Abstract: A method and structure that provides a battery within an integrated circuit for providing voltage to low-current electronic devices that exist within the integrated circuit. The method includes Front-End-Of-Line (FEOL) processing for generating a layer of electronic devices on a semiconductor wafer, followed by Back-End-Of-Line (BEOL) integration for wires the electronic devices together to form completed electrical circuits of the integrated circuit. The BEOL integration includes forming a multilayered structure of wiring levels on the layer of electronic devices. Each wiring level includes conductive metallization (e.g., metal-plated vias, conductive wiring lines, etc.) embedded in insulative material. The battery is formed during BEOL integration within one or more wiring levels, and the conductive metallization conductively couples positive and negative terminals of the battery to the electronic devices.

Abstract: Methods such as Remote Plasma Nitridation (RPN) are used to introduce nitrogen into a gate dielectric layer. However, these methods yield nitrided layers where the layers are not uniform, both in cross-sectional profile and in nitrogen profile. Subjecting the nitrided layer to an additional NO anneal process increases the uniformity of the nitrided layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a gate dielectric layer. The method comprises: providing a substrate; forming a silicon dioxide layer on a top surface of the substrate; exposing the silicon dioxide layer to a plasma nitridation to convert the silicon dioxide layer into a silicon oxynitride layer; and performing a spiked rapid thermal anneal of the silicon oxynitride layer.

Abstract: A method and structure that provides a battery within an integrated circuit for providing voltage to low-current electronic devices that exist within the integrated circuit. The method includes Front-End-Of-Line (FEOL) processing for generating a layer of electronic devices on a semiconductor wafer, followed by Back-End-Of-Line (BEOL) integration for wires connecting the electronic devices together to form completed electrical circuits of the integrated circuit. The BEOL integration includes forming a multilayered structure of wiring levels on the layer of electronic devices. Each wiring level includes conductive metallization (e.g., metal-plated vias, conductive wiring lines, etc.) embedded in insulative material. The battery is formed during BEOL integration within one or more wiring levels, and the conductive metallization conductively couples positive and negative terminals of the battery to the electronic devices.

Abstract: A method and structure that provides a battery within an integrated circuit for providing voltage to low-current electronic devices that exist within the integrated circuit. The method includes Front-End-Of-Line (FEOL) processing for generating a layer of electronic devices on a semiconductor wafer, followed by Back-End-Of-Line (BEOL) integration for wires the electronic devices together to form completed electrical circuits of the integrated circuit. The BEOL integration includes forming a multilayered structure of wiring levels on the layer of electronic devices. Each wiring level includes conductive metallization (e.g., metal-plated vias, conductive wiring lines, etc.) embedded in insulative material. The battery is formed during BEOL integration within one or more wiring levels, and the conductive metallization conductively couples positive and negative terminals of the battery to the electronic devices.

Abstract: A field effect floating gate transistor forming an NVRAM cell is disclosed. A substrate having field isolation structures includes therebetween a doped region forming a channel connecting a source and drain. An oxide layer is disposed over said channel forming a tunneling oxide layer for the device. A layer of polysilicon extends over the oxide layer, to each of the isolation structures and then extends upwards forming a U-shaped pillar floating gate. A second oxide layer disposed within the interior of the U-shaped floating gate supports a control gate. A second layer of polysilicon formed over the second oxide layer forms a control gate, and is connected to a conductor which is common to a row of such cells within a memory. The control gate is coupled to the floating gate through the second oxide layer to the upwardly extending layer of the floating gate as well as over the portion of the floating gate extending over the channel.

Abstract: A non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) cell and methods of forming thereof are disclosed. The NVRAM cell includes a substrate having source and drain regions. A spike having a sharp tip extends in the source region. Instead of a single spike, two adjacent spikes are included in the source. Alternatively, in addition to the single spike in the source, two adjacent spikes are included in the drain. The two adjacent spikes have one tip pointing toward the floating gate and two tips pointing away from the floating gate. The spikes provide high electric field to facilitate charge movement between the floating gate and the source region. A tunnel oxide layer separates the floating gate from the substrate. A gate oxide and a control gate are also formed over the floating gate. The single spike is formed by preferentially etching the substrate along a selected crystal plane through an opening formed in a mask that covers the substrate.

Abstract: A borderless contact to diffusion with respect to gate conductor is provided by employing a double insulating film stack as a mask for defining the gate conductor shapes for the entire chip and providing a relatively thin damage preventing layer on exposed conductive layer following defining the gate conductor shapes. In one embodiment, a borderless contact is provided by forming an insulating layer on a substrate, providing a conductive layer on the insulating layer, providing a second insulating layer on the conductive layer, providing a third insulating layer on the second insulating layer, removing preselected portions of the second and third insulating layers, providing a damage preventing layer in those areas where the second and third insulating layers have been removed, removing preselected portions of the third insulating layer, removing the damage preventing layer, removing exposed portions of the conductive layer, and removing now exposed portions of the second insulating layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a defective array of NVRAM cells. A counter is provided which times an erase time interval for the NVRAM cells during a regular erase function. The computed erase interval is compared with a maximum erase interval to determine at least a first characteristic which indicates the block of NVRAMs is at the end of its useful life. A second characteristic is determined by computing the slope in the erase time function versus the number of simulated erase functions. When the slope of the erase function exceeds a maximum slope, the NVRAM array is determined to be at the end of its useful life.

Abstract: A non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) cell and methods of forming thereof are disclosed. The NVRAM cell includes a substrate having source and drain regions. A spike having a sharp tip extends in the source region. Instead of a single spike, two adjacent spikes are included in the source. Alternatively, in addition to the single spike in the source, two adjacent spikes are included in the drain. The two adjacent spikes have one tip pointing toward the floating gate and two tips pointing away from the floating gate. The spikes provide high electric field to facilitate charge movement between the floating gate and the source region. A tunnel oxide layer separates the floating gate from the substrate. A gate oxide and a control gate are also formed over the floating gate. The single spike is formed by preferentially etching the substrate along a selected crystal plane through an opening formed in a mask that covers the substrate.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are fabricated by providing a substrate; forming isolation regions in the substrate; forming a first insulating layer on the isolation regions and the substrate; forming a conductive-forming layer on the first insulating layer; forming a second insulating layer on the conductive layer; forming a resist layer on the second insulating layer; forming an opening through the resist down to the second insulating layer located vertically between the isolation region; removing the second insulating layer beneath the opening down to the conductive-forming layer; depositing a conductive material through the opening over the conductive layer; planarizing the second insulating layer and the conductive material; removing the second insulating layer, the conductive-forming layer and the first insulating layer except beneath the conductive material; and forming source/drain regions in the substrate; or by providing a substrate; forming isolation regions in the substrate; forming a first insulating laye

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell comprises a conductive cantilever beam having a free end in a first charge state, a first FET having a conductive gate in a second charge state and a pull-in electrode adapted to bring the cantilever beam into electrical contact with the gate to effect a charge state change in the gate. A pull-in electrode input is connected to the electrode, a cantilever input is connected to the cantilever, a column select input is connected to the first FET and a row select input is connected to the first FET. The nonvolatile memory cell is selected by signals applied to the row select input and the column select input. The cell also includes a second FET connected between the cantilever beam and the cantilever input for controlling the passage of signals from the cantilever input to the cantilever beam and a third FET connected between the pull-in electrode and the pull-in electrode input for controlling the passage of signals from the pull-in electrode input to the electrode.

Abstract: Breakdown and latch-up of field effect transistors integrated with non-volatile semiconductor memory cells requiring voltages higher than logic level voltages for write and erase operations is avoided while limiting process complexity and constraints and increasing potential integration density by using thin film transistors for high voltage switching and isolating the thin film transistors from the substrate by forming the thin film transistors on isolation structures extending between or over elements formed at a surface of a substrate or semiconductor layer. Geometry and doping levels of the thin film transistors is thus made independent of geometry and doping levels of the non-volatile semiconductor memory cells and other field effect transistors operating at lower logic-level voltages.

Abstract: The present invention is a sidewall connector providing a conductive path linking at least two conductive regions. The sidewall connector has a top portion comprising surface. A conductive member contacts the top portion, connecting the rail to a conductive region or to an external conductor. An etch stop layer located on a conductive region can be used to protect the conductive region during the directional etch to form the sidewall connector. A conductive bridge is then used to link exposed portions of the conductive region and the conductive sidewall rail, the conductive bridge extending across the thickness of the etch stop layer. A "T" connector is formed by the process, starting with a pair of intersecting sidewalls wherein the two sidewalls have top edges at different heights where they intersect. The connector is used to form a strap for a DRAM cell.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the selective etching of silicon in the presence of p-doped silicon are disclosed whereby a portion of a silicon surface may be dissolved while a p-doped pattern in the surface remains substantially undissolved. The compositions comprise (a) an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide or a tetraalkylammonium hydroxide; and (b) a high flash point alcohol, phenol, polymeric alcohol, or polymeric phenol.

Abstract: The present invention is a sidewall connector providing a conductive path linking at least two conductive regions. The sidewall connector has a top portion comprising an outer surface. A conductive member contacts the top portion, connecting the rail to a conductive region or to an external conductor. An etch stop layer located on a conductive region can be used to protect the conductive region during the directional etch to form the sidewall connector. A conductive bridge is then used to link exposed portions of the conductive region and the conductive sidewall rail, the conductive bridge extending across the thickness of the etch stop layer. A "T" connector is formed by the process, starting with a pair of intersecting sidewalls wherein the two sidewalls have top edges at different heights where they intersect. The connector is used to form a strap for a DRAM cell.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the selective etching of silicon in the presence of p-doped silicon are disclosed whereby a portion of a silicon surface may be dissolved while a p-doped pattern in the surface remains substantially undissolved. The compositions comprise (a) an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide or a tetraalkylammonium hydroxide; and (b) a high flash point alcohol, phenol, polymeric alcohol, or polymeric phenol.

Abstract: A passivating layer is deposited over an integrated circuit device, conventionally fabricated using silicidation, after which an insulating layer is deposited. The insulating layer is planarized and further polished to expose the passivating layer above the gate. The portion of the passivating layer above the gate is removed with little or no effect on the insulating layer or gate. A trench above one or both junctions (source or drain) is formed by removing insulation using the passivating layer as an etch stop, then removing a portion of the passivating layer above the junction with little or no effect on the junction or any isolation region present. The gate may be further silicided, and the opening above the gate and the trench above the junction may each be planarly filled with a low sheet resistance conductive material, forming contacts. The contact above the junction may be borderless.

Abstract: An improved contactless temperature measurement system is provided which includes a workpiece, a chamber containing the workpiece with the walls thereof being substantially transmissive to radiation at wavelengths other than a given wavelength and substantially reflective at the given wavelength to remove the dependence of the apparent or measured temperature on the workpiece emissivity variations or fluctuations.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for electrically connecting a polysilicon-filled trench to a diffusion region in a semiconductor device, wherein the trench and diffusion region are separated by a dielectric. The method provides for formation of a strap or bridge contact by utilizing a diffusion barrier layer which prevents diffusion into an overlying polysilicon layer when a subsequent boron out-diffusion step is performed. Selective etching is then utilized to remove the polysilicon layer where no boron has diffused, leaving a polysilicon strap connecting the trench and diffusion region.