Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Clevenger

Lawrence A. Clevenger 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: 20240057345
    Abstract: A back side contact structure is provided that directly connects a first electrode of a MRAM, which is present in a back side of a wafer, to a source/drain structure of a transistor. The back side contact is self-aligned to the source/drain structure of the transistor as well as to the first electrode of the MRAM. The close proximity between the MRAM and the source/drain structure increases the speed of the device. MRAM yield is not compromised since no re-sputtering of back side contact metal onto the MRAM occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Koichi Motoyama, Brent A. Anderson, Michael Rizzolo, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Publication number: 20240055477
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a first source region and a first drain region forming a first L-shaped layout. Embodiments include a second source region and a second drain region forming a second L-shaped layout, the first L-shaped layout and the second L-shaped layout being interrupted by a gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Albert M. Chu, DANIEL JAMES DECHENE, Eric Miller, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Publication number: 20240055441
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit chip having a frontside and a backside. The frontside includes a frontside signal line configured to transmit signals to a first terminal of a transistor arranged in the integrated circuit chip, and the backside includes a backside power line configured to transmit power to a second terminal of the transistor. The semiconductor device further includes a contact configured to connect a gate of the transistor to a backside signal line configured to transmit signals to the gate of the transistor. The semiconductor device further includes a via extending through the frontside and the backside of the integrated circuit chip. The via is configured to transmit signals between a lowermost contact on the frontside and an uppermost contact on the backside of the integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Tao Li, Ruilong Xie, Chih-Chao Yang, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Patent number: 11901224
    Abstract: Metal interconnect structures are reworked to address possible voids or other defects. Etching of initially deposited interconnect metal to open voids is followed by reflow to accumulate interconnect metal at the bottoms of trenches. Additional interconnect metal is deposited over the initially deposited interconnect metal by electroplating and/or electroless plating. Additional diffusion barrier material may be deposited and patterned prior to deposition of the additional interconnect material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Prasad Bhosale, Terry A. Spooner, Chih-Chao Yang, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Publication number: 20240047341
    Abstract: Interconnect designs with reduced via resistance are provided. In one aspect, an interconnect structure includes: at least a first metal line and a second metal line; and a conductive via in between the first metal line and the second metal line, wherein the conductive via has elongated dimensions along a major axis of the first metal line and along a major axis of the second metal line. Dielectric caps can be present on the first metal lines, and below and above the second metal lines. A method of forming the present interconnect structure is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Brent A. Anderson, Reinaldo Vega, Albert M. Chu, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Patent number: 11894265
    Abstract: A method of forming a top via is provided. The method includes forming a sacrificial trench layer and conductive trench plug in an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on a conductive line. The method further includes forming a cover layer on the ILD layer, sacrificial trench layer, and conductive trench plug, and forming a sacrificial channel layer and a conductive channel plug on the conductive trench plug. The method further includes removing the cover layer and the ILD layer to expose the sacrificial trench layer and the sacrificial channel layer. The method further includes removing the sacrificial trench layer and the sacrificial channel layer, and forming a barrier layer on the conductive channel plug and conductive trench plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Brent Anderson, Kisik Choi, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Christopher J. Penny, Robert Robison
  • Publication number: 20240038656
    Abstract: A microelectronic structure comprises a first interconnect line at a first interconnect level, a second interconnect line at a second interconnect level, and at least one via connecting the first interconnect line at the first interconnect level to the second interconnect line at the second interconnect level. The at least one via comprises a vertical section and at least one horizontal section, the at least one horizontal section being in contact with at least a portion of one of a top surface of the first interconnect line and a bottom surface of the second interconnect line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Albert M. Chu, Brent A. Anderson, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo
  • Patent number: 11875987
    Abstract: A method of increasing the surface area of a contact to an electrical device that in one embodiment includes forming a contact stud extending through an intralevel dielectric layer to a component of the electrical device, and selectively forming a contact region on the contact stud. The selectively formed contact region has an exterior surface defined by a curvature and has a surface area that is greater than a surface area of the contact stud. An interlevel dielectric layer is formed on the intralevel dielectric layer, wherein an interlevel contact extends through the interlevel dielectric layer into direct contact with the selectively formed contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Baozhen Li, Kirk D. Peterson, Terry A. Spooner, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20240014133
    Abstract: An electrical device includes a plurality of metal lines in a region of a substrate positioned in an array of metal lines all having parallel lengths, and a plurality of air gaps between the metal lines in a same level as the metal lines, wherein an air gap is present between each set of adjacent metal lines. A plurality of interconnects may be present in electrical communication with said plurality of metal lines, wherein an exclusion zone for said plurality of interconnects is not present in said array of metal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Christopher J. Penny, Michael Rizzolo
  • Patent number: 11869808
    Abstract: An approach providing a semiconductor wiring structure with a self-aligned top via on a first metal line and under a second metal line. The semiconductor wiring structure includes a plurality of first metal lines in a bottom portion of a first dielectric material. The semiconductor wiring structure includes a top via in a top portion of the first dielectric material, where the top via is over a first metal line of the plurality of first metal lines. The semiconductor wiring structure includes a second dielectric material above each of the plurality of first metal lines except the first metal line of the plurality of first metal lines. Furthermore, the semiconductor wiring structure includes a second metal line above the top via, wherein the second metal line is in a third dielectric material and a hardmask layer that is under the third dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Brent Anderson, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Christopher J. Penny, Kisik Choi, Robert Robison
  • Patent number: 11869783
    Abstract: One or more processors determine a predicted sorting bin of a semiconductor device, based on measurement and test data performed on the semiconductor device subsequent to a current metallization layer. A current predicted sorting bin and a target sorting bin are determined by a machine learning model for the semiconductor device; the target bin include higher performance semiconductor devices than the predicted sorting bin. The model determines a performance level improvement attainable by adjustments made to process parameters of subsequent metallization layers of the semiconductor device. Adjustments to process parameters are generated, based on measurement and test data of the current metallization layer of semiconductor device, and the adjustment outputs for the process parameters of the subsequent metallization layers of the semiconductor device are made available to the one or more subsequent metallization layer processes by a feed-forward mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Nicholas A. Lanzillo, Michael Rizzolo, Theodorus E. Standaert, James Stathis
  • Publication number: 20240006314
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. An electronic device is integrated into the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive power rail is positioned intermediate the top surface and the bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate. The conductive power rail is configured to conduct power to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Hosadurga Shobha, Huai Huang, Ruilong Xie, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Publication number: 20230420491
    Abstract: Metal-insulator-metal capacitor designs with increased reliability are provided. In one aspect, a capacitor includes: first and second electrodes; and multiple dielectric layers present in between the first and second electrodes, including a first buffer layer disposed on the first electrode, a ferroelectric film disposed on the first buffer layer, and a second buffer layer disposed on the ferroelectric film, where the ferroelectric film includes a combination of at least a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material having a higher ? value than either the first or second buffer layers. The first and second dielectric materials can each include HfO2 and/or ZrO2, in a crystalline phase, which can be combined in a common layer, or present in different layers. A capacitor device having the present capacitors stacked one on top of another is also provided, as is a method of forming the present capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Kisik Choi, Paul Charles Jamison, Takashi Ando, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Huimei Zhou, Miaomiao Wang, Ernest Y. Wu
  • Publication number: 20230420359
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a field effect transistor (FET) including first and second source/drain (S/D) epitaxial regions. The semiconductor device also includes a gate cut region at cell boundaries between the first and second S/D epitaxial regions, a dielectric liner and a dielectric core formed in the gate cut region, and a backside power rail (BPR) and a backside power distribution network (BSPDN). The semiconductor device also includes a power via passing through the dielectric core and connecting to the BPR and BSPDN, first metal contacts formed in contact with the first and second S/D epitaxial regions, and a via to backside power rail (VBPR) contact. The dielectric liner separates the power via from the first S/D epitaxial region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Junli Wang, Kisik Choi, Julien Frougier, Reinaldo Vega, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Albert M. Chu, Brent A. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20230420296
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include providing interconnects with two-dimensional free zero line end enclosure. A first metal line is formed. A second metal line is connected by a via to the first metal line, the first metal line having a first end with a zero line extension in relation to the via in a first dimension, the second metal line having another first end with a zero line extension in relation to the via in a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Albert M. Chu, Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Huai Huang
  • Publication number: 20230420366
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a metal plane, a third dielectric layer and a fourth dielectric layer. The first metal layer comprises a first dielectric layer with a first plurality of signal track and a first plurality of power rails. The second metal layer comprises a second dielectric layer with a second plurality of signal tracks and a second plurality of power rails. The metal plane is between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The third dielectric layer is between the first metal layer and the metal plane. The fourth dielectric layer is between the second metal layer and the metal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Ruilong Xie, Huai Huang, Hosadurga Shobha, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Patent number: 11854884
    Abstract: A method of forming fully aligned top vias is provided. The method includes forming a fill layer on a conductive line, wherein the fill layer is adjacent to one or more vias. The method further includes forming a spacer layer selectively on the exposed surface of the fill layer, wherein the top surface of the one or more vias is exposed after forming the spacer layer. The method further includes depositing an etch-stop layer on the exposed surfaces of the spacer layer and the one or more vias, and forming a cover layer on the etch-stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Koichi Motoyama, Somnath Ghosh, Christopher J. Penny, Robert Robison, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Publication number: 20230409692
    Abstract: A system for a touch screen interface that includes a coating including a plurality of a touch activated microchips; and a projector for projecting a light image onto the coating that is applied to a touch screen substrate. The system also includes an image calibrator that calibrates touch activated microchips in the coating to features of the light image projected onto the coating. The system further includes a receiver for receiving signal from the touch activated microchips when said feature of the light image is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Maryam Ashoori, Benjamin D. Briggs, Justin A. Canaperi, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Leigh Anne H. Clevenger, Michael Rizzolo, Spyridon Skordas
  • Publication number: 20230411293
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of field effect transistors (FET) formed upon semiconductor fins. Each FET includes a gate disposed transversely upon a first portion of the fins of the FET, one or more source/drain regions disposed upon the fins and in contact with the gate, and an electrically isolating layer disposed adjacent to a second portion of the fins above the gate and the source/drain regions, the electrically isolating layer having an interface with the gate. The device further includes a buried power rail (BPR) disposed between otherwise adjacent FETs. The BPR includes a metal rail extending beyond the interface into the gate, and electrically isolating sidewalls separating the metal rail from the gate and the source/drain regions. The device also includes a via-buried power rail contact disposed adjacent to the electrically isolating sidewalls, in contact with the metal rail, and in contact with one source/drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Junli Wang, Julien Frougier, Dechao Guo, Lawrence A. Clevenger
  • Publication number: 20230402381
    Abstract: A skip-level through-silicon via structure is provided that enables low resistance via connection for backside power distribution by skipping one or more intermediate backside metal layers. The skip-level through-silicon via structure can enable a greater design flexibility for power grid. The skip-level through-silicon via structure has a large size that provides lower through-silicon via resistance as compared with conventional through-silicon via structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Ruilong Xie, Huai Huang, Hosadurga Shobha, Lawrence A. Clevenger