Patents Issued in July 4, 2017
  • Patent number: 9698222
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for forming a defect-free semiconductor structure on a dissimilar substrate with a multi-aspect ratio mask. The multi-aspect ratio mask comprises a first, second, and third layer formed on a substrate. The second layer has a second opening wider than a first opening and a third opening in the first and third layers, respectively. All three openings are centered along a common central axis. A semiconductor material is grown from the top surface of the substrate and laterally onto the top surface of the first layer within the second opening. The semiconductor material disposed within and vertically below the third opening is etched by using the third layer as an etch mask so that the remaining material that laterally overflowed onto the top surface of the first layer forms a remaining structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Chu-Kung, Sherry R. Taft, Van H. Le, Sansaptak Dasgupta, Seung Hoon Hoon Sung, Sanaz K. Gardner, Matthew V. Metz, Marko Radosavljevic, Han Wui Then
  • Patent number: 9698223
    Abstract: A memory film and a semiconductor channel are formed within each memory opening that extends through a stack including an alternating plurality of insulator layers and sacrificial material layers. After formation of backside recesses through removal of the sacrificial material layers selective to the insulator layers, electrically conductive layers are formed in the backside recesses. Each electrically conductive layer includes a combination of a tensile-stress-generating metallic material and a compressive-stress-generating metallic material. The tensile-stress-generating metallic material may be ruthenium and the compressive-stress-generating metallic material may be tungsten. An anneal may be performed to provide an alloy of the compressive-stress-generating metallic material and the tensile-stress-generating metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Sharangpani, Raghuveer S. Makala, George Matamis
  • Patent number: 9698224
    Abstract: A method of forming a finFET device comprises forming a fin in a silicon layer of a substrate, forming a hardmask layer on a top surface of the fin, forming an insulating layer over the fin and the hardmask layer, removing a portion of the insulating layer to expose a portion of the hardmask layer, removing the exposed portion of the hardmask layer to form a cavity that exposes a portion of the silicon layer of the fin, epitaxially growing a silicon germanium (SiGe) material on exposed portions of the silicon layer of the fin in the cavity, and annealing the grown SiGe to drive germanium atoms into the silicon layer of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 9698225
    Abstract: A method for doping punch through stoppers (PTSs) includes forming fins in a monocrystalline substrate, forming a dielectric layer at a base portion between the fins and forming spacers on sidewalls of the fins down to a top portion of the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is recessed to form gaps between the top portion of the dielectric layer and the spacer to expose the fins in the gaps. The fins are doped through the gaps to form PTSs in the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Effendi Leobandung, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9698226
    Abstract: Semiconductor device fabrication method and structures are provided having a substrate structure which includes a silicon layer at an upper portion. The silicon layer is recessed in a first region of the substrate structure and remains unrecessed in a second region of the substrate structure. A protective layer having a first germanium concentration is formed above the recessed silicon layer in the first region, which extends along a sidewall of the unrecessed silicon layer of the second region. A semiconductor layer having a second germanium concentration is disposed above the protective layer in the first region of the substrate structure, where the first germanium concentration of the protective layer inhibits lateral diffusion of the second germanium concentration from the semiconductor layer in the first region into the unrecessed silicon layer in the second region of the substrate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Timothy J. McArdle, Judson R. Holt, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9698227
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a pad layer having a body portion with a first doping type laterally adjacent to a drift region portion with a second doping type, a trench formed in the pad layer, the trench extending through an interface of the body portion and the drift region portion, a gate formed in the trench and over a top surface of the pad layer along the interface of the body portion and the drift region portion, an oxide formed in the trench on opposing sides of the gate, and a field plate embedded in the oxide on each of the opposing sides of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Wai Ng, Hsueh-Liang Chou, Po-Chih Su, Ruey-Hsin Liu
  • Patent number: 9698228
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor device. The transistor device includes a plurality of field structures which define a plurality of semiconductor mesa regions in a semiconductor body, and each of which comprises a field electrode and a field electrode dielectric; a plurality of gate structures in each semiconductor mesa region, wherein each gate structure comprises a gate electrode and a gate dielectric, and is arranged in a trench of the semiconductor mesa region; a plurality of body regions, a plurality of source regions, and a drift region. Each body region adjoins the gate dielectric of at least one of the plurality of gate structures, and is located between one of the plurality of source regions and the drift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christian Kampen, Markus Zundel
  • Patent number: 9698229
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes at least a fin-shaped structure, a gate, a source/drain region, an interdielectric layer and an epitaxial structure. At least a fin-shaped structure is located on a bottom substrate. The gate covers the fin-shaped structure. The source/drain region is located in the fin-shaped structure next to the gate. The interdielectric layer covers the gate and the fin-shaped structure, wherein the interdielectric layer has a plurality of contact holes, respectively exposing at least a part of the source/drain region. The epitaxial structure is located in each of the contact holes, directly contacts and is only located on the source/drain region. Additionally, a semiconductor process formed said semiconductor structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Duan Quan Liao, Yikun Chen, Ching-Hwa Tey, Xiao Zhong Zhu
  • Patent number: 9698230
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source and drain on a substrate; a first and second gate on the source, and the second gate and a third gate on the drain; a source contact over the source and between the first and second gates, the source contact including first and second portions, the first portion in contact with the source and extending between the first and second gates, and the second portion contacting the first portion and extending over the first and second gates; and a drain contact formed over the drain and between the second and third gates, the drain contact including first and second portions, the first portion contacting the drain, extending between second and third gates, and recessed with respect to the first portion of the source contact, and the second portion in contact with the first portion and extending between and over the second and third gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Ruilong Xie, Tenko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9698231
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a tunnel insulation pattern on the substrate, a charge storage pattern on the tunnel insulation pattern, a dielectric pattern having a width smaller than a width of the charge storage pattern on the charge storage pattern, a control gate having a width greater than the width of the dielectric pattern on the dielectric pattern, and a metal-containing gate on the control gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Namkoong, Dong-Kyum Kim, Jung-Hwan Kim, Jung Geun Jee, Han-Vit Yang, Ji-Man Yoo
  • Patent number: 9698232
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate region, a conductive cap, and an interconnect. The gate region (e.g., a metal-gate transistor) includes a metal gate region and a high dielectric constant (high-K) gate dielectric region. The conductive cap is disposed on a surface of the metal gate region and on a surface of the high-K gate dielectric region, and the interconnect is disposed on the conductive cap. The conductive cap includes a conductive material that electrically connects the gate region to the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Haining Yang, Stanley Seungchul Song
  • Patent number: 9698233
    Abstract: Tunnel insulation layer structures and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The tunnel insulation layer structures may include a first tunnel insulation layer, a second tunnel insulation layer, a third tunnel insulation layer, a fourth tunnel insulation layer and a fifth tunnel insulation layer. The first tunnel insulation layer on a substrate has a first band gap energy. The second tunnel insulation layer on the first tunnel insulation layer has a second band gap energy which is lower than the first band gap energy. The third tunnel insulation layer on the second tunnel insulation layer has a third band gap energy which is higher than the second band gap energy. The fourth tunnel insulation layer on the third tunnel insulation layer has a fourth band gap energy which is lower than the third band gap energy. The fifth tunnel insulation layer on the fourth tunnel insulation layer has a fifth band gap energy which is higher than the fourth band gap energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-Yeoung Choi, Young-Jin Noh, Bi-O Kim, Kwang-Min Park, Jae-Young Ahn, Ju-Mi Yun, Jae-Ho Choi, Ki-Hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 9698234
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide for fabricating a field effect transistor (FET) with an interface layer for a gate stack using an O3 post treatment. Aspects of the exemplary embodiments include: forming a semiconductor body upon a substrate; cleaning the surface of the semiconductor body; depositing a first dielectric layer on the semiconductor body; performing an O3 treatment to form a new interface layer that incorporates material from the substrate and material from the first dielectric layer; and performing gate stack processing, including deposition of a gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jorge A. Kittl, Mark S. Rodder, Wei-E Wang
  • Patent number: 9698235
    Abstract: The present invention provides a field-effect transistor having an accumulation-layer-operation type field-effect transistor that includes a semiconductor layer in which a source region, a channel region, and a drain region that have either an N-type or P-type conductivity in common are formed, and a gate electrode disposed adjacent to the channel region via a gate insulating film, wherein the gate insulating film is made of a dielectric having a change gradient of a relative dielectric constant in which the relative dielectric constant changes to decrease according to the magnitude of a gate voltage applied to the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shinji Migita, Hiroyuki Ota, Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9698236
    Abstract: It is made possible to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that has a high-quality insulating film in which defects are not easily formed, and experiences less leakage current. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: forming an amorphous silicon layer on an insulating layer; introducing oxygen into the amorphous silicon layer; and forming a silicon oxynitride layer by nitriding the amorphous silicon layer having oxygen introduced thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsushita, Yuuichiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 9698237
    Abstract: A lateral bipolar transistor includes trench emitter and trench collector regions to form ultra-narrow emitter regions, thereby improving emitter efficiency. The same trench process is used to form the emitter/collector trenches as well as the trench isolation structures so that no additional processing steps are needed to form the trench emitter and collector. In embodiments of the present invention, the trench emitter and trench collector regions may be formed using ion implantation into trenches formed in a semiconductor layer. In other embodiments, the trench emitter and trench collector regions may be formed by out-diffusion of dopants from heavily doped polysilicon filled trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated
    Inventors: Shekar Mallikarjunaswamy, Francois Hebert
  • Patent number: 9698238
    Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a nanowire-based device. The method includes forming a mask layer over a substrate; forming an opening in the mask layer; growing an arsenic-based nanowire from the substrate that extends through the opening; removing the mask layer; forming a phosphorus-based layer over the arsenic-based nanowire; and removing the phosphorus-based layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Christopher Holland, Blandine Duriez
  • Patent number: 9698239
    Abstract: In one example, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a mandrel comprising silicon. Sidewalls of the silicon are orientated normal to the <111> direction of the silicon. A nanowire is grown directly on at least one of the sidewalls of the silicon and is formed from a material selected from Groups III-V. Only one end of the nanowire directly contacts the silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sanghoon Lee, Effendi Leobandung, Renee Mo, Brent A. Wacaser
  • Patent number: 9698240
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of formation are provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate over a channel portion of a fin. The fin includes a first active area of the fin having a first active area top surface coplanar with a first shallow trench isolation (STI) top surface of a first STI portion of STI, and a second active area of the fin having a second active area top surface coplanar with a second STI top surface of a second STI portion of the STI. The method herein negates a need to recess at least one of the fin, the first STI portion or the second STI portion during device formation. Negating a need to recess at least one of the fin, the first STI portion or the second STI portion enhances the semiconductor device formation and is more efficient than a semiconductor device formation that requires the recessing of at least one of a fin, a first STI portion or a second STI portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Blandine Duriez, Mark van Dal
  • Patent number: 9698241
    Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating integrated circuits includes forming a gate dielectric overlying a substrate, and forming a base work function layer that includes tungsten overlying the gate dielectric. The base work function layer overlies the gate dielectric in a first and second region, where the first region is one of a pFET region or an nFET region and the second region is the other of the pFET region or the nFET region. A mask is formed over the first region, and then the second region is exposed. A work function value of the base work function layer in the second region is altered to produce a modified work function layer. The mask is removed from the over the first region, and a gate electrode is formed overlying the base and modified work function layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Suraj K. Patil, Min-Hwa Chi, Mitsuhiro Togo
  • Patent number: 9698242
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of formation are provided. The semiconductor arrangement comprises a conductive contact in contact with a substantially planar first top surface of a first active area, the contact between and in contact with a first alignment spacer and a second alignment spacer both having substantially vertical outer surfaces. The contact formed between the first alignment spacer and the second alignment spacer has a more desired contact shape then a contact formed between alignment spacers that do not have substantially vertical outer surfaces. The substantially planar surface of the first active area is indicative of a substantially undamaged structure of the first active area as compared to an active area that is not substantially planar. The substantially undamaged first active area has a greater contact area for the contact and a lower contact resistance as compared to a damaged first active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Tai-I Yang, Tien-Lu Lin, Wai-Yi Lien, Chih-Hao Wang, Jiun-Peng Wu
  • Patent number: 9698243
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a gate structure disposed over a channel region of a semiconductor substrate. A source/drain recess is arranged in the semiconductor substrate alongside the gate structure. A doped silicon-germanium (SiGe) region is disposed within the source/drain recess and has a doping type which is opposite to that of the channel. An un-doped SiGe region is also disposed within the source/drain recess. The un-doped SiGe region underlies the doped SiGe region and comprises different germanium concentrations at different locations within the source/drain recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsz-Mei Kwok, Hsueh-Chang Sung, Kun-Mu Li, Chii-Horng Li, Tze-Liang Lee
  • Patent number: 9698244
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided as follows. A source/drain pattern is formed on a substrate. The source/drain pattern contains silicon atoms and germanium atoms. At least one germanium atom is removed from the germanium atoms of the source/drain pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinbum Kim, Jaeyoung Park, Donghun Lee, Jeongho Yoo, Jieon Yoon, Kwan Heum Lee, Choeun Lee, Bonyoung Koo
  • Patent number: 9698245
    Abstract: A vertical transistor has a first air-gap spacer between the gate and the bottom source/drain, and a second air-gap spacer between the gate and the contact to the bottom source/drain. A dielectric layer disposed between the gate and the contact to the top source/drain decreases parasitic capacitance and inhibits electrical shorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Tak H. Ning
  • Patent number: 9698246
    Abstract: A laterally diffused MOS (LDMOS) device includes a substrate having a p-epi layer thereon. A p-body region is in the p-epi layer. An ndrift (NDRIFT) region is within the p-body region providing a drain extension region, and a gate dielectric layer is formed over a channel region in the p-body region adjacent to and on respective sides of a junction with the NDRIFT region, and a patterned gate electrode on the gate dielectric. A DWELL region is within the p-body region, sidewall spacers are on sidewalls of the gate electrode, a source region is within the DWELL region, and a drain region is within the NDRIFT region. The p-body region includes a portion being at least one 0.5 ?m wide that has a net p-type doping level above a doping level of the p-epi layer and a net p-type doping profile gradient of at least 5/?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, James Robert Todd
  • Patent number: 9698247
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement is produced by providing a semiconductor carrier of a second conduction type and epitaxially growing a first semiconductor zone of a first conduction type on the carrier. The first semiconductor zone includes a semiconductor base material doped with first and second dopants which are made of different substances which are both different from the semiconductor base material. The first dopant is electrically active and causes a doping of the first conduction type in the semiconductor base material, and causes a decrease or an increase of a lattice constant of the first semiconductor zone. The second dopant causes one or both of hardening of the first semiconductor zone and an increase of the lattice constant of the first semiconductor zone if the first dopant causes a decrease, or a decrease of the lattice constant of the first semiconductor zone if the first dopant causes an increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Schulze, Manfred Kotek, Johannes Baumgartl, Markus Harfmann, Christian Krenn, Thomas Neidhart
  • Patent number: 9698248
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor, wherein a second U-shaped trench is formed below a first U-shaped trench, so that a field oxidation stress transition region can be extended, so as to greatly reduce current leakage caused by the field oxidation stress and improve the reliability of the device; and a charge compensation region is provided in a drift region at the bottom of the second U-shaped trench, and a super-junction structure is formed between the charge compensation region and the drift region to improve the breakdown voltage of the power device. According to the present invention, the second U-shaped trench and the charge compensation region are formed by a self-aligning process, so that the technical process is simple, reliable and easy to control, and can reduce the manufacturing cost of the power MOS transistor and improve its yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SU ZHOU ORIENTAL SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Lei Liu, Xi Lin, Pengfei Wang, Yi Gong
  • Patent number: 9698249
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure having an insulating layer positioning on a substrate; a semiconductor fin partially located in the insulating layer; and a metal gate over the semiconductor fin and the insulating layer. The semiconductor fin includes a first region including a first lattice constant and a second region in proximity to the metal gate, including a second lattice constant. At least one dislocation is located only in the second region of the semiconductor fin. The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure, including forming a gate over a first semiconductor layer, removing a portion of the first semiconductor layer in proximity to a sidewall of the gate and obtaining a recess, and forming a second semiconductor layer in the recess. At least one dislocation is in-situ formed in the second semiconductor layer without extending to the first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Ming Huang, Hsiu-Ting Chen, Shih-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 9698250
    Abstract: A method for etching a dielectric layer located on the surface of a three-dimensional structure formed on a face of a substrate oriented along a plane of a substrate, which includes a step of implanting ions so as to directionally create a top layer in the dielectric layer. Such top layer is thus not formed everywhere. Then, the layer in question is removed, except on the predefined zones, such as flanks of a transistor gate. A selective etching of the dielectric layer is executed relative to the material of the residual part of the top layer and relative to the material of the face of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Nicolas Posseme, Christian Arvet, Sebastien Barnola
  • Patent number: 9698251
    Abstract: A finfet reveal process is provided. The finfet reveal process includes forming a fin on a substrate, sequentially depositing first and second insulation layers over the fin and the substrate, and forming a dummy gate over the second insulation layer. The finfet reveal process further includes disposing spacers on either side of the dummy gate to expose the dummy gate and exposing opposite ends of the fin for insulated contact growth thereon to thereby re-form the first and second insulation layers into a pillar. In addition, the finfet reveal process also includes removing the dummy gate from between the spacers and sequentially removing the second insulation layer and then the first insulation layer from the pillar such that remainders of the pillar and the spacers form two-part spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Wenyu Xu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9698252
    Abstract: An improved FinFET has a gate structure on only a portion of the available surface on a fin, thereby providing a FinFET with a finer granularity width dimension. To form the FinFET, a first etch-resistant sacrificial layer and a second etch-resistant spacer layer are formed on the fin. The spacer layer is etched anisotropically to remove the spacer layer from the top and upper sidewalls of the fin while leaving the spacer layer on the lower sidewalls of the FinFET. A gate dielectric and conducting layer are then deposited and shaped to form a structure that is effective as a gate only on the top and upper sidewalls of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mayank Kumar Gupta, Peter Smeys
  • Patent number: 9698253
    Abstract: A semiconductor fin fabrication method includes: providing a substrate; selectively epitaxially growing a first mask layer in a predetermined zone on the substrate; selectively epitaxially growing a first epitaxial layer on the substrate by using the first mask layer as a mask; and removing the first mask layer and a part, under the first mask layer, of the substrate by using the first epitaxial layer as a mask and by using an anisotropic etching method, so as to form a fin under the first epitaxial layer. According to the foregoing solutions, a manner in which a selective epitaxial growth technology and an anisotropic etching technology are combined is used It can be ensured that a semiconductor fin and a surface of a gate oxidized layer are perpendicular to each other, roughness of a surface of the semiconductor fin is reduced, and a fin with a smooth side surface is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jing Zhao
  • Patent number: 9698254
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a method of making a tunnel barrier-based electronic device, in which the tunnel barrier and transport channel are made of the same material—graphene. A homoepitaxial tunnel barrier/transport device is created using a monolayer chemically modified graphene sheet as a tunnel barrier on another monolayer graphene sheet. This device displays enhanced spintronic properties over heteroepitaxial devices and is the first to use graphene as both the tunnel barrier and channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Adam L. Friedman, Olaf M. T. van 't Erve, Connie H. Li, Jeremy T. Robinson, Berend T. Jonker
  • Patent number: 9698255
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having at least a gate structure thereon and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the gate structure, wherein the gate structure comprises a hard mask thereon; forming a dielectric layer on the gate structure and the ILD layer; removing part of the dielectric layer to expose the hard mask and the ILD layer; and performing a surface treatment to form a doped region in the hard mask and the ILD layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chia-Lin Lu, Chun-Lung Chen, Kun-Yuan Liao, Feng-Yi Chang, Chih-Sen Huang, Ching-Wen Hung, Wei-Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 9698256
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit with a termination region, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit comprises a cell region and a termination region. The termination region is disposed at an outer periphery of the cell region. The cell region comprises an array of device cells. The termination region comprises a plurality of termination rings encompassing the cell region. The plurality of termination rings have different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jheng-Sheng You, Che-Yi Lin, Shen-Ping Wang, Lieh-Chuan Chen, Po-Tao Chu
  • Patent number: 9698257
    Abstract: The symmetric LDMOS transistor comprises a semiconductor substrate (1), a well (2) of a first type of conductivity in the substrate, and wells (3) of an opposite second type of conductivity. The wells (3) of the second type of conductivity are arranged at a distance from one another. Source/drain regions (4) are arranged in the wells of the second type of conductivity. A gate dielectric (7) is arranged on the substrate, and a gate electrode (8) on the gate dielectric. A doped region (10) of the second type of conductivity is arranged between the wells of the second type of conductivity at a distance from the wells. The gate electrode has a gap (9) above the doped region (10), and the gate electrode overlaps regions that are located between the wells (3) of the second type of conductivity and the doped region (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Jong Mun Park, Georg Rohrer
  • Patent number: 9698258
    Abstract: The present examples relate to a semiconductor device used in an electric device or high voltage device. The present examples improve Rsp by minimizing drift region resistance by satisfying breakdown voltage by improving the structure of a drift region through which current flows in a semiconductor device to provide optimal results. Moreover, a high frequency application achieves useful results by reducing a gate charge Qg for an identical device pitch to that of an alternative technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Shin Ryu, Tae Hoon Lee, Bo Seok Oh
  • Patent number: 9698259
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a well region. The semiconductor device includes a source region in the well region. The semiconductor device includes a drain region. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode that is between the source and drain regions, when viewed in a plan view. Moreover, the semiconductor device includes first and second patterns, in the source region, that are spaced apart from each other when viewed in the plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: JaeHyun Jung
  • Patent number: 9698260
    Abstract: High voltage devices and methods for forming a high voltage device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having top and bottom surfaces. The substrate is defined with a device region and a recessed region disposed within the device region. The recessed region includes a recessed surface disposed lower than the top surface of the substrate. A transistor is formed over the substrate. Forming the transistor includes forming a gate at least over the recessed surface and forming a source region adjacent to a first side of the gate below the recessed surface. Forming the transistor also includes forming a drain region displaced away from a second side of the gate. First and second device wells are formed in the substrate within the device region. The first device well encompasses the drain region and the second device well encompasses the source region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Guowei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9698261
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vertical transistor device having rectangular vertical channel bars extending between a source region and a drain region, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the vertical transistor device has a source region disposed over a semiconductor substrate. A channel region with one or more vertical channel bars is disposed over the source region. The one or more vertical channel bars have a bottom surface abutting the source region that has a rectangular shape (i.e., a shape with four sides, with adjacent sides of different length, and four right angles). A gate region is located over the source region at a position abutting the vertical channel bars, and a drain region is disposed over the gate region and the vertical channel bars. The rectangular shape of the vertical channel bars provides for a vertical device having good performance and cell area density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hao Wang, Jhon Jhy Liaw, Wai-Yi Lien, Jia-Chuan You, Yi-Hsun Chiu, Ching-Wei Tsai, Wei-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 9698262
    Abstract: A vertical FinFET semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the semiconductor device includes a current-blocking structure formed over a semiconductor structure and a semiconductor fin formed on the current-blocking structure. The current blocking structure includes a first layer of a first conductive type, a layer of a second conductive type over the first layer, and a second layer of the first conductive type over the layer of the second conductive type. The semiconductor fin has a doped bottom portion contacting the current-blocking structure, a doped top portion formed vertically opposite to the doped bottom portion and a channel portion vertically interposed between the doped bottom portion and the doped top portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: IMEC VZW, Globalfoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Bartlomiej Pawlak, Geert Eneman
  • Patent number: 9698263
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure that includes crystalline surfaces and amorphous hydrophilic surfaces is provided. The hydrophilic surfaces are treated with silane that includes a hydrophobic functional group, converting the hydrophilic surfaces to hydrophobic surfaces. Chemical vapor deposition or other suitable deposition methods are used to simultaneously deposit a material on both surfaces and due to the surface treatment, the deposited material exhibits superior adherence qualities on both surfaces. In one embodiment, the structure is an opening formed in a semiconductor substrate and bounded by at least one portion of a crystalline silicon surface and at least one portion of an amorphous silicon oxide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lai-Wan Chong, Wen-Chu Hsiao, Ying-Min Chou, Hsiang-Hsiang Ko
  • Patent number: 9698264
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first active region, a second active region and a field region between the first and second active regions, and a gate structure formed on the substrate to cross the first active region, the second active region and the field region. The gate structure includes a p type metal gate electrode and an n-type metal gate electrode directly contacting each other, the p-type metal gate electrode extends from the first active region less than half way toward the second active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-Youn Kim, Hyung-Soon Jang, Jong-Mil Youn, Tae-Won Ha
  • Patent number: 9698265
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide transistor structures having strained channel regions. Strain is created through lattice mismatches in the source and drain regions relative to the channel region of the transistor. In embodiments of the invention, the transistor channel regions are comprised of germanium, silicon, a combination of germanium and silicon, or a combination of germanium, silicon, and tin and the source and drain regions are comprised of a doped III-V compound semiconductor material. Embodiments of the invention are useful in a variety of transistor structures, such as, for example, trigate, bigate, and single gate transistors and transistors having a channel region comprised of nanowires or nanoribbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Van H. Le, Harold W. Kennel, Willy Rachmady, Ravi Pillarisetty, Jack Kavalieros, Niloy Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9698266
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises forming a first buffer layer with a first melting point on a substrate. A second buffer layer is formed on the first buffer layer. The second buffer layer has a second melting point that is greater than the first melting point. Annealing process is performed that increases a temperature of the first buffer layer such that the first buffer layer partially liquefies and causes a strain in the second buffer layer to be substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xin Miao, Wenyu Xu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9698267
    Abstract: A transistor is disclosed and includes forming a gate of a transistor within a substrate having a surface and a buried oxide (BOX) layer within the substrate and adjacent to the gate at a first BOX layer face. The method also includes a raised source-drain channel (“fin”), where at least a portion of the fin extends from the surface of the substrate, and where the fin has a first fin face adjacent to a second BOX layer face of the BOX layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stanley Seungchul Song, Mohamed Hassan Abu-Rahma, Beom-Mo Han
  • Patent number: 9698268
    Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor layer on a fin, where the fin and the semiconductor layer include first and second semiconductor materials, respectively. Moreover, the method includes defining first and second active fins that include the second semiconductor material, by removing at least a portion of the fin. Related semiconductor devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Maeda, Bo-Ram Kim
  • Patent number: 9698269
    Abstract: Fin-type transistor fabrication methods and structures are provided having one or more nitrided conformal layers, to improve reliability of the semiconductor device. The method includes, for example, providing at least one material layer disposed, in part, conformally over a fin extending above a substrate, the material layer(s) including a gate dielectric layer; and performing a conformal nitridation process over an exposed surface of the material layer(s), the conformal nitridation process forming an exposed, conformal nitrided surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Hua Tong, Tien-Ying Luo, Yan Ping Shen, Feng Zhou, Jun Lian, Haoran Shi, Min-hwa Chi, Jin Ping Liu, Haiting Wang, Seung Kim
  • Patent number: 9698270
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a fin structure, the fin structure having a height in a substantially perpendicular direction to the substrate, and having consecutive upper and lower portions along the height, the lower portion being closer to the substrate than the upper portion. The semiconductor device further includes a gate structure wrapping around a portion of the fin structure, the gate structure having a gate dielectric layer disposed around the fin structure, and a gate electrode layer disposed over the gate dielectric layer. The gate electrode layer includes a first gate metal layer formed along both sides of the lower portion of the fin structure, the first gate metal layer having a first workfunction, and a second gate metal layer formed disposed over the first gate metal layer and wrapped around the upper portion of the fin structure, the second gate metal layer having a second workfunction. The first and the second workfunctions are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Colinge, Wen-Hsing Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9698271
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having a structure with which the device can be easily manufactured even if the size is decreased and which can suppress a decrease in electrical characteristics caused by the decrease in the size, and a manufacturing method thereof. A source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are formed on an upper surface of an oxide semiconductor layer. A side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer and a side surface of the source electrode layer are provided on the same surface and are electrically connected to a first wiring. Further, a side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer and a side surface of the drain electrode layer are provided on the same surface and are electrically connected to a second wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Hanaoka