Patents by Inventor Anton Devilliers

Anton Devilliers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210043630
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a semiconductor apparatus including a first stack of transistors and a second stack of transistors. The first stack includes a first transistor and a second transistor stacked on the first transistor along a Z direction perpendicular to a substrate plane. The second stack includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor stacked on the third transistor along the Z direction. The semiconductor apparatus includes a first routing track and a second routing track electrically isolated from the first routing track. The first and second routing tracks extend in an X direction parallel to the substrate plane. A first and fourth conductive trace conductively couple a first gate of the first transistor and a fourth gate of the fourth transistor to the first routing track, respectively. A first terminal structure conductively couples four source/drain terminals of the first, second, third and fourth transistors, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Lars Liebmann, Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers, Daniel Chanemougame
  • Patent number: 10916637
    Abstract: A method of forming a gate-all-around semiconductor device, includes providing a substrate having a layered fin structure thereon. The layered fin structure includes a channel portion and a sacrificial portion each extending along a length of the layered fin structure, wherein the layered fin structure being covered with replacement gate material. A dummy gate is formed on the replacement gate material over the layered fin structure, wherein the dummy gate having a critical dimension which extends along the length of the layered fin structure. The method further includes forming a gate structure directly under the dummy gate, the gate structure including a metal gate region and gate spacers provided on opposing sides of the metal gate region, wherein a total critical dimension of the gate structure is equal to the critical dimension of the dummy gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers
  • Publication number: 20210035981
    Abstract: A self-aligned multiple patterning (SAMP) process is disclosed for formation of structures on substrates. The process provides improved local critical dimension uniformity by using a first (lower) multicolor array pattern and second (upper) multicolor array pattern. The dimensions of finally formed structures are defined by the overlap of a first spacer that is formed as part of the first multicolor array pattern and a second spacer that is formed as part of the second multicolor array pattern. The spacer widths which control the critical dimension of the formed structure may be highly uniform due to the nature of spacer formation and the use of an atomic layer deposition process for forming the spacer layers of the both first (lower) multicolor array pattern and second (upper) multicolor array pattern. In one embodiment, the structure formed by a memory hole pattern for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Toshiharu Wada, Akiteru Ko, Anton deVilliers
  • Publication number: 20210035967
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an array of unit cells, each unit cell of which including field effect transistors arranged in a stack. Local interconnect structures form select conductive paths between select terminals of the field effect transistors to define cell circuitry that is confined within each unit cell. An array of contacts is disposed on an accessible surface of the unit cell, where each contact is electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical node of the cell circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Lars Liebmann, Jeffrey Smith, Daniel Chanemougame, Anton DeVilliers
  • Publication number: 20200381430
    Abstract: A 3D IC includes a substrate having a substrate surface, a first stack of semiconductor devices stacked along a thickness direction of the substrate, and a second stack of semiconductor devices stacked along the thickness direction of the substrate and provided adjacent to the first stack in a direction along the substrate surface. Each semiconductor device of the first and second stack includes a gate and a pair of source-drain regions provided on opposite sides of the respective gate, and each gate of the first and second stack is a split gate. A gate contact is physically connected to a first split gate of a first one of the semiconductor devices. The gate contact forms at least part of a local interconnect structure that electrically connects the first semiconductor device to a second semiconductor device in the 3D IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Lars Liebmann, Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers, Daniel Chanemougame
  • Publication number: 20200338510
    Abstract: A method and a system are described for mixing liquid chemicals at dynamically changing or static ratios during a given dispense, with extremely high uniformity and repeatability. A mixer includes multiple fluid supply lines including elongate bladders defining a linear flow path and being configured to laterally expand to collect a process fluid and laterally contract to deliver a selected volume of the process fluid to the mixer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ronald W. NASMAN, Lior Huli, Anton DeVilliers, Rodney Robison, Norman Jacobson, James Grootegoed
  • Publication number: 20200303256
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate having a planar surface; a first gate-all-around field effect transistor (GAA-FET) provided on said substrate and comprising a first channel having an untrimmed volume of first channel material corresponding to a volume of the first channel material within a first stacked fin structure from which the first channel was formed; and a second GAA-FET provided on said substrate and comprising a second channel having a trimmed volume of second channel material which is less than said untrimmed volume of first channel material by a predetermined trim amount corresponding to a delay adjustment of the second GAA-FET relative to the first GAA-FET, wherein said first and second GAA FETs are electrically connected as complementary FETs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey SMITH, Subhadeep KAL, Anton DEVILLIERS
  • Patent number: 10770479
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first sources/drains and a plurality of first source/drain (S/D) contacts formed over the first sources/drains. The device also includes a plurality of first dielectric caps. Each of the plurality of first dielectric caps is positioned over a respective first S/D contact to cover a top portion and at least a part of side portions of the respective first S/D contact. The device also includes a plurality of second sources/drains and a plurality of second S/D contacts that are staggered over the plurality of first S/D contacts so as to form a stair-case configuration. A plurality of second dielectric caps are formed over the plurality of second S/D contacts. Each of the plurality of second dielectric caps is positioned over a respective second S/D contact to cover a top portion and at least a part of side portions of the respective second S/D contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers, Kandabara Tapily, Jodi Grzeskowiak, Kai-Hung Yu
  • Publication number: 20200266169
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming dummy power rails on a substrate by accessing from a first side of the substrate that is opposite to a second side of the substrate. Further, the method includes forming transistor devices and first wiring layers on the substrate by accessing the first side of the substrate. The dummy power rails are positioned below a level of the transistor devices on the first side of the substrate. Then, the method includes replacing the dummy power rails with conductive power rails by accessing from the second side of the substrate that is opposite to the first side of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hoyoung KANG, Lars LIEBMANN, Jeffrey SMITH, Anton DEVILLIERS, Daniel CHANEMOUGAME
  • Patent number: 10734224
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a starting structure including a substrate having thereon a plurality of gate regions alternately arranged with a plurality of source/drain (S/D) regions, wherein each of the gate regions includes a nanochannel structure having an intermediate portion surrounded by a replacement gate, and opposing end portions surrounded by respective gate spacers such that the nanochannel structure extends through the replacement gate and the gate spacers of the gate region. Each of the S/D regions includes an S/D structure extending through the S/D region to connect nanochannel structures of first and second adjacent gate regions provided on opposing sides of the S/D region respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smith, Anton Devilliers
  • Patent number: 10714391
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate including a first stacked fin structure for forming a channel of a first gate-all-around (GAA) transistor, the first stacked fin structure including an initial volume of first channel material, and a second stacked fin structure for forming a channel of a second GAA transistor, the second stacked fin structure including an initial volume of second channel material; reducing said initial volume of the second channel material relative to the initial volume of first channel material by a predetermined amount corresponding to a delay of the first GAA transistor; and forming first and second GAA gate structures around said first channel material and said second channel material respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smith, Subhadeep Kal, Anton Devilliers
  • Patent number: 10665672
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a layered fin structure thereon. The layered fin structure includes base fin portion, a sacrificial portion provided on the base fin portion and a channel portion provided on the sacrificial portion. A doping source film is provided on the substrate over the layered fin structure, and diffusing doping materials from the doping source film into a portion of the layered fin structure other than the channel portion to form a diffusion doped region in the layered fin structure. An isolation material is provided on the substrate over at least the diffusion doped region of the layered fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers
  • Publication number: 20200152472
    Abstract: Techniques herein include methods for planarizing films including films used in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. Such fabrication can generate structures on a surface of a substrate, and these structures can have a spatially variable density across the surface. Planarization methods herein include depositing a first acid-labile film overtop the structures and the substrate, the first acid-labile film filling between the structures. A second acid-labile film is deposited overtop the first acid-labile film. An acid source film is deposited overtop the second acid-labile film, the acid source film including an acid generator configured to generate an acid in response to receiving radiation having a predetermined wavelength of light. A pattern of radiation is projected over the acid source film, the pattern of radiation having a spatially variable intensity at predetermined areas of the pattern of radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Anton DEVILLIERS, Robert BRANDT, Jeffrey SMITH, Jodi GRZESKOWIAK, Daniel FULFORD
  • Publication number: 20200152473
    Abstract: A processing method includes receiving a substrate containing a base layer having a mandrel pattern formed thereon containing a number of features, conformally depositing a silicon oxide film over the mandrel pattern by coating surfaces of the substrate with a metal-containing catalyst layer, and in the absence of any oxidizing and hydrolyzing agent, exposing the substrate to a process gas containing a silanol gas at a substrate temperature selected to yield a preferred level of stress in the silicon oxide film. The method further includes removing the silicon oxide film from upper surfaces of the mandrel pattern and lower surfaces adjacent the mandrel pattern to leave behind silicon oxide sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the mandrel pattern, and removing the mandrel pattern from the substrate to leave behind the silicon oxide sidewall spacers that form a new pattern having double the number of features of the removed mandrel pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Kandabara N. Tapily, Anton deVilliers, Gerrit J. Leusink
  • Publication number: 20200135718
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate having a substrate surface, a power rail provided in the substrate, and a first tier of semiconductor devices provided in the substrate and positioned over the power rail along a thickness direction of the substrate. A wiring tier is provided in the substrate, and a second tier of semiconductor devices is provided in the substrate and positioned over the wiring tier along the thickness direction. The second tier of semiconductor devices is stacked on the first tier of semiconductor devices in the thickness direction such that the wiring tier is interposed between the first and second tiers of semiconductor devices. A first vertical interconnect structure extends downward from the wiring tier to the first tier of semiconductor devices to electrically connect the wiring tier to a device within the first tier of semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Lars Liebmann, Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers
  • Patent number: 10622233
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technology related to the amelioration (e.g., correction) of global wafer distortion based on a determination of localized distortions of a semiconductor wafer. Herein, a distortion is either an out-of-plane distortion (OPD) or in-plane distortion (IPD). The reference plane for this distortion is based on the plane shared by the surface of a presumptively flat semiconductor wafer. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Joshua Hooge, Nathan Ip, Joel Estrella, Anton Devilliers
  • Patent number: 10525416
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for wetting a filter cartridge used to treat a liquid solvent used in semiconductor manufacture. In the process, a filter cartridge having void spaces wherein the void spaces contain residual gas from the manufacturing process used to make the filter cartridge is connected to a source of purging gas. The purging gas is flowed through the filter cartridge to at least partially displace at least a portion of the residual gas from the manufacturing process used to make the filter cartridge. Next, liquid solvent is pumped through the filter cartridge so that the purging gas dissolves into the liquid solvent and to at least partially fill the void spaces to thereby at least partially wet out the filter cartridge with the liquid solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hoyoung Kang, Anton deVilliers, Corey Lemley
  • Patent number: 10490630
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a layered fin structure thereon. The layered fin structure includes base fin portion, a sacrificial portion provided on the base fin portion and a channel portion provided on the sacrificial portion. A doping source film is provided on the substrate over the layered fin structure, and diffusing doping materials from the doping source film into a portion of the layered fin structure other than the channel portion to form a diffusion doped region in the layered fin structure. An isolation material is provided on the substrate over at least the diffusion doped region of the layered fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers
  • Patent number: 10453850
    Abstract: A 3-D IC includes a substrate having a substrate surface. A first semiconductor device has a first electrical contact and is formed in a first area of the surface on a first plane substantially parallel to the substrate surface. A second semiconductor device has a second electrical contact and is formed in a second area of the surface on a second plane substantially parallel to the surface and vertically spaced from the first plane in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface. A first electrode structure includes opposing top and bottom surfaces substantially parallel to the substrate surface, and a sidewall connecting the top and bottom surfaces such that the electrode structure forms a three dimensional electrode space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smith, Anton deVilliers
  • Publication number: 20190296128
    Abstract: A method of forming a gate-all-around semiconductor device, includes providing a substrate having a layered fin structure thereon. The layered fin structure includes a channel portion and a sacrificial portion each extending along a length of the layered fin structure, wherein the layered fin structure being covered with replacement gate material. A dummy gate is formed on the replacement gate material over the layered fin structure, wherein the dummy gate having a critical dimension which extends along the length of the layered fin structure. The method further includes forming a gate structure directly under the dummy gate, the gate structure including a metal gate region and gate spacers provided on opposing sides of the metal gate region, wherein a total critical dimension of the gate structure is equal to the critical dimension of the dummy gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeffrey SMITH, Anton deVILLIERS