IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,302,637
Granted Patent B2
US 12,302,637 · App. 18/426,243 · Granted May 13, 2025

Semiconductor wafer with devices having different top layer thicknesses

Inventors: Gulbagh Singh (Hisnchu, TW); Kuan-Liang Liu (Hsinchu, TW); Wang Po-Jen (Hsinchu, TW); Kun-Tsang Chuang (Hsinchu, TW); Hsin-Chi Chen (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
H10D86/201H01L21/0206H01L21/02532H01L21/304H01L21/30604H01L21/31053H01L21/76251H10D86/01
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,302,637
App. No.
18/426,243
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A circuit includes a base silicon layer, a base oxide layer, a first top silicon layer, a second top silicon layer, a first semiconductor device, and a second semiconductor device. The base oxide layer is formed over the base silicon layer. The first top silicon layer is formed over a first region of the base oxide layer and has a first thickness. The second top silicon layer is formed over a second region of the base oxide layer and has a second thickness less than the first thickness. The first semiconductor device is formed over the first top silicon layer and the second semiconductor device is formed over the second top silicon layer. The ability to fabricate a top silicon layers with differing thicknesses can provide a single substrate having devices with different characteristics, such as having both fully depleted and partially depleted devices on a single substrate.

Claims (54)

1. A circuit comprising:

a base silicon layer;

a base oxide layer formed over the base silicon layer;

a first top silicon layer formed over a first region of the base oxide layer, the first top silicon layer having a first thickness;

a second top silicon layer formed over a second region of the base oxide layer, the second top silicon layer having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness;

a first semiconductor device formed over the first top silicon layer;

a second semiconductor device formed over the second top silicon layer;

a first added oxide formed on the base oxide layer, the first top silicon layer contacting a top surface of the first added oxide and a bottom surface of the first semiconductor device; and

a second added oxide formed on the base oxide layer, the second top silicon layer contacting a top surface of the second added oxide and a bottom surface of the second semiconductor device;

wherein a third thickness of the first added oxide is less than a fourth thickness of the second added oxide.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first semiconductor device comprises a partially depleted device and the first thickness is between 500 and 3000 angstroms.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the second semiconductor device comprises a fully depleted device and the second thickness is between 50 and 500 angstroms.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base oxide layer comprises a buried oxide layer formed of silicon dioxide.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an isolation structure formed between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device, wherein a height of the isolation structure is greater than the first thickness or the second thickness.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the isolation structure is formed of at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device each include a gate over an active layer.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device each include source and drain regions contacting respective of the active layers.

9. A circuit comprising:

a base silicon layer;

a base oxide layer formed over the base silicon layer;

a first top silicon layer formed over a first region of the base oxide layer, the first top silicon layer having a first thickness;

a second top silicon layer formed over a second region of the base oxide layer, the second top silicon layer having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness;

a first semiconductor device formed over the first top silicon layer;

a second semiconductor device formed over the second top silicon layer, wherein:

the first semiconductor device comprises a partially depleted device and the first thickness is between 500 and 3000 angstroms, and the second semiconductor device comprises a fully depleted device and the second thickness is between 50 and 500 angstroms;

a first added oxide formed on the base oxide layer, the first top silicon layer contacting a top surface of the first added oxide and a bottom surface of the first semiconductor device; and

a second added oxide formed on the base oxide layer, the second top silicon layer contacting a top surface of the second added oxide and a bottom surface of the second semiconductor device;

wherein a height of a bottom surface of the first added oxide is a same as a height of a bottom surface of the second added oxide.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the base oxide layer comprises a buried oxide layer formed of silicon dioxide.

11. The device of claim 9 , further comprising an isolation structure formed between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device, wherein a height of the isolation structure is greater than the first thickness or the second thickness.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the isolation structure is formed of at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device each include a gate over an active layer.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device each include source and drain regions contacting their respective associated active layers.

15. A circuit comprising:

a base silicon layer;

a base oxide layer formed over the base silicon layer;

a first top silicon layer formed over a first region of the base oxide layer, the first top silicon layer having a first thickness;

a second top silicon layer formed over a second region of the base oxide layer, the second top silicon layer having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness;

a third top silicon layer formed over a third region of the base oxide layer, the third top silicon layer having a fifth thickness that is less than the second thickness;

a first semiconductor device formed over the first top silicon layer;

a second semiconductor device formed over the second top silicon layer; and

a third semiconductor device formed over the third top silicon layer;

a first added oxide formed on the base oxide layer, the first top silicon layer contacting a top surface of the first added oxide and a bottom surface of the first semiconductor device; and

a second added oxide formed on the base oxide layer, the second top silicon layer contacting a top surface of the second added oxide and a bottom surface of the second semiconductor device;

wherein a third thickness of the first added oxide is less than a fourth thickness of the second added oxide.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein:

the first semiconductor device comprises a partially depleted device and the first thickness is between 500 and 3000 angstroms.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein:

the second semiconductor device comprises a fully depleted device and the second thickness is between 50 and 500 angstroms.

18. The device of claim 15 , wherein the base oxide layer comprises a buried oxide layer formed of silicon dioxide.

19. The device of claim 15 , further comprising an isolation structure formed between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device, wherein a height of the isolation structure is greater than the first thickness or the second thickness.

20. The device of claim 15 , wherein the isolation structure is formed of at least one of silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: SINGH, GULBAGH; LIU, KUAN-LIANG; PO-JEN, WANG; CHUANG, KUN-TSANG; CHEN, HSIN-CHI
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 066299/0927 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17827636 · May 27, 2022
Division 16851345 · Apr 17, 2020
Related Publication 20240170489A1 · May 23, 2024
References Cited (68)
US 5234535A · Beyer et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 6033943A · Gardner · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6492209B1 · Krishnan et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6724045B1 · Ushiku · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6764917B1 · Chan et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6809381B2 · Yoshida · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 7061054B2 · Tomiye et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7087967B2 · Mori et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7235433B2 · Waite · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 7382023B2 · Chen et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7410841B2 · Tigelaar · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7927979B2 · Hill et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8652887B2 · Nguyen et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 10062712B1 · Moen et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10559593B1 · Metze et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11817345B2 · Singh · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11887987B2 · Singh · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20010005030A1 · Imai · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20040079993A1 · Ning et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040180478A1 · Yang et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040183131A1 · Nagano et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050003599A1 · Yeo et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050110088A1 · Hofmann et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060006390A1 · Hsu et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060240629A1 · Orlowski et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070176235A1 · Tsujiuchi et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20120146148A1 · Iwamatsu · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130087855A1 · Makiyama et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140091281A1 · Cheng et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140225160A1 · Clifton et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140353756A1 · Yamamoto · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150108574A1 · Sung · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150179505A1 · Stuber et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160087069A1 · Oda · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170069661A1 · Zhang · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170194194A1 · Tsai et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170323973A1 · Clifton et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170352687A1 · Makiyama · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20190019876A1 · Smith et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190035815A1 · Smith et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190057981A1 · Fagot et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190326183A1 · Costaganna et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200006386A1 · Singh et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200051808A1 · Metze et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200075633A1 · Liang et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200335402A1 · Zhou · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 1551336A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
CN 104143555A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 108140612A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 110648968A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 112673470A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005527111A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008535258A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
KR 100321560B1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
TW 200418093A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
TW 200709424A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
TW 201611250A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006104937A2 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in connection with Chinese Appl. No. 202110172417.6 dated Aug. 9, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Foreign Action other than Search Report on non-Foley case related to U.S. Appl. No. 16/851,345 DTD Sep. 17, 2021. [cited by applicant]
German Examination on DE Patent Appl. No. 102020110778.1 dated Dec. 29, 2020 (5 pages). [cited by applicant]
Korean Office Action on KR Patent Appl. No. 1020200076473 dated Aug. 3, 2021 (4 Pages). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action on U.S. Appl. No. 17/827,636 DTD Jun. 21, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance on U.S. Appl. No. 16/851,345 DTD Jan. 28, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance on U.S. Appl. No. 17/827,636 DTD Oct. 2, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in connection with Taiwan Appl. No. 110104773 dated Dec. 21, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Taiwanese Office Action issued for TW Appl. Ser. No. 110104773 dated Sep. 17, 2021 (6 pages). [cited by applicant]
US Office Action on U.S. Appl. No. 16/851,345 DTD Sep. 30, 2021. [cited by applicant]