Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming a plurality of capacitors. In one implementation, a plurality of capacitor electrode openings is formed over a substrate. Individual of the capacitor electrode openings are bounded on a first pair of opposing sides by a first capacitor electrode-forming material at one elevation and on a second pair of opposing sides by a different second capacitor electrode-forming material at the one elevation. Individual capacitor electrodes are formed within individual of the capacitor electrode openings. The capacitor electrodes are incorporated into a plurality of capacitors. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: A laser processing method for forming a deteriorated layer, which has been once molten and then re-solidified, in the inside of a wafer by applying a pulse laser beam capable of passing through the wafer to the wafer along a dividing line formed on the wafer, comprising: a protective tape affixing step for affixing a protective tape having gas permeability to one side of the wafer; a wafer holding step for holding the wafer having the protective tape affixed thereto on the chuck table of a laser beam machine in such a manner that the surface side onto which the protective tape has been affixed comes into contact with the chuck table; and a laser beam application step for applying a pulse laser beam capable of passing through the wafer from the other surface side of the wafer held on the chuck table with its focusing point set to a position near the one surface of the wafer to form the deteriorated layer exposed to the one surface along the dividing line in the inside of the wafer.

Abstract: Transistor fabrication includes forming a nitride-based channel layer on a substrate, forming a barrier layer on the nitride-based channel layer, forming a contact recess in the barrier layer to expose a contact region of the nitride-based channel layer, forming a contact layer on the exposed contact region of the nitride-based channel layer, for example, using a low temperature deposition process, forming an ohmic contact on the contact layer and forming a gate contact disposed on the barrier layer adjacent the ohmic contact. A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) and methods of fabricating a HEMT are also provided.

Abstract: A substrate comprises at least one semiconductor layer applied to a substrate material, whereby the semiconductor layer comprises an inert matrix material, in which an inorganic semiconductor material is embedded in particle form.

Abstract: Replacement metal gates may be formed by removing a polysilicon layer from a gate structure. The gate structure may be formed by patterning the polysilicon layer and depositing a spacer layer over the gate structure such that the spacer layer has a first polish rate. The spacer layer is then etched to form a sidewall spacer. An interlayer dielectric is applied over the gate structure with the sidewall spacer. The interlayer dielectric has a second polish rate higher than the first polish rate. A hard mask may also be applied over the gate structure and implanted so that the hard mask may be more readily removed.

Abstract: Method for producing a first SOI field effect transistor with predetermined transistor properties by forming a laterally delimited layer sequence with a gate-insulating layer and a gate region on an undoped substrate, forming a spacer layer having a predetermined thickness, on at least a portion of the sidewalls of the laterally delimited layer sequence, and forming two source/drain regions having a predetermined dopant concentration profile, by introducing dopant into two surface regions of the substrate which are adjoined by the spacer layer, the layer sequence and the spacer layer forming a shading structure that prevents dopant from being introduced into a surface region of the substrate between the two source/drain regions, wherein the predetermined transistor properties of the first SOI field effect transistor are set by setting the thickness of the spacer layer and by setting the dopant concentration profile.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the formation of fillets around the periphery of assembled wafer-level chip scale packages when mounted onto substrates. The method includes fabricating a plurality of integrated circuit die on a first surface of a semiconductor wafer, each of the integrated circuit die being separated by scribe lines on the wafer. Once the circuitry has been fabricated, grooves are formed along the scribe lines on the first surface of the semiconductor wafer. The first surface of the semiconductor wafer is then covered with a layer of underfill material, including within the grooves formed along the scribe lines on the first surface of the semiconductor wafer. After the wafer is singulated, the resulting die includes a first top surface and a second bottom surface and four side surfaces. Integrated circuitry is formed on the first surface of the die. Recess regions created by cutting the grooves are formed on all four side surfaces of the die and filled with the underfill material.

Abstract: The present invention seeks to reduce the amount of current required for a write operation by using a process for forming the read conductor within a recessed write conductor, the write conductor itself formed within a trench of an insulating layer. The present invention protects the MTJ from the voltages created by the write conductor by isolating the write conductor and enabling the reduction of current necessary to write a bit of information.

Abstract: Compression stress applying portions 20 of SiGe film are formed in the source/drain regions of the p-MOSA region 30a. Then, impurities are implanted in the p-MOS region 30a and the n-MOS region 30b to form shallow junction regions 22a, 22b and deep junction regions 23a, 23b. The impurity in the shallow junction regions 22a, 22b is prevented from being diffused immediately below the gate insulation film 15 by the thermal processing in forming the SiGe film, the short channel effect is prevented, and the hole mobility of the channel region of the p-MOS transistor 14a. The operation speed of the p-MOS transistor 13a is balanced with that of the n-MOS transistor, whereby the operation speed of the complementary semiconductor device 10 can be increased. The semiconductor device fabricating method can increase and balance the operation speed of a p-transistor with that of an n-transistor.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory is provided. A plurality of columns of isolation structures are formed on a substrate. A plurality of rows of stacked gate structures crossing over the isolation structures are formed on the substrate. A plurality of doping regions are formed in the substrate between two neighboring stacked gate structures. A plurality of stripes of spacers are formed on the sidewalls of stacked gate structures. A plurality of first dielectric layers are formed on a portion of the isolation structures adjacent to two rows of stacked gate structures. Also, one isolation structure is disposed between two neighboring first dielectric layers in the same row, while two neighboring rows comprising the first dielectric layer and the isolation structure are arranged in an interlacing manner. A plurality of first conductive layers are formed between two neighboring first dielectric layers in the same row.

Abstract: The present invention provides the method includes forming source/drain regions 170 in a semiconductor wafer substrate 110 adjacent a gate structure 130 located on a front side of the semiconductor wafer substrate 110. The source/drain regions 170 have a channel region 175 located between them. A first stress-inducing layer 190 is placed on a backside of the semiconductor wafer substrate 110 and is subjected to a thermal anneal to cause a stress to form in the channel region 175.

Abstract: Method of producing electrical units consisting of chips with contact elements, wherein the contact elements are suited for the direct connection with contact terminals of external electric components in an electrically conductive manner, wherein the connection of the contact elements with the chips is effected before the individual chips are removed from the grouping predefined by the wafer and consisting of rows and columns, and the contact elements are made of a metallized plastic foil or metallic foil to be applied onto the chips.

Abstract: A polishing inhibiting layer forming additive for a slurry, the slurry so formed, and a method of chemical mechanical polishing are disclosed. The polishing inhibiting layer is formed through application of the slurry to the surface being polished and is removable at a critical polishing pressure. The polishing inhibiting layer allows recessed or low pattern density locations to be protected until a critical polishing pressure is exceeded based on geometric and planarity considerations, rather than slurry or polishing pad considerations. With the additive, polishing rate is non-linear relative to polishing pressure in a recessed/less pattern dense location. In one embodiment, the additive has a chemical structure: [CH3(CH2)xN(R)]M, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of: Cl, Br and I, x equals an integer between 2 and 24, and the R includes three carbon-based functional groups, each having less than eight carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a semiconductor device having a gate electrode includes of a plurality of sidewalls, each having a recess formed therein. The present invention is also directed to a method of forming a semiconductor device. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises forming a layer of dopant material in a layer of polysilicon and etching the layer of polysilicon to define a gate electrode having a plurality of sidewalls, each of which have a recess formed therein.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for capacitively signaling between different semiconductor chips and modules without the use of connectors, solder bumps, wire-bond interconnections or the like. Preferably, pairs of half-capacitor plates, one half located on each chip, module or substrate are used to capacitively couple signals from one chip, module or substrate to another. The use of plates relaxes the need for high precision alignment as well as reduces the area needed to effect signaling, and reduces or eliminates the requirements for exotic metallurgy.

Abstract: A method of forming a copper/barrier layer interface comprising the following sequential steps. A structure having a lower copper layer formed thereover is provide. A patterned dielectric layer is formed over the lower copper layer. The patterned dielectric layer having an opening exposing a portion of the lower copper layer. The exposed portion of the lower copper layer is converted to a copper silicide portion. A barrier layer is formed upon the patterned dielectric layer and the copper silicide portion, lining the opening, whereby the lower copper layer/barrier layer interface is formed such that the barrier layer contacts the copper silicide portion to form an interface.

Abstract: Substrates suitable to manufacture and products of a thin film semiconductor device are provide, by at first preparing a manufacturing substrate having a characteristic of being capable of enduring a process for forming a thin film transistor and a product substrate having a characteristic of being suitable to direct mounting of the thin film transistor in a preparatory step, then applying a bonding step to bond the manufacturing substrate to the product substrate for supporting the product substrate at the back, successively applying a formation step to form at least a thin film transistor to the surface of the product substrate in a state reinforced with the manufacturing substrate and, finally, applying a separation step to separate the manufacturing substrate after use from the product substrate.

Abstract: By conducting etching treatment using at least two steps with different compositions of gases for each step, and at least one step comprising using a gas capable of decomposing and vaporizing etching products in an etching apparatus continuously, semicondictor devices can be produced with high productivity, low contaminant and good reproducibility of treatment state.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a split gate flash memory cell. First, a substrate having a doped region covered by a first conductive layer is provided. A floating gate and a first insulating layer are successively formed over the substrate on both sides of the first conductive layer. Thereafter, a conformable second insulating layer and a conformable second conductive layer are successively formed on the substrate and the first insulating layer, and then a third insulating layer is formed thereon. The third insulating layer and the second conductive layer are successively etched back to expose the second insulating layer. The third insulating layer is removed using a cap layer formed on the second conductive layer as a mask to form an opening. Finally, the second conductive layer under the opening is removed to form a control gate underlying the cap layer.

Abstract: The invention consists of an ESD protection discharging NMOS with a special drain dopant region that enables a lower voltage trigger point for Vcc to Vss ESD power protection. To enable this ESD protection, the NMOS source connected to a first voltage bus line, or Vcc, and the drain is connected to a second voltage bus line, or ground. The NMOS device gate is connected to ground through a difflused resistor assuring the device remains in an off state during normal operation. The unique invention special dopant region is located under and around the NMOS drain which lowers the drain to substrate breakdown voltage enabling the ESD protection current discharge to start at a lower voltage than otherwise. This feature reduces voltage stress on the gates of active devices being protected, and enables higher ESD current discharges at the same power level as for devices without the special drain dopant region.