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: 20130292766
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit is provided and includes a first field effect transistor (FET) device and a second FET device formed on a semiconductor substrate. The first FET device has raised source/drain (RSD) structures grown at a first height. The second FET device has RSD structures grown at a second height greater than the first height such that a threshold voltage of the second FET device is greater than a threshold voltage of the first FET device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Pranita Kulkarni, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130295730
    Abstract: A method of creating a semiconductor integrated circuit is disclosed. The method includes forming a first field effect transistor (FET) device and a second FET device on a semiconductor substrate. The method includes epitaxially growing raised source/drain (RSD) structures for the first FET device at a first height. The method includes epitaxially growing raised source/drain (RSD) structures for the second FET device at a second height. The second height is greater than the first height such that a threshold voltage of the second FET device is greater than a threshold voltage of the first FET device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Pranita Kulkarni, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130285123
    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: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130285152
    Abstract: A channel region of a finFET has fins having apexes in a first direction parallel to a surface of a substrate, each fin extending downwardly from the apex, with a gate overlying the apexes and between adjacent fins. A semiconductor stressor region extends in at least the first direction away from the fins to apply a stress to the channel region. Source and drain regions of the finFET can be separated from one another by the channel region, with the source and/or drain at least partly in the semiconductor stressor region. The stressor region includes a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region overlying and extending from the first semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region can be more heavily doped than the first semiconductor region, and the first and second semiconductor regions can have opposite conductivity types where at least a portion of the second semiconductor region meets the first semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130270560
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a gate structure on a channel portion of a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) layer of a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate, and forming an amorphous semiconductor layer on at least a source region portion and a drain region portion of the SOI layer. The amorphous semiconductor layer is converted to a crystalline semiconductor material, wherein the crystalline semiconductor material provides a raised source region and a raised drain region of the semiconductor device. The method may be applicable to planar semiconductor devices and finFET semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Yu Zhu, Thomas N. Adam
  • Publication number: 20130270611
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer includes a gate structure, a first trench in the semiconductor wafer adjacent to a first side of the gate structure and a second trench adjacent to a second side of the gate structure, the first and second trenches filled with a doped epitaxial silicon to form a source in the filled first trench and a drain in the filled second trench such that each of the source and drain are recessed and have an inverted facet. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the epitaxial silicon is doped with boron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Jinghong Li, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130270638
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an epitaxial insulator layer located on a substrate. A fin structure is located on the epitaxial insulator layer, where at least one epitaxial source-drain region having an embedded stressor is located on the epitaxial insulator layer and abuts at least one sidewall associated with the fin structure. The epitaxial source-drain region having the embedded stressor provides stress along the fin structure such that the provided stress is based on a lattice mismatch between the epitaxial source-drain region, and both the epitaxial insulator layer and the one side-wall associated with the fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan
  • Publication number: 20130270655
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including at least two fin structures on a substrate surface and a functional gate structure present on the at least two fin structures. The functional gate structure includes at least one gate dielectric that is in direct contact with at least the sidewalls of the two fin structures, and at least one gate conductor on the at least one gate dielectric. The sidewall of the gate structure is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate surface, wherein the plane defined by the sidewall of the gate structure and a plane defined by an upper surface of the substrate surface intersect at an angle of 90°+/?5°. An epitaxial semiconductor material is in direct contact with the at least two fin structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130270561
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a gate structure on a channel portion of a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) layer of a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate, and forming an amorphous semiconductor layer on at least a source region portion and a drain region portion of the SOI layer. The amorphous semiconductor layer is converted to a crystalline semiconductor material, wherein the crystalline semiconductor material provides a raised source region and a raised drain region of the semiconductor device. The method may be applicable to planar semiconductor devices and finFET semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Yu Zhu, Thomas N. Adam
  • Publication number: 20130249006
    Abstract: A lower raised source/drain region is formed on a planar source/drain region of a planar field effect transistor or a surface of a portion of semiconductor fin adjoining a channel region of a fin field effect transistor. At least one contact-level dielectric material layer is formed and planarized, and a contact via hole extending to the lower raised source/drain region is formed in the at least one contact-level dielectric material layer. An upper raised source/drain region is formed on a top surface of the lower raised source/drain region. A metal semiconductor alloy portion and a contact via structure are formed within the contact via hole. Formation of the upper raised source/drain region is limited to a bottom portion of the contact via hole, thereby preventing formation of, and increase of parasitic capacitance by, any additional raised structure in source/drain regions that are not contacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ali Khakifirooz, Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130207226
    Abstract: A method for isolating semiconductor devices is described wherein an epitaxial insulating layer is grown on a semiconductor substrate. The epitaxial insulating layer is etched to form a recessed region within the layer. An epitaxial semiconductor material is grown with the recessed region to form a semiconductor device region separated from other potential device regions by non-recessed portions of the epitaxial insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan
  • Publication number: 20130207162
    Abstract: A field effect transistor and method of fabrication are provided. The field effect transistor comprises a plurality of elongated uniaxially-strained SiGe regions disposed on a silicon substrate, oriented such that they are in parallel to the direction of flow of electrical carriers in the channel. The elongated uniaxially-strained SiGe regions are oriented perpendicular to, and traverse through the transistor gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: ALI KHAKIFIROOZ, Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 8507354
    Abstract: A device including a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate including a semiconductor device region and a capacitor device region. A semiconductor device present in the semiconductor device region. The semiconductor device including a gate structure present on a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) layer of the SOI substrate, extension source and drain regions present in the SOI layer on opposing sides of the gate structure, and raised source and drain regions composed of a first portion of an epitaxial semiconductor material on the SOI layer. A capacitor is present in the capacitor device region, said capacitor including a first electrode comprised of a second portion of the epitaxial semiconductor material that has a same composition and crystal structure as the first portion of the epitaxial semiconductor material, a node dielectric layer present on the second portion of the epitaxial semiconductor material, and a second electrode comprised of a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznieck
  • Publication number: 20130200433
    Abstract: A planar semiconductor device including a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate with source and drain portions having a thickness of less than 10 nm that are separated by a multi-layered strained channel. The multi-layer strained channel of the SOI layer includes a first layer with a first lattice dimension that is present on the buried dielectric layer of the SOI substrate, and a second layer of a second lattice dimension that is in direct contact with the first layer of the multi-layer strained channel portion. A functional gate structure is present on the multi-layer strained channel portion of the SOI substrate. The semiconductor device having the multi-layered channel may also be a finFET semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Publication number: 20130200459
    Abstract: A planar semiconductor device including a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate with source and drain portions having a thickness of less than 10 nm that are separated by a multi-layered strained channel The multi-layer strained channel of the SOI layer includes a first layer with a first lattice dimension that is present on the buried dielectric layer of the SOI substrate, and a second layer of a second lattice dimension that is in direct contact with the first layer of the multi-layer strained channel portion. A functional gate structure is present on the multi-layer strained channel portion of the SOI substrate. The semiconductor device having the multi-layered channel may also be a finFET semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Publication number: 20130193492
    Abstract: An improved silicon carbon film structure is disclosed. The film structure comprises multiple layers of silicon carbon and silicon. The multiple layers form stress film structures that have increased substitutional carbon content, and serve to induce stresses that improve carrier mobility for certain types of field effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: THOMAS N. ADAM, Kangguo Cheng, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz, Jinghong Li, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130187205
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor article which includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate structure having a spacer adjacent to a conducting material of the gate structure wherein a corner of the spacer is faceted to create a faceted space between the faceted spacer and the semiconductor substrate; and a raised source/drain adjacent to the gate structure, the raised source/drain filling the faceted space and having a surface parallel to the semiconductor substrate. Also disclosed is a method of making the semiconductor article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Internationa Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: THOMAS N. ADAM, KANGGUO CHENG, ALI KHAKIFIROOZ, ALEXANDER REZNICEK
  • Publication number: 20130168820
    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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. ADAM, David L. HARAME, Qizhi LIU, Alexander REZNICEK
  • Publication number: 20130161693
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a substrate having at least a first semiconductor layer atop a dielectric layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer has a first thickness of less than 10 nm. The first semiconductor layer is etched with a a halide based gas at a temperature of less than 675° C. to a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. A second semiconductor layer is epitaxially formed on an etched surface of the first semiconductor layer. A gate structure is formed directly on the second semiconductor layer. A source region and a drain region is formed on opposing sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Publication number: 20130161694
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a substrate having at least a first semiconductor layer atop a dielectric layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer has a first thickness of less than 10 nm. The first semiconductor layer is etched with a halide based gas at a temperature of less than 675° C. to a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. A second semiconductor layer is epitaxially formed on an etched surface of the first semiconductor layer. A gate structure is formed directly on the second semiconductor layer. A source region and a drain region is formed on opposing sides of the gate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas N. Adam, Kangguo Cheng, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek