IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,414,381
Granted Patent B2
US 12,414,381 · App. 17/818,048 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Monolithic three-dimensional (3D) complementary field effect transistor (CFET) circuits and method of manufacture

Inventors: Xia Li (San Diego, CA); Bin Yang (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
H10D88/00H03K19/0948H10D84/0167H10D84/017H10D84/0186H10D84/038H10D84/8311H10D84/8312H10D84/851H01L23/481
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,414,381
App. No.
17/818,048
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A monolithic 3D complementary field-effect transistor (FET) (CFET) circuit includes a first CFET structure and a second CFET structure in a logic circuit within a device layer. A first interconnect layer disposed on the device layer provides first and second input contacts and an output contact of a logic circuit. Each CFET structure includes an upper FET having a first type (e.g., P-type or N-type) on a lower FET having a second type (e.g., N-type or P-type). The FETs in the monolithic 3D CFET circuit may be interconnected to form a two-input NOR circuit or a two-input NAND circuit. Vertical access interconnects (vias) may be formed within the device layer to interconnect the FETs externally and to each other. The FETs may be formed as bulk-type transistors or SOI transistors.

Claims (92)

1. A complementary field-effect transistor (CFET) circuit, comprising:

a device layer, comprising:

a first monolithic CFET structure comprising a first FET of a first type on a second FET of a second type; and

a second monolithic CFET structure comprising a third FET of the first type on a fourth FET of the second type;

a first interconnect layer disposed on the device layer, the first interconnect layer comprising:

a first input contact configured to couple a first input signal to a gate of the first FET and to a gate of the second FET;

a second input contact configured to couple a second input signal to a gate of the third FET and to a gate of the fourth FET; and

an output contact configured to generate an output signal based on a logical operation of the first input signal and the second input signal;

a first interconnect extending in the first interconnect layer to couple a first source/drain of the first FET on a first side of the first monolithic CFET structure to a first source/drain of the third FET on a first side of the second monolithic CFET structure, wherein the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure and the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure are between the first monolithic CFET structure and the second monolithic CFET structure; and

wherein the device layer further comprises:

a first upper via extending from the first source/drain of the first FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a second upper via extending from the first source/drain of the third FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

a third upper via extending from a second source/drain of the first FET to the first interconnect layer on a second side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a fourth upper via extending from a second source/drain of the third FET to the first interconnect layer on a second side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

a fifth upper via coupling the gate of the first FET and the gate of the second FET to the first interconnect layer; and

a sixth upper via coupling the gate of the third FET and the gate of the fourth FET to the first interconnect layer.

2. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnect external to the device layer and the first interconnect layer and coupled to the second source/drain of the third FET to configure the CFET circuit as a two-input not-OR (NOR) circuit.

3. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnect external to the device layer and the first interconnect layer and coupled to the second source/drain of the third FET to configure the CFET circuit as a two-input not-AND (NAND) circuit.

4. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , the device layer further comprising:

a first lower via extending from a first source/drain of the second FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a second lower via extending from a first source/drain of the fourth FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

a third lower via extending from a second source/drain of the second FET to the first interconnect layer on the second side of the first monolithic CFET structure; and

a fourth lower via extending from a second source/drain of the fourth FET to the first interconnect layer on the second side of the first monolithic CFET structure.

5. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , wherein:

the first source/drain of the first FET is coupled to a first channel region on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure and the second source/drain of the first FET is coupled to the first channel region on the second side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a first source/drain of the second FET is coupled to a second channel region on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure and a second source/drain of the second FET is coupled to the second channel region on the second side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

the first source/drain of the first FET comprises a first source/drain width;

the first source/drain of the second FET comprises a second source/drain width exceeding the first source/drain width; and

the device layer further comprises a seventh upper via extending from the first source/drain of the second FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure.

6. The CFET circuit of claim 5 , wherein:

the second source/drain of the first FET comprises the first source/drain width;

the first source/drain of the third FET comprises the first source/drain width;

the second source/drain of the third FET comprises the first source/drain width;

the second source/drain of the second FET comprises the second source/drain width;

a first source/drain of the fourth FET comprises the second source/drain width;

a second source/drain of the fourth FET comprises the second source/drain width;

an eighth upper via extends from the second source/drain of the second FET to the first interconnect layer on the second side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a ninth upper via extends from the first source/drain of the fourth FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure; and

a tenth upper via extends from the second source/drain of the fourth FET to the first interconnect layer on the second side of the second monolithic CFET structure.

7. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a second interconnect layer disposed below the device layer, wherein:

the device layer further comprises:

a first lower via extending from a first source/drain of the second FET to the second interconnect layer on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a second lower via extending from a first source/drain of the fourth FET to the second interconnect layer on the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

a third lower via extending from a second source/drain of the second FET to the second interconnect layer on the second side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a fourth lower via extending from a second source/drain of the fourth FET to the second interconnect layer on the second side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

a fifth via coupled to the third lower via through the second interconnect layer and extending between the second interconnect layer and the first interconnect layer on the second side of the first monolithic CFET structure; and

a sixth via coupled to the fourth lower via through the second interconnect layer and extending between the second interconnect layer and the first interconnect layer on the second side of the second monolithic CFET structure; and

the second interconnect layer further comprises a lower interconnect coupled to the first lower via and the second lower via.

8. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a semiconductor substrate,

wherein the first FET, the second FET, the third FET, and the fourth FET comprise bulk-type transistors formed on the semiconductor substrate.

9. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an oxide layer,

wherein the first FET, the second FET, the third FET, and the fourth FET further comprise silicon-on-insulator (SOI) type transistors formed on the oxide layer.

10. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnect external to the device layer and the first interconnect layer and coupling the second source/drain of the third FET to a second source/drain of the second FET and to a second source/drain of the fourth FET.

11. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnect external to the device layer and the first interconnect layer and coupling the second source/drain of the third FET to the second source/drain of the first FET and to a second source/drain of the fourth FET.

12. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnect external to the device layer and the first interconnect layer and coupling the first source/drain of the first FET to the first source/drain of the third FET.

13. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnect external to the device layer and the first interconnect layer and coupling the first source/drain of the first FET to a second source/drain of the fourth FET and the second source/drain of the third FET.

14. The CFET circuit of claim 1 , wherein each of the first FET, the second FET, the third FET, and the fourth FET comprise a channel region comprising at least one nano slab or nanowire.

15. A processor-based device selected from the group consisting of: a set-top box; an entertainment unit; a navigation device; a communications device; a fixed location data unit; a mobile location data unit; a global positioning system (GPS) device; a mobile phone; a cellular phone; a smartphone; a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone; a tablet; a phablet; a server; a computer; a portable computer; a mobile computing device; a wearable computing device; a desktop computer; a personal digital assistant (PDA); a monitor; a computer monitor; a television; a tuner; a radio; a satellite radio; a music player; a digital music player; a portable music player; a digital video player; a video player; a digital video disc (DVD) player; a portable digital video player; an automobile; a vehicle component; avionics systems; a drone; and a multicopter, comprising the CFET circuit of claim 1 .

16. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

a processor;

a complementary field-effect transistor (CFET) circuit coupled to the processor, the CFET circuit comprising:

a device layer, comprising:

a first monolithic CFET structure comprising a first FET of a first type above a second FET of a second type; and

a second monolithic CFET structure comprising a third FET of the first type above a fourth FET of the second type;

a first interconnect layer disposed on the device layer, the first interconnect layer comprising:

a first input contact configured to couple a first input signal to a gate of the first FET and to a gate of the second FET;

a second input contact configured to couple a second input signal to a gate of the third FET and to a gate of the fourth FET; and

an output contact configured to generate an output signal based on a logical operation of the first input signal and the second input signal;

a first interconnect extending in the first interconnect layer to couple a first source/drain of the first FET on a first side of the first monolithic CFET structure to a first source/drain of the third FET on a first side of the second monolithic CFET structure, wherein the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure and the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure are between the first monolithic CFET structure and the second monolithic CFET structure; and

wherein the device layer further comprises:

a first upper via extending from the first source/drain of the first FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a second upper via extending from the first source/drain of the third FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

a third upper via extending from a second source/drain of the first FET to the first interconnect layer on a second side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

a fourth upper via extending from a second source/drain of the third FET to the first interconnect layer on a second side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

a fifth upper via coupling the gate of the first FET and the gate of the second FET to the first interconnect layer; and

a sixth upper via coupling the gate of the third FET and the gate of the fourth FET to the first interconnect layer.

17. A method of forming a complementary field-effect transistor (CFET) circuit, the method comprising:

forming a device layer, comprising:

a first monolithic CFET structure comprising a first FET of a first type above a second FET of a second type; and

a second monolithic CFET structure comprising a third FET of the first type above a fourth FET of the second type;

forming a first interconnect layer disposed on the device layer, the first interconnect layer comprising:

a first input contact configured to couple a first input signal to a gate of the first FET and to a gate of the second FET;

a second input contact configured to couple a second input signal to a gate of the third FET and to a gate of the fourth FET; and

an output contact configured to generate an output signal based on a logical operation of the first input signal and the second input signal;

forming a first interconnect extending in the first interconnect layer to couple a first source/drain of the first FET on a first side of the first monolithic CFET structure to a first source/drain of the third FET on a first side of the second monolithic CFET structure, wherein the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure and the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure are between the first monolithic CFET structure and the second monolithic CFET structure; and

wherein forming the device layer further comprises:

forming a first upper via extending from the first source/drain of the first FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

forming a second upper via extending from the first source/drain of the third FET to the first interconnect layer on the first side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

forming a third upper via extending from a second source/drain of the first FET to the first interconnect layer on a second side of the first monolithic CFET structure;

forming a fourth upper via extending from a second source/drain of the third FET to the first interconnect layer on a second side of the second monolithic CFET structure;

forming a fifth upper via coupling the gate of the first FET and the gate of the second FET to the first interconnect layer; and

forming a sixth upper via coupling the gate of the third FET and the gate of the fourth FET to the first interconnect layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2022
From: LI, XIA; YANG, BIN
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 060970/0448 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240047455A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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