Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Niimi

Hiroaki Niimi 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: 10163725
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing an n-channel finFET and a p-channel finFET is formed by forming a first polarity fin epitaxial layer for a first polarity finFET, and subsequently forming a hard mask which exposes an area for a second, opposite, polarity fin epitaxial layer for a second polarity finFET. The second polarity fin epitaxial layer is formed in the area exposed by the hard mask. A fin mask defines the first polarity fin and second polarity fin areas, and a subsequent fin etch forms the respective fins. A layer of isolation dielectric material is formed over the substrate and fins. The layer of isolation dielectric material is planarized down to the fins. The layer of isolation dielectric material is recessed so that the fins extend at least 10 nanometers above the layer of isolation dielectric material. Gate dielectric layers and gates are formed over the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Manoj Mehrotra, Charles Frank Machala, III, Rick L. Wise, Hiroaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 10153201
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a substrate; a source region and a drain region formed over the substrate; and a source/drain contact formed in contact with at least one of the source region and the drain region, the source/drain contact including a conductive metal and a bilayer disposed between the conductive metal and the at least one of the source and drain region, the bilayer including a metal oxide layer in contact with the conductive metal, and a silicon dioxide layer in contact with the at least one of the source and drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC., THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SUNY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Huiming Bu, Hui-feng Li, Vijay Narayanan, Hiroaki Niimi, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10141446
    Abstract: Formation of a bottom junction in vertical FET devices may include, for instance, providing an intermediate semiconductor structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a fin disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The fin has a top surface, spaced-apart vertical sides. A mask is disposed over the top surface of the fin, and at least one is disposed over the vertical sides of the fin. Portions of the substrate are removed to define spaced-apart recesses each extending below a respective one of the spacers. Semiconductor material is grown, such as epitaxially grown, in the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niimi, Kwan-Yong Lim, Steven John Bentley, Daniel Chanemougame
  • Publication number: 20180331040
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a first source/drain trench and a second source/drain trench over a first and second source/drain region, respectively; forming a first silicon dioxide layer in the first source/drain trench and a second silicon dioxide layer in the second source/drain trench; forming a first source/drain contact over the first source/drain region, the first source/drain contact including a first tri-layer contact disposed between the first silicon dioxide layer and a first conductive material; and forming a second source/drain contact over the second source/drain region, the second source/drain contact including a second tri-layer contact disposed between the second silicon dioxide layer and a second conductive material; wherein the first tri-layer contact includes a first metal oxide layer in contact with the first silicon dioxide layer, and the second tri-layer contact includes a second metal oxide layer in contact with the second silicon dioxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Hiroaki Niimi, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10115824
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate, forming a source/drain region on an exposed portion of the substrate, and forming a semiconductor material layer on the source/drain region. A first liner layer is deposited on the semiconductor material layer, and a second liner layer is deposited on the first liner layer. A conductive contact material is deposited on the second liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleg Gluschenkov, Zuoguang Liu, Shogo Mochizuki, Hiroaki Niimi, Ruilong Xie
  • Publication number: 20180277541
    Abstract: A technique relates to fabricating a pFET device and nFET device. A contact trench is formed through an inter-level dielectric layer (ILD) and a spacer layer. The ILD is formed over the spacer layer. The contact trench exposes a p-type source/drain region of the pFET and exposes an n-type source/drain region of the NFET. A gate stack is included within the spacer layer. A p-type alloyed layer is formed on top of the p-type source/drain region in the pFET and on top of the n-type source/drain region of the nFET. The p-type alloyed layer on top of the n-type source/drain region of the nFET is converted into a metallic alloyed layer. A metallic liner layer is formed in the contact trench such that the metallic liner layer is on top of the p-type alloyed layer of the pFET and on top of the metallic alloyed layer of the nFET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Oleg Gluschenkov, Zuoguang Liu, Hiroaki Niimi, Joseph S. Washington, Tenko Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20180277483
    Abstract: A technique relates to fabricating a semiconductor device. A contact trench is formed in an inter-level dielectric layer. The contact trench creates an exposed portion of a semiconductor substrate through the inter-level dielectric layer. A gate stack is on the semiconductor substrate, and the inter-level dielectric layer is adjacent to the gate stack and the semiconductor substrate. A source/drain region is formed in the contact trench such that the source/drain region is on the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. Tin is introduced in the source/drain region to form an alloyed layer on top of the source/drain region, and the alloyed layer includes the tin and a source/drain material of the source/drain region. A trench layer is formed in the contact trench such that the trench layer is on top of the alloyed layer. A metallic liner layer is formed on the trench layer and the inter-level dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Oleg Gluschenkov, Jiseok Kim, Zuoguang Liu, Shogo Mochizuki, Hiroaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 10068983
    Abstract: An integrated circuit containing metal replacement gates may be formed by forming a nitrogen-rich titanium-based barrier between a high-k gate dielectric layer and a metal work function layer of a PMOS transistor. The nitrogen-rich titanium-based barrier is less than 1 nanometer thick and has an atomic ratio of titanium to nitrogen of less than 43:57. The nitrogen-rich titanium-based barrier may be formed by forming a titanium based layer over the gate dielectric layer and subsequently adding nitrogen to the titanium based layer. The metal work function layer is formed over the nitrogen-rich titanium-based barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niimi, James Joseph Chambers
  • Patent number: 10068771
    Abstract: Oxide growth of a gate dielectric layer that occurs between processes used in the fabrication of a gate dielectric structure can be reduced. The reduction in oxide growth can be achieved by maintaining the gate dielectric layer in an ambient effective to mitigate oxide growth of the gate dielectric layer between at least two sequential process steps used in the fabrication the gate dielectric structure. Maintaining the gate dielectric layer in an ambient effective to mitigate oxide growth also improves the uniformity of nitrogen implanted in the gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Malcolm J. Bevan, Haowen Bu, Hiroaki Niimi, Husam N. Alshareef
  • Publication number: 20180240875
    Abstract: Techniques for forming Ga-doped source drain contacts in Ge-based transistors are provided. In one aspect, a method for forming Ga-doped source and drain contacts includes the steps of: depositing a dielectric over a transistor; depositing a dielectric over the transistor; forming contact trenches in the dielectric over, and extending down to, source and drain regions of the transistor; depositing an epitaxial material into the contact trenches; implanting gallium ions into the epitaxial material to form an amorphous gallium-doped layer; and annealing the amorphous gallium-doped layer under conditions sufficient to form a crystalline gallium-doped layer having a homogenous gallium concentration of greater than about 5×1020 at./cm3. Transistor devices are also provided utilizing the present Ga-doped source and drain contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Oleg Gluschenkov, Zuoguang Liu, Shogo Mochizuki, Hiroaki Niimi, Chun-chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 10056334
    Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a first source/drain trench and a second source/drain trench over a first and second source/drain region, respectively; forming a first silicon dioxide layer in the first source/drain trench and a second silicon dioxide layer in the second source/drain trench; forming a first source/drain contact over the first source/drain region, the first source/drain contact including a first tri-layer contact disposed between the first silicon dioxide layer and a first conductive material; and forming a second source/drain contact over the second source/drain region, the second source/drain contact including a second tri-layer contact disposed between the second silicon dioxide layer and a second conductive material; wherein the first tri-layer contact includes a first metal oxide layer in contact with the first silicon dioxide layer, and the second tri-layer contact includes a second metal oxide layer in contact with the second silicon dioxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Hiroaki Niimi, Tenko Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20180226505
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to vertical transport field effect transistor devices and methods of manufacture. A structure includes: a vertical fin structure having a lower dopant region, an upper dopant region and a channel region between the lower dopant region and the upper dopant region; and a doped semiconductor material provided on sides of the vertical fin structure at a lower portion. The lower dopant region being composed of the doped semiconductor material which is merged into the vertical fin structure at the lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Jiseok KIM, Hiroaki NIIMI, Hoon KIM, Puneet Harischandra SUVARNA, Steven BENTLEY, Jody A. FRONHEISER
  • Patent number: 9972682
    Abstract: Techniques for forming Ga-doped source drain contacts in Ge-based transistors are provided. In one aspect, a method for forming Ga-doped source and drain contacts includes the steps of: depositing a dielectric over a transistor; depositing a dielectric over the transistor; forming contact trenches in the dielectric over, and extending down to, source and drain regions of the transistor; depositing an epitaxial material into the contact trenches; implanting gallium ions into the epitaxial material to form an amorphous gallium-doped layer; and annealing the amorphous gallium-doped layer under conditions sufficient to form a crystalline gallium-doped layer having a homogenous gallium concentration of greater than about 5×1020 at./cm3. Transistor devices are also provided utilizing the present Ga-doped source and drain contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oleg Gluschenkov, Zuoguang Liu, Shogo Mochizuki, Hiroaki Niimi, Chun-chen Yeh
  • Publication number: 20180130662
    Abstract: Oxide growth of a gate dielectric layer that occurs between processes used in the fabrication of a gate dielectric structure can be reduced. The reduction in oxide growth can be achieved by maintaining the gate dielectric layer in an ambient effective to mitigate oxide growth of the gate dielectric layer between at least two sequential process steps used in the fabrication the gate dielectric structure. Maintaining the gate dielectric layer in an ambient effective to mitigate oxide growth also improves the uniformity of nitrogen implanted in the gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Malcolm J. Bevan, Haowen Bu, Hiroaki Niimi, Husam N. Alshareef
  • Patent number: 9960162
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method with a metal gate NMOS transistor with a high-k first gate dielectric on a high quality thermally grown interface dielectric and with a metal gate PMOS transistor with a high-k last gate dielectric on a chemically grown interface dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niimi, Manoj Mehrotra, Mahalingam Nandakumar
  • Publication number: 20180114861
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate, forming a source/drain region on an exposed portion of the substrate, and forming a semiconductor material layer on the source/drain region. A first liner layer is deposited on the semiconductor material layer, and a second liner layer is deposited on the first liner layer. A conductive contact material is deposited on the second liner layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Oleg Gluschenkov, Zuoguang Liu, Shogo Mochizuki, Hiroaki Niimi, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 9917060
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate, forming a source/drain region on an exposed portion of the substrate, and forming a semiconductor material layer on the source/drain region. A first liner layer is deposited on the semiconductor material layer, and a second liner layer is deposited on the first liner layer. A conductive contact material is deposited on the second liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleg Gluschenkov, Zuoguang Liu, Shogo Mochizuki, Hiroaki Niimi, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 9911738
    Abstract: Methods for forming a structure that includes vertical-transport field-effect transistors and structures that include vertical-transport field-effect transistors. A first semiconductor fin is separated from a second semiconductor fin by a gap. A gate stack is conformally deposited that extends across the first semiconductor fin, the second semiconductor fin, and the gap. A section of the gate stack is located in the gap. A gate strap layer is formed in the gap on the section of the gate stack. The gate stack is patterned to form a first gate electrode associated with the first semiconductor fin and a second gate electrode associated with the second semiconductor fin. The gate strap layer masks the section of the gate stack when the gate stack is patterned. The first gate electrode is connected with the second gate electrode by the gate strap layer and the section of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niimi, Kwan-Yong Lim, Brent A. Anderson, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20180061993
    Abstract: Formation of a bottom junction in vertical FET devices may include, for instance, providing an intermediate semiconductor structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a fin disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The fin has a top surface, spaced-apart vertical sides. A mask is disposed over the top surface of the fin, and at least one is disposed over the vertical sides of the fin. Portions of the substrate are removed to define spaced-apart recesses each extending below a respective one of the spacers. Semiconductor material is grown, such as epitaxially grown, in the recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki NIIMI, Kwan-Yong LIM, Steven John BENTLEY, Daniel CHANEMOUGAME
  • Publication number: 20180053843
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for co-integrating a short-channel vertical transistor and a long-channel transistor. One method may include: from a starting substrate, forming a wide fin, wherein the wide fin comprises a wide active region; depositing a recess mask over a top surface of the starting substrate; recessing a long channel based on the deposited recess mask; depositing a gate electrode and a gate material, to form a gate structure; and forming SD contacts in an SD region of the long-channel transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Steven Bentley, Kwan-Yong Lim, Hiroaki Niimi, Junli Wang