Patents by Inventor DEXIN KONG

DEXIN KONG 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: 10763118
    Abstract: Techniques for tight pitch patterning of fins using a cyclic selective deposition process are provided. In one aspect, a method of patterning fins in a wafer includes: forming at least one mandrel on the wafer; forming alternating layers of a first dielectric and a second dielectric alongside the at least one mandrel; removing the at least one mandrel; removing either the first dielectric or the second dielectric; and patterning the fins in the wafer using whichever of the first dielectric or the second dielectric that remains as fin hardmasks. A finFET device and method for forming a finFET device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Zhenxing Bi, Juntao Li, Dexin Kong
  • Publication number: 20200273756
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate with a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin formed thereon. A pair of opposing dielectric trench spacers are between the first and second semiconductor fins. The opposing dielectric trench spacers define an isolation region therebetween. The semiconductor device further includes a shallow trench isolation (STI) element formed in the isolation region. The STI element includes a lower portion on the substrate and an upper portion located opposite the lower portion. The upper portion extends above an upper end of the dielectric trench spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Dexin Kong, Zhenxing Bi
  • Publication number: 20200273861
    Abstract: A method of performing co-integrated fabrication of a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) includes recessing fins in a channel region of the NVM and the FET to form source and drain regions adjacent to recessed fins, and removing alternating portions of the recessed fins of the NVM and the FET to form gaps in the recessed fins. A stack of layers that make up an NVM structure are conformally deposited within the gaps of the recessed fins leaving second gaps, smaller than the gaps, and above the recessed fins of the NVM while protecting the FET with the organic planarization layer (OPL) and a block mask. The OPL and block mask are removed from the FET, and another OPL and another block mask protect the NVM while a gate of the FET is formed above the recessed fins and within the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Zheng Xu, Dexin Kong, Kangguo Cheng
  • Patent number: 10749040
    Abstract: A integrated device including a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) and a method of fabricating the device include patterning fins for a channel region of the NVM and the FET. The method also includes depositing an organic planarization layer (OPL) and a block mask to protect the fins for the channel region of the FET, conformally depositing a set of layers that make up an NVM structure in conjunction with the channel region of the NVM while protecting the fins for the channel region of the FET with the OPL and the block mask, and removing the OPL and the block mask protecting the fins for the channel region of the FET. Source and drain regions of the NVM and the FET are formed, and a gate of the FET is formed while protecting the NVM by depositing another OPL and another block mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dexin Kong, Zhenxing Bi, Zheng Xu, Kangguo Cheng
  • Publication number: 20200258779
    Abstract: A method of forming a transistor device is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of gate structures including a gate spacer and a gate electrode on a substrate, wherein the plurality of gate structures are separated from each other by a source/drain contact. The method further includes reducing the height of the gate electrodes to form gate troughs, and forming a gate liner on the gate electrodes and gate spacers. The method further includes forming a gate cap on the gate liner, and reducing the height of the source/drain contacts between the gate structures to form a source/drain trough. The method further includes forming a source/drain liner on the source/drain contacts and gate spacers, wherein the source/drain liner is selectively etchable relative to the gate liner, and forming a source/drain cap on the source/drain liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Zhenxing Bi, Dexin Kong
  • Publication number: 20200243767
    Abstract: Techniques for forming RRAM cells with increased density are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a RRAM device includes: providing an underlayer disposed on a substrate; patterning trenches in the underlayer; forming bottom electrodes at two different levels of the underlayer that includes first bottom electrodes at bottoms of the trenches and second bottom electrodes along a top surface of the underlayer in between the trenches; depositing an insulating layer on the first/second bottom electrodes; and forming top electrodes on the insulating layer, wherein the top electrodes include word lines, wherein the first and second bottom electrodes include bit lines that are orthogonal to the word lines. A RRAM device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Dexin Kong, Takashi Ando
  • Publication number: 20200235204
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes active semiconductor fins that have a uniform fin channel height. The uniform fin channel height is achieved by forming semiconductor fins (active and sacrificial) on an entirety of semiconductor substrate thus there is no loading effect during a subsequently performed dielectric etch step which can lead to fin channel height variation and ultimately variation in device characteristics. A trench isolation structure is located adjacent to the active semiconductor fins. The trench isolation structure includes at least one dielectric plug having a second width and a dielectric pillar having a first width located on each side of the at least one dielectric plug. The second width of the at least one dielectric plug is less than the first width of each dielectric pillar, yet equal to a width of each semiconductor fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Zhenxing Bi, Dexin Kong
  • Patent number: 10714569
    Abstract: Strained nanosheet field effect transistors (FETs) using a phase change material are described herein. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device can comprise alternating layers of a channel material and a phase change material to produce strained nanosheet field effect transistors, wherein the layers of the phase change material cause a strain in the layers of the channel material. The phase change material comprises germanium antimony telluride. The germanium antimony telluride crystallizes into a crystalline germanium antimony telluride based on annealing above 300 degrees Celsius and a volume of the crystalline germanium antimony telluride is reduced up to six percent relative to an initial volume the germanium antimony telluride to cause the strain in the layers of the channel material. The semiconductor device can also comprise source and drain epitaxial growths on both ends of the layers of the channel material that lock the strain in the layers of the channel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dexin Kong, Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Zhenxing Bi
  • Patent number: 10707127
    Abstract: A method of forming a transistor device is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of gate structures including a gate spacer and a gate electrode on a substrate, wherein the plurality of gate structures are separated from each other by a source/drain contact. The method further includes reducing the height of the gate electrodes to form gate troughs, and forming a gate liner on the gate electrodes and gate spacers. The method further includes forming a gate cap on the gate liner, and reducing the height of the source/drain contacts between the gate structures to form a source/drain trough. The method further includes forming a source/drain liner on the source/drain contacts and gate spacers, wherein the source/drain liner is selectively etchable relative to the gate liner, and forming a source/drain cap on the source/drain liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Zhenxing Bi, Dexin Kong
  • Patent number: 10692203
    Abstract: Techniques for measuring defectivity using model-less scatterometry with cognitive machine learning are provided. In one aspect, a method for defectivity detection includes: capturing SEM images of defects from a plurality of training wafers; classifying type and density of the defects from the SEM images; making training scatterometry scans of a same location on the training wafers as the SEM images; training a machine learning model to correlate the training scatterometry scans with the type and density of the defects from the same location in the SEM images; making scatterometry scans of production wafers; and detecting defectivity in the production wafers by measuring the type and density of the defects in the production wafers using the machine learning model, as trained, and the scatterometry scans of the production wafers. A system for defectivity detection is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dexin Kong, Robin Hsin Kuo Chao, Huai Huang
  • Patent number: 10686014
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor memory device. In some embodiments, the device includes a bottom electrode extending in a y-direction relative to top surface of a substrate and a top electrode extending in an x-direction relative to the top surface of the substrate. An active area is located at the cross-section between the bottom electrode and the top electrode and is located on vertical side walls extending in a z-direction of the semiconductor memory device with respect to the top surface of the substrate. An insulating layer is located in the active area in between the top electrode and the bottom electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juntao Li, Kangguo Cheng, Takashi Ando, Dexin Kong
  • Patent number: 10679992
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first vertical transistor, and a second vertical transistor. The substrate has a first substrate region and a second substrate region. The first vertical transistor is disposed on the substrate in the first substrate region. The first vertical transistor is n-type field-effect vertical transistor (n-VFET) with a first channel crystalline orientation. The second vertical transistor is disposed on the substrate in the second substrate region. The second vertical transistor is p-type field-effect vertical transistor (p-VFET) with a second channel crystalline orientation. The first channel crystalline orientation is different from the second channel orientation. A common bottom source and drain region as well as common bottom and top spacers regions are provided for the first vertical transistor and the second vertical transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenxing Bi, Kangguo Cheng, Zheng Xu, Dexin Kong
  • Publication number: 20200161302
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first vertical transistor, and a second vertical transistor. The substrate has a first substrate region and a second substrate region. The first vertical transistor is disposed on the substrate in the first substrate region. The first vertical transistor is n-type field-effect vertical transistor (n-VFET) with a first channel crystalline orientation. The second vertical transistor is disposed on the substrate in the second substrate region. The second vertical transistor is p-type field-effect vertical transistor (p-VFET) with a second channel crystalline orientation. The first channel crystalline orientation is different from the second channel orientation. A common bottom source and drain region as well as common bottom and top spacers regions are provided for the first vertical transistor and the second vertical transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: ZHENXING BI, Kangguo CHENG, ZHENG XU, DEXIN KONG
  • Publication number: 20200161303
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first vertical transistor, and a second vertical transistor. The substrate has a first substrate region and a second substrate region. The first vertical transistor is disposed on the substrate in the first substrate region. The first vertical transistor is n-type field-effect vertical transistor (n-VFET) with a first channel crystalline orientation. The second vertical transistor is disposed on the substrate in the second substrate region. The second vertical transistor is p-type field-effect vertical transistor (p-VFET) with a second channel crystalline orientation. The first channel crystalline orientation is different from the second channel orientation. A common bottom source and drain region as well as common bottom and top spacers regions are provided for the first vertical transistor and the second vertical transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: ZHENXING BI, Kangguo CHENG, ZHENG XU, DEXIN KONG
  • Patent number: 10658590
    Abstract: Techniques for forming RRAM cells with increased density are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a RRAM device includes: providing an underlayer disposed on a substrate; patterning trenches in the underlayer; forming bottom electrodes at two different levels of the underlayer that includes first bottom electrodes at bottoms of the trenches and second bottom electrodes along a top surface of the underlayer in between the trenches; depositing an insulating layer on the first/second bottom electrodes; and forming top electrodes on the insulating layer, wherein the top electrodes include word lines, wherein the first and second bottom electrodes include bit lines that are orthogonal to the word lines. A RRAM device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Dexin Kong, Takashi Ando
  • Patent number: 10658583
    Abstract: A memory device with crossbar array structure includes two sets of parallel bottom electrodes positioned on a substrate. The lower bottom electrodes are located at a lower position relative to higher bottom electrodes. The device includes a first set of corner tips of the lower bottom electrodes, and a second set of corner tips at a top of the higher bottom electrodes. The device also includes a set of parallel top electrodes intersecting the two sets of parallel bottom electrodes. A dielectric is formed as a resistive random-access memory (RRAM) cell under each intersection of each top electrode and each of bottom electrode. The device further includes one set of contacts at one end of an array that contacts the lower bottom electrodes and another set of contacts at the other end of the array that contacts the higher bottom electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juntao Li, Dexin Kong, Kangguo Cheng, Takashi Ando
  • Publication number: 20200144118
    Abstract: A method of forming a transistor device is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of gate structures including a gate spacer and a gate electrode on a substrate, wherein the plurality of gate structures are separated from each other by a source/drain contact. The method further includes reducing the height of the gate electrodes to form gate troughs, and forming a gate liner on the gate electrodes and gate spacers. The method further includes forming a gate cap on the gate liner, and reducing the height of the source/drain contacts between the gate structures to form a source/drain trough. The method further includes forming a source/drain liner on the source/drain contacts and gate spacers, wherein the source/drain liner is selectively etchable relative to the gate liner, and forming a source/drain cap on the source/drain liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Zhenxing Bi, Dexin Kong
  • Publication number: 20200135920
    Abstract: A metal is formed into an opening that is located in an interlayer dielectric (ILD) material that laterally surrounds a semiconductor fin of a partially fabricated vertical transistor and on a physically exposed topmost surface of the semiconductor fin. A patterned material stack of, and from bottom to top, a membrane and a doped amorphous semiconductor material layer is formed on the metal and a topmost surface of the ILD material. A metal induced layer exchange anneal is then employed in which the metal and doped semiconductor material change places such that the doped semiconductor material is in direct contact with the topmost surface of the semiconductor fin. The exchanged doped semiconductor material, which provides a top source/drain structure of the vertical transistor, may have a different crystalline orientation than the topmost surface of the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Dexin Kong, Kangguo Cheng, Shogo Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20200135561
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices facilitating a transistor with an improved self-aligned contact are provided. In one example, a method comprises depositing a dielectric layer onto a first gate region and a second gate region of a semiconductor device, wherein the first gate region and the second gate region are separated by a substrate contact region, and wherein the dielectric layer has a first etch sensitivity to an inter-layer dielectric; and depositing a sacrificial layer onto the dielectric layer, wherein the sacrificial layer has a second etch sensitivity to the inter-layer dielectric that is greater than the first etch sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Zhenxing Bi, Juntao Li, Dexin Kong
  • Publication number: 20200135938
    Abstract: A integrated device including a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a nanosheet field effect transistor (FET) and a method of fabricating the device include patterning fins for a channel region of the NVM and the FET. The method also includes depositing an organic planarization layer (OPL) and a block mask to protect the fins for the channel region of the FET, conformally depositing a set of layers that make up an NVM structure in conjunction with the channel region of the NVM while protecting the fins for the channel region of the FET with the OPL and the block mask, and removing the OPL and the block mask protecting the fins for the channel region of the FET. Source and drain regions of the NVM and the FET are formed, and a gate of the FET is formed while protecting the NVM by depositing another OPL and another block mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Dexin Kong, Zhenxing Bi, Zheng Xu, Kangguo Cheng