Patents by Inventor Isaac Lauer

Isaac Lauer 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: 20170221992
    Abstract: Field effect transistors include a stack of nanosheets of vertically arranged channel layers. A source and drain region is positioned at respective ends of the vertically arranged channel layers. A gate stack is formed over, around, and between the vertically arranged channel layers. The transistor includes a plurality of internal spacers, each formed between the gate stack and a respective source or drain region, with at least one pair of spacers being positioned above an uppermost channel layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Xin Miao
  • Publication number: 20170213888
    Abstract: Field effect transistors and methods of forming the same include forming a stack of nanosheets of alternating layers of channel material and sacrificial material. A layer of sacrificial material forms a top layer of the stack. A dummy gate is formed over the stack. Stack material outside of a region covered by the dummy gate is removed. The sacrificial material is etched to form recesses in the sacrificial material layers. Spacers are formed in the recesses in the sacrificial material layers. At least one pair of spacers is formed in recesses above an uppermost layer of channel material. The dummy gates are etched away. The top layer of sacrificial material protects an uppermost layer of channel material from damage from the anisotropic etch. The sacrificial material is etched away to expose the layers of channel material. A gate stack is formed over, around, and between the layers of channel material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Xin Miao
  • Publication number: 20170194509
    Abstract: A nanowire field effect transistor (FET) device includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. Each of the first and second source/drain regions are formed on an upper surface of a bulk semiconductor substrate. A gate region is interposed between the first and second source/drain regions, and directly on the upper surface of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A plurality of nanowires are formed only in the gate region. The nanowires are suspended above the semiconductor substrate and define gate channels of the nanowire FET device. A gate structure includes a gate electrode formed in the gate region such that the gate electrode contacts an entire surface of each nanowire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Publication number: 20170194325
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming finFET devices is provided which includes patterning fins in a wafer; forming dummy gates over the fins; forming spacers on opposite sides of the dummy gates; depositing a gap fill oxide on the wafer, filling any gaps between the spacers; removing the dummy gates forming gate trenches; trimming the fins within the gate trenches such that a width of the fins within the gate trenches is less than the width of the fins under the spacers adjacent to the gate trenches, wherein u-shaped grooves are formed in sides of the fins within the gate trenches; and forming replacement gate stacks in the gate trenches, wherein portions of the fins adjacent to the replacement gate stacks serve as source and drain regions of the finFET devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Robert H. Dennard, Isaac Lauer, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Ghavam G. Shahidi
  • Publication number: 20170194510
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a gate structure present on at least two suspended channel structures, and a composite spacer present on sidewalls of the gate structure. The composite spacer may include a cladding spacer present along a cap portion of the gate structure, and an inner spacer along the channel portion of the gate structure between adjacent channel semiconductor layers of the suspended channel structures. The inner spacer may include a crescent shape with a substantially central seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Xin Miao
  • Patent number: 9691715
    Abstract: A nanowire device includes a first component formed on a substrate and a second component disposed apart from the first component on the substrate. A nanowire is configured to connect the first component to the second component. An anchor pad is formed along a span of the nanowire and configured to support the nanowire along the span to prevent sagging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Isaac Lauer, Tenko Yamashita, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Publication number: 20170170270
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of semiconductor fins located on a semiconductor substrate, in which each of the semiconductor fins comprises a sequential stack of a buffered layer including a III-V semiconductor material and a channel layer including a III-V semiconductor material. The semiconductor structure further includes a gap filler material surrounding the semiconductor fins and including a plurality of trenches therein. The released portions of the channel layers of the semiconductor fins located in the trenches constitute nanowire channels of the semiconductor structure, and opposing end portions of the channel layers of the semiconductor fins located outside of the trenches constitute a source region and a drain region of the semiconductor structure, respectively. In addition, the semiconductor structure further includes a plurality of gates structures located within the trenches that surround the nanowire channels in a gate all around configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Jack O. Chu, Szu Lin Cheng, Isaac Lauer, Kuen-Ting Shiu, Jeng-Bang Yau
  • Publication number: 20170154959
    Abstract: A nanowire device includes a first component formed on a substrate and a second component disposed apart from the first component on the substrate. A nanowire is configured to connect the first component to the second component. An anchor pad is formed along a span of the nanowire and configured to support the nanowire along the span to prevent sagging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Isaac Lauer, Tenko Yamashita, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 9653547
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of gate stacks spaced apart from each other on a substrate, an etch stop layer formed on an upper surface of each gate stack, a dielectric cap layer formed on each etch stop layer, a plurality of source/drain regions formed on the substrate between respective pairs of adjacent gate stacks, and a plurality of contacts respectively corresponding to each source/drain region, wherein the contacts are separated from the gate structures and contact their corresponding source/drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Bruce B. Doris, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Xin Miao
  • Patent number: 9647139
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a gate structure present on at least two suspended channel structures, and a composite spacer present on sidewalls of the gate structure. The composite spacer may include a cladding spacer present along a cap portion of the gate structure, and an inner spacer along the channel portion of the gate structure between adjacent channel semiconductor layers of the suspended channel structures. The inner spacer may include a crescent shape with a substantially central seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Xin Miao
  • Publication number: 20170125550
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a test structure on a wafer includes forming a fin on a substrate, forming a first gate stack over the fin, the first gate stack having a first gate width, the first gate stack including a gate dielectric layer having a first thickness, forming a second gate stack over the fin, the second gate stack having a second gate width, the second gate stack including a gate dielectric layer having a second thickness, and forming a third gate stack over the fin, the third gate stack having a third gate width, the third gate stack including a gate dielectric layer having the second thickness, wherein the first gate stack is arranged a first distance from the second gate stack and the second gate stack is arranged the first distance from the third gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Isaac Lauer, Jeffrey W. Sleight, Tenko Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20170117373
    Abstract: A method of forming a MOSFET device is provided including: providing an SOI wafer; forming a dummy gate oxide and dummy gates on portions of the SOI layer that serve as channel regions of the device; forming spacers and doped source/drain regions in the SOI layer on opposite sides of the dummy gates; depositing a gap fill dielectric; removing the dummy gates/gate oxide; recessing areas of the SOI layer exposed by removal of the dummy gates forming one or more u-shaped grooves that extend part-way through the SOI layer such that a thickness of the SOI layer remaining in the channel regions is less than a thickness of the SOI layer in the doped source/drain regions under the spacers; and forming u-shaped replacement gate stacks in the u-shaped grooves such that u-shaped channels are formed in fully depleted regions of the SOI layer adjacent to the u-shaped replacement gate stacks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Robert H. Dennard, Isaac Lauer, Ramachandran Muralidhar
  • Patent number: 9627378
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming finFET devices is provided which includes patterning fins in a wafer; forming dummy gates over the fins; forming spacers on opposite sides of the dummy gates; depositing a gap fill oxide on the wafer, filling any gaps between the spacers; removing the dummy gates forming gate trenches; trimming the fins within the gate trenches such that a width of the fins within the gate trenches is less than the width of the fins under the spacers adjacent to the gate trenches, wherein u-shaped grooves are formed in sides of the fins within the gate trenches; and forming replacement gate stacks in the gate trenches, wherein portions of the fins adjacent to the replacement gate stacks serve as source and drain regions of the finFET devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Robert H. Dennard, Isaac Lauer, Ramachandran Muralidhar, Ghavam G. Shahidi
  • Patent number: 9627330
    Abstract: A nanowire device includes a first component formed on a substrate and a second component disposed apart from the first component on the substrate. A nanowire is configured to connect the first component to the second component. An anchor pad is formed along a span of the nanowire and configured to support the nanowire along the span to prevent sagging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Isaac Lauer, Tenko Yamashita, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Publication number: 20170084745
    Abstract: At least one semiconductor nanowire laterally abutted by a pair of semiconductor pad portions is formed over an insulator layer. Portions of the insulator layer are etched from underneath the at least one semiconductor nanowire such that the at least one semiconductor nanowire is suspended. A temporary fill material is deposited over the at least one semiconductor nanowire, and is planarized to physically expose top surfaces of the pair of semiconductor pad portions. Trenches are formed within the pair of semiconductor pad portions, and are filled with stress-generating materials. The temporary fill material is subsequently removed. The at least one semiconductor nanowire is strained along the lengthwise direction with a tensile strain or a compressive strain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Isaac Lauer, Chung-Hsun Lin, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 9601576
    Abstract: Fin stacks including a silicon germanium alloy portion and a silicon portion are formed on a surface of a substrate. Sacrificial gate structures are then formed straddling each fin stack. Silicon germanium alloy portions that are exposed are oxidized, while silicon germanium alloy portions that are covered by the sacrificial gate structures are not oxidized. A dielectric material having a topmost surface that is coplanar with a topmost surface of each sacrificial gate structure is formed, and thereafter each sacrificial gate structure is removed. Non-oxidized silicon germanium alloy portions are removed suspending silicon portions that were present on each non-oxidized silicon germanium alloy portion. A functional gate structure is then formed around each suspended silicon portion. The oxidized silicon germanium alloy portions remain and provide stress to a channel portion of the suspended silicon portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac Lauer, Chung-Hsun Lin, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Publication number: 20170077036
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming a wiring layer on a wafer is provided which includes: depositing a HSQ layer onto the wafer; cross-linking a first portion(s) of the HSQ layer using e-beam lithography; depositing a hardmask material onto the HSQ layer; patterning the hardmask using optical lithography, wherein the patterned hardmask covers a second portion(s) of the HSQ layer; patterning the HSQ layer using the patterned hardmask in a manner such that i) the first portion(s) of the HSQ layer remain and ii) the second portion(s) of the HSQ layer covered by the patterned hardmask remain, wherein by way of the patterning step trenches are formed in the HSQ layer; and filling the trenches with a conductive material to form the wiring layer on the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Josephine B. Chang, Szu-Lin Cheng, Isaac Lauer, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Publication number: 20170069734
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a gate structure present on at least two suspended channel structures, and a composite spacer present on sidewalls of the gate structure. The composite spacer may include a cladding spacer present along a cap portion of the gate structure, and an inner spacer along the channel portion of the gate structure between adjacent channel semiconductor layers of the suspended channel structures. The inner spacer may include a crescent shape with a substantially central seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Xin Miao
  • Publication number: 20170069715
    Abstract: A nanowire device includes a first component formed on a substrate and a second component disposed apart from the first component on the substrate. A nanowire is configured to connect the first component to the second component. An anchor pad is formed along a span of the nanowire and configured to support the nanowire along the span to prevent sagging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Isaac Lauer, Tenko Yamashita, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Publication number: 20170069763
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a gate structure present on at least two suspended channel structures, and a composite spacer present on sidewalls of the gate structure. The composite spacer may include a cladding spacer present along a cap portion of the gate structure, and an inner spacer along the channel portion of the gate structure between adjacent channel semiconductor layers of the suspended channel structures. The inner spacer may include a crescent shape with a substantially central seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Michael A. Guillorn, Isaac Lauer, Xin Miao