Abstract: This invention provides a strained-channel field effect transistor (FET) in which the semiconductor of the channel of the FET is formed in a compliant substrate layer disposed over a twist-bonded semiconductor interface. This FET geometry increases the efficacy of local stress elements such as stress liners and embedded lattice-mismatched source/drain regions by mechanically decoupling the semiconductor of the channel region from the underlying rigid substrate. These strained-channel FETs may be incorporated into complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits in various combinations. In one embodiment of this invention, both pFETs and nFETs are in a twist-bonded (001) silicon layer on a (001) silicon base layer. In another embodiment, pFETs are in a twist-bonded (011) silicon layer on a (001) silicon base layer and nFETs are in a conventional, non-twist-bonded (001) silicon base layer.

Abstract: A methodology is disclosed that enables the fabrication of semiconductor devices (i.e., STI structures, gates, and interconnects) with significantly reduced line edge roughness (LER) and line width roughness (LEW) post lithography patterning. The inventive methodology entails the use of an inert species containing plasma tuned to enhanced its' vacuum ultra violet (VUV) emissions post lithography and/or post one of the etch processes of a given feature (on an identical etch platform) to entice increased crosslinking of one or more patterning materials, thus enabling increased etch resistance and reduced LER and LEW post etching processing.

Abstract: A boron ion stream may be used to implant ions, such as boron ions, into the sidewalls of an active area, such as an NFET active area. The boron ion stream has both vertical tilt and horizontal rotation components relative to the sidewalls and/or the silicon device, to provide a better line of sight onto the sidewalls. This may allow components of the silicon device to be moved closer together without unduly reducing the effectiveness of boron doping of NFET active area sidewalls, and provides an improved line of sight of a boron ion stream onto the sidewalls of an NFET active area prior to filling the surrounding trench with STI material.

Abstract: An interconnect method in a semiconductor device may include a step of examining various regions of an inter layer dielectric to identify regions having high densities or concentrations of trench features. A cap insulator layer may be added to the dielectric to assist in outgassing of absorbed impurities from the dielectric, but may be removed from the high density areas to allow the lower density areas to increase outgassing. The lower density areas may then compensate for increased outgassing on the high density areas due to the trench features, and may result in an overall device with a more stable dielectric constant across the device.

Abstract: An interconnect method in a semiconductor device may include a step of examining various regions of an inter layer dielectric to identify regions having high densities or concentrations of trench features. A cap insulator layer may be added to the dielectric to assist in outgassing of absorbed impurities from the dielectric, but may be removed from the high density areas to allow the lower density areas to increase outgassing. The lower density areas may then compensate for increased outgassing on the high density areas due to the trench features, and may result in an overall device with a more stable dielectric constant across the device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a silicon layer, a transistor having an electrical connection region in the silicon layer; and a conductive plug formed on and in electrical contact with the electrical connection region, the plug having side walls that taper inward away from the silicon layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described that reduce the possibility that unintended subway short-circuits will occur between contacts of different potentials along the boundary between tensile and compressive liners (the T-C boundary). This may be done without unduly increasing the size of the semiconductor device, or even increasing the size at all over previous designs. For example, simply by adjusting the layout of the device, the contacts of two different common gates may be offset in opposing directions relative to the T-C boundary. Or, by forming a T-C boundary having a zigzag or other similar pattern, the contacts may be arranged even closer together while still reducing the likelihood of short-circuiting subways forming. Such layout adjustments do not otherwise require any additional steps or cost.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for making the semiconductor device having a barrier layer in a via hole region and a barrier layer in a via line region. The barrier layer in the via line region is initially thicker than the barrier layer in the via hole region, prior to being etched during an etching process due to varying selectivity of etching rates between the via hole region and the via line region.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming a conductive via for contacting a bulk semiconductor region of a semiconductor-on-insulator (“SOI”) substrate. A first opening is formed in a conformal layer overlying a trench isolation region, where the trench isolation region shares an edge with the SOI layer. A dielectric layer then is deposited atop the conformal layer and the trench isolation region, after which a second opening is formed which is aligned with the first opening, the second opening extending through the dielectric layer to expose the bulk semiconductor region. Finally, the conductive via is formed in the second opening.

Abstract: An electrical fuse (eFuse) has a gate prepared from a conductive or partially conductive material such as polysilicon, a semiconductor substrate having a pipe region in proximity to the gate, and first and second electrode regions adjacent the pipe region. A metal silicide layer is provided on the semiconductor substrate adjacent the pipe region. When a programming voltage is applied, the metal silicide undergoes a thermally induced phase transition in the pipe region. The eFuse has improved reliability and can be programmed with relatively low voltages.

Abstract: Embodiments of present invention provide a circuit including a voltage regulator, a phase frequency detector, a charge pump, a low pass filter a control-voltage generating circuit and a voltage controlled oscillator. In a first mode of operation the voltage controlled oscillator produces an output clock in accordance with a control voltage produced from the control-voltage generating circuit and the output voltage of the voltage regulator. In a second mode of operation, the voltage controlled oscillator produces an output clock in accordance with a control voltage from the low pass filter and the output voltage of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for enabling a digital circuit by biasing at least one switch transistor ON such that a voltage potential of a virtual ground node is substantially equal to a voltage potential of a ground node for a power supply to the digital circuit, wherein the digital circuit is implemented using a plurality of transistors in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) arrangement and at least some of the transistors are referenced to the virtual ground node; and disabling the digital circuit by biasing a gate terminal of the switch transistor below the voltage potential of the ground node.

Abstract: An inverting input buffer that uses the best features of an AC input buffer (low delay, high speed, high input voltage swing range) and a DC input buffer (stability, reliability, ‘automatic’ high and low data setup, input VIL and VIH “Voltage Input Low” and “Voltage Input High” margins). The delay though the buffer with a nominal load is very small. Optionally, a voltage tolerant input circuit is coupled to the DC input, which enables the DC input buffer to tolerate higher voltage swings, thus allowing a single buffer to switch both high (e.g. 2.5 volts-5 volts in a 1.2 volt system) and low input voltages (e.g. below 2.5 volts in a 1.2 volt system).

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing fluid onto a surface during a manufacturing process. A fluid storage container holds a chemical, such as resist, used in a semiconductor lithography process. When not dispensing the chemical over the surface of a wafer, a pump and nozzle dispense the chemical into a dedicated dispense receptacle. A drain and pump may return the contents of the dispense receptacle to the fluid storage container for reuse.

Abstract: One or more local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) regions may be formed that apply compressive strain to a channel of a field-effect transistor such as a P-type field-effect transistor (PFET) or other circuit element of a semiconductor device. For instance, a pair of LOCOS regions may be formed on opposite sides of a PFET gate and its corresponding channel, or one or more LOCOS regions may more fully surround, or even completely surround, the PFET channel. In addition, one or more slits may be formed in the LOCOS regions as appropriate to reduce or even completely neutralize the compressive strain in certain directions that would otherwise be applied without the slits. These techniques may be used in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers with or without hybrid orientation technology (HOT) regions.

Abstract: A pumping/dispensing system is disclosed that is able to efficiently pump and dispense resist solution, anti-reflective coating (ARC) solution, or other solutions, with less bubbles, such as micro-bubbles, and/or less dissolved gas. The system has a pump that separates bubbles from the solution prior to dispensing the solution outside of the system. A circulation loop is provided in which the solution passes through a filter before being pumped. A pressure drop across the filter is sufficient to induce bubbles at the back end of the filter, and these bubbles are separated and removed by the pump before dispending. Accordingly, little or no further bubbles are formed at the pressure drop of the outlet when dispensing the solution.

Abstract: Structures for reducing or even preventing the diffusion from an NFET side of a gate to a PFET side of the gate in a semiconductor device are disclosed, as well as manufacturing methods thereof. A diffusion barrier is formed in the shared gate at the N/P boundary between the NFET and the PFET. The diffusion barrier is doped with one or more types of ions, such as, but not limited to, oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, silicon, germanium, or xenon ions. By using a diffusion barrier as disclosed herein, the diffusion of ions through a common gate from the NFET side to the PFET side in a CMOS technology semiconductor device node may be significantly reduced or even prevented altogether. This may further result in relatively higher performance of the NFET/PFET pair.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to reducing strain in at least a portion of a bulk silicon region formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer using a hybrid orientation technology (HOT) process. A trench is formed having a sidewall liner. The liner is recessed prior to oxidation of the bulk silicon region upper surface as part of the HOT process. Recessing the trench liner provides room for the silicon to laterally expand during this oxidation. The trench liner may be recessed by various amounts, such as to approximately the bottom of a hard mask layer, or approximately halfway to the bottom of the hard mask layer, or anywhere in between. The trench liner may even be recessed more deeply than the bottom of the hard mask layer, such as down to or below the upper surface of the upper silicon layer of the surrounding SOI wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a region of closely packed lines and a region including an isolated line, separated by a region of carbon doped silicon oxide. As the surface of the semiconductor device is etched, the etching rate varies depending on the material being etched. Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the isolated line must be adjusted to compensate for the slowed etching process in that region. The close packed lines may have a height, a, and a width, b thus having a cross-sectional area of a*b. However, the isolated line may have a height D*a, and a width, E*b, where D*E=1. Singular or multiple etching processes may used and the line widths adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for making the semiconductor device having a guard ring formed by a trench filled with a metallic material is described. Using the trench, crack and moisture propagation may be eliminated or prevented from propagating from a dicing area to an active circuit area of a chip.