Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080290420 | SiGe or SiC layer on STI sidewalls - A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; an opening in the semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor layer in the opening and covering a bottom and sidewalls of the opening, wherein the semiconductor layer and the semiconductor substrate comprise different materials; and a dielectric material over the semiconductor layer and filling a remaining portion of the opening. | 11-27-2008 |
20080303102 | Strained Isolation Regions - An isolation trench having localized stressors is provided. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a trench is formed in a substrate and partially filled with a dielectric material. In an embodiment, the trench is filled with a dielectric layer and a planarization step is performed to planarize the surface with the surface of the substrate. The dielectric material is then recessed below the surface of the substrate. In the recessed portion of the trench, the dielectric material may remain along the sidewalls or the dielectric material may be removed along the sidewalls. A stress film, either tensile or compressive, may then be formed over the dielectric material within the recessed portion. The stress film may also extend over a transistor or other semiconductor structure. | 12-11-2008 |
20090108290 | Source/Drain Strained Layers - A semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof wherein a PMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate includes a first strained layer in the PMOS source/drain region and a first capping layer in contact with the first strained layer. Further, the semiconductor device and method provide for an NMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate including a second strained layer in the NMOS source/drain region and a second capping layer in contact with the second strained layer. | 04-30-2009 |
20100193879 | Isolation Region Implant and Structure - A method and structure for modulating the threshold voltage of transistor is provided. An opening for an isolation region is formed within a substrate using a masking layer. The masking layer is then pulled back from the opening, and dopants are implanted into the substrate through the exposed surface of the substrate and the sidewalls of the opening. This implantation can be tailored to modulate the threshold voltage of transistors with smaller gate widths without modulating the threshold voltage of other transistors with larger gate widths. | 08-05-2010 |
20100289086 | Source/Drain Strained Layers - A semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof wherein a PMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate includes a first strained layer in the PMOS source/drain region and a first capping layer in contact with the first strained layer. Further, the semiconductor device and method provide for an NMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate including a second strained layer in the NMOS source/drain region and a second capping layer in contact with the second strained layer. | 11-18-2010 |
20100301447 | Epitaxy Silicon On Insulator (ESOI) - Methods and structures for semiconductor devices with STI regions in SOI substrates is provided. A semiconductor structure comprises an SOI epitaxy island formed over a substrate. The structure further comprises an STI structure surrounding the SOI island. The STI structure comprises a second epitaxial layer on the substrate, and a second dielectric layer on the second epitaxial layer. A semiconductor fabrication method comprises forming a dielectric layer over a substrate and surrounding a device fabrication region in the substrate with an isolation trench extending through the dielectric layer. The method also includes filling the isolation trench with a first epitaxial layer and forming a second epitaxial layer over the device fabrication region and over the first epitaxial layer. Then a portion of the first epitaxial layer is replaced with an isolation dielectric, and then a device such as a transistor is formed second epitaxial layer within the device fabrication region. | 12-02-2010 |
20110001194 | Hybrid Process for Forming Metal Gates - A semiconductor structure and methods for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first MOS device of a first conductivity type and a second MOS device of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. The first MOS device includes a first gate dielectric on a semiconductor substrate; a first metal-containing gate electrode layer over the first gate dielectric; and a silicide layer over the first metal-containing gate electrode layer. The second MOS device includes a second gate dielectric on the semiconductor substrate; a second metal-containing gate electrode layer over the second gate dielectric; and a contact etch stop layer having a portion over the second metal-containing gate electrode layer, wherein a region between the portion of the contact etch stop layer and the second metal-containing gate electrode layer is substantially free from silicon. | 01-06-2011 |
20110101305 | MOS Devices with Partial Stressor Channel - A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a first lattice constant; a gate dielectric on the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate; and a stressor having at least a portion in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate electrode. The stressor has a tilted sidewall on a side adjacent the gate electrode. The stressor includes a first stressor layer having a second lattice constant substantially different from the first lattice constant; and a second stressor layer on the first stressor layer, wherein the second stressor has a third lattice constant substantially different from the first and the second lattice constants. | 05-05-2011 |
20110175161 | Advanced Forming Method and Structure of Local Mechanical Strained Transistor - Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor fabrication method and a structure for strained transistors. A method comprises forming a stressor layer over a MOS transistor. The stressor layer is selectively etched over the gate electrode, thereby affecting strain conditions within the MOSFET channel region. An NMOS transistor may have a tensile stressor layer, and a PMOS transistor may have compressive stressor layer. | 07-21-2011 |
20110230022 | Source/Drain Strained Layers - A semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof wherein a PMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate includes a first strained layer in the PMOS source/drain region and a first capping layer in contact with the first strained layer. Further, the semiconductor device and method provide for an NMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate including a second strained layer in the NMOS source/drain region and a second capping layer in contact with the second strained layer. | 09-22-2011 |
20110287600 | Selective Etching in the Formation of Epitaxy Regions in MOS Devices - A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate; forming a recess in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate stack; and performing a selective epitaxial growth to grow a semiconductor material in the recess to form an epitaxy region. After the step of performing the selective epitaxial growth, a selective etch-back is performed to the epitaxy region. The selective etch-back is performed using process gases comprising a first gas for growing the semiconductor material, and a second gas for etching the epitaxy region. | 11-24-2011 |
20110287611 | Reducing Variation by Using Combination Epitaxy Growth - A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate in a wafer; forming a recess in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate stack; and performing a selective epitaxial growth to grow a semiconductor material in the recess to form an epitaxy region. The step of performing the selective epitaxial growth includes performing a first growth stage with a first growth-to-etching (E/G) ratio of process gases used in the first growth stage; and performing a second growth stage with a second E/G ratio of process gases used in the second growth stage different from the first E/G ratio. | 11-24-2011 |
20120043641 | Epitaxy Silicon on Insulator (ESOI) - Methods and structures for semiconductor devices with STI regions in SOI substrates is provided. A semiconductor structure comprises an SOI epitaxy island formed over a substrate. The structure further comprises an STI structure surrounding the SOI island. The STI structure comprises a second epitaxial layer on the substrate, and a second dielectric layer on the second epitaxial layer. A semiconductor fabrication method comprises forming a dielectric layer over a substrate and surrounding a device fabrication region in the substrate with an isolation trench extending through the dielectric layer. The method also includes filling the isolation trench with a first epitaxial layer and forming a second epitaxial layer over the device fabrication region and over the first epitaxial layer. Then a portion of the first epitaxial layer is replaced with an isolation dielectric, and then a device such as a transistor is formed second epitaxial layer within the device fabrication region. | 02-23-2012 |
20130052837 | Apparatus and Methods for Annealing Wafers - A method includes performing an anneal on a wafer. The wafer includes a wafer-edge region, and an inner region encircled by the wafer-edge region. During the anneal, a first power applied on a portion of the wafer-edge region is at least lower than a second power for annealing the inner region. | 02-28-2013 |
20130099350 | Semiconductor Device and Method of Manufacture - A system and method for forming an isolation trench is provided. An embodiment comprises forming a trench and then lining the trench with a dielectric liner. Prior to etching the dielectric liner, an outgassing process is utilized to remove any residual precursor material that may be left over from the deposition of the dielectric liner. After the outgassing process, the dielectric liner may be etched, and the trench may be filled with a dielectric material. | 04-25-2013 |
20130130184 | Apparatus and Method for Controlling Wafer Temperature - A wafer temperature control apparatus comprises a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is configured to receive a first temperature signal from a center portion of a backside of a susceptor. The second temperature sensor is configured to receive a second temperature signal from an edge portion of the susceptor. A plurality of controllers are configured to adjust each heating source's output based upon the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal. | 05-23-2013 |
20130137251 | Uniform Shallow Trench Isolation Regions and the Method of Forming the Same - A method includes performing a plasma treatment on a first surface of a first material and a second surface of a second material simultaneously, wherein the first material is different from the second material. A third material is formed on treated first surface of the first material and on treated second surface of the second material. The first, the second, and the third materials may include a hard mask, a semiconductor material, and an oxide, respectively. | 05-30-2013 |
20130252392 | Performing Enhanced Cleaning in the Formation of MOS Devices - A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a recess, wherein the recess extends from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. An enhanced cleaning is then performed to etch exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate. The exposed portions are in the recess. The enhanced cleaning is performed using process gases including hydrochloride (HCl) and germane (GeH | 09-26-2013 |
20130256292 | Honey Cone Heaters for Integrated Circuit Manufacturing - A honey cone heater includes a lamp housing having an outer edge that forms a partial circle. The lamp housing has an opening extending from a top surface to a bottom surface of the lamp housing. The opening further extends from the outer edge into a center region of the lamp housing. A plurality of lamps is distributed throughout the lamp housing, and is configured to emit light out of the top surface of the lamp housing. | 10-03-2013 |
20130270579 | Epitaxy Silicon on Insulator (ESOI) - Methods and structures for semiconductor devices with STI regions in SOI substrates is provided. A semiconductor structure comprises an SOI epitaxy island formed over a substrate. The structure further comprises an STI structure surrounding the SOI island. The STI structure comprises a second epitaxial layer on the substrate, and a second dielectric layer on the second epitaxial layer. A semiconductor fabrication method comprises forming a dielectric layer over a substrate and surrounding a device fabrication region in the substrate with an isolation trench extending through the dielectric layer. The method also includes filling the isolation trench with a first epitaxial layer and forming a second epitaxial layer over the device fabrication region and over the first epitaxial layer. Then a portion of the first epitaxial layer is replaced with an isolation dielectric, and then a device such as a transistor is formed second epitaxial layer within the device fabrication region. | 10-17-2013 |
20130277760 | Dummy FinFET Structure and Method of Making Same - A FinFET device may include a dummy FinFET structure laterally adjacent an active FinFET structure to reduce stress imbalance and the effects of stress imbalance on the active FinFET structure. The FinFET device comprises an active FinFET comprising a plurality of semiconductor fins, and a dummy FinFET comprising a plurality of semiconductor fins. The active FinFET and the dummy FinFET are laterally spaced from each other by a spacing that is related to the fin pitch of the active FinFET. | 10-24-2013 |
20130323893 | Methods for Forming MOS Devices with Raised Source/Drain Regions - A method includes forming a first gate stack of a first device over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a second gate stack of a second MOS device over the semiconductor substrate. A first epitaxy is performed to form a source/drain stressor for the second MOS device, wherein the source/drain stressor is adjacent to the second gate stack. A second epitaxy is performed to form a first silicon layer and a second silicon layer simultaneously, wherein the first silicon layer is over a first portion of the semiconductor substrate, and is adjacent the first gate stack. The second silicon layer overlaps the source/drain stressor. | 12-05-2013 |
20140127879 | Semiconductor Device and Method of Manufacture - A system and method for forming an isolation trench is provided. An embodiment comprises forming a trench and then lining the trench with a dielectric liner. Prior to etching the dielectric liner, an outgassing process is utilized to remove any residual precursor material that may be left over from the deposition of the dielectric liner. After the outgas sing process, the dielectric liner may be etched, and the trench may be filled with a dielectric material. | 05-08-2014 |
20140242776 | Strained Isolation Regions - A method of forming an isolation trench having localized stressors is provided. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a trench is formed in a substrate and partially filled with a dielectric material. In an embodiment, the trench is filled with a dielectric layer and a planarization step is performed to planarize the surface with the surface of the substrate. The dielectric material is then recessed below the surface of the substrate. In the recessed portion of the trench, the dielectric material may remain along the sidewalls or the dielectric material may be removed along the sidewalls. A stress film, either tensile or compressive, may then be formed over the dielectric material within the recessed portion. The stress film may also extend over a transistor or other semiconductor structure. | 08-28-2014 |
20140252489 | FinFET with Rounded Source/Drain Profile - A method of forming a FinFET with a rounded source/drain profile comprises forming a fin in a substrate, etching a source/drain recess in the fin, forming a plurality of source/drain layers in the source/drain recess; and etching at least one of the plurality of source/drain layers. The source/drain layers may be a silicon germanium compound. Etching at the source/drain layers may comprises partially etching each of the plurality of source/drain layers prior to forming subsequent layers of the plurality of source/drain layers. The source/drain layers may be formed with a thickness at a top corner of about 15 nm, and the source/drain layers may each be etched back by about 3 nm prior to forming subsequent layers of the plurality of source/drain layers. Forming the plurality of source/drain layers optionally comprises forming at least five source/drain layers. | 09-11-2014 |
20140252497 | Isolation Region Gap Fill Method - An isolation region gap fill method comprises depositing a first dielectric material over a semiconductor device through a flowable deposition process or other gap fill deposition processes, wherein the semiconductor device includes a first FinFET comprising a plurality of first fins and a second FinFET comprising a plurality of second fins. The method further comprises removing the first dielectric material between the first FinFET and the second FinFET to form an inter-device gap, depositing a second dielectric material into the inter-device gap and applying an annealing process to the semiconductor device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140264491 | Semiconductor Strips with Undercuts and Methods for Forming the Same - An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor strip extending into the semiconductor substrate. A first and a second dielectric region are on opposite sides of, and in contact with, the semiconductor strip. Each of the first dielectric region and the second dielectric region includes a first portion level with the semiconductor strip, and a second portion lower than the semiconductor strip. The second portion further includes a portion overlapped by the semiconductor strip. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264590 | FinFET with Bottom SiGe Layer in Source/Drain - A FinFET includes a substrate, a fin structure on the substrate, a source in the fin structure, a drain in the fin structure, a channel in the fin structure between the source and the drain, a gate dielectric layer over the channel, and a gate over the gate dielectric layer. At least one of the source and the drain includes a bottom SiGe layer. | 09-18-2014 |
20140342522 | Reducing Variation by Using Combination Epitaxy Growth - A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate in a wafer; forming a recess in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate stack; and performing a selective epitaxial growth to grow a semiconductor material in the recess to form an epitaxy region. The step of performing the selective epitaxial growth includes performing a first growth stage with a first growth-to-etching (E/G) ratio of process gases used in the first growth stage; and performing a second growth stage with a second E/G ratio of process gases used in the second growth stage different from the first E/G ratio. | 11-20-2014 |
20150021688 | MOS Devices with Non-Uniform P-type Impurity Profile - An integrated circuit structure include a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the silicon germanium region has a first p-type impurity concentration. A silicon cap substantially free from germanium is overlying the silicon germanium region. The silicon cap has a second p-type impurity concentration greater than the first p-type impurity concentration. | 01-22-2015 |
20150021696 | MOS Devices Having Epitaxy Regions with Reduced Facets - An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is over the first silicon germanium region. The second silicon germanium region comprises a portion in the opening. The second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage greater than the first germanium percentage. A silicon cap substantially free from germanium is over the second silicon germanium region. | 01-22-2015 |
20150041852 | Modulating Germanium Percentage in MOS Devices - An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is disposed in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is overlying the first silicon germanium region, wherein the second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage higher than the first germanium percentage. A metal silicide region is over and in contact with the second silicon germanium region. | 02-12-2015 |
20150048417 | Germanium Barrier Embedded in MOS Devices - An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and an opening extending into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the opening is adjacent to the gate stack. A first silicon germanium region is in the opening, wherein the first silicon germanium region has a first germanium percentage. A second silicon germanium region is over the first silicon germanium region, wherein the second silicon germanium region has a second germanium percentage higher than the first germanium percentage. A third silicon germanium region is over the second silicon germanium region, wherein the third silicon germanium region has a third germanium percentage lower than the second germanium percentage. | 02-19-2015 |
20150054170 | Semiconductor Devices and Methods of Manufacture Thereof - Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor device includes conductive features disposed over a workpiece, each conductive feature including a conductive line portion and a via portion. A barrier layer is disposed on sidewalls of each conductive feature and on a bottom surface of the via portion of each conductive feature. The barrier layer includes a dielectric layer. A first insulating material layer is disposed beneath a portion of the conductive line portion of each conductive feature. A second insulating material layer is disposed between the conductive features. A third insulating material layer is disposed beneath the first insulating material layer and the second insulating material layer. A lower portion of the via portion of each of the conductive features is formed within the third insulating material layer. The second insulating material layer has a lower dielectric constant than a dielectric constant of the first insulating material layer and a dielectric constant of the third insulating material layer. | 02-26-2015 |
20150061024 | Source and Drain Stressors with Recessed Top Surfaces - An integrated circuit structure includes a gate stack over a semiconductor substrate, and a silicon germanium region extending into the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the gate stack. The silicon germanium region has a top surface, with a center portion of the top surface recessed from edge portions of the top surface to form a recess. The edge portions are on opposite sides of the center portion. | 03-05-2015 |