Patent ID: 7344933

Claim:
A method comprising: forming a first gate structure overlying and abutting a first surface, the first gate structure comprising a gate dielectric and a conductive gate, wherein a material of the first surface comprises a compound semiconductor material; forming a first sidewall spacer abutting the first gate structure; forming an epitaxial layer on a second surface at a source/drain location associated with the first gate structure, a first portion of the epitaxial layer beginning at an outer surface of the first sidewall and a second portion of the epitaxial layer abutting the first portion and extending away from the outer surface of the first sidewall, wherein the first portion having a first average thickness, the second portion having a second average thickness greater than the first average thickness, wherein the epitaxial layer comprises a dopant that is substantially absent from a material of the second surface, the dopant having a first conductivity type.