Combined With Formation Of Ohmic Contact To Semiconductor Region Patents (Class 438/586)
  • Publication number: 20140227868
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate pattern and a dummy gate pattern on a first active area and a second active area of a substrate, respectively, the first gate pattern including a first gate insulating layer and a silicon gate electrode, removing the dummy gate pattern to expose a surface of the substrate in the second active area, forming a second gate pattern including a second gate insulating layer and a metal gate electrode on the exposed surface of the substrate, the first gate insulating layer having a thickness larger than a thickness of the second gate insulating layer, and forming a gate silicide on the silicon gate electrode after forming the second gate pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JU-YOUN KIM, HYUN-MIN CHOI, SUNG-KEE HAN, JE-DON KIM
  • Patent number: 8802552
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a MOSFET includes the steps of: forming a gate oxide film on an active layer, forming a gate electrode on the gate oxide film, forming a source contact electrode in ohmic contact with the active layer, and forming an interlayer insulating film made of silicon dioxide so as to cover the gate electrode after the source contact electrode is formed. The step of forming a source contact electrode includes the steps of forming a metal layer including aluminum so as to be in contact with the active layer, and alloying the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Horii, Takeyoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8802523
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices and fabrication methods. An exemplary CMOS device can be formed by providing a first dummy gate over a semiconductor substrate in a first region, providing a second dummy gate over the semiconductor substrate in a second region, and amorphizing a surface portion of the first dummy gate to form a first amorphous silicon layer. The first amorphous silicon layer can be used to protect the first dummy gate in the first region, when a second opening is formed in the second region by wet etching at least the second dummy gate. A second metal gate can then be formed in the second opening, followed by removing the first amorphous silicon layer and at least the first dummy gate to form a first opening in the first region. A first metal gate can be formed in the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp
    Inventor: Zhongshan Hong
  • Patent number: 8803208
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device comprising: a substrate; a gate, which is formed on the substrate; a source and a drain, which are located on opposite sides of the gate, respectively; a contact, which contacts with the source and/or the drain, wherein the contact has an enlarged end at an end which is in contact with the source and/or the drain. In the present invention, since the contact area of the contact is increased on the interface in contact with the source/the drain, the contact resistance can be reduced, and thus the performances of the semiconductor device can be guaranteed/improved. The present invention further provides a method of fabricating the semiconductor device (especially the contact therein) as previously described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Huilong Zhu, Haizhou Yin, Zhijiong Luo
  • Publication number: 20140220769
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit comprises forming a gate of a transistor over a substrate. The method further comprises forming a connecting line over the substrate, the connecting line being coupled with an active area of the transistor. The method also comprises forming a dielectric layer surrounding the gate and the connecting line. The method additionally comprises forming an etch stop layer over the dielectric layer and covering a portion of a top surface of the connecting line. The method further comprises forming a via structure comprising a via in physical contact with a top surface of the gate and another portion of the top surface of the connecting line. The method also comprises forming a metallic line structure being coupled with the via structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chii-Ping CHEN, Dian-Hau CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140220759
    Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating an integrated circuit that includes gate to active contacts. One method includes forming a dummy gate structure including a dummy gate electrode having sidewalls and overlying a semiconductor substrate and first and second sidewall spacers on the sidewalls of the dummy gate electrode. The method includes removing the dummy gate electrode to form a trench bounded by the first and second sidewall spacers. The method removes an upper portion of the first sidewall spacer and deposits a layer of metal in the trench and over a remaining portion of the first sidewall spacer to form a gate electrode and an interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Thilo Scheiper, Stefan Flachowsky, Andy Wei
  • Publication number: 20140217517
    Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one example, an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate. A first fin and a second fin are adjacent to each other extending from the semiconductor substrate. The first fin has a first upper section and the second fin has a second upper section. A first epi-portion overlies the first upper section and a second epi-portion overlies the second upper section. A first silicide layer overlies the first epi-portion and a second silicide layer overlies the second epi-portion. The first and second silicide layers are spaced apart from each other to define a lateral gap. A dielectric spacer is formed of a dielectric material and spans the lateral gap. A contact-forming material overlies the dielectric spacer and portions of the first and second silicide layers that are laterally above the dielectric spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Ruilong Xie, Ali Khakifirooz, Kangguo Cheng
  • Patent number: 8796099
    Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor structures having channel regions strained by encapsulated silicide formation. Embodiments include forming a transistor, depositing an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer above the transistor, forming contact recesses exposing portions of source/drain regions of the transistor, forming metal-rich silicide layers on the exposed portions of the source/drain regions, forming metal contacts in the contact recesses above the metal-rich silicide layers, and converting the metal-rich silicide layer to a silicon-rich silicide layer. In other embodiments, the metal-rich silicide layers are formed on the source/drain regions prior to ILD layer deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emre Alptekin, Ahmet S. Ozcan, Viraj Y. Sardesai, Cung D. Tran
  • Patent number: 8791016
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are through silicon vias (TSVs) and contacts formed on a semiconductor material, methods of manufacturing, and design structures. The method includes forming a contact hole in a dielectric material formed on a substrate. The method further includes forming a via in the substrate and through the dielectric material. The method further includes lining the contact hole and the dielectric material with a metal liner using a deposition technique that will avoid formation of the liner in the via formed in the substrate. The method further includes filling the contact hole and the via with a metal such that the metal is formed on the liner in the contact hole and directly on the substrate in the via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Cameron E. Luce, Daniel S. Vanslette, Bucknell C. Webb
  • Publication number: 20140206113
    Abstract: A method performed using a resistive device, where the resistive device includes a substrate with an active region separated from a gate electrode by a dielectric and electrical contacts along a longest dimension of the gate electrode, the method comprising, performing one or more processes to form the resistive device, measuring a resistance between the electrical contacts, and correlating the measured resistance with a variation in one or more of the processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: An-Chun Tu, Chen-Ming Huang, Chih-Jen Wu, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20140197468
    Abstract: One method disclosed includes forming a final gate structure in a gate cavity that is laterally defined by sidewall spacers, removing a portion of the sidewall spacers to define recessed sidewall spacers, removing a portion of the final gate structure to define a recessed final gate structure and forming an etch stop on the recessed sidewall spacers and the recessed final gate structure. A transistor device disclosed herein includes a final gate structure that has an upper surface positioned at a first height level above a surface of a substrate, sidewall spacers positioned adjacent the final gate structure, the sidewall spacers having an upper surface that is positioned at a second, greater height level above the substrate, an etch stop layer formed on the upper surfaces of the sidewall spacers and the final gate structure, and a conductive contact that is conductively coupled to a contact region of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Ruilong Xie, Xiuyu Cai
  • Patent number: 8778757
    Abstract: In methods of manufacturing a DRAM device, a buried-type gate is formed in a substrate. A capping insulating layer pattern is formed on the buried-type gate. A conductive layer pattern filling up a gap between portions of the capping insulating layer pattern, and an insulating interlayer covering the conductive layer pattern and the capping insulating layer pattern are formed. The insulating interlayer, the conductive layer pattern, the capping insulating layer pattern and an upper portion of the substrate are etched to form an opening, and a first pad electrode making contact with a first pad region. A spacer is formed on a sidewall of the opening corresponding to a second pad region. A second pad electrode is formed in the opening. A bit line electrically connected with the second pad electrode and a capacitor electrically connected with the first pad electrode are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Chul Park, Sang-sup Jeong
  • Patent number: 8778789
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits having low resistance metal gate structures are provided. One method includes forming a metal gate stack in a FET trench formed in a FET region. The metal gate stack is etched to form a recessed metal gate stack and a recess. The recess is defined by sidewalls in the FET region and is disposed above the recessed metal gate stack. A liner is formed overlying the sidewalls and the recessed metal gate stack and defines an inner cavity in the recess. A copper layer is formed overlying the liner and at least partially fills the inner cavity. The copper layer is etched to expose an upper portion of the liner while leaving a copper portion disposed in a bottom portion of the inner cavity. Copper is electrolessly deposited on the copper portion to fill a remaining portion of the inner cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Besser, Sean X. Lin, Valli Arunachalam
  • Publication number: 20140191339
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of first doped regions and second doped regions; and forming a first dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming a first gate dielectric layer and a second gate dielectric layer; and forming a first metal gate and a second metal gate on the first gate dielectric layer and the second gate dielectric layer, respectively. Further, the method includes forming a third dielectric layer on the second metal gate; and forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer. Further, the method also includes forming at least one opening exposing at least one first metal gate and one first doped region; and forming a contact layer contacting with the first metal gate and the first doped region to be used as a share contact structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: ZHONGSHAN HONG
  • Publication number: 20140191331
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transistor comprising: providing a substrate, a region of semiconductive material supported by the substrate, and a region of electrically conductive material supported by the region of semiconductive material; forming at least one layer of resist material over said regions to form a covering of resist material over said regions; forming a depression in a surface of the covering of resist material, said depression extending over a first portion of said region of conductive material, said first portion separating a second portion of the conductive region from a third portion of the conductive region; removing resist material located under said depression so as to form a window, through said covering, exposing said first portion of the electrically conductive region; removing said first portion to expose a connecting portion of the region of semiconductive material, said connecting portion connecting the second portion to the third portion of the conductive region; forming a layer of
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Pragmatic Printing Ltd
    Inventors: Richard Price, Scott White
  • Patent number: 8772146
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first gate pattern and a dummy gate pattern on a first active area and a second active area of a substrate, respectively, the first gate pattern including a first gate insulating layer and a silicon gate electrode, removing the dummy gate pattern to expose a surface of the substrate in the second active area, forming a second gate pattern including a second gate insulating layer and a metal gate electrode on the exposed surface of the substrate, the first gate insulating layer having a thickness larger than a thickness of the second gate insulating layer, and forming a gate silicide on the silicon gate electrode after forming the second gate pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-Youn Kim, Hyun-Min Choi, Sung-Kee Han, Je-Don Kim
  • Patent number: 8772139
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a MOSFET includes the steps of preparing a silicon carbide substrate, forming an active layer on the silicon carbide substrate, forming a gate oxide film on the active layer, forming a gate electrode on the gate oxide film, forming a source contact electrode on the active layer, and forming a source interconnection on the source contact electrode. The step of forming the source interconnection includes the steps of forming a conductor film on the source contact electrode and processing the conductor film by etching the conductor film with reactive ion etching. Then, the method of manufacturing a MOSFET further includes the step of performing annealing of heating the silicon carbide substrate to a temperature not lower than 50° C. after the step of processing the conductor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hiyoshi, Takeyoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8772148
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a metal gate transistor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming at least one dummy gate on the dielectric layer; and forming a first sidewall spacer around the dummy gate. Further, the method includes forming a gate dielectric layer with sidewalls protruding from sidewalls of the dummy gate and vertical to the semiconductor substrate by etching the dielectric layer using the first sidewall spacer and the dummy gate as an etching mask; and removing the dummy gate to form a trench. Further, the method also includes forming a metal gate in the trench; and forming a source region and a drain region in the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Xinpeng Wang, Qiyang He
  • Publication number: 20140187029
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a plurality of memory cell strings; coupling an interconnection to at least two of the memory cell strings; and coupling a bitline to the interconnection. The interconnection includes a body extending along a first direction and a protrusion protruding from the body along a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: KWANG SOO SEOL, SEONG SOON CHO, BYUNGJOO GO, HONGSOO KIM
  • Patent number: 8765585
    Abstract: Each gate structure formed on the substrate includes a gate dielectric, a gate conductor, a first etch stop layer, and a gate cap dielectric. A second etch stop layer is formed over the gate structures, gate spacers, and source and drain regions. A first contact-level dielectric layer and a second contact-level dielectric layer are formed over the second etch stop layer. Gate contact via holes extending at least to the top surface of the gate cap dielectrics are formed. Source/drain contact via holes extending to the interface between the first and second contact-level dielectric layers are subsequently formed. The various contact via holes are vertically extended by simultaneously etching exposed gate cap dielectrics and exposed portions of the first contact-level dielectric layer, then by simultaneously etching the first and second etch stop layers. Source/drain contact vias self-aligned to the outer surfaces gate spacers are thereby formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Su C. Fan, David V. Horak, Charles W. Koburger, III, Shom Ponoth, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 8765586
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming metal silicide regions on semiconductor devices. In one example, the method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure above a semiconducting substrate, performing a selective metal silicide formation process to form metal silicide regions in source/drain regions formed in or above the substrate, after forming the metal silicide regions, removing the sacrificial gate structure to define a gate opening and forming a replacement gate structure in the gate opening, the replacement gate structure comprised of at least one metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Clemens Fitz, Peter Baars, Markus Lenski
  • Publication number: 20140179092
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a buried gate electrode in a semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is formed over the buried gate electrode and is etched to form a contact hole exposing the semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial spacer is formed on sidewalls of the insulating layer defining the contact hole. A polysilicon layer pattern is formed in the contact hole. The sacrificial spacer is removed to form an air gap around the polysilicon layer pattern. A thermal process is performed to remove a seam existing in the polysilicon layer pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: SK hynix Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140175529
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a floating gate formed over a substrate; a contact plug formed on a first side of the floating gate and disposed parallel to the floating gate with a gap defined therebetween; and a spacer formed on a sidewall of the floating gate and filling the gap, wherein the contact plug and the floating gate have a sufficiently large overlapping area to enable the contact plug to operate as a control gate for the floating gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Kun PARK
  • Publication number: 20140175526
    Abstract: A semiconductor device where at least one of a portion of the first metal layer that extends from the source contact, a portion of the second metal layer that extends from the source contact, a portion of the first metal layer that extends from the drain contact, and a portion of the second metal layer that extends from the drain contact is configured to lie above a portion of or even all of the gate. Methods of fabricating and using such a semiconductor device are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo Hung Hsieh, Meng Shien Hsieh, Yin Fu Huang, Miao Chun Chung
  • Patent number: 8759208
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing contact holes in a CMOS device by using a gate-last process, comprising: forming high-K dielectrics/metal gates (HKMG) of a first type MOS; forming and metalizing lower contact holes of the source/drain of a first type MOS and a second type MOS as well as forming HKMG of a second type MOS simultaneously, wherein the lower contact holes of the source/drain are filled with the same material as that used by the metal gate of the second type MOS; forming and metalizing contact holes of metal gates of a first type MOS and a second type MOS as well as upper contact holes of the source/drain, wherein the upper contact holes of the source/drain are aligned with the lower contact holes of the source/drain. The method reduces the difficulty of contact hole etching and metal deposition, simplifies the process steps, and increases the reliability of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventor: Jiang Yan
  • Publication number: 20140170843
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a split gate device, methods for fabricating a split gate device, and integrated methods for fabricating a split gate device and a periphery device. In an embodiment, the split gate device is a charge trapping split gate device, which includes a charge trapping layer. In another embodiment, the split gate device is a non-volatile memory cell, which can be formed according to embodiments as standalone or embedded with a periphery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Chun CHEN, Shenqing FANG, Unsoon KIM, Mark RAMSBEY, Kuo Tung CHANG, Sameer HADDAD
  • Publication number: 20140167121
    Abstract: A device and methods for forming the device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate. A gate having a gate electrode and sidewall spacers are formed adjacent to sidewalls of the gate. A height HG of the gate is lower than a height HS of the sidewall spacers. A metal or metal alloy layer is deposited over the spacers, gate and the substrate. The substrate is processed to form metal silicide contact at least over the gate electrode. A top surface of the metal silicide contact over the gate electrode is about coplanar with a top of the sidewall spacer, and the difference between the height of the gate and spacers prevent formation of metal silicide filaments on top of the sidewall spacers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Kwee Liang YEO, Chim Seng SEET, Zheng ZOU, Alex SEE
  • Publication number: 20140169074
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with memory cells are provided. A memory cell may include first and second cross-coupled inverting circuits configured to store a single data bit. The first inverting circuit may have an output serving as a first data storage node for the memory cell, whereas the second inverting circuit may have an output serving as a second data storage node for the memory cell. Access transistors may be coupled between the first and second data storage nodes and corresponding data lines. Each of the first and second inverting circuit may have a pull-down transistor and at least two pull-up transistors stacked in series. The pull-down transistors may have body terminals that are reverse biased to help reduce leakage current through the first and second inverting circuits. The memory cell may be formed using a narrower two-gate configuration or a wider four-gate configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Altera Corporation
  • Patent number: 8753966
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided, the method includes forming a plug conductive layer over an entire surface of a substrate, etching the plug conductive layer to form landing plugs, etching the substrate between the landing plugs to form a trench, forming a gate insulation layer over a surface of the trench and forming a buried gate partially filling the trench over the gate insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jum-Yong Park, Jong-Han Shin
  • Patent number: 8754397
    Abstract: The carbon nanotube-based electronic and photonic devices are disclosed. The devices are united by the same technology as well as similar elements for their fabrication. The devices consist of the vertically grown semiconductor nanotube having two Schottky barriers at the nanotube ends and one Schottky barrier at the middle of the nanotube. Depending on the Schottky barrier heights and bias arrangements, the disclosed devices can operate either as transistors, CNT MESFET and CNT Hot Electron Transistor, or as a CNT Photon Emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Nano-Electronic and Photonic Devices and Circuits, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander Kastalsky
  • Patent number: 8753965
    Abstract: A method of forming a transistor structure is provided. The method includes forming a graphene layer on an insulating layer; forming a stack of a first metal portion and a second metal portion over the graphene layer, wherein sidewalls of the first metal portion are vertically coincident with sidewalls of the second metal portion; and laterally offsetting the sidewalls of the first metal portion relative to the sidewalls of the second metal portion by a lateral distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Phaedon Avouris, Damon B. Farmer, Yu-Ming Lin, Yu Zhu
  • Patent number: 8753964
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which includes fins of a semiconductor material formed on a semiconductor substrate and then a gate electrode formed over and in contact with the fins. An insulator layer is deposited over the gate electrode and the fins. A trench opening is then etched in the insulator layer. The trench opening exposes the fins and extends between the fins. The fins are then silicided through the trench opening. Then, the trench opening is filled with a metal in contact with the silicided fins to form a local interconnect connecting the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Huiming Bu, Dechao Guo, Wilfried E. Haensch, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Publication number: 20140162447
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a field effect transistor device includes patterning a fin on substrate, patterning a gate stack over a portion of the fin and a portion of an insulator layer arranged on the substrate, forming a protective barrier over the gate stack, a portion of the fin and a portion of the insulator layer, the protective barrier enveloping the gate stack, depositing a second insulator layer over portions of the fin and the protective barrier, performing a first etching process to selectively remove portions of the second insulator layer to define cavities that expose portions of source and drain regions of the fin without appreciably removing the protective barrier, and depositing a conductive material in the cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lisa F. Edge, Martin M. Frank, Balasubramanian S. Haran, Atsuro Inada, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Andreas Knorr, Vijay Narayanan, Vamsi K. Paruchuri, Soon-cheon Seo
  • Patent number: 8748303
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming ohmic electrodes on a source region and a drain region of a nitride semiconductor layer, forming a low-resistance layer between an uppermost surface of the nitride semiconductor layer and the ohmic electrodes by annealing the nitride semiconductor layer, removing the ohmic electrodes from at least one of the source region and the drain region after forming the low-resistance layer, and forming at least one of a source electrode and a drain electrode on the low-resistance layer, the at least one of a source electrode and a drain electrode having an edge, a distance between the edge and a gate electrode is longer than a distance between an edge of the low-resistance layer and the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20140154877
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits having low resistance metal gate structures are provided. One method includes forming a metal gate stack in a FET trench formed in a FET region. The metal gate stack is etched to form a recessed metal gate stack and a recess. The recess is defined by sidewalls in the FET region and is disposed above the recessed metal gate stack. A liner is formed overlying the sidewalls and the recessed metal gate stack and defines an inner cavity in the recess. A copper layer is formed overlying the liner and at least partially fills the inner cavity. The copper layer is etched to expose an upper portion of the liner while leaving a copper portion disposed in a bottom portion of the inner cavity. Copper is electrolessly deposited on the copper portion to fill a remaining portion of the inner cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Paul R. Besser, Sean X. Lin, Valli Arunachalam
  • Patent number: 8742494
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a groove and an active region adjacent to the groove; a buried gate electrode in the groove; and a capacitor contact including a first portion and a second portion over the first portion. The first portion is greater in horizontal dimension than the second portion. The first portion has a bottom surface that is in contact with an upper surface of the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Nan Wu
  • Patent number: 8741751
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A first contact layer of the semiconductor device is fabricated. An electrical connection is formed between a carbon nanotube and the first contact layer by electrically coupling of the carbon nanotube and a second contact layer. The first contact layer and second contact layer may be electrically coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Cao, Aaron D. Franklin, Joshua T. Smith
  • Patent number: 8741753
    Abstract: A device includes a gate stack formed over a channel in a semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes a layer of gate insulator material, a layer of gate metal overlying the layer of gate insulator material, and a layer of contact metal overlying the layer band edge gate metal. The device further includes source and drain contacts adjacent to the channel. The source and drain contacts each include a layer of the gate metal that overlies and is in direct electrical contact with a doped region of the semiconductor substrate, and a layer of contact metal that overlies the layer of gate metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kisik Choi, Christian Lavoie, Paul M. Solomon, Bin Yang, Zhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 8741752
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a dummy fill material over exposed portions of a substrate and a gate stack disposed on the substrate, removing portions of the dummy fill material to expose portions of the substrate, forming a layer of spacer material over the exposed portions of the substrate, the dummy fill material and the gate stack, removing portions of the layer of spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and the dummy fill material, depositing a dielectric layer over the exposed portions of the spacer material, the substrate, and the gate stack, removing portions of the dielectric layer to expose portions of the spacer material, removing exposed portions of the spacer material to expose portions of the substrate and define at least one cavity in the dielectric layer, and depositing a conductive material in the at least one cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Su Chen Fan, David V. Horak, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy
  • Patent number: 8735268
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor includes the following steps. Firstly, a substrate is provided. A gate structure, a first spacer, a second spacer and a source/drain structure are formed over the substrate. The second spacer includes an inner layer and an outer layer. Then, a thinning process is performed to reduce the thickness of the second spacer, thereby retaining the inner layer of the second spacer. After a stress film is formed on the inner layer of the second spacer and the source/drain structure, an annealing process is performed. Afterwards, the stress film is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Sen Lu, Wen-Han Hung, Tsai-Fu Chen, Tzyy-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 8728933
    Abstract: A method of kerf formation and treatment for solar cells and semiconductor films and a system therefor are described. A semiconductor film is backed by a first metal layer and topped by a second metal layer. A reference feature is defined on the film. An ultraviolet laser beam is aligned to the reference feature. A kerf is cut along the reference feature, using the ultraviolet laser beam. The beam cuts through the second metal layer, through the film and through the first metal layer. Cutting leaves debris deposited on walls of the kerf. The debris is cleaned off of the walls, using an acid-based solvent. In the case of solar cells, respective first terminals of the solar cells are electrically isolated by the cleaned kerf, and respective negative terminals of the solar cells are electrically isolated by the cleaned kerf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Alta Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andres, Laila Mattos, Daniel G. Patterson, Gang He
  • Patent number: 8728927
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of forming borderless contacts for semiconductor transistors. Embodiments may include providing a transistor structure including a gate, a spacer on a sidewall of the gate, a hard cap above the gate, a source/drain region adjacent to the spacer, and an interlevel dielectric layer around the gate, forming a contact hole above the source/drain region, forming a protective layer on portions of the hard cap and of the spacer exposed by the contact hole; deepening the contact hole by etching the interlevel dielectric layer while the spacer and the hard cap are protected by the protective layer, so that at least a portion of the source/drain region is exposed by the deepening of the contact hole; removing the protective layer; and forming a metal contact in the contact hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek, Raghavasimhan Sreenivasan, Charan V. Surisetty, Thomas N. Adam
  • Patent number: 8728923
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device having an ohmic electrode is disclosed. The manufacturing method includes: forming a metal thin film on a rear surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an ohmic electrode by laser annealing by irradiating the metal thin film with laser beam; and dicing the semiconductor substrate into chips by cutting at a dicing region of the semiconductor substrate. In forming the ohmic electrode, laser irradiation of the metal thin film is performed on a chip-by-chip basis while the dicing region is not being irradiated with the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Kawai, Tetsuji Kondou, Kazuhiko Sugiura, Nobuyuki Kato
  • Publication number: 20140134836
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming borderless contact for transistors. The method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure embedded in a first dielectric layer, the sacrificial gate structure including a sacrificial gate and a second dielectric layer surrounding a top and sidewalls of the sacrificial gate; removing a portion of the second dielectric layer that is above a top level of the sacrificial gate to create a first opening surrounded directly by the first dielectric layer; removing the sacrificial gate exposed by the removing of the portion of the second dielectric layer to create a second opening surrounded by a remaining portion of the second dielectric layer; filling the second opening with one or more conductive materials to form a gate of a transistor; and filling the first opening with a layer of dielectric material to form a dielectric cap of the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC., INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: BALASUBRAMANIAN PRANATHARTHIHARAN, CHARAN VEERA VENKATA SATYA SURISETTY, JUNLI WANG, CHANG SEO PARK, RUILONG XIE
  • Patent number: 8722524
    Abstract: It is provided a method for forming a semiconductor device comprising: forming a material layer which exposes dummy gates and sidewall spacers and fills spaces between two adjacent gate stacks, and the material of the material layer is the same as the material of the dummy gate; removing the dummy gates and the material layer to form recesses; filling the recesses with a conductive material, and planarizing the conductive material to expose the sidewall spacers; breaking the conductive material outside the sidewall spacers to form at least two conductors, each of the conductors being only in contact with the active region at one side outside one of the sidewall spacers, so as to form gate stack structures and first contacts. Besides, a semiconductor device is provided. The method and the semiconductor device are favorable for extending process windows in forming contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Zhijiong Luo, Haizhou Yin, Huilong Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140124873
    Abstract: A method including forming a dummy gate on a substrate, wherein the dummy gate includes an oxide, forming a pair of dielectric spacers on opposite sides of the dummy gate, and forming an inter-gate region above the substrate and in contact with at least one of the pair of dielectric spacers, the inter-gate region comprising a protective layer on top of a first oxide layer, wherein the protective layer comprises a material resistant to etching techniques designed to remove oxide. The method may further include removing the dummy gate to leave an opening, and forming a gate within the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hemanth Jagannathan, Sanjay Mehta
  • Publication number: 20140124859
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure, which comprises: providing an SOI substrate, forming a gate structure on the SOI substrate; etching an SOI layer of the SOI substrate and a BOX layer of the SOI substrate on both sides of the gate structure to form trenches, the trenches exposing the BOX layer and extending partly into the BOX layer; forming sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the trenches; forming inside the trenches a metal layer covering the sidewall spacers, wherein the metal layer is in contact with the SOI layer which is under the gate structure. Accordingly, the present invention further provides a semiconductor structure formed according to aforesaid method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicants: BEIJING NMC CO., LTD., INSTITUTE OF MICROELECTRONICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Haizhou Yin, Huilong Zhu, Zhijiong Luo
  • Publication number: 20140127891
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing pixel structure is provided. A patterned conductor layer including a gate, a scan line and a conductor pattern is formed on a substrate. A gate insulating layer, a metal oxide material layer and an etching stop material layer are formed on the substrate. Using the patterned conductor layer as mask, a patterned photoresist layer is formed on the etching stop material layer through a back exposure process. Using the patterned photoresist layer as mask, a metal oxide channel layer and an etching stop layer are formed above the gate. A source and a drain are formed on the etching stop layer. A passivation layer is formed on the substrate. A halftone mask is used to form a photosensitive layer on the passivation layer. The metal oxide material layer and the etching stop material layer on the scan line and the conductor pattern are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Hannstar Display Corporation
    Inventors: Po-Hsiao Chen, Chien-Hao Wu, Rong-Bing Wu, Chang-Ming Chao
  • Patent number: 8716116
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a memory device having buried access lines (e.g., wordlines) and buried data/sense lines (e.g., digitlines) disposed below vertical cell contacts. The buried wordlines may be formed trenches in a substrate extending in a first direction, and the buried digitlines may be formed from trenches in a substrate extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The buried digitlines may be coupled to a silicon sidewall by a digitline contact disposed between the digitlines and the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Parekh, Ceredig Roberts, Thy Tran, Jim Jozwiak, David Hwang
  • Patent number: 8716151
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating semiconductor devices. In the method provided by the present invention, by filling with diblock copolymer a recess of an interlayer dielectric layer naturally formed between two gate lines and then performing a self-assembly process of the diblock copolymer, a small-sized contact hole precisely aligned with an doped area can be formed, and thus misalignment between the contact hole and the doped area can be eliminated or alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventors: Haiyang Zhang, Dongjiang Wang