Abstract: An integrated circuit having a voltage protection circuit in electrical communication with an input buffer of the integrated circuit and a method for providing voltage protection to the input buffer. In one exemplary embodiment, the voltage protection circuit is an active device, such as a transistor, in electrical communication with an input node of the input buffer. When the active device actuates it provides a current path which limits a potential seen at the input buffer to a value less than an electrostatic discharge (ESD) potential. In one implementation the active device responds to a voltage which develops in response to current flow in an ESD circuit, and in a further implementation it responds to a gate to source potential during an ESD event. In both implementations the active device is actuated during an ESD event and is deactuated during normal operation of the circuit.

Abstract: A 4-T SRAM cell includes access transistors of a first type and cell (pull-up or pull-down) transistors of a second type. For example, the cell includes PMOS access transistors and NMOS pull-down transistors. The cell may also include leaky-junction or Schottky loads.

Abstract: A 4-T SRAM cell includes access transistors of a first type and cell (pull-up or pull-down) transistors of a second type. For example, the cell includes PMOS access transistors and NMOS pull-down transistors. The cell may also include leaky-junction or Schottky loads.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having a voltage protection circuit in electrical communication with an input buffer of the integrated circuit and a method for providing voltage protection to the input buffer are disposed. In one exemplary embodiment, the voltage protection circuit is an active device, such as a transistor, in electrical communication with an input node of the input buffer. When the active device actuates it provides a current path which limits a potential seen at the input buffer to a value less than an electrostatic discharge (ESD) potential. In one implementation the active device responds to a voltage which develops in response to current flow in an ESD circuit, and in a further implementation it responds to a gate to source potential during an ESD event. In both implementations the active device is actuated during an ESD event and is deactuated during normal operation of the circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming a static random access memory cell having an n-channel access transistor includes, providing a bulk semiconductor substrate; patterning the substrate for definition of field oxide regions and active area regions for the n-channel access transistor; subjecting the patterned substrate to oxidizing conditions to form a pair of field oxide regions and an intervening n-channel access transistor active area therebetween, the field oxide regions having respective bird's beak regions extending into the n-channel access transistor active area, the n-channel access transistor active area defining a central region away from the bird's beak regions; and conducting a p-type V.sub.T ion implant into the n-channel active area using the field oxide bird's beak regions as an implant mask to concentrate the V.sub.T implant in the central region of the active area.

Abstract: A 4-T SRAM cell includes access transistors of a first type and cell (pull-up or pull-down) transistors of a second type. For example, the cell includes PMOS access transistors and NMOS pull-down transistors. The cell may also include leaky-junction or Schottky loads.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming a static random access memory cell having an n-channel access transistor includes, providing a bulk semiconductor substrate; patterning the substrate for definition of field oxide regions and active area regions for the n-channel access transistor; subjecting the patterned substrate to oxidizing conditions to form a pair of field oxide regions and an intervening n-channel access transistor active area therebetween, the field oxide regions having respective bird's beak regions extending into the n-channel access transistor active area, the n-channel access transistor active area defining a central region away from the bird's beak regions; and conducting a p-type V.sub.T ion implant into the n-channel active area using the field oxide bird's beak regions as an implant mask to concentrate the V.sub.T implant in the central region of the active area.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming a static random access memory cell having an n-channel access transistor includes providing a bulk semiconductor substrate; patterning the substrate for definition of field oxide regions and active area regions for the n-channel access transistor; subjecting the patterned substrate to oxidizing conditions to form a pair of field oxide regions and an intervening n-channel access transistor active area therebetween, the field oxide regions having respective bird's beak regions extending into the n-channel access transistor active area, the n-channel access transistor active area defining a central region away from the bird's beak regions; and conducting a p-type V.sub.T ion implant into the n-channel active area using the field oxide bird's beak regions as an implant mask to concentrate the V.sub.T implant in the central region of the active area.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming a static random access memory cell having an n-channel access transistor includes, providing a bulk semiconductor substrate; patterning the substrate for definition of field oxide regions and active area regions for the n-channel access transistor; subjecting the patterned substrate to oxidizing conditions to form a pair of field oxide regions and an intervening n-channel access transistor active area therebetween, the field oxide regions having respective bird's beak regions extending into the n-channel access transistor active area, the n-channel access transistor active area defining a central region away from the bird's beak regions; and conducting a p-type V.sub.T ion implant into the n-channel active area using the field oxide bird's beak regions as an implant mask to concentrate the V.sub.T implant in the central region of the active area.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming a static random access memory cell having an n-channel access transistor includes, providing a bulk semiconductor substrate; patterning the substrate for definition of field oxide regions and active area regions for the n-channel access transistor; subjecting the patterned substrate to oxidizing conditions to form a pair of field oxide regions and an intervening n-channel access transistor active area therebetween, the field oxide regions having respective bird's beak regions extending into the n-channel access transistor active area, the n-channel access transistor active area defining a central region away from the bird's beak regions; and conducting a p-type V.sub.T ion implant into the n-channel active area using the field oxide bird's beak region as an implant mask to concentrate the V.sub.T implant in the central region of the active area.