Patents by Inventor Robert R. Robison

Robert R. Robison 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: 10037895
    Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for nanosecond electrical pulse anneal processes. The method of forming an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure includes forming an N+ diffusion on a substrate and a P+ diffusion on the substrate. The P+ diffusion is in electrical contact with the N+ diffusion. The method further includes forming a device between the N+ diffusion and the P+ diffusion. A method of annealing a structure or material includes applying an electrical pulse across an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure for a plurality of nanoseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Tom C. Lee, Junjun Li, Souvick Mitra, Christopher S. Putnam, Robert R. Robison
  • Patent number: 10032885
    Abstract: A method includes removing a top portion of a substrate after implantation of a punch through stopper into the substrate; epitaxially growing undoped material on the substrate, thereby forming a channel; filling a top portion of the channel with an intermediate implant forming a vertically bi-modal dopant distribution, with one doping concentration peak in the top portion of the channel and another doping concentration peak in the punch through stopper; and patterning fins into the channel and the punch though stopper to form a finFET structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gauri Karve, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega
  • Publication number: 20180190782
    Abstract: One example of an apparatus includes a conducting channel region. The conducting channel region includes a plurality of epitaxially grown, in situ doped conducting channels arranged in a spaced apart relation relative to each other. A source positioned at a first end of the conducting channel region, and a drain positioned at a second end of the conducting channel region. A gate surrounds all sides of the conducting channel region and fills in spaces between the plurality of epitaxially grown, in situ doped conducting channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ruqiang Bao, Michael A. Guillorn, Terence Hook, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo Vega, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9972550
    Abstract: A source/drain epitaxial electrical monitor and methods of characterizing epitaxial growth through capacitance measurements are provided. The structure includes a plurality of fin structures; one or more gate structures, perpendicular to and intersecting the plurality of fin structures. The structure further includes a first connection by a first contact at one fin-end of every other fin structure of the plurality of fin structures, and a second connection by a second contact at one end of an alternate fin structure of the plurality of fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Edward J. Nowak, Robert R. Robison, Lyndon R. Logan
  • Publication number: 20180114833
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of making the same include forming a stack of alternating layers of channel material and sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is etched away to free the layers of channel material. A gate stack is formed around the layers of channel material. At least one layer of channel material is deactivated. Source and drain regions are formed in contact with the at least one layer of active channel material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Ruqiang Bao, Michael A. Guillorn, Terence B. Hook, Nicolas J. Loubet, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Tenko Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20180108661
    Abstract: A method of forming an improved field-effect transistor device is provided. The method includes forming a tensile stressor near a first semiconductor fin. The first semiconductor fin is a fin of an n-channel field-effect transistor. The n-channel field-effect transistor is formed on a substrate. The method also includes forming a compressive stressor near a second semiconductor fin. The second semiconductor fin is a fin of a p-channel field effect transistor. The p-channel field-effect transistor is formed on the substrate. The method can also include forming neutral material over the at least one n-channel and p-channel field effect transistor. The method can also include achieving different device performance by configuring a stressor distance to fin and/or by configuring a stressor volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Dechao Guo, Juntao Li, Sanjay C. Mehta, Robert R. Robison, Huimei Zhou
  • Patent number: 9941179
    Abstract: Approaches for characterizing a shallow trench isolation (STI) divot depth are provided. The approach includes measuring a first capacitance at a first region of a substrate where at least one first gate line crosses over a boundary junction between a STI region and an active region. The approach also includes measuring a second capacitance at a second region of the substrate where at least one second gate line crosses over the active region. The approach further includes calculating a capacitance associated with a divot at the first region based on a difference between the first capacitance at the first region and the second capacitance at the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Lyndon R. Logan, Edward J. Nowak, Robert R. Robison, Yan He
  • Patent number: 9935106
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to multi-finger devices in multiple-gate-contacted-pitch, integrated structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first plurality of fin structures formed on a substrate having a channel surface in a {110} plane; and a second plurality of fin structures formed on the substrate with a channel surface in a {100} plane, positioned in relation to the first plurality of fin structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Edward J. Nowak, Brent A. Anderson, Robert R. Robison
  • Patent number: 9911804
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor device with air gaps, including a source/drain layer on a substrate, one or more vertical fin(s) in contact with source/drain layer, a gate metal fill that forms a portion of a gate structure on each of the one or more vertical fin(s), and a bottom void space between the source/drain layer and the gate metal fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hari V. Mallela, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Publication number: 20180053840
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor device with air gaps, including a source/drain layer on a substrate, one or more vertical fin(s) in contact with source/drain layer, a gate metal fill that forms a portion of a gate structure on each of the one or more vertical fin(s), and a bottom void space between the source/drain layer and the gate metal fill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Hari V. Mallela, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Publication number: 20180053821
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor device with air gaps, including a source/drain layer on a substrate, one or more vertical fin(s) in contact with source/drain layer, a gate metal fill that forms a portion of a gate structure on each of the one or more vertical fin(s), and a bottom void space between the source/drain layer and the gate metal fill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Hari V. Mallela, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Publication number: 20180053823
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor device with air gaps, including a source/drain layer on a substrate, one or more vertical fin(s) in contact with source/drain layer, a gate metal fill that forms a portion of a gate structure on each of the one or more vertical fin(s), and a bottom void space between the source/drain layer and the gate metal fill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Hari V. Mallela, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 9881810
    Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for nanosecond electrical pulse anneal processes. The method of forming an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure includes forming an N+ diffusion on a substrate and a P+ diffusion on the substrate. The P+ diffusion is in electrical contact with the N+ diffusion. The method further includes forming a device between the N+ diffusion and the P+ diffusion. A method of annealing a structure or material includes applying an electrical pulse across an electrostatic discharge (ESD) N+/P+ structure for a plurality of nanoseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michel J. Abou-Khalil, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Tom C. Lee, Junjun Li, Souvick Mitra, Christopher S. Putnam, Robert R. Robison
  • Patent number: 9859421
    Abstract: A method is presented for forming a vertical field effect transistor (VFET) structure. The method includes forming a plurality of vertical fins over a substrate, forming a dummy gate between the plurality of vertical fins, removing the dummy gate with a subway etch to define a gate cavity, and forming a high-k metal gate (HKMG) stack within the gate cavity. The method further includes forming the first and second source/drain regions before the HKMG stack. The method further includes defining the HKMG stack by a replacement metal gate (RMG) process, the RMG process defined in part by the subway etch. The subway etch enables removal of the dummy gate from a side portion of the VFET structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo A. Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 9859384
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having vertical FET (field effect transistor) devices with metallic source/drain regions are provided, as well as methods for fabricating such vertical FET devices. For example, a semiconductor device includes a first source/drain region formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vertical semiconductor fin formed on the first source/drain region, a second source/drain region formed on an upper surface of the vertical semiconductor fin, a gate structure formed on a sidewall surface of the vertical semiconductor fin, and an insulating material that encapsulates the vertical semiconductor fin and the gate structure. The first source/drain region comprises a metallic layer and at least a first epitaxial semiconductor layer. For example, the metallic layer of the first source/drain region comprises a metal-semiconductor alloy such as silicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hari V. Mallela, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 9852956
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems, computer program products and computer implemented methods. In some embodiments, a system includes a computer-implemented method of determining a laterally diffuse dopant profile in semiconductor structures by providing first and second semiconductor structures having plurality of gate array structures in a silicided region separated from each other by a first distance and second distance. A potential difference is applied across the plurality of gate array structures and resistances are determined. A linear-regression fit is performed on measured resistance versus the first distance and the second distance with an extrapolated x equals 0 and a y-intercept to determine a laterally diffused dopant-profile under the plurality of gate array structures based on a semiconductor device model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lyndon Ronald Logan, Edward J. Nowak, Robert R. Robison, Jonathan K. Winslow
  • Patent number: 9847416
    Abstract: Disclosed are performance-enhanced vertical devices (e.g., vertical field effect transistors (FETs) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices, which incorporate vertical FETs) and methods of forming such devices. A strained dielectric layer is positioned laterally adjacent to the gate of a vertical FET, increasing the charge carrier mobility within the channel region and improving performance. In a vertical n-type FET (NFET), the strain is compressive to improve electron mobility given the direction of current within the vertical NFET; whereas, in a vertical p-type FET (PFET), the strain is tensile to improve hole mobility given the direction of current within the vertical PFET. Optionally, the orientation of a vertical FET relative to the surface plane of the semiconductor wafer on which it is formed is also preplanned as function of the type of FET (i.e., NFET or PFET) for optimal charge carrier mobility and, thereby enhanced performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Edward J. Nowak, Robert R. Robison, Brent A. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20170317177
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having vertical FET (field effect transistor) devices with metallic source/drain regions are provided, as well as methods for fabricating such vertical FET devices. For example, a semiconductor device includes a first source/drain region formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vertical semiconductor fin formed on the first source/drain region, a second source/drain region formed on an upper surface of the vertical semiconductor fin, a gate structure formed on a sidewall surface of the vertical semiconductor fin, and an insulating material that encapsulates the vertical semiconductor fin and the gate structure. The first source/drain region comprises a metallic layer and at least a first epitaxial semiconductor layer. For example, the metallic layer of the first source/drain region comprises a metal-semiconductor alloy such as silicide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Hari V. Mallela, Robert R. Robison, Reinaldo Vega, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 9805990
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a reference device and method of forming the same. A reference device is disclosed having: a fully depleted n-type MOSFET implemented as a long channel device having a substantially undoped body; and a fully depleted p-type MOSFET implemented with as a long channel device having a substantially undoped body; wherein the n-type MOSFET and p-type MOSFET are connected in series and employ identical gate stacks, wherein each has a gate electrically coupled to a respective drain to form two diodes, and wherein both diodes are in one of an on state and an off state according to a value of an electrical potential applied across the n-type MOSFET and p-type MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Edward J. Nowak, Robert R. Robison
  • Publication number: 20170287911
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to multi-finger devices in multiple-gate-contacted-pitch, integrated structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first plurality of fin structures formed on a substrate having a channel surface in a {110} plane; and a second plurality of fin structures formed on the substrate with a channel surface in a {100} plane, positioned in relation to the first plurality of fin structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Edward J. Nowak, Brent A. Anderson, Robert R. Robison