Vertical integration scheme and circuit elements architecture for area scaling of semiconductor devices

1. An inverter structure, comprising:

a semiconductor fin separated vertically into an upper region and a lower region;

a first plurality of gate structures for controlling the upper region of the semiconductor fin; and

a second plurality of gate structures for controlling the lower region of the semiconductor fin, the second plurality of gate structures having a conductivity type opposite the conductivity type of the first plurality of gate structures, wherein the second plurality of gate structures is separate and distinct from the first plurality of gate structures.

2. The inverter structure of claim 1 , wherein the upper region of the fin and the lower region of the fin are separated by an insulating layer.

3. The inverter structure of claim 1 , wherein corresponding ones of the first plurality of gate structures and the second plurality of gate structures are separated by an insulating layer.

4. The inverter structure of claim 1 , wherein corresponding ones of the first plurality of gate structures and the second plurality of gate structures form a P/N junction.

5. The inverter structure of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of gate structures is a plurality of PMOS gate structures, and the second plurality of gate structures is a plurality of NMOS gate structures.

6. The inverter structure of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of gate structures is disposed over a top surface of the semiconductor fin and along sidewalls of the upper region of the semiconductor fin, and wherein the second plurality of gate structures is disposed along sidewalls of the lower region of the semiconductor fin.

7. The inverter structure of claim 6 , wherein the second plurality of gate structures is further disposed below a bottom surface of the semiconductor fin.

8. A pass gate structure, comprising:

a semiconductor fin separated vertically into an upper region and a lower region;

a first plurality of gate structures for controlling the upper region of the semiconductor fin; and

a second plurality of gate structures for controlling the lower region of the semiconductor fin, the second plurality of gate structures having a same conductivity type as the conductivity type of the first plurality of gate structures, wherein the second plurality of gate structures is separate and distinct from the first plurality of gate structures.

9. The pass gate structure of claim 8 , wherein the upper region of the fin and the lower region of the fin are separated by an insulating layer.

10. The pass gate structure of claim 8 , wherein corresponding ones of the first plurality of gate structures and the second plurality of gate structures are separated by an insulating layer.

11. The pass gate structure of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of gate structures is a plurality of NMOS gate structures, and the second plurality of gate structures is a plurality of NMOS gate structures.

12. The pass gate structure of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of gate structures is disposed over a top surface of the semiconductor fin and along sidewalls of the upper region of the semiconductor fin, and wherein the second plurality of gate structures is disposed along sidewalls of the lower region of the semiconductor fin.

13. The pass gate structure of claim 12 , wherein the second plurality of gate structures is further disposed below a bottom surface of the semiconductor fin.

14. A method of fabricating a circuit element on a single semiconductor fin, the method comprising:

forming a semiconductor fin;

separating the semiconductor fin vertically into an upper region and a lower region;

forming a lower plurality of gate structures for controlling the lower region of the semiconductor fin; and

forming an upper plurality of gate structures for controlling the upper region of the semiconductor fin, wherein the second plurality of gate structures is separate and distinct from the first plurality of gate structures.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the upper plurality of gate structures comprises forming a plurality of gate structures having a conductivity type opposite the conductivity type of the lower plurality of gate structures.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the upper plurality of gate structures comprises forming a plurality of gate structures having a same conductivity type as the conductivity type of the lower plurality of gate structures.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein separating the semiconductor fin vertically into an upper region and a lower region comprises forming an oxide layer between the upper region and the lower region of the semiconductor fin.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein forming an oxide layer between the upper region and the lower region of the semiconductor fin comprises selectively removing a portion of a silicon germanium layer from between upper and lower silicon layers of the semiconductor fin.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

forming first epitaxial source and drain regions for the lower portion of the semiconductor fin; and

forming second epitaxial source and drain regions for the upper portion of the semiconductor fin, the second epitaxial source and drain regions of opposite conductivity type to the first epitaxial source and drain regions.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

forming first epitaxial source and drain regions for the lower portion of the semiconductor fin; and

forming second epitaxial source and drain regions for the upper portion of the semiconductor fin, the second epitaxial source and drain regions of a same conductivity type as the first epitaxial source and drain regions.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the lower plurality of gate structures and forming the upper plurality of gate structures comprises using a replacement gate process.