Patents Assigned to Tessera, Inc
  • Patent number: 11430879
    Abstract: Described herein is a FinFET device in which epitaxial layers of semiconductor material are formed in source/drain regions on fin portions. The fin portions can be located within a dielectric layer that is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. Surfaces of the fin portions can be oriented in the {100} lattice plane of the crystalline material of the fin portions, providing for good epitaxial growth. Further described are methods for forming the FinFET device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li
  • Patent number: 11342446
    Abstract: A method of forming a nanosheet device, including forming a channel stack on a substrate, where the channel stack includes at least one nanosheet channel layer and at least one sacrificial release layer, forming a stack cover layer on at least a portion of the channel stack, forming a dummy gate on at least a portion of the stack cover layer, wherein at least a portion of the at least one nanosheet channel layer and at least one sacrificial release layer is exposed on opposite sides of the dummy gate, removing at least a portion of the at least one sacrificial release layer on each side of the dummy gate to form a sacrificial supporting rib, and forming an inner spacer layer on exposed portions of the at least one nanosheet channel layer and at least one sacrificial supporting rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Guillorn, Terence B. Hook, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 11342230
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a densified fill layer is provided. The method includes forming a pair of adjacent vertical fins on a substrate, forming an inner liner on the sidewalls of the adjacent vertical fins, and forming a sacrificial layer on the inner liner. The method further includes forming a fill layer between the pair of adjacent vertical fins, wherein the fill layer is in contact with at least a portion of the sacrificial layer, removing at least a portion of the sacrificial layer in contact with the fill layer to form sidewall channels adjacent to the fill layer, and subjecting the fill layer to a densification process to form the densified fill layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Choonghyun Lee, Juntao Li, Heng Wu, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 11302533
    Abstract: Selective gas etching for self-aligned pattern transfer uses a first block and a separate second block formed in a sacrificial layer to transfer critical dimensions to a desired final layer using a selective gas etching process. The first block is a first hardmask material that can be plasma etched using a first gas, and the second block is a second hardmask material that can be plasma etched using a second gas separate from the first gas. The first hardmask material is not plasma etched using the second gas, and the second hardmask material is not plasma etched using the first gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: John Christopher Arnold, Sean D. Burns, Yann Alain Marcel Mignot, Yongan Xu
  • Patent number: 11276612
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming a first layer cap at ends of layers of first channel material in a stack of alternating layers of first channel material and second channel material. A second layer cap is formed at ends of the layers of second channel material. The first layer caps are etched away in a first device region. The second layer caps are etched away in a second device region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Peng Xu, Wenyu Xu
  • Patent number: 11257717
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device having a vertical metal line interconnect (via) fully aligned to a first direction of a first interconnect layer and a second direction of a second interconnect layer in a selective recess region by forming a plurality of metal lines in a first dielectric layer; and recessing in a recess region first portions of the plurality of metal lines such that top surfaces of the first portions of the plurality of metal lines are below a top surface of the first dielectric layer; wherein a non-recess region includes second portions of the plurality of metal lines that are outside the recess region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Jessica Dechene, Elbert E. Huang, Joe Lee, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 11232983
    Abstract: Low capacitance and high reliability interconnect structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a copper based interconnect structure in an opening of a dielectric material. The method further includes forming a capping layer on the copper based interconnect structure. The method further includes oxidizing the capping layer and any residual material formed on a surface of the dielectric material. The method further includes forming a barrier layer on the capping layer by outdiffusing a material from the copper based interconnect structure to a surface of the capping layer. The method further includes removing the residual material, while the barrier layer on the surface of the capping layer protects the capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Son V. Nguyen, Takeshi Nogami, Deepika Priyadarshini, Hosadurga K. Shobha
  • Patent number: 11222815
    Abstract: A semiconductor interconnect structure having a first electrically conductive structure having a plurality of bottom portions; a dielectric capping layer, at least a portion of the dielectric capping layer being in contact with a first bottom portion of the plurality of bottom portions; and a second electrically conductive structure in electrical contact with a second bottom portion of the plurality of bottom portions. A method of forming the interconnect structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Conal E. Murray, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 11222817
    Abstract: A device relates to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a narrow-line bamboo microstructure integrated within a metal layer of the semiconductor device and a narrow-line polycrystalline microstructure. The narrow-line polycrystalline microstructure is integrated within the same metal layer as the narrow-line bamboo microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 11189729
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes one or more fins. Each fin includes a top channel portion formed from a channel material, a middle portion, and a bottom substrate portion formed from a same material as an underlying substrate. An oxide layer is formed between the bottom substrate portion of each fin and the isolation layer, with a space between a sidewall of at least a top portion of the isolation dielectric layer and an adjacent sidewall of the one or more fins, above the oxide layer. A gate dielectric, protruding into the space and in contact with the middle portion, is formed over the one or more fins and has a portion formed from a material different from the oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Huiming Bu, Kangguo Cheng, Dechao Guo, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 11171002
    Abstract: Methods of forming fins include masking a region on a three-color hardmask fin pattern, leaving a fin of a first color exposed. The exposed fin of the first color is etched away with a selective etch that does not remove fins of a second color or a third color. The mask and all fins of a second color are etched away. Fins are etched into a fin base layer using the fins of the first color and the fins of the third color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Arnold, Anuja E. DeSilva, Nelson M. Felix, Chi-Chun Liu, Yann A. M. Mignot, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Patent number: 11145551
    Abstract: FinFET devices and processes to prevent fin or gate collapse (e.g., flopover) in finFET devices are provided. The method includes forming a first set of trenches in a semiconductor material and filling the first set of trenches with insulator material. The method further includes forming a second set of trenches in the semiconductor material, alternating with the first set of trenches that are filled. The second set of trenches form semiconductor structures which have a dimension of fin structures. The method further includes filling the second set of trenches with insulator material. The method further includes recessing the insulator material within the first set of trenches and the second set of trenches to form the fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodoras E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20210305247
    Abstract: A method of forming a power rail to semiconductor devices comprising removing a portion of the gate structure forming a gate cut trench separating a first active region of fin structures from a second active region of fin structures. A conformal etch stop layer is formed in the gate cut trench. A fill material is formed on the conformal etch stop layer filling at least a portion of the gate cut trench. The fill material has a composition that is etched selectively to the conformal etch stop layer. A power rail is formed in the gate cut trench. The conformal etch stop layer obstructs lateral etching during forming the power rail to substantially eliminate power rail to gate structure shorting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: TESSERA, INC.
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Andrew M. Greene, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 11121233
    Abstract: Fabricating a nanosheet transistor includes receiving a substrate structure having a set of nanosheet layers stacked upon a substrate, the set of nanosheet layers including at least one silicon (Si) layer, at least one silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer, a fin formed in the nanosheet layers, a gate region formed within the fin, and a trench region adjacent to the fin. A top sacrificial spacer is formed upon the fin and the trench region and etched to form a trench in the trench region. An indentation is formed within the SiGe layer in the trench region, and a sacrificial inner spacer is formed within the indentation. A source/drain (S/D) region is formed within the trench. The sacrificial top spacer and sacrificial inner spacer are etched to form an inner spacer cavity between the S/D region and the SiGe layer. An inner spacer is formed within the inner spacer cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Julien Frougier, Nicolas Loubet
  • Publication number: 20210265460
    Abstract: A component includes a substrate and electrically conductive layers formed in contact with the substrate. The substrate can consist essentially of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10 ppm/° C. The substrate can have a surface and an opening extending downwardly therefrom. The electrically conductive layers can include at least first and second pairs of electrically conductive plates and first and second electrodes. The first and second pairs of plates can be connectable with respective first and second electric potentials. The first and second pairs of plates can extend along an inner surface of the opening, each of the plates being separated from at least one adjacent plate by a dielectric layer. The first and second electrodes can be exposed at the surface of the substrate and can be coupled to the respective first and second pairs of plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Vage Oganesian, Belgacem Haba, Ilyas Mohammed, Piyush Savalia
  • Patent number: 11101357
    Abstract: An asymmetric high-k dielectric for reduced gate induced drain leakage in high-k MOSFETs and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes performing an implant process on a high-k dielectric sidewall of a gate structure. The method further includes performing an oxygen annealing process to grow an oxide region on a drain side of the gate structure, while inhibiting oxide growth on a source side of the gate structure adjacent to a source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony I. Chou, Arvind Kumar, Chung-Hsun Lin, Shreesh Narasimha, Claude Ortolland, Jonathan T. Shaw
  • Patent number: 11094824
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes one or more fins. Each fin includes a top channel portion formed from a channel material, and a bottom substrate portion formed from a same material as an underlying substrate. An isolation dielectric layer is formed between and around the bottom substrate portion of the one or more fins. A single oxide layer is formed in direct contact with the bottom substrate portion of each fin, between the bottom substrate portion of each fin and the isolation dielectric layer. A gate dielectric is formed over the one or more fins and between a straight sidewall of at least a top portion of the single oxide layer and an adjacent sidewall of the one or more fins, in contact with both the straight sidewall and the bottom substrate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Huiming Bu, Kangguo Cheng, Dechao Guo, Sivananda K Kanakasabapathy, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 11062911
    Abstract: First lithography and etching are carried out on a semiconductor structure to provide a first intermediate semiconductor structure having a first set of surface features corresponding to a first portion of desired fin formation mandrels. Second lithography and etching are carried out on the first intermediate structure, using a second mask, to provide a second intermediate semiconductor structure having a second set of surface features corresponding to a second portion of the mandrels. The second set of surface features are unequally spaced from the first set of surface features and/or the features have different pitch. The fin formation mandrels are formed in the second intermediate semiconductor structure using the first and second sets of surface features; spacer material is deposited over the mandrels and is etched back to form a third intermediate semiconductor structure having a fin pattern. Etching is carried out on same to produce the fin pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Fee Li Lie, Dongbing Shao, Robert Wong, Yongan Xu
  • Publication number: 20210210380
    Abstract: A method of forming fully aligned vias in a semiconductor device, the method including forming a first level interconnect line embedded in a first interlevel dielectric (ILD), selectively depositing a dielectric on the first interlevel dielectric, laterally etching the selectively deposited dielectric, depositing a dielectric cap layer and a second level interlevel dielectric on top of the first interlevel dielectric, and forming a via opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin David Briggs, Joe Lee, Theodorus Eduardus Standaert
  • Patent number: 11056429
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a porous dielectric layer including a recessed portion, a conductive layer formed in the recessed portion, and a cap layer formed on the porous dielectric layer and on the conductive layer in the recessed portion, an upper surface of the porous dielectric layer being exposed through a gap in the cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin David Briggs, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Bartlet H. Deprospo, Huai Huang, Christopher J. Penny, Michael Rizzolo