Dielectric Regions, E.g., Epic Dielectric Isolation, Locos; Trench Refilling Techniques, Soi Technology, Use Of Channel Stoppers (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.545)

  • Publication number: 20100112778
    Abstract: A memory cell is provided including a tunnel dielectric layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The memory cell also includes a floating gate having a first portion overlying the tunnel dielectric layer and a second portion in the form of a nanorod extending from the first portion. In addition, a control gate layer is separated from the floating gate by an intergate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, D.V. Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 7709321
    Abstract: A flash memory and a flash memory fabrication method for increasing the coupling ratio by HSG including forming a STI region on a silicon substrate to define an active region, forming a tunneling oxide layer on the active region, and depositing an amorphous silicon layer on the silicon substrate. The method also includes patterning the amorphous silicon layer along a bit line direction, forming an embossed silicon layer including HSGs on the patterned amorphous silicon layer, and sequentially depositing an ONO layer and a polysilicon layer for a control gate on the resulting structure. The method further includes forming a photoresist pattern on the polysilicon layer, and forming a control gate by etching the polysilicon layer using the photoresist pattern as a mask, and simultaneously forming a floating gate along the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Hyo Jung
  • Patent number: 7709345
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a shallow trench isolation structure having a dielectric material with energetic species implanted to a predetermined depth of the dielectric material. Embodiments further include methods of fabricating the trench structures with the implant of energetic species to the predetermined depth. In various embodiments the implant of energetic species is used to densify the dielectric material to provide a uniform wet etch rate across the surface of the dielectric material. Embodiments also include memory devices, integrated circuits, and electronic systems that include shallow trench isolation structures having the dielectric material with the high flux of energetic species implanted to the predetermined depth of the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20100102371
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate including isolations defining active regions of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of buried gate electrodes between a pair of the isolations, wherein each of the buried gate electrodes and the isolations includes a conductive layer and a capping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Kye-Hee Yeom
  • Patent number: 7704854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method includes etching at least one shallow trench in at least an SIO layer; forming a dielectric liner at an interface of the SIO layer and the SIO layer; forming a metal or metal alloy layer in the shallow trench on the dielectric liner; and filling the shallow trench with oxide material over the metal or metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Dennard, Mark C. Hakey, David V. Horak, Sanjay Mehta
  • Publication number: 20100081249
    Abstract: A method for forming a protection diode utilizes processing operations and materials used in the formation of the CMOS integrated circuit device and provides a protection diode used in CMOS integrated circuit devices to direct charged particles to benign locations and prevent damage to the devices. The protection diode includes a well region of a first conductivity type formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate, a heavily doped P-type impurity region disposed within the well region, a heavily doped N-type impurity region disposed within the well region and an STI structure interposed therebetween. A top surface of the STI structure extends above the surface. A silicide resistant block-out layer is formed over the STI structure and extends laterally beyond the STI structure, covering any counterdoped sections that may undesirably be formed in the substrate adjacent the STI structure during implantation operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Bor-Zen Tien, Tzong-Sheng Chang, Yung-Fu Shen, Jieh-Ting Chang
  • Publication number: 20100078730
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode. The gate electrode includes a silicide layer obtained by siliciding porous silicon or organic silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi YOSHIDA, Akihiko Tsuzumitani, Kenshi Kanegae
  • Publication number: 20100072542
    Abstract: Modification of an SOD film is promoted in a hot oxidizing atmosphere. Elements under a liner film and a semiconductor substrate are prevented from being damaged by oxidation. A semiconductor device includes a recess portion, a first liner film and a second liner film sequentially formed on inner wall side surfaces of the recess portion, the second liner film containing an oxygen atom, and an insulating region filled in the recess portion. The first liner film has a higher oxidation resistance than the second liner film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kadoya, Kazuma Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 7682929
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device structure having a design rule of less than 0.13 micron. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a pad oxide layer overlying the substrate. The method includes forming a nitride layer overlying the pad oxide layer and patterning the nitride layer and pad oxide layer. A trench structure is formed within a thickness of the substrate using the patterned nitride layer and pad oxide layer as hard mask. The method forms a first thickness of liner oxide within the trench structure using at least thermal oxidation of an exposed region of the trench structure to cover the trench structure. Such thermal oxidation causes a rounding region near corners of the trench structure. The method selectively removes the thickness of liner oxide within the trench structure. The method forms a second thickness of liner oxide within the trench structure using at least thermal oxidation to cover the trench structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Liu Chi-Kang, Xin Wang, Ze Ki Li
  • Patent number: 7682902
    Abstract: A memory structure disclosed in the present invention features a control gate and floating gates being positioned in recessed trenches. A method of fabricating the memory structure includes the steps of first providing a substrate having a first recessed trench. Then, a first gate dielectric layer is formed on the first recessed trench. A first conductive layer is formed on the first gate dielectric layer. After that, the first conductive layer is etched to form a spacer which functions as a floating gate on a sidewall of the first recessed trench. A second recessed trench is formed in a bottom of the first recessed trench. An inter-gate dielectric layer is formed on a surface of the spacer, a sidewall and a bottom of the second recessed trench. A second conductive layer formed to fill up the first and the second recessed trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Nan Hsiao, Pei-Ing Lee, Ming-Cheng Chang, Chung-Lin Huang, Hsi-Hua Chang, Chih-Hsiang Wu
  • Patent number: 7679166
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a semiconductor structure and an associated method of forming the semiconductor structure with shallow trench isolation structures having selectively adjusted reflectance and absorption characteristics in order to ensure uniform temperature changes across a wafer during a rapid thermal anneal and, thereby, limit variations in device performance. Also disclosed are embodiments of another semiconductor structure and an associated method of forming the semiconductor structure with devices having selectively adjusted reflectance and absorption characteristics in order to either selectively vary the performance of individual devices (e.g., to form devices with different threshold voltages (Vt) on the same wafer) and/or to selectively optimize the anneal temperature of individual devices (e.g., to ensure optimal activation temperatures for n-type and p-type dopants during anneals).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7675104
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory system that includes: providing a substrate; forming a silicon rich charge storage layer over the substrate; forming a first isolation trench through the silicon rich charge storage layer in a first direction; and forming a second isolation trench through the silicon rich charge storage layer in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignees: Spansion LLC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Amol Ramesh Joshi, Harpreet Sachar, YouSeok Suh, Shenqing Fang, Chih-Yuh Yang, Lovejeet Singh, David H. Matsumoto, Hidehiko Shiraiwa, Kuo-Tung Chang, Scott A. Bell, Allison Holbrook, Satoshi Torii
  • Publication number: 20100052093
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is a semiconductor substrate used when an SOI substrate having an SOI structure is manufactured, in which a silicon oxide film and a silicon single crystal layer are formed on the surface of a silicon substrate. A region containing no nitrogen, which is made of a silicon single crystal layer with a thickness of 10 ?m or less, is formed in the vicinity of the surface, and the nitrogen concentration of a portion excluding the region, that is, the region containing nitrogen, is in a range of 1×1013 to 5×1015 atoms/cm3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takehiro HISATOMI
  • Patent number: 7671412
    Abstract: A substrate, thermal treatment assembly and method of operating the thermal treatment assembly are described for controlling the temperature of a substrate. An electrical potential is applied across two or more locations on the substrate in order to generate an electrical current through a portion of the substrate, thereby altering a temperature of the substrate. The electrical current may dissipate electrical energy in the form of thermal energy due to the intrinsic resistance of the portion of substrate to the flow of electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Michael A. Carcasi, Michael Philip Kincaid
  • Publication number: 20100044802
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device making it possible to form an element region having a dimension close to a designed dimension, restrain a phenomenon similar to gate-induced drain leakage, and further restrain compressive stress to be applied to the element region by oxidation of a conductive film; and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. Trenches are made in a main surface of a semiconductor substrate. By oxidizing the wall surface of each of the trenches, a first oxide film is formed on the wall surface. An embedded conductive film is formed to be embedded into the trench. The embedded conductive film is oxidized in an atmosphere containing an active oxidizing species, thereby forming a second oxide film. A third oxide film is formed on the second oxide film by CVD or coating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Masato Ishibashi, Katsuyuki Horita, Tomohiro Yamashita, Takaaki Tsunomura, Takashi Kuroi
  • Publication number: 20100047972
    Abstract: Disclosed is semiconductor structure that incorporates a field shield below a semiconductor device (e.g., a field effect transistor (FET) or a diode). The field shield is sandwiched between upper and lower isolation layers on a wafer. A local interconnect extends through the upper isolation layer and connects the field shield to a selected doped semiconductor region of the device (e.g., a source/drain region of a FET or a cathode or anode of a diode). Current that passes into the device, for example, during back-end of the line charging, is shunted by the local interconnect away from the upper isolation layer and down into the field shield. Consequently, an electric charge is not allowed to build up in the upper isolation layer but rather bleeds from the field shield into the lower isolation layer and into the substrate below. This field shield further provides a protective barrier against any electric charge that becomes trapped within the lower isolation layer or substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Clark, JR., Edward J. Nowak
  • Patent number: 7662696
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an oxide film with the film quality almost equivalent to that of the thermal oxide can be formed by the low-temperature treatment. After removing an insulator on the active region of the substrate which constitutes a semiconductor wafer, an insulator made of, for example, silicon oxide is deposited on the main surface of the semiconductor wafer by the low pressure CVD method. This insulator is a film to form a gate insulator of MISFET in a later step. Subsequently, a plasma treatment is performed in an atmosphere containing oxygen (oxygen plasma treatment) to the insulator in the manner as schematically shown by the arrows. By so doing, the film quality of the insulator formed by the CVD method can be improved to the extent almost equivalent to that of the insulator formed of the thermal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hiraiwa, Satoshi Sakai, Dai Ishikawa, Yoshihiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7659581
    Abstract: A compressive stress is applied to a channel region of a PFET by structure including a discrete dielectric stressor element that fully underlies the bottom surface of an active semiconductor region in which the source, drain and channel region of the PFET is disposed. In particular, the dielectric stressor element includes a region of collapsed oxide which fully contacts the bottom surface of the active semiconductor region such that it has an area coextensive with an area of the bottom surface. Bird's beak oxide regions at edges of the dielectric stressor element apply an upward force at edges of the dielectric stressor element to impart a compressive stress to the channel region of the PFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dureseti Chidambarrao, Brian J. Greene, Kern Rim
  • Patent number: 7659159
    Abstract: In a method of fabricating a flash memory device, a semiconductor substrate includes a tunnel insulating layer and a charge storage layer formed in an active region and a trench formed in an isolation region. A first insulating layer is formed to fill a part of the trench. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer so that the trench is filled. The first and second insulating layers are removed such that the first and second insulating layers remain on sidewalls of the charge storage layer and on a part of the trench. A third insulating layer is formed on the first and second insulating layers so that a space defined by the charge storage layer is filled. The third insulating layer is removed so that a height of the third insulating layer is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20100025726
    Abstract: A lateral device includes a gate region connected to a drain region by a drift layer. An insulation region adjoins the drift layer between the gate region and the drain region. Permanent charges are embedded in the insulation region, sufficient to cause inversion in the insulation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: MAXPOWER SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Amit Paul, Mohamed N. Darwish
  • Patent number: 7655535
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a device isolation structure of a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a pad oxide layer and a pad nitride layer over a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a dummy region, etching a portion of the pad nitride layer, the pad oxide layer and the semiconductor substrate to form a trench, forming a sidewall oxide layer over the sidewalls of the trench; removing the sidewall oxide layer in the dummy region, forming a silicon nitride layer over the sidewalls of the sidewall oxide layer both in the cell region and in the dummy region, filling the trench with an insulating layer, polishing the insulating layer to expose the pad nitride layer, and removing the pad nitride layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hyo Seob Yoon, Woo Jin Kim, Ok Min Moon, Ji Yong Park
  • Publication number: 20100022057
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a device isolation structure formed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region having a recess region at a lower part of sidewalls thereof. The semiconductor device additionally has a fin channel region protruded over the device isolation structure in a longitudinal direction of a gate region; a gate insulating film formed over the semiconductor substrate including the protruded fin channel region; and a gate electrode formed over the gate insulating film to fill up the protruded fin channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Woong Chung, Sang Don Lee
  • Publication number: 20100019315
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor substrate to have a SOI structure by an epitaxial process for forming a gate while forming an insulating film pattern in a bottom where a device isolation trench is formed. The method thereby increases the process margin for forming a device isolation film and prevents the punch-through phenomenon to improve electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices and increase product yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Song Hyeuk IM
  • Patent number: 7648881
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device comprises a cell region defined at a substrate and a plurality of device isolation layers formed in the cell region to define a plurality of active regions. A charge storage insulator covers substantially the entire top surface of the cell region. A plurality of gate lines are formed on the charge storage insulator that cross over the device isolation layers. Conductive patterns are disposed between predetermined gate lines that penetrate the charge storage insulator to electrically connect with the active regions. According to the method of fabricating the device, a plurality of device isolation layers are formed in the substrate and then a charge storage insulator is formed on an entire surface of the substrate and the device isolation layers. A plurality of parallel gate lines that cross over the device isolation layers are formed on the charge storage insulator and then conductive patterns are formed between predetermined gate lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Hyun Lee
  • Publication number: 20100006973
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with STIs separating HOT regions is described. Processes for eliminating voids due to misalignments in boundary region STIs are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Yusuke KOHYAMA
  • Patent number: 7645680
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an isolation layer pattern in a semiconductor device and an isolation layer pattern in a semiconductor device. A device at a low voltage device formation region may be substantially immune to electric fields from a high voltage device formation region. A field insulation film pattern in a low voltage device formation region (e.g. a logic region) may implement a relatively small design rule at an isolation layer pattern. A method of manufacturing an isolation layer pattern in a semiconductor device (e.g. which may embody a device relatively immune to an electric field from a high voltage device formation region) may include field insulation film patterns with a relatively small design rule in a low voltage device formation region (e.g. a logic region).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 7645678
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process of manufacturing an STI for avoiding bubble defects, in which, after the shallow trench is formed by etching, substance containing carbon or oxygen on the bottom of the shallow trench is removed, and then the process is continued to accomplish the STI. Alternatively, the removal of substance containing carbon or oxygen may be performed after the oxide liner and the silicon nitride liner are formed on the bottom surface of the shallow trench. The present invention also discloses a process of treating bottom surface of the shallow trench. After the bottom surface of the shallow trench is treated, the bubble defects due to the use of the silicon nitride liner can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Hsin-Chang Wu
  • Patent number: 7642171
    Abstract: A method of annealing a substrate comprising a trench containing a dielectric material, the method including annealing the substrate at a first temperature of about 200° C. to about 800° C. in a first atmosphere comprising an oxygen containing gas, and annealing the substrate at a second temperature of about 800° C. to about 1400° C. in a second atmosphere lacking oxygen. In addition, a method of annealing a substrate comprising a trench containing a dielectric material, the method including annealing the substrate at a first temperature of about 400° C. to about 800° C. in the presence of an oxygen containing gas, purging the oxygen containing gas away from the substrate, and raising the substrate to a second temperature from about 900° C. to about 1100° C. to further anneal the substrate in an atmosphere that lacks oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin K. Ingle, Zheng Yuan, Vikash Banthia, Xinyun Xia, Hali J. L. Forstner, Rong Pan
  • Patent number: 7642161
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an isolation structure in a substrate to define an active region, forming a recess mask pattern over the isolation structure and the active region, etching the isolation structure exposed by the recess mask pattern to a certain depth, etching the substrate to form a recess pattern, and forming a gate electrode over the recess pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Tae Cho, Eun-Mi Kim
  • Publication number: 20090321845
    Abstract: Low voltage, middle voltage and high voltage CMOS devices have upper buffer layers of the same conductivity type as the sources and drains that extend under the sources and drains and the gates but not past the middle of the gates, and lower bulk buffer layers of the opposite conductivity type to the upper buffer layers extend from under the upper buffer layers to past the middle of the gates forming an overlap of the two bulk buffer layers under the gates. The upper buffer layers and the lower bulk buffer layers can be implanted for both the NMOS and PMOS FETs using two masking layers. For middle voltage and high voltage devices the upper buffer layers together with the lower bulk buffer layers provide a resurf region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Jun Cai
  • Publication number: 20090321836
    Abstract: Three-dimensional transistor structures such as FinFETS and tri-gate transistors may be formed on the basis of an enhanced masking regime, thereby enabling the formation of drain and source areas, the fins and isolation structures in a self-aligned manner within a bulk semiconductor material. After defining the basic fin structures, highly efficient manufacturing techniques of planar transistor configurations may be used, thereby even further enhancing overall performance of the three-dimensional transistor configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Andy Wei, Robert Mulfinger, Thilo Scheiper, Thorsten Kammler
  • Publication number: 20090321812
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate provided with a trench section; a tunnel insulating film covering an inner surface of the trench section; a trap layer provided in contact with the tunnel insulating film on an inner surface of an upper portion of the trench section; a top insulating film provided in contact with the trap layer; a gate electrode embedded in the trench section, and provided in contact with the tunnel insulating film at a lower portion of the trench section and in contact with the top insulating film at the upper portion of the trench section, in which the trap layer and the top insulating film, in between the lower portion of the trench section and the upper portion of the trench section, extend and protrude from both sides of the trench section so as to be embedded in the gate electrode, and a method for manufacturing thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Fumiaki TOYAMA, Fumihiko INOUE
  • Publication number: 20090315139
    Abstract: A patterning method includes defining, in the case of an electric current which exceeds an allowable limit flowing between first conduction type well regions arranged in a semiconductor substrate, a first pattern between the first conduction type well regions; defining a second pattern by removing, in the case of a first region in which arrangement is inhibited being in the first pattern, the first region from the first pattern; defining a third pattern by removing, in the case of a second region which exceeds a fabrication limit being in the second pattern, the second region from the second pattern; and using the third pattern as a dummy active region in a second conduction type well region arranged in the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Mitsuaki IGETA, Masahiro SUEDA, Rikio TAKASE, Akihiro USUJIMA
  • Patent number: 7632736
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, a method includes forming a spacer layer over a substrate having patterned stacks formed therein and trenches between the patterned stacks. A sacrificial polysilicon layer is deposited over the substrate to fill the trenches. A patterning layer is deposited over the substrate and patterned to define contact regions over at least a portion of the trenches. The sacrificial polysilicon layer is etched using the patterned patterning layer to form open regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Max Wei, Been-Jon Woo
  • Patent number: 7632730
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor and a manufacturing method are disclosed. The gates of the transistors are formed in the active region of the unit pixel, and a diffusion region for the photo diode is defined by an ion implantation of impurities to the semiconductor substrate. The patterns of the photoresist that are the masking layer against ion implantation are formed on the semiconductor substrate in such a manner that they have the boundary portion of the isolation layer so as not to make the boundary of the defined photo diode contact with the boundary of the isolation layer. Damages by an ion implantation of impurities at the boundary portion between the diffusion region for the photo diode and the isolation layer are prevented, which reduces dark current of the COMS image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electonrics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Hun Han
  • Patent number: 7625783
    Abstract: A method by which generation of leak current can be suppressed and also a fine element can be formed by performing element isolation at a temperature at which a glass substrate can be used is provided. The method includes a first step of forming a base film over a glass substrate; a second step of forming a semiconductor film over the base film; a third step of forming, over the semiconductor film, a film preventing oxidation or nitridation of the semiconductor film into a predetermined pattern; and a fourth step of performing element isolation by radical oxidation or radical nitridation of a region of the semiconductor film, which is not covered with the predetermined pattern, at a temperature of the glass substrate lower than a strain point thereof by 100° C. or more, where radical oxidation or radical nitridation is performed over a semiconductor film placed apart from a plasma generation region, in a plasma treatment chamber with an electron temperature within the range of 0.5 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Saito
  • Patent number: 7622369
    Abstract: A method of forming device isolation regions on a trench-formed silicon substrate and removing residual carbon therefrom includes providing a flowable, insulative material constituted by silicon, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen or any combination of two or more thereof; forming a thin insulative layer, by using the flowable, insulative material, in a trench located on a semiconductor substrate wherein the flowable, insulative material forms a conformal coating in a silicon and nitrogen rich condition whereas in a carbon rich condition, the flowable, insulative material vertically grows from the bottom of the trenches; and removing the residual carbon deposits from the flowable, insulative material by multi-step curing, such as O2 thermal annealing, ozone UV curing followed by N2 thermal annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: ASM Japan K.K.
    Inventors: Woo Jin Lee, Atsuki Fukazawa, Nobuo Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20090280608
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for forming it are described. The semoiconductor device comprises a metal NMOS gate electrode that is formed on a first part of a substrate, and a silicide PMOS gate electrode that is formed on a second part of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Justin K. Brask, Mark L. Doczy, Jack Kavalieros, Matthew V. Metz, Chris E. Barns, Uday Shah, Suman Datta, Christopher D. Thomas, Robert S. Chau
  • Patent number: 7615461
    Abstract: A method for forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) of a semiconductor device comprises forming a nitride film pattern over a semiconductor substrate having a defined lower structure, etching a predetermined thickness of the semiconductor substrate using the nitride film pattern as a mask to form a trench having a vertical sidewall in a portion of the substrate predetermined to be a device isolation region, performing a plasma treatment process on the sidewall of the trench to form a plasma oxide film, forming an oxide film over the resulting structure to fill the trench, and performing a planarization process over the resulting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Bum Kim, Jong Kuk Kim
  • Publication number: 20090275183
    Abstract: A thermal oxidation method capable of obtaining a high oxidation rate by generating a sufficient enhanced-rate oxidation phenomenon even in a low temperature region is provided. In addition, a thermal oxidation method capable of forming a silicon oxide film having a high reliability even when formed at a low temperature region. A basic concept herein is to form a silicon oxide film by thermal reaction by generating a large amount of oxygen radicals (O*) having a large reactivity without using plasma. More specifically, ozone (O3) and other active gas are reacted, so that ozone (O3) is decomposed highly efficiently even in a low temperature region, thereby generating a large amount of oxygen radicals (O*). For example, a compound gas containing a halogen element can be used as the active gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Mine, Hirotaka Hamamura
  • Patent number: 7611974
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a multilayer structure is provided as well as the structure itself. In accordance with one embodiment, the process includes growing a growth layer on a silicon substrate by epitaxial growth, forming at least one pattern from the growth layer, depositing an oxide layer on the silicon substrate, transferring a silicon active layer onto the oxide layer, forming a cavity in the silicon active layer oxide layer above the pattern, and growing a III-V material in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: S.O.I. Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventor: Fabrice Letertre
  • Patent number: 7611950
    Abstract: A method for forming shallow trench isolation in a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a pad oxide and a pad nitride on a semiconductor substrate in successive order, forming a trench in the substrate by etching the pad nitride, the pad oxide and the substrate, removing a portion of the pad oxide to expose top corners of the trench, and rounding the exposed portion of the top corners of the trench by a wet chemical etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20090267150
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises: forming a gate pattern over a silicon active region and an insulating layer, which form a semiconductor substrate; removing the silicon active region exposed between the gate patterns; and filling a space between the gate patterns to form a plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Su Ock Chung
  • Patent number: 7608878
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a device isolation film by a double Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) process, forming a first active region having a negative slope and a second active region having a positive slope. Additionally, the method includes applying a recess region and a bulb-type recess region to the above-extended active region so as to prevent generation of horns in the active regions. This structure results in improvement in effective channel length and area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Joo Baek
  • Publication number: 20090261449
    Abstract: An object is to provide an SOI substrate with excellent characteristics even in the case where a single crystal semiconductor substrate having crystal defects is used. Another object is to provide a semiconductor device using such an SOI substrate. A single crystal semiconductor layer is formed by an epitaxial growth method over a surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate. The single crystal semiconductor layer is subjected to first thermal oxidation treatment to form a first oxide film. A surface of the first oxide film is irradiated with ions, whereby the ions are introduced to the single crystal semiconductor layer. The single crystal semiconductor layer and a base substrate are bonded with the first oxide film interposed therebetween. The single crystal semiconductor layer is divided at a region where the ions are introduced by performing thermal treatment, so that the single crystal semiconductor layer is partly left over the base substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Eriko Nishida, Takashi Shimazu
  • Publication number: 20090258471
    Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor device fabrication by providing mechanisms for utilizing different isolation schemes within embedded memory and other logic portions of a device. The isolation mechanism of the embedded memory portion is improved relative to other portions of the device by increasing dopant concentrations or reducing the depth of the dopant profiles within well regions of the embedded memory array. As a result, smaller isolation spacing can be employed thereby permitting a more compact array. The isolation mechanism of the logic portion is relatively less than that of the embedded memory portion, which permits greater operational speed for the logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
  • Publication number: 20090256208
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: forming a fin and a film on a semiconductor substrate, the film being located at least either on the fin or under the fin and on the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate electrode so as to sandwich both side faces of the fin via a gate insulating film; and expanding or shrinking the film, thereby generating a strain in a height direction of the fin in a channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kimitoshi Okano
  • Patent number: 7601582
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor substrate to have a SOI structure by an epitaxial process for forming a gate while forming an insulating film pattern in a bottom where a device isolation trench is formed. The method thereby increases the process margin for forming a device isolation film and prevents the punch-through phenomenon to improve electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices and increase product yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Song Hyeuk Im
  • Publication number: 20090250784
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes silicon layer (2) supported by a bottom oxide layer (3), a shallow trench oxide (4) in the shallow trench (30), and a polycrystalline silicon layer (5) on the shallow trench oxide. A deep trench oxide (25) extending from the shallow trench oxide to the bottom oxide layer electrically isolates a section (2A) of the silicon layer to prevent a silicon cone defect (22) on the silicon layer (2) from causing short-circuiting of the polycrystalline silicon layer (5) to a non-isolated section of the silicon layer. The polycrystalline silicon layer (5) can form a bottom plate of a poly/metal capacitor (20) and can also form a poly interconnect conductor (5A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Walter B. Meinel, Henry Surtihadi, Philipp Steinmann, David J. Hannaman
  • Publication number: 20090243029
    Abstract: A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes a structure which comprises a high-leakage dielectric formed in a divot on each side of a segmented FET comprised of active silicon islands and gate electrodes thereon, and a low-leakage dielectric on the surface of the active silicon islands, adjacent the high-leakage dielectric, wherein the low-leakage dielectric has a lower leakage than the high-leakage dielectric. Also provided is a structure and method of fabricating the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak