Specified Crystallographic Orientation Patents (Class 438/187)
  • Patent number: 10886284
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having transistors and anti-fuses integrated thereon includes a transistor region having a defect free monocrystalline semiconductor layer and a device channel for a transistor. The device also has an anti-fuse region including a defective semiconductor layer formed on an oxide of a portion of the surface of an epitaxial semiconductor layer over which the transistor is formed, the oxide having a thickness extending into the epitaxial semiconductor layer. It also has gate structures formed in the transistor region and in the anti-fuse region, where the defective semiconductor layer is programmable by an applied field on the gate structures in the anti-fuse region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Chengwen Pei, Geng Wang
  • Patent number: 9917195
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin patterned in a substrate; a gate disposed over and substantially perpendicular to the fin; a pair of epitaxial contacts including a III-V material over the fin and on opposing sides of the gate; and a channel region between the pair of epitaxial contacts under the gate including an undoped III-V material between doped III-V materials, the doped III-V materials including a dopant in an amount in a range from about 1e18 to about 1e20 atoms/cm3 and contacting the epitaxial contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS ,INC.
    Inventors: Xiuyu Cai, Qing Liu, Kejia Wang, Ruilong Xie, Chun-Chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9349829
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transistor device includes forming a semiconductor heterostructure including a plurality of alternating two-dimensional electron gasses (2DEGs) and two-dimensional hole gasses (2DHGs) extending in parallel at different depths in the semiconductor heterostructure, the 2DEGs forming current channels of the transistor device, forming a source extending into the semiconductor heterostructure in contact with the 2DEGs at a first end of the current channels, forming a drain extending into the semiconductor heterostructure in contact with the 2DEGs at an opposing second end of the current channels, and forming a plurality of spaced apart gate structures extending into the semiconductor heterostructure and including an electrically conductive material separated from the surrounding semiconductor heterostructure by an insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Clemens Ostermaier, Gerhard Prechtl, Oliver Haeberlen, Hans Peter Felsl
  • Patent number: 9209318
    Abstract: A vertical junction field effect transistor (JFET) includes a drain, a source, a gate, a drift region, and a body diode. The source, gate, drift region, and body diode are all disposed in the same compound semiconductor epitaxial layer. The drain is vertically spaced apart from the source and the gate by the drift region. The body diode is connected between the drain and the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Romain Esteve, Cédric Ouvrard
  • Patent number: 9190411
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide device isolation in a complimentary metal-oxide fin field effect transistor. Specifically, a semiconductor device is formed with a retrograde doped layer over a substrate to minimize a source to drain punch-through leakage. A set of high mobility channel fins is formed over the retrograde doped layer, each of the set of high mobility channel fins comprising a high mobility channel material (e.g., silicon or silicon-germanium). The retrograde doped layer may be formed using an in situ doping process or a counter dopant retrograde implant. The device may further include a carbon liner positioned between the retrograde doped layer and the set of high mobility channel fins to prevent carrier spill-out to the high mobility channel fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Ajey Poovannummoottil Jacob, Steven John Bentley, Murat Kerem Akarvardar, Jody Alan Fronheiser, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Ali Khakifirooz, Toshiharu Nagumo
  • Patent number: 9130058
    Abstract: A device includes a plurality of intra-device insulation regions having a first height; and a plurality of semiconductor fins horizontally spaced apart from each other by the plurality of intra-device insulation regions. A portion of the plurality of semiconductor fins is disposed above the plurality of intra-device insulation regions. The device further includes a first inter-device insulation region and a second inter-device insulation region with the plurality of semiconductor fins disposed therebetween. The first and the second inter-device insulation regions have a second height greater than the first height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Ping Chen, Hui-Min Lin, Ming-Jie Huang, Tung Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 9087911
    Abstract: A shielded junction field effect transistor (JFET) is described having gate trenches and shield trenches, the shield trenches being deeper and narrower than the gate trenches. The gate trenches may be fully aligned, partially aligned, or separated from the shield trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: United Silicon Carbide, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Alexandrov, Anup Bhalla
  • Patent number: 9053930
    Abstract: Various methods to integrate a Group III nitride material on a silicon material are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a structure including a (100) silicon layer, a (111) silicon layer located on an uppermost surface of the (100) silicon layer, a Group III nitride material layer located on an uppermost surface of the (111) silicon layer, and a blanket layer of dielectric material located on an uppermost surface of the Group III nitride material layer. Next, an opening is formed through the blanket layer of dielectric material, the Group III nitride material layer, the (111) Si layer and within a portion of the (100) silicon layer. A dielectric spacer is then formed within the opening. An epitaxial semiconductor material is then formed on an exposed surface of the (100) silicon layer within the opening and thereafter planarization is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Can Bayram, Cheng-Wei Cheng, Tak H. Ning, Devendra K. Sadana, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Patent number: 8963219
    Abstract: A tunnel field effect transistor and a method of making the same. The transistor includes a semiconductor substrate. The transistor also includes a gate located on a major surface of the substrate. The transistor further includes a drain of a first conductivity type. The transistor also includes a source of a second conductivity type extending beneath the gate. The source is separated from the gate by a channel region and a gate dielectric. The transistor is operable to allow charge carrier tunnelling from an inversion layer through an upper surface of the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Gilberto Curatola, Dusan Golubovic, Johannes Josephus Theodorus Marinus Donkers, Guillaume Boccardi, Hans Mertens
  • Patent number: 8952462
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first gate dielectric layer that is disposed over the substrate. The first gate dielectric layer includes a first material. The first gate dielectric layer has a first thickness that is less than a threshold thickness at which a portion of the first material of the first gate dielectric layer begins to crystallize. The semiconductor device also includes a second gate dielectric layer that is disposed over the first gate dielectric layer. The second gate dielectric layer includes a second material that is different from the first material. The second gate dielectric layer has a second thickness that is less than a threshold thickness at which a portion of the second material of the second gate dielectric layer begins to crystallize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian-Hao Chen, Da-Yuan Lee, Kuang-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 8841180
    Abstract: A method to form a strain-inducing semiconductor region is described. In one embodiment, formation of a strain-inducing semiconductor region laterally adjacent to a crystalline substrate results in a uniaxial strain imparted to the crystalline substrate, providing a strained crystalline substrate. In another embodiment, a semiconductor region with a crystalline lattice of one or more species of charge-neutral lattice-forming atoms imparts a strain to a crystalline substrate, wherein the lattice constant of the semiconductor region is different from that of the crystalline substrate, and wherein all species of charge-neutral lattice-forming atoms of the semiconductor region are contained in the crystalline substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Suman Datta, Jack T. Kavalieros, Been-Yih Jin
  • Patent number: 8816430
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate electrode, source/drain regions, and a gate insulating film. The substrate is made of monocrystalline silicon, an upper surface of the substrate is a (100) plane, and a trench is made in the upper surface. The gate electrode is provided in at least an interior of the trench. The source/drain regions are formed in regions of the substrate having the trench interposed. The gate insulating film is provided between the substrate and the gate electrode. The trench includes a bottom surface made of a (100) plane, a pair of oblique surfaces made of (111) planes contacting the bottom surface, and a pair of side surfaces made of (110) planes contacting the oblique surfaces. The source/drain regions are in contact with the side and oblique surfaces and are apart from a central portion of the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 8686425
    Abstract: A larger substrate can be used, and a transistor having a desirably high field-effect mobility can be manufactured through formation of an oxide semiconductor layer having a high degree of crystallinity, whereby a large-sized display device, a high-performance semiconductor device, or the like can be put into practical use. A first multi-component oxide semiconductor layer is formed over a substrate and a single-component oxide semiconductor layer is formed thereover; then, crystal growth is carried out from a surface to an inside by performing heat treatment at 500° C. to 1000° C. inclusive, preferably 550° C. to 750° C. inclusive so that a first multi-component oxide semiconductor layer including single crystal regions and a single-component oxide semiconductor layer including single crystal regions are formed; and a second multi-component oxide semiconductor layer including single crystal regions is stacked over the single-component oxide semiconductor layer including single crystal regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Takuya Hirohashi, Masahiro Takahashi, Takashi Shimazu
  • Patent number: 8673709
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a FinFET over the semiconductor substrate. The FinFET includes a semiconductor fin; a gate dielectric on a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin; a gate electrode on the gate dielectric; and a source/drain region at an end of the semiconductor fin. A first pair of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions includes portions directly underlying portions of the source/drain regions, wherein the first pair of STI regions is separated by, and adjoining a semiconductor strip. The first pair of STI regions further has first top surfaces. A second pair of STI regions comprises portions directly underlying the gate electrode, wherein the second pair of STI regions is separated from each other by, and adjoining, the semiconductor strip. The second pair of STI regions has second top surfaces higher than the first top surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Lin Lee, Chih Chieh Yeh, Chang-Yun Chang, Feng Yuan
  • Patent number: 8653630
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a static random access memory (SRAM) cell. The SRAM cell includes a plurality of fin active regions formed on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the plurality of fin active regions include a pair adjacent fin active regions having a first spacing and a fin active region having a second spacing from adjacent fin active regions, the second spacing being greater than the first spacing; a plurality of fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) formed on the plurality of fin active regions, wherein the plurality of FinFETs are configured to a first and second inverters cross-coupled for data storage and at least one port for data access; a first contact disposed between the first and second the fin active regions, electrically contacting both of the first and second the fin active regions; and a second contact disposed on and electrically contacting the third fin active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jhon Jhy Liaw, Jeng-Jung Shen
  • Patent number: 8592289
    Abstract: A gallium nitride based semiconductor device is provided which includes a gallium nitride based semiconductor film with a flat c-plane surface provided on a gallium oxide wafer. A light emitting diode LED includes a gallium oxide support base 32 having a primary surface 32a of monoclinic gallium oxide, and a laminate structure 33 of Group III nitride. A semiconductor mesa of the laminate structure 33 includes a low-temperature GaN buffer layer 35, an n-type GaN layer 37, an active layer 39 of a quantum well structure, and a p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer 37. The p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer 37 includes, for example, a p-type AlGaN electron block layer and a p-type GaN contact layer. The primary surface 32a of the gallium oxide support base 32 is inclined at an angle of not less than 2 degrees and not more than 4 degrees relative to a (100) plane of monoclinic gallium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., KOHA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Hashimoto, Katsushi Akita, Shinsuke Fujiwara, Hideaki Nakahata, Kensaku Motoki
  • Patent number: 8592946
    Abstract: An anisotropic wet etch of a semiconductor layer generates facets joined by a ridge running along the center of a pattern in a dielectric hardmask layer on the semiconductor layer. The dielectric hardmask layer is removed and a conformal masking material layer is deposited. Angled ion implantation of Ge, B, Ga, In, As, P, Sb, or inert atoms is performed parallel to each of the two facets joined by the ridge causing damage to implanted portions of the masking material layer, which are removed selective to undamaged portions of the masking material layer along the ridge and having a constant width. The semiconductor layer and a dielectric oxide layer underneath are etched selective to the remaining portions of the dielectric nitride. Employing remaining portions of the dielectric oxide layer as an etch mask, the gate conductor layer is patterned to form gate conductor lines having a constant width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Huilong Zhu
  • Patent number: 8551846
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a channel region, forming a gate electrode structure on the channel region of the semiconductor substrate, forming a first trench in the semiconductor substrate, and forming a second trench in the semiconductor device. The first trench may include a first tip that protrudes toward the channel. The second trench may be an enlargement of the first trench and may include a second tip that also protrudes toward the channel region. In some examples, the second tip may protrude further towards the channel region than the first tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Hyuk Kim, Dongsuk Shin, Myungsun Kim, Hoi Sung Chung
  • Patent number: 8524552
    Abstract: In general, in a semiconductor active element such as a normally-off JFET based on SiC in which an impurity diffusion speed is significantly lower than in silicon, gate regions are formed through ion implantation into the side walls of trenches formed in source regions. However, to ensure the performance of the JFET, it is necessary to control the area between the gate regions thereof with high precision. Besides, there is such a problem that, since a heavily doped PN junction is formed by forming the gate regions in the source regions, an increase in junction current cannot be avoided. The present invention provides a normally-off power JFET and a manufacturing method thereof and forms the gate regions according to a multi-epitaxial method which repeats a process including epitaxial growth, ion implantation, and activation annealing a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Arai, Yasuaki Kagotoshi, Nobuo Machida, Natsuki Yokoyama, Haruka Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8508682
    Abstract: The present invention provides a simplifying method for a peeling process as well as peeling and transcribing to a large-size substrate uniformly. A feature of the present invention is to peel a first adhesive and to cure a second adhesive at the same time in a peeling process, thereby to simplify a manufacturing process. In addition, the present invention is to devise the timing of transcribing a peel-off layer in which up to an electrode of a semiconductor are formed to a predetermined substrate. In particular, a feature is that peeling is performed by using a pressure difference in the case that peeling is performed with a state in which plural semiconductor elements are formed on a large-size substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Toru Takayama, Junya Maruyama, Yuugo Goto, Yumiko Ohno
  • Patent number: 8450165
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having tipless epitaxial source/drain regions and a method for its formation are described. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a gate stack on a substrate. The gate stack is comprised of a gate electrode above a gate dielectric layer and is above a channel region in the substrate. The semiconductor device also comprises a pair of source/drain regions in the substrate on either side of the channel region. The pair of source/drain regions is in direct contact with the gate dielectric layer and the lattice constant of the pair of source/drain regions is different than the lattice constant of the channel region. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device is formed by using a dielectric gate stack placeholder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Mark T. Bohr
  • Patent number: 8426261
    Abstract: A method for preparing a multilayer substrate includes the step of deposing an epitaxial ?-Al2O3 Miller index (001) layer on a Si Miller index (001) substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.A., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Centrale de Lyon
    Inventors: Clément Merckling, Mario El-Kazzi, Guillaume Saint-Girons, Guy Hollinger
  • Patent number: 8421059
    Abstract: A method to form a strain-inducing semiconductor region is described. In one embodiment, formation of a strain-inducing semiconductor region laterally adjacent to a crystalline substrate results in a uniaxial strain imparted to the crystalline substrate, providing a strained crystalline substrate. In another embodiment, a semiconductor region with a crystalline lattice of one or more species of charge-neutral lattice-forming atoms imparts a strain to a crystalline substrate, wherein the lattice constant of the semiconductor region is different from that of the crystalline substrate, and wherein all species of charge-neutral lattice-forming atoms of the semiconductor region are contained in the crystalline substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Suman Datta, Jack T. Kavalieros, Been-Yih Jin
  • Publication number: 20120025170
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises an active layer above a first confinement layer. The active layer comprises a layer of ?-Sn less than 20 nm thick. The first confinement layer is formed of material with a wider band gap than ?-Sn, wherein the band gap offset between ?-Sn and this material allows confinement of charge carriers in the active layer so that the active layer acts as a quantum well. A similar second confinement layer may be formed over the active layer. This semiconductor device may be a p-FET. A method of fabricating such a semiconductor device is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventor: David John Wallis
  • Patent number: 8093110
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) is disclosed. The method is achieved by forming and defining a source and a drain of a thin film transistor through two lithographic processes cycles so that the channel length (L) of the thin film transistor can be reduced to 1.5 to 4.0 ?m. Besides, the Ion current of the thin film transistor is increased as the channel length (L) is decreased. Therefore, the component area of the thin film transistor is decreased as the channel width (W) is decreased. Thus, the aperture ratio of the TFT-LCD can be increased due to the decreased component area of the thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chang-Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 8016941
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for crystallizing a semiconductor that includes a first layer having a first crystal lattice orientation and a second layer having a second crystal lattice orientation, comprising amorphizing at least a portion of the second layer, applying a stress to the second layer and heating the second layer above a recrystallization temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthias Hierlemann, Ja-Hum Ku
  • Patent number: 7999246
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first resistance change element having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion having a first space in a first direction, and a second resistance change element formed to have a distance to the first resistance change element in the first direction, and having a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion and the fourth portion having a second space in the first direction, and the first space and the second space being shorter than the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masayoshi Iwayama
  • Patent number: 7986029
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure having a hybrid crystal orientation is provided. The semiconductor structure includes an insulator layer, e.g., a buried oxide (BOX), on a first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer on the buried oxide, wherein the first and second semiconductor layers have a first and a second crystal orientation, respectively. A first region of the second semiconductor layer is replaced with an epitaxially grown layer of the first semiconductor layer, thereby providing a substrate having a first region with a first crystal orientation and a second region with a second crystal orientation. An isolation structure is formed to isolate the first and second regions. Thereafter, NMOS and PMOS transistors may be formed on the substrate in the region having the crystal orientation that is the most appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiang-Ming Chuang, Kuang-Hsin Chen, I-Lu Wu
  • Patent number: 7977169
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor thin film layer primarily including zinc oxide having at least one orientation other than (002) orientation. The zinc oxide may have a mixed orientation including (002) orientation and (101) orientation. Alternatively, the zinc oxide may have a mixed orientation including (100) orientation and (101) orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignees: Kochi Industrial Promotion Center, Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hirao, Mamoru Furuta, Hiroshi Furuta, Tokiyoshi Matsuda, Takahiro Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 7960264
    Abstract: An anisotropic wet etch of a semiconductor layer generates facets joined by a ridge running along the center of a pattern in a dielectric hardmask layer on the semiconductor layer. The dielectric hardmask layer is removed and a conformal masking material layer is deposited. Angled ion implantation of Ge, B, Ga, In, As, P, Sb, or inert atoms is performed parallel to each of the two facets joined by the ridge causing damage to implanted portions of the masking material layer, which are removed selective to undamaged portions of the masking material layer along the ridge and having a constant width. The semiconductor layer and a dielectric oxide layer underneath are etched selective to the remaining portions of the dielectric nitride. Employing remaining portions of the dielectric oxide layer as an etch mask, the gate conductor layer is patterned to form gate conductor lines having a constant width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Huilong Zhu
  • Patent number: 7863117
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multilayer silicon over insulator (SOI) device is provided. In the multilayer SOI device, the crystal orientation of at least one active region of a device is different than the active region of at least another device. Where the multilayer SOI device has a first layer including a PMOS device with a silicon active region having a crystal orientation of [100], the second layer may be an NMOS device with a active region having a silicon layer having a crystal orientation of [110]. The second layer is bonded to the first layer. The method and apparatus can be extended to more than two layers thus forming a multilayer SOI device having a different crystal orientation at each layer. The multiple layer SOI device may form circuits of reduced surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mahmoud A. Mousa, Christopher S. Putnam
  • Patent number: 7863169
    Abstract: An anisotropic wet etch of a semiconductor layer generates facets joined by a ridge running along the center of a pattern in a dielectric hardmask layer on the semiconductor layer. The dielectric hardmask layer is removed and a conformal masking material layer is deposited. Angled ion implantation of Ge, B, Ga, In, As, P, Sb, or inert atoms is performed parallel to each of the two facets joined by the ridge causing damage to implanted portions of the masking material layer, which are removed selective to undamaged portions of the masking material layer along the ridge and having a constant width. The semiconductor layer and a dielectric oxide layer underneath are etched selective to the remaining portions of the dielectric nitride. Employing remaining portions of the dielectric oxide layer as an etch mask, the gate conductor layer is patterned to form gate conductor lines having a constant width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Huilong Zhu
  • Patent number: 7842616
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating semiconductor structures are provided. A first layer may be deposited onto a substrate followed by the deposition of a second layer onto the first layer. A plurality of line structures may be etched in the second layer. A third layer, deposited onto the plurality of line structures of the second layer, may subsequently be etched to expose the plurality of line structures in the second layer. The plurality of line structures in the second layer may be removed, leaving an etched third layer. The etched third layer may be used as a mask to etch the first layer to form a semiconductor structure in the first layer. In some respects, the methods may include steps for etching the substrate using the etched first layer. The methods may also provide annealing the etched substrate to form a corrugate substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Development Facility, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuji Ikeda, Jeff Wetzel, James Beach, Charles Stager, Michael Gotskowski, Andrew Collin Campbell
  • Patent number: 7816274
    Abstract: The electrical performance enhancing effects of inducing strain in semiconductor devices is made substantially uniform across a substrate having a varying population density of device components by selectively spacing apart the strain-inducing structures from the effected regions of the semiconductor devices depending upon the population density of device components. Differing separation distances are obtained by selectively forming sidewall spacers on device components, such as MOS transistor gate electrodes, in which the sidewall spacers have a relatively small width in regions having a relatively high density of device components, and a relatively larger width in regions having a relatively low density of device components. By varying the separation distance of strain-inducing structures from the effected components, uniform electrical performance is obtained in the various components of the devices in an integrated circuit regardless of the component population density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Lee Wee Teo, Chung Foong Tan, Alain Chan, Elgin Kiok Boone Quek
  • Patent number: 7807523
    Abstract: By forming MOSFETs on a substrate having pre-existing ridges of semiconductor material (i.e., a “corrugated substrate”), the resolution limitations associated with conventional semiconductor manufacturing processes can be overcome, and high-performance, low-power transistors can be reliably and repeatably produced. Forming a corrugated substrate prior to actual device formation allows the ridges on the corrugated substrate to be created using high precision techniques that are not ordinarily suitable for device production. MOSFETs that subsequently incorporate the high-precision ridges into their channel regions will typically exhibit much more precise and less variable performance than similar MOSFETs formed using optical lithography-based techniques that cannot provide the same degree of patterning accuracy. A multi step epitaxial process can be used to extend the ridges with different dopant types, high mobility semiconductor, and or advanced multi-layer strutures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: SYNOPSYS, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsu Jae King Liu, Qiang Lu
  • Patent number: 7804130
    Abstract: Forming a high-?/metal gate field effect transistor using a gate last process in which the channel region has a curved profile thus increasing the effective channel length improves the short channel effect. During the high-?/metal gate process, after the sacrificial materials between the sidewall spacers are removed, the exposed semiconductor substrate surface at the bottom of the gate trench cavity is etched to form a curved recess. Subsequent deposition of high-? gate dielectric layer and gate electrode metal into the gate trench cavity completes the high-?/metal gate field effect transistor having a curved channel region that has a longer effective channel length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ka-Hing Fung
  • Patent number: 7795081
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) is disclosed. The method is achieved by forming and defining a source and a drain of a thin film transistor through two lithographic processes cycles so that the channel length (L) of the thin film transistor can be reduced to 1.5 to 4.0 ?m. Besides, the Ion current of the thin film transistor is increased as the channel length (L) is decreased. Therefore, the component area of the thin film transistor is decreased as the channel width (W) is decreased. Thus, the aperture ratio of the TFT-LCD can be increased due to the decreased component area of the thin film transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chang-Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 7767540
    Abstract: By appropriately orienting the channel length direction with respect to the crystallographic characteristics of the silicon layer, the stress-inducing effects of strained silicon/carbon material may be significantly enhanced compared to conventional techniques. In one illustrative embodiment, the channel may be oriented along the <100> direction for a (100) surface orientation, thereby providing an electron mobility increase of approximately a factor of four.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Peidous, Thorsten Kammler, Andy Wei
  • Patent number: 7763505
    Abstract: By appropriately adapting the length direction and width directions of transistor devices with respect to the crystallographic orientation of the semiconductor material such that identical vertical and horizontal growth planes upon re-crystallizing amorphized portions are obtained, the number of corresponding stacking faults may be significantly reduced. Hence, transistor elements with extremely shallow PN junctions may be formed on the basis of pre-amorphization implantation processes while substantially avoiding any undue side effects typically obtained in conventional techniques due to stacking faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Gehring, Markus Lenski, Jan Hoentschel, Thorsten Kammler
  • Patent number: 7755172
    Abstract: A method for growing III-V nitride films having an N-face or M-plane using an ammonothermal growth technique. The method comprises using an autoclave, heating the autoclave, and introducing ammonia into the autoclave to produce smooth N-face or M-plane Gallium Nitride films and bulk GaN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Tadao Hashimoto, Hitoshi Sato, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7691688
    Abstract: Methods of forming a strained Si-containing hybrid substrate are provided as well as the strained Si-containing hybrid substrate formed by the methods. In the methods of the present invention, a strained Si layer is formed overlying a regrown semiconductor material, a second semiconducting layer, or both. In accordance with the present invention, the strained Si layer has the same crystallographic orientation as either the regrown semiconductor layer or the second semiconducting layer. The methods provide a hybrid substrate in which at least one of the device layers includes strained Si.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin K. Chan, Meikei Ieong, Alexander Reznicek, Devendra K. Sadana, Leathen Shi, Min Yang
  • Patent number: 7682932
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a hybrid orientation substrate includes steps of providing a direct silicon bonding (DSB) wafer having a first substrate with (100) crystalline orientation and a second substrate with (110) crystalline orientation directly bonded on the first substrate, forming and patterning a first blocking layer on the second substrate to define a first region not covered by the first blocking layer and a second region covered by the first blocking layer, performing an amorphization process to transform the first region of the second substrate into an amorphized region, and performing an annealing process to recrystallize the amorphized region into the orientation of the first substrate and to make the second region stressed by the first blocking layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Ting Lin, Che-Hua Hsu, Yao-Tsung Huang, Guang-Hwa Ma
  • Patent number: 7674660
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a multilevel semiconductor integrated circuit is provided, comprising: forming on a first active semiconductor structure a first plurality of transistors with respective gate structures disposed on a first substrate and source or drain regions disposed within the first substrate; depositing a first insulation layer on the first substrate and the gate structures; etching the insulation layer to form a plurality of openings exposing portions of the first substrate contacting the bottoms of the openings; forming a semiconductor seed layer filling the openings; forming an amorphous layer on the seed layer and the insulation layer; subjecting the first active semiconductor structure to at least one application of laser irradiation to transform the amorphous layer to a crystalline semiconductor layer having a protrusion region with a peak at or near the middle of two adjacent openings; forming on a second active semiconductor structure a second plurality of transistors with respective gate s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yonghoon Son, Sungkwan Kang, Jongwook Lee
  • Patent number: 7674667
    Abstract: A CMOS structure includes a first device located using a first active region within a semiconductor substrate, where the first active region is planar and has a first crystallographic orientation. The CMOS structure also includes a second device that is located using a second active region within the semiconductor substrate, where the second active region is topographic and has a second crystallographic orientation absent the first crystallographic orientation. The first crystallographic orientation and the second crystallographic orientation allow for performance optimizations of the first device and the second device, typically with respect to charge carrier mobility. The topographic second active region may also have a single thickness. The CMOS structure may be fabricated using a crystallographically specific etchant for forming the topographic second active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Huilong Zhu
  • Publication number: 20090246920
    Abstract: The electrical performance enhancing effects of inducing strain in semiconductor devices is made substantially uniform across a substrate having a varying population density of device components by selectively spacing apart the strain-inducing structures from the effected regions of the semiconductor devices depending upon the population density of device components. Differing separation distances are obtained by selectively forming sidewall spacers on device components, such as MOS transistor gate electrodes, in which the sidewall spacers have a relatively small width in regions having a relatively high density of device components, and a relatively larger width in regions having a relatively low density of device components. By varying the separation distance of strain-inducing structures from the effected components, uniform electrical performance is obtained in the various components of the devices in an integrated circuit regardless of the component population density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Lee Wee Teo, Chung Foong Tan, Alain Chan, Elgin Kiok Boone Quek
  • Publication number: 20090072277
    Abstract: A junction field effect transistor comprises a semiconductor wafer having a (110) and/or (100) surface orientation. A source region and a drain region are formed on the semiconductor wafer. A channel region of a p-conductivity type is formed between the source region and the drain region. The channel region is oriented along a <110> and/or <100> direction of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Srinivasa R. Banna
  • Patent number: 7498208
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure with two different type tri-gate MOSFETs formed on the same substrate. Each MOSFET comprises a fin with optimal mobility for the particular type of MOSFET. Due to the processes used to form fins with different crystalline orientations on the same substrate, one of the MOSFETs has a fin with a lower mobility top surface. To inhibit inversion of the top surface, this MOSFET has a gate dielectric layer with a thicker region on the top surface than it does on the opposing sidewall surfaces. Additionally, several techniques for forming the thicker region of the gate dielectric layer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7494858
    Abstract: Embodiments are an improved transistor structure and the method of fabricating the structure. In particular, a wet etch of an embodiment forms source and drain regions with an improved tip shape to improve the performance of the transistor by improving control of short channel effects, increasing the saturation current, improving control of the metallurgical gate length, increasing carrier mobility, and decreasing contact resistance at the interface between the source and drain and the silicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mark T. Bohr, Steven J. Keating, Thomas A. Letson, Anand S. Murthy, Donald W. O'Neill, Willy Rachmady
  • Publication number: 20080308847
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device that includes a plurality of MuGFETs is disclosed. A PMOS fin of a MuGFET is formed on a substrate. The PMOS fin includes a channel of a first surface of a first crystal orientation. A NMOS fin of another MuGFET is formed on the substrate. The NMOS fin includes a channel on the substrate at one of 0° and 90° to the PMOS fin and includes a second surface of a second crystal orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Weize XIONG, Cloves Rinn Cleavelin, Angelo Pinto, Rick L. Wise
  • Patent number: 7442589
    Abstract: Methods and systems for growing uniform oxide layers include an example method including growing a first layer of oxide on first and second facets of the substrate, with the first facet having a faster oxide growth rate. The oxide is removed from the first facet and a second oxide layer is grown on the first and second facets. Removing the oxide from the first facet includes shielding the second facet and exposing the substrate to a deoxidizing condition. The second facet is then exposed to receive the second oxide layer. Areas having differing oxide thicknesses are also grown by repeatedly growing oxide layers, selectively shielding areas, and removing oxide from exposed areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Lianzhong Yu, Ken L. Yang, Thomas Keyser