Abstract: Embodiments related to controlling of photo-generated charge carriers are described and depicted.

Abstract: Embodiments related to the manufacturing of an imager device and an imager device are disclosed. Embodiments associated with methods of an imager device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor structures is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first mask is provided above a substrate. The first mask includes first mask lines extending along a first axis. A second mask is provided above the first mask. The second mask includes second mask lines extending along a second axis that intersects the first axis. At least one of the first and second masks is formed by a pitch fragmentation method. Structures may be formed in the substrate, wherein the first and the second mask are effective as a combined mask. The structures may be equally spaced at a pitch in the range of a minimum lithographic feature size for repetitive line structures.

Abstract: The bit lines are produced by an implantation of a dopant by means of a sacrificial hard mask layer, which is later replaced with the gate electrodes formed of polysilicon in the memory cell array. Striplike areas of the memory cell array, which run transversely to the bit lines, are reserved by a blocking layer to be occupied by the bit line contacts. In these areas, the hard mask is used to form contact holes, which are self-aligned with the implanted buried bit lines. Between the blocked areas, the word lines are arranged normally to the bit lines.

Abstract: A memory layer sequence comprising a lower confinement layer (2), a charge-trapping layer (3), and an upper confinement layer (4) is applied on the main surface of a silicon substrate (1). By a photolithography step, trenches running parallel at a distance from one another are etched to delimitate the active area. A trench filling (7) is applied by growth or deposition of dielectric material or by a selective oxidation of the substrate material. After the removal of the charge-trapping layer sequence in a peripheral area and the deposition of a gate dielectric material provided for the transistors of an addressing circuitry, wordline stacks (8) are formed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor structures is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first mask is provided above a substrate. The first mask includes first mask lines extending along a first axis. A second mask is provided above the first mask. The second mask includes second mask lines extending along a second axis that intersects the first axis. At least one of the first and second masks is formed by a pitch fragmentation method. Structures may be formed in the substrate, wherein the first and the second mask are effective as a combined mask. The structures may be equally spaced at a pitch in the range of a minimum lithographic feature size for repetitive line structures.

Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, a plurality of first and second conductive lines, a plurality of memory cells, and a plurality of landing pads. Each of the first conductive lines has a line width wb and two neighboring ones of the first conductive lines having a distance bs from each other. Each of the second conductive lines has a line width wl and two neighboring ones of the second conductive lines having a distance ws from each other. Each memory cell is accessible by addressing corresponding ones of said first and second conductive lines. Each of the landing pads are made of a conductive material and are connected with a corresponding one of said second conductive lines.

Abstract: Spacers are formed on sidewalls of striplike parts of a pattern layer of periodic structure. The pattern layer is removed, and the spacers are covered with a further spacer layer, which is then structured to second sidewall spacers. Gaps between the spacers are filled with a complementary layer. The upper surface is planarized to a lower surface level, leaving a periodic succession of the first spacers, the second spacers and the residual parts of the complementary layer. The lateral dimensions are adapted in such a manner that a removal of one or two of the remaining layers renders a periodic pattern of smaller pitch.

Abstract: At least one memory layer is provided on a substrate surface. A plurality of parallel conductor strips is formed from electrically conductive material above the memory layer. Sidewalls of the conductor strips are provided with spacers of an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An array of conductive lines is formed on or at least partially in a semiconductor substrate. The array includes a number of conductive lines extending in a first direction, a number of landing pads made of a conductive material, with individual landing pads being connected to corresponding ones of the conductive lines, wherein the conductive lines include first and second subsets of conductive lines. The conductive lines of the first subset alternate with the conductive lines of the second subset, wherein the landing pads connected to the conductive lines of the first subset are disposed on a first side of the conductive lines, and the landing pads connected to the conductive lines of the second subset are disposed on a second side of the conductive lines, the first side being opposite to the second side.

Abstract: A first hardmask layer is provided over a substrate, and a second hardmask layer is provided over the first hardmask layer. The second hardmask layer is patterned to form a second hardmask structure having sidewalls. A sacrificial layer of a sacrificial material is conformally deposited such that the deposited sacrificial layer has substantially horizontal and vertical portions. The horizontal portions of the sacrificial layer are removed to form lines of the sacrificial material adjacent to the sidewalls of the second hardmask lines. The sacrificial layer is at least partially removed to structure the sacrificial material and the remaining sacrificial layer is used to structure the first hardmask. The second hardmask structures is removed to uncover portions of the first hardmask. Uncovered portions of the substrate are etched, thereby forming structures in the substrate below the first hardmask.

Abstract: Final sections of the word lines are arranged in a staggered fashion to fan out and have larger lateral extensions than the word lines. Interspaces are filled with a dielectric material, and a mask is applied that partially covers the final sections and leaves contact areas in regions adjacent to the final sections and to the interspaces open. This mask is used to remove the dielectric material between the word line stacks. A second word line layer is applied and planarized to form second word lines between the first word lines, which have contact areas arranged in a staggered fashion to fan out like the final sections of the first word lines.

Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface, a plurality of first and second conductive lines, a plurality of memory cells, and a plurality of landing pads. Each of the first conductive lines has a line width wb and two neighboring ones of the first conductive lines having a distance bs from each other. Each of the second conductive lines has a line width wl and two neighboring ones of the second conductive lines having a distance ws from each other. Each memory cell is accessible by addressing corresponding ones of said first and second conductive lines. Each of the landing pads are made of a conductive material and are connected with a corresponding one of said second conductive lines.

Abstract: The bit lines are produced by an implantation of a dopant by means of a sacrificial hard mask layer, which is later replaced with the gate electrodes formed of polysilicon in the memory cell array. Striplike areas of the memory cell array, which run transversely to the bit lines, are reserved by a blocking layer to be occupied by the bit line contacts. In these areas, the hard mask is used to form contact holes, which are self-aligned with the implanted buried bit lines. Between the blocked areas, the word lines are arranged normally to the bit lines.

Abstract: Final sections of the word lines are arranged in a staggered fashion to fan out and have larger lateral extensions than the word lines. Interspaces are filled with a dielectric material, and a mask is applied that partially covers the final sections and leaves contact areas in regions adjacent to the final sections and to the interspaces open. This mask is used to remove the dielectric material between the word line stacks. A second word line layer is applied and planarized to form second word lines between the first word lines, which have contact areas arranged in a staggered fashion to fan out like the final sections of the first word lines.

Abstract: A plurality of parallel shallow trenches is etched at a main surface of a semiconductor substrate. A sequence of dielectric materials that are suitable for charge-trapping is applied on the whole surface including sidewalls and bottom surfaces of the etched trenches. This layer sequence completely fills the trenches and forms the shallow trench isolations. An additional layer can be provided between the memory layer and the top layer in order to achieve a planar upper surface.

Abstract: Spacers are formed on sidewalls of striplike parts of a pattern layer of periodic structure. The pattern layer is removed, and the spacers are covered with a further spacer layer, which is then structured to second sidewall spacers. Gaps between the spacers are filled with a complementary layer. The upper surface is planarized to a lower surface level, leaving a periodic succession of the first spacers, the second spacers and the residual parts of the complementary layer. The lateral dimensions are adapted in such a manner that a removal of one or two of the remaining layers renders a periodic pattern of smaller pitch.

Abstract: A memory layer sequence comprising a lower confinement layer (2), a charge-trapping layer (3), and an upper confinement layer (4) is applied on the main surface of a silicon substrate (1). By a photolithography step, trenches running parallel at a distance from one another are etched to delimitate the active area. A trench filling (7) is applied by growth or deposition of dielectric material or by a selective oxidation of the substrate material. After the removal of the charge-trapping layer sequence in a peripheral area and the deposition of a gate dielectric material provided for the transistors of an addressing circuitry, wordline stacks (8) are formed.