Patent · US Active

Methods of forming a gate contact above an active region of a semiconductor device

US9780178B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2015
Grant dateOct 3, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 14, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D62/115
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

One method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a gate contact opening in a layer of insulating material, wherein the gate contact opening is positioned at least partially vertically above a active region, the gate contact opening exposing a portion of at least a gate cap layer of a gate structure, performing at least one etching process to remove the gate cap layer and recess a sidewall spacer so as to thereby define a spacer cavity and expose at least an upper surface of a gate electrode within the gate contact opening, filling the spacer cavity with an insulating material while leaving the upper surface of the gate electrode exposed, and forming a conductive gate contact in the gate contact opening.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.