Abstract: A hard mask material is removed from an SOI substrate without using a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process. A blocking material is deposited on a hard mask material after a deep trench reactive ion etch (RIE) process. The blocking material on top of the hard mask material is removed. A selective wet etching process is used to remove the hard mask material. Trench recess depth is effectively controlled.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided that integrates an bulk FET and an SOI FET on the same chip, where the bulk FET includes a gate conductor over a gate oxide formed over a bulk substrate, where the gate dielectric of the bulk FET has the same thickness and is substantially coplanar with the buried insulating layer of the SOI FET. In a preferred embodiment, the bulk FET is formed from an SOI wafer by forming bulk contact trenches through the SOI layer and the buried insulating layer of the SOI wafer adjacent an active region of the SOI layer in a designated bulk device region. The active region of the SOI layer adjacent the bulk contact trenches forms the gate conductor of the bulk FET which overlies a portion of the underlying buried insulating layer, which forms the gate dielectric of the bulk FET.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is described. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a conductive gate abutting a gate insulator for controlling conduction of a channel region; and a source region and a drain region associated with the conductive gate, where the source region includes a first material and the drain region includes a second material, and where the conductive gate is self-aligned to the first material and the second material. In one embodiment, the first material includes Si and the second material includes SiGe. A method of forming a semiconductor structure is also described.

Abstract: A frontside of a chip is bonded to a top surface of a chip carrier. Seal material is dispensed at a periphery of the top surface of the chip carrier. A solder TIM having a first side and a second side is provided. The first side of the TIM contacts a backside of the chip. A reflow is performed to melt the TIM. The second side of the TIM is bonded to a lid. The seal material is cured. The lid is attached to the top surface of the chip carrier. Backfill material is injected into a space between the top surface of the chip carrier and the lid. The backfill material abuts sides of the TIM. The backfill material is cured. TIM solder cracking and associated thermal degradation are mitigated.

Abstract: A CMOS structure includes a v-shape surface in an nMOSFET region. The v-shape surface has an orientation in a (100) plane and extends into a Si layer in the nMOSFET region. The nMOSFET gate dielectric layer is a high-k material, such as Hf02. The nMOSFET has a metal gate layer, such as Ta. Poly-Si is deposited on top of the metal gate layer.

Abstract: A plurality of gate structures are formed on a substrate. Each of the gate structures includes a first gate electrode and source and drain regions. The first gate electrode is removed from each of the gate structures. A first photoresist is applied to block gate structures having source regions in a source-down direction. A first halo implantation is performed in gate structures having source regions in a source-up direction at a first angle. The first photoresist is removed. A second photoresist is applied to block gate structures having source regions in a source-up direction. A second halo implantation is performed in gate structures having source regions in a source-down direction at a second angle. The second photoresist is removed. Replacement gate electrodes are formed in each of the gate structures.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided where in one embodiment an STI fill is recessed below the pad nitride and pad oxide layers, to a level substantially coplanar with the top surface of the substrate. A thin (having a thickness in the range of about 10 ?-100 ?) wet etch resistant layer is formed in contact with and completely covering at least the top surface of the recessed STI fill material. The thin wet etch resistant layer is more resistant to a wet etch process than at least the pad oxide layer. The thin wet etch resistant layer may be a refractory dielectric material, or a dielectric such as HfOx, AlyOx, ZrOx, HfZrOx, and HfSiOx. The inventive wet etch resistant layer improves the wet etch budget of subsequent wet etch processing steps.

Abstract: A method is provided for selecting an operating band of a voltage-controlled oscillator (“VCO”) of a phase locked loop (“PLL”) for which the lock frequency is closest to a center of the frequency range of the operating band. In such method, steps can be performed to determine the maximum and minimum frequencies of the operating band and the center frequency between them. From the center frequency of the operating band and the lock frequency within such operating band, a difference value can then be determined. The operating bands of the PLL can be tested until an operating band having the smallest difference value is determined. The VCO can then be set to such operating band in order for the lock frequency to be closest to the center frequency of the operating band.

Abstract: A phase locked loop (“PLL”) includes a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”) operable to acquire and maintain lock at a selected output frequency of the VCO and control logic operable to perform steps in a method of selecting a frequency band for operating the VCO.

Abstract: Information is typically obtained from a relational database using a query in structured query language (SQL). An extension to the SQL standard is described which permits plotting the results of a query. SQL keywords are provided for specifying a format for graphing selected data, and syntax for recognizing those keywords, thereby causing the data to be presented as a graph according to the specified format. This extension of SQL maintains the syntax and style of conventional SQL queries. This permits automated systems, such as database driven websites, to issue extended SQL queries directly to a relational database and have the results returned as formatted graphical content.

Abstract: Embedded DRAM MOSFETs including an array NFET having a gate stack comprising a high-K dielectric layer upon which is deposited a first metal oxide layer (CD1) then a conductive layer (TiN), and then a polysilicon layer (Poly). A logic PFET having substantially the same gate stack as the array NFET, and a logic NFET having a third gate stack comprising the high-K dielectric layer upon which is deposited the conductive layer (TiN) and then the polysilicon layer (Poly), without the first metal oxide layer (CD1) between the high-K dielectric layer and the conductive layer (TiN). The array NFET may therefore have a higher gate stack work function than the logic NFET, but substantially the same gate stack work function as the logic PFET.

Abstract: A latch apparatus for a cover and a housing is mounted on at least one side in a front of the housing. The latch apparatus includes a bracket rotatably attached to at least one outer side in a front of the housing and a linkage coupled to the bracket. When the bracket is rotated in a first direction, the linkage applies a force on the cover relative to the housing for detachment of the cover from the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a computer card in a computer having a riser card has a bracket for receiving the computer card and a retaining member. The retaining member engages the computer card and provides a preload force on the computer card.

Abstract: Silicon germanium (SiGe) is epitaxially grown on a silicon channel above nFET and pFET regions of a substrate. SiGe is removed above the nFET regions. A device includes a silicon channel above the nFET regions and a SiGe channel above the pFET regions.

Abstract: A plurality of gate structures are formed on a substrate. Each of the gate structures includes a first gate electrode and source and drain regions. The first gate electrode is removed from each of the gate structures. A first photoresist is applied to block gate structures having source regions in a source-down direction. A first halo implantation is performed in gate structures having source regions in a source-up direction at a first angle. The first photoresist is removed. A second photoresist is applied to block gate structures having source regions in a source-up direction. A second halo implantation is performed in gate structures having source regions in a source-down direction at a second angle. The second photoresist is removed. Replacement gate electrodes are formed in each of the gate structures.

Abstract: A method of forming a trench device structure having a single-side buried strap is provided. The method includes forming a deep trench in a semiconductor substrate, said deep trench having a first side portion and a second side portion; depositing a node dielectric on said deep trench, wherein said node dielectric covers said first side portion and said second side portion; depositing a first conductive layer over said node dielectric; performing an ion implantation or ion bombardment at an angle into a portion of said node dielectric, thereby removing said portion of said node dielectric from said first side portion of said deep trench; and depositing a second conductive layer over said first conductive layer, wherein said second conductive layer outdiffuses into a portion of said semiconductor substrate. A trench device structure having a single-side buried strap is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor interconnect structure and method providing an embedded barrier layer to prevent damage to the dielectric material during or after Chemical Mechanical Polishing. The method employs a combination of an embedded film, etchback, using either selective CoWP or a conformal cap such as a SiCNH film, to protect the dielectric material from the CMP process as well as subsequent etch, clean and deposition steps of the next interconnect level.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is described. The structure includes a transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer; a channel associated with the transistor and formed on a first portion of the SOI layer; and a source/drain region associated with the transistor and formed in a second portion of the SOI layer and in a recess at each end of the channel, where the second portion of the SOI layer is substantially thicker than the first portion of the SOI layer. A method of fabricating the semiconductor structure is also described.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a model of a lithographic process includes a plurality of test features each having different widths that vary from a resolvable feature width that is known to be resolvable by the lithographic process, to a width that is known not to be resolvable by the lithographic process. The test features and patterns are specifically designed to include features that approach or exceed the resolution of the lithographic process, and range from known resolvable patterns to patterns that are expected to fail to be resolved. The printed test patterns are inspected for printability and the extremum intensity values associated with neighboring printable and non-printable test patterns are used to determine a constant threshold value to be used in a resist process model.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is described. The structure includes a trench opening formed in a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer and a buried insulating (BOX) layer; and a filling material formed in the trench opening, the filling material forming a “V” shape within the trench memory cell, wherein the “V” shape includes a top portion substantially adjacent to a top surface of the BOX layer. A method of fabricating the semiconductor structure is also described. The method includes forming a trench opening in a semiconductor substrate having an SOI layer and a BOX layer; laterally etching the BOX layer such that a portion of the trench opening associated with the BOX layer is substantially greater than a portion of the trench opening associated with the SOI layer; filling the trench opening with a filling material; and recessing the filling material.