Patents by Inventor Douglas E. Mercer

Douglas E. Mercer 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: 8021990
    Abstract: A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Antonio L. P. Rotondaro, Luigi Colombo, Mark R Visokay, Rajesh Khamankar, Douglas E Mercer
  • Patent number: 7803703
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a metal silicide electrode (100) for a semiconductor device (110). The method comprises depositing by physical vapor deposition, germanium atoms (120) and transition metal atoms (130) to form a metal-germanium alloy layer (140) on a semiconductor substrate (150). The metal-germanium alloy layer and the semiconductor substrate are reacted to form a metal silicide electrode. Other aspects of the present invention include a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Doufeng Yue, Noel Russell, Peijun J. Chen, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20090227117
    Abstract: A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Antonio L.P. Rotondaro, Luigi Colombo, Mark R. Visokay, Rajesh Khamankar, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 7535066
    Abstract: A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Antonio L. P. Rotondaro, Luigi Colombo, Mark R. Visokay, Rajesh Khamankar, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20080311747
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a metal silicide electrode (100) for a semiconductor device (110). The method comprises depositing by physical vapor deposition, germanium atoms (120) and transition metal atoms (130) to form a metal-germanium alloy layer (140) on a semiconductor substrate (150). The metal-germanium alloy layer and the semiconductor substrate are reacted to form a metal silicide electrode. Other aspects of the present invention include a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (400).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Doufeng Yue, Noel Russell, Peijun J. Chen, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 7449385
    Abstract: CMOS gate dielectric made of high-k metal silicates by reaction of metal with silicon dioxide at the silicon surface. Optionally, a silicon dioxide monolayer may be preserved at the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Antonio L. P. Rotondaro, Luigi Colombo, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 7435672
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a metal silicide electrode (100) for a semiconductor device (110). The method comprises depositing by physical vapor deposition, germanium atoms (120) and transition metal atoms (130) to form a metal-germanium alloy layer (140) on a semiconductor substrate (150). The metal-germanium alloy layer and the semiconductor substrate are reacted to form a metal silicide electrode. Other aspects of the present invention include a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Doufeng Yue, Noel Russell, Peijun J. Chen, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 7208398
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a metal silicide electrode (100) for a semiconductor device (110). The method comprises depositing by physical vapor deposition, halogen atoms (120) and transition metal atoms (130) to form a halogen-containing metal layer (140) on a semiconductor substrate (150). The halogen-containing metal layer and the semiconductor substrate are reacted to form a metal silicide electrode. Other aspects of the present invention include a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (400) comprising the metal silicide electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Peijun J. Chen, Duofeng Yue, Douglas E. Mercer, Noel Russell
  • Patent number: 7045431
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed that fabricating semiconductor devices with high-k dielectric layers. The invention removes portions of deposited high-k dielectric layers not below gates and covers exposed portions (e.g., sidewalls) of high-k dielectric layers during fabrication with an encapsulation layer, which mitigates defects in the high-k dielectric layers and contamination of process tools. The encapsulation layer can also be employed as an etch stop layer and, at least partially, in comprising sidewall spacers. As a result, a semiconductor device can be fabricated with a substantially uniform equivalent oxide thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Antonio L. P. Rotondaro, Douglas E. Mercer, Luigi Colombo, Mark Robert Visokay, Haowen Bu, Malcolm John Bevan
  • Patent number: 6773972
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor circuit (20). The method forms a first transistor (NT1) using various steps, such as by forming a first source/drain region (361) as a first doped region in a fixed relationship to a semiconductor substrate (22) and forming a second source/drain region (362) as a second doped region in a fixed relationship to the semiconductor substrate. The second doped region and the first doped region are of a same conductivity type. Additionally, the first transistor is formed by forming a first gate (283) in a fixed relationship to the first source/drain region and the second drain region. The method also forms a second transistor (ST1) using various steps, such as by forming a third source/drain region (341) as a third doped region in a fixed relationship to the semiconductor substrate and forming a fourth source/drain region (342) as a fourth doped region in a fixed relationship to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Marshall, Youngmin Kim, David B Scott, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20040126944
    Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a transistor gate structure in a semiconductor device, comprising growing an interface oxide layer to a thickness of about 18 Å or less over a semiconductor body using an oxidant comprising N2O and hydrogen or NO and hydrogen at a temperature of about 800 degrees C. or more and a pressure of about 200 Torr or less. A high-k dielectric layer is formed over the interface oxide layer, and a gate contact layer is formed over the high-k dielectric layer. The gate contact layer, the high-k dielectric layer, and the interface oxide layer are then patterned to form a transistor gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Antonio Luis Pacheco Rotondaro, Douglas E. Mercer, Luigi Colombo
  • Publication number: 20040016973
    Abstract: CMOS gate dielectric made of high-k metal silicates by reaction of metal with silicon dioxide at the silicon surface. Optionally, a silicon dioxide monolayer may be preserved at the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Antonio L.P. Rotondaro, Luigi Colombo, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20030164525
    Abstract: A MOSFET structure including silicate gate dielectrics with nitridation treatments of the gate dielectric prior to gate material deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Antonio L. P. Rotondaro, Luigi Colombo, Mark R. Visokay, Rajesh Khamankar, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20020098712
    Abstract: Oxides of multiple thicknesses are made by selectively heating the wafer with a laser beam at the locations where enhanced oxide growth is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Jaideep Mavoori, Douglas T. Grider, Sunil V. Hattangady, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20020084493
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor circuit (20). The method forms a first transistor (NT1) using various steps, such as by forming a first source/drain region (361) as a first doped region in a fixed relationship to a semiconductor substrate (22) and forming a second source/drain region (362) as a second doped region in a fixed relationship to the semiconductor substrate. The second doped region and the first doped region are of a same conductivity type. Additionally, the first transistor is formed by forming a first gate (283) in a fixed relationship to the first source/drain region and the second drain region. The method also forms a second transistor (ST1) using various steps, such as by forming a third source/drain region (341) as a third doped region in a fixed relationship to the semiconductor substrate and forming a fourth source/drain region (342) as a fourth doped region in a fixed relationship to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Andrew Marshall, Youngmin Kim, David B. Scott, Douglas E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 6204198
    Abstract: An embodiment of the instant invention is a method of fabricating an electronic device over a semiconductor substrate, the method comprising the steps of: forming a doped polycrystalline silicon layer insulatively disposed over the semiconductor substrate; and subjecting the doped polycrystalline silicon layer to a temperature of around 700 to 1100 C. in an oxidizing ambient for a period of around 5 to 120 seconds. Preferably, the oxidizing ambient is comprised of: O2,O3, NO, N2O, H2O, and any combination thereof. The temperature is, preferably, around 950 to 1050 C. (more preferably around 1000 C.). The step of subjecting the doped polycrystalline silicon layer to a temperature of around 700 to 1100 C. in an oxidizing ambient for a period of around 5 to 120 seconds, preferably, forms an oxide layer on the polycrystalline silicon layer, which has a thickness which is, preferably, greater than the thickness of a native oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Aditi D. Banerjee, Douglas E. Mercer, Rick L. Wise