Abstract: The aim of the invention is to configure a photodetector (10) such that no disadvantages are created for processing low luminous intensities on detectors known in prior art, especially when monolithically integrating the evaluation electronics. Said aim is achieved by a photodetector for processing low luminous intensities, comprising a monolithically integrated transimpedance amplifier and monolithically integrated evaluation electronics. An actual photocell component (20) is assigned to the chip face onto which the light preferably falls. Electronic circuit components (30) are arranged on the opposite chip face. Electrical connections (40) between the photocell and the electronic circuit are provided with an extension in the direction running perpendicular to the chip normal.

Abstract: Disclosed are an arrangement and a production method for electrically connecting active semiconductor structures in or on a monocrystalline silicon layer (12) located on the front face (V) of silicon-on-insulator semiconductor wafers (SOI, 10) to the substrate (13). The electrical connection (20) is made through an insulator layer (11). A stack of layers (30 to 32, 70 to 72) is disposed above the connection piece (20) on the insulator layer (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a fast photodiode and to a method for the production thereof in CMOS technology. The integrated PIN photodiode, which is formed or can be formed by CMOS technology, consists of an anode corresponding to a highly doped p-type substrate with a specific electric resistance of less than 50 mOhm*cm, a lightly p-doped l-region which is adjacent to the anode, and an n-type cathode which corresponds to the doping in the n-well region. The lightly doped l-region has a doping concentration of less than 1014 cm?3 and has a thickness of between 8 and 25 ?m. The cathode region is completely embedded in the very lightly doped l-region. A distance from the edge of the cathode region to a highly doped adjacent region is in the range of 2.5 ?m to 10 ?m.

Abstract: An oxide layer is formed on material defining and surrounding an emitter window. The technique comprises depositing a non-conformal oxide layer on the surrounding material and in the emitter window, whereby the thickness of at least a portion of the oxide layer in the emitter window is smaller than the thickness of the oxide layer on the surrounding material outside the emitter window; and removing at least a portion of the oxide layer in the emitter window so as to reveal at least a portion of the bottom of the emitter window whilst permitting at least a portion of the oxide layer to remain on the surrounding material. The technique can be used in the manufacture of a self-aligned epitaxial base BJT (bipolar junction transistor) or SiGe HBT (hetero junction bipolar transistor).

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to integrate low-voltage logic elements and high-voltage power elements in one and the same silicon circuit. Said aim is achieved by dielectrically chip regions having different potentials from each other with the aid of isolation trenches (10). In order to prevent voltage rises at sharp edges on the bottom of the isolation trenches, said edges are rounded in a simple process, part of the insulating layer (2) being isotropically etched.

Abstract: A method for designing a first vertical MOS power transistor having a specified design power level. The method comprises the steps of composing a layout of the vertical MOS power transistor as a combination of at least partly differing layout part pieces, each of the part pieces having known design data, the part pieces including at least one first layout part piece comprising a given number of single transistor cells, and adjusting the specified design power level of the first vertical MOS power transistor by using the known design data of the part pieces and based on the layout combination of the part pieces.

Abstract: An efficient method for the thermal oxidation of preferably silicon semiconductor wafers using LOCOS (local oxidation of silicon) processes is described. The mechanical stresses of the wafers are to be reduced. To this end, an oxidation method is proposed that comprises providing a substrate (1) having a front side (12) to be patterned and a rear side (13). The substrate is oxidized in two steps. In a first step the rear side (13) is covered by a layer (4) that inhibits or hampers the oxidation. During a second step of the oxidation the oxidation-hampering layer (4) is no longer present. During both steps an oxide thickness is obtained on the front side (12) that is greater than an oxide thickness obtained on the rear side (13).

Abstract: A method for the electrical measurement of the thickness of a semiconductor layer ( 10, 11, 12) is disclosed. Active layers on SOI wafers, EPI layers with inverse conductivity tape and membrane thickness can be measured by use of a test structure which can routinely be measured during a production process. The embodiment of the test structure (A1 to F1) is preferably annular, such that a high degree of symmetry is achieved on propagation of the measuring current and such that no interactions occur with surrounding structures. The diameter of the arrangement can be matched to the corresponding thickness range of the semiconductor layer to be measured using conventional U-I parameter test systems, conventionally applied in semiconductor production. The determination of the layer thickness is achieved by means of two sequential quadrupole measurements at six contact points.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing photolithography on a substrate which has a first region on a lower level and a second region on an upper level, wherein a first pattern area exists within said first region, a second pattern area exists within said second region, and at least said first and second regions are coated with a photoresist, the method comprising: a) exposing the photoresist through a first mask so as to expose said first region including said first pattern area, and thus create a first pattern in said first pattern area, but not expose said second pattern area; and b) exposing the photoresist through a second mask so as to expose said second pattern area, and thus create a second pattern in said second pattern area, but not expose said first pattern area, and also to expose an area of said first region which lies adjacent said second region.

Abstract: Forming of filled isolation trenches, in particular the transition area in trenches and recesses free of silicon during the realisation of MEMS structures of SOI wafers. A reliable dielectic isulation of adajacent silicon regions is to be obtained. The insulation is achieved by filled isolation trenches (17). The end portions of the trench fill that are freed from the surrounding silicon by etching are free of conductive not completely removed silicon strips in the recess including the active sensor structure. This is accomplished by slanted wall of the isolation trenches (17). Additionally, the trench fill should be removable at the transition area in an efficient manner. The technological realisation does not require specific additional process steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for and an arrangement of the connection of processed semiconductor wafers (1, 2) wherein, in addition to the firm connection, there is an electric connection (5) between the semiconductor wafers and/or the electronic structures (3) supporting them. For this purpose, low-melting structured intermediate glass layers (6; 6a) are used as insulating layers and as an electric connection in the form of electrically conductive solder (5) on a glass basis in order to achieve a firm connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for carrying out the nondestructive determination of the connection quality of bonded wafers (1, 8) in order to verify the connection strength. The fact that an unbonded region (9) forms around a raised or recessed structure (3) on at least one of the connecting surfaces is made use of. The extension of the unbonded region is a measure of the strength of the wafer connection and is electrically determined by staggered contacts (5, 4) that, with the formation of the bond connection, close, only in part, via a contact strip (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is a layer arrangement (4b, 5b, 9b, 10, 9a, 5a, 4a) within an insulating trench, which insulates circuits with little distortion while being suitable for electrically insulating high-voltage power components (7) relative to low-voltage logic elements (6) that are integrated on the same chip (1, 2, 3). Also disclosed is the production of a sequence of alternating vertical layers in a trench (T). The electric strength for high voltages is improved while the influence of defects created by distortions of substrate disks is prevented.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to configure a photodetector (10) such that no disadvantages are created for processing low luminous intensities on detectors known in prior art, especially when monolithically integrating the evalation electronics. Said aim is achieved by a photodetector for processing low luminous intensities, comprising a monolithically integrated transimpedance amplifier and monolithically integrated evaluation electronics. An actual photocell component (20) is assigned to the chip face onto which the light preferably falls. Electronic circuit components (30) are arranged on the opposite chip face. Electrical connections (40) between the photocell and the electronic circuit are provided with an extension in the direction running perpendicular to the chip normal.

Abstract: Disclosed are an arrangement and a production method for electrically connecting (20) active semiconductor structures (40) in the monocrystalline silicon layer (12) located on the front face of silicon-on-insulator semiconductor wafers (SOI; 10) to the substrate (13) located on the rear side and additional structures (13a) that are disposed therein. The electric connection is made through the insulator layer (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a monolithically integrated vertical pin photodiode which is produced according to BiCMOS technology and comprises a planar surface facing the light and a rear face and anode connections located across p areas on a top face of the photodiode. An i-zone of the pin photodiode is formed by combining a low doped first p-epitaxial layer, which has maximum thickness and doping concentration, placed upon a particularly high doped p substrate, with a low doped second n? epitaxial layer that borders the first layer, and n+ cathode of the pin photodiode being integrated into the second layer. The p areas delimit the second n epitaxial layer in a latent direction while another anode connecting area of the pin diode is provided on the rear face in addition to the anode connection.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to create a simple monitoring or testing method for monitoring a reduction in thickness as material is removed from a bonded semiconductor wafer pair, which prevents failure effects as material is removed from wafers (polishing, grinding or lapping). In addition, the costs of the material removal process should be reduced by minimizing the complexity of monitoring, as well as by reducing the amount of resulting refuse. To this end, the invention provides a test structure (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprised of a systematic tow of a number of different depth trenches that are made in the (active) wafer (2). A thickness (h6; h7) of the active wafer (2) desired during material removal, particularly during a polishing, corresponds to the depth (t6; t7) of a reference trench (6; 7) of the trenches of the test structure, said reference trench (6) being surrounded by flatter and deeper trenches (5, 7).

Abstract: Method for monitoring a quality of a plurality of particularly different technical product types which are produced in a quasi-parallel manufacturing process, the manufacturing method including several sequentially arranged manufacturing stations, and whereby a course of a state variable for at least one of the manufacturing stations is determined point-by-point and displayed, the method including determining as a first type number a number of product types to be monitored, determining technical product parameter which is affected in the at least one manufacturing station, allocating a measuring arrangement to the manufacturing station for measuring the technical product parameter for at least one of the monitored product types, taking a random sample of a product type whose physical state is modified in the manufacturing station, the random sample being taken the first type number of product types, determining measured values for the determined technical product parameter of the random sample, calculating an