Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Gates

Stephen M. Gates 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).

  • Publication number: 20120329287
    Abstract: A porous SiCOH dielectric film in which the stress change caused by increased tetrahedral strain is minimized by post treatment in unsaturated Hydrocarbon ambient. The p-SiCOH dielectric film has more —(CHx) and less Si—O—H and Si—H bonding moieties. Moreover, a stable pSiOCH dielectric film is provided in which the amount of Si—OH (silanol) and Si—H groups at least within the pores has been reduced by about 90% or less by the post treatment. A p-SiCOH dielectric film is produced that is flexible since the pores include stabilized crosslinking —(CHx)— chains wherein x is 1, 2 or 3 therein. The dielectric film is produced utilizing an annealing step subsequent deposition that includes a gaseous ambient that includes at least one C—C double bond and/or at least one C—C triple bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Son Nguyen, Satyanarayana V. Nitta, Thomas M. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20120328796
    Abstract: A method of forming a porous composite material in which substantially all of the pores within the composite material are small having a diameter of about 5 nm or less and with a narrow PSD is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Deborah A. Neumayer, Son Nguyen, Vishnubhai V. Patel
  • Publication number: 20120306018
    Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit and method includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor device layers monolithically integrated on the substrate, and a metal wiring layer with vias interconnecting the plurality of semiconductor device layers. The semiconductor device layers are devoid of bonding or joining interface with the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Daniel C. Edelstein, Satyanarayana V. Nitta
  • Publication number: 20120308735
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an ultra low dielectric constant material is disclosed. The method includes placing a substrate into a deposition reactor. A first precursor is flowed into the deposition reactor. The first precursor is a matrix precursor. A second precursor is flowed into the deposition reactor. The second precursor is a porogen precursor. A preliminary film is deposited onto the substrate based on the first and second precursors. The preliminary film includes Si, C, O, and H atoms. A first ultraviolet curing step is performed on the substrate including the preliminary film at a first temperature. At least a second ultraviolet curing step is performed on the substrate including the preliminary film at a second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christos D. DIMITRAKOPOULOS, Stephen M. GATES, Alfred GRILL
  • Publication number: 20120306017
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, including a substrate, at least one metal wiring layer disposed above the substrate. The metal wiring layer including a wiring switch and a plurality of patterned conductors. The wiring switch including a back gate field effect transistor (BGFET).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Stephen M. Gates, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Thomas N. Theis
  • Publication number: 20120261793
    Abstract: An improved electrical-fuse (e-fuse) device including a dielectric layer having a first top surface, two conductive features embedded in the dielectric layer and a fuse element. Each conductive feature has a second top surface and a metal cap directly on the second top surface. Each metal cap has a third top surface that is above the first top surface of the dielectric layer. The fuse element is on the third top surface of each metal cap and on the first top surface of the dielectric layer. A method of forming the e-fuse device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Stephen M. Gates, Baozhen Li, Daniel C. Edelstein
  • Patent number: 8276018
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for use with a microprocessor chip, for storing selected reliability information in an on-chip non-volatile storage device. An on-chip reliability controller coupled to one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip, collects raw reliability information from the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller analyzes the raw reliability information to identify selected reliability information for the one or more resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller stores the selected reliability information in the on-chip non-volatile storage device. The on-chip non-volatile storage device stores the selected reliability information even in the event of an overall failure of the microprocessor chip in which the microprocessor chip loses power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
  • Patent number: 8268411
    Abstract: A method of forming a porous composite material in which substantially all of the pores within the composite material are small having a diameter of about 5 nm or less and with a narrow PSD is provided. The porous composite material includes a first solid phase having a first characteristic dimension and a second phase comprised of pores having a second characteristic dimension, wherein the characteristic dimensions of at least one of said phases is controlled to a value of about 5 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Deborah A. Neumayer, Son Nguyen, Vishnubhai V. Patel
  • Publication number: 20120205626
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first dielectric material including at least one first conductive region contained therein. The structure also includes at least one graphene containing semiconductor device located atop the first dielectric material. The at least one graphene containing semiconductor device includes a graphene layer that overlies and is in direct with the first conductive region. The structure further includes a second dielectric material covering the at least one graphene containing semiconductor device and portions of the first dielectric material. The second dielectric material includes at least one second conductive region contained therein, and the at least one second conductive region is in contact with a conductive element of the at least one graphene containing semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Guy M. Cohen, Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Timothy J. McArdle, Chun-Yung Sung
  • Publication number: 20120032311
    Abstract: An in-situ process is described incorporating plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition comprising flowing at least one of a Si, Si+C, B, Si+B, Si+B+C, and B+C containing precursor, and a N containing precursors at first times and removing the N precursor at second times and starting the flow of an oxidant gas and a porogen gas into the chamber. A dielectric layer is described comprising a network having inorganic random three dimensional covalent bonding throughout the network which contains at least one SiCN, SiCNH, SiN, SiNH, BN, BNH, CBN, CBNH, BSiN, BSiNH, SiCBN and SiCBNH as a first component and a low k dielectric as a second component adjacent thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Son V. Nguyen, Satyanarayana V. Nitta
  • Patent number: 8101236
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a low-k dielectric material with increased cohesive strength for use in electronic structures including interconnect and sensing structures is provided. The method includes the deposition of the dielectric material from a first precursor which is an carbosilane or an alkoxycarbosilane molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Michael Lane, Qinghuang Lin, Robert D. Miller, Deborah A. Neumayer, Son Van Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20110271141
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for use with a microprocessor chip, for storing selected reliability information in an on-chip non-volatile storage device. An on-chip reliability controller coupled to one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip, collects raw reliability information from the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller analyzes the raw reliability information to identify selected reliability information for the one or more resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller stores the selected reliability information in the on-chip non-volatile storage device. The on-chip non-volatile storage device stores the selected reliability information even in the event of an overall failure of the microprocessor chip in which the microprocessor chip loses power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
  • Publication number: 20110271161
    Abstract: Mechanisms for controlling an operation of one or more cores on an integrated circuit chip are provided. The mechanisms retrieve, from an on-chip non-volatile memory of the integrated circuit chip, baseline chip characteristics data representing operational characteristics of the one or more cores prior to the integrated circuit chip being operational in the data processing system. Current operational characteristics data of the one or more cores are compared with the baseline chip characteristics data. Deviations of the current operational characteristics data from the baseline chip characteristics data are determined and used to determine modifications to an operation of the one or more cores. Control signals are sent to one or more on-chip management units based on the determined modifications to cause the operation of the one or more cores to be modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
  • Publication number: 20110241200
    Abstract: An ultra low dielectric constant material is disclosed. The ultra-low dielectric constant material comprises a three dimensional random network porous dielectric comprising atoms of Si, C, O, and H. The ultra-low dielectric constant material also comprises a dielectric constant of not more than 2.6. The ultra-low dielectric constant material further comprises a carbon concentration of at least 15% and a content of carbon that is bonded as —CH2-groups, wherein a concentration of carbon is greater than a concentration of carbon in an ultra low dielectric constant material formed by using a single step ultra-violet curing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: CHRISTOS D. DIMITRAKOPOULOS, Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill
  • Publication number: 20110233513
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures and electronic devices are provided that includes at least one layer of an interfacial dielectric material located on an upper surface of a carbon-based material. The at least one layer of interfacial dielectric material has a short-range crystallographic bonding structure, typically hexagonal, that is the same as that of the carbon-based material and, as such, the at least one layer of interfacial dielectric material does not change the electronic structure of the carbon-based material. The presence of the at least one layer of interfacial dielectric material having the same short-range crystallographic bonding structure as that of the carbon-based material improves the interfacial bonding between the carbon-based material and any overlying material layer, including a dielectric material, a conductive material or a combination of a dielectric material and a conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Damon B. Farmer, Alfred Grill, Stephen M. Gates, Tuan A. Vo, Deborah A. Neumayer, Son Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7955968
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for fabricating an ultra low-k interconnect structure by depositing and curing a first via layer (43) of ultra low dielectric constant (ULK) material, depositing a second uncured trench layer (51) of the same ULK material, selectively etching a via opening (62) and trench opening (72) with a dual damascene etch process which uses a trench etch end point signal from the chemical differences between uncured trench layer (51) and the underlying cured via layer (43), and then curing the second trench layer (83) before forming an interconnect structure (91) by filling the trench opening (72) and via opening (62) with an interconnection material so that there is no additional interface or higher dielectric constant material left behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Pak K. Leung, Terry G. Sparks, David V. Horak, Stephen M. Gates
  • Patent number: 7948083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of improving the fabrication of interconnect structures of the single or dual damascene type, in which there is no problem of hard mask retention or of conductivity between the metal lines after fabrication. The methods of the present invention include at least steps of chemical mechanical polishing and UV exposure or chemical repair treatment which steps improve the reliability of the interconnect structure formed. The present invention also relates to an interconnect structure which include a porous ultra low k dielectric of the SiCOH type in which the surface layer thereof has been modified so as to form a gradient layer that has both a density gradient and a C content gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Stephen M. Gates, Vincent J. McGahay, Sanjay C. Mehta
  • Patent number: 7948051
    Abstract: A method for forming a self aligned pattern on an existing pattern on a substrate comprising applying a coating of a solution containing a masking material in a carrier, the masking material having an affinity for portions of the existing pattern; and allowing at least a portion of the masking material to preferentially assemble to the portions of the existing pattern. The pattern may be comprised of a first set of regions of the substrate having a first atomic composition and a second set of regions of the substrate having a second atomic composition different from the first composition. The first set of regions may include one or more metal elements and the second set of regions may include a dielectric. The first and second regions may be treated to have different surface properties. Structures made in accordance with the method. Compositions useful for practicing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E Colburn, Stephen M Gates, Jeffrey C Hedrick, Elbert Huang, Satyanarayana V Nitta, Sampath Purushothaman, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian
  • Publication number: 20110101489
    Abstract: A low-k dielectric material with increased cohesive strength for use in electronic structures including interconnect and sensing structures is provided that includes atoms of Si, C, O, and H in which a fraction of the C atoms are bonded as Si—CH3 functional groups, and another fraction of the C atoms are bonded as Si—R—Si, wherein R is phenyl, —[CH2]n— where n is greater than or equal to 1, HC?CH, C?CH2, C?C or a [S]n linkage, where n is a defined above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Michael Lane, Robert D. Miller, Deborah A. Neumayer, Son Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7915180
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a dielectric material that has an ultra low dielectric constant (or ultra low k) using at least one organosilicon precursor is described. The organosilicon precursor employed in the present invention includes a molecule containing both an Si—O structure and a sacrificial organic group, as a leaving group. The use of an organosilicon precursor containing a molecular scale sacrificial leaving group enables control of the pore size at the nanometer scale, control of the compositional and structural uniformity and simplifies the manufacturing process. Moreover, fabrication of a dielectric film from a single precursor enables better control of the final porosity in the film and a narrower pore size distribution resulting in better mechanical properties at the same value of dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Robert D. Miller, Deborah A. Neumayer, Son Nguyen