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: 20130320455
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices with isolated body portions are described. For example, a semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor body disposed above a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor body includes a channel region and a pair of source and drain regions on either side of the channel region. An isolation pedestal is disposed between the semiconductor body and the semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode stack at least partially surrounds a portion of the channel region of the semiconductor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Annalisa Cappellani, Stephen M. Cea, Tahir Ghani, Harry Gomez, Jack T. Kavalieros, Patrick H. Keys, Seiyon Kim, Kelin J. Kuhn, Aaron D. Lilak, Rafael Rios, Mayank Sahni
  • Patent number: 8558279
    Abstract: A method and a device made according to the method. The method comprises providing a substrate including a first material, and providing a fin including a second material, the fin being disposed on the substrate and having a device active portion, the first material and the second material presenting a lattice mismatch between respective crystalline structures thereof. Providing the fin includes providing a biaxially strained film including the second material on the substrate; and removing parts of the biaxially strained film to form a substantially uniaxially strained fin therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Roza Kotlyar, Jack T. Kavalieros, Martin D. Giles, Tahir Ghani, Kelin J. Kuhn, Markus Kuhn, Nancy M. Zelick
  • Patent number: 8487348
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming isolation structures in strained semiconductor bodies of non-planar transistors while maintaining strain in the semiconductor bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Kelin Kuhn, Jack T. Kavalieros, Markus Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20120305990
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming isolation structures in strained semiconductor bodies of non-planar transistors while maintaining strain in the semiconductor bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen M Cea, Martin D. Giles, Kelin Kuhn, Jack T. Kavalieros, Markus Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20120241818
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for enabling multi-sided condensation of semiconductor fins. The techniques can be employed, for instance, in fabricating fin-based transistors. In one example case, a strain layer is provided on a bulk substrate. The strain layer is associated with a critical thickness that is dependent on a component of the strain layer, and the strain layer has a thickness lower than or equal to the critical thickness. A fin is formed in the substrate and strain layer, such that the fin includes a substrate portion and a strain layer portion. The fin is oxidized to condense the strain layer portion of the fin, so that a concentration of the component in the strain layer changes from a pre-condensation concentration to a higher post-condensation concentration, thereby causing the critical thickness to be exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Jack T. Kavalieros, Nancy Zelick, Been-Yih Jin, Markus Kuhn, Stephen M. Cea
  • Patent number: 8269283
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming isolation structures in strained semiconductor bodies of non-planar transistors while maintaining strain in the semiconductor bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Kelin Kuhn, Jack T. Kavalieros, Markus Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8211772
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for enabling multi-sided condensation of semiconductor fins. The techniques can be employed, for instance, in fabricating fin-based transistors. In one example case, a strain layer is provided on a bulk substrate. The strain layer is associated with a critical thickness that is dependent on a component of the strain layer, and the strain layer has a thickness lower than or equal to the critical thickness. A fin is formed in the substrate and strain layer, such that the fin includes a substrate portion and a strain layer portion. The fin is oxidized to condense the strain layer portion of the fin, so that a concentration of the component in the strain layer changes from a pre-condensation concentration to a higher post-condensation concentration, thereby causing the critical thickness to be exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jack T. Kavalieros, Nancy M. Zelick, Been-Yih Jin, Markus Kuhn, Stephen M. Cea
  • Publication number: 20120138886
    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: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Kelin J. Kuhn, Seiyon Kim, Rafael Rios, Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Annalisa Cappellani, Titash Rakshit, Peter Chang, Willy Rachmady
  • Publication number: 20120074464
    Abstract: A method and a device made according to the method. The method comprises providing a substrate including a first material, and providing a fin including a second material, the fin being disposed on the substrate and having a device active portion, the first material and the second material presenting a lattice mismatch between respective crystalline structures thereof. Providing the fin includes providing a biaxially strained film including the second material on the substrate; and removing parts of the biaxially strained film to form a substantially uniaxially strained fin therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Roza Kotlyar, Jack T. Kavalieros, Martin D. Giles, Tahir Ghani, Kelin J. Kuhn, Markus Kuhn, Nancy M. Zelick
  • Patent number: 8120073
    Abstract: A trigate device having an extended metal gate electrode comprises a semiconductor body having a top surface and opposing sidewalls formed on a substrate, an isolation layer formed on the substrate and around the semiconductor body, wherein a portion of the semiconductor body remains exposed above the isolation layer, and a gate stack formed on the top surface and opposing sidewalls of the semiconductor body, wherein the gate stack extends a depth into the isolation layer, thereby causing a bottom surface of the gate stack to be below a top surface of the isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Titash Rakshit, Stephen M. Cea, Jack T Kavalieros, Ravi Pillarisetty
  • Patent number: 7973389
    Abstract: A method of forming an isolated tri-gate semiconductor body comprises patterning a bulk substrate to form a fin structure, depositing an insulating material around the fin structure, recessing the insulating material to expose a portion of the fin structure that will be used for the tri-gate semiconductor body, depositing a nitride cap over the exposed portion of the fin structure to protect the exposed portion of the fin structure, and carrying out a thermal oxidation process to oxidize an unprotected portion of the fin structure below the nitride cap. The oxidized portion of the fin isolates the semiconductor body that is being protected by the nitride cap. The nitride cap may then be removed. The thermal oxidation process may comprise annealing the substrate at a temperature between around 900° C. and around 1100° C. for a time duration between around 0.5 hours and around 3 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael Rios, Jack Kavalieros, Stephen M. Cea
  • Publication number: 20110147811
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for enabling multi-sided condensation of semiconductor fins. The techniques can be employed, for instance, in fabricating fin-based transistors. In one example case, a strain layer is provided on a bulk substrate. The strain layer is associated with a critical thickness that is dependent on a component of the strain layer, and the strain layer has a thickness lower than or equal to the critical thickness. A fin is formed in the substrate and strain layer, such that the fin includes a substrate portion and a strain layer portion. The fin is oxidized to condense the strain layer portion of the fin, so that a concentration of the component in the strain layer changes from a pre-condensation concentration to a higher post-condensation concentration, thereby causing the critical thickness to be exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Jack T. Kavalieros, Nancy Zelick, Been-Yih Jin, Markus Kuhn, Stephen M. Cea
  • Publication number: 20110147847
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic devices. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to forming isolation structures in strained semiconductor bodies of non-planar transistors while maintaining strain in the semiconductor bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Martin D. Giles, Kelin Kuhn, Jack T. Kavalieros, Markus Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20110147840
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a substrate and a semiconductor body formed on the substrate. The semiconductor body comprises a source region; and a drain region. The source region or the drain region, or combinations thereof, comprises a first side surface, a second side surface, and a top surface. The first side surface is opposite the second side surface, the top surface is opposite the bottom surface. The source region or the drain region, or combinations thereof, comprise a metal layer formed on the substantially all of the first side surface, substantially all of the second side surface, and the top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen M. Cea, Rishabh Mehandru, Lucian Shifren, Kelin Kuhn
  • Patent number: 7781771
    Abstract: A method of a bulk tri-gate transistor having stained enhanced mobility and its method of fabrication. The present invention is a nonplanar transistor having a strained enhanced mobility and its method of fabrication. The transistor has a semiconductor body formed on a semiconductor substrate wherein the semiconductor body has a top surface on laterally opposite sidewalls. A semiconductor capping layer is formed on the top surface and on the sidewalls of the semiconductor body. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor capping layer on the top surface of a semiconductor body and is formed on the capping layer on the sidewalls of the semiconductor body. A gate electrode having a pair of laterally opposite sidewalls is formed on and around the gate dielectric layer. A pair of source/drain regions are formed in the semiconductor body on opposite sides of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Lindert, Stephen M. Cea
  • Publication number: 20100163970
    Abstract: A trigate device having an extended metal gate electrode comprises a semiconductor body having a top surface and opposing sidewalls formed on a substrate, an isolation layer formed on the substrate and around the semiconductor body, wherein a portion of the semiconductor body remains exposed above the isolation layer, and a gate stack formed on the top surface and opposing sidewalls of the semiconductor body, wherein the gate stack extends a depth into the isolation layer, thereby causing a bottom surface of the gate stack to be below a top surface of the isolation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Titash Rakshit, Stephen M. Cea, Jack T. Kavalieros, Ravi Pillarisetty
  • Patent number: 7719057
    Abstract: Techniques associated with providing multiple gate insulator thickness for a semiconductor device are generally described. In one example, an apparatus includes a semiconductor fin having an impurity introduced to at least a first side of the fin, a first oxide having a first thickness coupled with the first side of the fin, and a second oxide having a second thickness coupled with a second side of the fin, the second thickness being different from the first thickness as a result of the impurity introduced to the first side of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin D Giles, David L Kencke, Stephen M Cea
  • Publication number: 20100059821
    Abstract: A method of forming an isolated tri-gate semiconductor body comprises patterning a bulk substrate to form a fin structure, depositing an insulating material around the fin structure, recessing the insulating material to expose a portion of the fin structure that will be used for the tri-gate semiconductor body, depositing a nitride cap over the exposed portion of the fin structure to protect the exposed portion of the fin structure, and carrying out a thermal oxidation process to oxidize an unprotected portion of the fin structure below the nitride cap. The oxidized portion of the fin isolates the semiconductor body that is being protected by the nitride cap. The nitride cap may then be removed. The thermal oxidation process may comprise annealing the substrate at a temperature between around 900° C. and around 1100° C. for a time duration between around 0.5 hours and around 3 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Rafael Rios, Jack Kavalieros, Stephen M. Cea
  • Publication number: 20090152589
    Abstract: A transistor structure that increases uniaxial compressive stress on the channel region of a tri-gate transistor comprises at least two semiconductor bodies formed on a substrate, each semiconductor body having a pair of laterally opposite sidewalls and a top surface, a common source region formed on one end of the semiconductor bodies, wherein the common source region is coupled to all of the at least two semiconductor bodies, a common drain region formed on another end of the semiconductor bodies, wherein the common drain region is coupled to all of the at least two semiconductor bodies, and a common gate electrode formed over the at least two semiconductor bodies, wherein the common gate electrode provides a gate electrode for each of the at least two semiconductor bodies and wherein the common gate electrode has a pair of laterally opposite sidewalls that are substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls of the semiconductor bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Titash Rakshit, Martin D. Giles, Tahir Ghani, Anand Murthy, Stephen M. Cea
  • Publication number: 20090032872
    Abstract: Techniques associated with providing multiple gate insulator thickness for a semiconductor device are generally described. In one example, an apparatus includes a semiconductor fin having an impurity introduced to at least a first side of the fin, a first oxide having a first thickness coupled with the first side of the fin, and a second oxide having a second thickness coupled with a second side of the fin, the second thickness being different from the first thickness as a result of the impurity introduced to the first side of the fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Martin D. Giles, David L. Kencke, Stephen M. Cea