Abstract: A method for modeling a transistor includes providing a transistor model having at least a source node, a drain node, and a gate node, simulating operation of a device using the transistor model in a computing apparatus, and generating an offset voltage at the gate node depending on a magnitude of a current passing through the device.

Abstract: By providing an implantation blocking material on the gate electrode structures of advanced semiconductor devices during high energy implantation processes, the required shielding effect with respect to the channel regions of the transistors may be accomplished. In a later manufacturing stage, the implantation blocking portion may be removed to reduce the gate electrode height to a desired level in order to enhance the process conditions during the deposition of an interlayer dielectric material, thereby significantly reducing the risk of creating irregularities, such as voids, in the interlayer dielectric material, even in densely packed device regions.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. One method comprises providing a first pattern having a first polygon, the first polygon having a first tonality and having a first side and a second side, the first side adjacent to a second polygon having a second tonality, and the second side adjacent to a third polygon having the second tonality, and forming a second pattern by reversing the tonality of the first pattern. The method further comprises forming a third pattern from the second pattern by converting the second polygon from the first tonality to the second tonality forming a fourth pattern from the second pattern by converting the third polygon from the first tonality to the second tonality forming a fifth pattern by reversing the tonality of the third pattern, and forming a sixth pattern by reversing the tonality of the fourth pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed with low resistivity self aligned silicide contacts with high-K/metal gates. Embodiments include postponing silicidation of a metal layer on source/drain regions in a silicon substrate until deposition of a high-K dielectric, thereby preserving the physical and morphological properties of the silicide film and improving device performance. An embodiment includes forming a replaceable gate electrode on a silicon-containing substrate, forming source/drain regions, forming a metal layer on the source/drain regions, forming an ILD over the metal layer on the substrate, removing the replaceable gate electrode, thereby forming a cavity, depositing a high-K dielectric layer in the cavity at a temperature sufficient to initiate a silicidation reaction between the metal layer and underlying silicon, and forming a metal gate electrode on the high-K dielectric layer.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming first and second FinFET devices in and above a first region and a second region of a semiconducting substrate, respectively, performing a first ion implantation process through a patterned mask layer to implant nitrogen into the second region, removing the patterned mask layer, performing a second ion implantation process to implant oxygen atoms into both the first and second regions, performing a heating process to form a layer of insulating material at least in the first region and performing at least one etching process to define at least one first fin in the first region and to define at least one second fin in the second region, the second fin being taller than the first fin.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed with a silicide interface between the work function layer and polycrystalline silicon. Embodiments include forming a high-k/metal gate stack by: forming a high-k dielectric layer on a substrate, forming a work function metal layer on the high-k dielectric layer, forming a silicide on the work function metal layer, and forming a poly Si layer on the silicide. Embodiments include forming the silicide by: forming a reactive metal layer in situ on the work function layer, forming an a-Si layer in situ on the entire upper surface of the reactive metal layer, and annealing concurrently with forming the poly Si Layer.

Abstract: Methods form an integrated circuit structure by forming at least a portion of a plurality of devices within and/or on a substrate and patterning trenches in an inter-layer dielectric layer on the substrate adjacent the devices. The patterning forms relatively narrow trenches and relatively wide trenches. The methods then perform an angled implant of a compensating material into the trenches. The angle of the angled implant implants a greater concentration of the compensating material in the regions of the substrate at the bottom of the wider trenches relative to an amount of compensating material implanted in the regions of the substrate at the bottom of the narrower trenches. The methods then deposit a metallic material within the trenches and heat the metallic material to form silicide from the metallic material.

Abstract: Metal interconnects are formed with larger grain size and improved uniformity. Embodiments include patterning metal layers into metal interconnects and vias prior to depositing a dielectric layer. An embodiment includes forming metal layers on a substrate, patterning the metal layers to form metal interconnect lines and vias, and forming a dielectric layer on the substrate, metal interconnect lines, and vias, thereby filling gaps between the metal interconnect lines and between the vias. The metal layers may be annealed prior to patterning. A liner may be formed on the sidewalls of the metal interconnect lines and vias prior to forming the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer may be formed of a porous material with a dielectric constant less than 2.4.

Abstract: Performance of P-channel transistors may be enhanced on the basis of an embedded strain-inducing semiconductor alloy by forming a gate electrode structure on the basis of a high-k dielectric material in combination with a metal-containing cap layer in order to obtain an undercut configuration of the gate electrode structure. Consequently, the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy may be formed on the basis of a sidewall spacer of minimum thickness in order to position the strain-inducing semiconductor material closer to a central area of the channel region.

Abstract: A metal capacitor is formed with good conductivity for both nodes of the capacitor and improved reliability. An embodiment includes a first layer of alternating first and second metal lines, a second layer of alternating third and fourth metal lines, a dielectric layer between the first and second layers, and vias in the dielectric layer connecting the first and second metal lines with the third and fourth metal lines, respectively, wherein each metal line comprises alternating first segments having a first width and second segments having a second width, the first width being greater than the second width, each first segment lying adjacent to a second segment of an adjacent metal line, and only first segments of the metal lines overlapping the vias.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for parallel fault detection. The method comprises receiving data associated with processing of a workpiece by a first processing tool, receiving data associated with processing of a workpiece by a second processing tool and comparing at least a portion of the received data to a common fault model to determine if a fault associated with at least one of the processing of the workpiece by the first processing tool and processing of the workpiece by the second processing tool occurred.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, different threshold voltage levels for transistors may be set in an early manufacturing stage, i.e., prior to patterning the gate electrode structures, by using multiple diffusion processes and/or gate dielectric materials. In this manner, substantially the same gate layer stacks, i.e., the same electrode materials and the same dielectric cap materials, may be used, thereby providing superior patterning uniformity when applying sophisticated etch strategies.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the sacrificial gate material is exposed on the basis of enhanced process uniformity, for instance during a wet chemical etch step or a CMP process, by forming a modified portion in the interlayer dielectric material by ion implantation. Consequently, the damaged portion may be removed with an increased removal rate while avoiding the creation of polymer contaminants when applying an etch process or avoiding over-polish time when applying a CMP process.

Abstract: By forming a protection layer prior to the application of the planarization layer during a dual damascene strategy for first patterning vias and then trenches, enhanced etch fidelity may be accomplished. In other aspects disclosed herein, via openings and trenches may be patterned in separate steps, which may be accomplished by different etch behaviors of respective dielectric materials and/or the provision of an appropriate etch stop layer, while filling the via opening and the trench with a barrier material and a highly conductive metal may be achieved in a common fill sequence. Hence, the via opening may be formed on the basis of a reduced aspect ratio, while nevertheless providing a highly efficient overall process sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming replacement gate structures on semiconductor devices and devices incorporating such gate structures. In one example, the device includes a plurality of gate structures and at least one sidewall spacer positioned proximate each of the gate structures, a metal silicide region in a source/drain region formed in a substrate, wherein the metal silicide region extend laterally so as to contact the sidewall spacer positioned proximate each of the gate structures and a conductive contact positioned between the gate structures that conductively contacts the metal silicide region, wherein the conductive contact has a bottom portion that is wider than an upper portion of the conductive contact.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed work function adjustment in high-k metal gate electrode structures. In one illustrative embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes removing a placeholder material of a first gate electrode structure and a second gate electrode structure, and forming a first work function adjusting material layer in the first and second gate electrode structures, wherein the first work function adjusting material layer includes a tantalum nitride layer. The method further includes removing a portion of the first work function adjusting material layer from the second gate electrode structure by using the tantalum nitride layer as an etch stop layer, removing the tantalum nitride layer by performing a wet chemical etch process, and forming a second work function adjusting material layer in the second gate electrode structure and above a non-removed portion of the first work function adjusting material layer in the first gate electrode structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to various methods of forming metal silicide regions on an integrated circuit device. In one example, the method includes forming a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor, each of the transistors having a gate electrode and at least one source/drain region formed in a semiconducting substrate, forming a first sidewall spacer adjacent the gate electrodes and forming a second sidewall spacer adjacent the first sidewall spacer.

Abstract: Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to methods for forming modern sophisticated semiconductor devices, and more specifically, methods wherein substantially lead-free solder bumps may be formed above a contact layer of a semiconductor chip. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a solder bump above a metallization layer of a semiconductor device, removing an oxide film from a surface of the solder bump, and, after removing the oxide film, performing a solder bump reflow process in a reducing ambient to reflow the solder bump.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and related fabrication methods are provided. One exemplary fabrication method forms a fin arrangement overlying an oxide layer, where the fin arrangement includes one or more semiconductor fin structures. The method continues by nitriding exposed portions of the oxide layer without nitriding the one or more semiconductor fin structures, resulting in nitrided portions of the oxide layer. Thereafter, a gate structure is formed transversely overlying the fin arrangement, and overlying the exposed portions of the oxide layer. The nitrided portions of the oxide layer substantially inhibit diffusion of oxygen from the oxide layer into the gate structure.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes a forming plurality of trenches in a substrate to thereby define a fin structure for a FinFET device, forming a first region of a first insulating material within each of the trenches, wherein the as-deposited surface of the first insulating material is positioned below an upper surface of the fin, forming a layer of a second material that contacts the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material and overfills the trenches, performing at least one process operation to remove at least a portion of the layer of the second material from above the fin structure, and, after performing the at least one process operation, performing a second process operation to selectively remove the second material from above the first region of the first insulating material and thereby expose the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material.