Integrated circuit device with series-connected field effect transistors and integrated voltage equalization and method of forming the device
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a semiconductor layer;
multiple gates on said semiconductor layer, said gates defining channel regions in said semiconductor layer for multiple planar field effect transistors connected in a series;
gate sidewall spacers adjacent to said gates;
source/drain regions within said semiconductor layer on opposing sides of each of said channel regions such that each portion of said semiconductor layer between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor; and
a conformal conductive layer above said multiple planar field effect transistors, said conformal conductive layer conformally covering said source/drain regions, said gate sidewall spacers and said gates, being electrically isolated from said gates, and being in contact with said source/drain regions,said conformal conductive layer comprising a conductive material having a higher resistance than said channel regions when said multiple planar field effect transistors are in an “
on”
state and a lower resistance than said channel regions when said multiple planar field effect transistors are in an “
off”
state.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an integrated circuit device having series-connected planar or non-planar field effect transistors (FETs) with integrated voltage equalization and a method of forming the device. The series-connected FETs comprise gates positioned along a semiconductor body to define the channel regions for the series-connected FETs. Source/drain regions are located within the semiconductor body on opposing sides of the channel regions such that each portion of the semiconductor body between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor. Integrated voltage equalization is achieved through a conformal conductive layer having a desired resistance and positioned over the series-connected FETs such that it is electrically isolated from the gates, but in contact with the source/drain regions within the semiconductor body.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a semiconductor layer; multiple gates on said semiconductor layer, said gates defining channel regions in said semiconductor layer for multiple planar field effect transistors connected in a series; gate sidewall spacers adjacent to said gates; source/drain regions within said semiconductor layer on opposing sides of each of said channel regions such that each portion of said semiconductor layer between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor; and a conformal conductive layer above said multiple planar field effect transistors, said conformal conductive layer conformally covering said source/drain regions, said gate sidewall spacers and said gates, being electrically isolated from said gates, and being in contact with said source/drain regions, said conformal conductive layer comprising a conductive material having a higher resistance than said channel regions when said multiple planar field effect transistors are in an “
on”
state and a lower resistance than said channel regions when said multiple planar field effect transistors are in an “
off”
state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5)
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4. A device comprising:
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a semiconductor layer; multiple gates on said semiconductor layer, said gates defining channel regions in said semiconductor layer for multiple planar field effect transistors connected in a series; gate sidewall spacers adjacent to said gates; source/drain regions within said semiconductor layer on opposing sides of each of said channel regions such that each portion of said semiconductor layer between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor; a conformal conductive layer above said multiple planar field effect transistors, said conformal conductive layer conformally covering said source/drain regions, said gate sidewall spacers and said gates, being electrically isolated from said gates, and being in contact with said source/drain regions; and a conformal dielectric layer electrically isolating said gates from said conformal conductive layer, said conformal dielectric layer having, at opposing ends of said semiconductor layer and between any adjacent gates, openings through which said conformal conductive layer contacts said semiconductor layer.
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6. A device comprising:
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an isolation layer; a semiconductor fin on said isolation layer; multiple gates on said semiconductor fin, said gates defining channel regions in said semiconductor fin for multiple non-planar field effect transistors connected in a series; gate sidewall spacers adjacent to said gates; source/drain regions within said semiconductor fin on opposing sides of each of said channel regions such that each portion of said semiconductor fin between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor; and a conformal conductive layer over said multiple non-planar field effect transistors, said conformal conductive layer conformally covering said source/drain regions, said gate sidewall spacers and said gates, being electrically isolated from said gates, and being in contact with said source/drain regions, said conformal conductive layer comprising a conductive material having a higher resistance than said channel regions when said multiple non-planar field effect transistors are in an “
on”
state and a lower resistance than said channel regions when said multiple non-planar field effect transistors are in an “
off”
state. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A device comprising:
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an isolation layer; a semiconductor fin on said isolation layer; multiple gates on said semiconductor fin, said gates defining channel regions in said semiconductor fin for multiple non-planar field effect transistors connected in a series; gate sidewall spacers adjacent to said gates; source/drain regions within said semiconductor fin on opposing sides of each of said channel regions such that each portion of said semiconductor fin between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor; a conformal conductive layer over said multiple non-planar field effect transistors, said conformal conductive layer conformally covering said source/drain regions, said gate sidewall spacers and said gates, being electrically isolated from said gates, and being in contact with said source/drain regions; and a non-planar field effect transistors comprising tri-gate field effect transistors and said device further comprising a conformal dielectric layer over said gates so as to electrically isolate said gates from said conformal conductive layer, said conformal dielectric layer having, at opposing ends of said semiconductor fin and between any adjacent gates, openings through which said conformal conductive layer contacts said semiconductor fin.
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11. A device comprising:
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a semiconductor layer; multiple gates on said semiconductor layer, said gates defining channel regions in said semiconductor layer for multiple planar field effect transistors connected in a series; source/drain regions within said semiconductor layer on opposing sides of each of said channel regions such that each portion of said semiconductor layer between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor; and a conformal conductive layer above said multiple planar field effect transistors, electrically isolated from said gates, and in contact with said source/drain regions, said conformal conductive layer comprising a conductive material having a higher resistance than said channel regions when said multiple planar field effect transistors are in an “
on”
state and a lower resistance than said channel regions when said multiple planar field effect transistors are in an “
off”
state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device comprising:
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an isolation layer; a semiconductor fin on said isolation layer; multiple gates on said semiconductor fin, said gates defining channel regions in said semiconductor fin for multiple non-planar field effect transistors connected in a series; source/drain regions within said semiconductor fin on opposing sides of each of said channel regions such that each portion of said semiconductor fin between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor; and a conformal conductive layer over said multiple non-planar field effect transistors, electrically isolated from said gates, and in contact with said source/drain regions, said conformal conductive layer comprising a conductive material having a higher resistance than said channel regions when said multiple non-planar field effect transistors are in an “
on”
state and a lower resistance than said channel regions when said multiple non-planar field effect transistors are in an “
off”
state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification