Patents by Inventor ORB ACTON

ORB ACTON 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: 12575184
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a transistor architecture includes a first semiconductor body and a second semiconductor body. The first and second semiconductor bodies are arranged vertically (e.g., stacked configuration) or horizontally (e.g., forksheet configuration) with respect to each other, and separated from one another by insulator material, and each can be configured for planar or non-planar transistor topology. A first gate structure is on the first semiconductor body, and includes a first gate electrode and a first high-k gate dielectric. A second gate structure is on the second semiconductor body, and includes a second gate electrode and a second high-k gate dielectric. In an example, the first gate electrode includes a layer comprising a compound of silicon and one or more metals; the second gate structure may include a silicide workfunction layer, or not. In one example, the first gate electrode is n-type, and the second gate electrode is p-type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron D. Lilak, Orb Acton, Cheng-Ying Huang, Gilbert Dewey, Ehren Mannebach, Anh Phan, Willy Rachmady, Jack T. Kavalieros
  • Publication number: 20260006892
    Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) devices having shared, dual-metal gates for complementary transistors. An IC device includes a shared gate structure over first and second stacks of nanoribbons with complementary conductivities and a substrate, and the gate structure includes first, second, and third gate metals with the first gate metal over and around the nanoribbons in the first stack, the second gate metal over and around the nanoribbons in the second stack, and the third gate metal around and between the nanoribbons in the first stack, between the first and second stacks, in contact with both the first and second gate metals, and extending beyond the first metal over the substrate. The first gate metal may act as a temple for selective deposition of the third gate metal. The second gate metal may be conformally deposited over the nanoribbons in the second stack and on the third gate metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2025
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Orb Acton, Guowei Xu, Niangao Duan, Petr Novotny, Omair Saadat, Gianna Di Francesco, Lukas Baumgartel, David Towner, Oleg Golonzka, Dax Crum, Dan Lavric, Angeline Smith, Joseph Saunders
  • Publication number: 20260006891
    Abstract: Integrated circuit (IC) devices having shared, dual-metal gates for complementary transistors. An IC device includes a shared gate structure over first and second stacks of nanoribbons with complementary conductivities and a substrate, and the gate structure includes first, second, and third gate metals with the first gate metal over and around the nanoribbons in the first stack, the second gate metal over and around the nanoribbons in the second stack, and the third gate metal around and between the nanoribbons in the first stack, between the first and second stacks, in contact with both the first and second gate metals, and extending beyond the first metal over the substrate. The first gate metal may act as a temple for selective deposition of the third gate metal. The second gate metal may be conformally deposited over the nanoribbons in the second stack and on the third gate metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Orb Acton, Guowei Xu, Niangao Duan, Petr Novotny, Omair Saadat, Gianna Di Francesco, Lukas Baumgartel, David Towner, Oleg Golonzka, Dax Crum, Dan Lavric, Angeline Smith, Joseph Saunders
  • Publication number: 20250391774
    Abstract: Contact over active gate (COAG) structures with gate recess for gate insulating cap layers, and methods of fabricating contact over active gate (COAG) structures using a gate recess for accommodating gate insulating cap layers, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a vertical stack of horizontal nanowires or a fin. An epitaxial source or drain structure is coupled to the vertical stack of horizontal nanowires or the fin. A gate stack is over the vertical stack of horizontal nanowires or the fin, the gate stack including a gate dielectric and a gate electrode, the gate electrode including a gate electrode material layer, a lower fill material, and an upper fill material, the upper fill material distinct from the lower fill material. A gate insulating cap structure is on the upper fill material of the gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2024
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Guowei XU, Lukas BAUMGARTEL, Thomas JACROUX, Oleg GOLONZKA, Orb ACTON, David J. TOWNER, Ting JIANG, Omair SAADAT, Ming-Hsun LEE, Tao CHU, Anand S. MURTHY, Niangao DUAN, Chung-Hsun LIN
  • Patent number: 12471354
    Abstract: Integrated circuitry comprising high voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV) ribbon or wire (RoW) transistor stack structures. In some examples, a gate electrode of the HV and LV transistor stack structures may include the same work function metal. A metal oxide may be deposited around one or more channels of the HV transistor stack, thereby altering the dipole properties of the gate insulator stack from those of the LV transistor stack structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Chao, Bishwajeet Guha, Brian Greene, Chung-Hsun Lin, Curtis Tsai, Orb Acton
  • Publication number: 20250210356
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the strength of the work function (WF) for P-type MOS transistors may be boosted by doping a gate layer surface using a plasma oxidation treatment after a metallic nitride (e.g., MoN film) has been deposited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Inventors: Zafrullah JAGOO, Harish GANAPATHY, Kishore Kumar KOMIRISETTY, Pranav SHARMA, Tongtawee WACHARASINDHU, Han WANG, Xiaoye QIN, Andre BARAN, David TOWNER, Jacob JENSEN, Orb ACTON, Robert JAMES
  • Publication number: 20250113598
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes n- and p-type transistors with and without threshold voltage shifts using a common dopant material in a gate dielectric. The IC device includes at least four threshold voltage for each of n- and p-type transistors. Besides volumeless doping of gate dielectrics, work function metals are used in both n- and p-type transistors. A single dipole dopant may be concurrently introduced into and through similar gate dielectrics in both n- and p-type transistors to achieve consistent threshold voltage shifts with minimal process variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Lavric, Jubin Nathawat, Orb Acton, Michal Mleczko, Owen Loh, Michael L. Hattendorf
  • Publication number: 20240332394
    Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a multi-layer molybdenum metal gate stack are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, and a second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A PMOS gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the PMOS gate stack having a multi-layer molybdenum structure on a first gate dielectric. An NMOS gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the NMOS gate stack having the multi-layer molybdenum structure or an N-type conductive layer on a second gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: David N. GOLDSTEIN, David J. TOWNER, Dax M. CRUM, Omair SAADAT, Dan S. LAVRIC, Orb ACTON, Tongtawee WACHARASINDHU, Anand S. MURTHY, Tahir GHANI
  • Publication number: 20240290788
    Abstract: A metal gate fabrication method for nanoribbon-based transistors and associated transistor arrangements, IC structures, and devices are disclosed. An example IC structure fabricated using metal gate fabrication method described herein may include a first stack of N-type nanoribbons, a second stack of P-type nanoribbons, a first gate region enclosing portions of the nanoribbons of the first stack and including an NWF material between adjacent nanoribbons of the first stack, and a second gate region enclosing portions of the nanoribbons of the second stack and including a PWF material between adjacent nanoribbons of the second stack, where the second gate region includes the PWF material at sidewalls of the nanoribbons of the second stack and further includes the NWF material so that the PWF material is between the sidewalls of the nanoribbons of the second stack and the NWF material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Guowei Xu, Tao Chu, Chiao-Ti Huang, Robin Chao, David Towner, Orb Acton, Omair Saadat, Feng Zhang, Dax M. Crum, Yang Zhang, Biswajeet Guha, Oleg Golonzka, Anand S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 12051698
    Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having molybdenum nitride metal gates and gate dielectrics with a dipole layer are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, and a second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the first gate stack having a P-type conductive layer on a first gate dielectric. The P-type conductive layer includes molybdenum and nitrogen. A second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the second gate stack having an N-type conductive layer on a second gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Ouellette, Daniel B. O'Brien, Jeffrey S. Leib, Orb Acton, Lukas Baumgartel, Dan S. Lavric, Dax M. Crum, Oleg Golonzka, Tahir Ghani
  • Patent number: 11996408
    Abstract: Stacked transistor structures having a conductive interconnect between upper and lower transistors. In an embodiment, the interconnect is formed by first provisioning a protective layer over an area to be protected (gate dielectric or other sensitive material) of upper transistor, and then etching material adjacent and below the protected area to expose an underlying contact point of lower transistor. A metal is deposited into the void created by the etch to provide the interconnect. The protective layer is resistant to the etch process and is preserved in the structure, and in some cases may be utilized as a work-function metal. In an embodiment, the protective layer is formed by deposition of reactive semiconductor and metal material layers which are subsequently transformed into a work function metal or work function metal-containing compound. A remnant of unreacted reactive semiconductor material may be left in structure and collinear with protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron D. Lilak, Anh Phan, Ehren Mannebach, Cheng-Ying Huang, Stephanie A. Bojarski, Gilbert Dewey, Orb Acton, Willy Rachmady
  • Publication number: 20230420531
    Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having common metal gates and having gate dielectrics with a dipole layer are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, and a second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the first gate stack a PMOS gate stack having a P-type conductive layer on a first gate dielectric including a first N-type dipole material layer. A second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the second gate stack an NMOS gate stack having the P-type conductive layer on a second gate dielectric including the first N-type dipole material layer and a second N-type dipole material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Dan S. LAVRIC, Dax M. CRUM, YenTing CHIU, Orb ACTON, David J. TOWNER, Tahir GHANI
  • Publication number: 20230090092
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a transistor architecture includes a first semiconductor body and a second semiconductor body. The first and second semiconductor bodies are arranged vertically (e.g., stacked configuration) or horizontally (e.g., forksheet configuration) with respect to each other, and separated from one another by insulator material, and each can be configured for planar or non-planar transistor topology. A first gate structure is on the first semiconductor body, and includes a first gate electrode and a first high-k gate dielectric. A second gate structure is on the second semiconductor body, and includes a second gate electrode and a second high-k gate dielectric. In an example, the first gate electrode includes a layer comprising a compound of silicon and one or more metals; the second gate structure may include a silicide workfunction layer, or not. In one example, the first gate electrode is n-type, and the second gate electrode is p-type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Aaron D. Lilak, Orb Acton, Cheng-Ying Huang, Gilbert Dewey, Ehren Mannebach, Anh Phan, Willy Rachmady, Jack T. Kavalieros
  • Publication number: 20220416039
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure comprises a first and second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires in a PMOS region and in an NMOS region. A first gate stack having a P-type conductive layer surrounds the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A second gate stack surrounds the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. In one embodiment, the second gate stack has an N-type conductive layer, the P-type conductive layer is over the second gate stack, and an N-type conductive fill is between N-type conductive layer and the P-type conductive layer to provide same polarity metal filled gates. In another embodiment, the second gate stack has an N-type conductive layer comprising Titanium (Ti) and “Nitrogen (N) having a low saturation thickness of 3-3.5 nm surrounding the nanowires, and the N-type conductive layer is covered by the P-type conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Dan S. LAVRIC, Dax M. CRUM, David J. TOWNER, Orb ACTON, Jitendra Kumar JHA, YenTing CHIU, Mohit K. HARAN, Oleg GOLONZKA, Tahir GHANI
  • Patent number: 11476334
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for providing functionality of a transistor which comprises a conformal layer of a gate work function silicide. In an embodiment, the transistor comprises a channel region and a gate dielectric which extends and adjoins the channel region. The gate dielectric also adjoins a layer structure of the transistor, the layer structure comprising a silicide. The silicide includes silicon and a component D which comprises a non-metal element from one of Groups IIIa, IVa, or Va. In another embodiment, the silicide further comprises a component M which includes a transition metal element from one of Groups IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIB, or VIIIb and/or which includes a metal element from one of Groups IIIa, IVa, or Va.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Orb Acton, Joseph Steigerwald, Anand Murthy, Scott Maddox, Jenny Hu
  • Publication number: 20220246608
    Abstract: Stacked transistor structures having a conductive interconnect between upper and lower transistors. In an embodiment, the interconnect is formed by first provisioning a protective layer over an area to be protected (gate dielectric or other sensitive material) of upper transistor, and then etching material adjacent and below the protected area to expose an underlying contact point of lower transistor. A metal is deposited into the void created by the etch to provide the interconnect. The protective layer is resistant to the etch process and is preserved in the structure, and in some cases may be utilized as a work-function metal. In an embodiment, the protective layer is formed by deposition of reactive semiconductor and metal material layers which are subsequently transformed into a work function metal or work function metal-containing compound. A remnant of unreacted reactive semiconductor material may be left in structure and collinear with protective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Aaron D. LILAK, Anh PHAN, Ehren MANNEBACH, Cheng-Ying HUANG, Stephanie A. BOJARSKI, Gilbert DEWEY, Orb ACTON, Willy RACHMADY
  • Publication number: 20220199472
    Abstract: Integrated circuitry comprising high voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV) ribbon or wire (RoW) transistor stack structures. In some examples, a gate electrode of the HV and LV transistor stack structures may include the same work function metal. A metal oxide may be deposited around one or more channels of the HV transistor stack, thereby altering the dipole properties of the gate insulator stack from those of the LV transistor stack structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Chao, Bishwajeet Guha, Brian Greene, Chung-Hsun Lin, Curtis Tsai, Orb Acton
  • Patent number: 11348916
    Abstract: Stacked transistor structures having a conductive interconnect between upper and lower transistors. In an embodiment, the interconnect is formed by first provisioning a protective layer over an area to be protected (gate dielectric or other sensitive material) of upper transistor, and then etching material adjacent and below the protected area to expose an underlying contact point of lower transistor. A metal is deposited into the void created by the etch to provide the interconnect. The protective layer is resistant to the etch process and is preserved in the structure, and in some cases may be utilized as a work-function metal. In an embodiment, the protective layer is formed by deposition of reactive semiconductor and metal material layers which are subsequently transformed into a work function metal or work function metal-containing compound. A remnant of unreacted reactive semiconductor material may be left in structure and collinear with protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron D. Lilak, Anh Phan, Ehren Mannebach, Cheng-Ying Huang, Stephanie A. Bojarski, Gilbert Dewey, Orb Acton, Willy Rachmady
  • Publication number: 20220093597
    Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having molybdenum nitride metal gates and gate dielectrics with a dipole layer are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, and a second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the first gate stack having a P-type conductive layer on a first gate dielectric. The P-type conductive layer includes molybdenum and nitrogen. A second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires, the second gate stack having an N-type conductive layer on a second gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel G. OUELLETTE, Daniel B. O'BRIEN, Jeffrey S. LEIB, Orb ACTON, Lukas BAUMGARTEL, Dan S. LAVRIC, Dax M. CRUM, Oleg GOLONZKA, Tahir GHANI
  • Publication number: 20200343343
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for providing functionality of a transistor which comprises a conformal layer of a gate work function silicide. In an embodiment, the transistor comprises a channel region and a gate dielectric which extends and adjoins the channel region. The gate dielectric also adjoins a layer structure of the transistor, the layer structure comprising a silicide. The silicide includes silicon and a component D which comprises a non-metal element from one of Groups IIIa, IVa, or Va. In another embodiment, the silicide further comprises a component M which includes a transition metal element from one of Groups IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIB, or VIIIb and/or which includes a metal element from one of Groups IIIa, IVa, or Va.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Orb Acton, Joseph Steigerwald, Anand Murthy, Scott Maddox, Jenny Hu