Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A vertical metal-oxide semiconductor structure comprising: a generally horizontal substrate (12); a substantially vertical gate post (44) formed of conductive material and disposed above the substrate (12); and a first semiconductor device (T1) supported by and extending radially from the gate post (44), the device comprising: a channel region (16) surrounding the gate post (44); a gate oxide (42) disposed between the gate post (44) and the channel region (16); a lower source/drain region (14) below and attached to the channel region (16) ; and an upper source/drain region (18) above and attached to the channel region (16), the channel region (16) having an opposite polarity from that of the drain/source regions (14, 18).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A semiconductor structure as in claim 1 and further comprising a second semiconductor device (T2) supported by and extending radially from the gate post (44) and disposed above the first device (T1), the second device (T2)comprising: a channel region (26) surrounding the gate post (44); a gate oxide (42) disposed between the gate post (44) and the channel region (26); a lower source/drain region (24) below and attached to the channel region (26); and an upper source/drain region (28) above and attached to the channel region (26), the channel region (26) having an opposite polarity from that of the drain/source regions (24, 28).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A semiconductor structure as in claim 2 wherein one of the source/drain regions (18) of the first device (T1) is electrically connected (W1-72-W2) to one of the source/drain regions (24) of the second device (T2).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A semiconductor structure as in any preceding claim wherein the substrate (12) comprises a layer of insulating material (40) that electrically insulates the gate post (44) from any underlying material (12).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A semiconductor structure as in any preceding claim wherein the channel (16, 26) and source/drain regions (14, 18; 24, 28) of at least one of the devices (T1, T2) are formed of epitaxial material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A semiconductor structure as in any preceding claim wherein one of the channel regions (16, 26) is sufficiently shallow to be fully depletable of majority carriers.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of fabricating a metal-oxide semiconductor structure comprising: (a) forming, in order, on a substrate layer (12): a doped first lower source/drain layer (14), a doped first channel layer (16), and a doped first upper source/drain layer (18), the first channel layer (16) having an opposite polarity from that of the first source/drain layers (14, 18); lower and upper intermediate layers (20, 22); and a doped second lower source/drain layer (24), a doped second channel layer (26), and a doped second upper source/drain layer (28), the second channel layer (26) having an opposite polarity from that of the second source/drain layers (24, 28); (b) etching a hole (38) through the layers (14-28) and into the substrate (12); (c) forming an oxide layer (42) on the sides of the hole (38); (d) filling the hole (38) with conductive material to form a vertical gate post (44); (e) etching a trench (48) through the second upper source/drain layer (28) and through the second channel layer (26) down to the second lower source/drain layer (24), the trench (48) spaced a predetermined distance apart from the gate post (44), thereby defining an upper semiconductor device (T2); (f) removing the lower intermediate layer (20); and (g) etching a trench (64) through the first upper source/drain layer (18) and through the first channel layer (16) down to the first lower source/drain layer (14), the trench (64) spaced a predetermined distance apart from the gate post (44), thereby defining a lower semiconductor device (T1).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein step (e) comprises: forming a spacer (34, 36) around the gate post (44); and using the spacer (34, 36) as a mask to determine the distance between the gate post (44) and the trench (48).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 7 or 8 wherein step (f) comprises: forming a spacer (52) around the upper semiconductor device (T2); etching a trench (54) through the upper intermediate layer (22); forming a spacer (56) around the spacer (52) and the remaining portion of the upper intermediate layer (22); and etching to remove the lower intermediate layer (20).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method according to claim 7, 8 or 9 and further comprising forming an electrical connection between the first and second semiconductor devices (T1, T2) by: (h) forming a vertical conducting plug (72) generally parallel the gate post (44); (i) forming a first generally horizontal conducting strip (W1) between one of the layers (18, 16 or 14) of the first semiconductor device (T1) and the conducting plug (72); and (j) forming a second generally horizontal conducting strip (W2) between one of the layers (24, 26 or 28) of the second semiconductor device (T2) and the conducting plug (72).