Patents Assigned to TESSERA LLC
  • Patent number: 12106963
    Abstract: A method of forming a structure for etch masking that includes forming first dielectric spacers on sidewalls of a plurality of mandrel structures and forming non-mandrel structures in space between adjacent first dielectric spacers. Second dielectric spacers are formed on sidewalls of an etch mask having a window that exposes a connecting portion of a centralized first dielectric spacer. The connecting portion of the centralized first dielectric spacer is removed. The mandrel structures and non-mandrel structures are removed selectively to the first dielectric spacers to provide an etch mask. The connecting portion removed from the centralized first dielectric spacer provides an opening connecting a first trench corresponding to the mandrel structures and a second trench corresponding to the non-mandrel structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Sean D. Burns, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Matthew E. Colburn, Nelson M. Felix, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Christopher J. Penny, Roger A. Quon, Nicole A. Saulnier
  • Patent number: 12087685
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a semiconductor structure having a dual-layer interconnect and a barrier layer. The interconnect structure combines a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a barrier layer disposed between. The result is a low via resistance combined with improved electromigration performance. In one embodiment, the first conductive layer is copper, the second conductive layer is cobalt, and the barrier layer is tantalum nitride. A barrier layer is not used in other embodiments. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Takeshi Nogami, Raghuveer R. Patlolla
  • Patent number: 12074165
    Abstract: A method of forming a power rail to semiconductor devices comprising removing a portion of the gate structure forming a gate cut trench separating a first active region of fin structures from a second active region of fin structures. A conformal etch stop layer is formed in the gate cut trench. A fill material is formed on the conformal etch stop layer filling at least a portion of the gate cut trench. The fill material has a composition that is etched selectively to the conformal etch stop layer. A power rail is formed in the gate cut trench. The conformal etch stop layer obstructs lateral etching during forming the power rail to substantially eliminate power rail to gate structure shorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Andrew M. Greene, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 12062703
    Abstract: A fin-shaped field effect transistor (finFET) device comprising includes a substrate. an insulating layer displaced over the substrate, and a fin. The device also includes a gate formed over the fin, the gate including: a gate stack; and a high-k dielectric on opposing side of the gate stack. The device further includes metallic source and drain regions formed over the fin and on opposing sides of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega
  • Patent number: 12033892
    Abstract: A method of forming fully aligned vias in a semiconductor device, the method including forming a first level interconnect line embedded in a first interlevel dielectric (ILD), selectively depositing a dielectric on the first interlevel dielectric, laterally etching the selectively deposited dielectric, depositing a dielectric cap layer and a second level interlevel dielectric on top of the first interlevel dielectric, and forming a via opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TESSERA LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin David Briggs, Joe Lee, Theodorus Eduardus Standaert
  • Patent number: 11978639
    Abstract: First lithography and etching are carried out on a semiconductor structure to provide a first intermediate semiconductor structure having a first set of surface features corresponding to a first portion of desired fin formation mandrels. Second lithography and etching are carried out on the first intermediate structure, using a second mask, to provide a second intermediate semiconductor structure having a second set of surface features corresponding to a second portion of the mandrels. The second set of surface features are unequally spaced from the first set of surface features and/or the features have different pitch. The fin formation mandrels are formed in the second intermediate semiconductor structure using the first and second sets of surface features; spacer material is deposited over the mandrels and is etched back to form a third intermediate semiconductor structure having a fin pattern. Etching is carried out on same to produce the fin pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Fee Li Lie, Dongbing Shao, Robert C. Wong, Yongan Xu
  • Patent number: 11929286
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes fins that have a 2D material, such as Graphene, upon at least the fin sidewalls. The thickness of the 2D material sidewall may be tuned to achieve desired finFET band gap control. Neighboring fins of the semiconductor structure form fin wells. The semiconductor structure may include a fin cap upon each fin and the 2D material is formed upon the sidewalls of the fin and the bottom surface of the fin wells. The semiconductor structure may include a well-plug at the bottom of the fin wells and the 2D material is formed upon the sidewalls and upper surface of the fins. The semiconductor structure may include both fin caps and well-plugs such that the 2D material is formed upon the sidewalls of the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Sami Rosenblatt, Rasit O. Topaloglu
  • Patent number: 11881433
    Abstract: A device relates to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a narrow-line bamboo microstructure integrated within a metal layer of the semiconductor device and a narrow-line polycrystalline microstructure. The narrow-line polycrystalline microstructure is integrated within the same metal layer as the narrow-line bamboo microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 11837501
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device having a vertical metal line interconnect (via) fully aligned to a first direction of a first interconnect layer and a second direction of a second interconnect layer in a selective recess region by forming a plurality of metal lines in a first dielectric layer; and recessing in a recess region first portions of the plurality of metal lines such that top surfaces of the first portions of the plurality of metal lines are below a top surface of the first dielectric layer; wherein a non-recess region includes second portions of the plurality of metal lines that are outside the recess region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TESSERA LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Jessica Dechene, Elbert Huang, Joe Lee, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 11830845
    Abstract: Apparatuses relating to a microelectronic package are disclosed. In one such apparatus, a substrate has first contacts on an upper surface thereof. A microelectronic die has a lower surface facing the upper surface of the substrate and having second contacts on an upper surface of the microelectronic die. Wire bonds have bases joined to the first contacts and have edge surfaces between the bases and corresponding end surfaces. A first portion of the wire bonds are interconnected between a first portion of the first contacts and the second contacts. The end surfaces of a second portion of the wire bonds are above the upper surface of the microelectronic die. A dielectric layer is above the upper surface of the substrate and between the wire bonds. The second portion of the wire bonds have uppermost portions thereof bent over to be parallel with an upper surface of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TESSERA LLC
    Inventors: Hiroaki Sato, Teck-Gyu Kang, Belgacem Haba, Philip R. Osborn, Wei-Shun Wang, Ellis Chau, Ilyas Mohammed, Norihito Masuda, Kazuo Sakuma, Kiyoaki Hashimoto, Kurosawa Inetaro, Tomoyuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11804405
    Abstract: Low capacitance and high reliability interconnect structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a copper based interconnect structure in an opening of a dielectric material. The method further includes forming a capping layer on the copper based interconnect structure. The method further includes oxidizing the capping layer and any residual material formed on a surface of the dielectric material. The method further includes forming a barrier layer on the capping layer by outdiffusing a material from the copper based interconnect structure to a surface of the capping layer. The method further includes removing the residual material, while the barrier layer on the surface of the capping layer protects the capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Son V. Nguyen, Takeshi Nogami, Deepika Priyadarshini, Hosadurga Shobha
  • Patent number: 11798852
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming a first layer cap at ends of layers of first channel material in a stack of alternating layers of first channel material and second channel material. A second layer cap is formed at ends of the layers of second channel material. The first layer caps are etched away in a first device region. The second layer caps are etched away in a second device region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Peng Xu, Wenyu Xu
  • Patent number: 11776957
    Abstract: A method of forming a power rail to semiconductor devices comprising removing a portion of the gate structure forming a gate cut trench separating a first active region of fin structures from a second active region of fin structures. A conformal etch stop layer is formed in the gate cut trench. A fill material is formed on the conformal etch stop layer filling at least a portion of the gate cut trench. The fill material has a composition that is etched selectively to the conformal etch stop layer. A power rail is formed in the gate cut trench. The conformal etch stop layer obstructs lateral etching during forming the power rail to substantially eliminate power rail to gate structure shorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TESSERA LLC
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Andrew M. Greene, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 11710658
    Abstract: A method of forming fully aligned vias in a semiconductor device, the method including forming a first level interconnect line embedded in a first interlevel dielectric (ILD), selectively depositing a dielectric on the first interlevel dielectric, laterally etching the selectively deposited dielectric, depositing a dielectric cap layer and a second level interlevel dielectric on top of the first interlevel dielectric, and forming a via opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TESSERA LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin David Briggs, Joe Lee, Theodorus Eduardus Standaert
  • Patent number: 11699591
    Abstract: First lithography and etching are carried out on a semiconductor structure to provide a first intermediate semiconductor structure having a first set of surface features corresponding to a first portion of desired fin formation mandrels. Second lithography and etching are carried out on the first intermediate structure, using a second mask, to provide a second intermediate semiconductor structure having a second set of surface features corresponding to a second portion of the mandrels. The second set of surface features are unequally spaced from the first set of surface features and/or the features have different pitch. The fin formation mandrels are formed in the second intermediate semiconductor structure using the first and second sets of surface features; spacer material is deposited over the mandrels and is etched back to form a third intermediate semiconductor structure having a fin pattern. Etching is carried out on same to produce the fin pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Fee Li Lie, Dongbing Shao, Robert C. Wong, Yongan Xu
  • Patent number: 11682715
    Abstract: Fabricating a nanosheet transistor includes receiving a substrate structure having a set of nanosheet layers stacked upon a substrate, the set of nanosheet layers including at least one silicon (Si) layer, at least one silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer, a fin formed in the nanosheet layers, a gate region formed within the fin, and a trench region adjacent to the fin. A top sacrificial spacer is formed upon the fin and the trench region and etched to form a trench in the trench region. An indentation is formed within the SiGe layer in the trench region, and a sacrificial inner spacer is formed within the indentation. A source/drain (S/D) region is formed within the trench. The sacrificial top spacer and sacrificial inner spacer are etched to form an inner spacer cavity between the S/D region and the SiGe layer. An inner spacer is formed within the inner spacer cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Julien Frougier, Nicolas Loubet
  • Patent number: 11676854
    Abstract: A method is presented forming a fully-aligned via (FAV) and airgaps within a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a plurality of copper (Cu) trenches within an insulating layer, forming a plurality of ILD regions over exposed portions of the insulating layer, selectively removing a first section of the ILD regions in an airgap region, and maintaining a second section of the ILD regions in a non-airgap region. The method further includes forming airgaps in the airgap region and forming a via in the non-airgap region contacting a Cu trench of the plurality of Cu trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Penny, Benjamin D. Briggs, Huai Huang, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Michael Rizzolo, Hosadurga Shobha
  • Patent number: 11670510
    Abstract: A method of forming a structure for etch masking that includes forming first dielectric spacers on sidewalls of a plurality of mandrel structures and forming non-mandrel structures in space between adjacent first dielectric spacers. Second dielectric spacers are formed on sidewalls of an etch mask having a window that exposes a connecting portion of a centralized first dielectric spacer. The connecting portion of the centralized first dielectric spacer is removed. The mandrel structures and non-mandrel structures are removed selectively to the first dielectric spacers to provide an etch mask. The connecting portion removed from the centralized first dielectric spacer provides an opening connecting a first trench corresponding to the mandrel structures and a second trench corresponding to the non-mandrel structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Sean D. Burns, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Matthew E. Colburn, Nelson M. Felix, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Christopher J. Penny, Roger A. Quon, Nicole A. Saulnier
  • Patent number: RE49954
    Abstract: A method of forming two or more nano-sheet devices with varying electrical gate lengths, including, forming at least two cut-stacks including a plurality of sacrificial release layers and at least one alternating nano-sheet channel layer on a substrate, removing a portion of the plurality of sacrificial release layers to form indentations having an indentation depth in the plurality of sacrificial release layers, and removing a portion of the at least one alternating nano-sheet channel layer to form a recess having a recess depth in the at least one alternating nano-sheet channel layers, where the recess depth is greater than the indentation depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TESSERA LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: RE50174
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor fin portion having an end wall and extending upward from a substrate. A gate structure straddles a portion of the semiconductor fin portion. A first set of gate spacers is located on opposing sidewall surfaces of the gate structure; and a second set of gate spacers is located on sidewalls of the first set of gate spacers. One gate spacer of the second set of gate spacers has a lower portion that directly contacts the end wall of the semiconductor fin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Tessera LLC
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Derrick Liu, Soon-Cheon Seo, Stuart A. Sieg