IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,648,132
Granted Patent B2
US 12,648,132 · App. 18/049,061 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Semiconductor devices having cell array and peripheral regions therein

Inventors: Jungmin Ju (Uiwang-si, KR); Gyuhyun Kil (Hwaseong-si, KR); Hyebin Choi (Suwon-si, KR); Doosan Back (Seoul, KR); Ahrang Choi (Hwaseong-si, KR); Jung-Hoon Han (Hwaseong-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H10B12/50H10B12/09H10B12/315
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,648,132
App. No.
18/049,061
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a substrate having first and second active patterns therein, which are spaced apart from each other. The first active pattern has a top surface that is elevated relative to a top surface of the second active pattern. A channel semiconductor layer is provided on the top surface of the first active pattern. A first gate pattern is provided, which includes a first insulating pattern, on the channel semiconductor layer. A second gate pattern is provided, which includes a second insulating pattern having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first insulating pattern, on the top surface of the second active pattern.

Claims (57)

1 . A semiconductor device comprising:

a substrate having first and second active patterns therein, which are spaced apart from each other, said first active pattern having a top surface that is elevated relative to a top surface of the second active pattern;

a channel semiconductor layer on the top surface of the first active pattern, wherein a lattice constant of the channel semiconductor layer is greater than a lattice constant of the substrate;

a first gate pattern including a first insulating pattern, on the channel semiconductor layer; and

a second gate pattern including a second insulating pattern having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first insulating pattern, on the top surface of the second active pattern.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the second insulating pattern extends at a lower level relative to the top surface of the first active pattern, and a second portion of the second insulating pattern extends at a higher level than the top surface of the first active pattern, as measured in a direction normal to the top surface of the second active pattern.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein a thickness of the first portion is in a range from about 0.5 times to about 2 times a thickness of the second portion.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the second insulating pattern is in a range from about 2 times to about 10 times a thickness of the first insulating pattern.

5 . The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first gate pattern further comprises a first high-k dielectric pattern on the first insulating pattern;

wherein the second gate pattern further comprises a second high-k dielectric pattern on the second insulating pattern; and

wherein each of the first and second high-k dielectric patterns includes a material having a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first gate pattern is less than a width of the second gate pattern.

7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

spacers covering side surfaces of the first and second gate patterns;

an interlayer insulating layer covering the second gate pattern and the spacers; and

a capping layer on the interlayer insulating layer.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein a top surface of the interlayer insulating layer is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the first gate pattern.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second active patterns includes an active semiconductor fin vertically protruding upward from a lower portion of each of the first and second active patterns.

10 . The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first gate pattern further includes a first conductive pattern on the first insulating pattern;

wherein the first active pattern includes a channel layer therein, which extends between a buried portion of the first conductive pattern and a portion of the first conductive pattern on the top surface of the first active pattern, which is spaced apart from the buried portion of the first conductive pattern.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the channel semiconductor layer covers a top surface and a bottom surface of the channel layer within the first active pattern.

12 . A semiconductor device, comprising:

a substrate having first, second, third, and fourth active patterns therein, which are spaced apart from each other;

first to fourth gate patterns extending on the first, second, third, and fourth active patterns, respectively; and

a channel semiconductor layer extending between the third active pattern and the third gate pattern, wherein a lattice constant of the channel semiconductor layer is greater than a lattice constant of the substrate;

wherein the first gate pattern comprises a first insulating pattern, a first high-k dielectric pattern and a first conductive pattern, which are sequentially stacked on the first active pattern;

wherein the second gate pattern comprises a second insulating pattern, a second high-k dielectric pattern and a second conductive pattern, which are sequentially stacked on the second active pattern;

wherein the third gate pattern comprises a third insulating pattern, a third high-k dielectric pattern and a third conductive pattern, which are sequentially stacked on the channel semiconductor layer;

wherein the fourth gate pattern comprises a fourth insulating pattern, a fourth high-k dielectric pattern and a fourth conductive pattern, which are sequentially stacked on the fourth active pattern;

wherein a thickness of each of the second and fourth insulating patterns is greater than a thickness of each of the first and third insulating patterns; and

wherein a top surface of the third active pattern is located at a higher level than a top surface of each of the second and fourth active patterns.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the top surface of the third active pattern is located at a higher level than a top surface of the first active pattern.

14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the top surface of the third active pattern is located at substantially the same level as a top surface of the first active pattern.

15 . The device of claim 12 ,

wherein each of the second and fourth insulating patterns includes: (i) a first portion located at a lower level than the top surface of the third active pattern, and (ii) a second portion located at a higher level than the top surface of the third active pattern; and

wherein a ratio of a first thickness of the first portion to a total thickness of each of the second and fourth insulating patterns ranges from about 30% to about 70%.

16 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the channel semiconductor layer includes silicon-germanium (SiGe).

17 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the first to fourth conductive patterns include doped polysilicon; and wherein a conductivity type of the first and second conductive patterns is different from a conductivity type of the third and fourth conductive patterns.

18 . A semiconductor device, comprising:

a substrate including: (i) cell active patterns on a cell array region, and (i) a first peripheral active pattern and a second peripheral active pattern that are spaced apart from each other on a peripheral region, in a vicinity of the cell array region;

word lines extending on the substrate, and intersecting the cell active patterns;

bit lines extending on the substrate, and intersecting the word lines;

a bit line contact extending on a central portion of each of the cell active patterns, and connected to each of the bit lines;

a storage node contact on each of both end portions of each of the cell active patterns;

a landing pad on the storage node contact;

a data storage element on the landing pad;

a first peripheral gate pattern on the first peripheral active pattern;

a channel semiconductor layer between the first peripheral active pattern and the first peripheral gate pattern, wherein a lattice constant of the channel semiconductor layer is greater than a lattice constant of the substrate; and

a second peripheral gate pattern on the second peripheral active pattern;

wherein the first peripheral gate pattern includes a first peripheral insulating pattern on the channel semiconductor layer;

wherein the second peripheral gate pattern includes a second peripheral insulating pattern on the second peripheral active pattern;

wherein a thickness of the second peripheral insulating pattern is greater than a thickness of the first peripheral insulating pattern; and

wherein a top surface of the first peripheral active pattern and top surfaces of the cell active patterns are located at a higher level than a top surface of the second peripheral active pattern.

19 . The semiconductor device of claim 18 , wherein the data storage element comprises a capacitor including a lower electrode, a dielectric layer, and an upper electrode.

20 . The semiconductor device of claim 18 , wherein a first portion of the second peripheral insulating pattern extends at a lower level relative to the top surface of the first peripheral active pattern, and a second portion of the second peripheral insulating pattern extends at a higher level than the top surface of the first peripheral active pattern, as measured in a direction normal to the top surface of the second peripheral active pattern.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2022
From: JU, JUNGMIN; KIL, GYUHYUN; CHOI, HYEBIN; BACK, DOOSAN; CHOI, AHRANG; HAN, JUNG-HOON
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061515/0554 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0013050 · Jan 28, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230276619A1 · Aug 31, 2023
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