Abstract: A method of fabricating a ferroelectric thin film on an iridium-composite electrode in an integrated circuit device includes preparing a substrate; depositing an iridium-composite bottom electrode on the substrate; annealing the bottom electrode in a first annealing step; depositing a buffer layer on the bottom electrode, including depositing a layer of material taken from the group of materials consisting of HfO2, ZrO2, TiO2, LaOx, La—Al—O, Ti—Al—O, Hf—Al—O, Zr—Al—O, Hf—Zr—O, Zr—Ti—O, Hf—Ti—O, La—Zr—O, La—Hf—O, and La—Ti—O; annealing the buffer layer in a second annealing step; depositing a layer of Bi4Ti3O12, to a thickness of between about 20 nm to 500 nm, on the buffer layer; annealing the ferroelectric layer in a third annealing step; and completing the integrated circuit device.

Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining a planar surface as crystal grains are laterally grown in the fabrication of crystallized silicon films. The method comprises: forming a film of amorphous silicon with a surface and a plurality of areas; irradiating each adjacent areas of the silicon film with a first sequence of laser pulses; and, in response to the first sequence of laser pulses, controlling the planarization of the silicon film surface between adjacent areas of the silicon film as the crystal grains are laterally grown. By controlling the number of laser pulses in the sequence, the temporal separation between pulses, and the relative intensity of the pulses, the lateral growth length characteristics of the crystal grains can be traded against the silicon film flatness. A silicon film formed by a pulsed laser sequence crystallization process is also provided.

Abstract: Single-crystal devices and a method for forming semiconductor film single-crystal domains are provided. The method comprises: forming a substrate, such as glass or Si; forming an insulator film overlying the substrate; forming a single-crystal seed overlying the substrate and insulator; forming an amorphous film overlying the seed; annealing the amorphous film; and, forming a single-crystal domain in the film responsive to the single-crystal seed. The annealing technique can be (conventional) laser annealing, a laser induced lateral growth (LiLAC) process, or conventional furnace annealing. In some aspects forming a single-crystal seed includes forming a nanowire or a self assembled monolayer (SAM). For example, a Si nanowire can be formed having a crystallographic orientation of <110> or <100>. When, the seed has a <100> crystallographic orientation, then an n-type TFT can be formed.

Abstract: A flexible metal foil substrate organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a method for forming the same are provided. The method comprises: supplying a metal foil substrate such as titanium (Ti), Inconel alloy, or Kovar, having a thickness in the range of 10 to 500 microns; planarizing the metal foil substrate surface; depositing an electrical isolation layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 2 microns overlying the planarized metal foil substrate surface; depositing amorphous silicon having a thickness in the range of 25 to 150 nanometers (nm) overlying the electrical insulation layer; from the amorphous silicon, forming polycrystalline silicon overlying the electrical insulation layer; forming thin-film transistors (TFTs) in the polycrystalline silicon; and, forming an electronic circuit using the TFTs, such as an OLED display.

Abstract: A method of applying a PCMO thin film on an iridium substrate for use in a RRAM device, includes preparing a substrate; depositing a barrier layer on the substrate; depositing a layer of iridium on the barrier layer; spin coating a layer of PCMO on the iridium; baking the PCMO and substrate in a three-step baking process; post-bake annealing the substrate and the PCMO in a RTP chamber; repeating said spin coating, baking and annealing steps until the PCMO has a desired thickness; annealing the substrate and PCMO; depositing a top electrode; and completing the RRAM device.

Abstract: A ferroelectric transistor gate structure with a ferroelectric gate and a high-k insulator is provided. The high-k insulator may serve as both a gate dielectric and an insulator to reduce, or eliminate, the diffusion of oxygen or hydrogen into the ferroelectric gate. A method of forming the ferroelectric gate structure is also provided. The method comprises the steps of forming a sacrificial gate structure, removing the sacrificial gate structure, depositing a high-k insulator, depositing a ferroelectric material, polishing the ferroelectric material using CMP, and forming a top electrode overlying the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: An oxide interface and a method for fabricating an oxide interface are provided. The method comprises forming a silicon layer and an oxide layer overlying the silicon layer. The oxide layer is formed at a temperature of less than 400° C. using an inductively coupled plasma source. In some aspects of the method, the oxide layer is more than 20 nanometers (nm) thick and has a refractive index between 1.45 and 1.47. In some aspects of the method, the oxide layer is formed by plasma oxidizing the silicon layer, producing plasma oxide at a rate of up to approximately 4.4 nm per minute (after one minute). In some aspects of the method, a high-density plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (HD-PECVD) process is used to form the oxide layer. In some aspects of the method, the silicon and oxide layers are incorporated into a thin film transistor.

Abstract: A substrate and a method for fabricating variable quality substrate materials are provided. The method comprises: selecting a first mask having a first mask pattern; projecting a laser beam through the first mask to anneal a first area of semiconductor substrate; creating a first condition in the first area of the semiconductor film; selecting a second mask having a second mask pattern; projecting the laser beam through the second mask to anneal a second area of the semiconductor film; and, creating a second condition in the second area of the semiconductor film, different than the first condition. More specifically, when the substrate material is silicon, the first and second conditions concern the creation of crystalline material with a quantitative measure of lattice mismatch between adjacent crystal domains. For example, the lattice mismatch between adjacent crystal domains can be measured as a number of high-angle grain boundaries per area.

Abstract: A dual gate strained-Si MOSFET with thin SiGe dislocation regions and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method comprises: forming a first layer of relaxed SiGe overlying a substrate, having a thickness of less than 5000 ?; forming a second layer of relaxed SiGe overlying the substrate and adjacent to the first layer of SiGe, having a thickness of less than 5000 ?; forming a layer of strained-Si overlying the first and second SiGe layers; forming a shallow trench isolation region interposed between the first SiGe layer and the second SiGe layer; forming an n-well in the substrate and the overlying first layer of SiGe; forming a p-well in the substrate and the overlying second layer of SiGe; forming channel regions, in the strained-Si, and forming PMOS and NMOS transistor source and drain regions.

Abstract: A method of preparing a hafnium nitrate thin film includes placing phosphorus pentoxide in a first vessel; connecting the first vessel to a second vessel containing hafnium tetrachloride; cooling the second vessel with liquid nitrogen; dropping fuming nitric acid into the first vessel producing N2O5 gas; allowing the N2O5 gas to enter the second vessel; heating the first vessel until the reaction is substantially complete; disconnecting the two vessels; removing the second vessel from the liquid nitrogen bath; heating the second vessel; refluxing the contents of the second vessel; drying the compound in the second vessel by dynamic pumping; purifying the compound in the second vessel by sublimation to form Hf(NO3)4, and heating the Hf(NO3)4 to produce HfO2 for use in an ALCVD process.

Abstract: A transistor structure includes a main gate silicon active region having a thickness of less than or equal to 30 nm; and auxiliary gate active regions located on either side of said main gate silicon active region, said auxiliary gate active regions being spaced a distance from said main gate active region of about 200 nm.

Abstract: A method for forming a doped PGO ferroelectric thin film, and related doped PGO thin film structures are described. The method comprising: forming either an electrically conductive or electrically insulating substrate; forming a doped PGO film overlying the substrate; annealing; crystallizing; and, forming a single-phase c-axis doped PGO thin film overlying the substrate, having a Curie temperature of greater than 200 degrees C. Forming a doped PGO film overlying the substrate includes depositing a doped precursor in the range between 0.1N and 0.5N, with a molecular formula of Pby-xMxGe3O11, where: M is a doping element; y=4.5 to 6; and, x=0.1 to 1. The element M can be Sn, Ba, Sr, Cd, Ca, Pr, Ho, La, Sb, Zr, or Sm.

Abstract: One-transistor ferroelectric memory devices using an indium oxide film (In2O3), an In2O3 film structure, and corresponding fabrication methods have been provided. The method for controlling resistivity in an In2O3 film comprises: depositing an In film using a PVD process, typically with a power in the range of 200 to 300 watts; forming a film including In overlying a substrate material; simultaneously (with the formation of the In-including film) heating the substrate material, typically the substrate is heated to a temperature in the range of 20 to 200 degrees C.; following the formation of the In-including film, post-annealing, typically in an O2 atmosphere; and, in response to the post-annealing: forming an In2O3 film; and, controlling the resistivity in the In2O3 film. For example, the resistivity can be controlled in the range of 260 to 800 ohm-cm.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises multiple light sources that are applied to specific locations on the surface of a wafer for the purpose of causing a component on a die to respond as if a digital signal had been applied to the component. The multiple light sources may comprise several thousand point light sources such as the individual fibers of a fiber optic bundle. The light is controlled in such a manner to stimulate operation of the electronic circuit for the purpose of burning in the circuit.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a universal call-log in a Home Network telephone system. The method comprises: transceiving calls on at least one external telephone line; bridging calls to a plurality Home Network endpoints; and, logging the bridged calls. Bridging calls to a plurality Home Network endpoints includes initiating an outgoing call from an endpoint. Then, the outgoing calls initiated from endpoints are logged. Likewise, incoming calls received on an external telephone line addressed to an endpoint and bridged, and logged. Logging the bridged calls includes cross-referencing entries such as call time, the call duration, the type of call, the external telephone involved, the external line telephone number from which an incoming call is received, the external telephone line telephone number to which an outgoing call is addressed, the endpoint to which an incoming call is addressed, and the endpoint initiating an outgoing call.

Abstract: A method for fabricating silicon tiles and silicon tile targets has been provided, such as may be used in the sputter deposition of thin film transistor (TFT) silicon films. The method describes processes of cutting the tiles, beveling the tiles edges, etching the tiles to minimize residual damage caused by cutting the tiles, polishing the tiles to a specified flatness, and attaching the tiles to a backing plate. All these processes are performed with the aim of minimizing contamination and particle formations when the target is used for sputter deposition.

Abstract: A dual-gate MOSFET with metal gates and a method for setting threshold voltage in such a MOSFET is provided. The method comprises: forming a gate oxide layer overlying first and second channel regions; forming a first metal layer having a first thickness overlying the gate oxide layer; forming a second metal layer having a second thickness overlying the first metal layer first thickness; selectively removing the second metal layer overlying the first channel region; forming a third metal layer; establishing a first MOSFET with a gate work function responsive to the thicknesses of the first and third metal layer overlying the first channel region; and, establishing a second MOSFET, complementary to the first MOSFET, with a gate work function responsive to the combination of the thicknesses of the first, second, and third metal layers overlying the second channel region.

Abstract: A temperature compensated RRAM sensing circuit to improve the RRAM readability against temperature variations is disclosed. The circuit comprises a temperature dependent element to control the response of a temperature compensated circuit to generate a temperature dependent signal to compensate for the temperature variations of the resistance states of the memory resistors. The temperature dependent element can control the sensing signal supplied to the memory resistor so that the resistance states of the memory resistor are compensated against temperature variations. The temperature dependent element can control the reference signal supplied to the comparison circuit so that the output signal provided by the comparison circuit is compensated against temperature variations. The temperature dependent element is preferably made of the same material and process as the memory resistors.

Abstract: A stacked metal gate MOSFET and fabrication method are provided. The method comprises: forming a gate oxide layer overlying a channel region; forming a first metal layer having a first thickness overlying the gate oxide layer; forming a second metal layer having a second thickness overlying the first metal layer; and, establishing a gate work function in response to the combination of the first and second thicknesses. In one example, the first metal layer has a thickness of less than about 1.5 nanometers (nm) the second metal layer has a thickness greater than about 10 nm. Then, establishing a gate work function includes establishing a gate work function substantially in response to the second metal second thickness. Alternately, the first metal thickness is greater than about 20 nm. Then, the gate work function is established substantially in response to the first metal thickness.

Abstract: Processing and systems to create, and resulting products related to, very small-dimension singular, or monolithically arrayed, semiconductor mechanical devices. Processing is laser performed on selected semiconductor material whose internal crystalline structure becomes appropriately changed to establish the desired mechanical properties for a created device.