Abstract: The invention provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that enhances the amount of stress that is transmitted to the channel region for carrier mobility enhancement. In one embodiment an amorphous region is formed at or near the gate dielectric interface prior to source/drain anneal. In a second embodiment the gate material is amorphous as deposited and processing temperatures are kept below the gate material crystallization temperature until stress enhancement processing has been completed. The amorphous gate material deforms during high temperature anneal and converts from an amorphous to a polycrystalline phase allowing more stress to be transmitted into the channel region. This enhances carrier mobility and improves transistor drive current.

Abstract: An integrated circuit containing an SCRMOS transistor. The SCRMOS transistor has one drain structure with a centralized drain diffused region and distributed SCR terminals, and a second drain structure with distributed drain diffused regions and SCR terminals. An MOS gate between the centralized drain diffused region and a source diffused region is shorted to the source diffused region. A process of forming the integrated circuit having the SCRMOS transistor is also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor with a trenched gate abutting an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region. The body well and source diffused region overlap the bottom surface of the gate trench. An integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor with a first trenched gate abutting an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region, and a second trenched gate located over a heavily doped buried layer. The buried layer is the same conductivity type as the drift region. A process of forming an integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor, which includes an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region of a drain of the transistor, and a gate formed in a gate trench which abuts the isolation dielectric layer. The gate trench is formed by removing substrate material adjacent to the isolation dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for identifying outlier semiconductor devices from a plurality of semiconductor devices includes performing at least one electrical test to obtain electrical test data including at least one test parameter, applying at least a first data transform processing methodology to the electrical test data to generate processed test data, and applying a second data transform processing methodology that is different from the first data transform processing methodology to process the processed test data. The second data transform processing methodology applies an outlier test limit to identify non-outlier devices that comprise semiconductor devices from the semiconductor devices that conform to the outlier test limit and outlier devices that do not conform to the outlier test limit. The semiconductor devices are dispositioned using the outlier identification results. At least one of the data transform processing methodologies can include statistics.

Abstract: Ultra high temperature (UHT) anneals above 1200 C for less than 100 milliseconds for PMOS transistors reduce end of range dislocations, but are incompatible with stress memorization technique (SMT) layers used to enhance NMOS on-state current. This invention reverses the conventional order of forming the NMOS first by forming PSD using carbon co-implants and UHT annealing them before implanting the NSD and depositing the SMT layer. End of range dislocation densities in the PSD space charge region below 100 cm?2 are achieved. Tensile stress in the PMOS from the SMT layer is significantly reduced. The PLDD may also be UHT annealed to reduce end of range dislocations close to the PMOS channel.

Abstract: One aspect provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having reduced N/P or P/N junction crystal disorder. In one aspect, this improvement is achieved by forming gate electrodes over a semiconductor substrate, amorphizing the semiconductor substrate that creates amorphous regions adjacent the gate electrodes to a depth in the semiconductor substrate. Source/drains are formed adjacent the gate electrodes by placing conductive dopants in the semiconductor substrate, wherein displaced substrate atoms and the conductive dopants are contained within the depth of the amorphous regions. The semiconductor substrate is annealed to re-crystallize the amorphous regions subsequent to forming the source/drains.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for suppressing cracks in the wafer dicing process. A wafer includes a plurality of die attached to a frame and mounting tape, with the die separated by a plurality of scribe lanes. An existing die seal generally protects the boundary of the die but can still fail to fully protect the die from excessive cracks induced by dicing damage, particularly when dicing through brittle, low-k dielectrics. The system, method, and apparatus includes embedding a crack arrest structure (CAS) between adjacent scribe lanes. Upon a mechanical saw dicing the wafer, the CAS creates a moisture diffusion block, and can absorb or significantly diminish the energy of cracks propagating towards the individual die seals. Furthermore, the system, method, and apparatus can be implemented without the need to increase the width of the scribe lanes.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device for use in a wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) and a method for fabrication, an inner scribe seal is formed around a functional circuit area that does not extend all the way into the corners of the rectangular die, and an outer scribe seal follows the perimeter of the die and into the corners, with the outer scribe seal having a continuous barrier wall towards the die edges so that moisture penetration in dielectric layers of the die is minimized, and cracks and delamination are stopped near the die edges. Limiting the extent of the insulating layer or layers in the WLCSP to cover the functional circuit area also reduces the stresses caused by these layers near the die corners.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having an SCRMOS transistor with a RESURF region around the drain region and SCR terminal. The RESURF region is the same conductivity type as the drift region and is more heavily doped than the drift region. An SCRMOS transistor with a RESURF region around the drain region and SCR terminal. A process of forming an integrated circuit having an SCRMOS transistor with a RESURF region around the drain region and SCR terminal.

Abstract: Integrated circuits (ICs) commonly contain pre-metal dielectric (PMD) liners with compressive stress to increase electron and hole mobilities in MOS transistors. The increase is limited by the thickness of the PMD liner. The instant invention is a multi-layered PMD liner in an integrated circuit which has a higher stress than single layer PMD liners. Each layer in the inventive PMD liner is exposed to a nitrogen-containing plasma, and which has a compressive stress higher than 1300 MPa. The PMD liner of the instant invention is composed of 3 to 10 layers. The hydrogen content of the first layer may be increased to improve transistor properties such as flicker noise and Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI). An IC containing the inventive PMD liner and a method for forming same are also claimed.

Abstract: An integrated process flow for forming an NMOS transistor (104) and an embedded SiGe (eSiGe) PMOS transistor (102) using a stress memorization technique (SMT) layer (126). The SMT layer (126) is deposited over both the NMOS transistor (104) and PMOS transistor (102). The portion of SMT layer (126) over PMOS transistor (102) is anisotropically etched to form spacers (128) without etching the portion of SMT layer (126) over NMOS transistor (104). Spacers (128) are used to align the SiGe recess etch and growth to form SiGe source/drain regions (132). The source/drain anneals are performed after etching the SMT layer (126) such that SMT layer (126) provides the desired stress to the NMOS transistor (104) without degrading PMOS transistor (102).

Abstract: A manufacturing process including a controller method to generate a tool setting which includes a tool offset and a device offset. The controller method uses a device parameter measurement to update the tool offset and device offset. A tool weight and a device weight is assigned so that only one of the tool offset and device offset is significantly changed during the update. The process may be applied to semiconductor device manufacturing and particularly to integrated circuit fabrication.

Abstract: A method for forming a tensile SiN stress layer for stress memorization enhancement of NMOS transistors with a high Si—H/N—H bond ratio that does not degrade PMOS transistors. A CMOS integrated circuit is processed through a NMOS source and drain implant but not through NMOS source and drain anneal. A SiN dielectric layer is deposited such that an area ratio of a Si—H peak to a N—H peak in a FTIR spectrum is greater than 7 and a tensile stress of the SiN dielectric is greater than 150 MPa. The CMOS integrated circuit is annealed after deposition of the SiN dielectric layer and the SiN dielectric layer is removed from at least a part of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A transistor is fabricated upon a semiconductor substrate, where the yield strength or elasticity of the substrate is enhanced or otherwise adapted. A strain inducing layer is formed over the transistor to apply a strain thereto to alter transistor operating characteristics, and more particularly to enhance the mobility of carriers within the transistor. Enhancing carrier mobility allows transistor dimensions to be reduced while also allowing the transistor to operate as desired. However, high strain and temperature associated with fabricating the transistor result in deleterious plastic deformation. The yield strength of the silicon substrate is therefore adapted by incorporating nitrogen into the substrate, and more particularly into source/drain extension regions and/or source/drain regions of the transistor. The nitrogen can be readily incorporated during transistor fabrication by adding it as part of source/drain extension region formation and/or source/drain region formation.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices (102) and fabrication methods (10) are provided, in which a nitride film (130) is formed over NMOS transistors to impart a tensile stress in ail or a portion of the NMOS transistor to improve carrier mobility. The nitride layer (130) is initially deposited over the transistors at low temperature with high hydrogen content to provide a moderate tensile stress in the semiconductor body prior to back-end processing. Subsequent back-end thermal processing reduces the film hydrogen content and causes an increase in the applied tensile stress.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided, in which metal transistor gates are provided for MOS transistors. A rare earth-rare earth alloy incorporated metal nitride layer is formed above a gate dielectric. This process provides adjustment of the gate electrode work function, thereby tuning the threshold voltage of the resulting NMOS transistors.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device is fabricated while mitigating edge degradation. A bottom electrode is formed over one or more semiconductor layers. A ferroelectric layer is formed over the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed over the ferroelectric layer. The top electrode, the ferroelectric layer, and the bottom electrode are patterned or etched. A dry clean is performed that mitigates edge degradation. A wet etch/clean is then performed.

Abstract: Merging sub-resolution assist features includes receiving a mask pattern that includes the sub-resolution assist features. A first sub-resolution assist feature is selected to merge with a second sub-resolution assist feature. A merge bar width of a merge bar is established. A distance between the first sub-resolution assist feature and the second sub-resolution assist feature is determined. A merging technique is determined in accordance with the distance and the merge bar width. The first sub-resolution assist feature and the second sub-resolution assist feature are merged according to the identified merging technique.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of performing a variable film etch using a variable thickness photomask material. Essentially, a thickness of an adjustable film layer is measured and converted into a contour map of film thickness over a region of a semiconductor body (e.g., wafer). An etch mask layer (e.g., photoresist) is then formed above the adjustable film layer and is selectively patterned by a reticleless exposure system (e.g., DMD exposure system). The selective patterning subjects different regions of the etch mask layer to varying exposure times dependent upon the thickness of the underlying adjustable film. The more etching needed to provide the underlying film to a nominal thickness, the longer the exposure of the etch mask. Therefore, the resultant etch mask, after exposure, comprises a topology allowing for various degrees of selective etching of the underlying film resulting in a uniform film.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that enhances the amount of stress that is transmitted to the channel region for carrier mobility enhancement. In one embodiment an amorphous region is formed at or near the gate dielectric interface prior to source/drain anneal. In a second embodiment the gate material is amorphous as deposited and processing temperatures are kept below the gate material crystallization temperature until stress enhancement processing has been completed. The amorphous gate material deforms during high temperature anneal and converts from an amorphous to a polycrystalline phase allowing more stress to be transmitted into the channel region. This enhances carrier mobility and improves transistor drive current.