IP Library Granted Patent US 10,325,824
Granted Patent B2
US 10,325,824 · App. 15/622,061 · Granted Jun 18, 2019

Methods, apparatus and system for threshold voltage control in FinFET devices

Inventors: Mitsuhiro Togo (Burnt Hills, NY); Ram Asra (Clifton Park, NY); Xing Zhang (Beacon, NY); Palanivel Balasubramaniam (Mechanicville, NY)
Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
H01L22/20H01L21/82385H01L21/823807H01L21/823821H01L27/0922H01L27/0924H01L29/1037H01L29/42376
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,325,824
App. No.
15/622,061
Granted
Jun 18, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

At least one method, apparatus and system are disclosed for controlling threshold voltage values for a plurality of transistor devices. Determine a first threshold voltage of a first transistor gate comprising a first gate channel having a first length. Determine a second length of a second gate channel of a second transistor gate. Determining a process adjustment of the second gate based on the second length for providing a second threshold voltage of the second transistor gate. The second threshold voltage is within a predetermined range of the first threshold voltage. Provide data relating to process adjustment to a process controller for performing the process adjustment.

Claims (26)

1. A method, comprising:

determining a first threshold voltage of a first transistor gate comprising a first gate channel having a first length;

determining a second length of a second gate channel of a second transistor gate;

determining a process adjustment of said second gate based on said second length for providing a second threshold voltage of said second transistor gate, wherein said second threshold voltage is within a predetermined range of said first threshold voltage, wherein determining said process adjustment comprises determining a thickness of a first work function metal (WFM) layer of said first transistor gate and determining a thickness of a second WFM of said second transistor gate, wherein said second WFM layer is thicker than the thickness of said first WFM layer, in response to a determination that said first threshold voltage is at least one of a PFET low voltage threshold (PLVT), a PFET regular voltage threshold (PRVT), a PFET super-low voltage threshold (PSLVT), an NFET low voltage threshold (NLVT), a NFET regular voltage threshold (NRVT), or a NFET super-low voltage threshold (NSLVT); and

providing data relating to process adjustment to a process controller for performing said process adjustment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said first voltage threshold comprises determining whether said first transistor gate is one of a PFET low voltage threshold (PLVT), a PFET regular voltage threshold (PRVT), a PFET super-low voltage threshold (PSLVT), an NFET low voltage threshold (NLVT), a NFET regular voltage threshold (NRVT), or a NFET super-low voltage threshold (NSLVT).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

said PLVT and said NLVT are an absolute value of about 0.20 Volts;

said PRVT and said NRVT are an absolute value of about 0.25 Volts; and

said PSLVT and said NSLVT are an absolute value of about 0.15 Volts.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first WFM of said first transistor gate is of an opposite polarity of a second WFM.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said process adjustment comprises determining a first material for said first WFM and a second material for said second WFM.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said process adjustment comprises adjusting a halo layer adjacent a source and drain region corresponding to said second transistor gate, wherein adjusting said halo layer comprises providing a thinner halo layer or eliminating said halo layer.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining a thickness of a second WFM comprises determining that the second WFM layer is to be in the range of about 40-50 Å.

8. A system, comprising:

a semiconductor device processing system to manufacture a semiconductor device comprising at least one fin field effect transistor (finFET); and

a processing controller operatively coupled to said semiconductor device processing system, said processing controller configured to control an operation of said semiconductor device processing system;

wherein said semiconductor device processing system is adapted to:

determine a first threshold voltage of a first transistor gate comprising a first gate channel having a first length;

determine a second length of a second gate channel of a second transistor gate;

determine a process adjustment of said second gate based on said second length for providing a second threshold voltage of said second transistor gate, wherein said second threshold voltage is within a predetermined range of said first threshold voltage, wherein determining said process adjustment comprises determining a thickness of a first work function metal (WFM) layer of said first transistor gate and determining a thickness of a second WFM of said second transistor gate, wherein said second WFM layer is thicker than the thickness of said first WFM layer, in response to a determination that said first threshold voltage is at least one of a PFET low voltage threshold (PLVT), a PFET regular voltage threshold (PRVT), a PFET super-low voltage threshold (PSLVT), an NFET low voltage threshold (NLVT), a NFET regular voltage threshold (NRVT), or a NFET super-low voltage threshold (NSLVT); and

provide data relating to process adjustment to said processing controller for performing said process adjustment.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a design unit configured to generate a first design comprising a definition for a process mask, a definition for forming said first and second transistor gates, wherein data from said design unit is used by said processing controller to control an operation of said semiconductor device processing system.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said semiconductor device processing system is further adapted to:

adjust a halo layer adjacent a source and drain region corresponding to said second transistor gate, wherein adjusting said halo layer comprises providing a thinner halo layer or eliminating said halo layer; and

determine a third threshold voltage of a first gate-source-drain design and a fourth threshold voltage of a second gate-drain-source design and determine the thickness of a WFM layer of said second gate-drain-source design for causing said fourth threshold voltage to be within a predetermined range of said third threshold voltage.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2020
From: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054452/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2017
From: TOGO, MITSUHIRO; ASRA, RAM; ZHANG, XING; BALASUBRAMANIAM, PALANIVEL
To: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 042700/0977 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180358272A1 · Dec 13, 2018