Abstract: In a method for checking the functioning of memory cells of an integrated semiconductor memory, a first group of the memory cells is tested. The test results, separately for each tested memory cell, are buffer-stored in at least triple copies in a second group of the memory cells. A comparison is made between the copies of each of the test results and the evaluation thereof. The addresses of the respective memory cells of the second group are determined by an address transformation. The latter is configured in such a way that significant clusters of functional errors in an error-affected second group of the memory cells do not influence the result of the test method.

Abstract: In a method for checking the functioning of memory cells of an integrated semiconductor memory, a first group of the memory cells is tested. The test results, separately for each tested memory cell, are buffer-stored in at least triple copies in a second group of the memory cells. A comparison is made between the copies of each of the test results and the evaluation thereof. The addresses of the respective memory cells of the second group are determined by an address transformation. The latter is configured in such a way that significant clusters of functional errors in an error-affected second group of the memory cells do not influence the result of the test method.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system to increase the deep trench sidewall surface area in a storage node on a DRAM chip. By tilting the trenches the capacitance is increased without taking up more space on the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A reduction in parasitic leakages of shallow trench isolation vias is disclosed wherein the distance between the silicon nitride liner and the active silicon sidewalls is increased by depositing an insulating oxide layer prior to deposition of the silicon nitride liner. Preferably, the insulating oxide layer comprises tetraethylorthosilicate. The method comprises of etching one or more shallow trench isolations into a semiconductor wafer; depositing an insulating oxide layer into the trench; growing a thermal oxide in the trench; and depositing a silicon nitride liner in the trench. The thermal oxide may be grown prior to or after deposition of the insulating oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for forming an oxygen-impervious barrier on the oxide collar of a trench capacitor in a DRAM cell. The process consists of etching a shallow trench into the oxide collar which surrounds the polysilicon trench fill and isolating it from the single crystal semiconducting substrate material of the DRAM cell to a depth which is at least equal to or larger than the width of the oxide collar. A nitride layer with a thickness equal to or thicker than half of the width of the oxide collar is then deposited on the top surface of the freshly excavated oxide collar such that the aforementioned trench is completely filled with this nitride layer, and the entire surfaces of the substrate and polysilicon trench fill are completely covered.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved resistor and method of fabrication is provided. The method for fabricating a resistive element into an integrated circuit semiconductor device comprises the steps of: depositing a dielectric film, such as silicon nitride; depositing a titanium film upon the dielectric film; and annealing the titanium and dielectric films. This causes titanium to be diffused into the dielectric film. This creates a resistive element having a relatively high resistivity. The preferred embodiment method has the advantage of being easily integrated into conventional integrated circuit fabrication techniques.

Abstract: Method for forming three-dimensional device structures comprising a second device having sub-groundrule features formed over a first device is disclosed. A layer having a single crystalline top surface is formed above the first device to provide the base for forming the active area of the second device. the sub-groundrule feature is formed using mandrel and spacers.

Abstract: In a method for making an electrical connection between a trench storage capacitor and an access transistor in a DRAM cell, the electrical connection is formed through the selectively controlled outdiffusion of either N-type or P-type dopants present in the trench through a single crystalline semiconducting material which is grown by epitaxy (epi) from the trench sidewall. This epitaxially grown single crystalline layer acts as a barrier to excessive dopant outdiffusion which can occur in the processing of conventional DRAMs.

Abstract: In its gate region (10), a silicon MOS technology component has a surface structure (6) having edges and/or vertices at which inversion regions, suitable as quantum wires or quantum dots, are preferentially formed when a gate voltage is applied. The surface structure is preferably formed as a silicon pyramid (6) by local molecular beam epitaxy.

Abstract: A method for making an electrical connection between a trench storage capacitor and an access transistor in a DRAM cell. The electrical connection is formed through the selectively controlled outdiffusion of either N-type or P-type dopants present in the trench through a single crystalline semiconducting material which is grown by epitaxy (epi) from the trench sidewall. This epitaxially grown single crystalline layer acts as a barrier to excessive dopant outdiffusion which can occur in the processing of conventional DRAMs.

Abstract: Method for forming three-dimensional device structures comprising a second device formed over a first device is disclosed. A layer having a single crystalline top surface is formed above the first device to provide the base for forming the active area of the second device.

Abstract: Silicon integrated circuits use a crystalline layer of silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) in shallow trench isolation (STI) structures as an O.sub.2 -barrier film. The crystalline Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 lowers the density of electron traps as compared with as-deposited, amorphous Si.sub.3 N.sub.4. Further, a larger range of low-pressure chemical-vapor deposited (LPCVD) Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 films can be deposited, providing a larger processing window for thickness controllability. An LPCVD-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film is deposited at temperatures of 720.degree. C. to 780.degree. C. The deposited film is in an amorphous state. Subsequently, a high-temperatures rapid-thermal anneal in pure nitrogen or ammonia is conducted at 1050.degree. C. to 1100.degree. for 60 seconds.

Abstract: A method for forming an oxygen-impervious barrier on the oxide collar of a trench capacitor in a DRAM cell. The process consists of etching a shallow trench into the oxide collar which surrounds the polysilicon trench fill and isolating it from the single crystal semiconducting substrate material of the DRAM cell to a depth which is at least equal to or larger than the width of the oxide collar. A nitride layer with a thickness equal to or thicker than half of the width of the oxide collar is then deposited on the top surface of the freshly excavated oxide collar such that the aforementioned trench is completely filled with this nitride layer, and the entire surfaces of the substrate and polysilicon trench fill are completely covered.

Abstract: A method of fabricating sub-GR gates in a deep trench DRAM cell. The method comprises depositing, removing, and selectively etching a plurality of layers which include sacrificial spacers, liners, masking, and resist layers of both semiconducting and non-semiconducting materials on a semiconductor substrate according to specific process flows designed to circumvent the problems associated with prior art sub-GR processes. The method represents an improvement on standard gate conductor processes and provides a device which achieves an up to now unachieved decoupling of channel doping and junction doping.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate. Conductive material is formed in the trench and is insulatively spaced from the semiconductor substrate to form a capacitor. A transfer gate transistor includes source/drain regions formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate and a control gate which is insulatively spaced from a channel region between the source and drain regions. A buried strap electrically connects the capacitor to one of the source/drain regions of the transfer gate transistor. A portion of the buried strap includes recrystallized silicon.

Abstract: A simplified method of fabricating a storage node for a deep trench-based DRAM on a semiconductor substrate. The method involves the etching a trench in a surface of the substrate and then forming a layer of dielectric material on a sidewall of the trench the top portion of which is subsequently removed from the sidewall. Next, a layer of oxide is grown on the exposed portion of the sidewall. A portion of this layer of oxide is then removed from the sidewall in order to orient the layer of oxide a predetermined distance from the surface of the substrate. Finally, the trench is filled with a semiconductive material.

Abstract: Silicon integrated circuits use a crystalline layer of silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) in shallow trench isolation (STI) structures as an O.sub.2 -barrier film. The crystalline Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 lowers the density of electron traps as compared with as-deposited, amorphous Si.sub.3 N.sub.4. Further, a larger range of low-pressure chemical-vapor deposited (LPCVD) Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 films can be deposited, providing a larger processing window for thickness controllability. An LPCVD-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film is deposited at temperatures of 720.degree. C. to 780.degree. C. The deposited film is in an amorphous state. Subsequently, a high-temperatures rapid-thermal anneal in pure nitrogen or ammonia is conducted at 1050.degree. C. to 1100.degree. C. for 60 seconds.

Abstract: A method of forming a coupled capacitor and transistor is provided. A trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate and an impurity-doped first conductive region is then formed by filling the trench with an impurity-doped first conductive material. The impurity-doped first conductive region is etched back to a first level within the trench. An insulating layer is then formed on a sidewall of the portion of the trench opened by the etching back of the impurity-doped first conductive region and a second conductive region is formed by filling the remainder of the trench with a second conductive material. The insulating layer and the second conductive region are etched back to a second level within the trench and an amorphous silicon layer is formed in the portion of the trench opened by the etching back of the insulating layer and the second conductive region. The undoped amorphous silicon layer is etched back to a third a level within the trench. The undoped amorphous silicon layer is then recrystallized.

Abstract: A method of forming shallow trench isolation with a nitride liner layer for devices in integrated circuits solves a problem of recessing the nitride liner that led to unacceptable voids in the trench filler material by using a liner thickness of less than 5 nm. A densification step of a pyrogenic oxide anneal at 800.degree. C. not only drives out impurities and achieves the same density as a conventional argon anneal at 1000.degree. C., but also drastically reduces the thermal load.