Abstract: Integrated circuit dies and methods of making dies are disclosed. An embodiment of a die includes at least one transistor gate, wherein the gate has an area. A conductor is connected to the gate, and wherein the conductor has an area. The area of the conductor is proportional to the area of the gate raised to a power, wherein the power is a function of the failure rate of the gate.

Abstract: Integrated circuit dies and methods of making dies are disclosed. An embodiment of a die includes at least one transistor gate, wherein the gate has an area. A conductor is connected to the gate, and wherein the conductor has an area. The area of the conductor is proportional to the area of the gate raised to a power, wherein the power is a function of the failure rate of the gate.

Abstract: A method for evaluating gate dielectrics (100) includes providing a test structure (101). The test structure includes a gate stack that includes a gate electrode on a gate dielectric on a substrate, and at least one diffusion region diffused in the substrate including a portion below the gate stack and a portion beyond the gate stack. Pre-stress off-state I-V testing (102) is performed on the test structure to obtain pre-stress I-V test data, wherein the pre-stress off-state I-V testing includes a first measurement involving the gate electrode, the substrate and the diffusion region, a second measurement involving the gate electrode and the substrate with the diffusion region floating, and a third measurement involving the gate electrode and the diffusion region with the substrate floating. The test structure is then stressed (103) including electrically stressing for a time (t).

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a silicon-on-insulator device includes an insulative layer formed overlying a substrate and a source and drain region formed overlying the insulative layer. The source region and the drain region comprise a material having a first conductivity type. A body region is disposed between the source region and the drain region and overlying the insulative layer. The body region comprises a material having a second conductivity type. A gate insulative layer overlies the body region. This device also includes a gate region overlying the gate insulative layer. The device also includes a diode circuit conductively coupled to the source region and a conductive connection coupling the gate region to the diode circuit.

Abstract: A method for evaluating gate dielectrics (100) includes providing a test structure (101). The test structure includes a gate stack that includes a gate electrode on a gate dielectric on a substrate, and at least one diffusion region diffused in the substrate including a portion below the gate stack and a portion beyond the gate stack. Pre-stress off-state I-V testing (102) is performed on the test structure to obtain pre-stress I-V test data, wherein the pre-stress off-state I-V testing includes a first measurement involving the gate electrode, the substrate and the diffusion region, a second measurement involving the gate electrode and the substrate with the diffusion region floating, and a third measurement involving the gate electrode and the diffusion region with the substrate floating. The test structure is then stressed (103) including electrically stressing for a time (t).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing an electrical connection to a well of a MOS transistor of a static random access memory (SRAM) cell. A predetermined voltage is applied to the well using the connection to cause a threshold voltage (Vt) of said transistor to change. The change is employed to identify a reliability characteristic of the semiconductor device. An SRAM parameter is altered to modify the reliability characteristic.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing an electrical connection to a well of a MOS transistor of a static random access memory (SRAM) cell. A predetermined voltage is applied to the well using the connection to cause a threshold voltage (Vt) of said transistor to change. The change is employed to identify a reliability characteristic of the semiconductor device. An SRAM parameter is altered to modify the reliability characteristic.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a silicon-on-insulator device includes an insulative layer formed overlying a substrate and a source and drain region formed overlying the insulative layer. The source region and the drain region comprise a material having a first conductivity type. A body region is disposed between the source region and the drain region and overlying the insulative layer. The body region comprises a material having a second conductivity type. A gate insulative layer overlies the body region. This device also includes a gate region overlying the gate insulative layer. The device also includes a diode circuit conductively coupled to the source region and a conductive connection coupling the gate region to the diode circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for characterizing the negative temperature bias instability of a transistor. A bias voltage is maintained at a drain terminal of the transistor during a test period. A stress voltage is maintained at a gate terminal of the transistor during the test period, such that the stress voltage is applied concurrently with the bias voltage. At least one characteristic of the transistor is measured at periodic intervals during the stress period to determine a degradation of the at least one characteristic caused by the stress voltage until a termination event occurs.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for characterizing the negative temperature bias instability of a transistor. A bias voltage is maintained at a drain terminal of the transistor during a test period. A stress voltage is maintained at a gate terminal of the transistor during the test period, such that the stress voltage is applied concurrently with the bias voltage. At least one characteristic of the transistor is measured at periodic intervals during the stress period to determine a degradation of the at least one characteristic caused by the stress voltage until a termination event occurs.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one aspect, a method of fabricating a gate oxide layer on a microelectronics substrate. This embodiment comprises forming a stress inducing pattern on a backside of a microelectronics wafer and growing a gate oxide layer on a front side of the microelectronics wafer in the presence of a tensile stress caused by the stress inducing pattern.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit 2 having antenna proximity lines 3 coupled to the semiconductor substrate 5. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit 2 having antenna proximity lines 3 coupled to the semiconductor substrate 5.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit 2 having antenna proximity lines 3 coupled to the semiconductor substrate 5. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit 2 having antenna proximity lines 3 coupled to the semiconductor substrate 5.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit 2 having antenna proximity lines 3 coupled to the semiconductor substrate 5. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit 2 having antenna proximity lines 3 coupled to the semiconductor substrate 5.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a multi-gate integrated circuit device. According to the method, a protective coating substantially prevents processes used to form a second gate dielectric from affecting a first gate dielectric. In an exemplary process, an oxide gate dielectric is grown for peripheral region transistors, a protective coating of silicon nitride is deposited over the peripheral region gate oxide, the oxide and protective coating are etched from a core region, and then a second oxide dielectric is grown for core region transistors while the silicon nitride coating substantially prevents further oxide growth in the peripheral region. The protective coating can also prevent nitridation of the core region gate dielectric from affecting the peripheral region gate dielectric.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a multi-gate integrated circuit device. According to the method, a protective coating substantially prevents processes used to form a second gate dielectric from affecting a first gate dielectric. In an exemplary process, an oxide gate dielectric is grown for peripheral region transistors, a protective coating of silicon nitride is deposited over the peripheral region gate oxide, the oxide and protective coating are etched from a core region, and then a second oxide dielectric is grown for core region transistors while the silicon nitride coating substantially prevents further oxide growth in the peripheral region. The protective coating can also prevent nitridation of the core region gate dielectric from affecting the peripheral region gate dielectric.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a silicon-on-insulator device includes an insulative layer formed overlying a substrate and a source and drain region formed overlying the insulative layer. The source region and the drain region comprise a material having a first conductivity type. A body region is disposed between the source region and the drain region and overlying the insulative layer. The body region comprises a material having a second conductivity type. A gate insulative layer overlies the body region. This device also includes a gate region overlying the gate insulative layer. The device also includes a diode circuit conductively coupled to the source region and a conductive connection coupling the gate region to the diode circuit.