Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100301416 | STRAIN TRANSFORMATION IN BIAXIALLY STRAINED SOI SUBSTRATES FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF P-CHANNEL AND N-CHANNEL TRANSISTORS - In advanced SOI devices, a high tensile strain component may be achieved on the basis of a globally strained semiconductor layer, while at the same time a certain compressive strain may be induced in P-channel transistors by appropriately selecting a height-to-length aspect ratio of the corresponding active regions. It has been recognized that the finally obtained strain distribution in the active regions is strongly dependent on the aspect ratio of the active regions. Thus, by selecting a moderately low height-to-length aspect ratio for N-channel transistors, a significant fraction of the initial tensile strain component may be preserved. On the other hand, a moderately high height-to-length aspect ratio for the P-channel transistor may result in a compressive strain component in a central surface region of the active region. | 12-02-2010 |
20120025312 | Strain Engineering in Three-Dimensional Transistors Based on a Strained Channel Semiconductor Material - In three-dimensional transistor configurations, such as finFETs, at least one surface of the semiconductor fin may be provided with a strained semiconductor material, which may thus have a pronounced uniaxial strain component along the current flow direction. The strained semiconductor material may be provided at any appropriate manufacturing stage, for instance, prior to actually patterning the semiconductor fins and/or after the patterning the semiconductor fins, thereby providing superior performance and flexibility in adjusting the overall characteristics of three-dimensional transistors. | 02-02-2012 |
20120119259 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE SUBSTRATE WITH EMBEDDED STRESS REGION, AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - A semiconductor device substrate is presented here. The semiconductor device substrate includes a layer of first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant, a region of second semiconductor material located in the layer of first semiconductor material, and a layer of epitaxially grown third semiconductor material overlying the layer of first semiconductor material and overlying the region of second semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material has a second lattice constant that is different than the first lattice constant. Moreover, the layer of epitaxially grown third semiconductor material exhibits a stressed zone overlying the region of second semiconductor material. The stressed zone has a third lattice constant that is different than the first lattice constant. | 05-17-2012 |
20120153399 | Low-Diffusion Drain and Source Regions in CMOS Transistors for Low Power/High Performance Applications - The drain and source regions may at least be partially formed by in situ doped epitaxially grown semiconductor materials for complementary transistors in sophisticated semiconductor devices designed for low power and high performance applications. To this end, cavities may be refilled with in situ doped semiconductor material, which in some illustrative embodiments also provides a desired strain in the channel regions of the complementary transistors. | 06-21-2012 |
20120156837 | Sacrificial Spacer Approach for Differential Source/Drain Implantation Spacers in Transistors Comprising a High-K Metal Gate Electrode Structure - In complex semiconductor devices, the profiling of the deep drain and source regions may be accomplished individually for N-channel transistors and P-channel transistors without requiring any additional process steps by using a sacrificial spacer element as an etch mask and as an implantation mask for incorporating the drain and source dopant species for deep drain and source areas for one type of transistor. On the other hand, the usual main spacer may be used for the incorporation of the deep drain and source regions of the other type of transistor. | 06-21-2012 |
20120156839 | Patterning of a Stressed Dielectric Material in a Contact Level Without Using an Underlying Etch Stop Layer - An efficient strain-inducing mechanism may be implemented in the form of differently stressed material layers that are formed above transistors of different types. The strain-inducing dielectric materials may be formed so as to be in direct contact with the corresponding transistors, thereby enhancing the overall strain transfer efficiency. Moreover, the disclosed manufacturing strategy avoids or at least significantly reduces any interaction of reactive etch atmospheres used to pattern the strain-inducing material layers with metal silicide regions, which may be formed individually for each type of transistor. | 06-21-2012 |
20120161203 | Strain Enhancement in Transistors Comprising an Embedded Strain-Inducing Semiconductor Material by Alloy Species Condensation - In transistors requiring a high compressive strain, the germanium contents may be increased by applying a germanium condensation technique. In some illustrative embodiments, an oxidation process is performed in the presence of a silicon/germanium material obtained on the basis of selective epitaxial growth techniques, thereby increasingly oxidizing the silicon species, while driving the germanium into the lower lying areas of the active region, which finally results in an increased germanium concentration. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161204 | Transistor Comprising an Embedded Sigma Shaped Sequentially Formed Semiconductor Alloy - In sophisticated transistors, a specifically designed semiconductor material, such as a strain-inducing semiconductor material, may be sequentially provided in the drain region and the source region, thereby enabling a significant degree of lateral extension of the grown semiconductor materials without jeopardizing mechanical integrity of the transistor during the processing thereof. For example, semiconductor devices having different drain and source sides may be provided on the basis of sequentially provided embedded semiconductor materials. | 06-28-2012 |
20120181655 | SOI Semiconductor Device Comprising a Substrate Diode and a Film Diode Formed by Using a Common Well Implantation Mask - When forming sophisticated SOI devices, a substrate diode and a film diode are formed by using one and the same implantation mask for determining the well dopant concentration in the corresponding well regions. Consequently, during the further processing, the well dopant concentration of any transistor elements may be achieved independently from the well regions of the diode in the semiconductor layer. | 07-19-2012 |
20120193686 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING ENCAPSULATED STRESSOR REGIONS AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - Apparatus and related fabrication methods are provided for semiconductor device structures having silicon-encapsulated stressor regions. One method for fabricating a semiconductor device structure involves the steps of forming a gate structure overlying the semiconductor substrate, forming recesses in the semiconductor substrate about the gate structure, forming a stress-inducing semiconductor material in the recesses, and forming a silicon material in the recesses overlying the stress-inducing semiconductor material. In an exemplary embodiment, the silicon material formed in the recesses is epitaxially-grown on the stress-inducing semiconductor material. | 08-02-2012 |
20120193708 | Drive Current Increase in Field Effect Transistors by Asymmetric Concentration Profile of Alloy Species of a Channel Semiconductor Alloy - When forming sophisticated transistors, the channel region may be provided such that the gradient of the band gap energy of the channel material may result in superior charge carrier velocity. For example, a gradient in concentration of germanium, carbon and the like may be implemented along the channel length direction, thereby obtaining higher transistor performance. | 08-02-2012 |
20120196422 | Stress Memorization Technique Using Gate Encapsulation - Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to sophisticated semiconductor devices and methods for forming the same, wherein a stress memorization technique is used to enhance the performance of MOS transistor elements. One illustrative embodiment includes a method for forming a gate electrode above a channel region of a semiconductor device, wherein the channel region is formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a dielectric encapsulating layer in direct contact with the gate electrode, and performing a heat treatment process to induce a residual stress in the channel region. | 08-02-2012 |
20120196425 | High-K Metal Gate Electrode Structures Formed by a Replacement Gate Approach Based on Superior Planarity of Placeholder Materials - When forming sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structures on the basis of a replacement gate approach, superior process uniformity may be achieved by implementing at least one planarization process after the deposition of the placeholder material, such as the polysilicon material, and prior to actually patterning the gate electrode structures. | 08-02-2012 |
20120199912 | COMPLEMENTARY STRESS LINER TO IMPROVE DGO/AVT DEVICES AND POLY AND DIFFUSION RESISTORS - Electron mobility and hole mobility is improved in long channel semiconductor devices and resistors by employing complementary stress liners. Embodiments include forming a long channel semiconductor device on a substrate, and forming a complementary stress liner on the semiconductor device. Embodiments include forming a resistor on a substrate, and tuning the resistance of the resistor by forming a complementary stress liner on the resistor. Compressive stress liners are employed for improving electron mobility in n-type devices, and tensile stress liners are employed for improving hole mobility in p-type devices. | 08-09-2012 |
20120231591 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING CMOS INTEGRATED CIRCUITS HAVING METAL SILICIDE CONTACTS - Methods are provided for fabricating CMOS integrated circuits. In accordance with one embodiment the methods include forming a gate electrode structure overlying an N-doped portion of a semiconductor substrate and growing an embedded silicon germanium area in the N-doped portion in alignment with the gate electrode structure. A layer of silicon is selectively grown overlying the embedded silicon germanium area and a nickel silicide contact is made to the layer of silicon. | 09-13-2012 |
20120235215 | PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT IN TRANSISTORS BY REDUCING THE RECESSING OF ACTIVE REGIONS AND REMOVING SPACERS - Sophisticated transistors for semiconductor devices may be formed on the basis of a superior process sequence in which an increased space between closely spaced gate electrode structures may be obtained in combination with a reduced material loss in the active regions. To this end, an offset spacer conventionally used for laterally profiling the drain and source extension regions is omitted and the spacer for the deep drain and source areas may be completely removed. | 09-20-2012 |
20120241816 | Stabilization of Metal Silicides in PFET Transistors by Incorporation of Stabilizing Species in a Si/Ge Semiconductor Material - When forming sophisticated P-channel transistors, the metal silicide agglomeration in a germanium-containing strain-inducing semiconductor alloy may be avoided or at least significantly reduced by incorporating a carbon and/or nitrogen species in a highly controllable manner. In some illustrative embodiments, the carbon species or nitrogen species is incorporated during the epitaxial growth process so as to form a surface layer of the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy with a desired nitrogen and/or carbon concentration and with a desired thickness without unduly affecting any other device areas. | 09-27-2012 |
20120261725 | Stabilized Metal Silicides in Silicon-Germanium Regions of Transistor Elements - Generally, the present disclosure is directed to methods of stabilizing metal silicide contact regions formed in a silicon-germanium active area of a semiconductor device, and devices comprising stabilized metal silicides. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes performing an activation anneal to activate dopants implanted in an active area of a semiconductor device, wherein the active area comprises germanium. Additionally, the method includes, among other things, performing an ion implantation process to implant ions into the active area after performing the activation anneal, forming a metal silicide contact region in the active area, and forming a conductive contact element to the metal silicide contact region. | 10-18-2012 |
20120280289 | Method of Increasing the Germanium Concentration in a Silicon-Germanium Layer and Semiconductor Device Comprising Same - Disclosed herein is a method of forming a semiconductor device. In one example, the method comprises forming layer of silicon germanium on a P-active region of a semiconducting substrate wherein the layer of silicon germanium has a first concentration of germanium, and performing an oxidation process on the layer of silicon germanium to increase a concentration of germanium in at least a portion of the layer of silicon germanium to a second concentration that is greater than the first concentration of germanium. | 11-08-2012 |
20120309182 | Method of Forming Sidewall Spacers Having Different Widths Using a Non-Conformal Deposition Process - Disclosed herein is a method of forming sidewall spacers for a semiconductor device. In one example, the method comprises forming a gate electrode structure above a semiconducting substrate. performing a non-conformal deposition process to deposit a layer of spacer material above the gate electrode structure and performing an anisotropic etching process on the layer of spacer material to define a first sidewall spacer proximate a first side of the gate electrode structure and a second sidewall spacer proximate a second side of the gate electrode structure, wherein the first and second sidewall spacers have different widths. | 12-06-2012 |
20130029463 | Methods of Forming a PMOS Device with In Situ Doped Epitaxial Source/Drain Regions - Disclosed herein is a method of forming a semiconductor device. In one example, the method includes forming extension implant regions in a PMOS region and a NMOS region of a semiconducting substrate for a PMOS device and a NMOS device, respectively and, after forming the extension implant regions, performing a first heating process. The method further includes forming a plurality of cavities in the PMOS region of the substrate, performing at least one epitaxial deposition process to form a plurality of in-situ doped semiconductor layers that are positioned in or above each of said cavities, and forming a masking layer that exposes the NMOS region and covers the PMOS region. The method concludes with the steps of forming source/drain implant regions in the NMOS region of the substrate for the NMOS device and performing a second heating process. | 01-31-2013 |
20130029464 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS USING NON-OXIDIZING RESIST REMOVAL - Methods are provided for fabricating integrated circuits using non-oxidizing resist removal. In accordance with one embodiment the method includes forming a gate electrode structure overlying a semiconductor substrate and applying and patterning a layer of resist to expose a portion of the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate electrode structure. Conductivity determining ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate using the gate electrode structure and the layer of resist as an implant mask. The layer of resist is removed in a non-oxidizing ambient and the implanted conductivity determining ions are activated by thermal annealing. | 01-31-2013 |
20130032877 | N-CHANNEL TRANSISTOR COMPRISING A HIGH-K METAL GATE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE AND A REDUCED SERIES RESISTANCE BY EPITAXIALLY FORMED SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL IN THE DRAIN AND SOURCE AREAS - When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices including high-k metal gate electrode structures and N-channel transistors, superior performance may be achieved by incorporating epitaxially grown semiconductor materials, for instance a strain-inducing silicon/carbon alloy in combination with an N-doped silicon material, which may provide an acceptable sheet resistivity. | 02-07-2013 |
20130032901 | FULL SILICIDATION PREVENTION VIA DUAL NICKEL DEPOSITION APPROACH - Semiconductor devices are formed without full silicidation of the gates and with independent adjustment of silicides in the gates and source/drain regions. Embodiments include forming a gate on a substrate, forming a nitride cap on the gate, forming a source/drain region on each side of the gate, forming a first silicide in each source/drain region, removing the nitride cap subsequent to the formation of the first silicide, and forming a second silicide in the source/drain regions and in the gate, subsequent to removing the nitride cap. Embodiments include forming the first silicide by forming a first metal layer on the source/drain regions and performing a first RTA, and forming the second silicide by forming a second metal layer on the source/drain regions and on the gate and performing a second RTA. | 02-07-2013 |
20130049126 | Methods of Forming a Semiconductor Device with Recessed Source/Drain Regions, and a Semiconductor Device Comprising Same - In one example, a method disclosed herein includes forming a gate electrode structure for a PMOS transistor and a gate electrode structure for a NMOS transistor, forming a plurality of cavities in the substrate proximate the gate electrode structure of the PMOS transistor and performing an epitaxial deposition process to form raised silicon-germanium regions is the cavities. The method concludes with the step of performing a common etching process on the PMOS transistor and the NMOS transistor to define recessed regions in the substrate proximate the gate electrode structure of the NMOS transistor and to reduce the amount of the silicon-germanium material positioned above the surface of the substrate for the PMOS transistor. | 02-28-2013 |
20130052779 | FABRICATION OF A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH EXTENDED EPITAXIAL SEMICONDUCTOR REGIONS - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device structure begins by forming a layer of oxide material overlying a first gate structure having a first silicon nitride cap and overlying a second gate structure having a second silicon nitride cap. The first gate structure corresponds to a p-type transistor to be fabricated, and the second gate structure corresponds to an n-type transistor to be fabricated. The method continues by performing a tilted ion implantation procedure to implant ions of an impurity species in a channel region of semiconductor material underlying the first gate structure, during which an ion implantation mask protects the second gate structure. Thereafter, the ion implantation mask and the layer of oxide material are removed, and regions of epitaxial semiconductor material are formed corresponding to source and drain regions for the first gate structure. Thereafter, the first silicon nitride cap and the second silicon nitride cap are removed. | 02-28-2013 |
20130052782 | Implantation of Hydrogen to Improve Gate Insulation Layer-Substrate Interface - Generally, the present disclosure is directed to various methods of making a semiconductor device by implanting hydrogen or hydrogen-containing clusters to improve the interface between a gate insulation layer and the substrate. One illustrative method disclosed herein involves forming a gate insulation layer on a substrate, forming a layer of gate electrode material above the gate insulation material and performing an ion implantation process with a material comprising hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing compound to introduce the hydrogen or hydrogen-containing compound proximate an interface between the gate insulation layer and said substrate with a concentration of the implanted hydrogen or hydrogen-containing compound being at least 1e | 02-28-2013 |
20130052783 | Methods of Forming Stressed Silicon-Carbon Areas in an NMOS Transistor - Disclosed herein are various methods of forming stressed silicon-carbon areas in an NMOS transistor device. In one example, a method disclosed herein includes forming a layer of amorphous carbon above a surface of a semiconducting substrate comprising a plurality of N-doped regions and performing an ion implantation process on the layer of amorphous carbon to dislodge carbon atoms from the layer of amorphous carbon and to drive the dislodged carbon atoms into the N-doped regions in the substrate. | 02-28-2013 |
20130052819 | Methods of Forming Metal Silicide Regions on Semiconductor Devices Using Different Temperatures - Disclosed herein are various methods of forming metal silicide regions on semiconductor devices by using different temperatures during the silicidation processes. In one example, the method includes forming a plurality of N-doped source/drain regions and a plurality of P-doped source/drain regions in a semiconducting substrate and performing a first heating process at a first temperature to initially form a first metal silicide region in each of the P-doped source/drain regions. The method further includes performing a second heating process at a second temperature to initially form a second metal silicide region in each of the N-doped source/drain regions, wherein the second temperature is less than the first temperature and performing a third heating process at a third temperature to complete the formation of the first and second metal silicide regions, wherein the third temperature is greater than the first temperature. | 02-28-2013 |
20130056854 | COMPLEMENTARY STRESS LINER TO IMPROVE DGO/AVT DEVICES AND POLY AND DIFFUSION RESISTORS - Electron mobility and hole mobility is improved in long channel semiconductor devices and resistors by employing complementary stress liners. Embodiments include forming a long channel semiconductor device on a substrate, and forming a complementary stress liner on the semiconductor device. Embodiments include forming a resistor on a substrate, and tuning the resistance of the resistor by forming a complementary stress liner on the resistor. Compressive stress liners are employed for improving electron mobility in n-type devices, and tensile stress liners are employed for improving hole mobility in p-type devices. | 03-07-2013 |
20130065367 | Methods of Forming Highly Scaled Semiconductor Devices Using a Reduced Number of Spacers - In one example, a method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming gate electrode structures for a PMOS transistor and for an NMOS transistor, forming a first spacer proximate the gate electrode structures, after forming the first spacer, forming extension implant regions in the substrate for the transistors and after forming the extension implant regions, forming a second spacer proximate the first spacer for the PMOS transistor. This method also includes performing an etching process with the second spacer in place to define a plurality of cavities in the substrate proximate the gate structure for the PMOS transistor, removing the first and second spacers, forming a third spacer proximate the gate electrode structures of both of the transistors, and forming deep source/drain implant regions in the substrate for the transistors. | 03-14-2013 |
20130065373 | Methods and Systems for Forming Implanted Doped Regions for a Semiconductor Device Using Reduced Temperature Ion Implantation - In one example, a method disclosed herein includes reducing a temperature of at least an implant surface of a semiconducting substrate to a temperature less than −50° C. and after reducing the temperature of the implant surface, performing at least one ion implantation process to implant ions into the substrate with the implant surface at a temperature less than −50° C. | 03-14-2013 |
20130069111 | STRAINED SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING ASYMMETRICAL HETEROJUNCTION STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR THE FABRICATION THEREOF - Embodiments of a strained semiconductor device are provided, as are embodiments of a method for fabricating such a strained semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a partially-fabricated semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a source side and a drain side, a gate stack formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a channel region formed within the semiconductor substrate beneath the gate stack and extending from the source side to the drain side of the semiconductor substrate. A cavity is produced in only one of the source side and the drain side of the semiconductor substrate, and a strain-inducing material is formed within the cavity to create an asymmetric heterojunction structure within the semiconductor substrate. | 03-21-2013 |
20130069123 | CMOS SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING STRESSOR REGIONS AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - Semiconductor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary fabrication method involves forming first doped stressor regions in a first region of semiconductor material, forming second doped stressor regions in a second region of semiconductor material after forming the first doped stressor regions, and after forming the second doped stressor regions, annealing the semiconductor device structure to activate ions of the first and second doped stressor regions concurrently. The amount of time for the annealing is chosen to inhibit diffusion of the ions of the first and second doped stressor regions. | 03-21-2013 |
20130071977 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS HAVING GATE TO ACTIVE AND GATE TO GATE INTERCONNECTS - Methods are provided for fabricating an integrated circuit that includes gate to active contacts. One method includes processing the IC in a replacement gate technology including forming dummy gates, sidewall spacers on the dummy gates, and metal silicide contacts to active areas. A fill layer is deposited and planarized to expose the dummy gates and the dummy gates are removed. A mask is formed having an opening overlying a portion of the channel region from which the dummy gate was removed and a portion of an adjacent metal silicide contact. The fill layer and a portion of the sidewall spacers exposed through the mask opening are etched to expose a portion of the adjacent metal silicide contact. A gate electrode material is deposited overlying the channel region and exposed metal silicide contact and is planarized to form a gate electrode and a gate-to-metal silicide contact interconnect. | 03-21-2013 |
20130095620 | METHODS OF FORMING HIGHLY SCALED SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES USING A DISPOSABLE SPACER TECHNIQUE - In one example, a method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming a first liner layer above a substrate and above gate structures for both a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor, and, after forming extension implant regions and halo implant regions, forming a first spacer proximate the gate structures of both the PMOS and NMOS transistors, forming deep source/drain implant regions in the substrate for the PMOS and NMOS transistors, removing the first spacer and, after removing the first spacer, forming a layer of material between the adjacent gate structures, wherein the layer of material occupies at least the space formerly occupied by the first spacer. | 04-18-2013 |
20130095627 | Methods of Forming Source/Drain Regions on Transistor Devices - The present disclosure is directed to various methods of forming source/drain regions for transistor devices. In one example, a method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming a gate electrode structure for a transistor above a semiconducting substrate, performing a first etching process to define a plurality of initial cavities in the substrate proximate the gate structure for the transistor and after forming the initial cavities, performing an anneal process. The method continues with the steps of, after performing the anneal process, performing a second etching process on the initial cavities to define a plurality of final cavities and forming a semiconductor material in the final cavities. | 04-18-2013 |
20130105885 | CANYON GATE TRANSISTOR AND METHODS FOR ITS FABRICATION | 05-02-2013 |
20130146976 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS FORMED ON STRAINED SUBSTRATES AND INCLUDING RELAXED BUFFER LAYERS AND METHODS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF - Embodiments of a method for producing an integrated circuit are provided, as are embodiments of an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a strained substrate having an n-active region and a p-active region, etching a cavity into one of the n-active region and the p-active region, embedding a relaxed buffer layer within the cavity, forming a body of strain material over the relaxed buffer layer having a strain orientation opposite that of the strained substrate, and fabricating n-type and t-type transistors over the n-active and p-active regions, respectively. The channel of the n-type transistor extends within one of the strained substrate and the body of strain material, while the channel of the p-type transistor extends within the other of the strained substrate and the body of strain material. | 06-13-2013 |
20130157421 | METHODS FOR THE FABRICATION OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS INCLUDING BACK-ETCHING OF RAISED CONDUCTIVE STRUCTURES - Embodiments of a method for fabricating an integrated circuit are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes producing a partially-completed semiconductor device including a substrate, source/drain (S/D) regions, a channel region between the S/D regions, and a gate stack over the channel region. At least one raised electrically-conductive structure is formed over at least one of the S/D regions and separated from the gate stack by a lateral gap. The raised electrically-conductive structure is then back-etched to increase the width of the lateral gap and reduce the parasitic fringing capacitance between the raised electrically-conductive structure and the gate stack during operation of the completed semiconductor device. | 06-20-2013 |
20130175545 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH STRAIN-INDUCING REGIONS AND METHOD THEREOF - Improved MOSFET devices are obtained by incorporating strain inducing source-drain regions whose closest facing “nose” portions underlying the gate are located at different depths from the device surface. In a preferred embodiment, the spaced-apart source-drain regions may laterally overlap. This close proximity increases the favorable impact of the strain inducing source-drain regions on the carrier mobility in an induced channel region between the source and drain. The source-drain regions are formed by epitaxially refilling asymmetric cavities etched from both sides of the gate. Cavity asymmetry is obtained by forming an initial cavity proximate only one sidewall of the gate and then etching the final spaced-apart source-drain cavities proximate both sidewalls of the gate along predetermined crystallographic directions. The finished cavities having different depths and nose regions at different heights extending toward each other under the gate, are epitaxially refilled with the strain inducing semiconductor material for the source-drain regions. | 07-11-2013 |
20130175610 | TRANSISTOR WITH STRESS ENHANCED CHANNEL AND METHODS FOR FABRICATION - A transistor device and methods for its fabrication are provided. In an embodiment, the transistor is fabricated within and on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a gate structure with a dummy gate electrode material overlying the semiconductor substrate. Recesses are etched into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate structure to define a narrow region between the recesses at a selected depth under the surface. The recesses are filled with a stress-inducing material and the dummy gate electrode material is removed to expose the semiconductor substrate. The method further provides for etching the exposed semiconductor substrate to form a recessed gate surface and defining a channel under the recessed gate surface in the narrow region. | 07-11-2013 |
20130175640 | STRESS ENHANCED MOS TRANSISTOR AND METHODS FOR FABRICATION - A stress enhanced MOS transistor and methods for its fabrication are provided. In one embodiment the transistor includes a channel region at a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The method includes etching first recesses into the semiconductor substrate adjacent the channel region to define adjacent regions in the semiconductor substrate between the first recesses and the channel region. A first layer of SiGe is epitaxially grown in the first recesses. The method includes etching second recesses through the first layer of SiGe and into the adjacent regions of the semiconductor substrate. Further, a second layer of SiGe is epitaxially grown in the second recesses. | 07-11-2013 |
20130178024 | In Situ Doping and Diffusionless Annealing of Embedded Stressor Regions in PMOS and NMOS Devices - Generally, the present disclosure is directed to methods for forming dual embedded stressor regions in semiconductor devices such as transistor elements and the like, using in situ doping and substantially diffusionless annealing techniques. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming first and second cavities in PMOS and NMOS device regions, respectively, of a semiconductor substrate, and thereafter performing first and second epitaxial deposition processes to form in situ doped first and second embedded material regions in the first and second cavities, respectively. The method further includes, among other things, performing a single heat treating process to activate dopants in the in situ doped first and second embedded material regions. | 07-11-2013 |
20130178034 | Methods of Making Transistor Devices with Elevated Source/Drain Regions to Accommodate Consumption During Metal Silicide Formation Process - Disclosed herein are various semiconductor devices with dual metal silicide regions and to various methods of making such devices. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming an upper portion of a source/drain region that is positioned above a surface of a semiconducting substrate, wherein the upper portion of the source/drain region has an upper surface that is positioned above the surface of the substrate by a distance that is at least equal to a target thickness of a metal silicide region to be formed in the upper portion of the source/drain region and forming the metal silicide region in the upper portion of the source/drain region. | 07-11-2013 |
20130181299 | Strain Engineering in Three-Dimensional Transistors Based on Strained Isolation Material - In a three-dimensional transistor configuration, a strain-inducing isolation material is provided, at least in the drain and source areas, thereby inducing a strain, in particular at and in the vicinity of the PN junctions of the three-dimensional transistor. In this case, superior transistor performance may be achieved, while in some illustrative embodiments even the same type of internally stressed isolation material may result in superior transistor performance of P-channel transistors and N-channel transistors. | 07-18-2013 |
20130183817 | Methods of Reducing Gate Leakage - Disclosed herein are various methods of reducing gate leakage in semiconductor devices such as transistors. In one example, a method disclosed herein includes performing an etching process to define a gate insulation layer of a transistor, wherein the gate insulation layer has an etched edge, performing an angled ion implantation process to implant ions into the gate insulation layer proximate the etched edge of the gate insulation layer and, after performing the angled ion implantation process, performing an anneal process. | 07-18-2013 |
20130187209 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING ENCAPSULATED STRESSOR REGIONS AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS - Apparatus and related fabrication methods are provided for semiconductor device structures having silicon-encapsulated stressor regions. One semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure overlying the semiconductor substrate, stressor regions formed in the semiconductor substrate proximate the gate structure, and a silicon material overlying the stressor regions, the silicon material encapsulating the stressor regions. | 07-25-2013 |
20130196495 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING MOS DEVICES WITH STRESS MEMORIZATION - A MOS device and methods for its fabrication are provided. In one embodiment the MOS device is fabricated on and within a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a gate structure having a top and sidewalls and having a gate insulator overlying the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode overlying the gate insulator, and a cap overlying the gate electrode. An oxide liner is deposited over the top and sidewalls of the gate structure. In the method, the cap is etched from the gate structure and oxide needles extending upward from the gate structure are exposed. A stress-inducing layer is deposited over the oxide needles and gate structure and the semiconductor substrate is annealed. Then, the stress-inducing liner is removed. | 08-01-2013 |
20130207275 | Methods of Forming Device Level Conductive Contacts to Improve Device Performance and Semiconductor Devices Comprising Such Contacts - Disclosed herein are various methods of forming device level conductive contacts to improve device performance and various semiconductor devices with such improved deice level contact configurations. In one example, a device disclosed herein includes a first device level conductive contact positioned in a first layer of insulating material, wherein the first device level conductive contact is conductively coupled to a semiconductor device, a second device level conductive contact positioned above and conductively coupled to the first device level contact, wherein the second device level contact is positioned in a second layer of insulating material, and a first wiring layer for the device that is positioned above and conductively coupled to the second device level conductive contact. | 08-15-2013 |
20130244388 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH REDUCED ELECTRICAL PARAMETER VARIATION - Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a gate stack on a semiconductor substrate. In the method, a first halo implantation is performed on the semiconductor substrate with a first dose of dopant ions to form first halo regions therein. A second halo spacer is formed around the gate stack. Then a second halo implantation is performed on the semiconductor substrate with a second dose of dopant ions to form second halo regions therein. | 09-19-2013 |
20130244437 | METHODS OF FORMING FEATURES ON AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PRODUCT USING A NOVEL COMPOUND SIDEWALL IMAGE TRANSFER TECHNIQUE - One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a sacrificial mandrel above a structure, forming a plurality of first sidewall spacers on opposite sides of the sacrificial mandrel, removing the sacrificial mandrel, forming a plurality of second sidewall spacers on opposite sides of each of the first sidewall spacers, and removing the first sidewall spacers to thereby define a patterned spacer mask layer comprised of the plurality of second sidewall spacers. | 09-19-2013 |
20130256901 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS HAVING SUBSTRATE CONTACTS AND INTEGRATED CIRCUITS HAVING SUBSTRATE CONTACTS - Methods for fabricating integrated circuits having substrate contacts and integrated circuits having substrate contacts are provided. One method includes forming a first trench in a SOI substrate extending through a buried insulating layer to a silicon substrate. A metal silicide region is formed in the silicon substrate exposed by the first trench. A first stress-inducing layer is formed overlying the metal silicide region. A second stress-inducing layer is formed overlying the first stress-inducing layer. An ILD layer of dielectric material is formed overlying the second stress-inducing layer. A second trench is formed extending through the ILD layer and the first and second stress-inducing layers to the metal silicide region. The second trench is filled with a conductive material. | 10-03-2013 |
20130267078 | PROCESSES FOR PREPARING STRESSED SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS AND FOR PREPARING DEVICES INCLUDING THE STRESSED SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS - Processes for preparing a stressed semiconductor wafer and processes for preparing devices including a stressed semiconductor wafer are provided herein. An exemplary process for preparing a stressed semiconductor wafer includes providing a semiconductor wafer of a first material having a first crystalline lattice constant. A stressed crystalline layer of a second material having a different lattice constant from the first material is pseudomorphically formed on a surface of the semiconductor wafer. A first via is etched through the stressed crystalline layer and at least partially into the semiconductor wafer to release stress in the stressed crystalline layer adjacent the first via, thereby transferring stress to the semiconductor wafer and forming a stressed region in the semiconductor wafer. The first via in the semiconductor wafer is filled with a first filler material to impede dissipation of stress in the semiconductor wafer. | 10-10-2013 |
20130277746 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS HAVING PROTRUDING SOURCE AND DRAIN REGIONS AND METHODS FOR FORMING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - Methods for forming integrated circuits and integrated circuits are disclosed. The integrated circuits comprise gate structures overlying and transverse to one or more fins that are delineated by trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate. Protruding portions are formed in the trenches in between the gate electrode structure on exposed sidewall surfaces of the one or more fins. The trenches are filled with an insulating material between the protruding portions and the gate structures. | 10-24-2013 |
20130292774 | METHOD FOR FORMING A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING RAISED DRAIN AND SOURCE REGIONS AND CORRESPONDING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device having raised source and drain regions is formed by forming a gate electrode structure on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first spacer structure laterally to the gate electrode structure, forming a semiconductor layer over an exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the gate electrode structure such that a layer portion is formed which is beveled towards the gate electrode with regard to the exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a second spacer structure over the first spacer structure, wherein the second spacer structure covers at least a portion of the beveled layer portion. | 11-07-2013 |
20130302956 | Methods of Forming Semiconductor Devices with Embedded Semiconductor Material as Source/Drain Regions Using a Reduced Number of Spacers - In one example, a method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming a gate structure for a first transistor and a second transistor above a semiconducting substrate, forming a liner layer above the gate structures and performing a plurality of extension ion implant processes through the liner layer to form extension implant regions in the substrate for the first transistor and the second transistor. The method further includes forming a first sidewall spacer proximate the gate structure for the first transistor and a patterned hard mask layer positioned above the second transistor, performing at least one etching process to remove the first sidewall spacer, the patterned hard mask layer and the liner layer, forming a second sidewall spacer proximate both of the gate structures and performing a plurality of source/drain ion implant processes to form deep source/drain implant regions in the substrate for the first transistor and the second transistor. | 11-14-2013 |
20130313572 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH STRAIN-INDUCING REGIONS AND METHOD THEREOF - Improved MOSFET devices are obtained by incorporating strain inducing source-drain regions whose closest facing “nose” portions underlying the gate are located at different depths from the device surface. In a preferred embodiment, the spaced-apart source-drain regions may laterally overlap. This close proximity increases the favorable impact of the strain inducing source-drain regions on the carrier mobility in an induced channel region between the source and drain. The source-drain regions are formed by epitaxially refilling asymmetric cavities etched from both sides of the gate. Cavity asymmetry is obtained by forming an initial cavity proximate only one sidewall of the gate and then etching the final spaced-apart source-drain cavities proximate both sidewalls of the gate along predetermined crystallographic directions. The finished cavities having different depths and nose regions at different heights extending toward each other under the gate, are epitaxially refilled with the strain inducing semiconductor material for the source-drain regions. | 11-28-2013 |
20130320415 | FULL SILICIDATION PREVENTION VIA DUAL NICKEL DEPOSITION APPROACH - Semiconductor devices are formed without full silicidation of the gates and with independent adjustment of silicides in the gates and source/drain regions. Embodiments include forming a gate on a substrate, forming a nitride cap on the gate, forming a source/drain region on each side of the gate, forming a first silicide in each source/drain region, removing the nitride cap subsequent to the formation of the first silicide, and forming a second silicide in the source/drain regions and in the gate, subsequent to removing the nitride cap. Embodiments include forming the first silicide by forming a first metal layer on the source/drain regions and performing a first RTA, and forming the second silicide by forming a second metal layer on the source/drain regions and on the gate and performing a second RTA. | 12-05-2013 |
20130320449 | LATE IN-SITU DOPED SIGE JUNCTIONS FOR PMOS DEVICES ON 28 NM LOW POWER/HIGH PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES USING A SILICON OXIDE ENCAPSULATION, EARLY HALO AND EXTENSION IMPLANTATIONS - A HKMG device with PMOS eSiGe source/drain regions is provided. Embodiments include forming first and second HKMG gate stacks on a substrate, forming a nitride liner and oxide spacers on each side of each HKMG gate stack, performing halo/extension implants at each side of each HKMG gate stack, forming an oxide liner and nitride spacers on the oxide spacers of each HKMG gate stack, forming deep source/drain regions at opposite sides of the second HKMG gate stack, forming an oxide hardmask over the second HKMG gate stack, forming embedded silicon germanium (eSiGe) at opposite sides of the first HKMG gate stack, and removing the oxide hardmask. | 12-05-2013 |
20130320450 | MIDDLE IN-SITU DOPED SIGE JUNCTIONS FOR PMOS DEVICES ON 28 NM LOW POWER/HIGH PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES USING A SILICON OXIDE ENCAPSULATION, EARLY HALO AND EXTENSION IMPLANTATIONS - A HKMG device with PMOS eSiGe source/drain regions is provided. Embodiments include forming first and second HKMG gate stacks on a substrate, each including a SiO | 12-05-2013 |
20130323892 | METHODS OF PERFORMING HIGHLY TILTED HALO IMPLANTATION PROCESSES ON SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - One illustrative method disclosed herein involves forming first and second gate structures that include a cap layer for a first transistor device and a second transistor device, respectively, wherein the first and second transistors are oriented transverse to one another, performing a first halo ion implant process to form first halo implant regions for the first transistor with the cap layer in position in the first gate structure of the first transistor, removing the cap layer from at least the second gate structure of the second transistor and, after removing the cap layer, performing a second halo ion implant process to form second halo implant regions for the second transistor, wherein the first and second halo implant processes are performed at transverse angles relative to the substrate. | 12-05-2013 |
20130334604 | SOI SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE COMPRISING A SUBSTRATE DIODE AND A FILM DIODE FORMED BY USING A COMMON WELL IMPLANTATION MASK - When forming sophisticated SOI devices, a substrate diode and a film diode are formed by using one and the same implantation mask for determining the well dopant concentration in the corresponding well regions. Consequently, during the further processing, the well dopant concentration of any transistor elements may be achieved independently from the well regions of the diode in the semiconductor layer. | 12-19-2013 |
20130341722 | ULTRATHIN BODY FULLY DEPLETED SILICON-ON-INSULATOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING SAME - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing an ultrathin body (UTB) fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) substrate. A PFET temporary gate structure and an NFET temporary gate structure are formed on the substrate. The method implants ions to form lightly doped active areas around the gate structures. A diffusionless annealing process is performed on the active areas. Further, a compressive strain region is formed around the PFET gate structure and a tensile strain region is formed around the NFET gate structure. | 12-26-2013 |
20140015055 | FINFET STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - A method is disclosed for fabricating an integrated circuit in a replacement-gate process flow utilizing a dummy-gate structure overlying a plurality of fin structures. The method includes removing the dummy-gate structure to form a first void space, depositing a shaper material to fill the first void space, removing a portion of the plurality of fin structures to form a second void space, epitaxially growing a high carrier mobility material to fill the second void space, removing the shaper material to form a third void space, and depositing a replacement metal gate material to fill the third void space. | 01-16-2014 |
20140015060 | STRESS ENHANCED CMOS CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE - A method for fabricating a stress enhanced CMOS circuit includes forming a first plurality of MOS transistors at a first pitch and forming a second plurality of MOS transistors at a second pitch. The second pitch is larger than the first pitch. The method further includes depositing a single stress liner overlying the first and second plurality of MOS transistors. The single stress liner is the only stress liner deposited in the fabrication of the stress enhanced CMOS circuit. A stress enhanced CMOS circuit includes a first plurality of MOS transistors formed at a first pitch and a second plurality of MOS transistors formed at a second pitch. The second pitch is larger than the first pitch. The circuit further includes a single stress liner overlying the first and second plurality of MOS transistors. The single stress liner is the only stress liner formed on the stress enhanced CMOS circuit. | 01-16-2014 |
20140027825 | THRESHOLD VOLTAGE ADJUSTMENT IN A FIN TRANSISTOR BY CORNER IMPLANTATION - When forming sophisticated multiple gate transistors and planar transistors in a common manufacturing sequence, the threshold voltage characteristics of the multiple gate transistors may be intentionally “degraded” by selectively incorporating a dopant species into corner areas of the semiconductor fins, thereby obtaining a superior adaptation of the threshold voltage characteristics of multiple gate transistors and planar transistors. In advantageous embodiments, the incorporation of the dopant species may be accomplished by using the hard mask, which is also used for patterning the self-aligned semiconductor fins. | 01-30-2014 |
20140027859 | METHODS OF FORMING TRANSISTOR DEVICES WITH HIGH-K INSULATION LAYERS AND THE RESULTING DEVICES - Method of forming transistor devices is disclosed that includes forming a first layer of high-k insulating material and a sacrificial protection layer above first and second active regions, removing the first layer of insulating material and the protection layer from above the second active region, removing the protection layer from above the first layer of insulating material positioned above the first active region, forming a second layer of high-k insulating material above the first layer of insulating material and the second active region, forming a layer of metal above the second layer of insulating material, and removing portions of the first and second layers of insulating material and the metal layer to form a first gate stack (comprised of the first and second layers of high-k material and the layer of metal) and a second gate stack (comprised of the second layer of high-k material and the layer of metal). | 01-30-2014 |
20140030876 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING HIGH CARRIER MOBILITY FINFET STRUCTURES - A method for fabricating an integrated circuit having a FinFET structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate comprising silicon and a high carrier mobility material, forming one or more fin structures on the semiconductor substrate, and subjecting the substrate to a condensation process for the condensation of the high carrier mobility material. The condensation process results in the formation of condensed fin structures formed substantially entirely of the high carrier mobility material and a layer of silicon oxide formed over the condensed fin structures. The method further includes removing the silicon oxide formed over the condensed fin structures so as to expose the condensed fin structures. | 01-30-2014 |
20140042550 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH IMPROVED SPACERS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING SAME - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes simultaneously shielding a shielded region of a semiconductor substrate and exposing a surface of the shielded region of the semiconductor substrate. An ion implantation is performed to form implant areas in a non-shielded region of the semiconductor substrate adjacent the shielded region. Also, the semiconductor substrate is silicided to form a silicided area in the shielded region of the semiconductor substrate. | 02-13-2014 |
20140070321 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS HAVING BORON-DOPED SILICON GERMANIUM CHANNELS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. One method includes recessing a PFET active region to form a recessed PFET surface region. A boron-doped SiGe channel is formed overlying the recessed PFET surface region. | 03-13-2014 |
20140117418 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL SILICON-BASED TRANSISTOR COMPRISING A HIGH-MOBILITY CHANNEL FORMED BY NON-MASKED EPITAXY - Three-dimensional transistors may be formed on the basis of high mobility semiconductor materials, which may be provided locally restricted in the channel region by selective epitaxial growth processes without using a mask material for laterally confining the growing of the high mobility semiconductor material. That is, by controlling process parameters of the selective epitaxial growth process, the cross-sectional shape may be adjusted without requiring a mask material, thereby reducing overall process complexity and providing an additional degree of freedom for adjusting the transistor characteristics in terms of threshold voltage, drive current and electrostatic control of the channel region. | 05-01-2014 |
20140131735 | SOURCE AND DRAIN DOPING USING DOPED RAISED SOURCE AND DRAIN REGIONS - A method comprises providing a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate, an electrically insulating layer on the substrate and a semiconductor feature on the electrically insulating layer. A gate structure is formed on the semiconductor feature. An in situ doped semiconductor material is deposited on portions of the semiconductor feature adjacent the gate structure. Dopant is diffused from the in situ doped semiconductor material into the portions of the semiconductor feature adjacent the gate structure, the diffusion of the dopant into the portions of the semiconductor feature adjacent the gate structure forming doped source and drain regions in the semiconductor feature. | 05-15-2014 |
20140131771 | SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE INCLUDING A SEMICONDUCTOR-ON-INSULATOR REGION AND A BULK REGION, AND METHOD FOR THE FORMATION THEREOF - A structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor-on-insulator region and a bulk region. The semiconductor-on-insulator region comprises a first semiconductor region, a dielectric layer provided between the semiconductor substrate and the first semiconductor region, and a first transistor comprising an active region provided in the first semiconductor region. The dielectric layer provides electrical isolation between the first semiconductor region and the semiconductor substrate. The bulk region comprises a second semiconductor region provided directly on the semiconductor substrate. | 05-15-2014 |
20140151818 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH A SILICON DIOXIDE GATE INSULATION LAYER IMPLANTED WITH A RARE EARTH ELEMENT AND METHODS OF MAKING SUCH A DEVICE - One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a gate insulation layer on a semiconducting substrate, performing an ion implantation process to implant a rare earth element into the gate insulation layer, and forming a silicon-containing gate electrode above the gate insulation layer comprising the implanted rare earth element. One illustrative device disclosed herein includes a gate insulation layer positioned on a semiconducting substrate, wherein the gate insulation layer is comprised of silicon dioxide and a rare earth element, and a silicon-containing gate electrode positioned on the gate insulation layer. | 06-05-2014 |
20140175539 | CANYON GATE TRANSISTOR AND METHODS FOR ITS FABRICATION - Lithographic limitations on gate and induced channel length in MOSFETS are avoided by forming non-planar MOSFETS in a cavity extending into a semiconductor substrate. The gate insulator and channel region lie proximate a cavity sidewall having angle α preferably about ≧90 degrees with respect to the semiconductor surface. The channel length depends on the bottom depth of the cavity and the depth from the surface of a source or drain region adjacent the cavity. The corresponding drain or source lies at the cavity bottom. The cavity sidewall extends therebetween. Neither depth is lithographic dependent. Very short channels can be consistently formed, providing improved performance and manufacturing yield. Source, drain and gate connections are brought to the same surface so that complex circuits can be readily constructed. The source and drain regions are preferably formed epitaxially and strain inducing materials can be used therein to improve channel carrier mobility. | 06-26-2014 |
20140183654 | MIDDLE IN-SITU DOPED SIGE JUNCTIONS FOR PMOS DEVICES ON 28 NM LOW POWER/HIGH PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES USING A SILICON OXIDE ENCAPSULATION, EARLY HALO AND EXTENSION IMPLANTATIONS - A HKMG device with PMOS eSiGe source/drain regions is provided. Embodiments include forming first and second HKMG gate stacks on a substrate, each including a SiO | 07-03-2014 |
20140197498 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH IMPROVED SILICIDE CONTACTS - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming over a semiconductor substrate a gate structure. The method further includes depositing a non-conformal spacer material around the gate structure. A protection mask is formed over the non-conformal spacer material. The method etches the non-conformal spacer material and protection mask to form a salicidation spacer. Further, a self-aligned silicide contact is formed adjacent the salicidation spacer. | 07-17-2014 |
20140206157 | METHOD OF FORMING A SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE INCLUDING A VERTICAL NANOWIRE - A method comprises providing a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate and a nanowire above the substrate. The nanowire comprises a first semiconductor material and extends in a vertical direction of the substrate. A material layer is formed above the substrate. The material layer annularly encloses the nanowire. A first part of the nanowire is selectively removed relative to the material layer. A second part of the nanowire is not removed. A distal end of the second part of the nanowire distal from the substrate is closer to the substrate than a surface of the material layer so that the semiconductor structure has a recess at the location of the nanowire. The distal end of the nanowire is exposed at the bottom of the recess. The recess is filled with a second semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material is differently doped than the first semiconductor material. | 07-24-2014 |
20140220759 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS HAVING GATE TO ACTIVE AND GATE TO GATE INTERCONNECTS - 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. | 08-07-2014 |
20140231907 | METHODS OF INDUCING A DESIRED STRESS IN THE CHANNEL REGION OF A TRANSISTOR BY PERFORMING ION IMPLANTATION/ANNEAL PROCESSES ON THE GATE ELECTRODE - One method herein includes forming a gate structure above an active area of a semiconductor substrate, forming sidewall spacer structures adjacent the gate structure, forming a masking layer that allows implantation of ions into the gate electrode but not into areas of the active region where source/drain regions for the transistor will be formed, performing a gate ion implantation process to form a gate ion implant region in the gate electrode and performing an anneal process. An N-type transistor including sidewall spacer structures positioned adjacent a gate structure, a plurality of source/drain regions for the transistor and a gate implant region positioned in a gate electrode, wherein the gate implant region is comprised of ions of phosphorous, arsenic or an implant material with an atomic size that is equal to or greater than the atomic size of phosphorous at a concentration level that falls within the range of 5e | 08-21-2014 |
20140246696 | TRANSISTOR WITH EMBEDDED STRAIN-INDUCING MATERIAL FORMED IN CAVITIES FORMED IN A SILICON/GERMANIUM SUBSTRATE - When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices including N-channel transistors with strain-inducing embedded source and drain semiconductor regions, N-channel transistor performance may be enhanced by selectively growing embedded pure silicon source and drain regions in cavities exposing the silicon/germanium layer of a Si/SiGe-substrate, wherein the silicon layer of the Si/SiGe-substrate may exhibit a strong bi-axial tensile strain. The bi-axial tensile strain may improve both electron and hole mobility. | 09-04-2014 |
20140246698 | CHANNEL SiGe REMOVAL FROM PFET SOURCE/DRAIN REGION FOR IMPROVED SILICIDE FORMATION IN HKMG TECHNOLOGIES WITHOUT EMBEDDED SiGe - When forming sophisticated P-channel transistors, a semiconductor alloy layer is formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer including the transistor active region. When a metal silicide layer is formed contiguous to this semiconductor alloy layer, an agglomeration of the metal silicide layer into isolated clusters is observed. In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes a method and a semiconductor device wherein the portion of the semiconductor alloy layer lying on the source and drain regions of the transistor is removed before formation of the metal silicide layer is performed. In this manner, the metal silicide layer is formed so as to be contiguous to the semiconductor layer, and not to the semiconductor alloy layer. | 09-04-2014 |
20140248749 | STRESS MEMORIZATION TECHNIQUE - A method comprises providing a semiconductor structure comprising a gate structure provided over a semiconductor region. An ion implantation process is performed. In the ion implantation process, a first portion of the semiconductor region adjacent the gate structure and a second portion of the semiconductor region adjacent the gate structure are amorphized so that a first amorphized region and a second amorphized region are formed adjacent the gate structure. An atomic layer deposition process is performed. The atomic layer deposition process deposits a layer of a material having an intrinsic stress over the semiconductor structure. A temperature at which at least a part of the atomic layer deposition process is performed and a duration of the at least a part of the atomic layer deposition process are selected such that the first amorphized region and the second amorphized region are re-crystallized during the atomic layer deposition process. | 09-04-2014 |
20140252429 | CONTACT GEOMETRY HAVING A GATE SILICON LENGTH DECOUPLED FROM A TRANSISTOR LENGTH - Methods for forming a semiconductor device are provided. In one embodiment, a gate structure having a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode structure formed on the gate insulating layer is provided. The methods provide reducing a dimension of the gate electrode structure relative to the gate insulating layer along a direction extending in parallel to a direction connecting the source and drain. A semiconductor device structure having a gate structure including a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode structure formed above the gate insulating layer is provided, wherein a dimension of the gate electrode structure extending along a direction which is substantially parallel to a direction being oriented from source to drain is reduced relative to a dimension of the gate insulating layer. According to some examples, gate structures are provided having a gate silicon length which is decoupled from the channel width induced by the gate structure. | 09-11-2014 |
20140252481 | TRANSISTOR INCLUDING A GATE ELECTRODE EXTENDING ALL AROUND ONE OR MORE CHANNEL REGIONS - A semiconductor structure comprises a substrate and a transistor. The transistor comprises a raised source region and a raised drain region provided above the substrate, one or more elongated semiconductor lines, a gate electrode and a gate insulation layer. The one or more elongated semiconductor lines are connected between the raised source region and the raised drain region, wherein a longitudinal direction of each of the one or more elongated semiconductor lines extends substantially along a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to a thickness direction of the substrate. Each of the elongated semiconductor lines comprises a channel region. The gate electrode extends all around each of the channel regions of the one or more elongated semiconductor lines. The gate insulation layer is provided between each of the one or more elongated semiconductor lines and the gate electrode. | 09-11-2014 |
20140252557 | METHOD FOR FORMING A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE STRUCTURES - Semiconductor device structures and methods for forming a semiconductor device are provided. In embodiments, one or more fins are provided, each of the one or more fins having a lower portion and an upper portion disposed on the lower portion. The lower portion is embedded in a first insulating material. The shape of the upper portion is at least one of a substantially triangular shape and a substantially rounded shape and a substantially trapezoidal shape. Furthermore, a layer of a second insulating material different from the first insulating material is formed on the upper portion. | 09-11-2014 |
20140256135 | METHODS OF REMOVING GATE CAP LAYERS IN CMOS APPLICATIONS - One illustrative method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming a masking layer that covers a P-type transistor and exposes at least a gate cap layer of an N-type transistor, performing a first etching process through the masking layer to remove a portion of the gate cap of the N-type transistor so as to thereby define a reduced thickness gate cap layer for the N-type transistor, removing the masking layer, and performing a common second etching process on the P-type transistor and the N-type transistor that removes a gate cap layer of the P-type transistor and the reduced thickness gate cap of the N-type transistor. | 09-11-2014 |
20140269060 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH NON-VOLATILE MEMORY - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate doped with a first conductivity-determining impurity. The semiconductor substrate has formed therein a first well doped with a second conductivity-determining impurity that is different from the first conductivity-determining impurity, a second well, formed within the first well, and doped with the first conductivity-determining impurity, and a third well spaced apart from the first and second wells and doped with the first conductivity-determining impurity. The integrated circuit further includes a floating gate structure formed over the semiconductor substrate. The floating gate structure includes a first gate element disposed over the second well and being separated from the second well with a dielectric layer, a second gate element disposed over the third well and being separated from the third well with the dielectric layer, and a conductive connector. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273367 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH GATE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE PROTECTION - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided herein. In an embodiment of a method for fabricating integrated circuits, a P-type gate electrode structure and an N-type gate electrode structure are formed overlying a semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode structures each include a gate electrode that overlies a gate dielectric layer and a nitride cap that overlies the gate electrode. Conductivity determining ions are implanted into the semiconductor substrate using the P-type gate electrode structure and the N-type gate electrode structure as masks to form a source region and a drain region for the P-type gate electrode structure and the N-type gate electrode structure. The nitride cap remains overlying the N-type gate electrode structure during implantation of the conductivity determining ions into the semiconductor substrate to form the source region and the drain region for the N-type gate electrode structure. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273370 | TECHNIQUE FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES COMPRISING TRANSISTORS WITH DIFFERENT THRESHOLD VOLTAGES - When forming semiconductor devices including transistors with different threshold voltages, the different threshold voltages of transistors of the same conductivity type are substantially defined by performing different halo implantations. As the other implantations performed typically in the same manufacturing step, such as pre-amorphization, source and drain extension implantation and extra diffusion engineering implantations, may be identical for different threshold voltages, these implantations, in addition to a common halo base implantation, may be performed for all transistors of the same conductivity type in a common implantation sequence. Higher threshold voltages of specific transistors may be subsequently achieved by an additional low-dose halo implantation while the other transistors are covered by a resist mask. Thus, the amount of atoms of the implant species in the required resist masks is reduced so that removal of the resist masks is facilitated. Furthermore, the number of implantation steps is decreased compared to conventional manufacturing processes. | 09-18-2014 |
20140319620 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON RESISTOR STRUCTURES USING A REPLACMENT GATE PROCESS FLOW, AND THE INTEGRATED CIRCUITS FABRICATED THEREBY - Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a first transistor structure that includes an etch-stop material layer, a first workfunction material layer disposed over the etch-stop material layer, a second workfunction material layer disposed over the first workfunction material layer, and a metal fill material disposed over the second workfunction material layer. The integrated circuit further includes a second transistor structure that includes a layer of the etch-stop material, a layer of the second workfunction material disposed over the etch-stop material layer, and a layer of the metal fill material disposed over the second workfunction material layer. Still further, the integrated circuit includes a resistor structure that includes a layer of the etch-stop material, a layer of the metal fill material disposed over the etch-stop material layer, and a silicon material layer disposed over the metal fill material layer. | 10-30-2014 |
20140357042 | SPACER STRESS RELAXATION - A known problem when manufacturing transistors is the stress undesirably introduced by the spacers into the transistor channel region. In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes an ion implantation aimed at relaxing the stress of the spacer materials. The relax implantation is performed after the spacer has been completely formed. The relax implantation may be performed after a silicidation process or after an implantation step in the source and drain regions followed by an activation annealing and before performing the silicidation process. | 12-04-2014 |
20140361335 | DEVICE INCLUDING A TRANSISTOR HAVING A STRESSED CHANNEL REGION AND METHOD FOR THE FORMATION THEREOF - A device includes a substrate, a P-channel transistor and an N-channel transistor. The substrate includes a first layer of a first semiconductor material and a second layer of a second semiconductor material. The first and second semiconductor materials have different crystal lattice constants. The P-channel transistor includes a channel region having a compressive stress in a first portion of the substrate. The channel region of the P-channel transistor includes a portion of the first layer of the first semiconductor material and a portion of the second layer of the second semiconductor material. The N-channel transistor includes a channel region having a tensile stress formed in a second portion of the substrate. The channel region of the N-channel transistor includes a portion of the first layer of the first semiconductor material and a portion of the second layer of the second semiconductor material. Methods of forming the device are also disclosed. | 12-11-2014 |
20150021693 | ENHANCING TRANSISTOR PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY BY INCORPORATING DEUTERIUM INTO A STRAINED CAPPING LAYER - When forming transistors with deuterium enhanced gate dielectrics and strained channel regions, the manufacturing processes of strain-inducing dielectric material layers formed above the transistors may be employed to efficiently introduce and diffuse the deuterium to the gate dielectrics. The incorporation of deuterium into the strain-inducing dielectric material layers may be accomplished on the basis of a deposition process in which deuterium is present in the process environment during deposition. The process temperature of the deposition process may be chosen to perform—in combination with further subsequently performed process steps—a sufficient diffusion of deuterium to the gate dielectrics. | 01-22-2015 |
20150021712 | HIGHLY CONFORMAL EXTENSION DOPING IN ADVANCED MULTI-GATE DEVICES - The present disclosure provides in various aspects methods of forming a semiconductor device, methods for forming a semiconductor device structure, a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device structure. In some illustrative embodiments herein, a gate structure is formed over a non-planar surface portion of a semiconductor material provided on a surface of a substrate. A doped spacer-forming material is formed over the gate structure and the semiconductor material and dopants incorporated in the doped spacer-forming material are diffused into the semiconductor material close to a surface of the semiconductor material so as to form source/drain extension regions. The fabricated semiconductor devices may be multi-gate devices and, for example, comprise finFETs and/or wireFETs. | 01-22-2015 |
20150050787 | FULLY SILICIDED GATE FORMED ACCORDING TO THE GATE-FIRST HKMG APPROACH - When forming field-effect transistors, a common problem is the formation of a Schottky barrier at the interface between a metal thin film in the gate electrode and a semiconductor material, typically polysilicon, formed thereupon. Fully silicided gates are known in the state of the art, which may overcome this problem. However, formation of a fully silicided gate is hindered by the fact that silicidation of the source and drain regions and of the gate electrode are normally performed simultaneously. The claimed method proposes two consecutive silicidation processes which are decoupled with respect to each other. During the first silicidation process, a metal silicide is formed forming an interface with the source and drain regions and without affecting the gate electrode. During the second silicidation, a metal silicide layer having an interface with the gate electrode is formed, without affecting the transistor source and drain regions. | 02-19-2015 |
20150054072 | LATE IN-SITU DOPED SIGE JUNCTIONS FOR PMOS DEVICES ON 28 NM LOW POWER/HIGH PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES USING A SILICON OXIDE ENCAPSULATION, EARLY HALO AND EXTENSION IMPLANTATIONS - A HKMG device with PMOS eSiGe source/drain regions is provided. Embodiments include forming first and second HKMG gate stacks on a substrate, forming a nitride liner and oxide spacers on each side of each HKMG gate stack, performing halo/extension implants at each side of each HKMG gate stack, forming an oxide liner and nitride spacers on the oxide spacers of each HKMG gate stack, forming deep source/drain regions at opposite sides of the second HKMG gate stack, forming an oxide hardmask over the second HKMG gate stack, forming embedded silicon germanium (eSiGe) at opposite sides of the first HKMG gate stack, and removing the oxide hardmask. | 02-26-2015 |