With Particular Manufacturing Method Of Gate Insulating Layer, E.g., Different Gate Insulating Layer Thicknesses, Particular Gate Insulator Materials Or Particular Gate Insulator Implants (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.639)
  • Patent number: 12237418
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer. A gate structure is disposed over the semiconductor layer. A spacer is disposed on a sidewall of the gate structure. A height of the spacer is greater than a height of the gate structure. A liner is disposed on the gate structure and on the spacer. The spacer and the liner have different material compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huan-Chieh Su, Chih-Hao Wang, Kuo-Cheng Chiang, Wei-Hao Wu, Zhi-Chang Lin, Jia-Ni Yu, Yu-Ming Lin, Chung-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 12230708
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided that includes a substrate, a channel with the channel positioned on the top of the substrate, and a drift with the drift positioned on the top of the channel. The semiconductor device further includes a first poly positioned in the channel and the drift, and a second poly positioned on the top of the first poly and positioned in the drift. The first poly and the second poly are isolated by a gate oxide and a RESURF oxide, respectively, from the channel and from the drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Nexperia B.V.
    Inventors: Kilian Ong, Benjamin Hung
  • Patent number: 12176439
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with small fluctuations in transistor characteristics can be provided. The semiconductor device includes a first oxide, a second oxide and a third oxide over the first oxide, a first conductor over the second oxide, a second conductor over the third oxide, a fourth oxide over the first oxide and between the second oxide and the third oxide, a first insulator over the fourth oxide, and a third conductor over the first insulator. The first oxide includes a groove in a region not overlapping with the second oxide and the third oxide. The first oxide includes a first layered crystal substantially parallel to the surface where the first oxide is formed. In the groove, the fourth oxide includes a second layered crystal substantially parallel to the surface where the first oxide is formed. A concentration of aluminum atoms at an interface between the first oxide and the fourth oxide and in the vicinity of the interface is less than or equal to 5.0 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Erika Takahashi, Tsutomu Murakawa, Shinya Sasagawa, Katsuaki Tochibayashi
  • Patent number: 12154652
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory applied to an embedded display port includes a memory core unit, a peripheral circuit unit, and an input/output unit. The memory core unit is used for operating in a first predetermined voltage. The peripheral circuit unit is electrically connected to the memory core unit for operating in a second predetermined voltage, where the second predetermined voltage is lower than 1.1V. The input/output unit is electrically connected to the memory core unit and the peripheral circuit unit for operating in a third predetermined voltage, where the third predetermined voltage is lower than 1.1V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Min Yuan, Yen-An Chang, Wei-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 12148792
    Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer and a work function layer. The gate dielectric layer is between the semiconductor substrate and the work function layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a halogen source layer. The gate dielectric layer is between the semiconductor substrate and the halogen source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Lin, Chih-Lin Wang, Kang-Min Kuo
  • Patent number: 12124945
    Abstract: Disclosed is a neural network operation device, including: an operation array including operation units, wherein each operation unit includes: a source terminal, a drain terminal, a gate electrode, a threshold voltage adjustment layer under the gate electrode, and a channel region extending between a source region and a drain region, the threshold voltage adjustment layer is located on the channel region. The gate electrodes of each column of operation units of the operation array are connected together, and each column is used to adjust a weight value according to a threshold voltage adjusted by the threshold voltage adjustment layer. The threshold voltage adjustment layer is a ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF MICROELECTRONICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Hangbing Lv, Xiaoxin Xu, Qing Luo, Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 12119222
    Abstract: A method for preparing a semiconductor structure includes: providing a substrate which includes a device region and a shallow trench isolation region surrounding the device region, in which the device region is exposed from a surface of the substrate; depositing a barrier layer on the substrate, the barrier layer at least covering the device region; forming an initial oxide which is located in the device region and in contact with the barrier layer; and removing part of the initial oxide to form a device oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mengmeng Yang, Jie Bai
  • Patent number: 12096621
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed to an IC device and associated forming methods. In some embodiments, a memory region and a logic region are integrated in a substrate. A memory cell structure is disposed on the memory region. A plurality of logic devices disposed on a plurality of logic sub-regions of the logic region. A first logic device is disposed on a first upper surface of a first logic sub-region. A second logic device is disposed on a second upper surface of a second logic sub-region. A third logic device is disposed on a third upper surface of a third logic sub-region. Heights of the first, second, and third upper surfaces of the logic sub-regions monotonically decrease. By arranging logic devices on multiple recessed positions of the substrate, design flexibility is improved and devices with multiple operation voltages are better suited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Wu, Li-Feng Teng
  • Patent number: 12080716
    Abstract: On a semiconductor substrate having an SOI region and a bulk silicon region formed on its upper surface, epitaxial layers are formed in source and drain regions of a MOSFET formed in the SOI region, and no epitaxial layer is formed in source and drain regions of a MOSFET formed in the bulk silicon region. By covering the end portions of the epitaxial layers with silicon nitride films, even when diffusion layers are formed by implanting ions from above the epitaxial layers, it is possible to prevent the impurity ions from being implanted down to a lower surface of a silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Tsunomura, Yoshiki Yamamoto, Masaaki Shinohara, Toshiaki Iwamatsu, Hidekazu Oda
  • Patent number: 12040399
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with an SOI substrate which includes a semiconductor substrate, a ferroelectric layer and a semiconductor layer, and has a first region in which a first MISFET is formed. The first MISFET includes: the semiconductor substrate in the first region; the ferroelectric layer in the first region; the semiconductor layer in the first region; a first gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer in the first region; a first gate electrode formed on the first gate insulating film; a first source region located on one side of the first gate electrode and formed in the semiconductor layer in the first region; and a first drain region located on the other side of the first gate electrode and formed in the semiconductor layer in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Tsukuda, Tohru Kawai, Atsushi Amo
  • Patent number: 12040374
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including: a chip including a main surface; and a first transistor formed in the chip, wherein the first transistor includes: a first drain region of a first conductive type that is formed on a surface layer portion of the main surface; a first source region of the first conductive type that is formed on the surface layer portion of the main surface at an interval from the first drain region and partitions a first channel region having a first channel length L1 in a region between the first source region and the first drain region; a first gate insulating film that covers the first channel region; and a first gate electrode that contains polysilicon and is formed on the first gate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Tamura, Yusuke Nishida
  • Patent number: 12020991
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a first high-k dielectric layer over a first semiconductor region, performing a first annealing process on the first high-k dielectric layer, depositing a second high-k dielectric layer over the first high-k dielectric layer; and performing a second annealing process on the first high-k dielectric layer and the second high-k dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hao Hou, Che-Hao Chang, Da-Yuan Lee, Chi On Chui
  • Patent number: 11984502
    Abstract: A semiconductor device 1 includes a base body 3 that includes a p type substrate 4 and an n type semiconductor layer 5 formed on the p type substrate 4 and includes an element region 2 having a transistor 40 with the n type semiconductor layer as a drain, a p type element isolation region 7 that is formed in a surface layer portion of the base body such as to demarcate the element region, and a conductive wiring 25 that is disposed on a peripheral edge portion of the element region and is electrically connected to the n type semiconductor layer. The transistor includes an n+ type drain contact region 14 that is formed in a surface layer portion of the n type semiconductor layer in the peripheral edge portion of the element region. The conductive wiring is disposed such as to cover at least a portion of an element termination region 30 between the n+ type drain contact region and the p type element isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 11972942
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit, including first, positioning a semiconductor wafer in a processing chamber; second, exposing portions of the semiconductor wafer, including introducing a first amount of hydrogen into the processing chamber and introducing a first amount of oxygen into the processing chamber; and, third, introducing at least one of a second amount of hydrogen or a second amount of oxygen into the processing chamber, the second amount of hydrogen greater than zero and less than the first amount of hydrogen and the second amount of oxygen greater than zero and less than the first amount of oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mona M. Eissa, Corinne Ann Gagnet, Christopher Scott Whitesell, Pushpa Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 11955389
    Abstract: A method of determining the reliability of a high-voltage PMOS (HVPMOS) device includes determining a bulk resistance of the HVPMOS device, and evaluating the reliability of the HVPMOS device based on the bulk resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Chung Chen, Chi-Feng Huang, Tse-Hua Lu
  • Patent number: 11917812
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure and a contact plug. The gate structure extends in a first direction parallel to the substrate, and includes a first conductive pattern, a second conductive pattern and a gate mask sequentially stacked. The contact plug contacts an end portion in the first direction of the gate structure, and includes a first extension portion extending in a vertical direction and contacting sidewalls of the gate mask and the second conductive pattern, a second extension portion under and contacting the first extension portion and a sidewall of the first conductive pattern, and a protrusion portion under and contacting the second extension portion. A bottom of the protrusion portion does not contact the first conductive pattern. A first slope of a sidewall of the first extension portion is greater than a second slope of a sidewall of the second extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sohyeon Bae, Wonchul Lee, Jaehyun Kim, Jaehyuk Jang, Hyebin Choi
  • Patent number: 11916128
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a semiconductor device including an nFET structure and a pFET structure where each of the nFET and pFET structures include a semiconductor substrate and a gate trench. The method includes depositing an interfacial layer in each gate trench, depositing a first ferroelectric layer over the interfacial layer, removing the first ferroelectric layer from the nFET structure, depositing a metal oxide layer in each gate trench, depositing a second ferroelectric layer over the metal oxide layer, removing the second ferroelectric layer from the pFET structure, and depositing a gate electrode in each gate trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Min Cao, Pei-Yu Wang, Sai-Hooi Yeong, Ching-Wei Tsai, Kuan-Lun Cheng, Chih-Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11894098
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory applied to an embedded display port includes a memory core unit, a peripheral circuit unit, and an input/output unit. The memory core unit is used for operating in a first predetermined voltage. The peripheral circuit unit is electrically connected to the memory core unit for operating in a second predetermined voltage, where the second predetermined voltage is lower than 1.1V. The input/output unit is electrically connected to the memory core unit and the peripheral circuit unit for operating in a third predetermined voltage, where the third predetermined voltage is lower than 1.1V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Min Yuan, Yen-An Chang, Wei-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 11887987
    Abstract: A circuit includes a base silicon layer, a base oxide layer, a first top silicon layer, a second top silicon layer, a first semiconductor device, and a second semiconductor device. The base oxide layer is formed over the base silicon layer. The first top silicon layer is formed over a first region of the base oxide layer and has a first thickness. The second top silicon layer is formed over a second region of the base oxide layer and has a second thickness less than the first thickness. The first semiconductor device is formed over the first top silicon layer and the second semiconductor device is formed over the second top silicon layer. The ability to fabricate a top silicon layers with differing thicknesses can provide a single substrate having devices with different characteristics, such as having both fully depleted and partially depleted devices on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Gulbagh Singh, Kuan-Liang Liu, Wang Po-Jen, Kun-Tsang Chuang, Hsin-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 11817488
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for forming an integrated chip (IC) is provided. The method incudes forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. A first opening is formed in the ILD layer and in a first region of the IC. A second opening is formed in the ILD layer and in a second region of the IC. A first high-k dielectric layer is formed lining both the first and second openings. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first high-k dielectric layer and lining the first high-k dielectric layer in both the first and second regions. The second high-k dielectric layer is removed from the first region. A conductive layer is formed over both the first and second high-k dielectric layers, where the conductive layer contacts the first high-k dielectric layer in the first region and contacts the second high-k dielectric in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung Ying Lee, Shao-Ming Yu, Tzu-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 11809802
    Abstract: A process manufacturing method, a method for adjusting a threshold voltage, a device, and a storage medium are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventors: Abraham Yoo, Ying Jin, Jisong Jin
  • Patent number: 11798987
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a substrate (10) for a controlled implantation of ions (80) into a bulk (20), the substrate (10) comprising the bulk (20) composed of a crystalline first material (70), the bulk (20) comprising an implantation region (28) and a surface (22), wherein the implantation region (28) is located within the bulk (20) and along an implantation direction (82) at an implantation depth (26) below an implantation area (24) on the surface (10) of the bulk (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PARCAN NANOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ivo Rangelow, Xiang-Qian Zhou, Dimitre Karpuzov
  • Patent number: 11769669
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin, and a gate stack over the semiconductor fin. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer over a channel region of the semiconductor fin, a work function material layer over the gate dielectric layer, wherein the work function material layer includes dopants, and a gate electrode layer over the work function material layer. The gate dielectric layer is free of the dopants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Min Han Hsu, Jung-Chih Tsao
  • Patent number: 11756834
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first metal gate structure and a second metal gate structure. The first metal gate structure includes a first high-k gate dielectric layer, a first work function metal layer over the first high-k gate dielectric layer, and an N-containing barrier layer between the first high-k gate dielectric layer and the first work function metal layer. The second metal gate structure includes a second high-k gate dielectric layer and a second work function metal layer over the second high-k gate dielectric layer. The first high-k gate dielectric layer and the second high-k gate dielectric layer include a same metal material. The first high-k gate dielectric layer has a first metal concentration, the second high-k gate dielectric layer has a second metal concentration, and the first metal concentration is less than the second metal concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Chien-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 11699613
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The methods may implanting dopants into a substrate to form a preliminary impurity region and heating the substrate to convert the preliminary impurity region into an impurity region. Heating the substrate may be performed at an ambient temperature of from about 800° C. to about 950° C. for from about 20 min to about 50 min. The method may also include forming first and second trenches in the impurity region to define an active fin and forming a first isolation layer and a second isolation layer in the first and second trenches, respectively. The first and second isolation layers may expose opposing sides of the active fin. The method may further include forming a gate insulation layer extending on the opposing sides and an upper surface of the active fin and forming a gate electrode traversing the active fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunguk Jang, Seokhoon Kim, Seung Hun Lee, Yang Xu, Jeongho Yoo, Jongryeol Yoo, Youngdae Cho
  • Patent number: 11695012
    Abstract: On a semiconductor substrate having an SOI region and a bulk silicon region formed on its upper surface, epitaxial layers are formed in source and drain regions of a MOSFET formed in the SOI region, and no epitaxial layer is formed in source and drain regions of a MOSFET formed in the bulk silicon region. By covering the end portions of the epitaxial layers with silicon nitride films, even when diffusion layers are formed by implanting ions from above the epitaxial layers, it is possible to prevent the impurity ions from being implanted down to a lower surface of a silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Tsunomura, Yoshiki Yamamoto, Masaaki Shinohara, Toshiaki Iwamatsu, Hidekazu Oda
  • Patent number: 11594611
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor construction having a gate extending into a semiconductor base. Conductively-doped source and drain regions are within the base adjacent the gate. A gate dielectric has a first segment between the source region and the gate, a second segment between the drain region and the gate, and a third segment between the first and second segments. At least a portion of the gate dielectric comprises ferroelectric material. In some embodiments the ferroelectric material is within each of the first, second and third segments. In some embodiments, the ferroelectric material is within the first segment or the third segment. In some embodiments, a transistor has a gate, a source region and a drain region; and has a channel region between the source and drain regions. The transistor has a gate dielectric which contains ferroelectric material between the source region and the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Durai Vishak Ramaswamy, Kirk D. Prall, Wayne Kinney
  • Patent number: 11552082
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of forming memory devices are described. The memory devices comprise two work-function metal layers, where one work-function layer has a lower work-function than the other work-function layer. The low work-function layer may reduce gate-induced drain leakage current losses. Methods of forming memory devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Kwan Kang, Gill Yong Lee, Sang Ho Yu, Shih Chung Chen, Jeffrey W. Anthis
  • Patent number: 11469113
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for annealing semiconductor substrates. In one example the method of annealing substrates in a processing chamber includes loading a plurality of substrates into an internal volume of the processing chamber. The method includes flowing a processing fluid through a gas conduit into the internal volume. The method further includes measuring a temperature of the gas conduit at one or more position utilizing one or more temperature sensors. The processing fluid in the gas conduit and the internal volume are maintained at a temperature above a condensation point of the processing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jean Delmas, Steven Verhaverbeke, Kurtis Leschkies
  • Patent number: 11462540
    Abstract: A method for fabricating floating body memory cells (FBCs), and the resultant FBCs where gates favoring different conductivity type regions are used is described. In one embodiment, a p type back gate with a thicker insulation is used with a thinner insulated n type front gate. Processing, which compensates for misalignment, which allows the different oxide and gate materials to be fabricated is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. D. Chang, Uygar E. Avci, David Kencke, Ibrahim Ban
  • Patent number: 11462417
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for annealing semiconductor substrates. In one example a temperature-controlled fluid circuit includes a condenser configured to fluidly connect to an internal volume of a processing chamber. The processing chamber has a body, the internal volume is within the body. The condenser is configured to condense a processing fluid into liquid phase. A source conduit includes a first terminal end that couples to a first port on the body of the processing chamber. The source conduit includes a second terminal end. The first terminal end couples to a gas panel. The gas panel is configured to provide a processing fluid into the internal volume of the processing chamber. A gas conduit includes a first end. The first end couples to the condenser and a second end. The second end is configured to couple to a second port on the body of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jean Delmas, Steven Verhaverbeke, Kurtis Leschkies
  • Patent number: 11450658
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus comprises a first semiconductor region including a first surface and a second surface, in which a semiconductor of a first conductivity type is arranged, a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, which is arranged between the first surface and the second surface, a third semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, which is arranged in a region between the second semiconductor region and the second surface and on a side portion of the second semiconductor region, a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, which is arranged between the first surface and the second surface; and a fifth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type, which is arranged in a region between the fourth semiconductor region and the second surface and on a side portion of the fourth semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tasuku Kaneda, Hideshi Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 11398403
    Abstract: Semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) field effect transistors (FETs) including body regions having different thicknesses may be formed on an SOI substrate by selectively thinning a region of a top semiconductor layer while preventing thinning of an additional region of the top semiconductor layer. An oxidation process or an etch process may be used to thin the region of the top semiconductor layer, and a patterned oxidation barrier mask or an etch mask may be used to prevent oxidation or etching of the additional portion of the top semiconductor layer. Shallow trench isolation structures may be formed prior to, or after, the selective thinning processing steps. FETs having different depletion region configurations may be formed using the multiple thicknesses of the patterned portions of the top semiconductor layer. For example, partially depleted SOI FETs and fully depleted SOI FETs may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Gulbagh Singh, Po-Jen Wang, Kun-Tsang Chuang
  • Patent number: 11107689
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a NMOS region and a PMOS region; forming a pad oxide layer on the substrate, wherein the pad oxide layer comprises a first thickness; performing an implantation process to inject germanium (Ge) into the substrate on the PMOS region; performing a first cleaning process to reduce the first thickness of the pad oxide layer on the PMOS region to a second thickness; performing an anneal process; and performing a second cleaning process to remove the pad oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Shi-You Liu, Tsai-Yu Wen, Ming-Shiou Hsieh, Rong-Sin Lin, Ching-I Li, Neng-Hui Yang
  • Patent number: 10748816
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are provided. An exemplary fabrication method includes providing a base substrate; forming an isolation layer in the base substrate; forming dummy gate structures on the base substrate at two sides of the isolation layer; forming an additional gate structure on the isolation layer and a first protective layer on surfaces of the additional gate structure and the dummy gate structures; forming an interlayer dielectric layer covering side surfaces of the dummy gate structures, the additional gate structure and the first protective layer over the base substrate; removing a portion of the first protective layer over the additional gate structure; forming a second protective layer on the additional gate structure; removing portions of the first protective layer over the dummy gate structures using the second protective layer as a mask; and removing the dummy gate structures to form openings in the interlayer dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: Fei Zhou
  • Patent number: 10714396
    Abstract: The method includes prior to depositing a gate on a first vertical FET on a semiconductor substrate, depositing a first layer on the first vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes prior to depositing a gate on a second vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate, depositing a second layer on the second vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes etching the first layer on the first vertical FET to a lower height than the second layer on the second vertical FET. The method further includes depositing a gate material on both the first vertical FET and the second vertical FET. The method further includes etching the gate material on both the first vertical FET and the second vertical FET to a co-planar height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 10373835
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor circuit includes obtaining a semiconductor structure having a gate stack of material layers including a high-k dielectric layer; oxidizing in a lateral manner the high-k dielectric layer, such that oxygen content of the high-k dielectric layer is increased first at the sidewalls of the high-k dielectric layer; and completing fabrication of a n-type field effect transistor from the gate stack after laterally oxidizing the high-k dielectric layer of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Robert H. Dennard, Martin M. Frank
  • Patent number: 10263091
    Abstract: A method includes forming a silicon cap layer on a semiconductor fin, forming an interfacial layer over the silicon cap layer, forming a high-k gate dielectric over the interfacial layer, and forming a scavenging metal layer over the high-k gate dielectric. An anneal is then performed on the silicon cap layer, the interfacial layer, the high-k gate dielectric, and the scavenging metal layer. A filling metal is deposited over the high-k gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yee-Chia Yeo, Chih Chieh Yeh, Chih-Hsin Ko, Cheng-Hsien Wu, Liang-Yin Chen, Xiong-Fei Yu, Yen-Ming Chen, Chan-Lon Yang
  • Patent number: 10050147
    Abstract: A method of semiconductor fabrication includes forming a dielectric layer over a substrate. A dummy gate structure is formed on the dielectric layer, which defines a dummy gate dielectric region. A portion of the dielectric layer not included in the dummy gate dielectric region is etched to form a dielectric etch back region. A spacer element is formed on a portion of the dielectric etch back region, which abuts the dummy gate structure, and defines a spacer dielectric region A height of the dummy gate dielectric region is greater than the height of the spacer dielectric region. A recessed portion is formed in the substrate, over which a strained material is selectively grown to form a strained recessed region adjacent the spacer dielectric region. The dummy gate structure and the dummy gate dielectric region are removed. A gate electrode layer and a gate dielectric layer are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Sheng Liang, Shih-Hsun Chang
  • Patent number: 10026653
    Abstract: The method includes prior to depositing a gate on a first vertical FET on a semiconductor substrate, depositing a first layer on the first vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes prior to depositing a gate on a second vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate, depositing a second layer on the second vertical FET on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes etching the first layer on the first vertical FET to a lower height than the second layer on the second vertical FET. The method further includes depositing a gate material on both the first vertical FET and the second vertical FET. The method further includes etching the gate material on both the first vertical FET and the second vertical FET to a co-planar height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 9941128
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor circuit includes obtaining a semiconductor structure having a gate stack of material layers including a high-k dielectric layer; oxidizing in a lateral manner the high-k dielectric layer, such that oxygen content of the high-k dielectric layer is increased first at the sidewalls of the high-k dielectric layer; and completing fabrication of a n-type field effect transistor from the gate stack after laterally oxidizing the high-k dielectric layer of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Robert H. Dennard, Martin M. Frank
  • Patent number: 9893060
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a core device, and an input/output (I/O) device. The core device is disposed on the substrate. The core device includes a first gate electrode having a bottom surface and at least one sidewall. The bottom surface of the first gate electrode and the sidewall of the first gate electrode intersect to form a first interior angle. The I/O device is disposed on the substrate. The I/O device includes a second gate electrode having a bottom surface and at least one sidewall. The bottom surface of the second gate electrode and the sidewall of the second gate electrode intersect to form a second interior angle greater than the first interior angle of the first gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Chih-Han Lin, Horng-Huei Tseng
  • Patent number: 9809881
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for plasma processing a substrate to form a film on the substrate and devices disposed thereon by controlling the ratio of ions to radicals in the plasma at a given pressure. A given pressure may be maintained to promote ion production using one plasma source, and a second plasma source may be used to provide additional radicals. In one embodiment, a low pressure plasma is generated in a processing region having the substrate positioned therein, and a high pressure plasma is generated in separate region. Radicals from the high pressure plasma are injected into the processing region having the low pressure plasma, thus, altering the natural distribution of radicals to ions at a given operating pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Scott Rogers, Zhong Qiang Hua, Christopher S. Olsen
  • Patent number: 9628081
    Abstract: An exemplary interconnect circuit for a programmable integrated circuit (IC) includes an input terminal coupled to receive from a node in the programmable IC, an output terminal coupled to transmit towards another node in the programmable IC, first and second control terminals coupled to receive from a memory cell of the programmable IC, and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) pass-gate coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal and to the first and second control terminals. The CMOS pass-gate includes a P-channel transistor configured with a low threshold voltage for a CMOS process used to fabricate the programmable IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Praful Jain, Michael J. Hart
  • Patent number: 9627544
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. At least one suspended first semiconductor nanowire and two first semiconductor blocks at two ends of the first semiconductor nanowire are formed in a first area, and at least one suspended second semiconductor nanowire and two second semiconductor blocks at two ends of the second semiconductor nanowire are formed in a second area. A transforming process is performed, so the first semiconductor nanowire is transformed into a nanowire with stress, and the second semiconductor blocks are simultaneously transformed into two blocks with stress. First and second gate dielectric layers are formed respectively on surfaces of the nanowire with stress and the second semiconductor nanowire. First and second gates are formed respectively across the nanowire with stress and the second semiconductor nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Po-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 9466492
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor circuit includes obtaining a semiconductor structure having a gate stack of material layers including a high-k dielectric layer; oxidizing in a lateral manner the high-k dielectric layer, such that oxygen content of the high-k dielectric layer is increased first at the sidewalls of the high-k dielectric layer; and completing fabrication of a n-type field effect transistor from the gate stack after laterally oxidizing the high-k dielectric layer of the gate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Robert H. Dennard, Martin M. Frank
  • Patent number: 9041116
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrical device that includes forming a high-k gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate that is patterned to separate a first portion of the high-k gate dielectric layer that is present on a first conductivity device region from a second portion of the high-k gate dielectric layer that is present on a second conductivity device region. A connecting gate conductor is formed on the first portion and the second portion of the high-k gate dielectric layer. The connecting gate conductor extends from the first conductivity device region over the isolation region to the second conductivity device region. One of the first conductivity device region and the second conductivity device region may then be exposed to an oxygen containing atmosphere. Exposure with the oxygen containing atmosphere modifies a threshold voltage of the semiconductor device that is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Kangguo Cheng, Steven J. Holmes, Ali Khakifirooz, Pranita Kulkarni, Shom Ponoth, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Stefan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 9034709
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes forming a first gate oxide film in each of a first region and a second region by thermally oxidizing a silicon substrate, forming a CVD oxide film on the first gate oxide film, implanting fluorine into each of the first region and the second region through the CVD oxide film and the first gate oxide film, removing the CVD oxide film from the first gate oxide film in the second region, removing the first gate oxide film from the second region, and forming a second gate oxide film in the second region by thermally oxidizing the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Katsuki, Toshiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8987080
    Abstract: Provided are methods for making metal gates suitable for FinFET structures. The methods described herein generally involve forming a high-k dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate; depositing a high-k dielectric cap layer over the high-k dielectric material; depositing a PMOS work function layer having a positive work function value; depositing an NMOS work function layer; depositing an NMOS work function cap layer over the NMOS work function layer; removing at least a portion of the PMOS work function layer or at least a portion of the NMOS work function layer; and depositing a fill layer. Depositing a high-k dielectric cap layer, depositing a PMOS work function layer or depositing a NMOS work function cap layer may comprise atomic layer deposition of TiN, TiSiN, or TiAlN. Either PMOS or NMOS may be deposited first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinliang Lu, Seshadri Ganguli, Atif Noori, Maitreyee Mahajani, Shih Chung Chen, Yu Lei, Xinyu Fu, Wei Tang, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Patent number: 8980703
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. A substrate having a cell area and a periphery area is provided. A stacked structure including a gate oxide layer, a floating gate and a first spacer is formed on the substrate in the cell area and a resistor is formed on the substrate in the periphery area. At least two doped regions are formed in the substrate beside the stacked structure. A dielectric material layer and a conductive material layer are sequentially formed on the substrate. A patterned photoresist layer is formed on the substrate to cover the stacked structure and a portion of the resistor. The dielectric material layer and the conductive material layer not covered by the patterned photoresist layer are removed, so as to form an inter-gate dielectric layer and a control gate on the stacked structure, and simultaneously form a salicide block layer on the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Maxchip Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Chiu Hsu, Tung-Ming Lai, Kai-An Hsueh, Ming-De Huang