Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) which can be used in as a magnetic random access memory cell are disclosed. The MTJ comprises a free layer and an insulator layer. The MTJ further comprises a pinned layer with a first region, a second region, and a third region. The second region is of a first length and of a first thickness, and the first region and the third region are of a second length and of a second thickness. A ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness may be larger than 1.2. A ratio of the second length to the first length is larger than 0.5. The first thickness may be larger than a spin diffusion length of a material for the pinned layer. So formed MTJ results in increased tunneling magnetic resistance ratio and reduced critical switch current of the MTJ.

Abstract: Method for assembling thermoelectric unicouples is provided and applied with silicon-based nanostructure thermoelectric legs. The method includes preparing and disposing both n-type and p-type thermoelectric material blocks in alternative columns on a first shunt material. The method includes a sequence of cutting processes to resize the thermoelectric material blocks to form multiple singulated unicouples each having an n-type thermoelectric leg and a p-type thermoelectric leg bonded to a section of the first shunt material. Additionally, the method includes re-disposing these singulated unicouples in a serial daisy chain configuration with a predetermined pitch distance and bonding a second shunt material on top. The method further includes performing additional cutting processes to form one or more daisy chains of thermoelectric unicouples. The first shunt material is coupled to a cold-side heat sink and the second shunt material is coupled to a hot-side heat sink.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a resistance change device includes a first electrode including a metal, a second electrode, and an amorphous oxide layer including Si and O between the first and second electrode, the layer having a concentration gradient of O and a first peak thereof in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Abstract: Method for assembling thermoelectric unicouples is provided and applied with silicon-based nanostructure thermoelectric legs. The method includes preparing and disposing both n-type and p-type thermoelectric material blocks in alternative columns on a first shunt material. The method includes a sequence of cutting processes to resize the thermoelectric material blocks to form multiple singulated unicouples each having an n-type thermoelectric leg and a p-type thermoelectric leg bonded to a section of the first shunt material. Additionally, the method includes re-disposing these singulated unicouples in a serial daisy chain configuration with a predetermined pitch distance and bonding a second shunt material on top. The method further includes performing additional cutting processes to form one or more daisy chains of thermoelectric unicouples. The first shunt material is coupled to a cold-side heat sink and the second shunt material is coupled to a hot-side heat sink.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus invention includes a substrate (1), an epitaxial layer (2) formed on the substrate (1), a gate electrode (3), a source electrode (4), and a drain electrode (5) that are formed on the epitaxial layer. The source electrode (4) and the drain electrode (5) each include at least two first divided electrodes that are formed to extend in parallel to each other in a first direction, inter-electrode distances Ps and Pd between the first divided electrodes are greater than or equal to a radius of an abnormal growth portion formed on a surface of the epitaxial layer (2), and widths of the first divided electrodes are less than or equal to the radius of the abnormal growth portion.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relates to an architecture to create split gate flash memory cell that has lower common source (CS) resistance and a reduced cell size by utilizing a buried conductive common source structure. A two-step etch process is carried out to create a recessed path between two split gate flash memory cells. A single ion implantation to form the common source also forms a conductive path beneath the STI region that connects two split gate flash memory cells and provide potential coupling during programming and erasing and thus electrically connect the common sources of memory cells along a direction that forms a CS line. The architecture contains no OD along the source line between the cells, thus eliminating the effects of CS rounding and CS resistance, resulting in a reduced space between cells in an array. Hence, this particular architecture reduces the resistance and the buried conductive path between several cells in an array suppresses the area over head.

Abstract: A FinFET comprises an isolation region formed in a substrate, a cloak-shaped active region formed over the substrate, wherein the cloak-shaped active region has an upper portion protruding above a top surface of the isolation region. In addition, the FinFET comprises a gate electrode wrapping the channel of the cloak-shaped active region.

Abstract: Through substrate via (TSuV) structures and method of making the same are disclosed herein. In embodiments, TSuV structures are metal filled selectively to avoid forming significant metal overburden on non-via surfaces of the substrate. In certain embodiments, post-fill metal removal/planarization operations are eliminated for reduced process complexity and manufacturing cost. In embodiments, selective metal fill entails selective electroless or electrolytic deposition. Both front side and back side selective deposition methods are described along with features of through substrate via structures made with such methods.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and manufacturing and design methods thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an active FinFET disposed over a workpiece comprising a first semiconductive material, the active FinFET comprising a first fin. An electrically inactive FinFET structure is disposed over the workpiece proximate the active FinFET, the electrically inactive FinFET comprising a second fin. A second semiconductive material is disposed between the first fin and the second fin.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, dry etching is performed so that an upper-layer wiring material layer, a memory-layer constituting layer, and an interlayer insulating film are processed to form a pattern including a line-and-space pattern extending in a second direction and a dummy pattern connecting line patterns constituting the line-and-space pattern in a memory cell formation region and an upper-layer wiring hookup region. Then, the dummy pattern is removed.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide shallow trenches and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor substrate can be provided. A mask layer can be provided on the semiconductor substrate. An etch-cleaning process can be performed. The etch-cleaning process can include etching the semiconductor substrate to form a shallow trench by one or more etching steps using the mask layer as an etch mask. The etch-cleaning process can further include performing a plasma cleaning process after each of the one or more etching steps. The plasma cleaning process can use a plasma that is electronegative.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory elements each having an upper electrode, a variable resistance layer, and a lower electrode; a first insulating layer embedding the plurality of nonvolatile memory elements, and ranging from a lowermost part of the lower electrode to a position higher than an uppermost part of the upper electrode in each of the nonvolatile memory elements; a second insulating layer being formed on the first insulating layer, and having an average size of vacancies larger than an average size of vacancies included in the first insulating layer, or having an average carbon concentration higher than an average carbon concentration of the first insulating layer; and a conductive layer penetrating the second insulating layer and a part of the first insulating layer and being connected to at least one of the upper electrodes included in the nonvolatile memory elements.

Abstract: A bonding pad structure includes a substrate and a first conductive island formed in a first dielectric layer and disposed over the substrate. A first via array having a plurality of vias is formed in a second dielectric layer and disposed over the first conductive island. A second conductive island is formed in a third dielectric layer and disposed over the first via array. A bonding pad is disposed over the second conductive island. The first conductive island, the first via array, and the second conductive island are electrically connected to the bonding pad. The first via array is connected to no other conductive island in the first dielectric layer except the first conductive island. No other conductive island in the third dielectric layer is connected to the first via array except the second conductive island.

Abstract: A package substrate processing method of dividing a package substrate into a plurality of individual package devices along a plurality of division lines, the package substrate being composed of an electrode plate and a synthetic resin layer formed on the back side of the electrode plate for molding the package devices. The package substrate processing method includes an internal stress relieving step of cutting the electrode plate of the package substrate along a selected one of the division lines to form a relief groove, thereby relieving an internal stress in the package substrate, a resin layer planarizing step of grinding the synthetic resin layer of the package substrate to thereby planarize the synthetic resin layer, and a package substrate dividing step of dividing the package substrate held on a holding table under suction along the division lines.

Abstract: An asymmetrical field effect transistor (FET) device includes a semiconductor substrate, a buried oxide layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, an extended source region disposed on the buried oxide layer and a drain region disposed on the buried oxide layer. The asymmetrical FET device also includes a silicon on insulator region disposed between the extended source region and the drain region and a gate region disposed above the extended source region and the silicon on insulator region.

Abstract: Semiconductor nanoparticles are deposited on a top surface of a first insulator layer of a substrate. A second insulator layer is deposited over the semiconductor nanoparticles and the first insulator layer. A semiconductor layer is then bonded to the second insulator layer to provide a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, which includes a buried insulator layer including the first and second insulator layers and embedded semiconductor nanoparticles therein. Back gate electrodes are formed underneath the buried insulator layer, and shallow trench isolation structures are formed to isolate the back gate electrodes. Field effect transistors are formed in a memory device region and a logic device region employing same processing steps. The embedded nanoparticles can be employed as a charge storage element of non-volatile memory devices, in which charge carriers tunnel through the second insulator layer into or out of the semiconductor nanoparticles during writing and erasing.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device comprising a dummy gate interconnect includes forming a dummy gate on a substrate, the dummy gate comprising a dummy gate metal layer located on the substrate, and a dummy gate polysilicon layer located on the dummy gate metal layer; forming an active gate on the substrate, the active gate comprising an active gate metal layer located on the substrate, and an active gate polysilicon layer located on the active gate metal layer; and etching the dummy gate polysilicon layer to remove at least a portion of the dummy gate polysilicon layer to form the dummy gate interconnect, wherein the active gate polysilicon layer is not etched during the etching of the dummy gate polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A transistor includes a semiconductor substrate, at least a gate structure, at least a first tensile stress layer, a second tensile stress layer, a source region, and a drain region. The gate structure is disposed within a first transistor region of the semiconductor substrate. The first tensile stress layer includes a curved portion encompassing the gate structure, at least an extension portion with a curved top surface located on the semiconductor substrate at sides of the gate structure, and a transition portion between the curved portion and the extension portion. The first tensile stress layer has a thickness gradually thinning from the curved portion and the extension portion toward the transition portion. The second tensile stress layer is disposed on the first tensile stress layer. And the source/drain regions are separately located in the semiconductor substrate on two sides of the gate structure.

Abstract: A method to fabricate monolithically-integrated optoelectronic module apparatuses (100) comprising at least two series-interconnected optoelectronic components (104, 106, 108). The method includes deposition and scribing on an insulating substrate or superstate (110) of a 3-layer stack in order (a, b, c) or (c, b, a) comprising: (a) back-contact electrodes (122, 124, 126, 128), (b) semiconductive layer (130), and (c) front-contact components (152, 154, 156, 158). Via holes (153, 155, 157) are drilled so that heat of the drilling process causes a metallization at the surface of said via holes that renders conductive the semi-conductive layer's surface (132, 134, 136, 138) of said via holes, thereby establishing series-interconnecting electrical paths between optoelectronic components (104, 106, 108) by connecting first front-contact components (154, 156) to second back-contact electrodes (124, 126).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a resistance change device includes a first electrode including a metal, a second electrode, and an amorphous oxide layer including Si and O between the first and second electrode, the layer having a concentration gradient of O and a first peak thereof in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode.