Abstract: A method can be used for fabricating first and second semiconductor regions separated by isolating trenches. A semiconductor substrate is covered with silicon nitride. The silicon nitride situated above the first region is doped by ion implantation. Trenches are etched through the silicon nitride and the doped silicon nitride is partially etching in an isotropic manner. The trenches are filled with an insulator to a level situated above that of the first region. The silicon nitride is removed resulting in the edges of the first region only being covered with an insulator annulus.

Abstract: A method can be used for fabricating first and second semiconductor regions separated by isolating trenches. A semiconductor substrate is covered with silicon nitride. The silicon nitride situated above the first region is doped by ion implantation. Trenches are etched through the silicon nitride and the doped silicon nitride is partially etching in an isotropic manner. The trenches are filled with an insulator to a level situated above that of the first region. The silicon nitride is removed resulting in the edges of the first region only being covered with an insulator annulus.

Abstract: A method can be used for fabricating first and second semiconductor regions separated by isolating trenches. A semiconductor substrate is covered with silicon nitride. The silicon nitride situated above the first region is doped by ion implantation. Trenches are etched through the silicon nitride and the doped silicon nitride is partially etching in an isotropic manner. The trenches are filled with an insulator to a level situated above that of the first region. The silicon nitride is removed resulting in the edges of the first region only being covered with an insulator annulus.

Abstract: A method can be used for fabricating first and second semiconductor regions separated by isolating trenches. A semiconductor substrate is covered with silicon nitride. The silicon nitride situated above the first region is doped by ion implantation. Trenches are etched through the silicon nitride and the doped silicon nitride is partially etching in an isotropic manner. The trenches are filled with an insulator to a level situated above that of the first region. The silicon nitride is removed resulting in the edges of the first region only being covered with an insulator annulus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a multilayer coating, comprising a stack, on a substrate, of several layers chosen from among layers constituting by TiN and layers constituted by (Ti,Al)N, also known as Ti.sub.1-x Al.sub.x N, the entire coating being produced in a single, continuous operation by thermal chemical vapour deposition (CVD) from a gaseous mixture comprising a reducing gas, such as ammonia or nitrogen, hydrogen and titanium and optionally aluminium chlorides, the nature and/or composition of each deposited layer being instantaneously adjusted by modifying the reducing gas to hydrogen molar ratio in the gaseous mixture. The invention also relates to multilayer coatings comprising (Ti,Al)N layers of variable compositions and in particular with composition gradient. Application to wear-resistant or abrasion-proof coatings having a resistance to oxidation and corrosion, particularly at high temperatures.