Patents by Inventor Steven J. Koester

Steven J. Koester 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: 8664081
    Abstract: A computer readable medium is provided that is encoded with a program comprising instructions for performing a method for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. Provided are an interface wafer including a first wiring layer and through-silicon vias, and a first active circuitry layer wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to the interface wafer. Then, a first portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is removed such that a second portion remains attached to the interface wafer. A stack structure including the interface wafer and the second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to a base wafer. Next, the interface wafer is thinned so as to form an interface layer, and metallizations coupled through the through-silicon vias in the interface layer to the first wiring layer are formed on the interface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mukta G. Farooq, Robert Hannon, Subramanian S. Iyer, Steven J. Koester, Fei Liu, Sampath Purushothaman, Albert M. Young, Roy R. Yu
  • Patent number: 8629553
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. According to the method, a first active circuitry layer wafer is provided. The first active circuitry layer wafer comprises a P+ portion covered by a P? layer, and the P? layer includes active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded face down to an interface wafer that includes a first wiring layer, and then the P+ portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is selectively removed with respect to the P? layer of the first active circuitry layer wafer. Next, a wiring layer is fabricated on the backside of the P? layer. Also provided are a tangible computer readable medium encoded with a program for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure, and a 3D integrated circuit structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mukta G. Farooq, Robert Hannon, Subramanian S. Iyer, Steven J. Koester, Sampath Purushothaman, Roy R. Yu
  • Patent number: 8587121
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes backside dummy plugs embedded in a substrate. The backside dummy plugs can be a conductive structure that enhances vertical thermal conductivity of the semiconductor structure and provides electrical decoupling of signals in through-substrate vias (TSVs) in the substrate. The backside dummy plug can include a cavity to accommodate volume changes in other components in the substrate, thereby alleviating mechanical stress in the substrate during thermal cycling and operation of the semiconductor chip. The backside dummy plug including the cavity can be composed of an insulator material or a conductive material. The inventive structures can be employed to form three-dimensional structures having vertical chip integration, in which inter-wafer thermal conductivity is enhanced, cross-talk between signals through TSVs is reduced, and/or mechanical stress to the TSVs is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Koester, Fei Liu
  • Patent number: 8492869
    Abstract: A 3D integrated circuit structure is provided. The 3D integrated circuit structure includes an interface wafer including a first wiring layer, a first active circuitry layer including active circuitry, and a wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer is bonded face down to the interface wafer, and the wafer is bonded face down to the first active circuitry layer. The first active circuitry layer is lower-cost than the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mukta G. Farooq, Robert Hannon, Subramanian S. Iyer, Steven J. Koester, Fei Liu, Sampath Purushothaman, Albert M. Young, Roy R. Yu
  • Patent number: 8431476
    Abstract: A method of preventing surface decomposition of a III-V compound semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming a silicon film having a thickness from 10 ? to 400 ? on a surface of an III-V compound semiconductor. After forming the silicon film onto the surface of the III-V compound semiconductor, a high performance semiconductor device including, for example, a MOSFET, can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor. During the MOSFET fabrication, a high k dielectric can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor and thereafter, activated source and drain regions can be formed into the III-V compound semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joel P. de Souza, Keith E. Fogel, Edward W. Kiewra, Steven J. Koester, Christopher C. Parks, Devendra K. Sadana, Shahab Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 8426921
    Abstract: Integrated circuits having complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and photonics circuitry and techniques for three-dimensional integration thereof are provided. In one aspect, a three-dimensional integrated circuit comprises a bottom device layer and a top device layer. The bottom device layer comprises a substrate; a digital CMOS circuitry layer adjacent to the substrate; and a first bonding oxide layer adjacent to a side of the digital CMOS circuitry layer opposite the substrate. The top device layer comprises an analog CMOS and photonics circuitry layer formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer having a buried oxide (BOX) with a thickness of greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers; and a second bonding oxide layer adjacent to the analog CMOS and photonics circuitry layer. The bottom device layer is bonded to the top device layer by an oxide-to-oxide bond between the first bonding oxide layer and the second bonding oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Solomon Assefa, Kuan-Neng Chen, Steven J. Koester, Yuri A. Vlasov
  • Patent number: 8415772
    Abstract: A method of preventing surface decomposition of a III-V compound semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming a silicon film having a thickness from 10 ? to 400 ? on a surface of an III-V compound semiconductor. After forming the silicon film onto the surface of the III-V compound semiconductor, a high performance semiconductor device including, for example, a MOSFET, can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor. During the MOSFET fabrication, a high k dielectric can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor and thereafter, activated source and drain regions can be formed into the III-V compound semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joel P. de Souza, Keith E. Fogel, Edward W. Kiewra, Steven J. Koester, Christopher C. Parks, Devendra K. Sadana, Shahab Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 8399336
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. According to the method, a first active circuitry layer wafer that includes active circuitry is provided, and a first portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is removed such that a second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer remains. Another wafer that includes active circuitry is provided, and the other wafer is bonded to the second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer. The first active circuitry layer wafer is lower-cost than the other wafer. Also provided are a tangible computer readable medium encoded with a program for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure, and a 3D integrated circuit structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mukta G. Farooq, Robert Hannon, Subramanian S. Iyer, Steven J. Koester, Fei Liu, Sampath Purushothaman, Albert M. Young, Roy R. Yu
  • Patent number: 8378429
    Abstract: A memory cell has N?16 transistors, in which two are access transistors, at least one pair [say (N-2)/2] are pull-up transistors, and at least another pair [say (N-2)/2] are pull-down transistors. The pull-up and pull-down transistors are all coupled between the two access transistors. Each of the access transistors and the pull-up transistors are the same type, p-type or n-type. Each of the pull-down transistors is the other type, p-type or n-type. The access transistors are floating body devices. The pull-down transistors are non-floating body devices. The pull-up transistors may be floating or non-floating body devices. Various specific implementations and methods of making the memory cell are also detailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Leland Chang, Steven J. Koester, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8349670
    Abstract: A memory cell has N?6 transistors, in which two are access transistors, at least one pair [say (N?2)/2] are pull-up transistors, and at least another pair [say (N?2)/2] are pull-down transistors. The pull-up and pull-down transistors are all coupled between the two access transistors. Each of the access transistors and the pull-up transistors are the same type, p-type or n-type. Each of the pull-down transistors is the other type, p-type or n-type. The access transistors are floating body devices. The pull-down transistors are non-floating body devices. The pull-up transistors may be floating or non-floating body devices. Various specific implementations and methods of making the memory cell are also detailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Leland Chang, Steven J. Koester, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8343838
    Abstract: A structure and method of fabricating a semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) such as a strained Si n-MOSFET where dislocation or crystal defects spanning from source to drain is partially occupied by heavy p-type dopants. Preferably, the strained-layer n-MOSFET includes a Si, SiGe or SiGeC multi-layer structure having, in the region between source and drain, impurity atoms that preferentially occupy the dislocation sites so as to prevent shorting of source and drain via dopant diffusion along the dislocation. Advantageously, devices formed as a result of the invention are immune to dislocation-related failures, and therefore are more robust to processing and material variations. The invention thus relaxes the requirement for reducing the threading dislocation density in SiGe buffers, since the devices will be operable despite the presence of a finite number of dislocations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Koester
  • Publication number: 20120326212
    Abstract: A method of forming a high k gate stack on a surface of a III-V compound semiconductor, such GaAs, is provided. The method includes subjecting a III-V compound semiconductor material to a precleaning process which removes native oxides from a surface of the III-V compound semiconductor material; forming a semiconductor, e.g., amorphous Si, layer in-situ on the cleaned surface of the III-V compound semiconductor material; and forming a dielectric material having a dielectric constant that is greater than silicon dioxide on the semiconducting layer. In some embodiments, the semiconducting layer is partially or completely converted into a layer including at least a surface layer that is comprised of AOxNy prior to forming the dielectric material. In accordance with the present invention, A is a semiconducting material, preferably Si, x is 0 to 1, y is 0 to 1 and x and y are both not zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jean Fompeyrine, Edward W. Kiewra, Steven J. Koester, Devendra K. Sadana, David J. Webb
  • Publication number: 20120309127
    Abstract: A computer readable medium is provided that is encoded with a program comprising instructions for performing a method for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. Provided are an interface wafer including a first wiring layer and through-silicon vias, and a first active circuitry layer wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to the interface wafer. Then, a first portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is removed such that a second portion remains attached to the interface wafer. A stack structure including the interface wafer and the second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to a base wafer. Next, the interface wafer is thinned so as to form an interface layer, and metallizations coupled through the through-silicon vias in the interface layer to the first wiring layer are formed on the interface layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mukta G. FAROOQ, Robert Hannon, Subramanian S. Iyer, Steven J. Koester, Fei Liu, Sampath Purushothaman, Albert M. Young, Roy R. Yu
  • Publication number: 20120309137
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. According to the method, a semiconductor layer is formed over a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, and a gate is formed on the semiconductor layer. Source and drain extension regions and a deep drain region are formed in the semiconductor layer. A deep source region is formed in the semiconductor layer. A drain metal-semiconductor alloy contact is located on the upper portion of the deep drain region and abutting the drain extension region. A source metal-semiconductor alloy contact abuts the source extension region. The deep source region is located below and contacts a first portion of the source metal-semiconductor alloy contact. The deep source region is not located below and does not contact a second portion of the source metal-semiconductor alloy contact. The second portion of the source metal-semiconductor alloy contact is an internal body contact that directly contacts the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin CAI, Steven J. KOESTER, Amlan MAJUMDAR
  • Publication number: 20120309153
    Abstract: A method of preventing surface decomposition of a III-V compound semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming a silicon film having a thickness from 10 ? to 400 ? on a surface of an III-V compound semiconductor. After forming the silicon film onto the surface of the III-V compound semiconductor, a high performance semiconductor device including, for example, a MOSFET, can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor. During the MOSFET fabrication, a high k dielectric can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor and thereafter, activated source and drain regions can be formed into the III-V compound semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joel P. de Souza, Keith E. Fogel, Edward W. Kiewra, Steven J. Koester, Christopher C. Parks, Devendra K. Sadana, Shahab Siddiqui
  • Publication number: 20120305989
    Abstract: A method of preventing surface decomposition of a III-V compound semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming a silicon film having a thickness from 10 ? to 400 ? on a surface of an III-V compound semiconductor. After forming the silicon film onto the surface of the III-V compound semiconductor, a high performance semiconductor device including, for example, a MOSFET, can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor. During the MOSFET fabrication, a high k dielectric can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor and thereafter, activated source and drain regions can be formed into the III-V compound semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joel P. de Souza, Keith E. Fogel, Edward W. Kiewra, Steven J. Koester, Christopher C. Parks, Devendra K. Sadana, Shahab Siddiqui
  • Publication number: 20120299200
    Abstract: A 3D integrated circuit structure is provided. The 3D integrated circuit structure includes an interface wafer including a first wiring layer, a first active circuitry layer including active circuitry, and a wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer is bonded face down to the interface wafer, and the wafer is bonded face down to the first active circuitry layer. The first active circuitry layer is lower-cost than the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mukta G. FAROOQ, Robert HANNON, Subramanian S. IYER, Steven J. KOESTER, Fei LIU, Sampath PURUSHOTHAMAN, Albert M. YOUNG, Roy R. YU
  • Patent number: 8298914
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. Provided are an interface wafer including a first wiring layer and through-silicon vias, and a first active circuitry layer wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to the interface wafer. Then, a first portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is removed such that a second portion remains attached to the interface wafer. A stack structure including the interface wafer and the second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to a base wafer. Next, the interface wafer is thinned so as to form an interface layer, and metallizations coupled through the through-silicon vias in the interface layer to the first wiring layer are formed on the interface layer. Also provided is a tangible computer readable medium encoded with a program that comprises instructions for performing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mukta G. Farooq, Robert Hannon, Subramanian S. Iyer, Steven J. Koester, Fei Liu, Sampath Purushothaman, Albert M. Young, Roy R. Yu
  • Patent number: 8273649
    Abstract: A method of preventing surface decomposition of a III-V compound semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming a silicon film having a thickness from 10 ? to 400 ? on a surface of an III-V compound semiconductor. After forming the silicon film onto the surface of the III-V compound semiconductor, a high performance semiconductor device including, for example, a MOSFET, can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor. During the MOSFET fabrication, a high k dielectric can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor and thereafter, activated source and drain regions can be formed into the III-V compound semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joel P. de Souza, Keith E. Fogel, Edward W. Kiewra, Steven J. Koester, Christopher C. Parks, Devendra K. Sadana, Shahab Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 8258031
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for fabricating a heterojunction tunnel field-effect-transistor (FET), the method including forming a gate region on a silicon layer of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, forming a drain region on the silicon layer adjacent the gate region and forming a vertical heterojunction source region adjacent the gate region, wherein the vertical heterojunction source region generates a tunnel path inline with a gate field associated with the gate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac Lauer, Amlan Majumdar, Paul M. Solomon, Steven J. Koester