Abstract: A method of forming integrated circuitry includes forming a field effect transistor gate over a substrate. The gate comprises polysilicon conductively doped with a conductivity enhancing impurity of a first type and a conductive diffusion barrier layer to diffusion of first or second type conductivity enhancing impurity received thereover. An insulative layer is formed over the gate. An opening is formed into the insulative layer to a conductive portion of the gate. Semiconductive material conductively doped with a conductivity enhancing impurity of a second type is formed within the opening in electrical connection with the conductive portion, with the conductive diffusion barrier layer of the gate being received between the semiconductive material of the gate and the semiconductive material within the opening. Other aspects are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and resulting structure, wherein a DRAM may be fabricated by using silicon midgap materials for transistor gate electrodes, thereby improving refresh characteristics of access transistors. The threshold voltage may be set with reduced substrate doping requirements. Current leakage is improved by this process as well.

Abstract: In an aspect, an apparatus is provided that sets and reprograms the state of programmable devices. In an aspect, a method is provided such that an opening is formed through a dielectric exposing a contact, the contact formed on a substrate. An electrode is conformally deposited on a wall of the dielectric, utilizing atomic layer deposition (ALD). A programmable material is formed on the electrode and a conductor is formed to the programmable material. In an aspect, a barrier is conformally deposited utilizing ALD, between the electrode and the programmable material.

Abstract: The invention includes a semiconductor processing method wherein an insulative mass is formed across a first electrical node and a second electrical node. The mass has a pair of openings extending therethrough to the electrical nodes. The individual openings each have a periphery defined by one of the electrical nodes and at least one sidewall. One of the openings extends to the first electrical node and is a first opening, and the other of the openings extends to the second electrical node and is a second opening. A dielectric material layer is formed within the openings to narrow the openings. Conductive material plugs are formed within the narrowed openings. The conductive material plug within the first opening is a first material plug, and is separated from the first electrical node by the dielectric material; and the conductive plug within the second opening is a second material plug, and is not separated from the second electrical node by the dielectric material.

Abstract: A stress buffer and dopant barrier in the form of a TetraEthylOrthoSilicate (TEOS) film is deposited after the capacitor cell plate has been etched and cleaned to thereby eliminate electrical shorts from the bit line to the cell plate.

Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a pair of source/drain regions having a channel region positioned therebetween. A gate is positioned operatively proximate the channel region. The gate includes semiconductive material conductivity doped with at least one of a p-type or n-type conductivity enhancing impurity effective to render the semiconductive material electrically conductive, a silcide layer and a conductive diffusion barrier layer effective to restrict diffusion of p-type or n-type conductivity enhancing impurity. The conductive diffusion barrier layer includes TiWxNy. Integrated circuitry is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cache memory system and method includes a DRAM having a plurality of banks, and it also includes 2 SRAMs each having a capacity that is equal to the capacity of each bank of the DRAM. In operation, data read from a bank of the DRAM are stored in one of the SRAMs so that repeated hits to that bank are cached by reading from the SRAM. In the event of a write to a bank that is being refreshed, the write data are stored in one of the SRAMs. After the refresh of the bank has been completed, the data stored in the SRAM are transferred to the DRAM bank. A subsequent read or write to a second DRAM bank undergoing refresh and occurring during the transfer of data from an SRAM to the DRAM is stored in either the second bank or the other SRAM.

Abstract: Methods of forming contact openings, making electrical interconnections, and related integrated circuitry are described. Integrated circuitry formed through one or more of the inventive methodologies is also described. In one implementation, a conductive runner or line having a contact pad with which electrical communication is desired is formed over a substrate outer surface. A conductive plug is formed laterally proximate the contact pad and together therewith defines an effectively widened contact pad. Conductive material is formed within a contact opening which is received within insulative material over the effectively widened contact pad. In a preferred implementation, a pair of conductive plugs are formed on either side of the contact pad laterally proximate thereof. The conductive plug(s) can extend away from the substrate outer surface a distance which is greater or less than a conductive line height of a conductive line adjacent which the plug is formed.

Abstract: The invention includes a semiconductor processing method wherein an insulative mass is formed across a first electrical node and a second electrical node. The mass has a pair of openings extending therethrough to the electrical nodes. The individual openings each have a periphery defined by one of the electrical nodes and at least one sidewall. One of the openings extends to the first electrical node and is a first opening, and the other of the openings extends to the second electrical node and is a second opening. A dielectric material layer is formed within the openings to narrow the openings. Conductive material plugs are formed within the narrowed openings. The conductive material plug within the first opening is a first material plug, and is separated from the first electrical node by the dielectric material; and the conductive plug within the second opening is a second material plug, and is not separated from the second electrical node by the dielectric material.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes an isolation region forming method comprising: a) forming an oxide layer over a substrate; b) forming a nitride layer over the oxide layer, the nitride laver and oxide layer having a pattern of openings extending therethrough to expose portions of the underlying substrate; c) etching the exposed portions of the underlying substrate to form openings extending into the substrate; d) after etching the exposed portions of the underlying substrate, removing portions of the nitride layer while leaving some of the nitride layer remaining over the substrate; and e) after removing portions of the nitride layer, forming oxide within the openings in the substrate, the oxide within the openings forming at least portions of isolation regions.

Abstract: An electrical interconnection method includes: a) providing two conductive layers separated by an insulating material on a semiconductor wafer; b) etching the conductive layers and insulating material to define and outwardly expose a sidewall of each conductive layer; c) depositing an electrically conductive material over the etched conductive layers and their respective sidewalls; and d) anisotropically etching the conductive material to define an electrically conductive sidewall link electrically interconnecting the two conductive layers. Such is utilizable to make thin film transistors and other circuitry.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuits and, particularly to stand-alone and embedded memory chips fabricated on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) substrates and devices. Partially depleted (PD) and fully depleted (FD) devices are utilized on the same chip. The invention is a process flow utilizing fully depleted SOI devices in one area of the chip and partially depleted SOI devices in selected other areas of the chip. The choice of fully depleted or partially depleted is solely determined by the circuit application in that specific area of the chip. The invention is able to be utilized in accordance with DRAM processing, and especially embedded DRAMs with their large proportion of associated logic circuitry.

Abstract: A stress buffer and dopant barrier in the form of a TetraEthylOrthoSilicate (TEOS) film is deposited after the capacitor cell plate has been etched and cleaned to thereby eliminate electrical shorts from the bit line to the cell plate.

Abstract: A cache memory system and method includes a DRAM having a plurality of banks, each of which may be refreshed under control of a refresh controller. In addition to the usual components of a DRAM, the cache memory system also includes 2 SRAMs each having a capacity that is equal to the capacity of each bank of the DRAM. In operation, data read from a bank of the DRAM are stored in one of the SRAMs so that repeated hits to that bank are cached by reading from the SRAM. In the event of a write to a bank that is being refreshed, the write data are stored in one of the SRAMs. After the refresh of the bank has been completed, the data stored in the SRAM are transferred to the DRAM bank. A subsequent read or write to a second DRAM bank undergoing refresh and occurring during the transfer of data from an SRAM to the DRAM is stored in the second bank. If, however, the second bank is being refreshed, the data are stored in the other SRAM.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a phase change memory and a method to manufacture a phase change memory is provided. The phase change memory may include a phase change material having a bottom portion, a lateral portion, and a top portion. The phase change memory may further include a first electrode material contacting the bottom portion and the lateral portion of the phase change material and a second electrode material contacting the top portion of the phase change material.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide methods of forming a dual gated semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) device. Such methods encompass forming a first transistor structure operatively adjacent a first side of the semiconductor layer of an SOI substrate. Insulator layer material is removed from the second side of the semiconductor layer, between the source/drain contact structures of the first transistor structure and a second transistor structure there formed operatively adjacent the second side of the semiconductor layer and aligned to the first transistor structure.

Abstract: A method for storing a temperature threshold in an integrated circuit includes measuring operating parameters of the integrated circuit versus temperature, calculating a maximum temperature at which the integrated circuit performance exceeds predetermined specifications and storing parameters corresponding to the maximum temperature in a comparison circuit in the integrated circuit by selectively blowing fusable devices in the comparison circuit. The fusable devices may be antifuses.

Abstract: A double blanket ion implant method for forming diffusion regions in memory array devices, such as a MOSFET access device is disclosed. The method provides a semiconductor substrate with a gate structure formed on its surface Next, a first pair of diffusion regions are formed in a region adjacent to the channel region by a first blanket ion implantation process. The first blanket ion implantation process has a first energy level and dose. The device is subjected to oxidizing conditions, which form oxidized sidewalls on the gate structure. A second blanket ion implantation process is conducted at the same location as the first ion implantation process adding additional dopant to the diffusion regions. The second blanket ion implantation process has a second energy level and dose. The resultant diffusion regions provide the device with improved static refresh performance over prior art devices.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a method of forming a portion of a transistor structure. A substrate is provided, and a transistor gate is formed over the substrate. The transistor gate has a sidewall. A silicon oxide is deposited over a portion of the substrate proximate the transistor gate by high density plasma deposition. A spacer is formed over the silicon oxide and along the sidewall of the transistor gate. The invention also encompasses a method of oxidizing a portion of a conductive structure. Additionally, the invention encompasses transistor gate structures, as well as structures comprising memory array and peripheral circuitry.

Abstract: An electrical interconnection method includes: a) providing two conductive layers separated by an insulating material on a semiconductor wafer; b) etching the conductive layers and insulating material to define and outwardly expose a sidewall of each conductive layer; c) depositing an electrically conductive material over the etched conductive layers and their respective sidewalls; and d) anisotropically etching the conductive material to define an electrically conductive sidewall link electrically interconnecting the two conductive layers. Such is utilizable to make thin film transistors and other circuitry.