Abstract: The present invention relates to a wall construction for an exterior brick wall of a building, comprising a rear brickwork and a front brickwork, which is characterized in that the front brickwork (2) is made at least in part of constructional elements (11), particularly bricks, building blocks and the like, which at their side facing the rear brickwork (5) are designed to be reflective for heat radiation. The invention further relates to a constructional element, in particular a brick, a building block or the like, for use in the production of the front brickwork of such a wall construction which on the side which in the walled-in state faces inwardly, is provided with a layer (8) which is reflective for heat radiation.

Abstract: In SOI devices, the PN junction of circuit elements, such as substrate diodes, is formed in the substrate material on the basis of the buried insulating material that provides increased etch resistivity during wet chemical cleaning and etch processes. Consequently, undue exposure of the PN junction formed in the vicinity of the sidewalls of the buried insulating material may be avoided, which may cause reliability concerns in conventional SOI devices comprising a silicon dioxide material as the buried insulating layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based electronic fuse may be provided in a sophisticated semiconductor device having a bulk configuration by appropriately embedding the electronic fuse into a semiconductor material of reduced heat conductivity. For example, a silicon/germanium fuse region may be provided in the silicon base material. Consequently, sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of replacement gate approaches on bulk devices substantially without affecting the electronic characteristics of the electronic fuses.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, electronic fuses may be provided on the basis of a replacement gate approach by using the aluminum material as an efficient metal for inducing electromigration in the electronic fuses. The electronic fuse may be formed on an isolation structure, thereby providing an efficient thermal decoupling of the electronic fuse from the semiconductor material and the substrate material, thereby enabling the provision of efficient electronic fuses in a bulk configuration, while avoiding incorporation of fuses into the metallization system.

Abstract: In a sophisticated semiconductor device, a semiconductor-based electronic fuse may be formed in a bulk configuration, wherein the design and thus the configuration of the contact areas and the fuse region provide a wide programming window in terms of programming voltages and duration of the corresponding programming pulses.

Abstract: In integrated circuits, resistors may be formed on the basis of a silicon/germanium material, thereby providing a reduced specific resistance which may allow reduced dimensions of the resistor elements. Furthermore, a reduced dopant concentration may be used which may allow an increased process window for adjusting resistance values while also reducing overall cycle times.

Abstract: By forming isolation trenches of different types of intrinsic stress on the basis of separate process sequences, the strain characteristics of adjacent active semiconductor regions may be adjusted so as to obtain overall device performance. For example, highly stressed dielectric fill material including compressive and tensile stress may be appropriately provided in the respective isolation trenches in order to correspondingly adapt the charge carrier mobility of respective channel regions.

Abstract: By incorporating a carbon species below the channel region of a P-channel transistor prior to the formation of the gate electrode structure, an efficient strain-inducing mechanism may provided, thereby enhancing performance of P-channel transistors. The position and size of the strain-inducing region may be determined on the basis of an implantation mask and respective implantation parameters, thereby providing a high degree of compatibility with conventional techniques, since the strain-inducing region may be incorporated at an early manufacturing stage, directly to respective “large area” contact elements.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based electronic fuse may be provided in a sophisticated semiconductor device having a bulk configuration by appropriately embedding the electronic fuse into a semiconductor material of reduced heat conductivity. For example, a silicon/germanium fuse region may be provided in the silicon base material. Consequently, sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of replacement gate approaches on bulk devices substantially without affecting the electronic characteristics of the electronic fuses.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, electronic fuses may be provided on the basis of a replacement gate approach by using the aluminum material as an efficient metal for inducing electromigration in the electronic fuses. The electronic fuse may be formed on an isolation structure, thereby providing an efficient thermal decoupling of the electronic fuse from the semiconductor material and the substrate material, thereby enabling the provision of efficient electronic fuses in a bulk configuration, while avoiding incorporation of fuses into the metallization system.

Abstract: In semiconductor devices comprising sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structures, resistors may be formed on the basis of a semiconductor material by increasing the sheet resistance of a conductive metal-containing cap material on the basis of an implantation process. Consequently, any complex etch techniques for removing the conductive cap material may be avoided.

Abstract: By performing a planarization process, for instance based on a planarization layer, prior to forming a resist mask for selectively removing a portion of a stressed contact etch stop layer, the strain-inducing mechanism of a subsequently deposited further contact etch stop layer may be significantly improved.

Abstract: A technique is provided that enables the formation of metal silicide individually for N-channel transistors and P-channel transistors, while at the same time a strain-inducing mechanism is also provided individually for each transistor type. In this way, a cobalt silicide having a reduced distance to the channel region of an NMOS transistor may be provided, while a P-channel transistor may receive a highly conductive nickel silicide, without unduly affecting or compromising the characteristics of the N-channel transistor.

Abstract: In SOI devices, the PN junction of circuit elements, such as substrate diodes, is formed in the substrate material on the basis of the buried insulating material that provides increased etch resistivity during wet chemical cleaning and etch processes. Consequently, undue exposure of the PN junction formed in the vicinity of the sidewalls of the buried insulating material may be avoided, which may cause reliability concerns in conventional SOI devices comprising a silicon dioxide material as the buried insulating layer.

Abstract: A vertical or three-dimensional non-planar configuration for a decoupling capacitor is provided, which significantly reduces the required die area for capacitors of high charge carrier storage capacity. The non-planar configuration of the decoupling capacitors also provides enhanced pattern uniformity during the highly critical gate patterning process.

Abstract: By recessing the isolation structure of a transistor prior to silicidation, the series resistance may be reduced due to the increased amount of metal silicide formed in the vicinity of the isolation structure. By recessing the isolation structure prior to the formation of the gate electrode, an increased degree of poly wrap around may be obtained, thereby increasing the effective channel width.

Abstract: In integrated circuits, resistors may be formed on the basis of a silicon/germanium material, thereby providing a reduced specific resistance which may allow reduced dimensions of the resistor elements. Furthermore, a reduced dopant concentration may be used which may allow an increased process window for adjusting resistance values while also reducing overall cycle times.

Abstract: By forming isolation trenches of different types of intrinsic stress on the basis of separate process sequences, the strain characteristics of adjacent active semiconductor regions may be adjusted so as to obtain overall device performance. For example, highly stressed dielectric fill material including compressive and tensile stress may be appropriately provided in the respective isolation trenches in order to correspondingly adapt the charge carrier mobility of respective channel regions.

Abstract: By incorporating a carbon species below the channel region of a P-channel transistor prior to the formation of the gate electrode structure, an efficient strain-inducing mechanism may provided, thereby enhancing performance of P-channel transistors. The position and size of the strain-inducing region may be determined on the basis of an implantation mask and respective implantation parameters, thereby providing a high degree of compatibility with conventional techniques, since the strain-inducing region may be incorporated at an early manufacturing stage, directly to respective “large area” contact elements.

Abstract: By increasing the transistor topography after forming a first layer of highly stressed dielectric material, additional stressed material may be added, thereby efficiently increasing the entire layer thickness of the stressed dielectric material. The corresponding increase of device topography may be accomplished on the basis of respective placeholder structures or dummy gates, wherein well-established gate patterning processes may be used or wherein nano-imprint techniques may be employed. Hence, in some illustrative embodiments, a significant increase of strain may be obtained on the basis of well-established process techniques.