Patent ID: 9627245
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A method of forming a FinFET device, comprising: performing at least one first etching process to form a plurality of initial trenches having an initial depth in a semiconductor substrate, said initial trenches defining an initial fin structure having sidewalls with an initial exposed height; forming a protection layer on at least said sidewalls of said initial fin structure; after forming said protection layer, performing a second etching process to extend said initial depth of said initial trenches into said substrate and thereby form a plurality of final trenches having a final depth that is greater than said initial depth and to define an increased-height fin structure that has an overall height greater than said height of said initial fin structure; forming a layer of insulating material so as to over-fill said final trenches; with said layer of insulating material over-filling said final trenches, and with said protection layer in position on at least said sidewalls, performing a fin oxidation thermal anneal process to convert at least a portion of said increased-height fin structure into an isolation material that extends under an entire axial length of said increased-height fin structure in a gate length direction of said device and to define a remaining portion of said increased fin-height structure above said isolation material; after performing said fin oxidation thermal anneal process, removing said protection layer; performing an epitaxial deposition process to form a layer of semiconductor material on at least portions of said remaining portion of said increased fin-height structure; and performing a thermal process to cause diffusion of material of said layer of semiconductor material with said remaining portion of said increased-height fin structure.