Abstract: A sense amplifier for a series of cells of a memory, including a writing stage comprising a CMOS inverter, the input of which is directly or indirectly connected to an input terminal of the sense amplifier, and the output of which is connected to an output terminal of the sense amplifier intended to be connected to a local bitline addressing the cells of the series, and a reading stage that includes a sense transistor, the gate of which is connected to the output of the inverter and the drain of which is connected to the input of the inverter.

Abstract: A method for thinning a structure of at least two assembled wafers, where one of the wafers includes channels on its surface facing the other wafer. In order to cause thinning of the structure, a fluid is introduced into the channels in a supercritical state and the fluid is passed from the supercritical state into the gaseous state. The channels do not open to the outside of the structure, such that the method further includes forming at least one access opening to the channels from the outer surface of the structure and before introducing the fluid in the supercritical state.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor structures include transferring a portion (116a) of a donor structure to a processed semiconductor structure (102) that includes at least one non-planar surface. An amorphous film (144) may be formed over at least one non-planar surface of the bonded semiconductor structure, and the amorphous film may be planarized to form one or more planarized surfaces. Semiconductor structures include a bonded semiconductor structure having at least one non-planar surface, and an amorphous film disposed over the at least one non-planar surface. The bonded semiconductor structure may include a processed semiconductor structure and a portion of a single crystal donor structure attached to a non-planar surface of the processed semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A process for making cavities in a multilayer structure by providing a multilayer structure that includes a surface layer, a planar support substrate and a buried layer between the layer and the support substrate, wherein the buried layer comprises areas of first and second materials with the first material having a higher etching rate than the second material; producing an opening in the surface layer that extends to the area(s) of the first material of the buried layer; and etching the first material to form at least one cavity in the buried layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a structure comprising a thin layer of semiconductor material transferred from a donor substrate onto a second substrate, wherein two different atomic species are co-implanted under certain conditions into the donor substrate so as to create a weakened zone delimiting the thin layer to be transferred. The two different atomic species are implanted so that their peaks have an offset of less than 200 ? in the donor substrate, and the substrates are bonded together after roughening at least one of the bonding surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to finishing a substrate of the semiconductor-on-insulator (SeOI) type comprising an insulator layer buried between two semiconducting material layers. The method successively comprises: routing the annular periphery of the substrate so as to obtain a routed substrate, and encapsulating the routed substrate so as to cover the routed side edge of the buried insulator layer by means of a semiconducting material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method that involves providing a stack of a first substrate and a InGaN seed layer formed on the first substrate, growing an InGaN layer on the InGaN seed layer to obtain an InGaN-on-substrate structure, forming a first mirror layer overlaying the exposed surface of the grown InGaN layer, attaching a second substrate to the exposed surface of the mirror layer, detaching the first substrate from the InGaN seed layer and grown InGaN layer to expose a surface of the InGaN seed layer opposite the first mirror layer, and forming a second mirror layer overlaying the opposing surface of the InGaN seed layer.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a substrate that includes a buried oxide layer for the production of electronic components or the like. The process includes depositing an oxide layer or a nitride layer on either of a donor or receiver substrate, and bringing the donor and receiver substrates into contact; conducting at least a first heat treatment of the oxide or nitride layer before bonding the substrates, and conducting a second heat treatment of the fabricated substrate of the receiver substrate, the oxide layer and all or part of the donor substrate at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature applied in the first heat treatment. Substrates that have an oxide or nitride layer deposited thereon wherein the oxide or nitride layer is degassed and has a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of an oxide or nitride layer of the same composition formed by thermal growth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating a semiconductor that comprises providing a handle substrate comprising a seed substrate and a weakened sacrificial layer covering the seed substrate; joining the handle substrate with a carrier substrate; optionally treating the carrier substrate; detaching the handle substrate at the sacrificial layer to form the semiconductor structure; and removing any residue of the sacrificial layer present on the seed substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for molecular adhesion bonding between at least a first wafer and a second wafer involving aligning the first and second wafers, placing the first and second wafers in an environment having a first pressure (P1) greater than a predetermined threshold pressure; bringing the first wafer and the second wafer into alignment and contact; and initiating the propagation of a bonding wave between the first and second wafer after the wafers are aligned and in contact by reducing the pressure within the environment to a second pressure (P2) below the threshold pressure. The invention also relates to the three-dimensional composite structure that is obtained by the described method of adhesion bonding.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices include providing a substrate including a layer of semiconductor material on a layer of electrically insulating material. A first metallization layer is formed over a first side of the layer of semiconductor material. Through wafer interconnects are formed at least partially through the substrate. A second metallization layer is formed over a second side of the layer of semiconductor material opposite the first side thereof. An electrical pathway is provided that extends through the first metallization layer, the substrate, and the second metallization layer between a first processed semiconductor structure carried by the substrate on the first side of the layer of semiconductor material and a second processed semiconductor structure carried by the substrate on the first side of the layer of semiconductor material. Semiconductor structures are fabricated using such methods.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices or structures include forming structures of a semiconductor material overlying a layer of a compliant material, subsequently changing the viscosity of the compliant material to relax the semiconductor material structures, and utilizing the relaxed semiconductor material structures as a seed layer in forming a continuous layer of relaxed semiconductor material. In some embodiments, the layer of semiconductor material may comprise a III-V type semiconductor material, such as, for example, indium gallium nitride. Novel intermediate structures are formed during such methods. Engineered substrates include a continuous layer of semiconductor material having a relaxed lattice structure.

Abstract: A voltage matched multijunction solar cell having first and second solar cell stacks which are electrically connected parallel to each other. The first solar cell stack is optimized for absorption of incoming solar light in a first wavelength range and the second solar cell stack is optimized for absorption of incoming solar light in a second wavelength range, wherein the first and the second wavelength range do not or at most only partially overlap each other.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for a semiconductor-on-insulator structure having reduced electrical losses and which includes a support substrate made of silicon, an oxide layer and a thin layer of semiconductor material, and a polycrystalline silicon layer interleaved between the support substrate and the oxide layer. The process includes a treatment capable of conferring high resistivity to the support substrate prior to formation of the polycrystalline silicon layer, and then conducting at least one long thermal stabilization on the structure at a temperature not exceeding 950° C. for at least 10 minutes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bonding two substrates by applying an activation treatment to at least one of the substrates, and performing the contacting step of the two substrates under partial vacuum. Due to the combination of the two steps, it is possible to carry out the bonding and obtain high bonding energy with a reduced number of bonding voids. The invention is in particular applicable to a substrate of processed or at least partially processed devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and structures for fabricating a semiconductor structure, and, particularly for improving the planarity of a bonded semiconductor structure comprising a processed semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure.

Abstract: Methods of forming ternary III-nitride materials include epitaxially growing ternary III-nitride material on a substrate in a chamber. The epitaxial growth includes providing a precursor gas mixture within the chamber that includes a relatively high ratio of a partial pressure of a nitrogen precursor to a partial pressure of one or more Group III precursors in the chamber. Due at least in part to the relatively high ratio, a layer of ternary III-nitride material may be grown to a high final thickness with small V-pit defects therein. Semiconductor structures including such ternary III-nitride material layers are fabricated using such methods.

Abstract: Methods which can be applied during the epitaxial growth of semiconductor structures and layers of III-nitride materials so that the qualities of successive layers are successively improved. An intermediate epitaxial layer is grown on an initial surface so that growth pits form at surface dislocations present in the initial surface. A following layer is then grown on the intermediate layer according to the known phenomena of epitaxial lateral overgrowth so it extends laterally and encloses at least the agglomerations of intersecting growth pits. Preferably, prior to growing the following layer, a discontinuous film of a dielectric material is deposited so that the dielectric material deposits discontinuously so as to reduce the number of dislocations in the laterally growing material. The methods of the invention can be performed multiple times to the same structure. Also, semiconductor structures fabricated by these methods.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a composite structure along an embrittlement plane defined between two layers by producing a fracture in the structure along the embrittlement plane. During fracturing, the composite structure is disposed in a boat housing and held in contact against stiffeners disposed on both sides of the structure and aligned parallel to each other. Each stiffener has a diameter that is at least 40% to 300% of the diameter of the composite structure to be fractured.

Abstract: A process for treating a semiconductor-on-insulator type structure that includes, successively, a support substrate, an oxide layer and a thin semiconductor layer. The process includes formation of a silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride mask on the thin semiconductor layer to define exposed areas at the surface of the layer which are not covered by the mask, and which are arranged in a desired pattern; and application of a heat treatment in a neutral or controlled reducing atmosphere and under controlled conditions of temperature and time to induce at least a portion of the oxygen of the oxide layer to diffuse through the thin semiconductor layer, thereby resulting in the controlled reduction in the oxide thickness in the areas of the oxide layer corresponding to the desired pattern. The mask is formed so as to be at least partially buried in the thickness of the thin semiconductor layer.