor layer (Si) and a semiconductor material (polysilicon) in each DT capacitor extending to the second semiconductor layer. The metal strap is sealed by a nitride spacer to prevent the shorts between PWL and DT capacitors. | 01-30-2014 |
20140035038 | Structure And Method To Realize Conformal Doping In Deep Trench Applications - The specification and drawings present a new method, ASIC and computer/software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) are presented for realizing conformal doping in embedded deep trench applications in the ASIC. A common SOI substrate with intrinsic or low dopant concentration is used for manufacturing such ASICs comprising a logic area having MOSFETs utilizing, for example, ultra thin body and box technology and an eDRAM area having deep trench capacitors with the conformal doping. | 02-06-2014 |
20140038382 | Structure And Method To Realize Conformal Doping In Deep Trench Applications - The specification and drawings present a new method, ASIC and computer/software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) are presented for realizing conformal doping in embedded deep trench applications in the ASIC. A common SOI substrate with intrinsic or low dopant concentration is used for manufacturing such ASICs comprising a logic area having MOSFETs utilizing, for example, ultra thin body and box technology and an eDRAM area having deep trench capacitors with the conformal doping. | 02-06-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090059656 | Method and Structure for Improved Lithographic Alignment to Magnetic Tunnel Junctions in the Integration of Magnetic Random Access Memories - A magnetic memory device including a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) device comprises a substrate and Front End of Line (FEOL) circuitry. A Via level (VA) InterLayer Dielectric (ILD) layer, a bottom conductor layer, and an MTJ device formed over the top surface of the VA ILD layer are formed over a portion of the substrate. An alignment region including alignment marks extends through the bottom conductor layer and extends down into the device below the top surface of the VA ILD layers is juxtaposed with the MJT device. | 03-05-2009 |
20090237982 | Magnetically De-Coupling Magnetic Tunnel Junctions and Bit/Word Lines for Reducing Bit Selection Errors in Spin-Momentum Transfer Switching - Techniques for shielding magnetic memory cells from magnetic fields are presented. In accordance with aspects of the invention, a magnetic storage element is formed with at least one conductive segment electrically coupled to the magnetic storage element. At least a portion of the conductive segment is surrounded with a magnetic liner. The magnetic liner is operative to divert at least a portion of a magnetic field created by a current passing through the conductive segment away from the magnetic storage element. | 09-24-2009 |
20090291388 | Method for Forming a Self-Aligned Hard Mask for Contact to a Tunnel Junction - A method of forming a hard mask in a semiconductor device which is self-aligned with a MTJ formed in the device is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a hard mask material layer on an upper surface of a magnetic stack in the MTJ; forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer on at least a portion of an upper surface of the hard mask material layer, the ARC layer being selected to be removable by a wet etch; forming a photoresist layer on at least a portion of an upper surface of the ARC layer; removing at least a portion of the photoresist layer and the ARC layer to thereby expose at least a portion of the hard mask material layer; etching the hard mask material layer to remove the exposed portion of the hard mask material layer; and performing a wet strip to remove remaining portions of the ARC layer and photoresist layer in a same processing step without interference to the magnetic stack. | 11-26-2009 |
20110111596 | Sidewall Image Transfer Using the Lithographic Stack as the Mandrel - In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a method includes: providing a structure having at least one lithographic layer on a substrate, where the at least one lithographic layer includes a planarization layer (PL); forming a sacrificial mandrel by patterning at least a portion of the at least one lithographic layer using a photolithographic process, where the sacrificial mandrel includes at least a portion of the PL; and producing at least one microstructure by using the sacrificial mandrel in a sidewall image transfer process. | 05-12-2011 |
20120018730 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR STRESS LATCHING IN NON-PLANAR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - Techniques are discloses to apply an external stress onto the source/drain semiconductor fin sidewall areas and latch the same onto the semiconductor fin before releasing the sidewalls for subsequent salicidation and contact formation. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods in which selected portions of a semiconductor are subjected to an amorphizing ion implantation which disorients the crystal structure of the selected portions of the semiconductor fins, relative to portions of the semiconductor fin that is beneath a gate stack and encapsulated with various liners. At least one stress liner is formed and then stress memorization occurs by performing a stress latching annealing. During this anneal, recrystallization of the disoriented crystal structure occurs. The at least one stress liner is removed and thereafter merging of the semiconductor fins in the source/drain regions is performed. | 01-26-2012 |
20120032275 | METAL SEMICONDUCTOR ALLOY STRUCTURE FOR LOW CONTACT RESISTANCE - Contact via holes are etched in a dielectric material layer overlying a semiconductor layer to expose the topmost surface of the semiconductor layer. The contact via holes are extended into the semiconductor material layer by continuing to etch the semiconductor layer so that a trench having semiconductor sidewalls is formed in the semiconductor material layer. A metal layer is deposited over the dielectric material layer and the sidewalls and bottom surface of the trench. Upon an anneal at an elevated temperature, a metal semiconductor alloy region is formed, which includes a top metal semiconductor alloy portion that includes a cavity therein and a bottom metal semiconductor alloy portion that underlies the cavity and including a horizontal portion. A metal contact via is formed within the cavity so that the top metal semiconductor alloy portion laterally surrounds a bottom portion of a bottom portion of the metal contact via. | 02-09-2012 |
20120037999 | DIFFERENTIAL STOICHIOMETRIES BY INFUSION THRU GCIB FOR MULTIPLE WORK FUNCTION METAL GATE CMOS - A method of modulating the work function of a metal layer in a localized manner is provided. Metal gate electrodes having multiple work functions may then be formed from this metal layer. Although the metal layer and metal gate electrodes over both the nFET and pFET regions of the instant substrates are made from only a single metal, they exhibit different electrical performances. The variation of electrical performances is achieved by infusing stoichiometrically-altering atoms into the metal layer, from which the metal gate electrodes are made, via a Gas Cluster Ion Beam process. The resulting metal gate electrodes have the necessary threshold voltages for both nFET and pFET, and are ideal for use in CMOS devices. | 02-16-2012 |
20120068346 | STRUCTURE FOR NANO-SCALE METALLIZATION AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING SAME - A method for forming structure aligned with features underlying an opaque layer is provided for an interconnect structure, such as an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an opaque layer over a first layer, the first layer having a surface topography that maps to at least one feature therein, wherein the opaque layer is formed such that the surface topography is visible over the opaque layer. A second feature is positioned and formed in the opaque layer by reference to such surface topography. | 03-22-2012 |
20120181613 | Methods for Forming Field Effect Transistor Devices With Protective Spacers - A method for forming a field effect transistor device includes forming a first gate stack and a second gate stack on a substrate, depositing a first photoresist material over the second gate stack and a portion of the substrate, implanting ions in exposed regions of the substrate to define a first source region and a first drain region adjacent to the first gate stack, depositing a first protective layer over the first source region, the first gate stack, the first drain region, and the first photoresist material, removing portions of the first protective layer to expose the first photoresist material and to define a first spacer disposed on a portion of the first source region and a portion of the first drain region, removing the first photoresist material, and removing the first spacer. | 07-19-2012 |
20120205727 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING MULTIPLE METAL SEMICONDUCTOR ALLOY REGION AND A GATE STRUCTURE COVERED BY A CONTINUOUS ENCAPSULATING LAYER - A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that in some embodiments encapsulates a gate silicide in a continuous encapsulating material. By encapsulating the gate silicide in the encapsulating material, the present disclosure substantially eliminates shorting between the gate structure and the interconnects to the source and drain regions of the semiconductor device. | 08-16-2012 |
20120280250 | SPACER AS HARD MASK SCHEME FOR IN-SITU DOPING IN CMOS FINFETS - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes at least two fin structures, wherein one of the at least two fin structures include epitaxially formed in-situ doped second source and drain regions having a facetted exterior sidewall that are present on the sidewalls of the fin structure. In another embodiment, the disclosure also provides a method of fabricating a finFET that includes forming a recess in a sidewall of a fin structure, and epitaxially forming an extension dopant region in the recess that is formed in the fin structure. Structures formed by the aforementioned methods are also described. | 11-08-2012 |
20120302057 | SELF ALIGNING VIA PATTERNING - A method for patterning self-aligned vias in a dielectric. The method includes forming a first trench partially through a hard mask, where the trench corresponds to a desired wiring path in the dielectric. The trench should be formed on a sub-lithographic scale. Then, form a second trench, also of a sub-lithographic scale, that intersects the first trench. The intersection forms a pattern extending through the depth of the hard mask, and corresponds to a via hole in the dielectric. The via hole is etched into the dielectric through the hard mask. Then the first trench is extended through the hard mask and the exposed area is etched to form the wiring path, which intersects the via hole. Conductive material is deposited to form a sub-lithographic via and wiring. This method may be used to form multiple vias of sub-lithographic proportions and with a sub-lithographic pitch. | 11-29-2012 |
20120326217 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING MULTIPLE METAL SEMICONDUCTOR ALLOY REGION AND A GATE STRUCTURE COVERED BY A CONTINUOUS ENCAPSULATING LAYER - A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that in some embodiments encapsulates a gate silicide in a continuous encapsulating material. By encapsulating the gate silicide in the encapsulating material, the present disclosure substantially eliminates shorting between the gate structure and the interconnects to the source and drain regions of the semiconductor device. | 12-27-2012 |
20120326241 | METAL SEMICONDUCTOR ALLOY STRUCTURE FOR LOW CONTACT RESISTANCE - Contact via holes are etched in a dielectric material layer overlying a semiconductor layer to expose the topmost surface of the semiconductor layer. The contact via holes are extended into the semiconductor material layer by continuing to etch the semiconductor layer so that a trench having semiconductor sidewalls is formed in the semiconductor material layer. A metal layer is deposited over the dielectric material layer and the sidewalls and bottom surface of the trench. Upon an anneal at an elevated temperature, a metal semiconductor alloy region is formed, which includes a top metal semiconductor alloy portion that includes a cavity therein and a bottom metal semiconductor alloy portion that underlies the cavity and including a horizontal portion. A metal contact via is formed within the cavity so that the top metal semiconductor alloy portion laterally surrounds a bottom portion of a bottom portion of the metal contact via. | 12-27-2012 |
20130001749 | FILM STACK INCLUDING METAL HARDMASK LAYER FOR SIDEWALL IMAGE TRANSFER FIN FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR FORMATION - A method for formation of a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device includes forming a mandrel mask and a large feature (FX) mask on a metal hardmask layer of a film stack, the film stack including a silicon on insulator (SOI) layer located underneath the metal hardmask layer; etching the mandrel mask and the FX mask simultaneously into the metal hardmask layer; and etching the mandrel mask and the FX mask into the SOI layer using the etched metal hardmask layer as a mask. | 01-03-2013 |
20130001750 | FILM STACK INCLUDING METAL HARDMASK LAYER FOR SIDEWALL IMAGE TRANSFER FIN FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR FORMATION - A method for formation of a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device includes forming a mandrel mask on a metal hardmask layer of a film stack, the film stack including a silicon on insulator (SOI) layer located underneath the metal hardmask layer; forming a large feature (FX) mask on the metal hardmask layer; etching the mandrel mask and the FX mask simultaneously into the metal hardmask layer; etching the mandrel mask and the FX mask into the SOI layer using the etched metal hardmask layer as a mask. | 01-03-2013 |
20130015509 | LOW RESISTANCE SOURCE AND DRAIN EXTENSIONS FOR ETSOIAANM Haran; Balasubramanian S.AACI WatervlietAAST NYAACO USAAGP Haran; Balasubramanian S. Watervliet NY USAANM Jagannathan; HemanthAACI GuilderlandAAST NYAACO USAAGP Jagannathan; Hemanth Guilderland NY USAANM Kanakasabapathy; Sivananda K.AACI NiskayunaAAST NYAACO USAAGP Kanakasabapathy; Sivananda K. Niskayuna NY USAANM Mehta; SanjayAACI NiskayunaAAST NYAACO USAAGP Mehta; Sanjay Niskayuna NY US - A gate dielectric is patterned after formation of a first gate spacer by anisotropic etch of a conformal dielectric layer to minimize overetching into a semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, selective epitaxy is performed to sequentially form raised epitaxial semiconductor portions, a disposable gate spacer, and raised source and drain regions. The disposable gate spacer is removed and ion implantation is performed into exposed portions of the raised epitaxial semiconductor portions to form source and drain extension regions. In another embodiment, ion implantation for source and drain extension formation is performed through the conformal dielectric layer prior to an anisotropic etch that forms the first gate spacer. The presence of the raised epitaxial semiconductor portions or the conformation dielectric layer prevents complete amorphization of the semiconductor material in the source and drain extension regions, thereby enabling regrowth of crystalline source and drain extension regions. | 01-17-2013 |
20130015512 | LOW RESISTANCE SOURCE AND DRAIN EXTENSIONS FOR ETSOI - A gate dielectric is patterned after formation of a first gate spacer by anisotropic etch of a conformal dielectric layer to minimize overetching into a semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, selective epitaxy is performed to sequentially form raised epitaxial semiconductor portions, a disposable gate spacer, and raised source and drain regions. The disposable gate spacer is removed and ion implantation is performed into exposed portions of the raised epitaxial semiconductor portions to form source and drain extension regions. In another embodiment, ion implantation for source and drain extension formation is performed through the conformal dielectric layer prior to an anisotropic etch that forms the first gate spacer. The presence of the raised epitaxial semiconductor portions or the conformation dielectric layer prevents complete amorphization of the semiconductor material in the source and drain extension regions, thereby enabling regrowth of crystalline source and drain extension regions. | 01-17-2013 |
20130020615 | Borderless Contacts in Semiconductor Devices - A method includes depositing a dummy fill material over exposed portions of a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate, removing portions of the dummy fill material to expose portions of the substrate, forming a layer of spacer material over the exposed portions of the substrate, the dummy fill material and the gate stack, removing portions of the layer of spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and the dummy fill material, depositing a dielectric layer over the exposed portions of the spacer material, the substrate, and the gate stack, removing portions of the dielectric layer to expose portions of the spacer material, removing exposed portions of the spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and define at least one cavity in the dielectric layer, and depositing a conductive material in the at least one cavity. | 01-24-2013 |
20130023115 | Borderless Contacts in Semiconductor Devices - A method includes depositing a dummy fill material over exposed portions of a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate, removing portions of the dummy fill material to expose portions of the substrate, forming a layer of spacer material over the exposed portions of the substrate, the dummy fill material and the gate stack, removing portions of the layer of spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and the dummy fill material, depositing a dielectric layer over the exposed portions of the spacer material, the substrate, and the gate stack, removing portions of the dielectric layer to expose portions of the spacer material, removing exposed portions of the spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and define at least one cavity in the dielectric layer, and depositing a conductive material in the at least one cavity. | 01-24-2013 |
20130069183 | Method for Forming A Self-Aligned Hard Mask for Contact to a Tunnel Junction - A magnetic memory cell having a self-aligned hard mask for contact to a magnetic tunnel junction is provided. For example, a magnetic memory cell includes a magnetic storage element formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a hard mask that is self-aligned with the magnetic storage element. The hard mask includes a hard mask material layer formed on an upper surface of a magnetic stack in the magnetic storage element, an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer formed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the hard mask material layer, wherein the ARC layer is selected to be removable by a wet etch, and a photoresist layer formed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the ARC layer. The selected portions of the ARC layer and photoresist layer are removed in a same processing step with wet etch techniques without interference to the magnetic stack. | 03-21-2013 |
20130093019 | FINFET PARASITIC CAPACITANCE REDUCTION USING AIR GAP - A transistor, for example a FinFET, includes a gate structure disposed over a substrate. The gate structure has a width and also a length and a height defining two opposing sidewalls of the gate structure. The transistor further includes at least one electrically conductive channel between a source region and a drain region that passes through the sidewalls of the gate structure; a dielectric layer disposed over the gate structure and portions of the electrically conductive channel that are external to the gate structure; and an air gap underlying the dielectric layer. The air gap is disposed adjacent to the sidewalls of the gate structure and functions to reduce parasitic capacitance of the transistor. At least one method to fabricate the transistor is also disclosed. | 04-18-2013 |
20130095629 | Finfet Parasitic Capacitance Reduction Using Air Gap - Methods are disclosed to fabricate a transistor, for example a FinFET, by forming over a substrate at least one electrically conductive channel between a source region and a drain region; forming a gate structure to be disposed over a portion of the channel, the gate structure having a width and a length and a height defining two opposing sidewalls of the gate structure and being formed such that the channel said passes through the sidewalls; forming spacers on the sidewalls; forming a layer of epitaxial silicon over the channel; removing the spacers; and forming a dielectric layer to be disposed over the gate structure and portions of the channel that are external to the gate structure such that a capacitance-reducing air gap underlies the dielectric layer and is disposed adjacent to the sidewalls of said gate structure in a region formerly occupied by the spacers. | 04-18-2013 |
20130168775 | METHODS FOR FORMING FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR DEVICES WITH PROTECTIVE SPACERS - A field effect transistor device prepared by a process including forming a first gate stack and a second gate stack on a substrate and depositing a first photoresist material over the second gate stack and a portion of the substrate. The process also includes implanting ions in exposed regions of the substrate to define a first source region and a first drain region adjacent to the first gate stack and depositing a first protective layer over the first source region, the first gate stack, the first drain region, and the first photoresist material. The process further includes removing portions of the first protective layer to expose the first photoresist material and to define a first spacer disposed on a portion of the first source region and a portion of the first drain region and removing the first photoresist material. | 07-04-2013 |
20130187234 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR STRESS LATCHING IN NON-PLANAR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - Techniques are discloses to apply an external stress onto the source/drain semiconductor fin sidewall areas and latch the same onto the semiconductor fin before releasing the sidewalls for subsequent salicidation and contact formation. In particular, selected portions of a semiconductor are subjected to an amorphizing ion implantation which disorients the crystal structure of the selected portions of the semiconductor fins, relative to portions of the semiconductor fin that is beneath a gate stack and encapsulated with various liners. At least one stress liner is formed and then stress memorization occurs by performing a stress latching annealing. During this anneal, recrystallization of the disoriented crystal structure occurs. The at least one stress liner is removed and thereafter merging of the semiconductor fins in the source/drain regions is performed. | 07-25-2013 |
20130193579 | STRUCTURE FOR NANO-SCALE METALLIZATION AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING SAME - A method for forming structure aligned with features underlying an opaque layer is provided for an interconnect structure, such as an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an opaque layer over a first layer, the first layer having a surface topography that maps to at least one feature therein, wherein the opaque layer is formed such that the surface topography is visible over the opaque layer. A second feature is positioned and formed in the opaque layer by reference to such surface topography. | 08-01-2013 |
20130214358 | LOW EXTERNAL RESISTANCE ETSOI TRANSISTORS - A disposable dielectric structure is formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate such that all physically exposed surfaces of the disposable dielectric structure are dielectric surfaces. A semiconductor material is selectively deposited on semiconductor surfaces, while deposition of any semiconductor material on dielectric surfaces is suppressed. After formation of at least one gate spacer and source and drain regions, a planarization dielectric layer is deposited and planarized to physically expose a top surface of the disposable dielectric structure. The disposable dielectric structure is replaced with a replacement gate stack including a gate dielectric and a gate conductor portion. Lower external resistance can be provided without impacting the short channel performance of a field effect transistor device. | 08-22-2013 |
20130217190 | LOW EXTERNAL RESISTANCE ETSOI TRANSISTORS - A disposable dielectric structure is formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate such that all physically exposed surfaces of the disposable dielectric structure are dielectric surfaces. A semiconductor material is selectively deposited on semiconductor surfaces, while deposition of any semiconductor material on dielectric surfaces is suppressed. After formation of at least one gate spacer and source and drain regions, a planarization dielectric layer is deposited and planarized to physically expose a top surface of the disposable dielectric structure. The disposable dielectric structure is replaced with a replacement gate stack including a gate dielectric and a gate conductor portion. Lower external resistance can be provided without impacting the short channel performance of a field effect transistor device. | 08-22-2013 |
20130307033 | Borderless Contact For An Aluminum-Containing Gate - An aluminum-containing material is employed to form replacement gate electrodes. A contact-level dielectric material layer is formed above a planarization dielectric layer in which the replacement gate electrodes are embedded. At least one contact via cavity is formed through the contact-level dielectric layer. Any portion of the replacement gate electrodes that is physically exposed at a bottom of the at least one contact via cavity is vertically recessed. Physically exposed portions of the aluminum-containing material within the replacement gate electrodes are oxidized to form dielectric aluminum compound portions. Subsequently, each of the at least one active via cavity is further extended to an underlying active region, which can be a source region or a drain region. A contact via structure formed within each of the at least one active via cavity can be electrically isolated from the replacement gate electrodes by the dielectric aluminum compound portions. | 11-21-2013 |
20130309852 | BORDERLESS CONTACT FOR AN ALUMINUM-CONTAINING GATE - An aluminum-containing material is employed to form replacement gate electrodes. A contact-level dielectric material layer is formed above a planarization dielectric layer in which the replacement gate electrodes are embedded. At least one contact via cavity is formed through the contact-level dielectric layer. Any portion of the replacement gate electrodes that is physically exposed at a bottom of the at least one contact via cavity is vertically recessed. Physically exposed portions of the aluminum-containing material within the replacement gate electrodes are oxidized to form dielectric aluminum compound portions. Subsequently, each of the at least one active via cavity is further extended to an underlying active region, which can be a source region or a drain region. A contact via structure formed within each of the at least one active via cavity can be electrically isolated from the replacement gate electrodes by the dielectric aluminum compound portions. | 11-21-2013 |
20140023834 | IMAGE TRANSFER PROCESS EMPLOYING A HARD MASK LAYER - At least one mask layer formed over a substrate includes at least one of a dielectric material and a metallic material. By forming a first pattern in one of the at least one mask layer, a patterned mask layer including said first pattern is formed. An overlying structure including a second pattern that includes at least one blocking area is formed over said patterned mask layer. Portions of said patterned mask layer that do not underlie said blocking area are removed. The remaining portions of the patterned mask layer include a composite pattern that is an intersection of the first pattern and the second pattern. The patterned mask layer includes a dielectric material or a metallic material, and thus, enables high fidelity pattern transfer into an underlying material layer. | 01-23-2014 |
20140024209 | METHOD OF SIMULTANEOUSLY FORMING MULTIPLE STRUCTURES HAVING DIFFERENT CRITICAL DIMENSIONS USING SIDEWALL TRANSFER - A method of forming multiple different width dimension features simultaneously. The method includes forming multiple sidewall spacers of different widths formed from different combinations of conformal layers on different mandrels, removing the mandrels, and simultaneously transferring the pattern of the different sidewall spacers into an underlying layer. | 01-23-2014 |
20140024219 | IMAGE TRANSFER PROCESS EMPLOYING A HARD MASK LAYER - At least one mask layer formed over a substrate includes at least one of a dielectric material and a metallic material. By forming a first pattern in one of the at least one mask layer, a patterned mask layer including said first pattern is formed. An overlying structure including a second pattern that includes at least one blocking area is formed over said patterned mask layer. Portions of said patterned mask layer that do not underlie said blocking area are removed. The remaining portions of the patterned mask layer include a composite pattern that is an intersection of the first pattern and the second pattern. The patterned mask layer includes a dielectric material or a metallic material, and thus, enables high fidelity pattern transfer into an underlying material layer. | 01-23-2014 |
20140070414 | Semiconductor plural gate lengths - Gate structures with different gate lengths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a first gate structure with a first critical dimension, using a pattern of a mask. The method further includes forming a second gate structure with a second critical dimension, different than the first critical dimension of the first gate structure, using the pattern of the mask. | 03-13-2014 |
20140162447 | FINFET HYBRID FULL METAL GATE WITH BORDERLESS CONTACTS - A method for fabricating a field effect transistor device includes patterning a fin on substrate, patterning a gate stack over a portion of the fin and a portion of an insulator layer arranged on the substrate, forming a protective barrier over the gate stack, a portion of the fin and a portion of the insulator layer, the protective barrier enveloping the gate stack, depositing a second insulator layer over portions of the fin and the protective barrier, performing a first etching process to selectively remove portions of the second insulator layer to define cavities that expose portions of source and drain regions of the fin without appreciably removing the protective barrier, and depositing a conductive material in the cavities. | 06-12-2014 |
20140264522 | SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURES WITH DEEP TRENCH CAPACITOR AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - An integrated FinFET and deep trench capacitor structure and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one deep trench capacitor in a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The method further includes simultaneously forming polysilicon fins from material of the at least one deep trench capacitor and SOI fins from the SOI substrate. The method further includes forming an insulator layer on the polysilicon fins. The method further includes forming gate structures over the SOI fins and the insulator layer on the polysilicon fins. | 09-18-2014 |
20140315380 | TRENCH PATTERNING WITH BLOCK FIRST SIDEWALL IMAGE TRANSFER - A method including forming a tetra-layer hardmask above a substrate, the tetra-layer hardmask including a second hardmask layer above a first hardmask layer; removing a portion of the second hardmask layer of the tetra-layer hardmask within a pattern region of a structure comprising the substrate and the tetra-layer hardmask; forming a set of sidewall spacers above the tetra-layer hardmask to define a device pattern; and transferring a portion of the device pattern into the substrate and within the pattern region of the structure. | 10-23-2014 |
20150021610 | SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURES WITH DEEP TRENCH CAPACITOR AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - An integrated FinFET and deep trench capacitor structure and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one deep trench capacitor in a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The method further includes simultaneously forming polysilicon fins from material of the at least one deep trench capacitor and SOI fins from the SOI substrate. The method further includes forming an insulator layer on the polysilicon fins. The method further includes forming gate structures over the SOI fins and the insulator layer on the polysilicon fins. | 01-22-2015 |
20150031201 | TRENCH PATTERNING WITH BLOCK FIRST SIDEWALL IMAGE TRANSFER - A method including forming a tetra-layer hardmask above a substrate, the tetra-layer hardmask including a second hardmask layer above a first hardmask layer; removing a portion of the second hardmask layer of the tetra-layer hardmask within a pattern region of a structure comprising the substrate and the tetra-layer hardmask; forming a set of sidewall spacers above the tetra-layer hardmask to define a device pattern; and transferring a portion of the device pattern into the substrate and within the pattern region of the structure. | 01-29-2015 |
20150135156 | SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURES WITH DEEP TRENCH CAPACITOR AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - An integrated FinFET and deep trench capacitor structure and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one deep trench capacitor in a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The method further includes simultaneously forming polysilicon fins from material of the at least one deep trench capacitor and SOI fins from the SOI substrate. The method further includes forming an insulator layer on the polysilicon fins. The method further includes forming gate structures over the SOI fins and the insulator layer on the polysilicon fins. | 05-14-2015 |
20150145065 | finFET Isolation by Selective Cyclic Etch - Etching interleaved structures of semiconductor material forming fins of finFETs and local isolation material interposed between the fins is performed alternately and cyclically by alternating etchants cyclically such as by alternating gases during reactive ion etching. Etchants are preferably alternated when one of the semiconductor material and the local isolation material protrudes above the other by a predetermined distance. Since protruding surfaces are etched more rapidly than recessed surfaces, the overall etching process is accelerated and completed in less time such that erosion of other materials to which the etchants are less than optimally selective is reduced and allow improved etching of trenches for improved isolation structures to be formed. | 05-28-2015 |
20150214244 | STRUCTURE AND PROCESS TO DECOUPLE DEEP TRENCH CAPACITORS AND WELL ISOLATION - Formation of deep trench capacitors and isolation structures are decoupled by completing the isolation structures prior to etching trenches for capacitors and forming capacitors therein or vice-versa. Such decoupling of the formation of these respective structures allows different materials to be used in the deep trench capacitors and the isolation structures such as use of low permeability or dielectric constant materials and/or low Young's modulus materials in isolation structures to provide reduced AC capacitive coupling across isolation structures and/or relief of stresses associated with use of high dielectric constant materials or metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structures in deep trench capacitors. Such decoupling also allows increased efficiency of use of reaction chambers for the deep trench capacitors and the isolation structures. | 07-30-2015 |
20150214331 | REPLACEMENT METAL GATE INCLUDING DIELECTRIC GATE MATERIAL - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming at least one semiconductor fin on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of gate formation layers is formed on an etch stop layer disposed on the fin. The plurality of gate formation layers include a dummy gate layer formed from a dielectric material. The plurality of gate formation layers is patterned to form a plurality of dummy gate elements on the etch stop layer. Each dummy gate element is formed from the dielectric material. A spacer layer formed on the dummy gate elements is etched to form a spacer on each sidewall of dummy gate elements. A portion of the etch stop layer located between each dummy gate element is etched to expose a portion the semiconductor fin. A semiconductor material is epitaxially grown from the exposed portion of the semiconductor fin to form source/drain regions. | 07-30-2015 |
20150236018 | FABRICATION OF INSULATING FENCE FINS - A semiconductor structure may be formed by forming a first semiconductor fin and a second inactive semiconductor fin above a substrate; depositing a masking layer above the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin; etching a trench in the masking layer exposing the second semiconductor fin while the first semiconductor fin remains covered by the masking layer; removing the second semiconductor fin to form a fin recess beneath the trench; filling the fin recess with an insulating material to form an insulating fence fin; and removing the masking layer to expose the first semiconductor fin and the insulating fence fin. A third semiconductor fin separating the first semiconductor fin from the second semiconductor fin may also be formed prior to depositing the masking layer and covered by the masking layer. The first semiconductor fin may be a pFET fin and the third semiconductor fin may be an nFET fin. | 08-20-2015 |
20150255458 | REPLACEMENT METAL GATE STACK FOR DIFFUSION PREVENTION - A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes depositing a gate dielectric layer lining a recess of a gate structure formed on a substrate with a first portion of the gate dielectric layer covering sidewalls of the recess and a second portion of the gate dielectric layer covering a bottom of the recess. A protective layer is deposited above the gate dielectric layer and then recessed selectively to the gate dielectric layer so that a top surface of the protective layer is below of the recess. The first portion of the gate dielectric layer is recessed until a top of the first portion of the gate dielectric layer is approximately coplanar with the top surface of the protective layer. The protective layer is removed and a conductive barrier is deposited above the recessed first portion of the gate dielectric layer to cut a diffusion path to the gate dielectric layer. | 09-10-2015 |
20150318184 | DIRECTIONAL CHEMICAL OXIDE ETCH TECHNIQUE - A method of forming a trench in an oxide layer; where the oxide layer is formed on top of a nitride layer. The trench is formed using an iterative etching technique until the nitride layer is exposed, each iterative etching step includes; using an isotropic etching technique to remove a portion of the oxide layer, the isotropic etching technique produces a byproduct that remains along a sidewall and a bottom of the trench, then using an anisotropic etching technique to remove the salt from the bottom of the trench, leaving salt on the sidewalls of the trench. | 11-05-2015 |
20150357434 | REPLACEMENT METAL GATE INCLUDING DIELECTRIC GATE MATERIAL - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming at least one semiconductor fin on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of gate formation layers is formed on an etch stop layer disposed on the fin. The plurality of gate formation layers include a dummy gate layer formed from a dielectric material. The plurality of gate formation layers is patterned to form a plurality of dummy gate elements on the etch stop layer. Each dummy gate element is formed from the dielectric material. A spacer layer formed on the dummy gate elements is etched to form a spacer on each sidewall of dummy gate elements. A portion of the etch stop layer located between each dummy gate element is etched to expose a portion the semiconductor fin. A semiconductor material is epitaxially grown from the exposed portion of the semiconductor fin to form source/drain regions. | 12-10-2015 |
20150371990 | FABRICATION OF INSULATING FENCE FINS - A semiconductor structure may be formed by forming a first semiconductor fin and a second inactive semiconductor fin above a substrate; depositing a masking layer above the first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin; etching a trench in the masking layer exposing the second semiconductor fin while the first semiconductor fin remains covered by the masking layer; removing the second semiconductor fin to form a fin recess beneath the trench; filling the fin recess with an insulating material to form an insulating fence fin; and removing the masking layer to expose the first semiconductor fin and the insulating fence fin. A third semiconductor fin separating the first semiconductor fin from the second semiconductor fin may also be formed prior to depositing the masking layer and covered by the masking layer. The first semiconductor fin may be a pFET fin and the third semiconductor fin may be an nFET fin. | 12-24-2015 |