Patents by Inventor Ali Khakifirooz

Ali Khakifirooz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10170637
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a plurality of suspended nanowires and a gate structure that is present on a channel region portion of the plurality of suspended nanowires. The gate structure includes a uniform length extending from an upper surface of the gate structure to the base of the gate structure. A dielectric spacer having a graded composition is present in direct contact with the gate structure. The dielectric spacer having a uniform length extending from an upper surface of the gate structure to the base of the gate structure. Source and drain regions are present on source and drain region portions of the plurality of suspended nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10170537
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided that includes a pedestal of an insulating material present over at least one layer of a semiconductor material, and at least one fin structure in contact with the pedestal of the insulating material. Source and drain region structures are present on opposing sides of the at least one fin structure. At least one of the source and drain region structures includes at least two epitaxial material layers. A first epitaxial material layer is in contact with the at least one layer of semiconductor material. A second epitaxial material layer is in contact with the at least one fin structure. The first epitaxial material layer is separated from the at least one fin structure by the second epitaxial material layer. A gate structure present on the at least one fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10170550
    Abstract: A disposable gate structure is formed over the alternating stack of first semiconductor material portions and second semiconductor material portions. The second semiconductor material portions are removed selective to the first semiconductor material portions to form suspended semiconductor nanowires. Isolated gate structures are formed in regions underlying the disposable gate structure by deposition and recessing of a first gate dielectric layer and a first gate conductor layer. After formation of a gate spacer, source regions, and drain regions, raised source and drain regions are formed on the source regions and the drain regions by selective deposition of a semiconductor material. The disposable gate structure is replaced with a replacement gate structure by deposition and patterning of a second gate dielectric layer and a second gate conductor layer. Distortion of the suspended semiconductor nanowires is prevented by the disposable gate structure and the isolated gate structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin M. Frank, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10158001
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a source drain region of a first material and an extension region of a second material. A semiconductor device fabrication process includes forming a sacrificial dielectric portion upon a semiconductor substrate, forming a sacrificial gate stack upon the sacrificial dielectric portion, forming a gate spacer upon the sacrificial dielectric portion against the sacrificial gate, forming a source drain region of a first doped material upon the semiconductor substrate against the gate spacer, forming a replacement gate trench by removing the sacrificial gate stack, forming an extension trench by removing the sacrificial dielectric portion, and forming an extension region of a second doped material within the extension trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10153157
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a silicon-germanium layer on a semiconductor region of a substrate having a specific concentration of germanium atoms. The semiconductor region and the silicon-germanium layer are annealed to induce a non-homogenous thermal diffusion of germanium atoms from the silicon-germanium layer into the semiconductor region to form a graded silicon-germanium region. Another method of forming a semiconductor structure includes etching a semiconductor region of the substrate to form a thinned semiconductor region. A silicon-germanium layer is formed on the thinned semiconductor region having a graded germanium concentration profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Darsen D. Lu, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20180350989
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a fin stack structure of, from bottom to top, a first semiconductor material fin portion, an insulator fin portion and a second semiconductor material fin portion. The first semiconductor material fin portion can be used as a first device region in which a first conductivity-type device (e.g., n-FET or p-FET) can be formed, while the second semiconductor material fin portion can be used as a second device region in which a second conductivity-type device (e.g., n-FET or p-FET), which is opposite the first conductivity-type device, can be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10147679
    Abstract: Electrical fuse (eFuse) and resistor structures and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming metal gates having a capping material on a top surface thereof. The method further includes protecting the metal gates and the capping material during an etching process which forms a recess in a dielectric material. The method further includes forming an insulator material and metal material within the recess. The method further includes forming a contact in direct electrical contact with the metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Juntao Li
  • Patent number: 10147804
    Abstract: An alternating stack of layers of a first epitaxial semiconductor material and a second epitaxial semiconductor material is formed on a substrate. A fin stack is formed by patterning the alternating stack into a shape of a fin having a parallel pair of vertical sidewalls. After formation of a disposable gate structure and an optional gate spacer, raised active regions can be formed on end portions of the fin stack. A planarization dielectric layer is formed, and the disposable gate structure is subsequently removed to form a gate cavity. A crystallographic etch is performed on the first epitaxial semiconductor material to form vertically separated pairs of an upright triangular semiconductor nanowire and an inverted triangular semiconductor nanowire. Portions of the epitaxial disposable material are subsequently removed. After an optional anneal, the gate cavity is filled with a gate dielectric and a gate electrode to form a field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Juntao Li
  • Patent number: 10147602
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided by a process in which two aspect ratio trapping processes are employed. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate portion of a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant. A plurality of first semiconductor-containing pillar structures of a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant extend upwards from a surface of the semiconductor substrate portion. A plurality of second semiconductor-containing pillar structures of a third semiconductor material having a third lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant extend upwards from another surface of the semiconductor substrate portion. A spacer separates each first semiconductor-containing pillar structure from each second semiconductor-containing pillar structure. Each second semiconductor-containing pillar structure has a width that is different from a width of each first semiconductor-containing pillar structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10141428
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes forming a silicon including fin structure and forming a germanium including layer on the silicon including fin structure. Germanium is then diffused from the germanium including layer into the silicon including fin structure to convert the silicon including fin structure to silicon germanium including fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz, Yunpeng Yin
  • Patent number: 10141461
    Abstract: A method for forming a multi-junction photovoltaic device includes providing a germanium layer and etching pyramidal shapes in the germanium layer such that (111) facets are exposed to form a textured surface. A first p-n junction is formed on or over the textured surface from III-V semiconductor materials. Another p-n junction is formed over the first p-n junction from III-V semiconductor materials and follows the textured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Ali Khakifirooz, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Publication number: 20180323288
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided that includes a pedestal of an insulating material present over at least one layer of a semiconductor material, and at least one fin structure in contact with the pedestal of the insulating material. Source and drain region structures are present on opposing sides of the at least one fin structure. At least one of the source and drain region structures includes at least two epitaxial material layers. A first epitaxial material layer is in contact with the at least one layer of semiconductor material. A second epitaxial material layer is in contact with the at least one fin structure. The first epitaxial material layer is separated from the at least one fin structure by the second epitaxial material layer. A gate structure present on the at least one fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: KANGGUO CHENG, RAMACHANDRA DIVAKARUNI, ALI KHAKIFIROOZ, ALEXANDER REZNICEK, SOON-CHEON SEO
  • Patent number: 10109709
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a dummy gate above a semiconductor substrate. The dummy gate defines a source-drain region adjacent to the dummy gate and a channel region below the dummy gate. A silicon-germanium layer is epitaxially grown above the source-drain region with a target concentration of germanium atoms. The semiconductor structure is annealed to diffuse the germanium atoms from the silicon-germanium layer into the channel region to form a silicon-germanium channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Ghavam G. Shahidi
  • Patent number: 10109361
    Abstract: A memory programmer apparatus may include a first-level programmer to program a first-level cell portion of a multi-level memory in a first pass, a coarse programmer to coarse program a second-level cell portion of the multi-level memory in the first pass, wherein the second-level cell portion includes more levels than the first-level cell portion, and a fine programmer to fine program the second-level cell portion of the multi-level memory in a second pass from data programmed in the first-level cell portion in the first pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Khakifirooz, Pranav Kalavade, Rohit S. Shenoy, Aliasgar S. Madraswala, Donia Sebastian, Xin Guo
  • Publication number: 20180277648
    Abstract: Methods for forming a semiconductor device include forming a first spacer on a plurality of fins. A second spacer is formed on the first spacer, the second spacer being formed from a different material from the first spacer. Gaps between the fins are filled with a support material. The first spacer and second spacer are polished to expose a top surface of the plurality of fins. All of the support material is etched away after polishing the first spacer and second spacer. The plurality of fins is etched below a bottom level of the first spacer to form a fin cavity. Material from the first spacer is removed to expand the fin cavity. Fin material is grown directly on the etched plurality of fins to fill the fin cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Ruilong Xie, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10083907
    Abstract: A fully depleted field effect transistor (FET) and an anti-fuse structure are provided on a same chip. The fully depleted FET and the anti-fuse structure share a same high dielectric (k) constant dielectric material. The anti-fuse structure contains a faceted epitaxial doped semiconductor material as a bottom electrode, a high k dielectric material portion, and a gate electrode material portion as a top electrode. The sharp corners of the faceted epitaxial doped semiconductor material cause electric field concentration, which aid in the reduction of the breakdown voltage of the anti-fuse structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 10084067
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided that includes a pedestal of an insulating material present over at least one layer of a semiconductor material, and at least one fin structure in contact with the pedestal of the insulating material. Source and drain region structures are present on opposing sides of the at least one fin structure. At least one of the source and drain region structures includes at least two epitaxial material layers. A first epitaxial material layer is in contact with the at least one layer of semiconductor material. A second epitaxial material layer is in contact with the at least one fin structure. The first epitaxial material layer is separated from the at least one fin structure by the second epitaxial material layer. A gate structure present on the at least one fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ramachandra Divakaruni, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Soon-Cheon Seo
  • Patent number: 10084050
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least a gate formed upon a semiconductor substrate, a contact trench self aligned to the gate, and a multilayered gate caps comprising a first gate cap formed upon each gate and a low-k gate cap formed upon the first gate cap. The multilayered gate cap may electrically isolate the gate from a self aligned contact formed by filling the contact trench with electrically conductive material. The multilayered gate cap reduces parasitic capacitance formed between the source-drain region, gate, and multilayered gate cap that may adversely impact device performance and device power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Charan V. V. S. Surisetty
  • Patent number: 10084041
    Abstract: Isolation structures are formed to laterally surround a gate material block such that each sidewall of the gate material block abuts a corresponding sidewall of the isolation structures. Sidewalls of the gate material bock define ends of gate structures to be subsequently formed. The isolation structures obstruct lateral growth of a semiconductor material during a selective epitaxial grown process in formation of source/drain regions, thereby preventing merging of the source/drain regions at the ends of gate structures. As a result, a lateral distance between each sidewall of the gate material block and a corresponding outermost sidewall of an array of a plurality of semiconductor fins can be made sufficiently small without causing the electrical shorts of the source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10084090
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a fin stack structure of, from bottom to top, a first semiconductor material fin portion, an insulator fin portion and a second semiconductor material fin portion. The first semiconductor material fin portion can be used as a first device region in which a first conductivity-type device (e.g., n-FET or p-FET) can be formed, while the second semiconductor material fin portion can be used as a second device region in which a second conductivity-type device (e.g., n-FET or p-FET), which is opposite the first conductivity-type device, can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek