IP Library Granted Patent US 12,224,350
Granted Patent B2
US 12,224,350 · App. 18/374,959 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices

Inventors: Biswajeet Guha (Hillsboro, OR); William Hsu (Hillsboro, OR); Leonard P. Guler (Hillsboro, OR); Dax M. Crum (Beaverton, OR); Tahir Ghani (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
H01L29/7856H01L21/02603H01L21/823481H01L23/5226H01L29/0649H01L29/0669H01L29/0847H01L29/42392H01L2029/7858
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,224,350
App. No.
18/374,959
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices, and methods of fabricating self-aligned gate endcap (SAGE) architectures with gate-all-around devices, are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor fin above a substrate and having a length in a first direction. A nanowire is over the semiconductor fin. A gate structure is over the nanowire and the semiconductor fin, the gate structure having a first end opposite a second end in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction. A pair of gate endcap isolation structures is included, where a first of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is spaced equally from a first side of the semiconductor fin as a second of the pair of gate endcap isolation structures is spaced from a second side of the semiconductor fin.

Claims (44)

1. An integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a first fin extending above a trench isolation structure;

a second fin extending above the trench isolation structure, the second fin laterally spaced apart from the first fin; and

a gate endcap isolation structure between the first fin and the second fin, the gate endcap isolation structure over and extending into the trench isolation structure, the gate endcap isolation structure laterally spaced apart and separated from the first fin, and the gate endcap isolation structure laterally spaced apart and separated from the second fin.

2. The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , wherein the gate endcap isolation structure extends only partially into the trench isolation structure.

3. The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , further including:

a first nanowire vertically over the first fin; and

a second nanowire vertically over the second fin.

4. The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , wherein the first fin is wider than the second fin.

5. The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , further including:

a first gate stack over the first fin; and

a second gate stack over the second fin.

6. The integrated circuit structure of claim 5 , wherein the gate endcap isolation structure laterally separates the first gate stack from the second gate stack, and wherein the gate endcap isolation structure is in contact with the first gate stack and the second gate stack.

7. The integrated circuit structure of claim 5 , wherein each of the first gate stack and the second gate stack includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode, the integrated circuit structure further including:

a first pair of source or drain structures on either side of the first gate stack; and

a second pair of source or drain structures on either side of the second gate stack.

8. The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , wherein the gate endcap isolation structure includes a lower dielectric portion and a dielectric cap on the lower dielectric portion.

9. An integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a first isolation structure having an uppermost surface;

a first fin having a bottom below the uppermost surface of the first isolation structure, the first fin having a top above the uppermost surface of the first isolation structure;

a second fin having a bottom below the uppermost surface of the first isolation structure, the second fin having a top above the uppermost surface of the first isolation structure, the second fin laterally spaced apart from the first fin; and

a second isolation structure between the first fin and the second fin, the second isolation structure vertically over the first isolation structure, the second isolation structure having a bottom below the uppermost surface of the first isolation structure and having a top above the first fin and the second fin, the second isolation structure laterally spaced apart and separated from the first fin, and the second isolation structure laterally spaced apart and separated from the second fin.

10. The integrated circuit structure of claim 9 , wherein the second isolation structure extends only partially into the first isolation structure.

11. The integrated circuit structure of claim 9 , further including:

a first nanowire vertically over the first fin; and

a second nanowire vertically over the second fin.

12. The integrated circuit structure of claim 9 , wherein the first fin is wider than the second fin.

13. The integrated circuit structure of claim 9 , further including:

a first gate stack over the first fin; and

a second gate stack over the second fin.

14. The integrated circuit structure of claim 13 , wherein the second isolation structure laterally separates the first gate stack from the second gate stack, and wherein the second isolation structure is in contact with the first gate stack and the second gate stack.

15. The integrated circuit structure of claim 13 , wherein each of the first gate stack and the second gate stack includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode, the integrated circuit structure further including:

a first pair of source or drain structures on either side of the first gate stack; and

a second pair of source or drain structures on either side of the second gate stack.

16. The integrated circuit structure of claim 9 , wherein the second isolation structure includes a lower dielectric portion and a dielectric cap on the lower dielectric portion.

17. A computing device, comprising:

a board; and

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

a first fin extending above a trench isolation structure;

a second fin extending above the trench isolation structure, the second fin laterally spaced apart from the first fin; and

a gate endcap isolation structure between the first fin and the second fin, the gate endcap isolation structure over and extending into the trench isolation structure, the gate endcap isolation structure laterally spaced apart and separated from the first fin, and the gate endcap isolation structure laterally spaced apart and separated from the second fin.

18. The computing device of claim 17 , further including a memory coupled to the board.

19. The computing device of claim 17 , further including a communication chip coupled to the board.

20. The computing device of claim 17 , wherein the component is a packaged integrated circuit die.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2026
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: INTEL FOUNDRY IP LLC
Reel/Frame 076064/0951 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17549827 · Dec 13, 2021
Continuation 16017966 · Jun 25, 2018
Related Publication 20240030348A1 · Jan 25, 2024
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