Patents by Inventor Min-Gyu Sung

Min-Gyu Sung 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: 20200152735
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming a semiconductor device, such as a finFET device. One non-limiting method may include providing a semiconductor device including a substrate and a plurality of fins extending from the substrate, and forming a source trench isolation (STI) material over the semiconductor device. The method may further include performing a fin cut by removing a first fin section of the plurality of fins and a first portion of the STI material, and forming a second STI material over a second fin section of the plurality of fins, wherein the second fin section is left remaining following removal of the first fin section. The method may further include recessing the STI material and the second STI material, forming a spin-on-carbon (SOC) layer over the semiconductor device, and implanting the STI material and the second STI material through the SOC layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Jae Young Lee, Johannes Van Meer, Sony Varghese, Naushad K. Variam
  • Patent number: 10644117
    Abstract: A method may include providing a device structure, where the device structure includes a semiconductor region, and a gate structure, disposed over the semiconductor region. The gate structure may further include a gate metal. The method may further include oxidizing an upper portion of the gate metal, wherein the upper portion forms an oxide cap, and wherein a lower portion of the gate metal remains metallic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Wenhui Wang, Jun Lee, Sony Varghese
  • Publication number: 20200135928
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device may include providing a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure may include semiconductor fins pitched at a fin pitch on a substrate. The semiconductor device structure may include an isolation oxide layer on the substrate and between the semiconductor fins and a mask. The mask may be disposed over the isolation oxide layer and the mask may define at least one opening. The method may further comprise directing hot ions into the at least one opening, to implant hot ions in a volume of isolation oxide in the isolation oxide layer. The volume may be adjacent to at least one of the semiconductor fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Johannes Van Meer
  • Publication number: 20200135573
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device. The method may include providing a transistor structure, where the transistor structure includes a fin array, the fin array including a plurality of semiconductor fins, disposed on a substrate. A liner may be disposed on the plurality of semiconductor fins. The method may include directing first angled ions to the fin array, wherein the liner is removed in an upper portion of the plurality of semiconductor fins, and wherein the liner remains in a lower portion of the at least one of the plurality of semiconductor fins, and wherein the upper portion comprises an active fin region to form a transistor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Naushad K. Variam, Sony Varghese, Johannes Van Meer, Jae Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20200135927
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric layer oriented substantially parallelly to a substrate. The semiconductor device includes a metal layer formed on top of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor device includes a fin extending substantially orthogonally from the substrate through the dielectric layer into the metal layer. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulator deposited on top of the fins and the dielectric layer. The semiconductor device includes an optical projection lithography (OPL) material deposited on a portion of a surface area of the device to form a first covered surface area and a first exposed surface area. The semiconductor device includes a first exposed gate insulator area formed by removing the metal layer under the first exposed surface area. The semiconductor device includes a first exposed fin area formed by removing the gate insulator from the first exposed gate insulator area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Injo OK, Ruilong Xie, Chanro Park, Min Gyu Sung
  • Patent number: 10629741
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device may include providing a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure may include semiconductor fins pitched at a fin pitch on a substrate. The semiconductor device structure may include an isolation oxide layer on the substrate and between the semiconductor fins and a mask. The mask may be disposed over the isolation oxide layer and the mask may define at least one opening. The method may further comprise directing hot ions into the at least one opening, to implant hot ions in a volume of isolation oxide in the isolation oxide layer. The volume may be adjacent to at least one of the semiconductor fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Johannes Van Meer
  • Patent number: 10629437
    Abstract: A method may include providing a substrate, comprising a patterning layer. The method may include forming a first pattern of first linear structures in the patterning layer, the first linear structures being elongated along a first direction. The method may include forming a mask over the patterning layer, the mask comprising a second pattern of second linear structures, elongated along a second direction, forming a non-zero angle with respect to the first direction. The method may include selectively removing a portion of the patterning layer while the mask is in place, wherein a first etch pattern is formed in the patterning stack, the first etch pattern comprising a two-dimensional array of cavities. The method may include directionally etching the first etch pattern using an angled ion beam, wherein a second etch pattern is formed, comprising the two-dimensional array of cavities, elongated along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Sony Varghese, John Hautala, Steven R. Sherman, Rajesh Prasad, Min Gyu Sung
  • Patent number: 10607847
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional transistor device. The method may include providing a fin array on a substrate, the fin array comprising a plurality of fin structures, formed from a monocrystalline semiconductor, and disposed subjacent to a hard mask layer. The method may include directing angled ions at the fin array, wherein the angled ions form a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to a plane of the substrate. The angled ions may etch the plurality of fin structures to form a stack of isolated nanowires, within a given fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Sony Varghese, Anthony Renau, Morgan Evans, Joseph C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20200090982
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device. The method may include providing a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure may include a semiconductor fin; and a mask, disposed over the semiconductor fin, the mask defining a plurality of openings, wherein the semiconductor fin is exposed in the plurality of openings. The method may further include directing angled ions into the plurality of openings, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed in the semiconductor fin, wherein a given trench of the plurality of trenches comprises a reentrant profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Min Gyu Sung
  • Publication number: 20200083047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for creating regions of different device types. The substrate is divided into a first device region and a second device region. A target etch layer is formed on a substrate. A bottom mandrel layer is formed on the target etch layer. A plurality of first pillars of a top mandrel material is formed on the bottom mandrel layer in the first device region, having a first pitch. A plurality of first spacers is formed along sidewalls of each of the plurality of first pillars. An optical planarization layer (OPL) is formed over the plurality of first pillars, the plurality of first spacers, and a top surface of the bottom mandrel layer in the first device region. A plurality of second pillars of the top mandrel material is formed on the bottom mandrel layer in the second device region, having a second pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Min Gyu SUNG, Sony VARGHESE
  • Patent number: 10580651
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for creating regions of different device types on a substrate having different pitches. The method includes dividing a substrate into a first device type region and a second device type region. The method further includes forming a target etch layer on the substrate. The method further includes forming a bottom mandrel layer on the target etch layer. The method further includes forming a plurality of alternating first pillars of a top mandrel material and first trenches between the first pillars on the bottom mandrel layer in the first device type region. The plurality of first pillars has a first pitch. The method further includes forming a plurality of alternating second pillars of the top mandrel material and second trenches between the second pillars on the bottom mandrel layer in the second device type region. The plurality of second pillars has a second pitch. The method further includes depositing tone inversion material in the first trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Sony Varghese
  • Patent number: 10546770
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device. The method may include providing a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure may include a semiconductor fin; and a mask, disposed over the semiconductor fin, the mask defining a plurality of openings, wherein the semiconductor fin is exposed in the plurality of openings. The method may further include directing angled ions into the plurality of openings, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed in the semiconductor fin, wherein a given trench of the plurality of trenches comprises a reentrant profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: Min Gyu Sung
  • Publication number: 20200027777
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device may include providing a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure may include semiconductor fins pitched at a fin pitch on a substrate and a mask, disposed over the semiconductor fins, the mask defining a plurality of openings. The semiconductor device structure may further include an isolation oxide disposed on the substrate, between the semiconductor fins. The method may further include directing angled ions into the at least one of the plurality of openings. The angled ions may form at least one trench between at least one pair of the semiconductor fins, in the substrate below the isolation oxide between the at least one pair of the semiconductor fins. Furthermore, a width within the substrate of the at least one trench is greater than a minimum fin pitch and greater than a width of the at least one trench above the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Min Gyu Sung
  • Publication number: 20200027832
    Abstract: A method of forming a device may include forming a component in a first level of a device structure; forming a contact cavity overlapping the component, the contact cavity forming a non-zero angle of inclination with respect to a perpendicular to a substrate plane. The method may further include filling the contact cavity with a conductor, wherein an angled conductor is formed, wherein the angled conductor extends to a second level of the device structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Sony Varghese, Anthony Renau, Morgan Evans, John Hautala, Joe Olson, Min Gyu Sung
  • Publication number: 20200027795
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming a CMOS device. One non-limiting method may include providing a gate structure atop a substrate, and forming a first spacer over the gate structure. The method may include removing the first spacer from just an upper portion of the gate structure by performing an angled reactive ion etch or angled implantation disposed at a non-zero angle of inclination with respect to a perpendicular to a plane of the substrate. The method may further include forming a second spacer over the upper portion of the gate structure and the first spacer along a lower portion of the gate structure. A thickness of the first spacer and the second spacer along the lower portion of the gate structure may be greater than a thickness of the second spacer along the upper portion of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Sony Varghese
  • Publication number: 20200020570
    Abstract: Methods for forming semiconductor devices herein may include forming a trench in a substrate layer, wherein a hardmask is disposed atop the substrate layer, and implanting the trench at an angle relative to a top surface of the hardmask. The method may further include forming an oxide layer within the trench, wherein a thickness of the oxide layer along a bottom portion of the trench is greater than a thickness of the oxide layer along an upper portion of the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Sony Varghese
  • Publication number: 20190393094
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional transistor device. The method may include providing a transistor structure, where the transistor structure includes a fin assembly, a gate assembly, the gate assembly disposed over the fin assembly and comprising a plurality of gates, a liner layer, disposed over the plurality of gates, and an isolation layer, disposed subjacent the liner layer. The method may also include directing first angled ions at the transistor device, wherein a first altered liner layer is created in the liner layer, wherein, in the presence of a liner-removal etchant, the liner layer exhibits a first etch rate, the first altered liner layer exhibits a second etch rate, greater than the first etch rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Rajesh Prasad
  • Patent number: 10510610
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device. The method may include providing a transistor structure, where the transistor structure includes a fin array, the fin array including a plurality of semiconductor fins, disposed on a substrate. A liner may be disposed on the plurality of semiconductor fins. The method may include directing first angled ions to the fin array, wherein the liner is removed in an upper portion of the plurality of semiconductor fins, and wherein the liner remains in a lower portion of the at least one of the plurality of semiconductor fins, and wherein the upper portion comprises an active fin region to form a transistor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Naushad K. Variam, Sony Varghese, Johannes Van Meer, Jae Young Lee
  • Patent number: 10510870
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device may include providing a transistor structure. The transistor structure may include a set of semiconductor fins and a set of gate structures, disposed on the set of semiconductor fins, wherein an isolation layer is disposed between the set of semiconductor fins and between the set of gate structures. The method may include implanting ions into an exposed area of the isolation layer, wherein an altered portion of the isolation layer is formed in the exposed area, wherein an altered region of the set of semiconductor fins is formed in an exposed portion of the set of semiconductor fins. The altered portion of the isolation layer may have a first etch rate, wherein an unaltered portion of the isolation layer, not exposed to the ions, has a second etch rate, greater than the first etch rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Sung, Sony Varghese, Jae Young Lee, Johannes Van Meer
  • Publication number: 20190378717
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for creating regions of different device types on a substrate having different pitches. The method includes dividing a substrate into a first device type region and a second device type region. The method further includes forming a target etch layer on the substrate. The method further includes forming a bottom mandrel layer on the target etch layer. The method further includes forming a plurality of alternating first pillars of a top mandrel material and first trenches between the first pillars on the bottom mandrel layer in the first device type region. The plurality of first pillars has a first pitch. The method further includes forming a plurality of alternating second pillars of the top mandrel material and second trenches between the second pillars on the bottom mandrel layer in the second device type region. The plurality of second pillars has a second pitch. The method further includes depositing tone inversion material in the first trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Min Gyu SUNG, Sony VARGHESE