Patents by Inventor Eric R. Miller

Eric R. Miller 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: 20190341490
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to methods and resulting structures for a vertical field effect transistor (VFET) having a super long channel. A pair of semiconductor fins is formed on a substrate. A semiconductor pillar is formed between the semiconductor fins on the substrate. A region that extends under all of the semiconductor fins and under part of the semiconductor pillar is doped. A conductive gate is formed over a channel region of the semiconductor fins and the semiconductor pillar. A surface of the semiconductor pillar serves as an extended channel region when the gate is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10446452
    Abstract: A method and structure to enable reliable dielectric spacer endpoint detection by utilizing a sacrificial spacer fin are provided. The sacrificial spacer fin that is employed has a same pitch as the pitch of each semiconductor fin and the same height as the dielectric spacers on the sidewalls of each semiconductor fin. Exposed portions of the sacrificial spacer fin are removed simultaneously during a dielectric spacer reactive ion etch (RIE). The presence of the sacrificial spacer fin improves the endpoint detection of the spacer RIE and increases the endpoint signal intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ryan O. Jung, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, Jeffrey C. Shearer, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10438972
    Abstract: Sub-fin removal techniques for SOI like isolation in finFET devices are provided. In one aspect, a method for forming a finFET device includes: etching partial fins in a substrate, wherein the partial fins include top portions of fins of the finFET device; forming a bi-layer spacer on the top portions of the fins; complete etching of the fins in the substrate to form bottom portions of the fins of the finFET device; depositing an insulator between the fins; recessing the insulator enough to expose a region of the fins not covered by the bi-layer spacer; removing the exposed region of the fins to create a gap between the top and bottom portions of the fins; filling the gap with additional insulator. A method for forming a finFET device is also provided where placement of the fin spacer occurs after (rather than before) insulator deposition. A finFET device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10424663
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to methods and resulting structures for a vertical field effect transistor (VFET) having a super long channel. A pair of semiconductor fins is formed on a substrate. A semiconductor pillar is formed between the semiconductor fins on the substrate. A region that extends under all of the semiconductor fins and under part of the semiconductor pillar is doped. A conductive gate is formed over a channel region of the semiconductor fins and the semiconductor pillar. A surface of the semiconductor pillar serves as an extended channel region when the gate is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10396181
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a nanowire arranged over a substrate, a gate stack arranged around the nanowire, a spacer arranged along a sidewall of the gate stack, a cavity defined by a distal end of the nanowire and the spacer, and a source/drain region partially disposed in the cavity and in contact with the distal end of the nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, Jeffrey C. Shearer, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Publication number: 20190259833
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin structure including a cylindrical shape, an inner gate formed inside the fin structure, and an outer gate formed outside the fin structure and connected to the inner gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Marc Adam BERGENDAHL, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, Robert Russell Robison, John Ryan Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Publication number: 20190259832
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin structure having a circular cylindrical shape, and including a first recess formed on a first side of the fin structure and a second recess formed on a second side of the fin structure opposite the first side, an inner gate formed inside the fin structure, and an inner gate insulating layer formed between the inner gate and an inner surface of the fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Marc Adam BERGENDAHL, Gauri KARVE, Fee Li LIE, Eric R. MILLER, Robert Russell ROBISON, John Ryan SPORRE, Sean TEEHAN
  • Publication number: 20190252244
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an array of planar wafer level metal posts includes plating an array of posts within a photoresist (PR) pattern mold on a substrate of a first wafer. Stripping the PR pattern mold from the substrate and array of posts. Applying an oxide layer, at a temperature of below 150 degrees Celsius, over a surface of the first wafer. Applying chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) to planarize the oxide layer and the array of posts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Sean P. Kilcoyne, Eric R. Miller, George Grama
  • Patent number: 10381437
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin structure including a cylindrical shape, an inner gate formed inside the fin structure, and an outer gate formed outside the fin structure and connected to the inner gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc Adam Bergendahl, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, Robert Russell Robison, John Ryan Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10355109
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device comprising forming a semiconductor fin on a substrate, forming a first sacrificial gate stack over a first channel region of the fin and forming a second sacrificial gate stack over a second channel region of the fin, forming spacers adjacent to the first sacrificial gate stack and the second sacrificial gate stack, depositing a first liner layer on the spacers, the first sacrificial gate stack and the second sacrificial gate stack, depositing a first sacrificial layer on the first liner layer, removing a portion of the first sacrificial layer over the first gate stack to expose a portion of the first liner layer on the first sacrificial gate stack, and growing a first semiconductor material on exposed portions of the fin to form a first source/drain region adjacent to the first gate sacrificial gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thamarai Selvi Devarajan, Sanjay C. Mehta, Eric R. Miller, Soon-Cheon Seo
  • Publication number: 20190172940
    Abstract: FinFET devices comprising multilayer gate spacers are provided, as well as methods for fabricating FinFET devices in which multilayer gate spacers are utilized to prevent or otherwise minimize the erosion of vertical semiconductor fins when forming the gate spacers. For example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a dummy gate structure over a portion of a vertical semiconductor fin of a FinFET device, and forming a multilayer gate spacer on the dummy gate structure. The multilayer gate spacer comprises a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer has etch selectivity with respect to the vertical semiconductor fin and the second dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the first dielectric layer comprises silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN) and the second dielectric layer comprises silicon boron carbon nitride (SiBCN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew M. Greene, Hong He, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Gauri Karve, Eric R. Miller, Pietro Montanini
  • Patent number: 10304689
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of mandrel structures. A plurality of first spacers is formed on sidewalls of the mandrel structures. A plurality of second spacers is formed on sidewalls of the first spacers. The plurality of first spacers is removed selective to the plurality of second spacers and mandrel structures. A cut mask is formed over a first set of second spacers of the plurality of second spacers and a first set of mandrel structures of the plurality of mandrel structures. A second set of second spacers of the plurality of spacers and a second set of mandrel structures of the plurality of mandrel structures remain exposed. One of the second set of mandrel structures and the second set of second spacers is removed selective to the second set of second spacers and the second set of mandrel structures, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, Stuart A. Sieg, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10269931
    Abstract: Techniques relate to a gate stack for a semiconductor device. A vertical fin is formed on a substrate. The vertical fin has an upper portion and a bottom portion. The upper portion of the vertical fin has a recessed portion on sides of the upper portion. A gate stack is formed in the recessed portion of the upper portion of the vertical fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10256239
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes depositing a spacer material over a top surface of a substrate and two or more spaced-apart gates formed on the top surface of the substrate. The method also includes depositing a sacrificial liner over the spacer material and etching the sacrificial liner and the spacer material to expose portions of the top surface of the substrate between the two or more spaced-apart gates. The method further includes removing the sacrificial liner such that remaining spacer material forms two or more spacers between the two or more spaced-apart gates, each of the spacers including a first portion proximate the top surface of the substrate having a first width and a second portion above the first portion with a second width smaller than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Eric R. Miller, Soon-Cheon Seo, John R. Sporre
  • Patent number: 10256326
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a nanowire arranged over a substrate, a gate stack arranged around the nanowire, a spacer arranged along a sidewall of the gate stack, a cavity defined by a distal end of the nanowire and the spacer, and a source/drain region partially disposed in the cavity and in contact with the distal end of the nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, Jeffrey C. Shearer, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10249762
    Abstract: A nano-sheet semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the same. The nano-sheet structure includes a substrate and at least one alternating stack of semiconductor material layers and metal gate material layers. The nano-sheet semiconductor structure further comprises a source region and a drain region. A first plurality of epitaxially grown interconnects contacts the source region and the semiconductor layers in the alternating stack. A second plurality of epitaxially grown interconnects contacts the drain region and the semiconductor layers in the alternating stack. The method includes removing a portion of alternating semiconductor layers and metal gate material layers. A first plurality of interconnects is epitaxially grown between and in contact with the semiconductor layers and the source region. A second plurality of interconnects is epitaxially grown between and in contact with the semiconductor layers and the drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Eric R. Miller, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10249738
    Abstract: A method and structures are used to fabricate a nanosheet semiconductor device. Nanosheet fins including nanosheet stacks including alternating silicon (Si) layers and silicon germanium (SiGe) layers are formed on a substrate and etched to define a first end and a second end along a first axis between which each nanosheet fin extends parallel to every other nanosheet fin. The SiGe layers are undercut in the nanosheet stacks at the first end and the second end to form divots, and a dielectric is deposited in the divots. The SiGe layers between the Si layers are removed before forming source and drain regions of the nanosheet semiconductor device such that there are gaps between the Si layers of each nanosheet stack, and the dielectric anchors the Si layers. The gaps are filled with an oxide that is removed after removing the dummy gate and prior to forming the replacement gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Patent number: 10243079
    Abstract: FinFET devices comprising multilayer gate spacers are provided, as well as methods for fabricating FinFET devices in which multilayer gate spacers are utilized to prevent or otherwise minimize the erosion of vertical semiconductor fins when forming the gate spacers. For example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a dummy gate structure over a portion of a vertical semiconductor fin of a FinFET device, and forming a multilayer gate spacer on the dummy gate structure. The multilayer gate spacer comprises a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer has etch selectivity with respect to the vertical semiconductor fin and the second dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the first dielectric layer comprises silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN) and the second dielectric layer comprises silicon boron carbon nitride (SiBCN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew M. Greene, Hong He, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Gauri Karve, Eric R. Miller, Pietro Montanini
  • Patent number: 10199503
    Abstract: Transistors and methods of forming the same include forming a semiconductor fin from a first material on dielectric layer. Material is etched away from the dielectric layer directly underneath a channel region of the semiconductor fin, with the semiconductor fin still being supported by the dielectric layer in a source and drain region. A gate stack is formed around the channel region of the semiconductor fin, with a portion of the gate stack underneath the semiconductor fin being larger than a portion of the gate stack above the semiconductor fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Eric R. Miller, John R. Sporre, Sean Teehan
  • Publication number: 20190006506
    Abstract: FinFET devices comprising multilayer gate spacers are provided, as well as methods for fabricating FinFET devices in which multilayer gate spacers are utilized to prevent or otherwise minimize the erosion of vertical semiconductor fins when forming the gate spacers. For example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a dummy gate structure over a portion of a vertical semiconductor fin of a FinFET device, and forming a multilayer gate spacer on the dummy gate structure. The multilayer gate spacer comprises a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer has etch selectivity with respect to the vertical semiconductor fin and the second dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the first dielectric layer comprises silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN) and the second dielectric layer comprises silicon boron carbon nitride (SiBCN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew M. Greene, Hong He, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Gauri Karve, Eric R. Miller, Pietro Montanini