Abstract: Various embodiments include computer-implemented methods, computer program products and systems for modeling at least one feature in an integrated circuit (IC) layout for an inter-layer effect. In some cases, approaches include a computer-implemented method of modeling at least one feature in an IC layout for an inter-level effect, the method including: building a set of shape measurement regions each connected with an edge of the at least one feature; determining a set of shape parameters for each shape measurement region in the set of shape measurement regions; and creating a column vector representing each shape measurement region using the set of shape parameters, the column vector representing the inter-layer effect of the at least one feature, wherein the inter-layer effect includes a physical relationship between the at least one feature and another feature on a distinct level of the IC layout.

Abstract: Apparatus, method and computer program product for reducing overlay errors during a semiconductor photolithographic mask design process flow. The method obtains data representing density characteristics of a photo mask layout design; predicts stress induced displacements based on said obtained density characteristics data; and corrects the mask layout design data by specifying shift movement of individual photo mask design shapes to pre-compensate for predicted displacements. To obtain data representing density characteristics, the method merges pieces of data that are combined to make a photo mask to obtain a full reticle field data set. The merge includes a merge of data representing density characteristic driven stress effects. The density characteristics data for the merged reticle data are then computed.

Abstract: A stack pad layers including a first pad oxide layer, a pad nitride layer, and a second pad oxide layer are formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A deep trench extending below a top surface or a bottom surface of a buried insulator layer of the SOI substrate and enclosing at least one top semiconductor region is formed by lithographic methods and etching. A stress-generating insulator material is deposited in the deep trench and recessed below a top surface of the SOI substrate to form a stress-generating buried insulator plug in the deep trench. A silicon oxide material is deposited in the deep trench, planarized, and recessed. The stack of pad layer is removed to expose substantially coplanar top surfaces of the top semiconductor layer and of silicon oxide plugs. The stress-generating buried insulator plug encloses, and generates a stress to, the at least one top semiconductor region.

Abstract: Apparatus, method and computer program product for reducing overlay errors during a semiconductor photolithographic mask design process flow. The method obtains data representing density characteristics of a photo mask layout design; predicts stress induced displacements based on said obtained density characteristics data; and corrects the mask layout design data by specifying shift movement of individual photo mask design shapes to pre-compensate for predicted displacements. To obtain data representing density characteristics, the method merges pieces of data that are combined to make a photo mask to obtain a full reticle field data set. The merge includes a merge of data representing density characteristic driven stress effects. The density characteristics data for the merged reticle data are then computed.

Abstract: Various embodiments include computer-implemented methods, computer program products and systems for modeling at least one feature in an integrated circuit (IC) layout for an inter-layer effect. In some cases, approaches include a computer-implemented method of modeling at least one feature in an IC layout for an inter-level effect, the method including: building a set of shape measurement regions each connected with an edge of the at least one feature; determining a set of shape parameters for each shape measurement region in the set of shape measurement regions; and creating a column vector representing each shape measurement region using the set of shape parameters, the column vector representing the inter-layer effect of the at least one feature, wherein the inter-layer effect includes a physical relationship between the at least one feature and another feature on a distinct level of the IC layout.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device including a substrate including a first active region and a second active region, wherein each of the first active region and second active region of the substrate are separated by from one another by an isolation region. A n-type semiconductor device is present on the first active region of the substrate, in which the n-type semiconductor device includes a first portion of a gate structure. A p-type semiconductor device is present on the second active region of the substrate, in which the p-type semiconductor device includes a second portion of the gate structure. A connecting gate portion provides electrical connectivity between the first portion of the gate structure and the second portion of the gate structure. Electrical contact to the connecting gate portion is over the isolation region, and is not over the first active region and/or the second active region.

Abstract: A physical test integrated circuit has a plurality of repeating circuit portions corresponding to an integrated circuit design. A first of the portions is fabricated with a nominal block mask location, and additional ones of the portions are deliberately fabricated with predetermined progressive increased offset of the block mask location from the nominal block mask location. For each of the portions, the difference in threshold voltage between a first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor is determined. The predetermined progressive increased offset of the block mask location is in a direction from the first field effect transistor to the second field effect transistor. The block mask overlay tolerance is determined at a value of the progressive increased offset corresponding to an inflection of the difference in threshold voltage from a zero difference. A method for on-chip monitoring, and corresponding circuits, are also disclosed.

Abstract: While embedded silicon germanium alloy and silicon carbon alloy provide many useful applications, especially for enhancing the mobility of MOSFETs through stress engineering, formation of alloyed silicide on these surfaces degrades device performance. The present invention provides structures and methods for providing unalloyed silicide on such silicon alloy surfaces placed on semiconductor substrates. This enables the formation of low resistance contacts for both mobility enhanced PFETs with embedded SiGe and mobility enhanced NFETs with embedded Si:C on the same semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, this invention provides methods for thick epitaxial silicon alloy, especially thick epitaxial Si:C alloy, above the level of the gate dielectric to increase the stress on the channel on the transistor devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing is provided. The method of manufacturing includes forming shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate and providing a first material and a second material on the substrate. The first material and the second material are mixed into the substrate by a thermal anneal process to form a first island and second island at an nFET region and a pFET region, respectively. A layer of different material is formed on the first island and the second island. The STI relaxes and facilitates the relaxation of the first island and the second island. The first material may be deposited or grown Ge material and the second material may deposited or grown Si:C or C. A strained Si layer is formed on at least one of the first island and the second island.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes channels for a pFET and an nFET. A SiGe layer is selectively grown in the source and drain regions of the pFET channel and a Si:C layer is selectively grown in source and drain regions of the nFET channel. The SiGe and Si:C layer match a lattice network of the underlying Si layer to create a stress component. In one implementation, this causes a compressive component in the pFET channel and a tensile component in the nFET channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for forming dielectric spacers and epitaxial layers for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOS transistor) are disclosed. Specifically, the structure and method involves forming dielectric spacers that are disposed in trenches and are adjacent to the silicon substrate, which minimizes leakage current. Furthermore, epitaxial layers are deposited to form source and drain regions, wherein the source region and drain regions are spaced at a distance from each other. The epitaxial layers are disposed adjacent to the dielectric spacers and the transistor body regions (i.e., portion of substrate below the gates), which can minimize transistor junction capacitance. Minimizing transistor junction capacitance can enhance the switching speed of the CMOS transistor.

Abstract: Impact on parametric performance of physical design choices for transistors is scored for on-current and off-current of the transistors. The impact of the design parameters are incorporated into parameters that measure predicted shift in mean on-current and mean off-current and parameters that measure predicted increase in deviations in the distribution of on-current and the off-current. Statistics may be taken at a cell level, a block level, or a chip level to optimize a chip design in a design phase, or to predict changes in parametric yield during manufacturing or after a depressed parametric yield is observed. Further, parametric yield and current level may be predicted region by region and compared with observed thermal emission to pinpoint any anomaly region in a chip to facilitate detection and correction in any mistakes in chip design.

Abstract: A physical test integrated circuit has a plurality of repeating circuit portions corresponding to an integrated circuit design. A first of the portions is fabricated with a nominal block mask location, and additional ones of the portions are deliberately fabricated with predetermined progressive increased offset of the block mask location from the nominal block mask location. For each of the portions, the difference in threshold voltage between a first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor is determined. The predetermined progressive increased offset of the block mask location is in a direction from the first field effect transistor to the second field effect transistor. The block mask overlay tolerance is determined at a value of the progressive increased offset corresponding to an inflection of the difference in threshold voltage from a zero difference. A method for on-chip monitoring, and corresponding circuits, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes channels for a pFET and an nFET. A SiGe layer is selectively grown in the source and drain regions of the pFET channel and a Si:C layer is selectively grown in source and drain regions of the nFET channel. The SiGe and Si:C layer match a lattice network of the underlying Si layer to create a stress component. In one implementation, this causes a compressive component in the pFET channel and a tensile component in the nFET channel.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device including a substrate including a first active region and a second active region, wherein each of the first active region and second active region of the substrate are separated by from one another by an isolation region. A n-type semiconductor device is present on the first active region of the substrate, in which the n-type semiconductor device includes a first portion of a gate structure. A p-type semiconductor device is present on the second active region of the substrate, in which the p-type semiconductor device includes a second portion of the gate structure. A connecting gate portion provides electrical connectivity between the first portion of the gate structure and the second portion of the gate structure. Electrical contact to the connecting gate portion is over the isolation region, and is not over the first active region and/or the second active region.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device may include forming a stressing layer on a substrate. The method may include doping the stressing layer with dopants. The method may include forming a silicide layer on the stressing layer. Moreover, the stressing layer may include a first lattice constant different from a second lattice constant of the substrate.

Abstract: A nanotubular MOSFET device and a method of fabricating the same are used to extend device scaling roadmap while maintaining good short channel effects and providing competitive drive current. The nanotubular MOSFET device includes a concentric tubular inner and outer gate separated from each other by a tubular shaped epitaxially grown silicon layer, and a source and drain respectively separated by spacers surrounding the tubular inner and outer gates.

Abstract: A nanotubular MOSFET device extends a scaling roadmap while maintaining good short channel effects and providing competitive drive current. The nanotubular MOSFET device includes a concentric tubular inner and outer gate separated from each other by a tubular shaped epitaxially grown silicon layer, and a source and drain respectively separated by spacers surrounding the tubular inner and outer gates.

Abstract: A delta doping of silicon by carbon is provided on silicon surfaces by depositing a silicon carbon alloy layer on silicon surfaces, which can be horizontal surfaces of a bulk silicon substrate, horizontal surfaces of a top silicon layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, or vertical surfaces of silicon fins. A p-type field effect transistor (PFET) region and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) region can be differentiated by selectively depositing a silicon germanium alloy layer in the PFET region, and not in the NFET region. The silicon germanium alloy layer in the PFET region can overlie or underlie a silicon carbon alloy layer. A common material stack can be employed for gate dielectrics and gate electrodes for a PFET and an NFET. Each channel of the PFET and the NFET includes a silicon carbon alloy layer, and is differentiated by the presence or absence of a silicon germanium layer.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device including a substrate including a first active region and a second active region, wherein each of the first active region and second active region of the substrate are separated by from one another by an isolation region. A n-type semiconductor device is present on the first active region of the substrate, in which the n-type semiconductor device includes a first portion of a gate structure. A p-type semiconductor device is present on the second active region of the substrate, in which the p-type semiconductor device includes a second portion of the gate structure. A connecting gate portion provides electrical connectivity between the first portion of the gate structure and the second portion of the gate structure. Electrical contact to the connecting gate portion is over the isolation region, and is not over the first active region and/or the second active region.