Patent ID: 8384161
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a first transistor formed above a substrate and comprising a first gate electrode structure extending along a first transistor width direction of said first transistor; a second transistor formed above said substrate and comprising a second gate electrode structure extending along a second transistor width direction of said second transistor; a first contact element connecting to one of a drain region and a source region of said first transistor, said first contact element comprising a conductive contact material having a predefined type of internal stress so as to induce a first strain component of a first type in a channel region of said first transistor; and a second contact element connecting to one of a drain region and a source region of said second transistor, said second contact element comprising a conductive contact material having said predefined type of internal stress, said first and second contact elements differing in at least one of a lateral size and a lateral spatial relationship with respect to a respective one of said first and second gate electrode structures so as to induce a second strain component of said first type in a channel region of said second transistor that is less than said first strain component, and wherein at least one of said first and second contact elements has a substantially triangular shaped cross-sectional configuration.