Patent ID: 9425310
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method, comprising: forming a fin that extends vertically from a surface of a substrate and comprises source and drain regions which are separated from one another by a channel region, wherein the source or drain region comprises epitaxial material with a diamond-shaped cross-section, and wherein a dielectric layer surrounds top and bottom surfaces of the diamond-shaped cross-section, and wherein a capping layer surrounds top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric layer and is separated from the epitaxial material by the dielectric layer; forming a gate over an upper surface of the channel region and along sidewalls of the channel region; performing a first etch to remove a first portion of the capping layer while leaving the dielectric layer surrounding the top surfaces of the diamond-shaped cross-section; and forming a protective layer configured to prevent etching of the top surfaces in subsequent etch steps.