Patents by Inventor Theodorus E. Standaert

Theodorus E. Standaert 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: 10957582
    Abstract: A method of forming via openings that includes forming sidewall spacers on a plurality of mandrels that are overlying a hardmask layer that is present on an interlevel dielectric layer. Etching the hardmask layer using a portion of the sidewall spacers and the plurality of mandrels to form a first pillar of hardmask material. The interlevel dielectric layer is etched using the first pillar of hardmask material as a mask to define a first via opening. The plurality of mandrels are removed. The hardmask layer is etched using the spacers to define a second pillar of hardmask material. The interlevel dielectric layer is etched using the second pillar of hardmask material to provide a second via opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Michael Rizzolo, Terry A. Spooner, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 10957581
    Abstract: A method of forming via openings that includes forming sidewall spacers on a plurality of mandrels that are overlying a hardmask layer that is present on an interlevel dielectric layer. Etching the hardmask layer using a portion of the sidewall spacers and the plurality of mandrels to form a first pillar of hardmask material. The interlevel dielectric layer is etched using the first pillar of hardmask material as a mask to define a first via opening. The plurality of mandrels are removed. The hardmask layer is etched using the spacers to define a second pillar of hardmask material. The interlevel dielectric layer is etched using the second pillar of hardmask material to provide a second via opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Michael Rizzolo, Terry A. Spooner, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Publication number: 20210082758
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device having a vertical metal line interconnect (via) fully aligned to a first direction of a first interconnect layer and a second direction of a second interconnect layer in a selective recess region by forming a plurality of metal lines in a first dielectric layer; and recessing in a recess region first portions of the plurality of metal lines such that top surfaces of the first portions of the plurality of metal lines are below a top surface of the first dielectric layer; wherein a non-recess region includes second portions of the plurality of metal lines that are outside the recess region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Jessica Dechene, Elbert E. Huang, Joe Lee, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 10930754
    Abstract: Replacement metal gate structures with improved chamfered workfunction metal and self-aligned contact and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming a replacement metal gate structure in a dielectric material. The replacement metal gate structure is formed with a lower spacer and an upper spacer above the lower spacer. The upper spacer having material is different than material of the lower spacer. The method further includes forming a self-aligned contact adjacent to the replacement metal gate structure by patterning an opening within the dielectric material and filling the opening with contact material. The upper spacer prevents shorting with the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 10916660
    Abstract: A method of forming a substrate contact in a vertical transistor device includes patterning a sacrificial layer to form an opening in the sacrificial layer, the sacrificial layer disposed on hardmask arranged on a substrate, and the substrate including a bulk semiconductor layer, a buried oxide layer arranged on the bulk semiconductor layer, and a semiconductor layer arranged on the buried oxide layer; forming oxide spacers on sidewalls of the opening in the sacrificial layer; using the oxide spacers as a pattern to etch a trench through the substrate, the trench stopping at a region within the bulk semiconductor layer; and depositing a conductive material in the trench to form the substrate contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 10903338
    Abstract: A vertical transistor includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region vertically disposed relative to the first source/drain region and coupled to the first source/drain region by a fin. A gate dielectric is formed on the fin, and a gate conductor is formed on the gate dielectric in a region of the fin. A shaped spacer is configured to cover a lower portion and sides of the second source/drain region to reduce parasitic capacitance between the gate conductor and the second source/drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junli Wang, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Veeraraghavan S. Basker
  • Publication number: 20210013400
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a dielectric layer surrounding contacts over a top surface and bevel edge of a substrate, forming a sacrificial buffer layer over the dielectric layer, removing portions of the sacrificial buffer layer formed over the dielectric layer on the top surface of the substrate, and patterning device structures including one or more metal layers over the contacts, wherein patterning the device structures removes portions of the metal layers formed over the top surface of the substrate leaving the metal layers on the bevel edge. The method also includes forming an encapsulation layer and performing a bevel dry etch to remove the encapsulation layer and the metal layers on the bevel edge. The bevel dry etch damages the sacrificial buffer layer on the bevel edge underneath the metal layers. The method further includes removing the damaged sacrificial buffer layer from the bevel edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Ashim Dutta, Saba Zare, Michael Rizzolo, Theodorus E. Standaert, Daniel Charles Edelstein
  • Patent number: 10892404
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a dielectric layer surrounding contacts over a top surface and bevel edge of a substrate, forming a sacrificial buffer layer over the dielectric layer, removing portions of the sacrificial buffer layer formed over the dielectric layer on the top surface of the substrate, and patterning device structures including one or more metal layers over the contacts, wherein patterning the device structures removes portions of the metal layers formed over the top surface of the substrate leaving the metal layers on the bevel edge. The method also includes forming an encapsulation layer and performing a bevel dry etch to remove the encapsulation layer and the metal layers on the bevel edge. The bevel dry etch damages the sacrificial buffer layer on the bevel edge underneath the metal layers. The method further includes removing the damaged sacrificial buffer layer from the bevel edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ashim Dutta, Saba Zare, Michael Rizzolo, Theodorus E. Standaert, Daniel Charles Edelstein
  • Patent number: 10833149
    Abstract: Back end of the line (BEOL) capacitors and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming wiring lines on a substrate, with spacing between adjacent wiring lines. The method further includes forming an air gap within spacing between the adjacent wiring lines by deposition of a capping material. The method further includes opening the air gap between selected adjacent wiring lines. The method further includes depositing conductive material within the opened air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Christopher J. Penny, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 10833257
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for fabricating semiconductor integrated circuit devices with embedded magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) devices. For example, a MRAM device and a multi-level bottom electrode via contact are formed within a back-end-of line layer. The MRAM device includes a memory device pillar having a bottom electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction structure, and an upper electrode. The multi-level bottom electrode via contact is disposed below and in contact with the bottom electrode. The multi-level bottom electrode via contact includes a first via contact disposed in a first insulation layer, and a second via contact disposed in a second insulation layer. The first and second insulation layers allow for sacrificial etching of the first and second insulation layers during formation of the MRAM device while retaining a sufficient thickness of remaining insulation material to serve as a capping layer to protect metallic wiring that is disposed in an underlying metallization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ashim Dutta, John C. Arnold, Chih-Chao Yang, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 10830841
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a device magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and sensor MTJs. A spin polarization of a free layer of the device MTJ is configurable based at least in part on electrical energy supplied to the device MTJ. A spin polarization of a corresponding free layer of each sensor MTJ is configurable based at least in part on a magnetic field created by the spin polarization of the free layer of the device MTJ. A circuit disposed is in electrical communication with the plurality of sensor MTJs and configured to determine the corresponding free layer spin polarizations of each of the sensor MTJs based at least in part on electrical energy supplied to the sensor MTJs by the circuit. The circuit is configured to determine a magnetoresistance of the device MTJ based at least in part on the determined corresponding free layer spin polarizations of the sensor MTJ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo, Benjamin D. Briggs, Michael Rizzolo, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Theodorus E. Standaert, James Stathis
  • Patent number: 10832952
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device having a vertical metal line interconnect (via) fully aligned to a first direction of a first interconnect layer and a second direction of a second interconnect layer in a selective recess region by forming a plurality of metal lines in a first dielectric layer; and recessing in a recess region first portions of the plurality of metal lines such that top surfaces of the first portions of the plurality of metal lines are below a top surface of the first dielectric layer; wherein a non-recess region includes second portions of the plurality of metal lines that are outside the recess region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Briggs, Jessica Dechene, Elbert E. Huang, Joe Lee, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Publication number: 20200350201
    Abstract: A method including forming a dual damascene interconnect structure comprising a metal wire above a via, recessing the metal wire to form a trench, depositing a liner along a bottom and a sidewall of the trench, and forming a new metal wire in the trench. The method may also include forming a dual damascene interconnect structure comprising a metal wire above a via, recessing the metal wire to form a trench, depositing a liner along a bottom and a sidewall of the trench, removing the liner along the bottom of the trench, and forming a new metal wire in the trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Koichi Motoyama, Oscar van der Straten, Joseph F. Maniscalco, Alexander Reznicek, Raghuveer Reddy Patlolla, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Publication number: 20200350403
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device having a substrate, a bottom source or drain (S/D) structure formed on the substrate. In addition, the device includes a fin extending from the bottom S/D structure and a gate formed around the fin. A top S/D structure is formed on top of the fin. The top S/D structure includes a recessed top S/D surface and a silicide layer covering a top portion of the recess. A contact is communicatively coupled to a surface of the silicide layer of the recessed top S/D surface of the top S/D structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20200350486
    Abstract: Back end of line (BEOL) metallization structures and methods generally includes forming a landing pad on an interconnect structure. A multilayer structure including layers of metals and at least one insulating layer are provided on the structure and completely cover the landing pad. The landing pad is a metal-filled via and has a width dimension that is smaller than the multilayer structure, or the multilayer structure and the underlying metal conductor in the interconnect structure. The landing pad metal-filled via can have a width dimension that is sub-lithographic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Daniel Charles Edelstein, Michael Rizzolo, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Publication number: 20200350494
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for fabricating semiconductor integrated circuit devices with embedded magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) devices. For example, a MRAM device and a multi-level bottom electrode via contact are formed within a back-end-of line layer. The MRAM device includes a memory device pillar having a bottom electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction structure, and an upper electrode. The multi-level bottom electrode via contact is disposed below and in contact with the bottom electrode. The multi-level bottom electrode via contact includes a first via contact disposed in a first insulation layer, and a second via contact disposed in a second insulation layer. The first and second insulation layers allow for sacrificial etching of the first and second insulation layers during formation of the MRAM device while retaining a sufficient thickness of remaining insulation material to serve as a capping layer to protect metallic wiring that is disposed in an underlying metallization layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Ashim Dutta, John C. Arnold, Chih-Chao Yang, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Patent number: 10825891
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor structures and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming at least one gate structure; removing material from the at least one gate structure to form a trench; depositing capacitor material within the trench and at an edge or outside of the trench; and forming a first contact in contact with a first conductive material of the capacitor material and a second contact in contact with a second conductive material of the capacitor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION ARMONK
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 10825890
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor structures and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming at least one gate structure; removing material from the at least one gate structure to form a trench; depositing capacitor material within the trench and at an edge or outside of the trench; and forming a first contact in contact with a first conductive material of the capacitor material and a second contact in contact with a second conductive material of the capacitor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20200328112
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices including bamboo tall via interconnect structures and methods of forming the bamboo tall via interconnect structures generally include a first via in a first dielectric layer including a liner layer and a bulk conductor in the first via, wherein the bulk conductor includes a recess filled with a conductive metal different from the bulk conductor and selected to prevent diffusion of the bulk conductor. At least one additional via is in a second dielectric layer including a liner layer and a bulk conductor in the least one additional via, wherein the second dielectric layer is on the first dielectric layer, and wherein the bulk conductor includes a recess filled with a conductive metal different from the bulk conductor and selected to prevent diffusion of the bulk conductor. The at least one additional via is aligned with the first via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Michael Rizzolo, Theodorus E. Standaert
  • Publication number: 20200328124
    Abstract: FinFET devices and processes to prevent fin or gate collapse (e.g., flopover) in finFET devices are provided. The method includes forming a first set of trenches in a semiconductor material and filling the first set of trenches with insulator material. The method further includes forming a second set of trenches in the semiconductor material, alternating with the first set of trenches that are filled. The second set of trenches form semiconductor structures which have a dimension of fin structures. The method further includes filling the second set of trenches with insulator material. The method further includes recessing the insulator material within the first set of trenches and the second set of trenches to form the fin structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang