Abstract: Described examples include integrated circuits, drain extended transistors and fabrication methods in which a silicide block material or other protection layer is formed on a field oxide structure above a drift region to protect the field oxide structure from damage during deglaze processing. Further described examples include a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that laterally surrounds an active region of a semiconductor substrate, where the STI structure is laterally spaced from the oxide structure, and is formed under gate contacts of the transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit which includes a field-plated FET is formed by forming a first opening in a layer of oxide mask, exposing an area for a drift region. Dopants are implanted into the substrate under the first opening. Subsequently, dielectric sidewalls are formed along a lateral boundary of the first opening. A field relief oxide is formed by thermal oxidation in the area of the first opening exposed by the dielectric sidewalls. The implanted dopants are diffused into the substrate to form the drift region, extending laterally past the layer of field relief oxide. The dielectric sidewalls and layer of oxide mask are removed after the layer of field relief oxide is formed. A gate is formed over a body of the field-plated FET and over the adjacent drift region. A field plate is formed immediately over the field relief oxide adjacent to the gate.

Abstract: Described examples include integrated circuits, drain extended transistors and fabrication methods therefor, including a multi-fingered transistor structure formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate, in which a transistor drain finger is centered in a multi-finger transistor structure, a transistor body region laterally surrounds the transistor, an outer drift region laterally surrounds an active region of the semiconductor substrate, and one or more inactive or dummy structures are formed at lateral ends of the transistor finger structures.

Abstract: An ESD cell includes an n+ buried layer (NBL) within a p-epi layer on a substrate. An outer deep trench isolation ring (outer DT ring) includes dielectric sidewalls having a deep n-type diffusion (DEEPN diffusion) ring (DEEPN ring) contacting the dielectric sidewall extending downward to the NBL. The DEEPN ring defines an enclosed p-epi region. A plurality of inner DT structures are within the enclosed p-epi region having dielectric sidewalls and DEEPN diffusions contacting the dielectric sidewalls extending downward from the topside surface to the NBL. The inner DT structures have a sufficiently small spacing with one another so that adjacent DEEPN diffusion regions overlap to form continuous wall of n-type material extending from a first side to a second side of the outer DT ring dividing the enclosed p-epi region into a first and second p-epi region. The first and second p-epi region are connected by the NBL.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a semiconductor layer doped with a first-type dopant, a first region doped with the first-type dopant, a second region doped with the first-type dopant, and a third region doped with a second-type dopant, where the second-type dopant is opposite the first-type dopant. The first, second, and third regions are non-overlapping and are formed in the semiconductor layer. The third region is positioned between the first region and the second region. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of Zener implant regions buried in the semiconductor layer and the third region, where each of the plurality of Zener implant regions is configured to generate a different pinch-off region.

Abstract: A method to fabricate a transistor comprises: forming a first dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; depositing a barrier layer on the first dielectric layer; depositing an anti-reflective coating on the barrier layer; depositing and exposing a pattern in a photoresist layer to radiation followed by etching to provide an opening; etching a portion of the anti-reflective coating below the opening; etching a portion of the barrier layer below the opening to expose a portion of the first dielectric layer; providing an ambient oxidizing agent to grow an oxide region followed by removing the barrier layer; implanting dopants into the semiconductor substrate after removing the barrier layer; removing the first dielectric layer after implanting dopants into the semiconductor substrate; and forming a second dielectric layer after removing the first dielectric layer, wherein the oxide region is grown to be thicker than the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: An integrated trench capacitor and method for making the trench capacitor is disclosed. The method includes forming a trench in a silicon layer, forming a first dielectric on the exposed surface of the trench, performing an anisotropic etch of the first dielectric to expose silicon at the bottom of the trench, implanting a dopant into exposed silicon at the bottom of the trench, forming a first polysilicon layer over the first dielectric, forming a second dielectric over the first polysilicon layer, and forming a second polysilicon layer over the second dielectric to fill the trench.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a semiconductor layer doped with a first-type dopant, a first region doped with the first-type dopant, a second region doped with the first-type dopant, and a third region doped with a second-type dopant, where the second-type dopant is opposite the first-type dopant. The first, second, and third regions are non-overlapping and are formed in the semiconductor layer. The third region is positioned between the first region and the second region. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of Zener implant regions buried in the semiconductor layer and the third region, where each of the plurality of Zener implant regions is configured to generate a different pinch-off region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having silicide block integrated with CMOS transistors is formed by forming a silicide block layer of primarily silicon dioxide, free of silicon nitride and silicon oxy-nitride, at less than 400° C. prior to annealing the PMOS sources and drains. A spike anneal process concurrently anneals the PMOS sources and drains and densifies the silicide block layer. The NMOS drain junctions are less than 120 nanometers; the NMOS halo regions include boron. The NMOS and PMOS transistors are laterally separated by an STI oxide layer. A wet deglaze process prior to metal silicide formation removes less than 25 percent of the silicide block layer, and exposes sides of the NMOS drains less than 20 percent of the drain junction depth. The metal silicide does not extend down the NMOS drains sides, directly adjacent to the STI oxide layer, more than 20 percent of the drain junction depth.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a substrate comprising a semiconductor material having a top surface. An epitaxial layer is located on the top surface of the substrate. A doped buried layer is located within the semiconductor material, and the top surface has a surface recess over the buried layer. The surface recess has a maximum step height no greater than about 5 nanometers. A method of forming the microelectronic device is also disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, a method includes etching a substrate to form a trench, wherein the trench includes sidewalls. The method further includes forming a first isolation region in the trench by growing a first layer of a first thickness on the sidewalls using a dry oxidation technique and depositing a second layer to fill a portion of the trench, the second layer contacting the first layer. The method further includes etching third and fourth layers atop the substrate to expose a first portion of the substrate. The method further includes growing a second isolation region in the substrate through the first portion by using a dry-wet-dry oxidation technique.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a semiconductor layer doped with a first-type dopant, a first region doped with the first-type dopant, a second region doped with the first-type dopant, and a third region doped with a second-type dopant, where the second-type dopant is opposite the first-type dopant. The first, second, and third regions are non-overlapping and are formed in the semiconductor layer. The third region is positioned between the first region and the second region. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of Zener implant regions buried in the semiconductor layer and the third region, where each of the plurality of Zener implant regions is configured to generate a different pinch-off region.

Abstract: An integrated trench capacitor and method for making the trench capacitor is disclosed. The method includes forming a trench in a silicon layer, forming a first dielectric on the exposed surface of the trench, performing an anisotropic etch of the first dielectric to expose silicon at the bottom of the trench, implanting a dopant into exposed silicon at the bottom of the trench, forming a first polysilicon layer over the first dielectric, forming a second dielectric over the first polysilicon layer, and forming a second polysilicon layer over the second dielectric to fill the trench.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a semiconductor layer doped with a first-type dopant, a first region doped with the first-type dopant, a second region doped with the first-type dopant, and a third region doped with a second-type dopant, where the second-type dopant is opposite the first-type dopant. The first, second, and third regions are non-overlapping and are formed in the semiconductor layer. The third region is positioned between the first region and the second region. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of Zener implant regions buried in the semiconductor layer and the third region, where each of the plurality of Zener implant regions is configured to generate a different pinch-off region.

Abstract: An electronic device, e.g. an integrated circuit, includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface and an area of the semiconductor substrate surrounded by inner and outer trench rings. The inner trench ring includes a first dielectric liner that extends from the substrate surface to a bottom of the inner trench ring, the first dielectric liner electrically isolating an interior region of the inner trench ring from the semiconductor substrate. The outer trench ring surrounds the inner trench ring and includes a second dielectric liner that extends from the substrate surface to a bottom of the outer trench ring. The second dielectric liner includes an opening at a bottom of the outer trench ring, the opening providing a path between an interior region of the outer trench ring and the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A microelectronic device having an n-type buried layer (NBL) is formed by forming a thin screen layer on the top surface of the substrate. Antimony is implanted through the screen layer exposed by an implant mask into the substrate; the implant mask blocks antimony from the substrate outside the NBL area. The implant mask is removed, leaving the screen layer, which has the same thickness over the NBL area and the area outside the NBL, on the surface. Silicon dioxide is formed during an anneal/drive process, both in the NBL area and outside the NBL area. Slightly more silicon dioxide is formed in the NBL area, consuming more silicon there and so forming a shallow silicon recess. An epitaxial layer is grown on the top surface of the substrate. A structure for the microelectronic device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a deep trench capacitor are disclosed. In one example a plurality of deep trenches is located in a first region of a semiconductor wafer, the first region having a first conductivity type. A corresponding dielectric layer is located on a surface of each of the plurality of deep trenches, and a corresponding doped polysilicon filler is located within each of the dielectric layers. Dielectric-filled trenches are located between each of the dielectric layers and the surface of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: Forming a semiconductor structure by forming a plurality of trenches in a semiconductor material, forming a plurality of non-conductive structures in the plurality of trenches, and forming a doped region of the first conductivity type. The plurality of trenches are spaced apart from each other, have substantially equal depths, and include a first trench and a second trench. The plurality of non-conductive structures include a first non-conductive structure in the first trench and a second non-conductive structure in the second trench. The doped region is formed between the first non-conductive structure and the second non-conductive structure. No region of a second conductivity type lies horizontally in between the first non-conductive structure and the second non-conductive structure.

Abstract: A method of forming an IC includes forming a buried layer (BL) doped a second type in a substrate doped a first type. Deep trenches are etched including narrower inner trench rings and wider outer trench rings through to the BL. A first deep sinker implanting uses ions of the second type with a first dose, a first energy, and a first tilt angle. A second deep sinker implant uses ions of the second type with a second dose that<the first dose, a second energy>than the first energy, and a second tilt angle<the first tilt angle. The outer trench rings outside and inner trench rings are dielectric lined. The dielectric lining is removed from a bottom of the outer trench rings. The outer trench rings are filled with an electrically conductive filler material that contacts the substrate and fills the inner trench rings.

Abstract: A deep trench capacitor and a method for providing the same in a semiconductor process are disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of deep trenches in a first region of a semiconductor wafer, the first region having well doping of a first type. A dielectric layer is formed on a surface of the plurality of deep trenches and a doped polysilicon layer is deposited to fill the plurality of deep trenches, with the doped polysilicon being doped with a dopant of a second type. Shallow trench isolation is formed overlying the dielectric layer at an intersection of the dielectric layer with the surface of the semiconductor wafer.