Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide structures and methods for forming a strained MOS transistor. A stressor layer is formed over the transistor. Embodiments include an intermedium layer between the stressor layer and a portion of the transistor. In an embodiment, the intermedium comprises a layer formed between the stressor layer and the gate electrode sidewall spacers. In another embodiment, the intermedium comprises a silicided portion of the substrate formed over the LDS/LDD regions. A transistor that includes the intermedium and, stressor layer has a vertically oriented stress within the channel region. The vertically oriented stress is tensile in a PMOS transistor and compressive in an NMOS transistor.

Abstract: A gate stack is formed on a substrate. The gate stack has a sidewall. An oxide-nitride-oxide material is deposited on the gate stack. Portions of the oxide-nitride-oxide material are removed to form an oxide-nitride-oxide structure. The oxide-nitride-oxide structure has a generally L-shaped cross-section with a vertical portion along at least part of the gate stack sidewall and a horizontal portion along the substrate. A top oxide material is deposited over the substrate. A silicon nitride spacer material is deposited over the top oxide material. Portions of the top oxide material and the silicon nitride spacer material are removed to form a silicon nitride spacer separated from the oxide-nitride-oxide stack by the top oxide material. Source/drain regions are formed in the substrate.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) chip includes a silicon layer of a predetermined thickness overlying an insulator layer. A multiple-gate fully-depleted SOI MOSFET including a strained channel region is formed on a first portion of the silicon layer. A planar SOI MOSFET including a strained channel region formed on another portion of the silicon layer. For example, the planar SOI MOSFET can be a planar fully-depleted SOI (FD-SOI) MOSFET or the planar SOI MOSFET can be a planar partially-depleted SOI (PD-SOI) MOSFET.

Abstract: A CMOS integrated circuit includes a substrate having an NMOS region with a P-well and a PMOS region with an N-well. A shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed between the NMOS and PMOS regions and a composite silicon layer comprising a strained SiGe layer is formed over said P well region and over said N well region. The composite silicon layer is disconnected at the STI region. Gate electrodes are then formed on the composite layer in the NMOS and PMOS regions.

Abstract: A method for forming a contact to a semiconductor fin which can be carried out by first providing a semiconductor fin that has a top surface, two sidewall surfaces and at least one end surface; forming an etch stop layer overlying the fin; forming a passivation layer overlying the etch stop layer; forming a contact hole in the passivation layer exposing the etch stop layer; removing the etch stop layer in the contact hole; and filling the contact hole with an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An inductive device including an inductor coil located over a substrate, at least one electrically insulating layer interposing the inductor coil and the substrate, and a plurality of current interrupters each extending into the substrate, wherein a first aggregate outer boundary of the plurality of current interrupters substantially encompasses a second aggregate outer boundary of the inductor coil.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a Finfet device with body contacts and a device fabricated using the method are provided. In one example, a silicon-on-insulator substrate is provided. A T-shaped active region is defined in the silicon layer of the silicon-on-insulator substrate. A source region and a drain region form two ends of a cross bar of the T-shaped active region and a body contact region forms a leg of the T-shaped active region. A gate oxide layer is grown on the active region. A polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the gate oxide layer and patterned to form a gate, where an end of the gate partially overlies the body contact region to complete formation of a Finfet device with body contact.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a semiconductor chip. An array region gate stack is formed on an array region of a substrate and a periphery region gate stack is formed on a periphery region of a substrate. A first dielectric material, a charge-storing material, and a second dielectric material are deposited over the substrate. Portions of the first dielectric material, the charge-storing material, and the second dielectric material are removed to form storage structures on the array region gate stack and on the periphery region gate stack. The storage structures have a generally L-shaped cross-section. A first source/drain region is formed in the array region well. A third dielectric material and a spacer material are deposited over the substrate. Portions of the third dielectric material and the spacer material are removed to form spacers. A second source/drain region is formed in the periphery region well.

Abstract: A system and method for a sidewall SONOS memory device is provided. An electronic device includes a non-volatile memory. A substrate includes source/drain regions. A gate stack is directly over the substrate and between the source/drain regions. The gate stack has a sidewall. A nitride spacer is formed adjacent to the gate stack. A first oxide material is formed directly adjacent the spacer. An oxide-nitride-oxide structure is formed between the spacer and the gate stack. The oxide-nitride-oxide structure has a generally L-shaped cross-section on at least one side of the gate stack. The oxide-nitride-oxide structure includes a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The vertical portion is substantially aligned with the sidewall and located between the first oxide material and the gate sidewall. The horizontal portion is substantially aligned with the substrate and located between the first oxide and the substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a CMOS device wherein mobility enhancement of both the NMOS and PMOS elements is realized via strain induced band structure modification, has been developed. The NMOS element is formed featuring a silicon channel region under biaxial strain while the PMOS element is simultaneously formed featuring a SiGe channel region under biaxial compressive strain. A novel process sequence allowing formation of a thicker silicon layer overlying a SiGe layer, allows the NMOS channel region to exist in the silicon layer overlying a SiGe layer, allows the NMOS channel region to exist in the silicon layer which is under biaxial tensile strain enhancing electron mobility. The same novel process sequence results in the presence of a thinner silicon layer, overlying the same SiGe layer in the PMOS region, allowing the PMOS channel region to exist in the biaxial compressively strained SiGe layer, resulting in hole mobility enhancement.

Abstract: Non-volatile floating gate memory cells with polysilicon storage dots and fabrication methods thereof. The non-volatile floating gate memory cell comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. A first region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor substrate. A second region of the second conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor substrate spaced apart from the first region. A channel region connects the first and second regions for the conduction of charges. A dielectric layer is disposed on the channel region. A control gate is disposed on the dielectric layer. A tunnel dielectric layer is conformably formed on the semiconductor substrate and the control gate. Two charge storage dots are spaced apart from each other at opposing lateral edges of the sidewalls of the control gate and surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an insulator layer, a semiconductor layer, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The semiconductor layer is overlying the insulator layer. A first portion of the semiconductor layer has a first thickness. A second portion of the semiconductor layer has a second thickness. The second thickness is larger than the first thickness. The first transistor has a first active region formed from the first portion of the semiconductor layer. The second transistor has a second active region formed from the second portion of the semiconductor layer. The first transistor may be a planar transistor and the second transistor may be a multiple-gate transistor, for example.

Abstract: In a method of forming a double gate device, a buried insulating layer having a thickness of less than about 30 nm is formed on a first substrate. A second substrate is formed on the buried insulating layer. A pad layer is formed over the second substrate. A mask layer is formed over the pad layer. A first trench is formed extending through the pad layer, second substrate, buried insulating layer and into the first substrate. The first trench is filled with a first isolation. A second trench is formed in the first isolation and filled with a conductive material. An MOS transistor is formed on the second substrate. A bottom gate is formed under the buried insulating layer and self-aligned to the top gate formed on the second substrate.

Abstract: A CMOS integrated circuit includes a substrate having an NMOS region with a P-well and a PMOS region with an N-well. A shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed between the NMOS and PMOS regions and a composite silicon layer comprising a strained SiGe layer is formed over said P well region and over said N well region. The composite silicon layer is disconnected at the STI region. Gate electrodes are then formed on the composite layer in the NMOS and PMOS regions.

Abstract: A method provides for dicing a wafer having a base material with a diamond structure. The wafer first undergoes a polishing process, in which a predetermined portion of the wafer is polished away from its back side. The wafer is then diced through at least one line along a direction at a predetermined offset angle from a natural cleavage direction of the diamond structure. A wafer is produced with one or more dies formed thereon with at least one of its edges at an offset angle from a natural cleavage direction of a diamond structure of a base material forming the wafer. At least one dicing line has one or more protection elements for protecting the dies from undesired cracking while the wafer is being diced along the dicing line.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate electrode for a multiple gate transistor provides a doped, planarized gate electrode material which may be patterned using conventional methods to produce a gate electrode that straddles the active area of the multiple gate transistor and has a constant transistor gate length. The method includes forming a layer of gate electrode material having a non-planar top surface, over a semiconductor fin. The method further includes planarizing and doping the gate electrode material, without doping the source/drain active areas, then patterning the gate electrode material. Planarization of the gate electrode material may take place prior to the introduction and activation of dopant impurities or it may follow the introduction arid activation of dopant impurities. After the gate electrode is patterned, dopant impurities are selectively introduced to the semiconductor fin to form source/drain regions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor device and a method of manufacture. MOS devices along with their polycrystalline or amorphous gate electrodes are fabricated such that the intrinsic stress within the gate electrode creates a stress in the channel region between the MOS source/drain regions. Embodiments include forming an NMOS device and a PMOS device after having converted a portion of the intermediate NMOS gate electrode layer to an amorphous layer and then recrystallizing it before patterning to form the electrode. The average grain size in the NMOS recrystallized gate electrode is smaller than that in the PMOS recrystallized gate electrode. In another embodiment, the NMOS device comprises an amorphous gate electrode.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention teaches a multiple-gate transistor 130 that includes a semiconductor fin 134 formed in a portion of a bulk semiconductor substrate 132. A gate dielectric 144 overlies a portion of the semiconductor fin 134 and a gate electrode 146 overlies the gate dielectric 144. A source region 138 and a drain region 140 are formed in the semiconductor fin 134 oppositely adjacent the gate electrode 144. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface 150 of the gate electrode 146 is lower than either the source-substrate junction 154 or the drain-substrate junction 152.

Abstract: An inverter that includes a first multiple-gate transistor including a source connected to a power supply, a drain connected to an output terminal, and a gate electrode; a second multiple-gate transistor including a source connected to a ground, a drain connected to the output terminal, and a gate electrode; and an input terminal connected to the gate electrodes of the first and second multiple-gate transistors. Each of the first and second multiple-gate transistors may further include a semiconductor fin formed vertically on an insulating layer on top of a substrate, a gate dielectric layer overlying the semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode wrapping around the semiconductor fin separating the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A self-aligned conductive spacer process for fabricating sidewall control gates on both sides of a floating gate for high-speed RAM applications, which can well define dimensions and profiles of the sidewall control gates. A conductive layer is formed on the dielectric layer to cover a floating gate patterned on a semiconductor substrate. Oxide spacer are formed on the conductive layer adjacent to the sidewalls of the floating gate. Performing an anisotropic etch process on the conductive layer and using the oxide spacers as a hard mask, a conductive spacers are self-aligned fabricated at both sides of the floating gate, serving as sidewall control gates.