Abstract: Methods of making a logic transistor in a logic region and an NVM cell in an NVM region of a substrate include forming a conductive layer on a gate dielectric, patterning the conductive layer over the NVM region, removing the conductive layer over the logic region, forming a dielectric layer over the NVM region, forming a protective layer over the dielectric layer, removing the dielectric layer and the protective layer from the logic region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the logic region and a remaining portion of the protective layer, and forming a first metal layer over the high-k dielectric layer. The first metal layer, the high-k dielectric, and the remaining portion of the protective layer are removed over the NVM region. A conductive layer is deposited over the remaining portions of the dielectric layer and over the first metal layer, and the conductive layer is patterned.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a region in a semiconductor substrate having a top surface with a first charge storage layer on the top surface. A first conductive line is on the first charge storage layer. A second charge storage layer is on the top surface. A second conductive line is on the second charge storage layer. A third charge storage layer is on the top surface. A third conductive line is on the third charge storage layer. A fourth charge storage layer has a first side adjoining a first sidewall of the first conductive line and a second side adjoining a first sidewall of the second conductive line. A fifth charge storage layer has a first side adjoining a second sidewall of the second conductive line and a second side adjoining a first sidewall of the third conductive line. Source and drain regions are formed in the substrate on either side of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method can include identifying a device design comprising first and second instantiations of a device, identifying a layer of the device design, identifying a first region of the device design for the first instantiation based on the layer of the first instantiation, and a second region of the device design for the second instantiation based on the layer of the second instantiation. identifying a first compare layer of the device design that comprises a plurality of first compare features including a first compared feature within the first region and a second compared feature within the second region, determining a difference between the first compared feature and the second compared feature, and determining if the difference meets a tolerance to determine if the first instantiation matches the second instantiation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises conductive buses and conductive bridges. A respective conductive bridge is conductively coupled to at least two portions of at least one of the conductive buses. At least N plus one (N+1) vias are coupled between every one of the conductive bridges and a respective feature in an integrated circuit when: (1) a width of the respective conductive bridge is less than a width of each of the at least two portions of the at least one of the conductive buses to which the respective conductive bridge is coupled, and (2) a distance along the respective conductive bridge and at least one of the vias is less than a critical distance. N is a number of conductive couplings between the respective one of the conductive bridges and the at least one of the conductive buses.

Abstract: A mechanism for determining cumulative process-induced damage due to the antenna effect during formation of an integrated circuit is provided. This cumulative process-induced damage is compared to a cumulative process-induced damage threshold for each layer to determine whether a violation has occurred, or whether cumulative damage below a threshold is such that a more aggressive use of conductive material in a subsequently formed layer can be made. The cumulative damage can also be compared to a cumulative process-induced damage warning threshold at each layer in order to warn a designer that steps should be taken during design/formation of subsequent conductive layers to reduce the cumulative damage. In addition, automated solutions are provided for exceeding either threshold, such as connecting conductive layers at a later stage in processing to avoid charge buildup on the gate dielectric or inclusion of diode devices to leak charge from the interconnect layers.

Abstract: A back-end-of-line thin ion beam deposited fuse (204) is deposited without etching to connect first and second last metal interconnect structures (110, 120) formed with last metal layers (LM) in a planar multi-layer interconnect stack to programmably connect separate first and second circuit connected to the first and second last metal interconnect structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of clock drivers, wherein the plurality of clock drivers comprises substantially all clock drivers of the semiconductor device, and an interconnect region over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the interconnect region comprises a plurality of heat spreaders, wherein at least 25% of the plurality of clock drivers have a corresponding heat spreader of the plurality of heat spreaders. Each corresponding heat spreader of the plurality of heat spreaders covers at least 50% of a transistor within a corresponding clock driver of the plurality of clock drivers and extends across at least 70% of a perimeter of the transistor within the corresponding clock driver.

Abstract: A first implant is performed into a substrate to form a well in which a plurality of transistors will be formed. Each transistor of a first subset of the plurality of transistors to be formed has a width that satisfies a predetermined width constraint and each transistor of a second subset has a width that does not satisfy the constraint. A second implant is performed at locations in the well in which transistors of the first subset will be formed and not at locations in the well in which transistors of the second subset will be formed. The transistors are formed, wherein a channel region of each transistor of the first subset is formed in a portion of the substrate which received the second implant and a channel region of each transistor of the second subset is formed in a portion of the substrate which did not receive the second implant.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more methods, processes, and/or systems described can determine stress failures in interconnect segments of integrated circuit designs and correct those failure via modifying the interconnect segments of the integrated circuit designs with one or more additions to the interconnect segments of the integrated circuit designs. Potentials can be received from a simulation, and one or more failures of an interconnect segment can be determined via the potentials from the simulation. For example, a failure can be determined via a comparison with a potential from the simulation and a critical potential. An interconnect segment can be modified with a stub such that a comparison with a potential from the simulation and a critical potential to provide a non-failing, modified interconnect segment.

Abstract: A method includes generating a circuit design and executing a simulation of the circuit design at a plurality of time slices. Type 1 damage and type 2 damage are determined for each time slice. A total type 1 damage is provided as a sum of the type 1 damage for all of the slices in which type 1 damage is greater than type 2 damage. A total type 2 damage is similarly added for the slices where the type 2 damage is dominant. A type 1 aging effect is determined based on the total type 1 damage. A type 2 aging effect is determined based on the total type 2 damage. The type 1 aging effect is added to the type 2 aging effect to obtain a total aging effect. The circuit design is tested using the total aging effect to determine if the circuit design provides adequate lifetime performance.

Abstract: A thermally-grown oxygen-containing gate dielectric and select gate are formed in an NVM region. A high-k gate dielectric, barrier layer, and dummy gate are formed in a logic region. The barrier layer may include a work-function-setting material. A first dielectric layer is formed in the NVM and logic regions which surrounds the select gate and dummy gate. The first dielectric layer is removed from the NVM region and protected in the logic region. A charge storage layer is formed over the select gate. The dummy gate is removed, resulting in an opening. A gate layer is formed over the charge storage layer in the NVM region and within the opening in the logic region, wherein the gate layer within the opening together with the barrier layer form a logic gate in the logic region, and the gate layer is patterned to form a control gate in the NVM region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises conductive buses and conductive bridges. A respective conductive bridge is conductively coupled to at least two portions of at least one of the conductive buses. At least N plus one (N+1) vias are coupled between every one of the conductive bridges and a respective feature in an integrated circuit when: (1) a width of the respective conductive bridge is less than a width of each of the at least two portions of the at least one of the conductive buses to which the respective conductive bridge is coupled, and (2) a distance along the respective conductive bridge and at least one of the vias is less than a critical distance. N is a number of conductive couplings between the respective one of the conductive bridges and the at least one of the conductive buses.

Abstract: A first dielectric layer is formed in an NVM region and a logic region. A charge storage layer is formed over the first dielectric layer and is patterned to form a dummy gate in the logic region and a charge storage structure in the NVM region. A second dielectric layer is formed in the NVM and logic regions which surrounds the charge storage structure and dummy gate. The second dielectric layer is removed from the NVM region while protecting the second dielectric layer in the logic region. The dummy gate is removed, resulting in an opening. A third dielectric layer is formed over the charge storage structure and within the opening, and a gate layer is formed over the third dielectric layer and within the opening, wherein the gate layer forms a control gate layer in the NVM region and the gate layer within the opening forms a logic gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a region in a semiconductor substrate having a top surface with a first charge storage layer on the top surface. A first conductive line is on the first charge storage layer. A second charge storage layer is on the top surface. A second conductive line is on the second charge storage layer. A third charge storage layer is on the top surface. A third conductive line is on the third charge storage layer. A fourth charge storage layer has a first side adjoining a first sidewall of the first conductive line and a second side adjoining a first sidewall of the second conductive line. A fifth charge storage layer has a first side adjoining a second sidewall of the second conductive line and a second side adjoining a first sidewall of the third conductive line. Source and drain regions are formed in the substrate on either side of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A first conductive layer and an underlying charge storage layer are patterned to form a control gate in an NVM region. A first dielectric layer and barrier layer are formed over the control gate. A sacrificial layer is formed over the barrier layer and planarized. A first patterned masking layer is formed over the sacrificial layer and control gate in the NVM region which defines a select gate location laterally adjacent the control gate in the NVM region. A second masking layer is formed in the logic region which defines a logic gate location. Exposed portions of the sacrificial layer are removed such that a first portion remains at the select gate location. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first portion and planarized to expose the first portion. The first portion is removed to result in an opening at the select gate location which exposes the barrier layer.

Abstract: A first conductive layer and an underlying charge storage layer are patterned to form a control gate in an NVM region. A first dielectric layer and barrier layer are formed over the control gate. A sacrificial layer is formed over the barrier layer and planarized. A first patterned masking layer is formed over the sacrificial layer and control gate in the NVM region which defines a select gate location laterally adjacent the control gate in the NVM region. A second masking layer is formed in the logic region which defines a logic gate location. Exposed portions of the sacrificial layer are removed such that a first portion remains at the select gate location. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first portion and planarized to expose the first portion. The first portion is removed to result in an opening at the select gate location which exposes the barrier layer.

Abstract: A thermal oxide is formed in an NVM region and a logic region. A polysilicon layer is formed over the thermal oxide and patterned to form a dummy gate and a select gate in the logic and NVM regions, respectively. A first dielectric layer is formed in the NVM and logic regions which surrounds the select gate and dummy gate. The first dielectric layer is removed from the NVM region and protected in the logic region. A charge storage layer is formed over the select gate. The dummy gate is removed, forming an opening. A second dielectric layer is formed over the select gate and within the opening, and a gate layer is formed over the second dielectric layer and within the opening, wherein the gate layer within the opening forms a logic gate and the gate layer is patterned to form a control gate in the NVM region.

Abstract: A method includes generating a circuit design and executing a simulation of the circuit design at a plurality of time slices. Type 1 damage and type 2 damage are determined for each time slice. A total type 1 damage is provided as a sum of the type 1 damage for all of the slices in which type 1 damage is greater than type 2 damage. A total type 2 damage is similarly added for the slices where the type 2 damage is dominant. A type 1 aging effect is determined based on the total type 1 damage. A type 2 aging effect is determined based on the total type 2 damage. The type 1 aging effect is added to the type 2 aging effect to obtain a total aging effect. The circuit design is tested using the total aging effect to determine if the circuit design provides adequate lifetime performance.

Abstract: An oxide-containing layer is formed directly on a semiconductor layer in an NVM region, and a first partial layer of a first material is formed over the oxide-containing layer in the NVM region. A first high-k dielectric layer is formed directly on the semiconductor layer in a logic region. A first conductive layer is formed over the first dielectric layer in the logic region. A second partial layer of the first material is formed directly on the first partial layer in the NVM region and over the first conductive layer in the logic region. A logic device is formed in the logic region. An NVM cell is formed in the NVM region, wherein the first and second partial layer together are used to form one of a charge storage layer if the cell is a floating gate cell or a select gate if the cell is a split gate cell.

Abstract: A first implant is performed into a substrate to form a well in which a plurality of transistors will be formed. Each transistor of a first subset of the plurality of transistors to be formed has a width that satisfies a predetermined width constraint and each transistor of a second subset has a width that does not satisfy the constraint. A second implant is performed at locations in the well in which transistors of the first subset will be formed and not at locations in the well in which transistors of the second subset will be formed. The transistors are formed, wherein a channel region of each transistor of the first subset is formed in a portion of the substrate which received the second implant and a channel region of each transistor of the second subset is formed in a portion of the substrate which did not receive the second implant.