Patents by Inventor Edward Nowak

Edward Nowak 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: 20070048925
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing resistance under a body contact region. The method comprises providing a substrate including a gate structure comprising an active region and a contact body region. The method also includes forming a first impurity region under the contact body region at a higher dose than that under the active region. The resulting higher concentration is configured to lower a resistance in a body-contact parasitic region of the isolating channel region and suppresses a back-gate “sneak path’” for leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin McStay, Myung-Hee Na, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20070040218
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a hybrid orientated substrate having at least two coplanar surfaces of different surface crystal orientations, wherein one of the coplanar surfaces has bulk-like semiconductor properties and the other coplanar surface has semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) properties. In accordance with the present invention, the substrate includes a new well design that provides a large capacitance from a retrograde well region of the second conductivity type to the substrate thereby providing noise decoupling with a low number of well contacts. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a semiconductor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wilfried Haensch, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20070040236
    Abstract: A semiconductor resistor, method of making the resistor and method of making an IC including resistors. Buried wells are formed in the silicon substrate of a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer. At least one trench is formed in the buried wells. Resistors are formed along the sidewalls of the trench and, where multiple trenches form pillars, in the pillars between the trenches by doping the sidewalls with an angled implant. Resistor contacts are formed to the buried well at opposite ends of the trenches and pillars, if any.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Nowak, Richard Williams
  • Publication number: 20070034971
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure with two different type tri-gate MOSFETs formed on the same substrate. Each MOSFET comprises a fin with optimal mobility for the particular type of MOSFET. Due to the processes used to form fins with different crystalline orientations on the same substrate, one of the MOSFETs has a fin with a lower mobility top surface. To inhibit inversion of the top surface, this MOSFET has a gate dielectric layer with a thicker region on the top surface than it does on the opposing sidewall surfaces. Additionally, several techniques for forming the thicker region of the gate dielectric layer are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20070029576
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a programmable semiconductor device, preferably a FinFET or tri-gate structure, that contains a first contact element, a second contact element, and at least one fin-shaped fusible link region coupled between the first and second contact elements. The second contact element is laterally spaced apart from the first contact element, and the fin-shaped fusible link region has a vertically notched section. A programming current flowing through the fin-shaped fusible link region causes either significant resistance increase or formation of an electric discontinuity in the vertically notched section. Alternatively, the vertically notched section may contain a dielectric material, and application of a programming voltage between a gate electrode overlaying the vertically notched section and one of the contact elements breaks down the dielectric material and allows current flow between the gate electrode and the fin-shaped fusible link region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Nowak, Jed Rankin, William Tonti
  • Publication number: 20070029624
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are improved fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) structures and the associated methods of manufacturing the structures. In one embodiment FinFET drive current is optimized by configuring the FinFET asymmetrically to decrease fin resistance between the gate and the source region and to decrease capacitance between the gate and the drain region. In another embodiment device destruction at high voltages is prevented by ballasting the FinFET. Specifically, resistance is optimized in the fin between the gate and both the source and drain regions (e.g., by increasing fin length, by blocking source/drain implant from the fin, and by blocking silicide formation on the top surface of the fin) so that the FinFET is operable at a predetermined maximum voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20070029620
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a high-performance planar back-gate CMOS structure having superior short-channel characteristics and reduced capacitance using processing steps that are not too lengthy or costly is provided. Also provided is a high-performance planar back-gate CMOS structure that is formed utilizing the method of the present invention. The method includes forming an opening in an upper surface of a substrate. Thereafter, a dopant region is formed in the substrate through the opening. In accordance with the inventive method, the dopant region defines a back-gate conductor of the inventive structure. Next, a front gate conductor having at least a portion thereof is formed within the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20070026579
    Abstract: An eFuse begins with a single crystal silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure that has a single crystal silicon layer on a first insulator layer. The single crystal silicon layer is patterned into a strip. Before or after the patterning, the single crystal silicon layer is doped with one or more impurities. At least an upper portion of the single crystal silicon layer is then silicided to form a silicided strip. In one embodiment the entire single crystal silicon strip is silicided to create a silicide strip. Second insulator(s) is/are formed on the silicide strip, so as to isolate the silicided strip from surrounding structures. Before or after forming the second insulators, the method forms electrical contacts through the second insulators to ends of the silicided strip. By utilizing a single crystal silicon strip, any form of semiconductor, such as a diode, conductor, insulator, transistor, etc. can form the underlying portion of the fuse structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Nowak, Jed Rankin, William Tonti, Richard Williams
  • Publication number: 20070023756
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) and method of forming the FET comprises a substrate; a silicon germanium (SiGe) layer over the substrate; a semiconductor layer over and adjacent to the SiGe layer; an insulating layer adjacent to the substrate, the SiGe layer, and the semiconductor layer; a pair of first gate structures adjacent to the insulating layer; and a second gate structure over the insulating layer. Preferably, the insulating layer is adjacent to a side surface of the SiGe layer and an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, a lower surface of the semiconductor layer, and a side surface of the semiconductor layer. Preferably, the SiGe layer comprises carbon. Preferably, the pair of first gate structures are substantially transverse to the second gate structure. Additionally, the pair of first gate structures are preferably encapsulated by the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Matthew Breitwisch, Edward Nowak, BethAnn Rainey
  • Publication number: 20070026617
    Abstract: A double gated silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFET is fabricated by forming epitaxially grown channels, followed by a damascene gate. The double gated MOSFET features narrow channels, which increases current drive per layout width and provides low out conductance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: James Adkisson, Paul Agnello, Arne Ballantine, Rama Divakaruni, Erin Jones, Edward Nowak, Jed Rankin
  • Publication number: 20070020837
    Abstract: A method of manufacture and device for a dual-gate CMOS structure. The structure includes a first plate in an insulating layer and a second plate above the insulating layer electrically corresponding to the first plate. An isolation structure is between the first plate and the second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Edward Nowak, Richard Williams
  • Publication number: 20070010049
    Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor has an insulator layer above a substrate and a fin extending above the insulator layer. The fin has a channel region, and source and drain regions. A gate conductor is positioned over the channel region. The insulator layer includes a heat dissipating structural feature adjacent the fin, and a portion of the gate conductor contacts the heat dissipating structural feature. The heat dissipating structural feature can comprise a recess within the insulator layer or a thermal conductor extending through the insulator layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak, Jed Rankin, William Clark
  • Publication number: 20060292772
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a pair of transistors by epitaxially growing a pair of silicon fins on a silicon germanium fin on a bulk wafer. In one embodiment a gate conductor between the fins is isolated from a conductor layer on the bulk wafer so a front gate may be formed. In another embodiment a gate conductor between the fins contacts a conductor layer on the bulk wafer so a back gate may be formed. In yet another embodiment both of the previous structures are simultaneously formed on the same bulk wafer. The method allow the pairs of transistors to be formed with a variety of features (e.g., strained fins, a space between two fins that is approximately 0.5 to 3 times greater than a width of a single fin, a first dielectric layer on the inner sidewalls of each pair of fins with a different thickness and/or a different dielectric material than a second dielectric layer on the outer sidewalls of each pair of fins, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060286724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tri-gate field effect transistor with a back gate and the associated methods of forming the transistor. Specifically, a back gate is incorporated into a lower portion of a fin. A tri-gate structure is formed on the fin and is electrically isolated from the back gate. The back gate can be used to control the threshold voltage of the FET. In one embodiment the back gate extends to an n-well in a p-type silicon substrate. A contact to the n-well allows electrical voltage to be applied to the back gate. A diode created between the n-well and p-substrate isolates the current flowing through the n-well from other devices on the substrate so that the back gate can be independently biased. In another embodiment the back gate extends to n-type polysilicon layer on an insulator layer on a p-type silicon substrate. A contact to the n-type polysilicon layer allows electrical voltage to be applied to the back gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Matthew Breitwisch, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060274569
    Abstract: A memory cell (e.g., static random access memory (SRAM) cell) includes a plurality of back-gated n-type field effect transistors (nFETs), and a plurality of double-gated p-type field effect transistors (pFETs) operatively coupled to the plurality of nFETs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajiv Joshi, Keunwoo Kim, Edward Nowak, Richard Williams
  • Publication number: 20060267111
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for forming the same. The structure includes multiple fin regions disposed between first and second source/drain (S/D) regions. The structure further includes multiple front gates and back gates, each of which is sandwiched between two adjacent fin regions such that the front gates and back gates are alternating (i.e., one front gate then one back gate and then one front gate, and so on). The widths of the front gates are greater than the widths of the back gates. The capacitances of between the front gates and the S/D regions are smaller than the capacitances of between the back gates and the S/D regions. The distances between the front gates and the S/D regions are greater than the distances between the back gates and the S/D regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Andres Bryant, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060255410
    Abstract: A drive strength tunable FinFET, a method of drive strength tuning a FinFET, a drive strength ratio tuned FinFET circuit and a method of drive strength tuning a FinFET, wherein the FinFET has either at least one perpendicular and at least one angled fin or has at least one double-gated fin and one split-gated fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Edward Nowak, BethAnn Rainey
  • Publication number: 20060249799
    Abstract: An integrated circuit chip and a semiconductor structure. The integrated circuit chip includes: a thick-body device containing a semiconductor mesa and a doped body contact; and a field effect transistor on a first sidewall of a semiconductor mesa, wherein the doped body contact is on a second sidewall of the semiconductor mesa, and wherein the semiconductor mesa is disposed between the field effect transistor and the doped body contact. The semiconductor structure includes: a buried oxide layer on a semiconductor wafer; a thin fin structure on the buried oxide layer, wherein the thin fin structure includes a first hard mask on a semiconductor fin, wherein the semiconductor fin is disposed between the first hard mask and a surface of the buried oxide layer; and a thick mesa structure on the buried oxide layer, and wherein the thick mesa structure includes a semiconductor mesa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wagdi Abadeer, Jeffrey Brown, David Fried, Robert Gauther, Edward Nowak, Jed Rankio, William Tonti
  • Publication number: 20060244077
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (a) a semiconductor channel region, (b) a semiconductor source block in direct physical contact with the semiconductor channel region; (c) a source contact region in direct physical contact with the semiconductor source block, wherein the source contact region comprises a first electrically conducting material, and wherein the semiconductor source block physically isolates the source contact region from the semiconductor channel region, and (d) a drain contact region in direct physical contact with the semiconductor channel region, wherein the semiconductor channel region is disposed between the semiconductor source block and the drain contact region, and wherein the drain contact region comprises a second electrically conducting material; and (e) a gate stack in direct physical contact with the semiconductor channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060244061
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure that may be a discrete capacitor, a Silicon On Insulator (SOI) Integrated Circuit (IC) including circuits with discrete such capacitors and/or decoupled by such discrete capacitors and an on-chip decoupling capacitor (decap). One capacitor plate may be a well (N-well or P-well) in a silicon bulk layer or a thickened portion of a surface silicon layer. The other capacitor plate may be doped polysilicon and separated from the first capacitor plate by capacitor dielectric, e.g., CVD or thermal oxide. Contacts to each of the capacitor plates directly connect and extend from the respective plates, such that direct contact is available from both plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Nowak, Richard Williams