Patents by Inventor Andrew Gaul

Andrew Gaul 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: 12324197
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor (FET) with at least one Gate-All-Around (GAA) channel. A first conductive ferromagnetic Source/Drain contact is electrically connected with a first portion of the GAA channel. A second conductive ferromagnetic Source/Drain contact is electrically connected with a second portion of the GAA channel. A remanent magnetization of the first conductive ferromagnetic contact is oriented in a direction opposite to a remanent magnetization of the second conductive ferromagnetic contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Kangguo Cheng, Ruilong Xie, Chanro Park, Andrew Gaul, Min Gyu Sung
  • Patent number: 12249643
    Abstract: A stacked device is provided. The stacked device includes a plurality of dielectric support bridges on a substrate, and a first two-dimensional (2D) channel layer on each of the plurality of dielectric support bridges. The stacked device further includes a gate dielectric sheet on the first two-dimensional (2D) channel layer, and a second two-dimensional (2D) channel layer on the first two-dimensional (2D) channel layer. The stacked device further includes a second gate dielectric layer on the gate dielectric sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Gaul, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene, Christopher J. Waskiewicz
  • Patent number: 12136656
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are disclosed which comprise semiconductor devices having thin multi-layer channel stacks. In one example, a semiconductor structure comprises a gate structure comprising a multi-layer channel stack. The multi-layer channel stack comprises a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a channel layer disposed between the first and second dielectric layers. The semiconductor structure further comprises a first source/drain region disposed on a first side of the gate structure and in electrical contact with a first end portion of the multi-layer channel stack and a second source/drain region disposed on a second side of the gate structure and in electrical contact with a second end portion of the multi-layer channel stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Gaul, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene, Christopher J. Waskiewicz, Kangguo Cheng
  • Publication number: 20240339509
    Abstract: Embodiments of present invention provide a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a first transistor having a first source/drain region and a second transistor having a second source/drain region; a first source/drain contact around the first source/drain region and a second source/drain contact around the second source/drain region; and a dielectric filler between the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact, wherein the dielectric filler has a first portion on top of a second portion, sidewalls of the first portion of the dielectric filler being linearly tapered to result in a width at a top of the first portion being larger than a width at a bottom of the first portion. A method of forming the same is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Andrew Gaul, Andrew M. Greene, Julien Frougier
  • Publication number: 20240290860
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a gate-all-around field effect transistor disposed over the substrate. The gate-all-around field effect transistor includes a first source-drain region; a second source-drain region; at least one channel region interconnecting the first and second source drain regions; and a gate structure surrounding the at least one channel region. A self-aligned substrate isolation (SASI) layer is located between the substrate and the gate structure and extends over a width of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Nicolas Jean Loubet, Andrew M. Greene, Andrew Gaul, Ruilong Xie, Shogo Mochizuki, Curtis S. Durfee, Eric Miller, Ronald Newhart, Choudhury Mahboob Ellahi, Anthony I. Chou, Susan Ng Emans
  • Publication number: 20240234516
    Abstract: Embodiments of present invention provide a method of forming a gate structure of a transistor. The method includes forming a channel region of the gate structure; forming a high-k dielectric layer covering the channel region; forming a silicon monolayer covering the high-k dielectric layer; forming a sacrificial metal layer covering the silicon monolayer; forming a sacrificial silicon layer covering the sacrificial metal layer; subjecting the gate structure to a thermal anneal process, thereby transforming the silicon monolayer into a nitrogen-containing monolayer; removing the sacrificial silicon layer and the sacrificial metal layer; and forming a gate metal surrounding the channel region of the gate structure. A gate structure formed thereby is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: HUIMEI ZHOU, Andrew Gaul, Nicolas Jean Loubet, MIAOMIAO WANG
  • Publication number: 20240213315
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a gate region, a source/drain region, and a nanosheet semiconductor layer extending continuously across the gate region and the source/drain region. The nanosheet semiconductor layer includes a first portion in the gate region and a second portion in the source/drain region. The source/drain region includes a cladded epitaxial layer wrapping around the second portion of the nanosheet semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene, Curtis S. Durfee, Oleg Gluschenkov, Andrew Gaul
  • Publication number: 20240204079
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a stack of nanosheets supported by the substrate. A plurality of semiconductor channels in the stack of nanosheets includes a top channel. A gate body is coupled to the top channel. The gate body includes a layer of metal positioned on top of the top channel. A spacer body includes a top dielectric layer positioned on top of the layer of metal. A thickness of the layer of metal above the top channel is based on a distance from a bottom surface of the top dielectric layer to a top surface of the top channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew Gaul, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene
  • Publication number: 20240145584
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor (FET) with at least one Gate-All-Around (GAA) channel. A first conductive ferromagnetic Source/Drain contact is electrically connected with a first portion of the GAA channel. A second conductive ferromagnetic Source/Drain contact is electrically connected with a second portion of the GAA channel. A remanent magnetization of the first conductive ferromagnetic contact is oriented in a direction opposite to a remanent magnetization of the second conductive ferromagnetic contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Kangguo Cheng, Ruilong Xie, Chanro Park, Andrew Gaul, Min Gyu Sung
  • Patent number: 11935930
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe FETs with channels that form wrap-around contacts (a female portion of a female/male connection) with metal contacts (a male portion of the female/male connection) in order to connect the channels to the drain and source regions. In one embodiment, a first conductive contact is formed underneath a dummy channel. In addition an encapsulation material wraps around the first conductive contact. The dummy channel and the encapsulation material can then be removed and replaced by the material of the channel which, as a result, include a female portion that wraps around the first conductive contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Kangguo Cheng, Chanro Park, Andrew Gaul
  • Publication number: 20240072041
    Abstract: Techniques for co-integrating gate-all-around nanosheet devices having bottom dielectric isolation with an ideal vertical P-N-P diode on a common substrate are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor structure includes: a diode in a first region of a bulk substrate, where the diode includes P-N-P vertical implanted layers present in the bulk substrate, and a single source/drain region epitaxial material disposed on the P-N-P vertical implanted layers; and a nanosheet device with a bottom dielectric isolation layer in a second region of the bulk substrate. The nanosheet device can include nanosheet channels and gates that surround a portion of each of the nanosheet channels in a gate-all-around configuration. A method of fabricating the present semiconductor structures is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew Gaul, Anthony I. Chou, Julien Frougier, Andrew M. Greene
  • Patent number: 11742350
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to fabrication methods and resulting structures that provide metal gate N/P boundary control in an integrated circuit (IC) using an active gate cut and recess processing scheme. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a gate cut is formed in an N/P boundary between an n-type field effect transistor (FET) and a p-type FET. A first portion of a first work function metal is removed over a channel region of the n-type FET. The gate cut prevents etching a second portion of the first work function metal. The first portion of the first work function metal is replaced with a second work function metal. The gate cut is recessed, and a conductive region is formed on the recessed surface of the gate cut. The conductive region provides electrical continuity across the N/P boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Gaul, Chanro Park, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene, Christopher J. Waskiewicz
  • Publication number: 20230178587
    Abstract: An approach provides a metal-insulator-metal capacitor with a comb-like structure. The metal-insulator-metal capacitor includes a first electrode material forming a central, vertical portion of the first electrode metal and two sets of stacked horizontal portions of the first electrode metal. An insulator material surrounds the first electrode metal and exposes a top surface of the central, vertical portion of the first electrode metal. The metal-insulator-metal capacitor includes a second electrode material surrounding the insulator material. The metal-insulator-metal capacitor includes a first electrode contact connecting to the top surface of the central, vertical portion of the first electrode metal and a second electrode contact connecting to a top surface of the second electrode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Andrew Gaul
  • Publication number: 20230170396
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe FETs with channels connected on the sides to a metal liner. To avoid the difficulties of connecting the sides of the channels to metal liners for the drain and source regions, the embodiments herein form a male/female contact between the channels and the metal liners. In one embodiment, instead of exposing only the end or side surfaces of the channels, an end knob of the channel is exposed. This knob can include the side surface as well as a portion of the top, bottom, front, and back sides of the channel. As such, when the metal liner is deposited on the knob, this metal forms an electrical connection on all sides of the knob. This male/female connection provides a more reliable and lower resistance connection between the channel and the metal liner than using only the end or side surfaces of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Kangguo Cheng, Chanro Park, Andrew Gaul
  • Publication number: 20230170394
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe FETs with channels that form wrap-around contacts (a female portion of a female/male connection) with metal contacts (a male portion of the female/male connection) in order to connect the channels to the drain and source regions. In one embodiment, a first conductive contact is formed underneath a dummy channel. In addition an encapsulation material wraps around the first conductive contact. The dummy channel and the encapsulation material can then be removed and replaced by the material of the channel which, as a result, include a female portion that wraps around the first conductive contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Julien FROUGIER, Ruilong XIE, Kangguo CHENG, Chanro PARK, Andrew GAUL
  • Publication number: 20230143317
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate upon a semiconductor substrate and a second gate upon the semiconductor substrate in line with the first gate. A gate cut dielectric is between the first gate and the second gate. A first gate cap is upon a top surface of the first gate and a second gate cap is upon a top surface of the second gate. A gate cut multilayer structure is between the first gate cap and the second gate cap. The gate cut multilayer structure includes a dielectric between a first substantially vertical spacer and a second substantially vertical spacer. A first sidewall of the multilayer structure is coplanar with an end of the first gate and a second opposing sidewall of the multilayer structure is coplanar with an end of the second gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: CHANRO PARK, Andrew M. Greene, Andrew Gaul, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 11646306
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a substrate divided into a plurality of different regions, where the substrate remains physically together. A first device located in a first region of the plurality of different regions, where the first device has a first height. A second device located in a second region of the plurality of different regions. The second device has a second height and the second device is a different device from the first device. A third device located in a third region of the plurality of different regions. The third device has a third height and the third device is a different device from the first device and the second device. The second height is smaller than the first height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julien Frougier, Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Andrew Gaul, Ruilong Xie
  • Publication number: 20230105783
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures are disclosed which comprise semiconductor devices having thin multi-layer channel stacks. In one example, a semiconductor structure comprises a gate structure comprising a multi-layer channel stack. The multi-layer channel stack comprises a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a channel layer disposed between the first and second dielectric layers. The semiconductor structure further comprises a first source/drain region disposed on a first side of the gate structure and in electrical contact with a first end portion of the multi-layer channel stack and a second source/drain region disposed on a second side of the gate structure and in electrical contact with a second end portion of the multi-layer channel stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: ANDREW GAUL, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene, Christopher J. Waskiewicz, Kangguo Cheng
  • Publication number: 20230093343
    Abstract: A stacked device is provided. The stacked device includes a plurality of dielectric support bridges on a substrate, and a first two-dimensional (2D) channel layer on each of the plurality of dielectric support bridges. The stacked device further includes a gate dielectric sheet on the first two-dimensional (2D) channel layer, and a second two-dimensional (2D) channel layer on the first two-dimensional (2D) channel layer. The stacked device further includes a second gate dielectric layer on the gate dielectric sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Gaul, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene, Christopher J. Waskiewicz
  • Publication number: 20230086785
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to fabrication methods and resulting structures that provide metal gate N/P boundary control in an integrated circuit (IC) using an active gate cut and recess processing scheme. In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a gate cut is formed in an N/P boundary between an n-type field effect transistor (FET) and a p-type FET. A first portion of a first work function metal is removed over a channel region of the n-type FET. The gate cut prevents etching a second portion of the first work function metal. The first portion of the first work function metal is replaced with a second work function metal. The gate cut is recessed, and a conductive region is formed on the recessed surface of the gate cut. The conductive region provides electrical continuity across the N/P boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Gaul, CHANRO PARK, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie, Andrew M. Greene, Christopher J. Waskiewicz