Abstract: Metal fuses in semiconductor devices may be formed on the basis of additional mechanisms for obtaining superior electromigration in the fuse bodies. To this end, the compressive stress caused by the current-induced metal diffusion may be restricted or reduced in the fuse body, for instance, by providing a stress buffer region and/or by providing a dedicated metal agglomeration region. The concept may be applied to the metallization system and may also be used in the device level, when fabricating the metal fuse in combination with high-k metal gate electrode structures.

Abstract: An approach is provided for semiconductor devices including an anti-fuse structure. The semiconductor device includes a first metallization layer including a first portion of a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode being formed in a substantially axial plane surrounding the first portion of the first electrode, with a dielectric material in between the two electrodes. An ILD is formed over the first metallization layer, a second metallization layer including a second portion of the first electrode is formed over the ILD, and at least one via is formed through the ILD, electrically connecting the first and second portions of the first electrode. Breakdown of the dielectric material is configured to enable an operating current to flow between the second electrode and the first electrode in a programmed state of the anti-fuse structure.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, electronic fuses may be provided on the basis of a replacement gate approach by using the aluminum material as an efficient metal for inducing electromigration in the electronic fuses. The electronic fuse may be formed on an isolation structure, thereby providing an efficient thermal decoupling of the electronic fuse from the semiconductor material and the substrate material, thereby enabling the provision of efficient electronic fuses in a bulk configuration, while avoiding incorporation of fuses into the metallization system.

Abstract: Post programming resistance of a semiconductor fuse is enhanced by using an implantation to form an amorphous silicon layer and to break up an underlying high-?/metal gate. Embodiments include forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in a silicon substrate, forming a high-? dielectric layer on the STI region, forming a metal gate on the high-? dielectric layer, forming a polysilicon layer over the metal gate, performing an implantation to convert the polysilicon layer into an amorphous silicon layer, wherein the implantation breaks up the metal gate, and forming a silicide on the amorphous silicon layer. By breaking up the metal gate, electrical connection of the fuse contacts through the metal gate is eliminated.

Abstract: An approach is provided for semiconductor devices including an anti-fuse structure. The semiconductor device includes a first metallization layer including a first portion of a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode being formed in a substantially axial plane surrounding the first portion of the first electrode, with a dielectric material in between the two electrodes. An ILD is formed over the first metallization layer, a second metallization layer including a second portion of the first electrode is formed over the ILD, and at least one via is formed through the ILD, electrically connecting the first and second portions of the first electrode. Breakdown of the dielectric material is configured to enable an operating current to flow between the second electrode and the first electrode in a programmed state of the anti-fuse structure.

Abstract: In a complex semiconductor device, electronic fuses may be formed in the active semiconductor material by using a semiconductor material of reduced heat conductivity selectively in the fuse body, wherein, in some illustrative embodiments, the fuse body may be delineated by a non-silicided semiconductor base material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a metal e-fuse device that employs an intermetallic compound programing mechanism and various methods of making such an e-fuse device. In one example, a device disclosed herein includes a first metal line, a second metal line and a fuse element that is positioned between and conductively coupled to each of the first and second metal lines, wherein the fuse element is adapted to be blown by passing a programming current therethrough, and wherein the fuse element is comprised of a material that is different from a material of construction of at least one of the first and second metal lines.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the semiconductor material or at least a significant portion thereof in a non-transistor structure, such as a precision resistor, an electronic fuse and the like, may be preserved upon replacing the semiconductor material in the gate electrode structures. To this end, an appropriate dielectric material may be provided at least prior to the removal of the semiconductor material in the gate electrode structures, without requiring significant modifications of established replacement gate approaches.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, stress memorization techniques may be applied on the basis of a silicon nitride material, which may be subsequently modified into a low-k dielectric material in order to obtain low-k spacer elements, thereby enhancing performance of sophisticated semiconductor devices. The modification of the initial silicon nitride-based spacer material may be accomplished on the basis of an oxygen implantation process.

Abstract: Post programming resistance of a semiconductor fuse is enhanced by using an implantation to form an amorphous silicon layer and to break up an underlying high-?/metal gate. Embodiments include forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in a silicon substrate, forming a high-? dielectric layer on the STI region, forming a metal gate on the high-? dielectric layer, forming a polysilicon layer over the metal gate, performing an implantation to convert the polysilicon layer into an amorphous silicon layer, wherein the implantation breaks up the metal gate, and forming a silicide on the amorphous silicon layer. By breaking up the metal gate, electrical connection of the fuse contacts through the metal gate is eliminated.

Abstract: An approach is provided for semiconductor devices including an anti-fuse structure. The semiconductor device includes a first metallization layer including a first portion of a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode being formed in a substantially axial plane surrounding the first portion of the first electrode, with a dielectric material in between the two electrodes. An ILD is formed over the first metallization layer, a second metallization layer including a second portion of the first electrode is formed over the ILD, and at least one via is formed through the ILD, electrically connecting the first and second portions of the first electrode. Breakdown of the dielectric material is configured to enable an operating current to flow between the second electrode and the first electrode in a programmed state of the anti-fuse structure.

Abstract: In sophisticated integrated circuits, an electronic fuse may be formed such that an increased sensitivity to electromigration may be accomplished by including at least one region of increased current density. This may be accomplished by forming a corresponding fuse region as a non-linear configuration, wherein at corresponding connection portions of linear segments, the desired enhanced current crowding may occur during the application of the programming voltage. Hence, increased reliability and more space-efficient layout of the electronic fuses may be accomplished.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices including transistors having a high-k metal gate electrode structure, disposable spacers may be provided on the encapsulating spacer element with a reduced width so as to not unduly increase a lateral offset of a strain-inducing material to be incorporated into the active region. For this purpose, a multi-layer deposition may be used in combination with a low pressure CVD process.

Abstract: In a sophisticated semiconductor device, a semiconductor-based electronic fuse may be formed in a bulk configuration, wherein the design and thus the configuration of the contact areas and the fuse region provide a wide programming window in terms of programming voltages and duration of the corresponding programming pulses.

Abstract: In integrated circuits, resistors may be formed on the basis of a silicon/germanium material, thereby providing a reduced specific resistance which may allow reduced dimensions of the resistor elements. Furthermore, a reduced dopant concentration may be used which may allow an increased process window for adjusting resistance values while also reducing overall cycle times.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed with reduced variability between close proximity resistors, improved end resistances, and reduced random dopant mismatch. Embodiments include ion implanting a dopant, such as B, at a relatively high dosage, e.g. about 4 to about 6 keV, and at a relatively low implant energy, e.g., about 1.5 to about 2E15/cm2.

Abstract: In a complex semiconductor device, electronic fuses may be formed in the active semiconductor material by using a semiconductor material of reduced heat conductivity selectively in the fuse body, wherein, in some illustrative embodiments, the fuse body may be delineated by a non-silicided semiconductor base material.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the semiconductor material or at least a significant portion thereof in a non-transistor structure, such as a precision resistor, an electronic fuse and the like, may be preserved upon replacing the semiconductor material in the gate electrode structures. To this end, an appropriate dielectric material may be provided at least prior to the removal of the semiconductor material in the gate electrode structures, without requiring significant modifications of established replacement gate approaches.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, stress memorization techniques may be applied on the basis of a silicon nitride material, which may be subsequently modified into a low-k dielectric material in order to obtain low-k spacer elements, thereby enhancing performance of sophisticated semiconductor devices. The modification of the initial silicon nitride-based spacer material may be accomplished on the basis of an oxygen implantation process.

Abstract: In sophisticated semiconductor devices, electronic fuses may be provided on the basis of a replacement gate approach by using the aluminum material as an efficient metal for inducing electromigration in the electronic fuses. The electronic fuse may be formed on an isolation structure, thereby providing an efficient thermal decoupling of the electronic fuse from the semiconductor material and the substrate material, thereby enabling the provision of efficient electronic fuses in a bulk configuration, while avoiding incorporation of fuses into the metallization system.