Abstract: Single gate and dual gate FinFET devices suitable for use in an SRAM memory array have respective fins, source regions, and drain regions that are formed from portions of a single, contiguous layer on the semiconductor substrate, so that STI is unnecessary. Pairs of FinFETs can be configured as dependent-gate devices wherein adjacent channels are controlled by a common gate, or as independent-gate devices wherein one channel is controlled by two gates. Metal interconnects coupling a plurality of the FinFET devices are made of a same material as the gate electrodes. Such structural and material commonalities help to reduce costs of manufacturing high-density memory arrays.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a plurality of gates above a substrate, each of the gates comprising a gate structure and a first layer of a first insulating material positioned on an upper surface of the gate structure, and forming a second layer of a second insulating material above insulating material positioned above the substrate between the laterally spaced apart gates, wherein the first insulating material and the second insulating material are selectively etchable relative to one another. The method may also include selectively removing a portion of the first layer to thereby expose a portion of the gate structure of at least one of the gates, selectively removing the exposed portion of the gate structure so as to thereby define a gate-cut cavity, and forming an insulating gate-cut structure in the gate-cut cavity.

Abstract: It is recognized that, because of its unique properties, graphene can serve as an interface with biological cells that communicate by an electrical impulse, or action potential. Responding to a sensed signal can be accomplished by coupling a graphene sensor to a low power digital electronic switch that is activatable by the sensed low power electrical signals. It is further recognized that low power devices such as tunneling diodes and TFETs are suitable for use in such biological applications in conjunction with graphene sensors. While tunneling diodes can be used in diagnostic applications, TFETs, which are three-terminal devices, further permit controlling the voltage on one cell according to signals received by other cells. Thus, by the use of a biological sensor system that includes graphene nanowire sensors coupled to a TFET, charge can be redistributed among different biological cells, potentially with therapeutic effects.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a first dielectric layer above a semiconductor substrate, forming a first trench in the first dielectric layer, filling the first trench with electrically conductive material, removing upper portions of the electrically conductive material to define a lower conductive member with a recess thereabove, forming a filler dielectric material in the recess to define a second trench. The method may further include filling the second trench with electrically conductive material to define an upper conductive member, forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and upper conductive member, forming a first via through the second dielectric layer and underlying filler dielectric material to the lower conductive member, and forming a second via through the second dielectric layer to the upper conductive member.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a multi-layered sidewall spacer (MLSS) around a vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure, wherein the MLSS comprises a non-sacrificial innermost first spacer (a high-k insulating material), a sacrificial outermost spacer and at least one non-sacrificial second spacer (a metal-containing material) positioned between the innermost spacer and the outermost spacer, removing at least a portion of the sacrificial outermost spacer from the MLSS while leaving the at least one non-sacrificial second spacer and the non-sacrificial innermost first spacer in position and forming a final conductive gate electrode in place of the removed sacrificial outermost spacer.

Abstract: A semi-floating gate transistor is implemented as a vertical FET built on a silicon substrate, wherein the source, drain, and channel are vertically aligned, on top of one another. Current flow between the source and the drain is influenced by a control gate and a semi-floating gate. Front side contacts can be made to each one of the source, drain, and control gate terminals of the vertical semi-floating gate transistor. The vertical semi-floating gate FET further includes a vertical tunneling FET and a vertical diode. Fabrication of the vertical semi-floating gate FET is compatible with conventional CMOS manufacturing processes, including a replacement metal gate process. Low-power operation allows the vertical semi-floating gate FET to provide a high current density compared with conventional planar devices.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a multi-layered sidewall spacer (MLSS) around a vertically oriented channel semiconductor structure, wherein the MLSS comprises a non-sacrificial innermost first spacer (a high-k insulating material), a sacrificial outermost spacer and at least one non-sacrificial second spacer (a metal-containing material) positioned between the innermost spacer and the outermost spacer, removing at least a portion of the sacrificial outermost spacer from the MLSS while leaving the at least one non-sacrificial second spacer and the non-sacrificial innermost first spacer in position and forming a final conductive gate electrode in place of the removed sacrificial outermost spacer.

Abstract: An assembly for an implantable device can be made from polyurethane and can incorporate one or more radiopaque agents and one or more elutable drug components into a polymeric lead tip. The assembly can be machined or injection molded and can be configured, for example, as a housing for an active fixation lead or as an electrode base supporting a foil electrode.

Abstract: Metal quantum dots are incorporated into doped source and drain regions of a MOSFET array to assist in controlling transistor performance by altering the energy gap of the semiconductor crystal. In a first example, the quantum dots are incorporated into ion-doped source and drain regions. In a second example, the quantum dots are incorporated into epitaxially doped source and drain regions.

Abstract: A sequence of processing steps presented herein is used to embed an optical signal path within an array of nanowires, using only one lithography step. Using the techniques disclosed, it is not necessary to mask electrical features while forming optical features, and vice versa. Instead, optical and electrical signal paths can be created substantially simultaneously in the same masking cycle. This is made possible by a disparity in the widths of the respective features, the optical signal paths being significantly wider than the electrical ones. Using a damascene process, the structures of disparate widths are plated with metal that over-fills narrow trenches and under-fills a wide trench. An optical cladding material can then be deposited into the trench so as to surround an optical core for light transmission.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a self-aligned deep contact for a vertical field effect transistor (VFET) and methods of manufacture. The structure includes a plurality of fin structures, a first contact landing on a substrate material between a first set of fin structures of the plurality of fin structures, sidewalls of the first contact being in direct contact with an insulator material of the first set of the fin structures, and a second contact landing on a work function material between a second set of fin structures of the plurality of fin structures, sidewalls of the second contact being in direct contact with the insulator material of the second set of the fin structures.

Abstract: An integrated circuit die includes a silicon substrate. PMOS and NMOS transistors are formed on the silicon substrate. The carrier mobilities of the PMOS and NMOS transistors are increased by introducing tensile stress into the channel regions of the NMOS transistors and compressive stress into the channel regions of the PMOS transistors. Tensile stress is introduced by including a region of SiGe below the channel region of the NMOS transistors. Compressive stress is introduced by including regions of SiGe in the source and drain regions of the PMOS transistors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented for optimizing a treatment plan for irradiation therapy. The method includes defining a single objective function based on a plurality of objective functions that are each associated with a plurality of tissue types within a subject, upper and lower bounds for each objective function and a plurality of apertures. The method also includes determining a radiation dose delivered to voxels of each tissue type based on minimizing the single objective function based on the plurality of apertures with initial values at each angle. The method also includes delivering a beam of radiation with controlled intensity and beam cross-sectional shape at each angle based on the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: Incorporation of metallic quantum dots (e.g., silver bromide (AgBr) films) into the source and drain regions of a MOSFET can assist in controlling the transistor performance by tuning the threshold voltage. If the silver bromide film is rich in bromine atoms, anion quantum dots are deposited, and the AgBr energy gap is altered so as to increase Vt. If the silver bromide film is rich in silver atoms, cation quantum dots are deposited, and the AgBr energy gap is altered so as to decrease Vt. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of neutral quantum dots of different sizes also varies Vt. Use of a mass spectrometer during film deposition can assist in varying the composition of the quantum dot film. The metallic quantum dots can be incorporated into ion-doped source and drain regions. Alternatively, the metallic quantum dots can be incorporated into epitaxially doped source and drain regions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating features of a semiconductor device includes forming a contact over a substrate, the contact including a cobalt core and a liner layer arranged on sidewalls, wherein the contact includes a portion that is laterally surrounded by an interlevel dielectric (ILD); depositing another layer of ILD on the contact; etching a first opening in the ILD to expose a surface of the contact; removing the liner layer of the contact to expose a portion of the cobalt core; etching the ILD that laterally surrounds the contact to form a second opening beneath the first opening, the second opening having a width that is less than the first opening; depositing a liner on sidewalls of the first opening, the second opening, and directly on the cobalt core; and depositing a metal on the liner layer to form an interconnect structure.

Abstract: A method for producing self-aligned line end vias and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming trenches in a dielectric layer; filling the trenches with a sacrificial layer; forming and etching a block mask over sacrificial layers to form a cut area over a portion of the trenches; forming spacers at sides of the cut area; removing the sacrificial layer from the portion of the trenches; forming a mask in the cut area and the portion of trenches, the mask selected from a HDP oxide, SiC or SiCNH; selectively etching the spacers; and selectively etching the sacrificial layer and the dielectric layer by RIE to form SAVs.

Abstract: Single gate and dual gate FinFET devices suitable for use in an SRAM memory array have respective fins, source regions, and drain regions that are formed from portions of a single, contiguous layer on the semiconductor substrate, so that STI is unnecessary. Pairs of FinFETs can be configured as dependent-gate devices wherein adjacent channels are controlled by a common gate, or as independent-gate devices wherein one channel is controlled by two gates. Metal interconnects coupling a plurality of the FinFET devices are made of a same material as the gate electrodes. Such structural and material commonalities help to reduce costs of manufacturing high-density memory arrays.

Abstract: It is recognized that, because of its unique properties, graphene can serve as an interface with biological cells that communicate by an electrical impulse, or action potential. Responding to a sensed signal can be accomplished by coupling a graphene sensor to a low power digital electronic switch that is activatable by the sensed low power electrical signals. It is further recognized that low power devices such as tunneling diodes and TFETs are suitable for use in such biological applications in conjunction with graphene sensors. While tunneling diodes can be used in diagnostic applications, TFETs, which are three-terminal devices, further permit controlling the voltage on one cell according to signals received by other cells. Thus, by the use of a biological sensor system that includes graphene nanowire sensors coupled to a TFET, charge can be redistributed among different biological cells, potentially with therapeutic effects.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a first dielectric layer above a semiconductor substrate, forming a first trench in the first dielectric layer, filling the first trench with electrically conductive material, removing upper portions of the electrically conductive material to define a lower conductive member with a recess thereabove, forming a filler dielectric material in the recess to define a second trench. The method may further include filling the second trench with electrically conductive material to define an upper conductive member, forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and upper conductive member, forming a first via through the second dielectric layer and underlying filler dielectric material to the lower conductive member, and forming a second via through the second dielectric layer to the upper conductive member.

Abstract: A sequence of processing steps presented herein is used to embed an optical signal path within an array of nanowires, using only one lithography step. Using the techniques disclosed, it is not necessary to mask electrical features while forming optical features, and vice versa. Instead, optical and electrical signal paths can be created substantially simultaneously in the same masking cycle. This is made possible by a disparity in the widths of the respective features, the optical signal paths being significantly wider than the electrical ones. Using a damascene process, the structures of disparate widths are plated with metal that over-fills narrow trenches and under-fills a wide trench. An optical cladding material can then be deposited into the trench so as to surround an optical core for light transmission.