Abstract: A method of nitriding a gate oxide layer by annealing a preformed oxide layer with nitric oxide (NO) gas in a hot wall, single wafer furnace is provided. The nitridation process can be carried out rapidly (i.e., at nitridation times of 30 seconds to 2 minutes) while providing acceptable levels of nitridation (i.e., up to 6 at. %) and desirable nitrogen/depth profiles. The nitrided gate oxide layer can optionally be reoxidized in a second oxidation step after the nitridation step. A gate electrode layer (e.g., boron doped polysilicon) can then be deposited on top of the nitrided gate oxide layer or on top of the reoxidized and nitrided gate oxide layer.

Abstract: Monolithic, tandem, photonic cells include at least a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, wherein each semiconductor layer includes an n-type region, a p-type region, and a given band-gap energy. Formed within each semiconductor layer is a sting of electrically connected photonic sub-cells. By carefully selecting the numbers of photonic sub-cells in the first and second layer photonic sub-cell string(s), and by carefully selecting the manner in which the sub-cells in a first and second layer photonic sub-cell string(s) are electrically connected, each of the first and second layer sub-cell strings may be made to achieve one or more substantially identical electrical characteristics.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device comprising a photoresponsive region located between first and second electrodes such that charge carriers can move between the photoresponsive region and the first and second electrodes, the photoresponsive region comprising: a stack of alternate first and second layers, each first layer comprising a first photoresponsive material and each second layer comprising a second photoresponsive material, the first and second photoresponsive materials having different electron affinities; wherein each pair of second layers on opposite sides of a first layer contact each other via first holes defined by said first layer between said pair of second layers, and each pair of first layers on opposite sides of a second layer contact each other via second holes defined by said second layer between said pair of first layers.

Abstract: A common problem associated with damascene structures made of copper inlaid in FSG (fluorinated silicate glass) is the formation of defects near the top surface of the structure. The present invention avoids this problem by laying down a layer of USG (undoped silicate glass) over the surface of the FSG layer prior to patterning and etching the latter to form the via hole and (for a dual damascene structure) the trench. After over-filling with copper, the structure is planarized using CMP. The USG layer acts both to prevent any fluorine from the FSG layer from reaching the copper and as an end-point detector during CMP. In this way defects that result from copper-fluorine interaction do not form and precise planarization is achieved.

Abstract: An anti-fuse is manufactured by forming an isolation region including an insulating material layer buried in a surface of a device formation region on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and by forming diffusion regions at both sides of the isolation region, then by contacting electrodes to the respective diffusion regions. The anti-fuse is initially in a non-conductive state, and is programmed to be in a permanently conductive state by a simple writing circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a matrix of free-standing semiconductor shapes are oxidized to form a low capacitance isolation tub. The adjacent rows of shapes in the matrix are offset with respect to each to minimize air gap and void formation during tub formation. In a further embodiment, the spacing between adjacent rows is less than the spacing between shapes within a row.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a plurality of wiring layers. The method includes the steps of forming a wiring by a first wiring layer as a pattern by dividing a desired pattern into a plurality of patterns, connecting the divided patterns, and exposing them, wherein a position of the connection is formed in parallel with the wiring which is formed by the first wiring layer, and forming a wiring by a second wiring layer having an area which intersects the connecting position by a batch processing of exposure.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication method according to this invention includes: a step of forming a pair of first device forming regions and a pair of second device forming regions in a surface layer portion of a semiconductor substrate by surrounding each of the regions by device isolation; a step of forming a first oxide film covering the surface of the semiconductor substrate after the preceding step; a step of removing an intended portion of the first oxide film to expose the pair of second device forming regions; a step of forming a pair of heterojunction structures, by selective epitaxial growth, on the pair of second device forming regions thus exposed; a step of forming a second oxide film covering the surface of the substrate after the preceding step; and a step of forming a pair of gate electrodes above each of the pair of first device forming regions and the pair of second device forming regions, whereby a normal complementary MOS transistor and a heterojunction complementary MOS transi

Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency for an optoelectronic device, such as semiconductor lasers, Superluminescence Light Emitting Diodes (SLDs), Gain Chips, optical amplifiers is disclosed, see FIG. 4B. In accordance with the principles of the invention, at least one blocking layer (70) is interposed at the interface between materials composing the device. The at least one blocking layers creates a barrier that prevents the leakage of electrons from a device active region contained in the waveguide region, to a device clad region (66). In one aspect of the invention, a blocking layer (70) is formed at the junction of the semiconductor materials having different types of conductivity. The blocking layer prevents electrons from entering the material of a different polarity. In another aspect of the invention, a low-doped or undoped region (64) is positioned adjacent to the blocking layer (70) to decrease optical losses.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a load resistor is manufactured such that a contact is formed at both ends of the load resistor, and at least one contact is formed between the contacts, in order to prevent impurities from being generated within each contact while the contacts are being generated by etching an insulation layer phenomena of electric charge build up from occurring when an etching process fabricates an insulation layer to generate the contact in a long load resistor located under the insulation layer and insulated electrically and physically.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for forming a strained semiconductor structure. In various embodiments, at least two strong bonding regions are defined for a desired bond between a crystalline semiconductor membrane and a crystalline semiconductor substrate. The two strong bonding regions are separated by a weak bonding region. The membrane is bonded to the substrate at a predetermined misorientation. The membrane is pinned to the substrate in the strong bonding regions. The predetermined misorientation provides the membrane in the weak bonding region with a desired strain. In various embodiments, the membrane is bonded to the substrate at a predetermined twist angle to biaxially strain the membrane in the weak bonding region. In various embodiments, the membrane is bonded to the substrate at a predetermined tilt angle to uniaxially strain the membrane in the weak bonding region. Other aspects are provided herein.

Abstract: A process for etching a sacrificial layer of a structure. The structure is exposed to a plasma derived from nitrogen trifluoride for etching the sacrificial layer. The process is selective in that it etches titanium-nitride and titanium but does not affect adjacent silicon dioxide or aluminum layers. Applications of the process include the formation of integrated circuit structures and MEMS structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a dual-gate electrode structure. The gate electrode has a layered structure including a doped polysilicon film, WSi2 film, WN film and a W film. The WSi2 film formed on the polysilicon film in the P-channel area is formed of a number of WSi2 particles disposed apart from one another, preventing a bilateral diffusion of impurities doped in the polysilicon film.

Abstract: A multi-layer gate stack structure of a field-effect transistor device is fabricated by providing a gate electrode layer stack with a polysilicon layer, a transition metal interface layer, a nitride barrier layer and then a metal layer on a gate dielectric, wherein the transition metal is titanium, tantalum or cobalt. Patterning the gate electrode layer stack comprises a step of patterning the metal layer and the barrier layer with an etch stop on the surface of the interface layer. Exposed portions of the interface layer are removed and the remaining portions are pulled back from the sidewalls of the gate stack structure leaving divots extending along the sidewalls of the gate stack structure between the barrier layer and the polysilicon layer. A nitride liner encapsulating the metal layer, the barrier layer and the interface layer fills the divots left by the pulled-back interface layer. The nitride liner is opened before the polysilicon layer is patterned.

Abstract: A dual-metal CMOS arrangement and method of making the same provides a substrate and a plurality of NMOS devices and PMOS devices formed on the substrate. Each of the plurality of NMOS devices and PMOS devices have gate electrodes. Each NMOS gate electrode includes a first silicide region on the substrate and a first metal region on the first silicide region. The first silicide region of the NMOS gate electrode consists of a first silicide having a work function that is close to the conduction band of silicon. Each of the PMOS gate electrodes includes a second silicide region on the substrate and a second metal region on the second silicide region. The second silicide region of the PMOS gate electrode consists of a second silicide having a work function that is close to the valence band of silicon.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a first semiconductor pillar layer of the first conductivity type; a second semiconductor pillar layer of a second conductivity type; a third semiconductor pillar layer of the first conductivity type; a forth semiconductor pillar layer of the second conductivity type; a fifth semiconductor pillar layer of the first conductivity type provided on the major surface of the semiconductor layer; a first semiconductor base layer of the second conductivity type provided on the second semiconductor pillar layer; a second semiconductor base layer of the second conductivity type provided on the forth semiconductor pillar layer; first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type selectively provided on a surface of the first semiconductor base layer; second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type selectively provided on a surface of the second semiconductor base layer; gate insulating film provided on the first semico

Abstract: Power MOSFETs and fabrication processes for power MOSFETs use a continuous conductive gate structure within trenches to avoid problems arising from device topology caused when a gate bus extends above a substrate surface. The gate bus trench and/or gate structures in the device trenches can contain a metal/silicide to reduce resistance, where polysilicon layers surround the metal/silicide to prevent metal atoms from penetrating the gate oxide in the device trenches. CMP process can remove excess polysilicon and metal and planarize the conductive gate structure and/or overlying insulating layers. The processes are compatible with processes forming self-aligned or conventional contacts in the active device region.

Abstract: A structure for protecting a semiconductor circuit from electrostatic discharge is provided. The structure comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having two wells of a second conductivity type spaced laterally apart. The wells each comprise a first portion having a first concentration of an impurity of the second conductivity type and a second portion comprising source and drain regions having a second concentration of an impurity of the second conductivity type. The second concentration is greater than the first concentration. The wells are implanted in the substrate of a silicon-on-insulator semiconductor device. Conductive plugs extend through the silicon and insulator layers and make electrical contact with the wells, allowing the dissipation of excess current and heat into the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A bipolar semiconductor device including a collector layer covered at a portion of an outer periphery thereof with an insulating film and having a shape extending in an upper direction and a horizontal direction, with a gap being formed between the collector layer and the insulating film, and further including a base layer and an emitter layer disposed over the collector layer, and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. Since the collector layer has a shape extending in a portion thereof in the upward direction and the horizontal direction, an external collector region can be deleted, and both the parasitic capacitance and the collector capacitance in the intrinsic portion attributable to the collector can be decreased and, accordingly, a bipolar transistor capable of high speed operation at a reduced consumption power can be constituted.

Abstract: A high voltage semiconductor device having a high current gain hFE is formed with a collector region (20) of a first conduction type, an emitter region (40) of the first conduction type, and a base region (30) of a second conduction type opposite to the first conduction type located between the collector region and the emitter region. The free carrier density of the base region (30) where no depletion layer is formed is smaller than the space charge density of a depletion layer formed in the base region (30).