Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a substrate having a buried insulator layer and an active layer overlying the buried insulator layer. A transistor overlies the buried insulator layer, and a memory cell underlies the buried insulator layer. As such, the memory cell and the transistor are on opposite sides of the buried insulator layer.

Abstract: Methods for preventing step-height difference of flash and logic gates in FinFET devices and related devices are provided. Embodiments include forming fins in flash and logic regions; recessing an oxide exposing an upper portion of the fins; forming an oxide liner over the upper portion in the flash region; forming a polysilicon gate over and perpendicular to the fins in both regions; removing the gate from the logic region and patterning the gate in the flash region forming a separate gate over each fin; forming an ONO layer over the gates in the flash region; forming a second polysilicon gate over and perpendicular to the fins in both regions; planarizing the second polysilicon gate exposing a portion of the ONO layer over the gates in the flash region; forming and patterning a hardmask, exposing STI regions between the flash and logic regions; and forming an ILD over the STI regions.

Abstract: Methods for preventing step-height difference of flash and logic gates in FinFET devices and related devices are provided. Embodiments include forming fins in flash and logic regions; recessing an oxide exposing an upper portion of the fins; forming an oxide liner over the upper portion in the flash region; forming a polysilicon gate over and perpendicular to the fins in both regions; removing the gate from the logic region and patterning the gate in the flash region forming a separate gate over each fin; forming an ONO layer over the gates in the flash region; forming a second polysilicon gate over and perpendicular to the fins in both regions; planarizing the second polysilicon gate exposing a portion of the ONO layer over the gates in the flash region; forming and patterning a hardmask, exposing STI regions between the flash and logic regions; and forming an ILD over the STI regions.

Abstract: Methods for preventing step-height difference of flash and logic gates in FinFET devices and related devices are provided. Embodiments include forming fins in flash and logic regions; recessing an oxide exposing an upper portion of the fins; forming an oxide liner over the upper portion in the flash region; forming a polysilicon gate over and perpendicular to the fins in both regions; removing the gate from the logic region and patterning the gate in the flash region forming a separate gate over each fin; forming an ONO layer over the gates in the flash region; forming a second polysilicon gate over and perpendicular to the fins in both regions; planarizing the second polysilicon gate exposing a portion of the ONO layer over the gates in the flash region; forming and patterning a hardmask, exposing STI regions between the flash and logic regions; and forming an ILD over the STI regions.

Abstract: Shielded semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating shielded semiconductor devices are provided. An exemplary magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. An electromagnetic-field-susceptible semiconductor component is located on and/or in the substrate. The magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a top magnetic shield located over the top surface of the substrate. Further, the magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a bottom magnetic shield located under the bottom surface of the substrate. Also, the magnetically shielded semiconductor device includes a sidewall magnetic shield located between the top magnetic shield and the bottom magnetic shield.

Abstract: Integrating magnetic random access memory with logic is disclosed. The magnetic tunnel junction stack of a magnetic memory cell is disposed within a dielectric layer which serves as a via level of an interlevel dielectric layer with a metal level above the via level. An integration scheme for forming dual damascene structures for interconnects can be formed to logic and memory cells easily.

Abstract: Device and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first, second and third regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the first and second regions. A MRAM cell which includes a MTJ element sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes is formed in the second region. The bottom electrode is in direct contact with the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with a dual damascene interconnect in the first region and a damascene interconnect in the second region is provided over the first upper dielectric layer. The dual damascene interconnect in the first region is coupled to the metal line in the first region and the damascene interconnect in the second region is coupled to the MTJ element.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating integrated circuits and integrated circuits fabricated by those methods are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes providing a substrate having a first and second device wells, a gate dielectric overlying the first and second device wells, a first gate electrode layer overlying the gate dielectric, and a shallow trench isolation structure between the first and second device wells. An insulating dielectric layer is formed only partially overlying the first gate electrode layer. A second gate electrode material is deposited overlying at least the insulating dielectric layer to form a second gate electrode layer. The layers are patterned to form a second gate structure overlying the second device well. A contact is formed on the second gate electrode layer of the second gate structure with the contact overlying dielectric material of at least one of the insulating dielectric layer or the shallow trench isolation structure.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of forming the same are provided. An exemplary integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and an anti-fuse device having a select transistor, a bitline contact, and a split channel transistor. The select transistor includes a select gate structure, a bitline source/drain region, and a shared source/drain region. The bitline contact is disposed over and in electrical communication with the bitline source/drain region. The split channel transistor is in electrical communication with the select transistor through the shared source/drain region. The split channel transistor includes an anti-fuse gate structure having an anti-fuse gate and an anti-fuse dielectric layer and a stepped gate structure disposed between the anti-fuse gate structure and the shared source/drain region and having a stepped gate and a stepped dielectric layer. The stepped dielectric layer has a greater thickness than the anti-fuse dielectric layer.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first and second regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the regions. A two-terminal device element which includes a device layer coupled in between first and second terminals is formed over the first upper dielectric layer in the second region. The first terminal contacts the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region and the second terminal is formed on the device layer. An encapsulation liner covers at least exposed side surfaces of the device layer of the two-terminal device element. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with dual damascene interconnects is provided in the regions.

Abstract: Device and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and a first upper dielectric layer over first, second and third regions of the substrate. The first upper dielectric layer includes a first upper interconnect level with a plurality of metal lines in the first and second regions. A MRAM cell which includes a MTJ element sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes is formed in the second region. The bottom electrode is in direct contact with the metal line in the first upper interconnect level of the second region. A dielectric layer which includes a second upper interconnect level with a dual damascene interconnect in the first region and a damascene interconnect in the second region is provided over the first upper dielectric layer. The dual damascene interconnect in the first region is coupled to the metal line in the first region and the damascene interconnect in the second region is coupled to the MTJ element.

Abstract: Methods of producing integrated circuits are provided. An exemplary method includes patterning a source line photoresist mask to overlie a source line area of a substrate while exposing a drain line area. The source line area is between a first and second memory cell and the drain line area is between the second and a third memory cell. A source line is formed in the source line area. A source line dielectric is concurrently formed overlying the source line while a drain line dielectric is formed overlying a drain line area. A drain line photoresist mask is patterned to overlie the source line in an active section while exposing the source line in a strap section, and while exposing the drain line area. The drain line dielectric is removed from over the drain line area while a thickness of the source line dielectric in the strap section is reduced.

Abstract: Methods of producing integrated circuits are provided. An exemplary method includes patterning a source line photoresist mask to overlie a source line area of a substrate while exposing a drain line area. The source line area is between a first and second memory cell and the drain line area is between the second and a third memory cell. A source line is formed in the source line area. A source line dielectric is concurrently formed overlying the source line while a drain line dielectric is formed overlying a drain line area. A drain line photoresist mask is patterned to overlie the source line in an active section while exposing the source line in a strap section, and while exposing the drain line area. The drain line dielectric is removed from over the drain line area while a thickness of the source line dielectric in the strap section is reduced.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating integrated circuits and integrated circuits fabricated by those methods are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes providing a substrate having a first and second device wells, a gate dielectric overlying the first and second device wells, a first gate electrode layer overlying the gate dielectric, and a shallow trench isolation structure between the first and second device wells. An insulating dielectric layer is formed only partially overlying the first gate electrode layer. A second gate electrode material is deposited overlying at least the insulating dielectric layer to form a second gate electrode layer. The layers are patterned to form a second gate structure overlying the second device well. A contact is formed on the second gate electrode layer of the second gate structure with the contact overlying dielectric material of at least one of the insulating dielectric layer or the shallow trench isolation structure.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate defined with at least first and second regions and providing a plurality of interlevel dielectric (ILD) levels having tight pitch over the first and second regions of the substrate. An ILD level of which a two-terminal element disposed thereon corresponds to a first ILD level and its metal level corresponds to Mx, an immediate ILD level overlying the metal level Mx corresponds to a second ILD level includes via level Vx and metal level Mx+1 and the next overlying ILD level corresponds to a third ILD level includes via level Vx+1 and metal level Mx+2. The method includes forming a two-terminal device element is formed in between metal level Mx and via level Vx+1 in the first region.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits with non-volatile memory structures are provided. An exemplary integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a central semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) region between first and second non-SOI regions. The substrate includes a semiconductor base in the SOI region and the non-SOI regions, an insulator layer overlying the semiconductor base in the SOI region, and an upper semiconductor layer overlying the insulator layer in the SOI region. The integrated circuit further includes a first conductivity type well formed in the base in the first region and in a first portion of the SOI region, and a second conductivity type well formed in the base in the second region and in a second portion of the SOI region lateral of the first conductivity type well. Also, the integrated circuit includes a non-volatile memory device structure overlying the upper semiconductor layer in the SOI region.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing such integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a substrate with an active layer overlying a handle layer. A partial buried insulator overlies the handle layer and underlies the active layer, terminates at a buried insulator termination point, and includes an electrically insulating material. A substrate extension is adjacent to the partial buried insulator, where the substrate extension overlies the handle layer and underlies the active layer, and where the substrate extension directly contacts the partial buried insulator at the buried insulator termination point. The substrate extension includes a semiconductive material. A memory gate overlies the active layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip includes an active area including a plurality of integrated circuit structures, a seal ring enclosing the active area, a corner area of the semiconductor chip that is outside of the seal ring, and an electronic test structure disposed within the corner area. Semiconductor wafers including the above-noted semiconductor chips, as well as methods for fabricating semiconductor wafers including the above-noted semiconductor chips, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provide. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes determining a memory area of the integrated circuit, and forming a select layer overlying the substrate. A portion of the select layer is selectively etched to form a select gate within the memory area. A concentration of an indicator is measured in an etch off-gas during the selective etching of the select layer, and the selective etching of the select layer is terminated when the concentration of the indicator crosses an end point determination concentration.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of forming the same are provided. An exemplary integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and an anti-fuse device having a select transistor, a bitline contact, and a split channel transistor. The select transistor includes a select gate structure, a bitline source/drain region, and a shared source/drain region. The bitline contact is disposed over and in electrical communication with the bitline source/drain region. The split channel transistor is in electrical communication with the select transistor through the shared source/drain region. The split channel transistor includes an anti-fuse gate structure having an anti-fuse gate and an anti-fuse dielectric layer and a stepped gate structure disposed between the anti-fuse gate structure and the shared source/drain region and having a stepped gate and a stepped dielectric layer. The stepped dielectric layer has a greater thickness than the anti-fuse dielectric layer.