Abstract: An integrated circuit thin film resistor structure includes a first dielectric layer (18A) disposed on a semiconductor layer (16), a first dummy fill layer (9A) disposed on the first dielectric layer (18B), a second dielectric layer (18C) disposed on the first dummy fill layer (9A), the second dielectric layer (18B) having a first planar surface (18-3), a first thin film resistor (2) disposed on the first planar surface (18-3) over the first dummy fill layer (9A). A first metal interconnect layer (22A,B) includes a first portion (22A) contacting a first head portion of the thin film resistor (2). A third dielectric layer (21) is disposed on the thin film resistor (2) and the first metal interconnect layer (22A,B). Preferably, the first thin film resistor (2) is symmetrically aligned with the first dummy fill layer (9A). In the described embodiments, the first dummy fill layer is composed of metal (integrated circuit metallization).

Abstract: The disclosure herein pertains to fashioning an n channel junction field effect transistor (NJFET) and/or a p channel junction field effect transistor (PJFET) with an open drain, where the open drain allows the transistors to operate at higher voltages before experiencing gate leakage current. The open drain allows the voltage to be increased several fold without increasing the size of the transistors. Opening the drain essentially spreads equipotential lines of respective electric fields developed at the drains of the devices so that the local electric fields, and hence the impact ionization rates are reduced to redirect current below the surface of the transistors.

Abstract: An junction field effect transistor (JFET) is fashioned with a patterned layer of silicide block (SBLK) material utilized in forming gate, source and drain regions. Utilizing the silicide block in this manner helps to reduce low-frequency (flicker) noise associated with the JFET by suppressing the impact of surface states, among other things.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an epitaxial silicon-germanium layer for an integrated semiconductor device comprises the step of depositing an arsenic in-situ doped silicon-germanium layer, wherein arsenic and germanium are introduced subsequently into different regions of said silicon-germanium layer during deposition of said silicon-germanium layer. By separating arsenic from germanium any interaction between arsenic and germanium is avoided during deposition thereby allowing fabricating silicon-germanium layers with reproducible doping profiles.

Abstract: A method of making integrated circuit thin film resistor includes forming a first dielectric layer (18B) over a substrate and providing a structure to reduce variation of head resistivity thereof by forming a dummy fill layer (9A) on the first dielectric layer, and forming a second dielectric layer (18D) over the first dummy fill layer. A thin film resistor (2) is formed on the second dielectric layer (18D). A first inter-level dielectric layer (21A) is formed on the thin film resistor and the second dielectric layer. A first metal layer (22A) is formed on the first inter-level dielectric layer and electrically contacts a portion of the thin film resistor. Preferably, the first dummy fill layer is formed as a repetitive pattern of sections such that the repetitive pattern is symmetrically aligned with respect to multiple edges of the thin-film resistor (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacked capacitor (10) comprising a silicon base plate (16), a poly-silicon center plate (32) arranged above the base plate (16), a lower gate-oxide dielectric (26) arranged between the base plate (16) and the center plate (32), a cover plate (36) made of a metallic conductor and arranged above the center plate (32), and an upper dielectric (34) arranged between the center plate (32) and the cover plate (36). The cover plate (36) and the base plate (16) are electrically connected to each other and together form a first capacitor electrode. The center plate (32) forms a second capacitor electrode. The invention further relates to an integrated circuit with such a stacked capacitor, as well as to a method for fabrication of a stacked capacitor as part of a CMOS process.

Abstract: Method of producing complementary SiGe bipolar transistors. In a method of producing complementary SiGe bipolar transistors, interface oxide layers (38, 58) for NPN and PNP emitters (44, 64), are separately formed and emitter polysilicon (40, 60) is separately patterned, allowing these layers to be optimized for the respective conductivity type.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating complementary bipolar transistors with SiGe base regions the base regions of the NPN and PNP transistors are formed one after the other over two collector regions 20, 14 by epitaxial deposition of crystalline silicon-germanium layers 32a, 36a. With this method the germanium profile of the SiGe layers can be freely selected for both NPN and PNP transistors in thus enabling complementary transistor performance to be optimized individually. The SiGe layers 32a, 36a can be doped with an n-type or p-type dopant during or after deposition of the silicon-germanium layers 32a, 36a.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacked capacitor (10) comprising a silicon base plate (16), a poly-silicon center plate (32) arranged above the base plate (16), a lower gate-oxide dielectric (26) arranged between the base plate (16) and the center plate (32), a cover plate (36) made of a metallic conductor and arranged above the center plate (32), and an upper dielectric (34) arranged between the center plate (32) and the cover plate (36). The cover plate (36) and the base plate (16) are electrically connected to each other and together form a first capacitor electrode. The center plate (32) forms a second capacitor electrode. The invention further relates to an integrated circuit with such a stacked capacitor, as well as to a method for fabrication of a stacked capacitor as part of a CMOS process.

Abstract: An integrated circuit thin film resistor structure includes a first dielectric layer (18A) disposed on a semiconductor layer (16), a first dummy fill layer (9A) disposed on the first dielectric layer (18B), a second dielectric layer (18C) disposed on the first dummy fill layer (9A), the second dielectric layer (18B) having a first planar surface (18-3), a first thin film resistor (2) disposed on the first planar surface (18-3) over the first dummy fill layer (9A). A first metal interconnect layer (22A,B) includes a first portion (22A) contacting a first head portion of the thin film resistor (2). A third dielectric layer (21) is disposed on the thin film resistor (2) and the first metal interconnect layer (22A,B). Preferably, the first thin film resistor (2) is symmetrically aligned with the first dummy fill layer (9A). In the described embodiments, the first dummy fill layer is composed of metal (integrated circuit metallization).

Abstract: A method of making integrated circuit thin film resistor includes forming a first dielectric layer (18B) over a substrate and providing a structure to reduce variation of head resistivity thereof by forming a dummy fill layer (9A) on the first dielectric layer, and forming a second dielectric layer (18D) over the first dummy fill layer. A thin film resistor (2) is formed on the second dielectric layer (18D). A first inter-level dielectric layer (21A) is formed on the thin film resistor and the second dielectric layer. A first metal layer (22A) is formed on the first inter-level dielectric layer and electrically contacts a portion of the thin film resistor. Preferably, the first dummy fill layer is formed as a repetitive pattern of sections such that the repetitive pattern is symmetrically aligned with respect to multiple edges of the thin-film resistor (2).

Abstract: In a method of fabricating an integrated silicon-germanium heterobipolar transistor a silicon dioxide layer arranged between a silicon-germanium base layer and a silicon emitter layer is formed by means of Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) to ensure enhanced component properties of the integrated silicon-germanium heterobipolar transistor.

Abstract: A thin film resistor structure and a method of fabricating a thin film resistor structure is provided. The thin film resistor structure includes an electrical interface layer or head layer that is a combination of a Titanium (Ti) layer and a Titanium Nitride (TiN) layer. The combination of the Ti layer and the TiN layer mitigates resistance associated with the electrical interface layers.

Abstract: A method is presented, in which a thin film resistor is modeled to account for self-heating. The method includes fabricating the thin film resistor and characterizing a thermal resistance of the thin film resistor, wherein the thermal resistance accounts for self-heating thereof during operation. The thermal resistance is then used in a model for simulating integrated circuits using the thin film resistor.

Abstract: An integrated BiCMOS semiconductor circuit has active moat areas in silicon. The active moat areas include electrically active components of the semiconductor circuit, which comprise active window structures for base and/or emitter windows. The integrated BiCMOS semiconductor circuit has zones where silicon is left to form dummy moat areas which do not include electrically active components, and has isolation trenches to separate the active moat areas from each other and from the dummy moat areas. The dummy moat areas comprise dummy window structures having geometrical dimensions and shapes similar to those of the active window structures for the base and/or emitter windows.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a thin film resistor, which includes a resistor material that has been deposited on a substrate surface within a channel defined by opposing first and second portions of a stencil structure formed on the substrate surface, the resistor material having an initial width determined by a width of the channel. The stencil structure has been adapted to receive a planarizing material that protects against reduction of the initial width of the resistor material during subsequent process steps for removing the stencil structure. A head mask overlays an end portion of the thin film resistor and a dielectric overlays the head mask, the dielectric defining a via formed in the dielectric above a portion of the head mask. A conductive material has been deposited in the via, coupled to the portion of the head mask and electrically connecting the thin film resistor to other components of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A thin film resistor structure and a method of fabricating a thin film resistor structure is provided. The thin film resistor structure includes an electrical interface layer or head layer that is a combination of a Titanium (Ti) layer and a Titanium Nitride (TiN) layer. The combination of the Ti layer and the TiN layer mitigates resistance associated with the electrical interface layers.

Abstract: An integrated circuit programmable structure (60) is formed for use a trim resistor and/or a programmable fuse. The programmable structure comprises placing heating elements (70) in close proximity to the programmable structure (60) to heat the programmable structure (60) during programming.

Abstract: An integrated circuit programmable structure (60) is formed for use a trim resistor and/or a programmable fuse. The programmable structure comprises placing heating elements (70) in close proximity to the programmable structure (60) to heat the programmable structure (60) during programming.

Abstract: A method is presented, in which a thin film resistor is modeled to account for self-heating. The method includes fabricating the thin film resistor and characterizing a thermal resistance of the thin film resistor, wherein the thermal resistance accounts for self-heating thereof during operation. The thermal resistance is then used in a model for simulating integrated circuits using the thin film resistor.