Abstract: A power device includes an active region and a termination region surrounding the active region. A plurality of pillars of first and second conductivity type are alternately arranged in each of the active and termination regions. The pillars of first conductivity type in the active and termination regions have substantially the same width, and the pillars of second conductivity type in the active region have a smaller width than the pillars of second conductivity type in the termination region so that a charge balance condition in each of the active and termination regions results in a higher breakdown voltage in the termination region than in the active region.

Abstract: A field effect transistor device having a strained semiconductor channel region overlying a heterostructure-semiconductor on a metal substrate includes a first semiconductor layer overlying a first metal layer. The first semiconductor layer has a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material in a relaxed heterostructure and is heavily doped. A second semiconductor layer overlies the first semiconductor layer and has a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material in a relaxed heterostructure. The second semiconductor layer is more lightly doped than the first semiconductor layer. A trench extends into the second semiconductor layer and a channel region has a strained layer of the first semiconductor material adjacent a trench sidewall. The strained channel region provides enhanced carrier mobility and improves performance of the field effect transistor.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a graded silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer overlying a silicon substrate, a concentration of germanium increasing with a thickness of the graded silicon germanium layer. A first relaxed SiGe layer is formed over the graded SiGe layer, and a second relaxed SiGe layer overlying the first relaxed SiGe layer. The second relaxed SiGe layer has a lower conductivity than the first relaxed SiGe layer. The method also includes forming a field effect transistor having a trench extending into the second relaxed SiGe layer and a channel region that includes a layer of strained silicon to enable enhanced carrier mobility. A top conductor layer is formed overlying the second relaxed SiGe layer, and then the silicon substrate and the graded SiGe layer are removed. A bottom conductor layer is formed underlying the first relaxed SiGe layer.

Abstract: A first and a second substrate are bonded together to thereby form a unitary hybrid substrate. Predefined portions of the first substrate are removed to form openings in the first substrate through which surface regions of the second substrate are exposed. A selective epitaxial growth process that is selective with respect to the crystalline orientations of the first and second substrates is carried out to thereby form epitaxial silicon from the exposed surfaces of the second substrate but not from exposed surfaces of the first substrate. The epitaxial silicon formed from the exposed surfaces of the second substrate has the same crystalline orientation as the second substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming a field effect transistor (FET) includes the following steps. A well region of a first conductivity type is formed in a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type. A gate electrode is formed adjacent to but insulated from the well region. A source region of the second conductivity type is formed in the well region. A heavy body recess is formed extending into and terminating within the well region adjacent the source region. The heavy body recess is at least partially filled with a heavy body material having a lower energy gap than the well region.

Abstract: A field effect transistor device having a strained semiconductor channel region overlying a heterostructure-semiconductor on a metal substrate includes a first semiconductor layer overlying a first metal layer. The first semiconductor layer has a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material in a relaxed heterostructure and is heavily doped. A second semiconductor layer overlies the first semiconductor layer and has a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material in a relaxed heterostructure. The second semiconductor layer is more lightly doped than the first semiconductor layer. A trench extends into the second semiconductor layer and a channel region has a strained layer of the first semiconductor material adjacent a trench sidewall. The strained channel region provides enhanced carrier mobility and improves performance of the field effect transistor.

Abstract: A first and a second substrate are bonded together to thereby form a unitary hybrid substrate. Predefined portions of the first substrate are removed to form openings in the first substrate through which surface regions of the second substrate are exposed. A selective epitaxial growth process that is selective with respect to the crystalline orientations of the first and second substrates is carried out to thereby form epitaxial silicon from the exposed surfaces of the second substrate but not from exposed surfaces of the first substrate. The epitaxial silicon formed from the exposed surfaces of the second substrate has the same crystalline orientation as the second substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming a field effect transistor (FET) includes the following steps. A well region of a first conductivity type is formed in a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type. A gate electrode is formed adjacent to but insulated from the well region. A source region of the second conductivity type is formed in the well region. A heavy body recess is formed extending into and terminating within the well region adjacent the source region. The heavy body recess is at least partially filled with a heavy body material having a lower energy gap than the well region.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type extending over the semiconductor region. A gate electrode is adjacent to but insulated from the well region, and a source region of the first conductivity type is in the well region. A heavy body region is in electrical contact with the well region, and includes a material having a lower energy gap than the well region.

Abstract: A field effect transistor is formed as follows. Openings are formed in a masking layer extending over a surface of a silicon region. A trench is formed in the silicon region through each opening in the masking layer. A layer of silicon is formed along sidewalls and bottom of each trench and along masking layer sidewalls which define each opening. The masking layer is removed to expose surface areas of the silicon region underlying the masking layer and to expose sidewalls of the layer of silicon to thereby form contact openings over the surface of the silicon region. A contact layer is formed to electrically contact the exposed surface areas of the silicon region and the exposed sidewalls of the layer of silicon.

Abstract: A method of forming a trench gate field effect transistor includes the following processing steps. Trenches are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is annealed in an ambient including hydrogen gas. A dielectric layer lining at least the sidewalls of the trenches is formed. During the time between annealing and forming the dielectric layer, the semiconductor substrate is maintained in an inert environment to prevent formation of native oxide along sidewalls of the trenches prior to forming the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) includes a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type extending over the semiconductor region. A gate electrode is adjacent to but insulated from the well region, and a source region of the first conductivity type is in the well region. A heavy body region is in electrical contact with the well region, and includes a material having a lower energy gap than the well region.

Abstract: A field effect transistor is formed as follows. Openings are formed in a masking layer extending over a surface of a silicon region. A trench is formed in the silicon region through each opening in the masking layer. A layer of silicon is formed along sidewalls and bottom of each trench and along masking layer sidewalls which define each opening. The masking layer is removed to expose surface areas of the silicon region underlying the masking layer and to expose sidewalls of the layer of silicon to thereby form contact openings over the surface of the silicon region. A contact layer is formed to electrically contact the exposed surface areas of the silicon region and the exposed sidewalls of the layer of silicon.

Abstract: A method of forming a trench in a substrate or in an epitaxial layer, previously grown over the semiconductor substrate, wherein an anneal step, using hydrogen gas results in rounded corners without the need for a rounding etch or any other processing steps to round the corners.

Abstract: A method of creating a thermally grown oxide of any thickness at the bottom of a silicon trench. A dielectric (e.g. oxide) pillar of a predetermined thickness is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process is used to form an epitaxial layer around and over the oxide pillars. A trench is patterned and etched through the SEG layer and in alignment with the oxide pillar such that the trench terminates at the top of the oxide pillar.

Abstract: A method of creating a thermally grown oxide of any thickness at the bottom of a silicon trench. A dielectric (e.g. oxide) pillar of a predetermined thickness is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process is used to form an epitaxial layer around and over the oxide pillars. A trench is patterned and etched through the SEG layer and in alignment with the oxide pillar such that the trench terminates at the top of the oxide pillar.

Abstract: A method of creating a thermally grown oxide of any thickness at the bottom of a silicon trench. A dielectric (e.g. oxide) pillar of a predetermined thickness is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process is used to form an epitaxial layer around and over the oxide pillars. A trench is patterned and etched through the SEG layer and in alignment with the oxide pillar such that the trench terminates at the top of the oxide pillar.

Abstract: A method of increasing trench density for semiconductor devices such as, for example, trench MOSFETs. Trenches are formed in a substrate with mesas interposed between the trenches. The initial width of the mesas are made less than target width so that a reduction in trench pitch can be realized. After a silicon layer is grown inside the trenches, the width of the mesas is increased to a final width that is two times the thickness of the silicon layer. The thickness of the silicon layer is precalculated so that it is of sufficient thickness to ensure compliance with the target mesa width.

Abstract: A method of increasing trench density for semiconductor devices such as, for example, trench MOSFETs. Trenches are formed in a substrate with mesas interposed between the trenches. The initial width of the mesas are made less than target width so that a reduction in trench pitch can be realized. After a silicon layer is grown inside the trenches, the width of the mesas is increased to a final width that is two times the thickness of the silicon layer. The thickness of the silicon layer is precalculated so that it is of sufficient thickness to ensure compliance with the target mesa width.