IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,497,530
Granted Patent B2
US 8,497,530 · App. 13/424,234 · Granted Jul 30, 2013

Semiconductor structures including dual fins

Inventors: Aaron R. Wilson (Boise, ID); Larson Lindholm (Boise, ID); David Hwang (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,497,530
App. No.
13/424,234
Granted
Jul 30, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Fin-FET (fin field-effect transistor) devices and methods of fabrication are disclosed. The fin-FET devices include dual fin structures that may form a channel region between a source region and a drain region. In some embodiments, the dual fin structures are formed by forming shallow trench isolation structures, using a pair of shallow trench isolation (STI) structures as a mask to define a recess in a portion of a substrate between the pair of STI structures, and recessing the pair of STI structures so that the resulting dual fin structures protrude from an active surface of the substrate. The dual fin structures may be used to form single-gate, double-gate, or triple-gate fin-FET devices. Electronic systems including such fin-FET devices are also disclosed.

Claims (18)

1. A semiconductor structure, comprising:

a substrate comprising at least one region disposed between trenches formed in the substrate, the trenches extending into the substrate from a horizontal upper surface of the substrate;

a dielectric material within the trenches, the at least one region of the substrate extending above an upper surface of the dielectric material within the trenches; and

a recess comprising recess sidewalls defined in the at least one region, the recess extending into the at least one region from the horizontal upper surface of the substrate, at least a portion of the dielectric material within the trenches exposed through the recess sidewalls.

2. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises silicon.

3. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein the trenches define non-vertical trench sidewalls.

4. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the trenches extends deeper into the substrate than the recess extends.

5. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , further comprising mask regions supported by the recess sidewalls.

6. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein the recess defines a non-planar lower recess surface.

7. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein the recess defines a lower recess surface depressed relative to the upper surface of the dielectric material within the trenches.

8. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the trenches comprises trench sidewalls defining trench sidewall recesses therein, each of the trench sidewall recesses disposed vertically below at least one of the recess sidewalls.

9. A semiconductor structure, comprising:

a substrate comprising at least one elevated region disposed between and protruding above a pair of trenches defined in the substrate, the pair of trenches at least partially filled with a dielectric material; and

a recess defined in the at least one elevated region and protruding downward into the substrate, the recess exposing a portion of the dielectric material.

10. The semiconductor structure of claim 9 , wherein the recess defines a lower recess surface, the lower recess surface elevated relative to an upper planar surface of the dielectric material.

11. The semiconductor structure of claim 9 , wherein the recess defines a lower recess surface, the lower recess surface depressed relative to an upper surface of the dielectric material.

12. The semiconductor structure of claim 9 , wherein the dielectric material defines a dielectric protrusion disposed vertically below the at least one elevated region.

13. The semiconductor structure of claim 9 , wherein the recess defines a non-planar lower recess surface.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 12944529 · Nov 11, 2010
Division 11778938 · Jul 17, 2007
Related Publication 20120175748A1 · Jul 12, 2012