Deposition/post-treatment Of Noninsulating, E.g., Conductive - Or Resistive - Layers On Insulating Layers (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.294)
  • Patent number: 11978737
    Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) NAND memory devices and methods are provided. In one aspect, a 3D NAND memory device includes a substrate, a layer stack, memory cells, a semiconductor layer, a contact structure, and gate line slit structures. The substrate includes a doped region. The layer stack is formed over the substrate. The memory cells are formed through the layer stack over the substrate. The semiconductor layer is formed on the doped region and a side portion of a channel layer that extends through the layer stack. The contact structure electrically contacts the doped region. A dielectric material is filled in the gate line slit structures. Air gaps are formed in the gate line slit structures by the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Wenxi Zhou
  • Patent number: 11970647
    Abstract: Described herein is a composition for selectively etching a layer including a silicon germanium alloy (SiGe) in the presence of a silicon-containing layer, particularly a layer comprising a-Si, SiOx, SiON, SiN, or a combination thereof, the composition including: (a) an oxidizing agent, (b) an acid selected from an inorganic acid and an organic acid, (c) an etchant including a source of fluoride ions, (d) a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and (e) water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Lopez Villanueva, Yeni Burk, Daniel Loeffler, Jan Ole Mueller, Marcel Brill, Patrick Wilke, Jean-Pierre Berkan Lindner, Volodymyr Boyko
  • Patent number: 11942363
    Abstract: A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a trench, with the semiconductor substrate having a sidewall facing the trench, and depositing a first semiconductor layer extending into the trench. The first semiconductor layer includes a first bottom portion at a bottom of the trench, and a first sidewall portion on the sidewall of the semiconductor substrate. The first sidewall portion is removed to reveal the sidewall of the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes depositing a second semiconductor layer extending into the trench, with the second semiconductor layer having a second bottom portion over the first bottom portion, and a second sidewall portion contacting the sidewall of the semiconductor substrate. The second sidewall portion is removed to reveal the sidewall of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Lin, Kuei-Yu Kao, Chen-Ping Chen, Chih-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 11925015
    Abstract: Vertical memory devices, and methods of manufacturing the same, include providing a substrate including a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region, forming a mold structure in the cell array region, forming an opening for a common source line passing through the mold structure and extending in a first direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate, forming a first contact plug having an inner sidewall delimiting a recessed region in the opening for the common source line, and forming a common source bit line contact electrically connected to the inner sidewall of the first contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Yong Park, Kee-Jeong Rho, Hyeong Park, Tae-Wan Lim
  • Patent number: 11864383
    Abstract: A vertical-type memory device includes a plurality of gate electrodes stacked on a substrate; and a vertical channel structure penetrating through the plurality of gate electrodes in a first direction, perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. The vertical channel structure includes a channel extending in the first direction, a first filling film that partially fills an internal space of the channel, a first liner on at least a portion of an upper surface of the first filling film and an upper internal side wall of the channel extending beyond the first filling film away from the substrate. The first liner includes n-type impurities. The vertical channel structure includes a second filling film on at least a portion of the first liner, and a pad on the second filling film and in contact with the first liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Eun Yeoung Choi, Hyung Joon Kim, Su Hyeong Lee, Jung Geun Jee
  • Patent number: 11856794
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell provided on a substrate, a second memory cell provided on the substrate and spaced apart from the first memory cell, a passivation layer extending along a side surface of the first memory cell and a side surface of the second memory cell, and a gap fill layer covering the passivation layer. Each of the first memory cell and the second memory cell includes a selection pattern having ovonic threshold switching characteristics, and a storage pattern provided on the selection pattern. The passivation layer includes a lower portion filling a space between the selection pattern of the first memory cell and the selection pattern of the second memory cell, and an upper portion extending along a side surface of the storage pattern of each of the first memory cell and the second memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Sung Choi, Jong Uk Kim, Kwang Min Park, Zhe Wu, Ja Bin Lee, Jae Ho Jung
  • Patent number: 11742347
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, and first and second semiconductor fins extending from the substrate and lengthwise aligned along a first direction. The semiconductor structure further includes an isolation structure over the substrate and adjacent to sidewalls of the semiconductor fins, and first and second gate structures oriented lengthwise along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. The first and the second gate structures are disposed over the isolation structure. The first gate structure is disposed over the first semiconductor fin. The second gate structure is disposed over the second semiconductor fin. The semiconductor structure further includes a spacer layer that is disposed on a sidewall of the first gate structure and on a sidewall of the second gate structure and extends continuously through a trench between an end of the first semiconductor fin and an end of the second semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 11690216
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region formed in a substrate. The first source/drain region and the second source/drain region are separated by the channel. The example apparatus further includes a gate separated from the channel by a dielectric material and an access line formed in a high aspect ratio trench connected to the gate. The access line includes a first titanium nitride (TiN) material formed in the trench, a metal material formed over the first TiN material, and a second TiN material formed over the metal material. The example apparatus further includes a sense line coupled to the first source/drain region and a storage node coupled to the second source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Clement Jacob
  • Patent number: 11610896
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device includes a stack structure on the substrate. The stack structure includes a first insulating material and a second insulating material that is on the first insulating material. The semiconductor device includes a spacer that extends from a sidewall of the first insulating material of the stack structure to a portion of a sidewall of the second insulating material of the stack structure. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes a conductive line that is on the spacer. Methods of forming semiconductor devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Daeik Kim, Bong-Soo Kim, Jemin Park, Taejin Park, Yoosang Hwang
  • Patent number: 11588039
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region in a substrate, at least one nano-sheet on the substrate and spaced apart from a top surface of the active region, a gate above or below the nano-sheet, a gate insulating layer between the at least one nano-sheet and the gate, and source/drain regions on the active region at both sides of the at least one nano-sheet. The at least one nano-sheet includes a channel region; a gate disposed above or below the nano-sheet and including a single metal layer having different compositions of metal atoms of a surface and an inside thereof; a gate insulating layer between the nano-sheet and the gate; and source/drain regions disposed in the active region of both sides of the at least one nano-sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan-hyeong Lee, Hoon-joo Na, Sung-in Suh, Min-woo Song, Byoung-hoon Lee, Hu-yong Lee, Sang-jin Hyun
  • Patent number: 11545556
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with an air gap between gate-all-around (GAA) transistors and a method for forming the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first gate stack and a second gate stack disposed over a semiconductor substrate. At least one of the first gate stack and the second gate stack includes a plurality of gate layers, and the first gate stack and the second gate stack have an air gap therebetween. The semiconductor device also includes a first gate structure and a second gate structure disposed over the first gate stack and the second gate stack, respectively, and a first dielectric layer surrounds lower sidewalls of the first gate structure and lower sidewalls of the second gate structure. A width of the first gate structure is greater than a width of the first plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPOARTION
    Inventor: Chih-Tsung Wu
  • Patent number: 11538923
    Abstract: A method for etching back a hard mask layer on top of dummy polysilicon gates in a gate last process comprises: step 1: forming a plurality of dummy gate structures; step 2: depositing a spin-on carbon (SOC) layer to fill the space regions between the sidewalls of the dummy gate structures to a level above the top surface of each of the plurality of dummy gate structures; step 3: performing a first etching-back to the spin-on carbon layer to remove the SOC layer outside the space regions and keep the SOC layer in the space regions below the top surfaces of each of dummy polysilicon gate; step 4: performing a second etching-back by using the remaining spin-on carbon layer as a mask to remove the hard mask layer and the sidewalls of the dummy polysilicon gates on both sides of the hard mask layer at the same time; step 5: removing the SOC layer. This technique saves one photomask and improves the process window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HUALI INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shidong Fu, Ran Huang, Bohan Jiang, Ying Xu
  • Patent number: 11495673
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical fin field effect device is provided. The method includes, forming a vertical fin on a substrate, forming a masking block on the vertical fin, wherein the masking block extends a distance outward from the vertical fin sidewalls and endwalls, and a portion of the substrate surrounding the masking block is exposed. The method further includes removing at least a portion of the exposed portion of the substrate to form a recess and a fin mesa below the vertical fin, removing a portion of the fin mesa to form an undercut recess below an overhanging portion of the masking block, forming a spacer layer on the masking block and in the undercut recess, and removing a portion of the spacer layer to form an undercut spacer in the undercut recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Wenyu Xu
  • Patent number: 11335692
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a non-volatile flash memory device and a manufacturing method thereof. The non-volatile flash memory device comprises at least a plurality of memory cells in a memory area. The manufacturing method comprises: providing a substrate, and defining the memory area of the non-volatile flash memory device on the substrate; forming a plurality of stack gates of the plurality of memory cells on a substrate corresponding to the memory area, and the top of each stack gate is a memory control gate of the memory cell; etching the memory control gates to reduce the height of the memory control gates with the fluid photoresist filled among the plurality of stack gates of the plurality of memory cells as a mask; and removing the fluid photoresist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HUALI INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiwei Wang, Jinshuang Zhang, Haoyu Chen, Rong Zou, Juanjuan Li
  • Patent number: 10483369
    Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a sacrificial gate structure above a semiconductor substrate, the sacrificial gate structure comprising a sacrificial gate insulation layer and a multi-layer sacrificial gate electrode structure, removing the sacrificial gate structure to form a replacement gate cavity, and forming a replacement gate structure in the replacement gate cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Haigou Huang, Xusheng Wu, Jinsheng Gao
  • Patent number: 9620610
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a n-type gate structure over a first semiconductor fin, in which the n-type gate structure includes a n-type work function metal layer overlying the first high-k dielectric layer. The n-type work function metal layer includes a TiAl (titanium aluminum) alloy, in which an atom ratio of Ti (titanium) to Al (aluminum) is in a range substantially from 1 to 3. The semiconductor device further includes a p-type gate structure over a second semiconductor fin, in which the p-type gate structure includes a p-type work function metal layer overlying the second high-k dielectric layer. The p-type work function metal layer includes titanium nitride (TiN), in which an atom ratio of Ti to N (nitrogen) is in a range substantially from 1:0.9 to 1:1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiu-Ko Jangjian, Chi-Cheng Hung, Chi-Wen Liu, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 9472646
    Abstract: A transistor includes a substrate having an active region defined by an isolation layer; a first trench defined in the active region and a second trench defined in the isolation layer; a fin region formed under the first trench; and a buried gate electrode covering sidewalls of the fin region and filling the first and second trenches. The buried gate electrode includes a first work function layer formed on the sidewalls of the fin region; a second work function layer formed on sidewalls of the first trench and the second trench; a third work function layer positioned over the fin region and contacting the second work function layer; and a low resistance layer contacting the third work function layer and partially filling the first and second trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-Kyung Oh
  • Patent number: 9240453
    Abstract: A transistor includes a substrate having an active region defined by an isolation layer; a first trench defined in the active region and a second trench defined in the isolation layer; a fin region formed under the first trench; and a buried gate electrode covering sidewalls of the fin region and filling the first and second trenches. The buried gate electrode includes a first work function layer formed on the sidewalls of the fin region; a second work function layer formed on sidewalls of the first trench and the second trench; a third work function layer positioned over the fin region and contacting the second work function layer; and a low resistance layer contacting the third work function layer and partially filling the first and second trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-Kyung Oh
  • Patent number: 9012320
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device including an electrode structure on a substrate, the electrode structure including at least one conductive pattern on a lower electrode, and a semiconductor pattern extending through the electrode structure to the substrate. A vertical insulating layer may be between the semiconductor pattern and the electrode structure, and a lower insulating layer may be between the lower electrode and the substrate. The lower insulating layer may be between a bottom surface of the vertical insulating layer and a top surface of the substrate. Example embodiments related to methods for fabricating the foregoing three-dimensional semiconductor memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaegoo Lee, Kil-Su Jeong, Hansoo Kim, Youngwoo Park
  • Patent number: 8994086
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device which is non-volatile, easily manufactured, and can be additionally written. A semiconductor device of the invention includes a plurality of transistors, a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the transistors, and a memory element which overlaps one of the plurality of transistors, and a conductive layer which functions as an antenna. The memory element includes a first conductive layer, an organic compound layer and a phase change layer, and a second conductive layer stacked in this order. The conductive layer which functions as an antenna and a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the plurality of transistors are provided on the same layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hiroko Abe, Yukie Nemoto, Ryoji Nomura, Mikio Yukawa
  • Patent number: 8940626
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a first layer of a workfunction material in a first trench of a plurality of trench structures formed over a silicon substrate, the first trench having a first length and forming a second layer of a workfunction material in a second trench, the second trench having a second length that is longer than the first length. The method further includes depositing a low-resistance fill material onto the integrated circuit to fill any unfilled trenches with the low-resistance fill material and etching the low resistance fill material, the first layer, and the second layer to re-expose a portion of each trench of the plurality of trenches, while leaving a portion of each of the first layer, the second layer, and the low-resistance fill material in place. Still further, the method includes depositing a gate fill material into each re-exposed trench portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Pranatharthi Haran Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 8921217
    Abstract: Integrated circuits containing transistors are provided. A transistor may include a gate structure formed over an associated well region. The well region may be actively biased and may serve as a body terminal. The well region of one transistor may be formed adjacent to a gate structure of a neighboring transistor. If the gate structure of the neighboring transistor and the well region of the one transistor are both actively biased and are placed close to one another, substantial leakage may be generated. Computer-aided design tools may be used to identify actively driven gate terminals and well regions and may be used to determine whether each gate-well pair is spaced sufficiently far from one another. If a gate-well pair is too close, the design tools may locate an existing gate cut layer and extend the existing gate cut layer to cut the actively driven gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Wuu-Cherng Lin, Fangyun Richter, Che Ta Hsu, Wen Sun Wu
  • Patent number: 8866123
    Abstract: A vertical chain memory includes two-layer select transistors having first select transistors which are vertical transistors arranged in a matrix, and second select transistors which are vertical transistors formed on the respective first select transistors, and a plurality of memory cells connected in series on the two-layer select transistors. With this configuration, the adjacent select transistors are prevented from being selected by respective shared gates, the plurality of two-layer select transistors can be selected, independently, and a storage capacity of a non-volatile storage device is prevented from being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasago, Masaharu Kinoshita, Takahiro Morikawa, Akio Shima, Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8846516
    Abstract: Dielectric materials having implanted metal sites and methods of their fabrication have been described. Such materials are suitable for use as charge-trapping nodes of non-volatile memory cells for memory devices. By incorporating metal sites into dielectric charge-trapping materials using an ammonia plasma and a metal source in contact with the plasma, improved programming and erase voltages may be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8809139
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are a FinFET device, and methods of forming a FinFET device. An embodiment is a method for forming a FinFET device, the method comprising forming a semiconductor strip over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor strip is disposed in a dielectric layer, forming a gate over the semiconductor strip and the dielectric layer, and forming a first recess and a second recess in the semiconductor strip, wherein the first recess is on an opposite side of the gate from the second recess. The method further comprises forming a source region in the first recess and a drain region in the second recess, and recessing the dielectric layer, wherein a first portion of the semiconductor strip extends above a top surface of the dielectric layer forming a semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Lien Huang, Ming-Huan Tsai, Clement Hsingjen Wann
  • Patent number: 8779576
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a wafer level package includes a rerouting pattern formed on a semiconductor substrate and a first encapsulant pattern overlying the rerouting pattern. The first encapsulant pattern has a via hole to expose a portion of the rerouting pattern. The package additionally includes an external connection terminal formed on the exposed portion of the rerouting pattern. An upper section of the sidewall and a sidewall of the external connection terminal may be separated by a gap distance. The gap distance may increase toward an upper surface of the encapsulant pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-wook Park, Nam-seog Kim, Seung-duk Baek
  • Patent number: 8772866
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a buried gate formed by being buried under a surface of a semiconductor substrate, a dummy gate formed on the buried gate, and a landing plug formed on a junction region of the semiconductor substrate being adjacent to the dummy gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Pyo Hong
  • Patent number: 8766446
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprising a stacked unit, a semiconductor pillar, a charge storage layer, and a non-insulating film. The stacked unit includes first conductive layers and first insulating layers which are stacked alternately. The semiconductor pillar passes through the stacked body and the semiconductor pillar has a tubular structure. The charge storage layer is provided between the semiconductor pillar and each of the first conductive layers. The non-insulating film is provided inside the tubular structure and has a non-insulating member. The first effective impurity concentration of the non-insulating film is lower than a second effective impurity concentration of the semiconductor pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuhito Kuge, Naoki Yasuda, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Tomoko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8742488
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a three-dimensional semiconductor memory device including an electrode structure on a substrate, the electrode structure including at least one conductive pattern on a lower electrode, and a semiconductor pattern extending through the electrode structure to the substrate. A vertical insulating layer may be between the semiconductor pattern and the electrode structure, and a lower insulating layer may be between the lower electrode and the substrate. The lower insulating layer may be between a bottom surface of the vertical insulating layer and a top surface of the substrate. Example embodiments related to methods for fabricating the foregoing three-dimensional semiconductor memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaegoo Lee, Kil-Su Jeong, Hansoo Kim, Youngwoo Park
  • Patent number: 8741761
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing three-dimensional semiconductor devices that may include forming a first spacer on a sidewall inside a first opening formed in a first stack structure, forming a sacrificial filling pattern on the spacer to fill the first opening, forming a second stack structure including a second opening exposing the sacrificial filling pattern on the first stack structure, forming a second spacer on a sidewall inside the second opening, removing the sacrificial filling pattern and removing the first spacer and the second spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaegoo Lee, Byungkwan You, Youngwoo Park, Kwang Soo Seol
  • Patent number: 8664062
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flash memory cell includes providing a substrate having a first dielectric layer formed thereon, forming a control gate on the first dielectric layer, forming an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) spacer on sidewalls of the control gate, forming a second dielectric layer on the substrate at two sides of the ONO spacer, and forming a floating gate at outer sides of the ONO spacer on the second dielectric layer, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Memory Company
    Inventors: Yung-Chang Lin, Nan-Ray Wu, Le-Tien Jung
  • Patent number: 8659077
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a field-effect transistor (FET) replacement gate apparatus. The apparatus includes a channel structure including a base and side walls defining a trench. A high-dielectric constant (high-k) layer is formed on the base and side walls of the trench. The high-k layer has an upper surface conforming to a shape of the trench. A first layer is formed on the high-k layer and conforms to the shape of the trench. The first layer includes an aluminum-free metal nitride. A second layer is formed on the first layer and conforms to the shape of the trench. The second layer includes aluminum and at least one other metal. A third layer is formed on the second layer and conforms to the shape of the trench. The third layer includes aluminum-free metal nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Aritra Dasgupta, Unoh Kwon, Sean M. Polvino
  • Patent number: 8647972
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a field-effect transistor (FET) replacement gate apparatus. The apparatus includes one or more of a substrate and insulator including a base and side walls defining a trench. A high-dielectric constant (high-k) layer is formed on the base and side walls of the trench. The high-k layer has an upper surface conforming to a shape of the trench. A first layer is formed on the high-k layer and conforms to the shape of the trench. The first layer includes an aluminum-free metal nitride. A second layer is formed on the first layer and conforms to the shape of the trench. The second layer includes aluminum and at least one other metal. A third layer is formed on the second layer and conforms to the shape of the trench. The third layer includes aluminum-free metal nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Aritra Dasgupta, Unoh Kwon, Sean M. Polvino
  • Patent number: 8642459
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device. One embodiment provides a semiconductor substrate having a trench with a sidewall isolation. The sidewall isolation is removed in a portion of the trench. A gate dielectric is formed on the laid open sidewall. A gate electrode is formed adjacent to the date dielectric. The upper surface of the gate electrode is located at a depth d1 below the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The gate oxide is removed above the gate electrode. An isolation is formed simultaneously on the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate such that the absolute value of height difference d2 between the isolation over the gate electrode and the isolation over the semiconductor substrate is smaller than the depth d1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Martin Poelzl
  • Patent number: 8642471
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method can effectively reduce the contact resistance between source/drain regions and a contact layer by forming two contact layers of different thickness on the surfaces of the source/drain regions. Further, the present invention provides a semiconductor structure, which has reduced the contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: The institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Science
    Inventors: Haizhou Yin, Jun Luo, Huilong Zhu, Zhijiong Luo
  • Patent number: 8633569
    Abstract: III-N material grown on a silicon substrate includes a single crystal rare earth oxide layer positioned on a silicon substrate. The rare earth oxide is substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the silicon substrate. A first layer of III-N material is positioned on the surface of the rare earth oxide layer. An inter-layer of aluminum nitride (AlN) is positioned on the surface of the first layer of III-N material and an additional layer of III-N material is positioned on the surface of the inter-layer of aluminum nitride. The inter-layer of aluminum nitride and the additional layer of III-N material are repeated n-times to reduce or engineer strain in a final III-N layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Translucent, Inc.
    Inventors: Erdem Arkun, Michael Lebby, Andrew Clark, Rytis Dargis
  • Publication number: 20140008720
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a first layer of a workfunction material in a first trench of a plurality of trench structures formed over a silicon substrate, the first trench having a first length and forming a second layer of a workfunction material in a second trench, the second trench having a second length that is longer than the first length. The method further includes depositing a low-resistance fill material onto the integrated circuit to fill any unfilled trenches with the low-resistance fill material and etching the low resistance fill material, the first layer, and the second layer to re-expose a portion of each trench of the plurality of trenches, while leaving a portion of each of the first layer, the second layer, and the low-resistance fill material in place. Still further, the method includes depositing a gate fill material into each re-exposed trench portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation, Globalfoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Pranatharthi Haran Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 8592312
    Abstract: In one disclosed embodiment, the present method for depositing a conductive capping layer on metal lines comprises forming metal lines on a dielectric layer, applying a voltage to the metal lines, and depositing the conductive capping layer on the metal lines. The applied voltage increases the selectivity of the deposition process used, thereby preventing the conductive capping layer from causing a short between the metal lines. The conductive capping layer may be deposited through electroplating, electrolessly, by atomic layer deposition (ALD), or by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), for example. In one embodiment, the present method is utilized to fabricate a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, the metal lines comprise copper lines, while the conductive capping layer may comprise tantalum or cobalt. The present method enables deposition of a capping layer having high electromigration resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: E. Todd Ryan, John A. Iacoponi
  • Publication number: 20130286516
    Abstract: Protecting a gate dielectric is achieved with a gate dielectric protection circuit coupled to a transistor at risk. The protection circuit is activated to reduce the voltage across the gate dielectric (VDIFF) to below its breakdown voltage (VBD). The protection circuit is activated when an ESD event is detected. The protection circuit provides a protection or ESD bias to reduce VDIFF below VBD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Manjunatha Govinda PRABHU, Mahadeva Iyer NATARAJAN, Da-Wei LAI, Ryan SHAN
  • Patent number: 8558299
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a semiconductor device and methods and apparatuses of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a source and drain region and a gate electrode stack on the substrate between the source and drain regions. The gate electrode stack includes a conductive film layer on a gate dielectric layer, a refractory metal nitride film layer on the conductive film layer, a silicon-containing film layer on the refractory metal nitride film layer, and a tungsten film layer on the silicon-containing film layer. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, wherein the substrate includes a source and drain region, a gate dielectric layer between the source and drain regions, and a conductive film layer on the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Cao, Xianmin Tang, Srinivas Gandikota, Wei D. Wang, Zhendong Liu, Kevin Moraes, Muhammad M. Rasheed, Thanh X. Nguyen, Ananthkrishna Jupudi
  • Publication number: 20130228928
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a stacked body, a second conductive layer, a second insulating layer, a tubular semiconductor pillar, an insulating film and an occlusion film. The second conductive layer is provided on the stacked body. The second insulating layer is provided on the second conductive layer. The tubular semiconductor pillar is provided in such a manner as to pass through the second insulating layer, the second conductive layer and the stacked body. The insulating film is provided between the semiconductor pillar, and the second insulating layer, the second conductive layer and the stacked body. The occlusion film occludes the tube in a lower portion of the portion passing through the second insulating layer in the semiconductor pillar. The tube below the occlusion film in the semiconductor pillar is an air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuhito KUGE, Naoki Yasuda, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Tomoko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20130224952
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The apparatus includes a substrate holder that maintains a substrate such that the processing surface is curved, such as a convex or a concave shape. The substrate is held in place using point contacts, a plurality of continuous contacts extending partially around the substrate, and/or a continuous ring extending completely around the substrate. The processing may include, for example, forming source/drain regions, channel regions, silicides, stress memorization layers, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Ming Chang, Wen-Huei Guo, Chih-Hao Chang, Shou-Zen Chang, Clement Hsingjen Wann, Tung Ying Lee, Cheng-Long Chen, Jui-Chien Huang
  • Patent number: 8519489
    Abstract: An embodiment relates a method comprising creating a reversible change in an electrical property by adsorption of a gas by a composition, wherein the composition comprises a noble metal-containing nanoparticle and a single walled carbon nanotube. Another embodiment relates to a method comprising forming a composition comprising a noble metal-containing nanoparticle and a single walled carbon nanotube and forming a device containing the said composition. Yet another method relates to a device comprising a composition comprising a noble metal-containing nanoparticle and a single walled carbon nanotube on a silicon wafer, wherein the composition exhibits a reversible change in an electrical property by adsorption of a gas by the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Indian Institute of Technology Madras
    Inventors: Pradeep Thalappil, Chandramouli Subramaniam
  • Patent number: 8507355
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing high performance metal-oxide-metal capacitor device that resolves problems with implementing high capacitance in the metal-oxide-metal region by filling with a low-k material both in the metal-oxide-metal region and the metal interconnection region, utilizing performing selective photolithography and etching of the first dielectric layer to define metal-oxide-metal (MOM for short) region, and filling the MOM region with high dielectric constant (high-k) material to realize a high performance MOM capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Shanghai Huali Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Youcun Hu, Lei Li, Chaos Zhang, Feng Ji, Yuwen Chen
  • Patent number: 8471367
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a second oxide film and a pad electrode on a first oxide film that is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate, a contact electrode and a first barrier layer formed in the second oxide film and connected to the pad electrode, a silicide portion formed between the contact electrode and a through-hole electrode layer and connected to the contact electrode and the first barrier layer, a via hole extending from a back surface of the semiconductor substrate to reach the silicide portion and the second oxide film, a third oxide film formed on a sidewall of the via hole and on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a second barrier layer (H) and a rewiring layer formed inside the via hole and on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate and connected to the silicide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Daishiro Saito, Takayuki Kai, Takafumi Okuma, Hitoshi Yamanishi
  • Patent number: 8470681
    Abstract: A resistor with improved switchable resistance includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating dielectric structure between the first and second electrodes. The insulating dielectric structure includes a confined conductive region providing a first resistance state and a second resistance state; the resistance state of the confined conductive region being switchable between the first and second resistance states by a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christophe P. Rossel, Michel Despont
  • Publication number: 20130157451
    Abstract: Integrated circuits containing transistors are provided. A transistor may include a gate structure formed over an associated well region. The well region may be actively biased and may serve as a body terminal. The well region of one transistor may be formed adjacent to a gate structure of a neighboring transistor. If the gate structure of the neighboring transistor and the well region of the one transistor are both actively biased and are placed close to one another, substantial leakage may be generated. Computer-aided design tools may be used to identify actively driven gate terminals and well regions and may be used to determine whether each gate-well pair is spaced sufficiently far from one another. If a gate-well pair is too close, the design tools may locate an existing gate cut layer and extend the existing gate cut layer to cut the actively driven gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Wuu-Cherng Lin, Fangyun Richter, Che Ta Hsu, Wen Sun Wu
  • Publication number: 20130146950
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and manufacture method thereof include a silicide material formed on a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of a gate, wherein the gate having sidewalls on both side surfaces is formed on a substrate. The gate has a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer on each sidewall, the first spacer has a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the horizontal portion is located between the second sidewall spacer and the substrate, the vertical portion is located between the second sidewall spacer and the sidewalls. A protecting layer is selectively deposited on the silicide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: FENGLIAN LI
  • Patent number: 8450191
    Abstract: Methods of forming polysilicon layers are described. The methods include forming a high-density plasma from a silicon precursor in a substrate processing region containing the deposition substrate. The described methods produce polycrystalline films at reduced substrate temperature (e.g. <500° C.) relative to prior art techniques. The availability of a bias plasma power adjustment further enables adjustment of conformality of the formed polysilicon layer. When dopants are included in the high density plasma, they may be incorporated into the polysilicon layer in such a way that they do not require a separate activation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Anchuan Wang, Xiaolin Chen, Young S. Lee
  • Patent number: 8436405
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a read only memory (ROM) cell array. The ROM cell array includes a plurality of fin active regions oriented in a first direction and formed on a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of gates formed on the plurality of fin active regions and oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality of ROM cells formed by the plurality of fin active regions and the plurality of gates, the plurality of ROM cells being coded such that each cell of a first subset of ROM cells has a source electrically connected to a power line, and each cell of a second subset of ROM cells has a source electrically isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw