Abstract: A surrounded emitter bipolar device includes a substrate having a p-epitaxial (p-epi) layer thereon, and a p-base in the p-epi layer. A two dimensional (2D) array of p-base contacts (base units) include the p-base, wherein each base unit includes an outer dielectric structure surrounding an inner dielectric isolation ring. The inner dielectric isolation ring surrounds an n region (n+moat). A first portion of the n+moats are collector (C) units, and a second portion of the n+moats are emitter (E) units. Each of the E units is separated from a nearest neighbor E unit by a C unit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit that includes a substrate, a photodiode, and a Fresnel structure. The photodiode is formed on the substrate, and it has a p-n junction. The Fresnel structure is formed above the photodiode, and it defines a focal zone that is positioned within a proximity of the p-n junction. In one aspect, the Fresnel structure may include a trench pattern that functions as a diffraction means for redirecting and concentrating incident photons to the focal zone. In another aspect, the Fresnel structure may include a wiring pattern that functions as a diffraction means for redirecting and concentrating incident photons to the focal zone. In yet another aspect, the Fresnel structure may include a transparent dielectric pattern that functions as a refractive means for redirecting and concentrating incident photons to the focal zone.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a stacked NPN having an upper NPN connected to a lower NPN. The upper NPN includes an upper collector, an upper base, and an upper emitter. The lower NPN includes a lower collector, a lower base, and a lower emitter. The upper collector includes collector segments on opposite sides of the lower emitter. The collector segments are laterally separated by collector separators which are aligned to orientation directions in the collector segments. The upper collector does not have collector separators across the orientation directions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit that includes a substrate, a photodiode, and a Fresnel structure. The photodiode is formed on the substrate, and it has a p-n junction. The Fresnel structure is formed above the photodiode, and it defines a focal zone that is positioned within a proximity of the p-n junction. In one aspect, the Fresnel structure may include a trench pattern that functions as a diffraction means for redirecting and concentrating incident photons to the focal zone. In another aspect, the Fresnel structure may include a wiring pattern that functions as a diffraction means for redirecting and concentrating incident photons to the focal zone. In yet another aspect, the Fresnel structure may include a transparent dielectric pattern that functions as a refractive means for redirecting and concentrating incident photons to the focal zone.

Abstract: A transistor includes an emitter of a first conductivity type, base of a second conductivity type, collector of the first conductivity type, and cathode of a lateral suppression diode. The emitter is disposed at a top surface of the transistor and configured to receive electrical current from an external source. The base is configured to conduct the electrical current from the collector to the emitter. The base is disposed at the top surface of the transistor and laterally between the emitter and the collector. The collector is configured to attract and collect minority carriers from the base. The cathode of the first conductivity type is surrounded by the base and disposed between the emitter and the collector, and the cathode is configured to suppress a lateral flow of the minority carriers from the base to the collector.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductive type. The optical sensor further includes a photodiode disposed on the semiconductor substrate and a metal layer. The photodiode includes a first semiconductor layer having the first conductive type and a second semiconductor layer, formed on the first semiconductor layer, including a plurality of cathodes having a second conductive type. The first semiconductor layer is configured to collect photocurrent upon reception of incident light. The cathodes are configured to be electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer is configured to, based on the collected photocurrent, to track the incident light. The metal layer further includes a pinhole configured to collimate the incident light, and the plurality of cathodes form a rotational symmetry of order n with respect to an axis of the pinhole.

Abstract: RESURF-based dual-gate p-n bimodal conduction laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductors (LDMOS). In an illustrative embodiment, a p-type source is electrically coupled to an n-type drain. A p-type drain is electrically coupled to an n-type source. An n-type layer serves as an n-type conduction channel between the n-type drain and the n-type source. A p-type top layer is disposed at the surface of the substrate of said semiconductor device and is disposed above and adjacent to the n-type layer. The p-type top layer serves as a p-type conduction channel between the p-type source and the p-type drain. An n-gate controls current flow in the n-type conduction channel, and a p-gate controls current flow in the p-type conduction channel.

Abstract: An integrated circuit which includes a field-plated FET is formed by forming a first opening in a layer of oxide mask, exposing an area for a drift region. Dopants are implanted into the substrate under the first opening. Subsequently, dielectric sidewalls are formed along a lateral boundary of the first opening. A field relief oxide is formed by thermal oxidation in the area of the first opening exposed by the dielectric sidewalls. The implanted dopants are diffused into the substrate to form the drift region, extending laterally past the layer of field relief oxide. The dielectric sidewalls and layer of oxide mask are removed after the layer of field relief oxide is formed. A gate is formed over a body of the field-plated FET and over the adjacent drift region. A field plate is formed immediately over the field relief oxide adjacent to the gate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for quantum point contacts. In an arrangement, a quantum point contact device includes at least one well region in a portion of a semiconductor substrate and doped to a first conductivity type; a gate structure disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate; the gate structure further comprising a quantum point contact formed in a constricted area, the constricted area having a width and a length arranged so that a maximum dimension is less than a predetermined distance equal to about 35 nanometers; a drain/source region in the well region doped to a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type; a source/drain region in the well region doped to the second conductivity type; a first and second lightly doped drain region in the at least one well region. Additional methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductive type. The optical sensor further includes a photodiode disposed on the semiconductor substrate and a metal layer. The photodiode includes a first semiconductor layer having the first conductive type and a second semiconductor layer, formed on the first semiconductor layer, including a plurality of cathodes having a second conductive type. The first semiconductor layer is configured to collect photocurrent upon reception of incident light. The cathodes are configured to be electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer is configured to, based on the collected photocurrent, to track the incident light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for artificial exciton devices. An artificial exciton device includes a semiconductor substrate; at least one well region doped to a first conductivity type in a portion of the semiconductor substrate; a channel region in a central portion of the well region; a cathode region in the well region doped to a second conductivity type; an anode region in the well region doped to the first conductivity type; a first lightly doped drain region disposed between the cathode region and the channel region doped to the first conductivity type; a second lightly doped drain region disposed between the anode region and the channel region doped to the second conductivity type; and a gate structure overlying the channel region, the gate structure comprising a gate dielectric layer lying over the channel region and a gate conductor material overlying the gate dielectric. Methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for a Laterally Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor (LDMOS) with Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) in the backgate region of FET with trench contacts is provided. The backgate diffusion region of the FET is split in the middle of the source-backgate side of the LDMOS with a strip of STI. A contact can be drawn across STI strip. The contact etch can be etched through the STI fill. The contact barrier material and trench fill processes can create a metal-semiconductor contact in the outline of the STI.

Abstract: An ESD cell includes an n+ buried layer (NBL) within a p-epi layer on a substrate. An outer deep trench isolation ring (outer DT ring) includes dielectric sidewalls having a deep n-type diffusion (DEEPN diffusion) ring (DEEPN ring) contacting the dielectric sidewall extending downward to the NBL. The DEEPN ring defines an enclosed p-epi region. A plurality of inner DT structures are within the enclosed p-epi region having dielectric sidewalls and DEEPN diffusions contacting the dielectric sidewalls extending downward from the topside surface to the NBL. The inner DT structures have a sufficiently small spacing with one another so that adjacent DEEPN diffusion regions overlap to form continuous wall of n-type material extending from a first side to a second side of the outer DT ring dividing the enclosed p-epi region into a first and second p-epi region. The first and second p-epi region are connected by the NBL.

Abstract: A laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device includes a substrate having a p-epi layer thereon, a p-body region in the p-epi layer and an ndrift (NDRIFT) region within the p-body to provide a drain extension region. A gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer over a channel region in the p-body region adjacent to and on respective sides of a junction with the NDRIFT region. A patterned gate electrode is on the gate dielectric. A DWELL region is within the p-body region. A source region is within the DWELL region, and a drain region is within the NDRIFT region. An effective channel length (Leff) for the LDMOS device is 75 nm to 150 nm which evidences a DWELL implant that utilized an edge of the gate electrode to delineate an edge of a DWELL ion implant so that the DWELL region is self-aligned to the gate electrode.

Abstract: An ESD cell includes an n+ buried layer (NBL) within a p-epi layer on a substrate. An outer deep trench isolation ring (outer DT ring) includes dielectric sidewalls having a deep n-type diffusion (DEEPN diffusion) ring (DEEPN ring) contacting the dielectric sidewall extending downward to the NBL. The DEEPN ring defines an enclosed p-epi region. A plurality of inner DT structures are within the enclosed p-epi region having dielectric sidewalls and DEEPN diffusions contacting the dielectric sidewalls extending downward from the topside surface to the NBL. The inner DT structures have a sufficiently small spacing with one another so that adjacent DEEPN diffusion regions overlap to form continuous wall of n-type material extending from a first side to a second side of the outer DT ring dividing the enclosed p-epi region into a first and second p-epi region. The first and second p-epi region are connected by the NBL.

Abstract: A laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device includes a substrate having a p-epi layer thereon, a p-body region in the p-epi layer and an ndrift (NDRIFT) region within the p-body to provide a drain extension region. A gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer over a channel region in the p-body region adjacent to and on respective sides of a junction with the NDRIFT region. A patterned gate electrode is on the gate dielectric. A DWELL region is within the p-body region. A source region is within the DWELL region, and a drain region is within the NDRIFT region. An effective channel length (Leff) for the LDMOS device is 75 nm to 150 nm which evidences a DWELL implant that utilized an edge of the gate electrode to delineate an edge of a DWELL ion implant so that the DWELL region is self-aligned to the gate electrode.

Abstract: In described examples, an embedded thermoelectric device is formed by forming isolation trenches in a substrate, concurrently between CMOS transistors and between thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches to provide field oxide which laterally isolates the CMOS transistors and the thermoelectric elements. Germanium is implanted into the substrate in areas for the thermoelectric elements, and the substrate is subsequently annealed, to provide a germanium density of at least 0.10 atomic percent in the thermoelectric elements between the isolation trenches. The germanium may be implanted before the isolation trenches are formed, after the isolation trenches are formed and before the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches, and/or after the dielectric material is formed in the isolation trenches.

Abstract: A first silicon controlled rectifier has a breakdown voltage in a first direction and a breakdown voltage in a second direction. A second silicon controlled rectifier has a breakdown voltage with a higher magnitude than the first silicon controlled rectifier in the first direction, and a breakdown voltage with a lower magnitude than the first silicon controlled rectifier in the second direction. A bidirectional electrostatic discharge (ESD) structure utilizes both the first silicon controlled rectifier and the second silicon controlled rectifier to provide bidirectional protection.

Abstract: In described examples, an integrated circuit containing CMOS transistors and an embedded thermoelectric device may be formed by forming active areas which provide transistor active areas for an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor of the CMOS transistors and provide n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements of the embedded thermoelectric device. Stretch contacts with lateral aspect ratios greater than 4:1 are formed over the n-type thermoelectric elements and p-type thermoelectric elements to provide electrical and thermal connections through metal interconnects to a thermal node of the embedded thermoelectric device. The stretch contacts are formed by forming contact trenches in a dielectric layer, filling the contact trenches with contact metal and subsequently removing the contact metal from over the dielectric layer. The stretch contacts are formed concurrently with contacts to the NMOS and PMOS transistors.

Abstract: This invention relates to field photodiodes based on PN junctions that suffer from dark current leakage. An NBL is added to prove a second PN junction with the anode. The second PN junction is reversed biased in order to remove dark current leakage. The present solution requires no additional masks or thin films steps relative to a conventional CMOS process flow.