IP Library Granted Patent US 12,563,779
Granted Patent B2
US 12,563,779 · App. 17/358,478 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Gate-all-around integrated structures having gate height reduction and dielectric capping material with shoulder portions inside gate stack

Inventors: William Hsu (Portland, OR); Leonard P. Guler (Hillsboro, OR); Vivek Thirtha (Portland, OR); Nitesh Kumar (Beaverton, OR); Oleg Golonzka (Beaverton, OR); Tahir Ghani (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
H10D30/6735H10D30/6211H10D30/6219H10D62/121H10D84/853
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,563,779
App. No.
17/358,478
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having reduced gate height structures and subfins, and method of fabricating gate-all-around integrated circuit structures having reduced gate height structures, are described. For example, an integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of horizontal nanowires above a subfin, and an isolation structure on either side of the subfin. A gate stack is over the plurality of nanowires, around individual nanowires, and over the subfin. Gate spacers are on either side of the gate stack, and a dielectric capping material is inside the gate spacers with shoulder portions inside the gate stack.

Claims (33)

1 . An integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a plurality of nanowires above a subfin;

an isolation structure on either side of the subfin;

a gate stack over the plurality of nanowires, around individual nanowires, and over the subfin;

gate spacers on either side of the gate stack; and

a dielectric capping material inside the gate spacers with shoulder portions present inside the gate stack.

2 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , wherein integrated circuit structure has a reduced gate height compared to another integrated circuit structure having the dielectric capping material present inside the gate stack.

3 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 1 , wherein epitaxial source or drain structures are included at first and second ends of the plurality of nanowires.

4 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 3 , wherein internal gate spacers are on either side of the gate stack between the gate stack and the epitaxial source or drain structures.

5 . An integrated circuit structure, comprising:

a vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires above a subfin, wherein the subfin has a maximum height and a maximum width with a maximum height to maximum width ratio of less than 3:1;

an isolation structure on either side of the subfin;

a gate stack over the vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires;

gate spacers on either side of the gate stack; and

a dielectric capping material inside the gate spacers with shoulder portions inside the gate stack.

6 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 5 , wherein integrated circuit structure has a reduced gate height compared to another integrated circuit structure having the dielectric capping material present inside the gate stack.

7 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 5 , wherein epitaxial source or drain structures are included at first and second ends of the vertical arrangement of horizontal nanowires.

8 . The integrated circuit structure of claim 7 , wherein internal gate spacers are on either side of the gate stack between the gate stack and the epitaxial source or drain structures.

9 . A computing device, comprising:

a board; and

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

a plurality of nanowires above a subfin;

an isolation structure on either side of the subfin;

a gate stack over the plurality of nanowires, around individual nanowires, and over the subfin;

gate spacers on either side of the gate stack; and

a dielectric capping material inside the gate spacers with shoulder portions inside the gate stack.

10 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein epitaxial source or drain structures are included at first and second ends of the plurality of nanowires.

11 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein integrated circuit structure has a reduced gate height compared to another integrated circuit structure having the dielectric capping material present inside the gate stack.

12 . The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a memory coupled to the board.

13 . The computing device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a communication chip coupled to the board.

14 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the component is a packaged integrated circuit die.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2021
From: HSU, WILLIAM; GULER, LEONARD P.; THIRTHA, VIVEK; KUMAR, NITESH; GOLONZKA, OLEG; GHANI, TAHIR
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057947/0001 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220416042A1 · Dec 29, 2022
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