Abstract: A liquid precursor containing a metal is applied to a first electrode, dried in air at a first temperature of 160.degree. C. and then a second temperature of 260.degree. C., RTP baked at a temperature of 300.degree. C. in oxygen, RTP baked at a temperature of 650.degree. C. in nitrogen, and annealed at a temperature of 800.degree. C. in nitrogen to form a strontium bismuth tantalate layered superlattice material. A second electrode is deposited and then the device is patterned to form a capacitor, and a second anneal is performed at a temperature of 800.degree. C. in nitrogen. Alternatively, the second anneal may be performed in oxygen at a temperature of 600.degree. C. or less. In this manner, a high electronic quality thin film of a layered superlattice material is fabricated without a high-temperature oxygen anneal.

Abstract: An improved trench cell capacitor for a memory cell and process for fabricating the same. The process includes the steps of forming a trench within a semiconductor body; forming a dielectric layer peripherally within the trench and filling at least a portion of the trench by epitaxially growing semiconductor material therein. The epitaxially grown semiconductor material is void and seam-free, resulting in a robust trench cell that is highly reliable, thereby improving process yield.

Abstract: A vertically raised transistor (10) is formed having a substrate (12). A conductive plug region (22) is selectively or epitaxially formed to vertically elevate the transistor (10). A first doped region (16a) and a second doped region (16b) are each electrically coupled to the conductive plug region (22) via sidewall contacts. The doped regions (16a and 16b) are used to form current electrode regions (26) within the conductive plug region (22). A channel region separates the current electrodes (26). A gate dielectric layer (28) is formed to overlie the channel region. A conductive layer (30) is formed to overlie the gate dielectric layer (28). Conductive layer (30) forms a gate electrode for the transistor (10). The vertical raised transistor (10) and conductive plug region (22) provide improved device isolation and improved device operation.

Abstract: A transistor (10) has a substrate (12) and a diffusion (14). A gate conductive layer (18) overlies the substrate (12) and has a sidewall formed by an opening that exposes the substrate (12). A sidewall dielectric layer (22) formed laterally adjacent the conductive layer (18) sidewall functions as a gate dielectric for the transistor (10). A conductive region is formed within the opening. The conductive region has a first current electrode region (28) and a second control electrode region (34) and a channel region (30) laterally adjacent the sidewall dielectric layer (22). A plurality of transistors, each in accordance with transistor (10), can be stacked in a vertical manner to form logic gates such as NMOS or PMOS NAND, NOR, and inverter gates, and/or CMOS NAND, NOR, and inverter gates with one or more inputs.

Abstract: A vertical transistor (10) has a substrate (12) and a control electrode conductive layer (18), which functions as a control or gate electrode. A sidewall dielectric layer (22) is formed laterally adjacent the control electrode conductive layer (18) and overlying the substrate (12). The conductive layer (18) at least partially surrounds a channel region (30). A vertical conductive region is formed within a device opening wherein a bottom portion of the conductive region is a first current electrode (28). A middle portion of the vertical conductive region is the channel region (30). A top portion of the vertical conductive region is a second current electrode (34).

Abstract: A contact is formed in a semiconductor device (10), independent of underlying topography or pitch. In one method of the present invention, an insulating layer (18) is deposited over a semiconductor substrate (12). An etch stop layer (20) is deposited over the insulating layer. A frame structure (22) is formed on the etch stop material and defines at least one contact region (23 and/or 25) within which the etch stop material is exposed. The exposed portions of the etch stop material are removed from the contact region to expose a portion of the insulating layer. The exposed portion of the insulating layer is then anisotropically etched and at least one contact (30 and/or 32) is formed in the contact region. Depending on where the contact region is positioned, either a self-aligned contact or a non-self-aligned contact may be formed, or both types of contacts may be formed simultaneously.

Abstract: A vertically raised transistor (10) is formed having a substrate (12). A conductive plug region (22) is selectively or epitaxially formed to vertically elevate the transistor (10). A first doped region (16a) and a second doped region (16b) are each electrically coupled to the conductive plug region (22) via sidewall contacts. The doped regions (16a and 16b) are used to form current electrode regions (26) within the conductive plug region (22). A channel region separates the current electrodes (26). A gate dielectric layer (28) is formed to overlie the channel region. A conductive layer (30) is formed to overlie the gate dielectric layer (28). Conductive layer (30) forms a gate electrode for the transistor (10). The vertical raised transistor (10) and conductive plug region (22) provide improved device isolation and improved device operation.

Abstract: A vertical transistor (10) has a substrate (12) and a control electrode conductive layer (18), which functions as a control or gate electrode. A sidewall dielectric layer (22) is formed laterally adjacent the control electrode conductive layer (18) and overlying the substrate (12). The conductive layer (18) at least partially surrounds a channel region (30). A vertical conductive region is formed within a device opening wherein a bottom portion of the conductive region is a first current electrode (28). A middle portion of the vertical conductive region is the channel region (30). A top portion of the vertical conductive region is a second current electrode (34). A capacitor (69) is formed overlying and coupled to the vertical transistor (10) in order to form a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell.

Abstract: A vertical transistor (10) has a substrate (12) and a control electrode conductive layer (18), which functions as a control or gate electrode. A sidewall dielectric layer (22) is formed laterally adjacent the control electrode conductive layer (18) and overlying the substrate (12). The conductive layer (18) at least partially surrounds a channel region (30). A vertical conductive region is formed within a device opening wherein a bottom portion of the conductive region is a first current electrode (28). A middle portion of the vertical conductive region is the channel region (30). A top portion of the vertical conductive region is a second current electrode (34).

Abstract: A method for forming a vertical transistor (10) begins by providing a substrate (12). A conductive layer (16) is formed overlying the substrate (12). A first current electrode (26), a second current electrode (30), and a channel region (28) are each formed via one of either selective growth, epitaxial growth, in-situ doping, and/or ion implantation. A gate electrode or control electrode (34) is formed laterally adjacent the channel region (28). A selective/epitaxial growth step is used to connect the conductive layer (16) to the control electrode (34) and forms a control electrode interconnect which is reliable and free from electrical short circuits to the current electrodes (26 and 30). The transistor (10) may be vertically stacked to form compact inverter circuits.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is formed having a substrate (12). A diffusion (14) is formed within the substrate (12). A first vertical transistor stack (122) is formed. A second vertical transistor stack (124) is formed. The first vertical transistor stack (122) has a transistor (100) underlying a transistor (104). The second vertical transistor stack (124) has a transistor (102) underlying a transistor (106). The transistors (100 and 104) are connected in series, and the transistors (102 and 106) are connected in series. In a preferred form, transistors (100 and 102) are electrically connected as latch transistors for a semiconductor memory device and transistors (106 and 104) are connected as pass transistors. Two vertical stacks (126 and 128) form electrical interconnections (118 and 120) and resistive devices (134 and 138) for the semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: A vertically raised transistor (10) is formed having a substrate (12). A conductive plug region (22) is selectively or epitaxially formed to vertically elevate the transistor (10). A first doped region (16a) and a second doped region (16b) are each electrically coupled to the conductive plug region (22) via sidewall contacts. The doped regions (16a and 16b) are used to form current electrode regions (26) within the conductive plug region (22). A channel region separates the current electrodes (26). A gate dielectric layer (28) is formed to overlie the channel region. A conductive layer (30) is formed to overlie the gate dielectric layer (28). Conductive layer (30) forms a gate electrode for the transistor (10). The vertical raised transistor (10) and conductive plug region (22) provide improved device isolation and improved device operation.

Abstract: A transistor is formed as either a bipolar transistor (10) or an MOS transistor (11). Each transistor (10 or 11) has a substrate (12). Bipolar transistor (10) has a first current electrode (26) underlying a control electrode (28), and a second current electrode (32) overlying the control electrode (28). MOS transistor (11) has a first current electrode (54) underlying a channel region (56), and a source lightly doped region (58) and a source heavily doped region (60) overlying the channel region (56). A control electrode conductive layer (40) is laterally adjacent a sidewall dielectric layer (48), and sidewall dielectric layer (48) is laterally adjacent channel region (56). Conductive layer (40) functions as a gate electrode for transistor (11). Each of the transistors (10 and 11) is vertically integrated such as in a vertically integrated BiMOS circuit. Transistors (10 and 11) can be electrically isolated by isolation ( 64 and 66).

Abstract: A vertically raised transistor (10) is formed having a substrate (12). A conductive plug region (22) is selectively or epitaxially formed to vertically elevate the transistor (10). A first doped region (16a) and a second doped region (16b) are each electrically coupled to the conductive plug region (22) via sidewall contacts. The doped regions (16a and 16b) are used to form current electrode regions (26) within the conductive plug region (22). A channel region separates the current electrodes (26). A gate dielectric layer (28) is formed to overlie the channel region. A conductive layer (30) is formed to overlie the gate dielectric layer (28). Conductive layer (30) forms a gate electrode for the transistor (10). The vertical raised transistor (10) and conductive plug region (22) provide improved device isolation and improved device operation.

Abstract: A method for forming a vertical transistor (10) begins by providing a substrate (12). A conductive layer (16) is formed overlying the substrate (12). A first current electrode (26), a second current electrode (30), and a channel region (28) are each formed via one of either selective growth, epitaxial growth, in-situ doping, and/or ion implantation. A gate electrode or control electrode (34) is formed laterally adjacent the channel region (28). A selective/epitaxial growth step is used to connect the conductive layer (16) to the control electrode (34) and forms a control electrode interconnect which is reliable and free from electrical short circuits to the current electrodes (26 and 30). The transistor (10) may be vertically stacked to form compact inverter circuits.

Abstract: A field effect transistor, FET, (11) having a gate dielectric of varying thickness (14, 24) to improve device performance. The FET (11) is made on a substrate (10) and has a control electrode, or gate (16), and two current electrodes, or source and drain regions (28), which are separated by a channel region. The gate (16) is separated from the channel region by a gate dielectric. The gate dielectric has a centrally located first region that is of a first thickness (14) and a second region which is adjacent a perimeter of the first region that is of a second thickness (24). The second thickness (24) is made greater than the first thickness (14).

Abstract: A ramp activated low temperature quality epitaxial growth process. A substrate is pre-conditioned and a passivation layer overlying the substrate surface is formed. The substrate is introduced into a process chamber having a controlled temperature. A process chamber purge technique is used to remove oxygen and contaminants from the process chamber before epitaxial growth begins. A process gas, which has an epitaxial growth species, a process chamber purging species and other possible species, is introduced into the process chamber at a low temperature. The process gas and the passivation layer keep the process chamber environment and the substrate surface free from contamination and free from native oxide growth before and, in some cases, during epitaxial growth. The process chamber temperature is gradually elevated to initiate a quality epitaxial growth by starting growth relative to decomposition of the passivation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is formed having a substrate (12). A diffusion (14) is formed within the substrate (12). A first vertical transistor stack (122) is formed. A second vertical transistor stack (124) is formed. The first vertical transistor stack (122) has a transistor (100) underlying a transistor (104). The second vertical transistor stack (124) has a transistor (102) underlying a transistor (106). The transistors (100 and 104) are connected in series, and the transistors (102 and 106) are connected in series. In a preferred form, transistors (100 and 102) are electrically connected as latch transistors for a semiconductor memory device and transistors (106 and 104) are connected as pass transistors. Two vertical stacks (126 and 128) form electrical interconnections (118 and 120) and resistive devices (134 and 138) for the semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: A transistor (10) has a substrate (12) and a diffusion (14). A gate conductive layer (18) overlies the substrate (12) and has a sidewall formed by an opening that exposes the substrate (12). A sidewall dielectric layer (22) formed laterally adjacent the conductive layer (18) sidewall functions as a gate dielectric for the transistor (10). A conductive region is formed within the opening. The conductive region has a first current electrode region (28) and a second control electrode region (34) and a channel region (30) laterally adjacent the sidewall dielectric layer (22). A plurality of transistors, each in accordance with transistor (10), can be stacked in a vertical manner to form logic gates such as NMOS or PMOS NAND, NOR, and inverter gates, and/or CMOS NAND, NOR, and inverter gates with multiple inputs.

Abstract: A transistor and a capacitor is used to provide, in one form, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell (10). The capacitor of cell (10) lies within a substrate (12). The capacitor has a first capacitor electrode (16) and a second capacitor electrode (20). A dielectric layer (18) is formed as an inter-electrode capacitor dielectric. A first transistor current electrode (36) is formed overlying and electrically connected to the first capacitor electrode (16). A channel region (38) is formed overlying the first transistor current electrode (36). A second transistor current electrode (40) is formed overlying the channel region (38). A conductive layer (30) is formed laterally adjacent the channel region (38) and isolated from the substrate (12) by dielectric layers (22 and 28). A conductive layer (30) functions as a gate electrode for the transistor and a sidewall dielectric (34) functions as a gate dielectric.