Patents by Inventor Christopher P. Auth

Christopher P. Auth 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: 10553430
    Abstract: Technologies for inverting lithographic patterns are described. In some embodiments the technologies include a method for inverting a lithographic pattern of hole precursors, so as to form one or more high aspect ratio structures on or in a surface of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony A. St. Amour, Christopher P. Auth
  • Publication number: 20200027781
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive interconnect lines in and spaced apart by an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. Individual ones of the plurality of conductive interconnect lines have an upper surface below an upper surface of the ILD layer. An etch-stop layer is on and conformal with the ILD layer and the plurality of conductive interconnect lines, the etch-stop layer having a non-planar upper surface with an uppermost portion of the non-planar upper surface over the ILD layer and a lowermost portion of the non-planar upper surface over the plurality of conductive interconnect lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew W. YEOH, Ruth BRAIN, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Patent number: 10541316
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes first and second gate dielectric layers over a fin. First and second gate electrodes are over the first and second gate dielectric layers, respectively, the first and second gate electrodes both having an insulating cap having a top surface. First dielectric spacer are adjacent the first side of the first gate electrode. A trench contact structure is over a semiconductor source or drain region adjacent first and second dielectric spacers, the trench contact structure comprising an insulating cap on a conductive structure, the insulating cap of the trench contact structure having a top surface substantially co-planar with the insulating caps of the first and second gate electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W. Yeoh, Tahir Ghani, Atul Madhavan, Michael L. Hattendorf, Christopher P. Auth
  • Publication number: 20200013680
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a P-type semiconductor device above a substrate and including first and second semiconductor source or drain regions adjacent first and second sides of a first gate electrode. A first metal silicide layer is directly on the first and second semiconductor source or drain regions. An N-type semiconductor device includes third and fourth semiconductor source or drain regions adjacent first and second sides of a second gate electrode. A second metal silicide layer is directly on the third and fourth semiconductor source or drain regions, respectively. The first metal silicide layer comprises at least one metal species not included in the second metal silicide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. LEIB, Srijit MUKHERJEE, Vinay BHAGWAT, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20200013876
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin. A first isolation structure separates a first end of a first portion of the fin from a first end of a second portion of the fin, the first end of the first portion of the fin having a depth. A gate structure is over the top of and laterally adjacent to the sidewalls of a region of the first portion of the fin. A second isolation structure is over a second end of a first portion of the fin, the second end of the first portion of the fin having a depth different than the depth of the first end of the first portion of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Tahir GHANI, Byron HO, Curtis W. WARD, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Patent number: 10460993
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin. A first isolation structure separates a first end of a first portion of the fin from a first end of a second portion of the fin, the first end of the first portion of the fin having a depth. A gate structure is over the top of and laterally adjacent to the sidewalls of a region of the first portion of the fin. A second isolation structure is over a second end of a first portion of the fin, the second end of the first portion of the fin having a depth different than the depth of the first end of the first portion of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tahir Ghani, Byron Ho, Curtis W. Ward, Michael L. Hattendorf, Christopher P. Auth
  • Patent number: 10410867
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a first gate and a first contact that correspond to a transistor and are on a first fin; a second gate and a second contact that correspond to a transistor and are on a second fin; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) collinear with and between the first and second contacts; wherein (a) the first and second gates are collinear and the first and second contacts are collinear; (b) the ILD includes a recess that comprises a cap layer including at least one of an oxide and a nitride. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Vyom Sharma, Rohan K. Bambery, Christopher P. Auth, Szuya S. Liao, Gaurav Thareja
  • Publication number: 20190245060
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, a method includes forming a plurality of fins and forming a plurality of gate structures over the plurality of fins. A dielectric material structure is formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of gate structures. A portion of a first of the plurality of gate structures is removed to expose a first portion of each of the plurality of fins, and a portion of a second of the plurality of gate structures is removed to expose a second portion of each of the plurality of fins. The exposed first portion of each of the plurality of fins is removed, but the exposed second portion of each of the plurality of fins is not removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Tahir GHANI, Byron HO, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164969
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate comprising an N well region having a semiconductor fin protruding therefrom. A trench isolation layer is on the semiconductor substrate around the semiconductor fin, wherein the semiconductor fin extends above the trench isolation layer. A gate dielectric layer is over the semiconductor fin. A conductive layer is over the gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin, the conductive layer comprising titanium, nitrogen and oxygen. A P-type metal gate layer is over the conductive layer over the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. LEIB, Jenny HU, Anindya DASGUPTA, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164961
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first isolation structure over a first end of a fin. A gate structure is over the fin and is spaced apart from the first isolation structure along the direction. A second isolation structure is over a second end of the fin, the second end opposite the first end. The second isolation structure is spaced apart from the gate structure. The first isolation structure and the second isolation structure both comprise a first dielectric material laterally surrounding a recessed second dielectric material distinct from the first dielectric material. The recessed second dielectric material laterally surrounds at least a portion of a third dielectric material different from the first and second dielectric materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Byron HO, Chun-Kuo HUANG, Erica THOMPSON, Jeanne LUCE, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH, Ebony L. MAYS
  • Publication number: 20190164765
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes first and second gate dielectric layers over a fin. First and second gate electrodes are over the first and second gate dielectric layers, respectively, the first and second gate electrodes both having an insulating cap having a top surface. First dielectric spacer are adjacent the first side of the first gate electrode. A trench contact structure is over a semiconductor source or drain region adjacent first and second dielectric spacers, the trench contact structure comprising an insulating cap on a conductive structure, the insulating cap of the trench contact structure having a top surface substantially co-planar with the insulating caps of the first and second gate electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew W. Yeoh, Tahir Ghani, Atul Madhavan, Michael L. Hattendorf, Christopher P. Auth
  • Publication number: 20190165145
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, a method includes forming a plurality of fins, individual ones of the plurality of fins along a first direction. A plurality of gate structures is formed over the plurality of fins, individual ones of the gate structures along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A dielectric material structure is formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of gate structures. A portion of one of the plurality of gate structures is removed to expose a portion of each of the plurality of fins. The exposed portion of each of the plurality of fins is removed. An insulating layer is formed in locations of the removed portion of each of the plurality of fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Tahir GHANI, Byron HO, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164836
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin. A first isolation structure separates a first end of a first portion of the fin from a first end of a second portion of the fin, the first end of the first portion of the fin having a depth. A gate structure is over the top of and laterally adjacent to the sidewalls of a region of the first portion of the fin. A second isolation structure is over a second end of a first portion of the fin, the second end of the first portion of the fin having a depth different than the depth of the first end of the first portion of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Tahir GHANI, Byron HO, Curtis W. WARD, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164841
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin comprising silicon. A plurality of gate structures is over the fin, individual ones of the plurality of gate structures along a direction orthogonal to the fin and having a pair of dielectric sidewall spacers. A trench contact structure is over the fin and directly between the dielectric sidewalls spacers of a first pair of the plurality of gate structures. A contact plug is over the fin and directly between the dielectric sidewalls spacers of a second pair of the plurality of gate structures, the contact plug comprising a lower dielectric material and an upper hardmask material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony ST. AMOUR, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164814
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. A conductive interconnect line is in a trench in the ILD layer, the conductive interconnect line having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion laterally adjacent to the second portion. A dielectric plug is between and laterally adjacent to the first and second portions of the conductive interconnect line, the dielectric plug comprising a metal oxide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew W. YEOH, Ilsup JIN, Angelo KANDAS, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164897
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first plurality of conductive interconnect lines in and spaced apart by a first ILD layer, wherein individual ones of the first plurality of conductive interconnect lines comprise a first conductive barrier material along sidewalls and a bottom of a first conductive fill material. A second plurality of conductive interconnect lines is in and spaced apart by a second ILD layer above the first ILD layer, wherein individual ones of the second plurality of conductive interconnect lines comprise a second conductive barrier material along sidewalls and a bottom of a second conductive fill material, wherein the second conductive fill material is different in composition from the first conductive fill material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew W. YEOH, Joseph STEIGERWALD, Jinhong SHIN, Vinay CHIKARMANE, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190165147
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first silicon fin having a longest dimension along a first direction. A second silicon fin having a longest dimension is along the first direction. An insulator material is between the first silicon fin and the second silicon fin. A gate line is over the first silicon fin and over the second silicon fin along a second direction, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the gate line having a first side and a second side, wherein the gate line has a discontinuity over the insulator material, the discontinuity filled by a dielectric plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Byron HO, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164968
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin. A gate dielectric layer is over a top of the fin and laterally adjacent sidewalls of the fin. An N-type gate electrode is over the gate dielectric layer over the top of the fin and laterally adjacent the sidewalls of the fin, the N-type gate electrode comprising a P-type metal layer on the gate dielectric layer, and an N-type metal layer on the P-type metal layer. A first N-type source or drain region is adjacent a first side of the gate electrode. A second N-type source or drain region is adjacent a second side of the gate electrode, the second side opposite the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. LEIB, Jenny HU, Anindya DASGUPTA, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164818
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive interconnect lines in and spaced apart by an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer above a substrate. Individual ones of the plurality of conductive interconnect lines have an upper surface below an upper surface of the ILD layer. An etch-stop layer is on and conformal with the ILD layer and the plurality of conductive interconnect lines, the etch-stop layer having a non-planar upper surface with an uppermost portion of the non-planar upper surface over the ILD layer and a lowermost portion of the non-planar upper surface over the plurality of conductive interconnect lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew W. YEOH, Ruth BRAIN, Michael L. HATTENDORF, Christopher P. AUTH
  • Publication number: 20190164808
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are in the field of advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, 10 nanometer node and smaller integrated circuit structure fabrication and the resulting structures. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a fin comprising silicon, the fin having a lower fin portion and an upper fin portion. A first insulating layer is directly on sidewalls of the lower fin portion of the fin, wherein the first insulating layer is a non-doped insulating layer comprising silicon and oxygen. A second insulating layer is directly on the first insulating layer directly on the sidewalls of the lower fin portion of the fin, the second insulating layer comprising silicon and nitrogen. A dielectric fill material is directly laterally adjacent to the second insulating layer directly on the first insulating layer directly on the sidewalls of the lower fin portion of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Michael L. HATTENDORF, Curtis WARD, Heidi M. MEYER, Tahir GHANI, Christopher P. AUTH