Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100001332 | INTEGRATING A CAPACITOR IN A METAL GATE LAST PROCESS - A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, transistors having metal gates formed in the first region, and at least one capacitor formed in the second region. The capacitor includes a top electrode having at least one stopping structure formed in the top electrode, the at least one stopping structure being of a different material from the top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a dielectric layer interposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. | 01-07-2010 |
20100052065 | NEW METHOD FOR MECHANICAL STRESS ENHANCEMENT IN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region; at least one operational device on the active region, wherein the operational device include a strained channel; and at least one first dummy gate disposed at a side of the operational device and on the active region. | 03-04-2010 |
20100052070 | NOVEL DEVICE SCHEME OF HKMG GATE-LAST PROCESS - The present disclosure provides a method for making metal gate stacks of a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a high k dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive material layer on the high k dielectric material layer; forming a dummy gate in a n-type field-effect transistor (nFET) region and a second dummy gate in a pFET region employing polysilicon; forming an inter-level dielectric (ILD) material on the semiconductor substrate; applying a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process to the semiconductor substrate; removing the polysilicon from the first dummy gate, resulting in a first gate trench; forming a n-type metal to the first gate trench; applying a second CMP process to the semiconductor substrate; removing the polysilicon from the second dummy gate, resulting in a second gate trench; forming a p-type metal to the second gate trench; and applying a third CMP process to the semiconductor substrate. | 03-04-2010 |
20100059823 | RESISTIVE DEVICE FOR HIGH-K METAL GATE TECHNOLOGY AND METHOD OF MAKING - A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure formed in the substrate for isolating an active region of the substrate, the isolation structure being formed of a first material, an active device formed in the active region of the substrate, the active device having a high-k dielectric and metal gate, and a passive device formed in the isolation structure, the passive device being formed of a second material different from the first material and having a predefined resistivity. | 03-11-2010 |
20100062577 | HIGH-K METAL GATE STRUCTURE FABRICATION METHOD INCLUDING HARD MASK - Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including a high-k metal gate structure. A substrate is provided including a dummy gate structure (e.g., a sacrificial polysilicon gate), a first and second hard mask layer overlie the dummy gate structure. In one embodiment, a strained region is formed on the substrate. After forming the strained region, the second hard mask layer may be removed. A source/drain region may be formed. An ILD layer is then formed on the substrate. A CMP process may planarize the ILD layer using the first hard mask layer as a stop layer. The CMP process may be continued to remove the first hard mask layer. The dummy gate structure is then removed and a metal gate provided. | 03-11-2010 |
20100068877 | METHOD FOR TUNING A WORK FUNCTION OF HIGH-K METAL GATE DEVICES - The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming first and second transistors in the substrate, the first transistor having a first gate structure that includes a first dummy gate, the second transistor having a second gate structure that includes a second dummy gate, removing the first and second dummy gates thereby forming a first trench and a second trench, respectively, forming a first metal layer to partially fill in the first and second trenches, removing the first metal layer within the first trench, forming a second metal layer to partially fill in the first and second trenches, forming a third metal layer to partially fill in the first and second trenches, reflowing the second metal layer and the third metal layer, and forming a fourth metal layer to fill in the remainder of the first and second trenches. | 03-18-2010 |
20100087038 | METHOD FOR N/P PATTERNING IN A GATE LAST PROCESS - A method is provided that includes providing a substrate, forming a first gate structure in a first region and a second gate structure in a second region, the first and second gate structures each including a high-k dielectric layer, a silicon layer, and a hard mask layer, where the silicon layer of the first gate structure has a different thickness than the silicon layer of the second gate structure, forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the first and second gate structures, performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) on the ILD, removing the silicon layer from the first gate structure thereby forming a first trench, forming a first metal layer to fill in the first trench, removing the hard mask layer and the silicon layer from the second gate structure thereby forming a second trench, and forming a second metal layer to fill in the second trench. | 04-08-2010 |
20100087056 | METHOD FOR GATE HEIGHT CONTROL IN A GATE LAST PROCESS - A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a transistor in the substrate, the transistor having a gate structure that includes a dummy gate structure, forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD), performing a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to expose a top surface of the dummy gate structure, removing a portion of the ILD such that a top surface of the ILD is at a distance below the top surface of the dummy gate structure, forming a material layer over the ILD and dummy gate structure, performing a second CMP on the material layer to expose the top surface of the dummy gate structure, removing the dummy gate structure thereby forming a trench, forming a metal layer to fill in the trench, and performing a third CMP that substantially stops at the top surface of the ILD. | 04-08-2010 |
20110057267 | POLYSILICON DESIGN FOR REPLACEMENT GATE TECHNOLOGY - The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate; and a passive polysilicon device disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The passive polysilicon device further includes a polysilicon feature; and a plurality of electrodes embedded in the polysilicon feature. | 03-10-2011 |
20110059601 | METHOD FOR TUNING A WORK FUNCTION OF HIGH-K METAL GATE DEVICES - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first trench and a second trench on a semiconductor substrate and forming a first metal layer in the first and second trenches. The first metal layer is then removed, at least partially, from within the first trench but not the second trench. A second metal layer and a third metal layer are formed in the first and second trenches. A thermal process is used to reflow the second metal layer and the third metal layer | 03-10-2011 |
20110210403 | NOVEL STRUCTURES AND METHODS TO STOP CONTACT METAL FROM EXTRUDING INTO REPLACEMENT GATES - The methods and structures described are used to prevent protrusion of contact metal (such as W) horizontally into gate stacks of neighboring devices to affect the work functions of these neighboring devices. The metal gate under contact plugs that are adjacent to devices and share the (or are connected to) metal gate is defined and lined with a work function layer that has good step coverage to prevent contact metal from extruding into gate stacks of neighboring devices. Only modification to the mask layout for the photomask(s) used for removing dummy polysilicon is involved. No additional lithographical operation or mask is needed. Therefore, no modification to the manufacturing processes or additional substrate processing steps (or operations) is involved or required. The benefits of using the methods and structures described above may include increased device yield and performance. | 09-01-2011 |
20110303982 | Resistive Device for High-K Metal Gate Technology and Method of Making the Same - A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure formed in the substrate for isolating an active region of the substrate, the isolation structure being formed of a first material, an active device formed in the active region of the substrate, the active device having a high-k dielectric and metal gate, and a passive device formed in the isolation structure, the passive device being formed of a second material different from the first material and having a predefined resistivity. | 12-15-2011 |
20110312141 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FABRICATION METHOD INCLUDING HARD MASK AND SACRIFICIAL SPACER ELEMENTS - Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. A first hard mask layer is formed on a substrate. A second hard mask layer s formed the substrate overlying the first hard mask layer. A dummy gate structure on the substrate is formed on the substrate by using at least one of the first and the second hard mask layers to pattern the dummy gate structure. A spacer element is formed adjacent the dummy gate structure. A strained region on the substrate adjacent the spacer element (e.g., abutting the spacer element). The second hard mask layer and the spacer element are then removed after forming the strained region. | 12-22-2011 |
20120001259 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING GATE CONTACT - A method includes providing a substrate having a first surface, forming an isolation structure disposed partly in the substrate and having an second surface higher than the first surface by a step height, removing a portion of the isolation structure to form a recess therein having a bottom surface spaced from the first surface by less than the step height, forming a gate structure, and forming a contact engaging the gate structure over the recess. A different aspect involves an apparatus that includes a substrate having a first surface, an isolation structure disposed partly in the substrate and having a second surface higher than the first surface by a step height, a recess extending downwardly from the second surface, the recess having a bottom surface spaced from the first surface by less than the step height, a gate structure, and a contact engaging the gate structure over the recess. | 01-05-2012 |
20120056269 | NOVEL DEVICE SCHEME OF HMKG GATE-LAST PROCESS - The present disclosure provides a method for making metal gate stacks of a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a high k dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive material layer on the high k dielectric material layer; forming a dummy gate in a n-type field-effect transistor (nFET) region and a second dummy gate in a pFET region employing polysilicon; forming an inter-level dielectric (ILD) material on the semiconductor substrate; applying a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process to the semiconductor substrate; removing the polysilicon from the first dummy gate, resulting in a first gate trench; forming a n-type metal to the first gate trench; applying a second CMP process to the semiconductor substrate; removing the polysilicon from the second dummy gate, resulting in a second gate trench; forming a p-type metal to the second gate trench; and applying a third CMP process to the semiconductor substrate. | 03-08-2012 |
20130069174 | CONTACT FOR HIGH-K METAL GATE DEVICE - A method of making an integrated circuit includes providing a substrate with a high-k dielectric and providing a polysilicon gate structure over the high-k dielectric. A doping process is performed on the substrate adjacent to the polysilicon gate structure, after which the polysilicon gate structure is removed and replaced with a metal gate structure. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) is deposited over the metal gate structure and the doped substrate, and a dry etch process forms a trench in the ILD to a top surface of the metal gate structure. After the dry etch process, a wet etch process forms an undercut near the top surface of the metal gate structure. The trench and undercut are then filled with a conductive material. | 03-21-2013 |
20130154022 | CMOS Devices with Metal Gates and Methods for Forming the Same - A method includes forming a PMOS device. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate and in a PMOS region, forming a first metal-containing layer over the gate dielectric layer and in the PMOS region, performing a treatment on the first metal-containing layer in the PMOS region using an oxygen-containing process gas, and forming a second metal-containing layer over the first metal-containing layer and in the PMOS region. The second metal-containing layer has a work function lower than a mid-gap work function of silicon. The first metal-containing layer and the second metal-containing layer form a gate of the PMOS device. | 06-20-2013 |
20130234254 | METHOD OF HYBRID HIGH-K/METAL-GATE STACK FABRICATION - A process fabricating a semiconductor device with a hybrid HK/metal gate stack fabrication is disclosed. The process includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of isolation features between a PFET region and a NFET region, and forming gate stacks on the semiconductor substrate. In the PFET region, the gate stack is formed as a HK/metal gate. In the NFET region, the gate stack is formed as a polysilicon gate. A high-resistor is also formed on the semiconductor substrate by utilizing another polysilicon gate. | 09-12-2013 |
20130260547 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A METAL GATE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A method of semiconductor device fabrication including providing a substrate having a gate dielectric layer such as a high-k dielectric disposed thereon. A tri-layer element is formed on the gate dielectric layer. The tri-layer element includes a first capping layer, a second capping layer, and a metal gate layer interposing the first and second capping layer. One of an nFET and a pFET gate structure are formed using the tri-layer element, for example, the second capping layer and the metal gate layer may form a work function layer for one of an nFET and a pFET device. The first capping layer may be a sacrificial layer used to pattern the metal gate layer. | 10-03-2013 |
20130299913 | DEVICE AND METHODS FOR HIGH-K AND METAL GATE STACKS - A semiconductor device having five gate stacks on different regions of a substrate and methods of making the same are described. The device includes a semiconductor substrate and isolation features to separate the different regions on the substrate. The different regions include a p-type field-effect transistor (pFET) core region, an input/output pFET (pFET IO) region, an n-type field-effect transistor (nFET) core region, an input/output nFET (nFET IO) region, and a high-resistor region. | 11-14-2013 |
20130316504 | Semiconductor Device and Method of Fabricating Same - A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated. | 11-28-2013 |
20130323919 | METHODS TO STOP CONTACT METAL FROM EXTRUDING INTO REPLACEMENT GATES - A method of preventing contact metal from protruding into neighboring gate devices to affect work functions of the neighboring gate devices is provided includes forming a gate structure. Forming the gate structure includes forming a work function layer, and forming a gate metal layer having a void, wherein the work function layer surrounds the gate metal layer. The method further includes forming a contact plug having a contact metal directly on the gate metal layer of the first gate stack, wherein the contact metal protrudes into the void, and the work function layer prevents the contact metal from protruding into a second gate stack. | 12-05-2013 |
20130328115 | Contact for High-K Metal Gate Device - An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate including a source region and a drain region and a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate. A metal gate structure is over the semiconductor substrate and the gate dielectric and between the source and drain regions. The integrated circuit further includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the semiconductor substrate. First and second contacts extend through the ILD and adjacent the source and drain regions, respectively, and a third contact extends through the ILD and adjacent a top surface of the metal gate structure. The third contact further extends into an undercut region of the metal gate structure. | 12-12-2013 |