Patent ID: 8878286

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a region of semiconductor material having a major surface; a trench control structure in the region of semiconductor material including a gate dielectric layer adjacent sidewall surfaces of the trench control structure and a gate electrode comprising a first conductive material adjoining the gate dielectric layer; a body region within the region of semiconductor material and adjacent the trench control structure, where the trench control structure is configured to provide a channel region within the body region, where the channel region includes a source end and a drain end; a source region within the body region having a first side adjacent the trench control structure and a second side opposite to the first side; and a first feature comprising a material other than the first conductive material encased completely within the gate electrode, where the first feature is configured to induce stress within portions of the channel region, and wherein the first feature comprises: a base portion; and a pair of side portions extending from the base portion.