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).
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Patent number: 12727238Abstract: Integrated circuit structures having uniform grid metal gate and trench contact cut, and methods of fabricating integrated circuit structures having uniform grid metal gate and trench contact cut, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a vertical stack of horizontal nanowires. A gate electrode is over the vertical stack of horizontal nanowires. A conductive trench contact is adjacent to the gate electrode. A dielectric sidewall spacer is between the gate electrode and the conductive trench contact. A first dielectric cut plug structure extends through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact. A second dielectric cut plug structure extends through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact, the second dielectric cut plug structure laterally spaced apart from and parallel with the first dielectric cut plug structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 1, 2026Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Leonard P. Guler, Sukru Yemenicioglu, Mohit K. Haran, Stephen M. Cea, Charles H. Wallace, Tahir Ghani, Shengsi Liu, Saurabh Acharya, Thomas O'Brien, Nidhi Khandelwal, Marie T. Conte, Prabhjot Luthra
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Patent number: 12713691Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to form an integrated circuit having a grid of gate cut structures such that a gate cut structure exists between pairs of semiconductor devices. In an example, neighboring semiconductor devices each include a semiconductor region extending between a source region and a drain region, and a gate structure extending over the semiconductor regions of the neighboring semiconductor devices. A gate cut structure is present between each pair of neighboring semiconductor devices thus interrupting the gate structure and isolating the gate of one semiconductor device from the gate of the other semiconductor device. Each of the gate cut structures may be formed at the same time in a grid-like pattern across the integrated circuit (or a portion thereof). Sidewall spacer structures on the sidewalls of the gate structure wrap around ends of each gate structure to form a given gate cut structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: August 18, 2026Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Leonard P. Guler, Sukru Yemenicioglu, Mohit K. Haran, Shengsi Liu, Robert Joachim, Dan S. Lavric, Stephen M. Cea
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Publication number: 20260190435Abstract: Devices, transistor structures, systems, and techniques are described herein related to gate all around field effect transistors having a stack of nanowires (i.e., semiconductor structures) contacted by epitaxial source and drain structures at opposite ends of the nanowires. The transistors include a gate structure vertically between the nanowires. Spacer structures of silicon germanium oxide separate the ends of the nanowires spacer and separate the source and drains structures from the gate structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2024Publication date: July 2, 2026Applicant: Intel CorporationInventors: Rishabh Mehandru, Sudipto Naskar, Michael L. Hattendorf, Patrick H. Keys, Stephen M. Cea
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Publication number: 20260190392Abstract: Technologies for strain engineering in gate-all-around (GAA) field-effect transistors (FETs) are disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, the source/drain contacts for N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) FETs extend deeper into the source/drain regions than the source/drain contacts for P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) FETs. The source/drain contacts for the NMOS FETs may cause a tensile strain in the channel of the NMOS FETs, while the source/drain region of the PMOS FETS may cause a compressive strain in the channel of the PMOS FETs. The tensile and compressive strains on the NMOS and PMOS channels, respectively, can increase the speed of the NMOS and PMOS transistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2024Publication date: July 2, 2026Applicant: Intel CorporationInventors: Gilbert Dewey, Seung Hoon Sung, Wriddhi Chakraborty, Ashish Agrawal, Nazila Haratipour, Nancy Zelick, Neda Dalili, Lukas Baumgartel, Arnab Sen Gupta, Stephen M. Cea, Rohit V. Galatage
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Publication number: 20260156884Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2026Publication date: June 4, 2026Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20260122977Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2025Publication date: April 30, 2026Inventors: Mohammad HASAN, Wonil CHUNG, Biswajeet GUHA, Saptarshi MANDAL, Pratik PATEL, Tahir GHANI, Stephen M. CEA, Anand S. MURTHY
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Publication number: 20260114007Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2025Publication date: April 23, 2026Inventors: Biswajeet GUHA, Dax M. CRUM, Stephen M. CEA, Leonard P. GULER, Tahir GHANI
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Patent number: 12575151Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2021Date of Patent: March 10, 2026Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20260006909Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2024Publication date: January 1, 2026Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20250324747Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2025Publication date: October 16, 2025Inventors: Mark T. BOHR, Stephen M. CEA, Barbara A. CHAPPELL
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Publication number: 20250227989Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2025Publication date: July 10, 2025Inventors: Mark T. BOHR, Stephen M. CEA, Barbara A. CHAPPELL
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Patent number: 12349420Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 29, 2022Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Rishabh Mehandru, Stephen M. Cea, Tahir Ghani, Anand S. Murthy
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Publication number: 20250185316Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2024Publication date: June 5, 2025Inventors: Kelin J. Kuhn, Seiyon Kim, Rafael Rios, Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Annalisa Cappellani, Titash Rakshit, Peter Chang, Willy Rachmady
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Publication number: 20250185363Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2025Publication date: June 5, 2025Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20250107174Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2024Publication date: March 27, 2025Inventors: Siddharth CHOUKSEY, Jack T. KAVALIEROS, Stephen M. CEA, Ashish AGRAWAL, Willy RACHMADY
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Patent number: 12243875Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 10, 2024Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: 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
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Patent number: 12199098Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Aaron D. Lilak, Cory Weber, Stephen M. Cea, Leonard C. Pipes, Seahee Hwangbo, Rishabh Mehandru, Patrick Keys, Jack Yaung, Tzu-Min Ou
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Patent number: 12199142Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Siddharth Chouksey, Jack T. Kavalieros, Stephen M. Cea, Ashish Agrawal, Willy Rachmady
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Patent number: 12142634Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Sony Group CorporationInventors: Kelin J. Kuhn, Seiyon Kim, Rafael Rios, Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Annalisa Cappellani, Titash Rakshit, Peter Chang, Willy Rachmady
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Publication number: 20240355903Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2024Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Biswajeet GUHA, Dax M. CRUM, Stephen M. CEA, Leonard P. GULER, Tahir GHANI