IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,419,101
Granted Patent B2
US 12,419,101 · App. 18/526,385 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Integrated circuit device

Inventors: Wen-Hsien Tu (New Taipei, TW); Dong-Jie Ke (Taichung, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
H10D84/038H10D62/151H10D84/017H10D84/0193H10D84/853
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,419,101
App. No.
18/526,385
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit device is provided. The integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second semiconductor fins over the semiconductor substrate, and first and second epitaxy structures respectively on the first and second semiconductor fins. The first epitaxy structure is merged with the second epitaxy structure, and a bottom surface of the second epitaxy structure is lower than a bottom surface of the first epitaxy structure.

Claims (46)

1. An integrated circuit device, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

first and second semiconductor fins over the semiconductor substrate; and

first and second epitaxy structures respectively on the first and second semiconductor fins, wherein the first epitaxy structure is merged with the second epitaxy structure, and a bottom surface of the second epitaxy structure is lower than a bottom surface of the first epitaxy structure.

2. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the first epitaxy structure facing the second epitaxy structure, wherein a sidewall of the second epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure is free of a fin sidewall spacer.

3. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the first epitaxy structure facing the second epitaxy structure; and

a second fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the second epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure, wherein a top of the second fin sidewall spacer is lower than a top of the first fin sidewall spacer.

4. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third semiconductor fin over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first semiconductor fin is between the second and third semiconductor fins; and

a third epitaxy structure on the third semiconductor fin, wherein the third epitaxy structure is spaced apart from the first and second epitaxy structures.

5. The integrated circuit device of claim 4 , wherein the bottom surface of the second epitaxy structure is lower than a bottom surface of the third epitaxy structure.

6. The integrated circuit device of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the first epitaxy structure facing the third epitaxy structure; and

a third fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the third epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure, wherein a sidewall of the second epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure is free of a fin sidewall spacer.

7. The integrated circuit device of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the first epitaxy structure facing the third epitaxy structure;

a second fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the second epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure; and

a third fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the third epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure, wherein a top of the second fin sidewall spacer is lower than a top of the first fin sidewall spacer and a top of the third fin sidewall spacer.

8. The integrated circuit device of claim 4 , wherein a distance between the first and second semiconductor fins is substantially equal to a distance between the first and third semiconductor fins.

9. An integrated circuit device, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

first to third semiconductor fins over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the second semiconductor fin is between the first and third semiconductor fins;

first to third epitaxy structures respectively on the first to third semiconductor fins, wherein the second epitaxy structure is spaced apart from the first epitaxy structure, and the second epitaxy structure is merged with the third epitaxy structure;

a first fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the first epitaxy structure facing the second epitaxy structure; and

a second fin sidewall spacer on a first sidewall of the second epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure, wherein a sidewall of the third epitaxy structure facing the second epitaxy structure has a portion at a same level as the second fin sidewall spacer, and the portion of the sidewall of the third epitaxy structure is free of a fin sidewall spacer.

10. The integrated circuit device of claim 9 , wherein the first sidewall of the second epitaxy structure is more vertical than the sidewall of the third epitaxy structure.

11. The integrated circuit device of claim 9 , wherein a second sidewall of the second epitaxy structure facing the third epitaxy structure has a portion at a same level as the second fin sidewall spacer, and the portion of the second sidewall of the second epitaxy structure is free of a fin sidewall spacer.

12. The integrated circuit device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a third fin sidewall spacer on a sidewall of the third epitaxy structure, wherein the third epitaxy structure extends beyond the third fin sidewall spacer.

13. The integrated circuit device of claim 9 , wherein the second epitaxy structure does not extend beyond the second fin sidewall spacer.

14. The integrated circuit device of claim 9 , wherein the first epitaxy structure does not extend beyond the first fin sidewall spacer.

15. An integrated circuit device, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

first and second semiconductor fins over the semiconductor substrate;

first and second epitaxy structures respectively on the first and second semiconductor fins, wherein the second epitaxy structure is spaced apart from the first epitaxy structure; and

a first fin sidewall spacer on a first sidewall of the first epitaxy structure facing the second epitaxy structure, wherein a second sidewall of the first epitaxy structure opposite the first sidewall of the first epitaxy structure is free of a fin sidewall spacer.

16. The integrated circuit device of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second fin sidewall spacer on a first sidewall of the second epitaxy structure facing the first epitaxy structure, wherein a second sidewall of the second epitaxy structure opposite the first sidewall of the second epitaxy structure is free of a fin sidewall spacer.

17. The integrated circuit device of claim 15 , wherein the first sidewall of the first epitaxy structure is more vertical than the second sidewall of the first epitaxy structure.

18. The integrated circuit device of claim 15 , wherein the first epitaxy structure does not extend beyond the first fin sidewall spacer.

19. The integrated circuit device of claim 15 , wherein the second sidewall of the first epitaxy structure is an angled sidewall.

20. The integrated circuit device of claim 15 , further comprising:

a first contact over the first epitaxy structure; and

a second contact over the second epitaxy structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2023
From: TU, WEN-HSIEN; KE, DONG-JIE
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 065780/0051 →
Continuity (2)
Division 17460659 · Aug 30, 2021
Related Publication 20240096710A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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