Patent ID: 7843039

Claim:
A device structure for use on a substrate, the device structure comprising: a first semiconductor device formed using the substrate; a second semiconductor device formed using the substrate, the second semiconductor device spaced apart on the substrate from the first semiconductor device; an insulating layer over the first and second semiconductor devices; a first contact extending through the insulating layer toward the portion of the first semiconductor device; a first intervening structure between the first contact and the portion of the first semiconductor device; a first stress-imparting structure indirectly coupled with a portion of the first semiconductor device, the first stress-imparting structure configured to impart a first stress to the first semiconductor device; and a second stress-imparting structure indirectly coupled with a portion of the second semiconductor device, the second stress-imparting structure configured to impart a second stress to the second semiconductor device that differs in magnitude from the first stress; wherein the first stress-imparting structure is a first liner that is partially disposed between the first contact and the insulating layer and that is also partially disposed between the first contact and the portion of the first semiconductor device.