Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Cea

Stephen M. Cea 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: 20260156884
    Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a doped subfin, and methods of fabricating gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a doped subfin, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a subfin structure having well dopants. A vertical arrangement of horizontal semiconductor nanowires is over the subfin structure. A gate stack is surrounding a channel region of the vertical arrangement of horizontal semiconductor nanowires, the gate stack overlying the subfin structure. A pair of epitaxial source or drain structures is at first and second ends of the vertical arrangement of horizontal semiconductor nanowires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2026
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Inventors: Stephen M. CEA, Aaron D. LILAK, Patrick KEYS, Cory WEBER, Rishabh MEHANDRU, Anand S. MURTHY, Biswajeet GUHA, Mohammad HASAN, William HSU, Tahir GHANI, Chang Wan HAN, Kihoon PARK, Sabih OMAR
  • Publication number: 20260122977
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to advanced integrated circuit structure fabrication and, in particular, to integrated circuits utilizing gate plugs to induce compressive channel strain. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Mohammad HASAN, Wonil CHUNG, Biswajeet GUHA, Saptarshi MANDAL, Pratik PATEL, Tahir GHANI, Stephen M. CEA, Anand S. MURTHY
  • Publication number: 20260114007
    Abstract: Self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices above insulator substrates, and methods of fabricating self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices above insulator substrates, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor nanowire above an insulator substrate and having a length in a first direction. A gate structure is around the semiconductor nanowire, the gate structure having a first end opposite a second end in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction. A pair of gate endcap isolation structures is included. The first of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is directly adjacent to the first end of the gate structure, and the second of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is directly adjacent to the second end of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2025
    Publication date: April 23, 2026
    Inventors: Biswajeet GUHA, Dax M. CRUM, Stephen M. CEA, Leonard P. GULER, Tahir GHANI
  • Patent number: 12575151
    Abstract: Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a doped subfin, and methods of fabricating gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a doped subfin, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a subfin structure having well dopants. A vertical arrangement of horizontal semiconductor nanowires is over the subfin structure. A gate stack is surrounding a channel region of the vertical arrangement of horizontal semiconductor nanowires, the gate stack overlying the subfin structure. A pair of epitaxial source or drain structures is at first and second ends of the vertical arrangement of horizontal semiconductor nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Aaron D. Lilak, Patrick Keys, Cory Weber, Rishabh Mehandru, Anand S. Murthy, Biswajeet Guha, Mohammad Hasan, William Hsu, Tahir Ghani, Chang Wan Han, Kihoon Park, Sabih Omar
  • Publication number: 20260006909
    Abstract: A dopant may included in one or more sacrificial layers, e.g., silicon layers or silicon germanium layers, used for forming nanoribbon transistors. Adding a dopant to a silicon germanium layer may cause the silicon germanium to be more stress neutral, to prevent relaxation after etching stacks of individuated nanoribbons. Alternatively, when added to one or more sacrificial layers of silicon, the doped silicon layers may counteract elastic stress from the silicon germanium layers. The dopant layers may be included at various positions in a stack of materials. The dopant layer may include one or more dopants selected from carbon, arsenic, boron, and phosphorus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2024
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Inventors: David KOHEN, Rambert NAHM, Glenn A. GLASS, Borna OBRADOVIC, Stephen M. CEA, Matthew V. METZ, Siddharth CHOUKSEY, Jessica M. TORRES, Peter WELLS, Susmita GHOSE, Michael BABB, Natalie BRIGGS
  • Publication number: 20250324747
    Abstract: Through gate fin isolation for non-planar transistors in a microelectronic device, such as an integrated circuit (IC). In embodiments, ends of adjacent semiconductor fins are electrically isolated from each other with an isolation region that is self-aligned to gate electrodes of the semiconductor fins enabling higher transistor packing density and other benefits. In an embodiment, a single mask is employed to form a plurality of sacrificial placeholder stripes of a fixed pitch, a first subset of placeholder stripes is removed and isolation cuts made into the semiconductor fins in openings resulting from the first subset removal while a second subset of the placeholder stripes is replaced with gate electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Mark T. BOHR, Stephen M. CEA, Barbara A. CHAPPELL
  • Publication number: 20250227989
    Abstract: Through gate fin isolation for non-planar transistors in a microelectronic device, such as an integrated circuit (IC). In embodiments, ends of adjacent semiconductor fins are electrically isolated from each other with an isolation region that is self-aligned to gate electrodes of the semiconductor fins enabling higher transistor packing density and other benefits. In an embodiment, a single mask is employed to form a plurality of sacrificial placeholder stripes of a fixed pitch, a first subset of placeholder stripes is removed and isolation cuts made into the semiconductor fins in openings resulting from the first subset removal while a second subset of the placeholder stripes is replaced with gate electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2025
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Inventors: Mark T. BOHR, Stephen M. CEA, Barbara A. CHAPPELL
  • Patent number: 12349420
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to impose stress on a transistor which includes a channel region and a source or drain region each in a fin structure. In an embodiment, a gate structure of the transistor extends over the fin structure, wherein a first spacer portion is at a sidewall of the gate structure and a second spacer portion adjoins the first spacer portion. Either or both of two features are present at or under respective bottom edges of the spacer portions. One of the features includes a line of discontinuity on the fin structure. The other feature includes a concentration of a dopant in the second spacer portion being greater than a concentration of the dopant in the source or drain region. In another embodiment, the fin structure is disposed on a buffer layer, wherein stress on the channel region is imposed at least in part with the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rishabh Mehandru, Stephen M. Cea, Tahir Ghani, Anand S. Murthy
  • Publication number: 20250185316
    Abstract: Methods of forming microelectronic structures are described. Embodiments of those methods include forming a nanowire device comprising a substrate comprising source/drain structures adjacent to spacers, and nanowire channel structures disposed between the spacers, wherein the nanowire channel structures are vertically stacked above each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Kelin J. Kuhn, Seiyon Kim, Rafael Rios, Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Annalisa Cappellani, Titash Rakshit, Peter Chang, Willy Rachmady
  • Publication number: 20250185363
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include forksheet transistor devices having a dielectric or a conductive spine. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric spine. A first transistor device includes a first vertical stack of semiconductor channels spaced apart from a first edge of the dielectric spine. A second transistor device includes a second vertical stack of semiconductor channels spaced apart from a second edge of the dielectric spine. An N-type gate structure is on the first vertical stack of semiconductor channels, a portion of the N-type gate structure laterally between and in contact with the first edge of the dielectric spine and the first vertical stack of semiconductor channels. A P-type gate structure is on the second vertical stack of semiconductor channels, a portion of the P-type gate structure laterally between and in contact with the second edge of the dielectric spine and the second vertical stack of semiconductor channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Seung Hoon SUNG, Cheng-Ying HUANG, Marko RADOSAVLJEVIC, Christopher M. NEUMANN, Susmita GHOSE, Varun MISHRA, Cory WEBER, Stephen M. CEA, Tahir GHANI, Jack T. KAVALIEROS
  • Publication number: 20250107174
    Abstract: Neighboring gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a conductive contact stressor between epitaxial source or drain regions are described. In an example, a first vertical arrangement of nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of nanowires above a substrate. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. A second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. First epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. Second epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. An intervening conductive contact structure is between neighboring ones of the first epitaxial source or drain structures and of the second epitaxial source or drain structures. The intervening conductive contact structure imparts a stress to the neighboring ones of the first epitaxial source or drain structures and of the second epitaxial source or drain structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Siddharth CHOUKSEY, Jack T. KAVALIEROS, Stephen M. CEA, Ashish AGRAWAL, Willy RACHMADY
  • Patent number: 12243875
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include forksheet transistor devices having a dielectric or a conductive spine. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a dielectric spine. A first transistor device includes a first vertical stack of semiconductor channels spaced apart from a first edge of the dielectric spine. A second transistor device includes a second vertical stack of semiconductor channels spaced apart from a second edge of the dielectric spine. An N-type gate structure is on the first vertical stack of semiconductor channels, a portion of the N-type gate structure laterally between and in contact with the first edge of the dielectric spine and the first vertical stack of semiconductor channels. A P-type gate structure is on the second vertical stack of semiconductor channels, a portion of the P-type gate structure laterally between and in contact with the second edge of the dielectric spine and the second vertical stack of semiconductor channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Hoon Sung, Cheng-Ying Huang, Marko Radosavljevic, Christopher M. Neumann, Susmita Ghose, Varun Mishra, Cory Weber, Stephen M. Cea, Tahir Ghani, Jack T. Kavalieros
  • Patent number: 12199098
    Abstract: Fin doping, and integrated circuit structures resulting therefrom, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor fin. A lower portion of the semiconductor fin includes a region having both N-type dopants and P-type dopants with a net excess of the P-type dopants of at least 2E18 atoms/cm3. A gate stack is over and conformal with an upper portion of the semiconductor fin. A first source or drain region is at a first side of the gate stack, and a second source or drain region is at a second side of the gate stack opposite the first side of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron D. Lilak, Cory Weber, Stephen M. Cea, Leonard C. Pipes, Seahee Hwangbo, Rishabh Mehandru, Patrick Keys, Jack Yaung, Tzu-Min Ou
  • Patent number: 12199142
    Abstract: Neighboring gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having a conductive contact stressor between epitaxial source or drain regions are described. In an example, a first vertical arrangement of nanowires and a second vertical arrangement of nanowires above a substrate. A first gate stack is over the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. A second gate stack is over the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. First epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the first vertical arrangement of nanowires. Second epitaxial source or drain structures are at ends of the second vertical arrangement of nanowires. An intervening conductive contact structure is between neighboring ones of the first epitaxial source or drain structures and of the second epitaxial source or drain structures. The intervening conductive contact structure imparts a stress to the neighboring ones of the first epitaxial source or drain structures and of the second epitaxial source or drain structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Siddharth Chouksey, Jack T. Kavalieros, Stephen M. Cea, Ashish Agrawal, Willy Rachmady
  • Patent number: 12142634
    Abstract: Methods of forming microelectronic structures are described. Embodiments of those methods include forming a nanowire device comprising a substrate comprising source/drain structures adjacent to spacers, and nanowire channel structures disposed between the spacers, wherein the nanowire channel structures are vertically stacked above each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Kelin J. Kuhn, Seiyon Kim, Rafael Rios, Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Annalisa Cappellani, Titash Rakshit, Peter Chang, Willy Rachmady
  • Publication number: 20240355903
    Abstract: Self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices above insulator substrates, and methods of fabricating self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices above insulator substrates, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes includes a semiconductor nanowire above an insulator substrate and having a length in a first direction. A gate structure is around the semiconductor nanowire, the gate structure having a first end opposite a second end in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction. A pair of gate endcap isolation structures is included. The first of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is directly adjacent to the first end of the gate structure, and the second of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is directly adjacent to the second end of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Biswajeet GUHA, Dax M. CRUM, Stephen M. CEA, Leonard P. GULER, Tahir GHANI
  • Publication number: 20240355682
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are based on extending a nanocomb transistor architecture to implement gate all around, meaning that a gate enclosure of at least a gate dielectric material, or both a gate dielectric material and a gate electrode material, is provided on all sides of each nanoribbon of a vertical stack of lateral nanoribbons of a nanocomb transistor arrangement. In particular, extension of a nanocomb transistor architecture to implement gate all around, proposed herein, involves use of two dielectric wall materials which are etch-selective with respect to one another, instead of using only a single dielectric wall material used to implement conventional nanocomb transistor arrangements. Nanocomb-based transistor arrangements implementing gate all around as described herein may provide improvements in terms of the short-channel effects of conventional nanocomb transistor arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Varun Mishra, Stephen M. Cea, Cory E. Weber, Jack T. Kavalieros, Tahir Ghani
  • Patent number: 12125916
    Abstract: Nanowire structures having non-discrete source and drain regions are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of vertically stacked nanowires disposed above a substrate. Each of the nanowires includes a discrete channel region disposed in the nanowire. A gate electrode stack surrounds the plurality of vertically stacked nanowires. A pair of non-discrete source and drain regions is disposed on either side of, and adjoining, the discrete channel regions of the plurality of vertically stacked nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Annalisa Cappellani, Martin D. Giles, Rafael Rios, Seiyon Kim, Kelin J. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 12100623
    Abstract: Stacked finFET structures including a fin having at least a first layer of semiconductor material stacked over or under a second layer of semiconductor material. The first and second layers may include a Group IV semiconductor material layer and a Group III-V semiconductor material layer, for example. A stacked finFET may include an N-type finFET stacked over or under a P-type finFET, the two finFETs may have channel portions within the different semiconductor material layers. Channel portions of the first and second layers of semiconductor material may be coupled to separate gate electrodes that are vertically aligned. Channel portions of the first and second layers of semiconductor material may be vertically separated by subfin portions of the first and second layers. Different layers of dielectric material adjacent to the subfin portions may improve electrical isolation between the channel portions, for example as a source of fixed charge or impurity dopants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Lilak, Sean Ma, Justin R. Weber, Rishabh Mehandru, Stephen M. Cea, Patrick Morrow, Patrick H. Keys
  • Publication number: 20240304621
    Abstract: Fabrication method for nanoribbon-based transistors and associated transistor arrangements, IC structures, and devices are disclosed. An example fabrication method is based on patterning a foundation over which a superlattice is provided so that a single superlattice may be used to form both PMOS and NMOS stacks of nanoribbons. An example IC structure includes a support, an NMOS stack of nanoribbons stacked vertically above one another over the support, and a PMOS stack of nanoribbons stacked vertically above one another over the support, wherein at least one of the nanoribbons of the NMOS stack is vertically offset with respect to at least one of the nanoribbons of the PMOS stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Chiao-Ti Huang, Tao Chu, Robin Chao, Guowei Xu, Feng Zhang, Biswajeet Guha, Stephen M. Cea