IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,439,641
Granted Patent B2
US 12,439,641 · App. 17/714,716 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Compact 3D design and connections with optimum 3D transistor stacking

Inventors: H. Jim Fulford (Marianna, FL); Mark I. Gardner (Cedar Creek, TX); Partha Mukhopadhyay (Oviedo, FL)
Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
H10D30/6735H10D30/6757H10D62/118H10D64/258H10D84/038H10D88/00H10D88/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,439,641
App. No.
17/714,716
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first channel structure positioned over a substrate, first source/drain (S/D) regions positioned on ends of the first channel structure, and a first gate structure disposed all around the first channel structure. The second transistor includes a second channel structure positioned over the first channel structure, second S/D regions positioned on ends of the second channel structure, and a second gate structure disposed all around the second channel structure. The second channel structure has a smaller dimension than the first channel structure in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to a working surface of the substrate.

Claims (68)

1. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first transistor comprising a first channel structure positioned over a substrate, first source/drain (S/D) regions positioned on ends of the first channel structure, and a first gate structure disposed all around the first channel structure; and

a second transistor comprising a second channel structure positioned over the first channel structure, second S/D regions positioned on ends of the second channel structure, and a second gate structure disposed all around the second channel structure,

wherein the second channel structure has a smaller dimension than the first channel structure in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to a working surface of the substrate.

2. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first transistor comprising a first channel structure positioned over a substrate, first source/drain (S/D) regions positioned on ends of the first channel structure, and a first gate structure disposed all around the first channel structure; and

a second transistor comprising a second channel structure positioned over the first channel structure, second S/D regions positioned on ends of the second channel structure, and a second gate structure disposed all around the second channel structure,

wherein the second channel structure has a smaller dimension than the first channel structure in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to a working surface of the substrate, and the ends of the first channel structure are offset in the horizontal direction from the ends of the second channel structure.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein:

the ends of the first channel structure each extend outwardly in the horizontal direction from a respective end of the second channel structure.

4. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first transistor comprising a first channel structure positioned over a substrate, first source/drain (S/D) regions positioned on ends of the first channel structure, and a first gate structure disposed all around the first channel structure;

a second transistor comprising a second channel structure positioned over the first channel structure, second S/D regions positioned on ends of the second channel structure, and a second gate structure disposed all around the second channel structure, wherein the second channel structure has a smaller dimension than the first channel structure in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to a working surface of the substrate;

first vertical contact structures connected to the first S/D regions, wherein the first vertical contact structures bypass the second transistor; and

second vertical contact structures connected to the second S/D regions.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first channel structure and the second channel structure comprise different chemical compositions.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first transistor comprises a plurality of first channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the first S/D regions are connected to the plurality of first channel structures, and

the first gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of first channel structures and separates the plurality of first channel structures from each other.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein:

the second transistor comprises a plurality of second channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the second S/D regions are connected to the plurality of second channel structures, and

the second gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of second channel structures and separates the plurality of second channel structures from each other.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising:

first inner spacers positioned between the first gate structure and the first S/D regions; and

second inner spacers positioned between the second gate structure and the second S/D regions.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein:

the first channel structure and the second channel structure comprise different chemical compositions.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein:

the first transistor comprises a plurality of first channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the first S/D regions are connected to the plurality of first channel structures, and

the first gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of first channel structures and separates the plurality of first channel structures from each other.

11. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein:

the second transistor comprises a plurality of second channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the second S/D regions are connected to the plurality of second channel structures, and

the second gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of second channel structures and separates the plurality of second channel structures from each other.

12. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , further comprising:

first inner spacers positioned between the first gate structure and the first S/D regions; and

second inner spacers positioned between the second gate structure and the second S/D regions.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , further comprising:

first vertical contact structures connected to the first S/D regions, wherein the first vertical contact structures bypass the second transistor; and

second vertical contact structures connected to the second S/D regions.

14. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , further comprising:

first vertical contact structures connected to the first S/D regions, wherein the first vertical contact structures bypass the second transistor; and

second vertical contact structures connected to the second S/D regions.

15. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein:

the first channel structure and the second channel structure comprise different chemical compositions.

16. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein:

the first transistor comprises a plurality of first channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the first S/D regions are connected to the plurality of first channel structures, and

the first gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of first channel structures and separates the plurality of first channel structures from each other.

17. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein:

the second transistor comprises a plurality of second channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the second S/D regions are connected to the plurality of second channel structures, and

the second gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of second channel structures and separates the plurality of second channel structures from each other.

18. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , further comprising:

first inner spacers positioned between the first gate structure and the first S/D regions; and

second inner spacers positioned between the second gate structure and the second S/D regions.

19. The semiconductor device of claim 5 , wherein:

the first transistor comprises a plurality of first channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the first S/D regions are connected to the plurality of first channel structures, and

the first gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of first channel structures and separates the plurality of first channel structures from each other.

20. The semiconductor device of claim 19 , wherein:

the second transistor comprises a plurality of second channel structures stacked in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate,

the second S/D regions are connected to the plurality of second channel structures, and

the second gate structure is disposed all around the plurality of second channel structures and separates the plurality of second channel structures from each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: FULFORD, H. JIM; GARDNER, MARK I.; MUKHOPADHYAY, PARTHA
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059520/0705 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63281427 · Nov 19, 2021
Related Publication 20230163185A1 · May 25, 2023
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