IP Library Granted Patent US 12,727,238
Granted Patent B2
US 12,727,238 · App. 17/954,206 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Integrated circuit structures having uniform grid metal gate and trench contact plug

Inventors: Leonard P. Guler (Hillsboro, OR); Sukru Yemenicioglu (Portland, OR); Mohit K. Haran (Hillsboro, OR); Stephen M. Cea (Hillsboro, OR); Charles H. Wallace (Portland, OR); Tahir Ghani (Portland, OR); Shengsi Liu (Portland, OR); Saurabh Acharya (Hillsboro, OR); Thomas O'Brien (Portland, OR); Nidhi Khandelwal (Portland, OR); Marie T. Conte (Hillsboro, OR); Prabhjot Luthra (Hillsboro, OR)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
H10D84/83H10D84/0149H10D84/0151H10D84/038
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,727,238
App. No.
17/954,206
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Integrated circuit structures having uniform grid metal gate and trench contact cut, and methods of fabricating integrated circuit structures having uniform grid metal gate and trench contact cut, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a vertical stack of horizontal nanowires. A gate electrode is over the vertical stack of horizontal nanowires. A conductive trench contact is adjacent to the gate electrode. A dielectric sidewall spacer is between the gate electrode and the conductive trench contact. A first dielectric cut plug structure extends through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact. A second dielectric cut plug structure extends through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact, the second dielectric cut plug structure laterally spaced apart from and parallel with the first dielectric cut plug structure.

Claims (52)

1 . An integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a vertical stack of horizontal nanowires;

a gate electrode over the vertical stack of horizontal nanowires;

a conductive trench contact adjacent to the gate electrode;

a dielectric sidewall spacer between the gate electrode and the conductive trench contact;

a first dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact; and

a second dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact, the second dielectric cut plug structure laterally spaced apart from and parallel with the first dielectric cut plug structure.

2 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , further comprising a second gate electrode adjacent to the conductive trench contact on a side opposite the gate electrode, wherein the first and second dielectric cut plug structures extend through the second gate electrode.

3 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , further comprising a second conductive trench contact adjacent to the gate electrode on a side opposite the conductive trench contact, wherein the first and second dielectric cut plug structures extend through the second conductive trench contact.

4 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 3 , further comprising a second gate electrode adjacent to the second conductive trench contact on a side opposite the gate electrode, wherein the first and second dielectric cut plug structures extend through the second gate electrode.

5 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , further comprising an epitaxial source or drain structure at an end of the vertical stack of horizontal nanowires and beneath the conductive trench contact.

6 . An integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a fin;

a gate electrode over the fin;

a conductive trench contact adjacent to the gate electrode;

a dielectric sidewall spacer between the gate electrode and the conductive trench contact;

a first dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact; and

a second dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact, the second dielectric cut plug structure laterally spaced apart from and parallel with the first dielectric cut plug structure.

7 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 6 , further comprising a second gate electrode adjacent to the conductive trench contact on a side opposite the gate electrode, wherein the first and second dielectric cut plug structures extend through the second gate electrode.

8 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 6 , further comprising a second conductive trench contact adjacent to the gate electrode on a side opposite the conductive trench contact, wherein the first and second dielectric cut plug structures extend through the second conductive trench contact.

9 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 8 , further comprising a second gate electrode adjacent to the second conductive trench contact on a side opposite the gate electrode, wherein the first and second dielectric cut plug structures extend through the second gate electrode.

10 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 6 , further comprising an epitaxial source or drain structure at an end of the fin and beneath the conductive trench contact.

11 . A computing device, comprising:

a board; and

a component coupled to the board, the component including an integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a vertical stack of horizontal nanowires;

a gate electrode over the vertical stack of horizontal nanowires;

a conductive trench contact adjacent to the gate electrode;

a dielectric sidewall spacer between the gate electrode and the conductive trench contact;

a first dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact; and

a second dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact, the second dielectric cut plug structure laterally spaced apart from and parallel with the first dielectric cut plug structure.

12 . The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising:

a memory coupled to the board.

13 . The computing device of claim 11 , further comprising:

a communication chip coupled to the board.

14 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the component is a packaged integrated circuit die.

15 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a processor, a communications chip, and a digital signal processor.

16 . A computing device, comprising:

a board; and

a component coupled to the board, the component including an integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a fin;

a gate electrode over the fin;

a conductive trench contact adjacent to the gate electrode;

a dielectric sidewall spacer between the gate electrode and the conductive trench contact;

a first dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact; and

a second dielectric cut plug structure extending through the gate electrode, through the dielectric sidewall spacer, and through the conductive trench contact, the second dielectric cut plug structure laterally spaced apart from and parallel with the first dielectric cut plug structure.

17 . The computing device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a memory coupled to the board.

18 . The computing device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a communication chip coupled to the board.

19 . The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the component is a packaged integrated circuit die.

20 . The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a processor, a communications chip, and a digital signal processor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2026
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: INTEL FOUNDRY IP LLC
Reel/Frame 076008/0329 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2023
From: GULER, LEONARD P.; YEMENICIOGLU, SUKRU; HARAN, MOHIT K.; CEA, STEPHEN M.; WALLACE, CHARLES H.; GHANI, TAHIR; LIU, SHENGSI; ACHARYA, SAURABH; O'BRIEN, THOMAS; KHANDELWAL, NIDHI; CONTE, MARIE T.; LUTHRA, PRABHJOT
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063025/0061 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240105716A1 · Mar 28, 2024
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