Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080220579 | STRESS ENHANCED MOS TRANSISTOR AND METHODS FOR ITS FABRICATION - According to a method for fabricating a stress enhanced MOS device having a channel region at a surface of a semiconductor substrate, first and second trenches are etched into the semiconductor substrate, the first trench having a first side surface, and the second trench having a second side surface. The first and second side surfaces are formed astride the channel region. The first and second side surfaces are then oxidized in a controlled oxidizing environment to thereby grow an oxide region. The oxide region is then removed, thereby repositioning the first and second side surfaces closer to the channel region. With the first and second side surfaces repositioned, the first and second trenches are filled with SiGe. | 09-11-2008 |
20080237811 | METHOD FOR PRESERVING PROCESSING HISTORY ON A WAFER - A method for capturing process history includes performing at least a first process for forming features on a semiconducting substrate. A first cap is formed over a first region of the semiconducting substrate after performing the first process. At least a second process is performed for forming the features in a second region other than the first region while leaving the first cap in place to thereby prevent the features in the first region covered by the first cap from being exposed to the second process. A first characteristic of a first feature is measured in the first region, and a second characteristic of a second feature in the second region is measured. A wafer includes a first partially completed feature disposed in a first region. A first cap is formed above the first partially completed feature. A second partially completed feature is disposed in a second region of the wafer different than the first region. The second partially completed feature is at a later stage of completion than the first partially completed feature. | 10-02-2008 |
20080248598 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRESSED MATERIAL USING SCATTEROMETRY - A method includes illuminating at least a portion of a first grid including a first plurality of stressed material regions formed at least partially in a semiconducting material. Light reflected from the illuminated portion of the first grid is measured to generate a first reflection profile. A characteristic of the first plurality of stressed material regions is determined based on the first reflection profile. A test structure includes a first plurality of stressed material regions recessed with respect to a surface of a semiconductor layer and defining a first grid. A first plurality of exposed portions of the semiconductor layer is disposed between each of the first plurality of stressed material regions. | 10-09-2008 |
20090170223 | METHODS FOR CALIBRATING A PROCESS FOR GROWING AN EPITAXIAL SILICON FILM AND METHODS FOR GROWING AN EPITAXIAL SILICON FILM - Methods are provided for calibrating a process for growing an epitaxial silicon-comprising film and for growing an epitaxial silicon-comprising film. One method comprises epitaxially growing a first silicon-comprising film on a first silicon substrate that has an adjacent non-crystalline-silicon structure that extends from said first silicon substrate. The step of epitaxially growing uses hydrochloric acid provided at a first hydrochloric acid flow rate for a first time period. A morphology of the first film relevant to the adjacent non-crystalline-silicon structure is analyzed and a thickness of the first film is measured. The first flow rate is adjusted to a second flow rate based on the morphology of the first film. The first time period is adjusted to a second time period based on the second flow rate and the thickness. A second silicon-comprising film on a second silicon substrate is epitaxially grown for the second time period using the second flow rate. | 07-02-2009 |
20090176356 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES USING THERMAL GRADIENT-INDUCING FILMS - Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices using thermal gradient-inducing films are provided. One method comprises providing a substrate having a first region and a second region and forming a film overlying the second region and exposing the first region. The substrate is subjected to a thermal process wherein the film induces a predetermined thermal gradient between the first region and the second region. | 07-09-2009 |
20090256201 | METAL OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR TRANSISTOR WITH REDUCED GATE HEIGHT, AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - A metal oxide semiconductor transistor device having a reduced gate height is provided. One embodiment of the device includes a substrate having a layer of semiconductor material, a gate structure overlying the layer of semiconductor material, and source/drain recesses formed in the semiconductor material adjacent to the gate structure, such that remaining semiconductor material is located below the source/drain recesses. The device also includes shallow source/drain implant regions formed in the remaining semiconductor material, and epitaxially grown, in situ doped, semiconductor material in the source/drain recesses. | 10-15-2009 |
20090280579 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING EMBEDDED MATERIAL/GATE PROXIMITY - A method that includes forming a gate of a semiconductor device on a substrate and forming a recess for an embedded silicon-straining material in source and drain regions for the gate. In this method, a proximity value, which is defined as a distance between the gate and a closest edge of the recess, is controlled by controlling formation of an oxide layer provided beneath the gate. The method can also include feedforward control of process steps in the formation of the recess based upon values measured during the formation of the recess. The method can also apply feedback control to adjust a subsequent recess formation process performed on a subsequent semiconductor device based on the comparison between a measured proximity value and a target proximity value to decrease a difference between a proximity value of the subsequent semiconductor device and the target proximity value. | 11-12-2009 |
20090280627 | METHOD OF FORMING STEPPED RECESSES FOR EMBEDDED STRAIN ELEMENTS IN A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method of fabricating a semiconductor transistor device is provided. The fabrication method begins by forming a gate structure overlying a layer of semiconductor material, such as silicon. Then, spacers are formed about the sidewalls of the gate structure. Next, ions of an amorphizing species are implanted into the semiconductor material at a tilted angle toward the gate structure. The gate structure and the spacers are used as an ion implantation mask during this step. The ions form amorphized regions in the semiconductor material. Thereafter, the amorphized regions are selectively removed, resulting in corresponding recesses in the semiconductor material. In addition, the recesses are filled with stress inducing semiconductor material, and fabrication of the semiconductor transistor device is completed. | 11-12-2009 |
20100012975 | TRANSISTOR DEVICE HAVING ASYMMETRIC EMBEDDED STRAIN ELEMENTS AND RELATED MANUFACTURING METHOD - Semiconductor transistor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary transistor device includes a layer of semiconductor material having a channel region defined therein and a gate structure overlying the channel region. Recesses are formed in the layer of semiconductor material adjacent to the channel region, such that the recesses extend asymmetrically toward the channel region. The transistor device also includes stress-inducing semiconductor material formed in the recesses. The asymmetric profile of the stress-inducing semiconductor material enhances carrier mobility in a manner that does not exacerbate the short channel effect. | 01-21-2010 |
20100012988 | METAL OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING IMPLANTED CARBON DIFFUSION RETARDATION LAYERS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. One exemplary method comprises providing a silicon-comprising substrate having a first surface, etching a recess into the first surface, the recess having a side surface and a bottom surface, implanting carbon ions into the side surface and the bottom surface, and forming an impurity-doped, silicon-comprising region overlying the side surface and the bottom surface. | 01-21-2010 |
20100055394 | RECONFIGURABLE MICROACTUATOR AND METHOD OF CONFIGURING SAME - A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs. | 03-04-2010 |
20100059852 | SEMICONDUCTOR TRANSISTOR DEVICE WITH IMPROVED ISOLATION ARRANGEMENT, AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method begins by providing a substrate having a layer of semiconductor material, a pad oxide layer overlying the layer of semiconductor material, and a pad nitride layer overlying the pad oxide layer. The method proceeds by selectively removing a portion of the pad nitride layer, a portion of the pad oxide layer, and a portion of the layer of semiconductor material to form an isolation trench. Then, the isolation trench is filled with a lower layer of isolation material, a layer of etch stop material, and an upper layer of isolation material, such that the layer of etch stop material is located between the lower layer of isolation material and the upper layer of isolation material. The layer of etch stop material protects the underlying isolation material during subsequent fabrication steps. | 03-11-2010 |
20100081245 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING MOS DEVICES HAVING HIGHLY STRESSED CHANNELS - Methods for forming a semiconductor device comprising a silicon-comprising substrate are provided. One exemplary method comprises depositing a polysilicon layer overlying the silicon-comprising substrate, amorphizing the polysilicon layer, etching the amorphized polysilicon layer to form a gate electrode, depositing a stress-inducing layer overlying the gate electrode, annealing the silicon-comprising substrate to recrystallize the gate electrode, removing the stress-inducing layer, etching recesses into the substrate using the gate electrode as an etch mask, and epitaxially growing impurity-doped, silicon-comprising regions in the recesses. | 04-01-2010 |
20100090289 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING FACETED SILICIDE CONTACTS, AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - The disclosed subject matter relates to semiconductor transistor devices and associated fabrication techniques that can be utilized to form silicide contacts having an increased effective size, relative to conventional silicide contacts. A semiconductor device fabricated in accordance with the processes disclosed herein includes a layer of semiconductor material and a gate structure overlying the layer of semiconductor material. A channel region is formed in the layer of semiconductor material, the channel region underlying the gate structure. The semiconductor device also includes source and drain regions in the layer of semiconductor material, wherein the channel region is located between the source and drain regions. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes facet-shaped silicide contact areas overlying the source and drain regions. | 04-15-2010 |
20100096698 | STRESS ENHANCED TRANSISTOR - Stress enhanced MOS transistors are provided. A semiconductor device is provided that comprises a semiconductor-on-insulator structure, a gate insulator layer, a source region, a drain region and a conductive gate overlying the gate insulator layer. The semiconductor-on-insulator structure comprises: a substrate, a semiconductor layer, and an insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer has a first surface, a second surface and a first region. The gate insulator layer overlies the first region, the conductive gate overlies the gate insulator layer, and the source region and the drain region overlie the first surface and comprise a strain-inducing epitaxial layer | 04-22-2010 |
20100109056 | METHODS FOR PROTECTING GATE STACKS DURING FABRICATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES FABRICATED FROM SUCH METHODS - Methods for protecting gate stacks during fabrication of semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices fabricated from such methods are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a gate stack comprising a first gate stack-forming layer overlying a semiconductor substrate and forming first sidewall spacers about sidewalls of the gate stack. After the step of forming the first sidewall spacers, a portion of the first gate stack-forming layer is exposed. The exposed portion is anisotropically etched using the gate stack and the first sidewall spacers as an etch mask. Second sidewall spacers are formed adjacent the first sidewall spacers after the step of anisotropically etching. | 05-06-2010 |
20100207176 | Metal oxide semiconductor devices having doped silicon-compromising capping layers and methods for fabricating the same - Methods are provided for forming a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises the steps of forming a high-k dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor substrate, forming a metal-comprising gate layer overlying the high-k dielectric layer, forming a doped silicon-comprising capping layer overlying the metal-comprising gate layer, and depositing a silicon-comprising gate layer overlying the doped silicon-comprising capping layer. | 08-19-2010 |
20100210084 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING MOS DEVICES HAVING HIGHLY STRESSED CHANNELS - Methods for forming a semiconductor device comprising a silicon-comprising substrate are provided. One exemplary method comprises depositing a polysilicon layer overlying the silicon-comprising substrate, amorphizing the polysilicon layer, etching the amorphized polysilicon layer to form a gate electrode, etching recesses into the substrate using the gate electrode as an etch mask, depositing a stress-inducing layer overlying the gate electrode, annealing the silicon-comprising substrate to recrystallize the gate electrode, removing the stress-inducing layer, and epitaxially growing impurity-doped, silicon-comprising regions in the recesses. | 08-19-2010 |
20100244156 | METHODS FOR PROTECTING GATE STACKS DURING FABRICATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES FABRICATED FROM SUCH METHODS - Methods for protecting gate stacks during fabrication of semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices fabricated from such methods are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a gate stack comprising a first gate stack-forming layer overlying a semiconductor substrate and forming first sidewall spacers about sidewalls of the gate stack. After the step of forming the first sidewall spacers, a portion of the first gate stack-forming layer is exposed. The exposed portion is anisotropically etched using the gate stack and the first sidewall spacers as an etch mask. Second sidewall spacers are formed adjacent the first sidewall spacers after the step of anisotropically etching. | 09-30-2010 |
20100289089 | ADJUSTING THRESHOLD VOLTAGE FOR SOPHISTICATED TRANSISTORS BY DIFFUSING A GATE DIELECTRIC CAP LAYER MATERIAL PRIOR TO GATE DIELECTRIC STABILIZATION - Sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed by providing a cap layer including a desired species that may diffuse into the gate dielectric material prior to performing a treatment for stabilizing the sensitive gate dielectric material. In this manner, complex high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of reduced temperatures and doses for a threshold adjusting species compared to conventional strategies. | 11-18-2010 |
20100295103 | GATE ETCH OPTIMIZATION THROUGH SILICON DOPANT PROFILE CHANGE - Improved semiconductor devices comprising metal gate electrodes are formed with reduced performance variability by reducing the initial high dopant concentration at the top portion of the silicon layer overlying the metal layer. Embodiments include reducing the dopant concentration in the upper portion of the silicon layer, by implanting a counter-dopant into the upper portion of the silicon layer, removing the high dopant concentration portion and replacing it with undoped or lightly doped silicon, and applying a gettering agent to the upper surface of the silicon layer to form a thin layer with the gettered dopant, which layer can be removed or retained. | 11-25-2010 |
20110062519 | FABRICATION OF SEMICONDUCTORS WITH HIGH-K/METAL GATE ELECTRODES - Semiconductor devices with high-K/metal gates are formed with spacers that are substantially resistant to subsequent etching to remove an overlying spacer, thereby avoiding replacement and increasing manufacturing throughput. Embodiments include forming a high-K/metal gate, having an upper surface and side surfaces, over a substrate, e.g., a SOI substrate, and sequentially forming, on the side surfaces of the high-K/metal gate, a first spacer of a non-oxide material, a second spacer, of a material different from that of the first spacer, and a third spacer, of a material different from that of the second spacer. After formation of source and drain regions, e.g., epitaxially grown silicon-germanium, the third spacer is etched with an etchant, such as hot phosphoric acid, to which the second spacer is substantially resistant, thereby avoiding replacement. | 03-17-2011 |
20110086495 | METHODS FOR PROTECTING FILM LAYERS WHILE REMOVING HARDMASKS DURING FABRICATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. The methods include providing a semiconductor substrate having pFET and nFET regions, each having active areas and shallow trench isolation. A hardmask layer is formed overlying the semiconductor substrate. A photoresist layer is provided over the hardmask layer. The phoresist layer is patterned. An exposed portion of the hardmask layer is removed from one of the pFET region and nFET region with the patterned photoresist acting as an etch mask to define a masked region and an unmasked region. An epitaxial silicon layer is formed on the active area in the unmasked region. A protective oxide layer is formed overlying the epitaxial silicon layer. The hardmask layer is removed from the masked region with the protective oxide layer protecting the epitaxial silicon layer during such removal step. The protective oxide layer is removed from the epitaxial silicon layer. | 04-14-2011 |
20110095341 | METHODS FOR PROTECTING GATE STACKS DURING FABRICATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES FABRICATED FROM SUCH METHODS - Methods for protecting gate stacks during fabrication of semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices fabricated from such methods are provided. Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate having an active region and a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. Epitaxial layer is formed on the active region to define a lateral overhang portion in a divot at the active region/STI region interface. A gate stack is formed having a first gate stack-forming layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. First gate stack-forming layer includes a non-conformal layer of metal gate-forming material which is directionally deposited to form a thinned break portion just below the lateral overhang portion. After the step of forming the gate stack, a first portion of the non-conformal layer is in the gate stack and a second portion is exposed. The thinned break portion at least partially isolates the first and second portions during subsequent etch chemistries. | 04-28-2011 |
20110121397 | METHODS FOR PROTECTING GATE STACKS DURING FABRICATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES FABRICATED FROM SUCH METHODS - Methods for protecting gate stacks during fabrication of semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices fabricated from such methods are provided. Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate having an active region and a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. Epitaxial layer is formed on the active region to define a lateral overhang portion in a divot at the active region/STI region interface. A gate stack is formed having a first gate stack-forming layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. First gate stack-forming layer includes a non-conformal layer of metal gate-forming material which is directionally deposited to form a thinned break portion just below the lateral overhang portion. After the step of forming the gate stack, a first portion of the non-conformal layer is in the gate stack and a second portion is exposed. The thinned break portion at least partially isolates the first and second portions during subsequent etch chemistries. | 05-26-2011 |
20110169073 | TRANSISTOR DEVICE HAVING ASYMMETRIC EMBEDDED STRAIN ELEMENTS AND RELATED MANUFACTURING METHOD - Semiconductor transistor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary transistor device includes a layer of semiconductor material having a channel region defined therein and a gate structure overlying the channel region. Recesses are formed in the layer of semiconductor material adjacent to the channel region, such that the recesses extend asymmetrically toward the channel region. The transistor device also includes stress-inducing semiconductor material formed in the recesses. The asymmetric profile of the stress-inducing semiconductor material enhances carrier mobility in a manner that does not exacerbate the short channel effect. | 07-14-2011 |
20110204446 | METAL OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR TRANSISTOR WITH REDUCED GATE HEIGHT, AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - A metal oxide semiconductor transistor device having a reduced gate height is provided. One embodiment of the device includes a substrate having a layer of semiconductor material, a gate structure overlying the layer of semiconductor material, and source/drain recesses formed in the semiconductor material adjacent to the gate structure, such that remaining semiconductor material is located below the source/drain recesses. The device also includes shallow source/drain implant regions formed in the remaining semiconductor material, and epitaxially grown, in situ doped, semiconductor material in the source/drain recesses. | 08-25-2011 |
20120112281 | FABRICATION OF SEMICONDUCTORS WITH HIGH-K/METAL GATE ELECTRODES - Semiconductor devices with high-K/metal gates are formed with spacers that are substantially resistant to subsequent etching to remove an overlying spacer, thereby avoiding replacement and increasing manufacturing throughput. Embodiments include forming a high-K/metal gate, having an upper surface and side surfaces, over a substrate, e.g., a SOI substrate, and sequentially forming, on the side surfaces of the high-K/metal gate, a first spacer of a non-oxide material, a second spacer, of a material different from that of the first spacer, and a third spacer, of a material different from that of the second spacer. After formation of source and drain regions, e.g., epitaxially grown silicon-germanium, the third spacer is etched with an etchant, such as hot phosphoric acid, to which the second spacer is substantially resistant, thereby avoiding replacement. | 05-10-2012 |
20120119308 | GATE ETCH OPTIMIZATION THROUGH SILICON DOPANT PROFILE CHANGE - Improved semiconductor devices including metal gate electrodes are formed with reduced performance variability by reducing the initial high dopant concentration at the top portion of the silicon layer overlying the metal layer. Embodiments include reducing the dopant concentration in the upper portion of the silicon layer, by implanting a counter-dopant into the upper portion of the silicon layer, removing the high dopant concentration portion and replacing it with undoped or lightly doped silicon, and applying a gettering agent to the upper surface of the silicon layer to form a thin layer with the gettered dopant, which layer can be removed or retained. | 05-17-2012 |
20120129311 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TRANSISTOR DEVICE HAVING ASYMMETRIC EMBEDDED STRAIN ELEMENTS - Semiconductor transistor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary transistor device includes a layer of semiconductor material having a channel region defined therein and a gate structure overlying the channel region. Recesses are formed in the layer of semiconductor material adjacent to the channel region, such that the recesses extend asymmetrically toward the channel region. The transistor device also includes stress-inducing semiconductor material formed in the recesses. The asymmetric profile of the stress-inducing semiconductor material enhances carrier mobility in a manner that does not exacerbate the short channel effect. | 05-24-2012 |
20120193727 | ADJUSTING THRESHOLD VOLTAGE FOR SOPHISTICATED TRANSISTORS BY DIFFUSING A GATE DIELECTRIC CAP LAYER MATERIAL PRIOR TO GATE DIELECTRIC STABILIZATION - Sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed by providing a cap layer including a desired species that may diffuse into the gate dielectric material prior to performing a treatment for stabilizing the sensitive gate dielectric material. In this manner, complex high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of reduced temperatures and doses for a threshold adjusting species compared to conventional strategies. Moreover, a single metal-containing electrode material may be deposited for both types of transistors. | 08-02-2012 |
20140034141 | RECONFIGURABLE MICROACTUATOR AND METHOD OF CONFIGURING SAME - A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs. | 02-06-2014 |