Abstract: The present invention is directed to a spin chuck for use in a process, such as a cleaning process and an etching process, performed while rotating a substrate. The spin chuck includes a spin head on which a substrate is placed, a driving part configured to rotate the spin head, and a fix bracket installed on the spin head and having a contact surface that is in contact with a flat surface of a flat zone of the substrate at a position corresponding to the flat zone to prevent a vortex caused by the flat zone. Since the fix bracket has the same shape as the flat zone of the substrate, an air current unbalance resulting from the flat zone is suppressed to uniformly inject etchants to a rear surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus is provided for stably transporting a substrate and sensing a receiving state of the substrate. The substrate transport apparatus includes a grip member for gripping a substrate placed on the pocket part of the hand when a hand returns to a groove position from a pickup position. The grip member may include a pusher and an elastic member. The pusher has a curved section contacting the edge of a substrate and is mounted on the base to move in the same direction as the at least one hand, and the elastic member supplies an elastic force for enabling the pusher to laterally press the edge of the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus is provided for stably transporting a substrate and sensing a receiving state of the substrate. The substrate transport apparatus includes a grip member for gripping a substrate placed on the pocket part of the hand when a hand returns to a groove position from a pickup position. The grip member may include a pusher and an elastic member. The pusher has a curved section contacting the edge of a substrate and is mounted on the base to move in the same direction as the at least one hand, and the elastic member supplies an elastic force for enabling the pusher to laterally press the edge of the substrate.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products for modeling integrated circuits having dense devices therein that experience linewidth (e.g., gate electrodes) reductions during fabrication are provided. For dense devices having electrical paths therein and first and second gate electrodes that overlie the electrical path, operations include determining an electrical gate length of the first gate electrode by evaluating a change in current through the electrical path relative to a change in gate length of the second gate electrode. The operation to determine the electrical gate length of the first gate electrode includes evaluating a change in simulated drain-to-source current through the electrical path relative to a change in the electrical gate length of the second gate electrode.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) cell is given increased stability and latch-up immunity by fabricating the PMOS load transistors of the SRAM cell to have a very low drain/source dopant concentration. The drain/source regions of the PMOS load transistors are formed entirely by a P?? blanket implant. The PMOS load transistors are masked during subsequent implant steps, such that the drain/source regions of the PMOS load transistors do not receive additional P-type (or N-type) dopant. The P?? blanket implant results in PMOS load transistors having drain/source regions with dopant concentrations of 1e17 atoms/cm3 or less. The dopant concentration of the drain/source regions of the PMOS load transistors is significantly lower than the dopant concentration of lightly doped drain/source regions in PMOS transistors used in peripheral circuitry.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) cell is given increased stability and latch-up immunity by fabricating the PMOS load transistors of the SRAM cell to have a very low drain/source dopant concentration. The drain/source regions of the PMOS load transistors are formed entirely by a P−− blanket implant. The PMOS load transistors are masked during subsequent implant steps, such that the drain/source regions of the PMOS load transistors do not receive additional P-type (or N-type) dopant. The P−− blanket implant results in PMOS load transistors having drain/source regions with dopant concentrations of 1e17 atoms/cm3 or less. The dopant concentration of the drain/source regions of the PMOS load transistors is significantly lower than the dopant concentration of lightly doped drain/source regions in PMOS transistors used in peripheral circuitry.

Abstract: A ternary CAM system includes a main memory cell configured to store complementary data signals D/D#. A first transistor has a source coupled to receive data signal D#, and a gate coupled to receive a compare signal C. A second transistor has a source coupled to receive data signal D, and a gate coupled to receive complementary compare signal C#. A third transistor has a gate coupled to drain regions of the first and second transistors. A mask cell storing a mask value is coupled to the source of the third transistor. A pre-charged match line is coupled to the drain of the third transistor. If compare signals C/C# match data signals D/D#, then the third transistor is turned off, thereby isolating match line and mask cell. If compare signals C/C# don't match data signals D/D#, then the third transistor is turned on, thereby coupling mask cell and match line.

Abstract: Methods for forming nitrided oxides in semiconductor devices by rapid thermal oxidation, in which a semiconductor substrate having an exposed silicon surface is placed into a thermal process chamber. Then, an ambient gas comprising N2O and an inert gas such as argon or N2 is introduced into the process chamber. Next, the silicon surface is heated to a predefined process temperature, thereby oxidizing at least a portion of the silicon surface. Finally, the semiconductor substrate is cooled. An ultra-thin oxide layer with uniform oxide characteristics, such as more boron penetration resistance, good oxide composition and thickness uniformity, increased charge to breakdown voltage in the oxide layer, can be formed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for fabricating semiconductor gate oxides of different thicknesses. Two methods for forming gate oxides of different thicknesses in conjunction with local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) are disclosed. Similarly, two methods for forming gate oxides of different thicknesses in conjunction with shallow trench isolation (STI) are disclosed. Techniques that use two poly-silicon sub-layers of substantially equal thickness and techniques that use two poly-silicon sub-layers of substantially unequal thickness are described for both LOCOS and STI. The systems and methods provide advantages because gate uniformity and quality are improved, the processes and resulting devices are cleaner, and there is less degradation of carrier mobility.

Abstract: A CMOS Structure is disclosed wherein two adjacent transistors of opposite conductivity each have a gate above their respective channel regions. Spacers are absent from the gate of one of the transistors. The structure is also characterized by lightly doped regions.

Abstract: The reliability of an antifuse can be increased and/or the thickness of the antifuse dielectric can be decreased by the use of a rapid thermal nitridation nitride layer as part of the antifuse dielectric. The RTN nitride layer is denser and has fewer pinholes than nitride layers formed by chemical vapor deposition. The rapid thermal nitridation also produces a good contact with a bottom electrode containing silicon as well as providing a nucleation layer for any additional nitride layer formed by chemical vapor deposition. Increasing the reliability of the antifuse dielectric allows it to be thinner, and thus allows for the programming of the dielectric layer at lower programming voltages.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate having a surface, a field oxide region at the surface and a gate structure above the surface are provided. A sidewall spacer is formed adjacent to the gate structure and a polysilicon layer is formed above the substrate, the polysilicon layer having raised first and second portions above the gate structure and field oxide region, respectively. A masking layer is formed above the polysilicon layer and then blanket etched to expose the raised first and second portions of the polysilicon layer which are subsequently removed to form a raised source/drain region from the polysilicon layer. Since the raised source/drain region is fabricated without using photolithography, high density MOSFETs are readily fabricated.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate having a surface, a planarized field oxide region at the surface and a gate structure overlying the surface are provided. A sidewall spacer is formed adjacent to the gate structure and a polysilicon layer is formed overlying the substrate, the polysilicon layer having a raised first portion overlying the gate structure. A masking layer is formed overlying the polysilicon layer and then blanket etched to expose the raised first portion of the polysilicon layer which is subsequently removed. Since the raised first portion of the polysilicon layer is removed without using photolithography, high density MOSFETs are readily fabricated.

Abstract: A method of improving latch-up immunity and interwell isolation in a semiconductor device is provided. In one embodiment, an implant mask which has a variable permeability to implanted impurities is formed on the surface of a substrate having a first dopant region. A first portion of the implant mask overlies a first portion of the first dopant region. The structure is subjected to high energy implantation which forms a heavily doped region. A first portion of the heavily doped region is located along the lower boundary of the first dopant region. A second portion of the heavily doped region which extends along a side boundary of the first dopant region is formed by impurity ions which pass through the first portion of the implant mask. The heavily doped region improves latch-up immunity and interwell isolation without degrading threshold voltage tolerance.

Abstract: A substrate has defined therein one or more active regions. A layer of polysilicon is deposited and patterned to form gates for various CMOS devices. A masking layer is then deposited and selectively etched to leave exposed portions of the substrate. Dopants of a first conductivity type are implanted into the exposed portions of the substrate to form one or more well regions of the first conductivity type. Using this masking layer and the polysilicon gates left exposed thereby as a mask, dopants of a second conductivity type are then implanted into the substrate to form source and drain regions of the second conductivity type in the well regions of the first conductivity type. The masking layer is then removed. In this manner, source and drain regions may be formed using the same masking layer used to define the well within which the source and drain regions lie, thereby reducing both time and expense in the fabrication of CMOS devices.

Abstract: A structure for improving latch-up immunity and interwell isolation in a semiconductor device is provided. In one embodiment, a substrate has an upper surface and a first dopant region formed therein. The first dopant region has a lower boundary located below an upper surface of the substrate and a side boundary extending from the upper surface of the substrate to the lower boundary of the first dopant region. A heavily doped region having a first portion and a second portion located along the lower boundary and the side boundary of the first dopant region, respectively, has a substantially uniform dopant concentration greater than a dopant concentration of the first dopant region. The heavily doped region improves latch-up immunity and interwell isolation without degrading threshold voltage tolerance.

Abstract: A method and structure for controlling the threshold voltage of a MOSFET is provided. The method compensates for the edge effect associated with prior art halo implants by providing an edge threshold voltage implant (the VT implant) which passes impurities through dielectric spacers, through the underlying source/drain regions and into the edges of the halo regions which lie in the channel. The VT implant reduces junction capacitance and does not degrade punchthrough voltage.

Abstract: First and second conductivity type regions are produced in a polysilicon layer using only a single masking step. In one embodiment, the polysilicon layer is doped to a first conductivity type. A first oxide layer is then formed and patterned over the polysilicon layer to cover a first region and expose a second region of the polysilicon layer. The exposed second region of the polysilicon layer is then counter-doped, with the first oxide layer acting as a mask to prevent counter-doping of the underlying first region of the polysilicon layer. In accordance with the present invention, n-channel devices with n-type or p-type polysilicon gates and p-channel devices with p-type or n-type polysilicon gates can be formed without having to add a single process step. Thus, n-channel and p-channel devices with two different threshold voltages can be realized without adding a single process step.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a CMOS structure using a single masking step to define lightly-doped source and drain regions for both N- and P-channel devices. The process forms disposable spacers adjacent to gate structures and at least one retrograde well. Retrograde wells are formed using one or more charged ions at different energy levels. In addition, heavily-doped source and drain regions are formed using blanket implants of two different conductivities into a semiconductor substrate having two contiguous wells of opposite conductivity type. By blanket implanting a first dopant into both wells, and then selectively implanting a second dopant, the diffusion of the second dopant is partially suppressed by the first dopant. The partial suppression of first dopant results in shallow implants being formed. Also disclosed is a process for forming contact openings and contact implants.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a CMOS structure using a single masking step to define lightly-doped source and drain regions for both N- and P-channel devices. The process forms disposable spacers adjacent to gate structures and at least one retrograde well. Retrograde wells are formed using one or more charged ions at different energy levels. In addition, heavily-doped source and drain regions are formed using blanket implants of two different conductivities into a semiconductor substrate having two contiguous wells of opposite conductivity type. By blanket implanting a first dopant into both wells, and then selectively implanting a second dopant, the diffusion of the second dopant is partially suppressed by the first dopant. The partial suppression of first dopant results in shallow implants being formed. Also disclosed is a process for forming contact openings and contact implants.