Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic material stack on a substrate, comprises forming a first dielectric layer, forming a first magnetic material layer on the first dielectric layer, forming at least a second dielectric layer on the first magnetic material layer and forming at least a second magnetic material layer on the second dielectric layer. During one or more of the forming steps, a surface smoothing operation is performed to remove at least a portion of surface roughness on the layer being formed.

Abstract: A memory system in an integrated circuit and a method of operation. The system includes multiple magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structures, each MTJ structure storing a logic value according to a resistive state. A selection switch device associated with a respective MTJ structure is activated to select one of the multiple MTJ structures at a time. An output circuit is configured to sense the resistive state of a selected MTJ structure, the output circuit having a selectable input reference resistance value according to a selected first reference resistance or a second reference resistance value, and outputting a first logic value of the selected MTJ structure responsive to a resistive state of the MTJ structure and a selected first resistance reference value, or alternately outputting a second logic value of the selected MTJ structure responsive to the resistive state of the MTJ structure and a selected second resistance reference value.

Abstract: A multilayered bottom electrode for a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) containing device is provided that includes, from bottom to top, a base segment having a first diameter and composed of a remaining portion of a first bottom electrode metal-containing layer, a middle segment having a second diameter and composed of a remaining portion of a second bottom electrode metal-containing layer, and an upper segment having a third diameter and composed of a remaining portion of a third bottom electrode metal-containing layer, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and the third diameter is equal to, or less than, the second diameter. The wider base segment of each multilayered bottom electrode prevents tilting and/or bowing of the resultant bottom electrode. Thus, a stable bottom electrode is provided.

Abstract: A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) array includes a plurality of MRAM cells, each of the MRAM cells including a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack disposed on a bottom metal via connecting the MTJ stack to a bottom conductive contact in a substrate, a plurality of top conductive contacts, each of the top conductive contacts disposed on a respective one of the MTJ stacks, and a plurality of unitary structures configured as a heat sink/magnetic shield disposed on a vertical portions of each of the MRAM cells, including vertical portions of the bottom metal vias, and under a portion of each of the MTJ stacks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of fabricating a yoke arrangement of an inductor. A non-limiting example method includes forming a dielectric layer across from a major surface of a substrate. The method further includes configuring the dielectric layer such that it imparts a predetermined dielectric layer compressive stress on the substrate. A magnetic stack is formed on an opposite side of the dielectric layer from the substrate, wherein the magnetic stack includes one or more magnetic layers alternating with one or more insulating layers. The method further includes configuring the magnetic stack such that it imparts a predetermined magnetic stack tensile stress on the dielectric layer, wherein a net effect of the predetermined dielectric layer compressive stress and the predetermined magnetic stack tensile stress on the substrate is insufficient to cause a portion of the major surface of the substrate to be substantially non-planar.

Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transport fin field effect transistor device is provided. The method includes replacing a portion of a sacrificial exclusion layer between one or more vertical fins and a substrate with a temporary inner spacer. The method further includes removing a portion of a fin layer and the sacrificial exclusion layer between the one or more vertical fins and the substrate, and forming a bottom source/drain on the temporary inner spacer and between the one or more vertical fins and the substrate. The method further includes replacing a portion of the bottom source/drain with a temporary gap filler, and replacing the temporary gap filler and temporary inner spacer with a wrap-around source/drain contact having an L-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit employing digital amplitude control of the output oscillating signal and method of operation. The digital control is provided by an analog to digital converter (ADC) element that is shared among many other operating blocks in a system. In a configuration, the oscillator current is obtained by implementing transistors in a linear region and controlling them digitally. The optimum amplitude detection is performed by measuring the DC voltage at the common mode nodes in the oscillator, and is realized using reduced time compared to an extensive frequency measurement over a long time window. The digital control is implemented using an on-chip regulator, and employs digital controls for adjusting the current consumption which leads to low on-chip area overhead, low cost, and a scalable implementation. In an implementation, a one-time code can be obtained for optimum phase noise operation when providing the digital amplitude control.

Abstract: A dielectric material structure is formed laterally adjacent to a bottom portion of a bottom electrode metal-containing portion that extends upward from an electrically conductive structure that is embedded in an interconnect dielectric material layer. The physically exposed top portion of the bottom electrode metal-containing portion is then trimmed to provide a bottom electrode of unitary construction (i.e., a single piece) that has a lower portion having a first diameter and an upper portion that has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The presence of the dielectric material structure prevents tilting and/or bowing of the resultant bottom electrode. Thus, a stable bottom electrode is provided.

Abstract: A structure capable of effectively preventing dopant diffusion from source/drain regions into an underlying semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer of fully-depleted SOI transistors with U-shaped channels is provided. By inserting a dopant diffusion barrier layer between an SOI layer of an SOI substrate and a doped extension layer from which source/drain extension regions are derived, the undesired dopant diffusion from the source/drain extension regions into the underlying SOI layer can be prevented.

Abstract: A method is presented for reducing parasitic capacitance. The method includes forming a p-type epitaxial region and an n-type epitaxial region over a substrate, depositing an epitaxial growth over the p-type epitaxial region and the n-type epitaxial region, depositing a first dielectric between the p-type epitaxial region and the n-type epitaxial region such that an airgap is defined therebetween, and selectively removing the epitaxial growth to expose top surfaces of the p-type and n-type epitaxial regions. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric in direct contact with the exposed top surfaces of the p-type and n-type epitaxial regions, selectively etching the first and second dielectrics to form a strapped contact, and applying a metallization layer over the strapped contact.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic tunnel junction device is provided. The method includes forming an MTJ stack including a reference layer, a tunnel barrier layer formed on the reference layer, a free layer formed on the barrier layer, and a cap layer formed on the free layer. The method also includes performing ion beam etching (IBE) through each layer of the MTJ stack to form at least one MTJ pillar. The method also includes forming an isolation layer on sidewalls of at least the tunnel barrier layer, the isolation layer comprising a same material as that of the tunnel barrier layer. A combined width of the isolation layer and the tunnel barrier layer is equal to or greater than a width of at least one of the reference layer and the free layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure that includes a metal layer in a first interlayer dielectric that is above a semiconductor device. The semiconductor structure includes an embedded memory device on the metal layer. The embedded memory device has a first metal contact surrounded by a second interlayer dielectric. Additionally, the semiconductor structure includes a thin film transistor on the first metal contact. The thin film transistor is surrounded by a third interlayer dielectric. The third interlayer dielectric is over a portion of the embedded memory device and a portion of the second interlayer dielectric. The semiconductor structure includes a first portion of a channel of the thin film transistor covered a gate structure, where the channel is a layer of indium tin oxide.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a double magnetic tunnel junction device is provided. The method includes forming a first magnetic tunnel junction stack, forming a spin conducting layer on the first magnetic tunnel junction stack, and forming a second magnetic tunnel junction stack on the spin conducting layer. The second magnetic tunnel junction stack has a width that is greater than a width of the first magnetic tunnel junction stack.

Abstract: A remotely powered low power oscillator. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises an oscillator core, in a first environment, generating an oscillating signal; a power management system, in a second environment, supplying power to the oscillator core to operate the oscillator core; a sensing system, in the first environment, sensing one or more parameters of the oscillator core, and generating one or more signals representing said one or more parameters; transmitting the one or more signals from the sensing system to the second environment; and using the one or more signals in the second environment to control the power supplied to the oscillator core from the power management system.

Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) containing device is provided in which a conformal dielectric encapsulation liner is located on a sidewall of each of a MTJ pillar and an overlying top electrode, and a non-conformal dielectric encapsulation liner is located on the conformal dielectric encapsulation liner. This dual encapsulation liner structure prevents the bottom electrode of the MTJ containing device from being physically exposed thus eliminating the possibility that the bottom electrode can be a source of resputtered conductive metal particles that can deposit on a sidewall of the MTJ pillar. As such, electrical shorting is reduced in the MTJ containing device of the present application. Also, the dual encapsulation liner structure can mitigate chemical diffusion into the tunnel barrier material of the MTJ pillar.

Abstract: Field effect transistors include a stack of nanowires of vertically arranged channel layers. A source and drain region is disposed at respective ends of the vertically arranged channel layers. A gate stack is formed over, around, and between the vertically arranged channel layers. Internal spacers are each formed between the gate stack and a respective source or drain region, with at least one pair of spacers being positioned above an uppermost channel layer.

Abstract: An embedded magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) device including a portion of a metal wiring layer above a semiconductor device and a bottom electrode over the portion of the metal wiring layer. The embedded MRAM where the bottom electrode connects to a first portion of a bottom surface of a magnetoresistive random access memory pillar and a sidewall spacer is on the magnetoresistive random access memory pillar. The embedded MRAM device includes a ring of inner metal is on the portion of the metal wiring layer surrounding a portion of the bottom electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) are described. In an example, a device can receive a digital input. The device can generate a clock signal having frequency in radio frequency (RF) range. The device can combine the digital input with the clock signal to generate a first voltage signal. The device can convert the first voltage signal into a second voltage signal having at least two phases. The device can convert the second voltage signal into a current signal. The device can distribute the current signal to at least one current mode DAC.

Abstract: A method is presented for reducing parasitic capacitance. The method includes forming a p-type epitaxial region and an n-type epitaxial region over a substrate, depositing an epitaxial growth over the p-type epitaxial region and the n-type epitaxial region, depositing a first dielectric between the p-type epitaxial region and the n-type epitaxial region such that an airgap is defined therebetween, and selectively removing the epitaxial growth to expose top surfaces of the p-type and n-type epitaxial regions. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric in direct contact with the exposed top surfaces of the p-type and n-type epitaxial regions, selectively etching the first and second dielectrics to form a strapped contact, and applying a metallization layer over the strapped contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including an MRAM (magnetoresistive random-access memory) cell disposed above and in electrical contact with a VFET (vertical field effect transistor) access transistor.