Patents by Inventor Thomas N. Adam

Thomas N. Adam 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: 20140191330
    Abstract: An improved finFET and method of fabrication is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention take advantage of the different epitaxial growth rates of {110} and {100} silicon. Fins are formed that have {110} silicon on the fin tops and {100} silicon on the long fin sides (sidewalls). The lateral epitaxial growth rate is faster than the vertical epitaxial growth rate. The resulting merged fins have a reduced merged region in the vertical dimension, which reduces parasitic capacitance. Other fins are formed with {110} silicon on the fin tops and also {110} silicon on the long fin sides. These fins have a slower epitaxial growth rate than the {100} side fins, and remain unmerged in a semiconductor integrated circuit, such as an SRAM circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Thomas N. Adam, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140191286
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a first lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer present on a semiconductor substrate, and a second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer that present on the first lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer, wherein the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer has a greater lattice dimension than the first lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer, and the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer has a compressive strain present therein. A gate structure is present on a channel portion of the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer, wherein the channel portion of second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer has the compressive strain. A source region and a drain region are present on opposing sides of the channel portion of the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140191287
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a first lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer present on a semiconductor substrate, and a second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer that present on the first lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer, wherein the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer has a greater lattice dimension than the first lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer, and the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer has a compressive strain present therein. A gate structure is present on a channel portion of the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer, wherein the channel portion of second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer has the compressive strain. A source region and a drain region are present on opposing sides of the channel portion of the second lattice dimension III-V semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 8759200
    Abstract: The present invention discloses that under modified chemical vapor deposition (mCVD) conditions an epitaxial silicon film may be formed by exposing a substrate contained within a chamber to a relatively high carrier gas flow rate in combination with a relatively low silicon precursor flow rate at a temperature of less than about 550° C. and a pressure in the range of about 10 mTorr-200 Torr. Furthermore, the crystalline Si may be in situ doped to contain relatively high levels of substitutional carbon by carrying out the deposition at a relatively high flow rate using tetrasilane as a silicon source and a carbon-containing gas such as dodecalmethylcyclohexasilane or tetramethyldisilane under modified CVD conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Arthur Francis, Satoshi Hasaka, Paul David Brabant, Robert Torres, Jr., Hong He, Alexander Reznicek, Thomas N. Adam, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Publication number: 20140167163
    Abstract: Embodiments include multi-fin finFET structures with epitaxially-grown merged source/drains and methods of forming the same. Embodiments may include an epitaxial insulator layer above a base substrate, a gate structure above the epitaxial insulator layer, a semiconductor fin below the gate structure, and an epitaxial source/drain region grown on the epitaxial insulator layer adjacent to an end of the semiconductor fin. The epitaxial insulator layer may be made of an epitaxial rare earth oxide material grown on a base semiconductor substrate. Embodiments may further include fin extension regions on the end of the semiconductor fin between the end of the end of the semiconductor fin and the epitaxial source/drain region. In some embodiments, the end of the semiconductor fin may be recessed below the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Thomas N. Adam
  • Publication number: 20140167164
    Abstract: A FET structure including epitaxial source and drain regions includes large contact areas and exhibits both low resistivity and low parasitic gate to source/drain capacitance. The source and drain regions are laterally etched to provide recesses for accommodating low-k dielectric material without compromising the contact area between the source/drain regions and their associated contacts. A high-k dielectric layer is provided between the raised source/drain regions and a gate conductor as well as between the gate conductor and a substrate, such as an ETSOI or PDSOI substrate. The structure is usable in electronic devices such as MOSFET devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140159161
    Abstract: A direct measurement of lattice spacing by X-ray diffraction is performed on a periodic array of unit structures provided on a substrate including semiconductor devices. Each unit structure includes a single crystalline strained material region and at least one stress-generating material region. For example, the single crystalline strained material region may be a structure simulating a channel of a field effect transistor, and the at least one stress-generating material region may be a single crystalline semiconductor region in epitaxial alignment with the single crystalline strained material region. The direct measurement can be performed in-situ at various processing states to provide in-line monitoring of the strain in field effect transistors in actual semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Stephen W. Bedell, Eric C. Harley, Judson R. Holt, Anita Madan, Conal E. Murray, Teresa L. Pinto
  • Publication number: 20140159124
    Abstract: A method to scale a MOSFET structure while maintaining gate control is disclosed. The extension regions of the MOSFET are formed by epitaxial growth and can be formed after the completion of high temperature processing. The extensions can be extremely shallow and have an abrupt interface with the channel. A dummy gate can establish the position of the abrupt interfaces and thereby define the channel length. The gate electrode can be formed to align perfectly with the channel, or to overlap the extension tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140141587
    Abstract: A method and structure of an embedded stressor in a semiconductor transistor device having a sigma-shaped channel sidewall and a vertical isolation sidewall. The embedded stressor structure is made by a first etch to form a recess in a substrate having a gate and first and second spacers. The second spacers are removed and a second etch creates a step in the recess on a channel sidewall. An anisotropic etch creates facets in the channel sidewall of the recess. Where the facets meet, a vertex is formed. The depth of the vertex is determined by the second etch depth (step depth). The lateral position of the vertex is determined by the thickness of the first spacers. A semiconductor material having a different lattice spacing than the substrate is formed in the recess to achieve the embedded stressor structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 8728927
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of forming borderless contacts for semiconductor transistors. Embodiments may include providing a transistor structure including a gate, a spacer on a sidewall of the gate, a hard cap above the gate, a source/drain region adjacent to the spacer, and an interlevel dielectric layer around the gate, forming a contact hole above the source/drain region, forming a protective layer on portions of the hard cap and of the spacer exposed by the contact hole; deepening the contact hole by etching the interlevel dielectric layer while the spacer and the hard cap are protected by the protective layer, so that at least a portion of the source/drain region is exposed by the deepening of the contact hole; removing the protective layer; and forming a metal contact in the contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Charan V. Surisetty, Thomas N. Adam
  • Patent number: 8728897
    Abstract: A power SiGe heterojunction bipolor transistor (HBT) with improved drive current by strain compensation and methods of manufacture are provided. A method includes adding carbon in a continuous steady concentration in layers of a device including a subcollector layer, a collector layer, a base buffer layer, a base layer, and an emitter buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, David L. Harame, Qizhi Liu, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140124840
    Abstract: A dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin prior to formation of a disposable gate structure. The dielectric metal compound liner protects the semiconductor fin during the pattering of the disposable gate structure and a gate spacer. The dielectric metal compound liner can be removed prior to formation of source and drain regions and a replacement gate structure. Alternately, a dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin and a gate stack, and can be removed after formation of a gate spacer. Further, a dielectric metal compound liner can be deposited on a semiconductor fin and a disposable gate structure, and can be removed after formation of a gate spacer and removal of the disposable gate structure. The dielectric metal compound liner can protect the semiconductor fin during formation of the gate spacer in each embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicants: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Khakifirooz, Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Shom Ponoth, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Xiuyu Cai, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 8716037
    Abstract: A direct measurement of lattice spacing by X-ray diffraction is performed on a periodic array of unit structures provided on a substrate including semiconductor devices. Each unit structure includes a single crystalline strained material region and at least one stress-generating material region. For example, the single crystalline strained material region may be a structure simulating a channel of a field effect transistor, and the at least one stress-generating material region may be a single crystalline semiconductor region in epitaxial alignment with the single crystalline strained material region. The direct measurement can be performed in-situ at various processing states to provide in-line monitoring of the strain in field effect transistors in actual semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Stephen W. Bedell, Eric C. Harley, Judson R. Holt, Anita Madan, Conal E. Murray, Teresa L. Pinto
  • Publication number: 20140117422
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor including a plurality of fin structures on a substrate, and a shared gate structure on a channel portion of the plurality of fin structures. The fin field effect transistor further includes an epitaxial semiconductor material having a first portion between adjacent fin structures in the plurality of fin structures and a second portion present on outermost sidewalls of end fin structures of the plurality of fin structures. The epitaxial semiconductor material provides a source region and at drain region to each fin structure of the plurality of fin structures. A nitride containing spacer is present on the outermost sidewalls of the second portion of the epitaxial semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Reznicek, Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Paul C. Jamison, Ali Khakifirooz
  • Patent number: 8709890
    Abstract: An ETSOI transistor and a combination of capacitors, junction diodes, bank end contacts and resistors are respectively formed in a transistor and capacitor region thereof by etching through an ETSOI and BOX layers in a replacement gate HK/MG flow. The capacitor and other devices formation are compatible with an ETSOI replacement gate CMOS flow. A low resistance capacitor electrode makes it possible to obtain a high quality capacitor, and devices. The lack of topography during dummy gate patterning are achieved by lithography in combination accompanied with appropriate etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Thomas N. Adam, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140103331
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures having embedded source/drains with oxide underlayers and methods for forming the same. Embodiments include semiconductor structures having a channel in a substrate, and a source/drain region adjacent to the channel including an embedded oxide region and an embedded semiconductor region located above the embedded oxide region. Embodiments further include methods of forming a transistor structure including forming a gate on a substrate, etching a source/drain recess in the substrate, filling a bottom portion of the source/drain recess with an oxide layer, and filling a portion of the source/drain recess not filled by the oxide layer with a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Thomas N. Adam
  • Publication number: 20140097518
    Abstract: Semiconductor alloy fin structures can be formed by recessing a semiconductor material layer including a first semiconductor material to form a trench, and epitaxially depositing a semiconductor alloy material of the first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material within the trench. The semiconductor alloy material is epitaxially aligned to the first semiconductor material in the semiconductor material layer. First semiconductor fins including the first semiconductor material and second semiconductor fins including the semiconductor alloy material can be simultaneously formed. In one embodiment, the first and second semiconductor fins can be formed on an insulator layer, which prevents diffusion of the second semiconductor material to the first semiconductor fins. In another embodiment, shallow trench isolation structures and reverse biased wells can be employed to provide electrical insulation among neighboring semiconductor fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Thomas N. Adam, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140077275
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing method is provided which promotes greater growth on <110> crystallographic planes than on other crystallographic planes. Growth rates with the process can be reversed compared to typical epitaxial growth processes such that the highest rate of growth occurs on <110> crystallographic planes and the least amount of growth occurs on <100> crystallographic planes. The process can be applied to form embedded stressor regions in planar field effect transistors, and the process can be used to grow semiconductor layers on exposed wall surfaces of adjacent fins in source-drain regions of finFETs to fill spaces between the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Judson R. Holt, Keith H. Tabakman, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20140080275
    Abstract: Method of forming multi-gate finFETs with epitaxially-grown merged source/drains. Embodiments of the invention may include forming a plurality of semiconductor fins joined by a plurality of inter-fin semiconductor regions, depositing a sacrificial gate over a center portion of each of the plurality of fins, forming a first merge layer over a first end of each of the plurality of fins to form a first merged fin region, forming a second merge layer over the second end of each of the plurality of fins to form a second merged fin region, etching a portion of the first merged fin region to form a first source/drain base region, etching a portion of the second merged fin region to form a second source/drain base region, forming a first source/drain region on the first source/drain base region, and forming a second source/drain region on the second source/drain base region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric C. Harley, Judson Robert Holt, Alexander Reznicek, Thomas N. Adam
  • Patent number: 8673699
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure which includes an extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) semiconductor structure having a PFET portion and an NFET portion, a gate structure in the PFET portion and the NFET portion, a high quality nitride spacer adjacent to the gate structures in the PFET portion and the NFET portion and a doped faceted epitaxial silicon germanium raised source/drain (RSD) in the PFET portion. An amorphous silicon layer is formed on the RSD in the PFET portion. A faceted epitaxial silicon RSD is formed on the ETSOI adjacent to the high quality nitride in the NFET portion. The amorphous layer in the PFET portion prevents epitaxial growth in the PFET portion during formation of the RSD in the NFET portion. Extensions are ion implanted into the ETSOI underneath the gate structure in the NFET portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Bala S. Haran, Pranita Kulkarni, Amlan Majumdar, Stefan Schmitz