Abstract: A fuse, a method of making the fuse and a circuit containing the fuse. The fuse includes an electrically conductive and conformal liner on sidewalls and the bottom of a trench; a copper layer on the conformal liner, a first thickness of the copper layer over the bottom of the trench in a lower portion of the trench greater than a second thickness of the copper layer over the sidewalls of the trench in an abutting upper portion of the trench; and a dielectric material on the copper layer in the trench, the dielectric material filling remaining space in the upper portion of said trench.

Abstract: A fin structure including a vertical alternating stack of a first isoelectric point material layer having a first isoelectric point and a second isoelectric material layer having a second isoelectric point less than the first isoelectric point is formed. The first and second isoelectric point material layers become oppositely charged in a solution with a pH between the first and second isoelectric points. Negative electrical charges are imparted onto carbon nanotubes by an anionic surfactant to the solution. The electrostatic attraction causes the carbon nanotubes to be selectively attached to the surfaces of the first isoelectric point material layer. Carbon nanotubes are attached to the first isoelectric point material layer in self-alignment along horizontal lengthwise directions of the fin structure. A transistor can be formed, which employs a plurality of vertically aligned horizontal carbon nanotubes as the channel.

Abstract: Stacked transistor devices include a lower channel layer formed on a substrate; a pair of vertically aligned source regions formed over the lower channel layer, where the pair of source regions are separated by an insulator; a pair of vertically aligned drain regions formed on the lower channel layer, where the pair of drain regions are separated by an insulator; a pair of vertically aligned gate regions formed on the lower gate dielectric layer; and an upper channel layer formed over the source regions, drain regions, and gate regions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming stacked transistors. Such methods include forming a lower channel layer on a substrate; forming a pair of vertically aligned gate regions over the lower channel layer; forming a pair of vertically aligned source regions and a pair of vertically aligned drain regions on the lower channel material, each pair separated by an insulator; forming an upper channel material over the source regions, drain regions, and gate regions; and providing electrical access to the source, drain, and gate regions.

Abstract: A data writing method for writing data into a physical erasing unit and a memory controller and a memory storage apparatus using the data writing method are provided. The method includes dividing the data into a plurality of information frames in a unit of one physical programming unit. The method also includes writing the information frames in sequence into at least one physical programming unit constituted by memory cells disposed on at least one first word line and programming the storage state of memory cells disposed on at least one second word line following the first word line to an auxiliary pattern. Accordingly, the method effectively prevents data stored in the physical erasing unit, which is not full of data, from being lost due to a high temperature.

Abstract: An method and structure of forming an electronic fuse. The method including forming a first metal line and a second metal line in a first interconnect level, wherein the first metal line is electrically insulated form the second metal line, and forming a via in a second interconnect level above the first interconnect level, the via electrically and physically connecting the first metal line with the second metal line. The via may create a sub-lithographic contact with the underlying metal line, thus increasing current density and probability of failure at a specific location.

Abstract: Transistors with self-aligned source/drain regions a gate structure embedded in a substrate; self-aligned source and drain contacts embedded in the substrate around the gate structure; and a channel layer over the gate structure and self-aligned source and drain contacts. The source and drain contacts extend above the channel layer.

Abstract: Transistors with self-aligned source/drain regions and methods for making the same. The methods include forming a gate structure embedded in a recess in a substrate; removing substrate material around the gate structure to create self-aligned source and drain recesses; forming a channel layer over the gate structure and the source and drain recesses; and forming source and drain contacts in the source and drain recesses, wherein the source and drain contacts extend above the channel layer.

Abstract: A transistor structure is formed to include a substrate and, overlying the substrate, a source; a drain; and a channel disposed vertically between the source and the drain. The channel is coupled to a gate conductor that surrounds the channel via a layer of gate dielectric material that surrounds the channel. The gate conductor is composed of a first electrically conductive material having a first work function that surrounds a first portion of a length of the channel and a second electrically conductive material having a second work function that surrounds a second portion of the length of the channel. A method to fabricate the transistor structure is also disclosed. The transistor structure can be characterized as being a vertical field effect transistor having an asymmetric gate.

Abstract: In a replacement gate scheme, a continuous material layer is deposited on a bottom surface and a sidewall surface in a gate cavity. A vertical portion of the continuous material layer is removed to form a gate component of which a vertical portion does not extend to a top of the gate cavity. The gate component can be employed as a gate dielectric or a work function material portion to form a gate structure that enhances performance of a replacement gate field effect transistor.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a FET semiconductor device, a FET structure with a gate channel and dummy gate is formed on a layer of substrate. The gate channel includes one or more FINs, and spacer layers that line the sides of the gate channel and abut the layer of substrate. The dummy gate is removed and the height of the gate channel is reduced to substantially near that of a top surface of one or more FINs. A layer of high-k material is deposited into the gate channel. A layer of first metal is then deposited that fills the gate channel and covers, at least in part, the layer of high-k material. Excess material is removed from the layers of high-k material and first metal to create a surface. A layer of second metal is selectively deposited onto the surface to form a continued gate conductor.

Abstract: Consumers are encouraged to register products that they purchase so that manufacturers can send updates about the purchased products, marketing offers, or other materials. However, processes in place to register products can be cumbersome and time-consuming so many consumers do not register the products that they use. Some consumers may rely on a purchase history maintained by select retailers but these purchase histories do not track purchases made by or for other consumers or purchases made by the consumer at other retailers. A third party server allows consumers to register products from multiple manufacturers via a consumer device. The registration is separate from the consumer's purchase history maintained by the retailers. Using the third party server, manufacturers can distribute product information and, subsequently, updated product information to the consumers based on the product registrations.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly for cooling a heat-generating component, such as a generator or power electronics module, within a wind turbine nacelle comprises a thermoelectric element, such as a Peltier element, having a first section arranged in a first region of relatively high temperature in contact with the heat-generating component or in the vicinity thereof, and a second section arranged in a second region of a relatively low temperature. The thermoelectric element is configured to transfer heat from the first region of relatively high temperature to the second region of relatively low temperature with consumption of electrical energy. A source of electrical energy is provided for the thermoelectric element, and a control unit may be provided for controlling the energy supply in order to control the temperature of the component or surface area cooled by the thermoelectric element. A further cooling element including a so-called heat pipe may be provided to enhance cooling efficiency.

Abstract: A gas cluster ion beam process is used to reduce and/or even eliminate metal void formation in an interconnect structure. In one embodiment, gas cluster ion beam etching forms a chamfer opening in an interconnect dielectric material. In another embodiment, gas cluster ion beam etching reduces the overhang profile of a diffusion barrier or a multilayered stack of a diffusion barrier and a plating seed layer that is formed within an opening located in an interconnect dielectric material. In yet another embodiment, a gas cluster ion beam process deactivates a surface of an interconnect dielectric material that is located at upper corners of an opening that is formed therein. In this embodiment, the gas cluster ion beam process deposits a material that deactivates the upper corners of each opening that is formed into an interconnect dielectric material.

Abstract: Replacement gate work function material stacks are provided, which provides a work function about the energy level of the conduction band of silicon. After removal of a disposable gate stack, a gate dielectric layer is formed in a gate cavity. A metallic compound layer including a metal and a non-metal element is deposited directly on the gate dielectric layer. At least one barrier layer and a conductive material layer is deposited and planarized to fill the gate cavity. The metallic compound layer includes a material having a work function about 4.4 eV or less, and can include a material selected from tantalum carbide and a hafnium-silicon alloy. Thus, the metallic compound layer can provide a work function that enhances the performance of an n-type field effect transistor employing a silicon channel.

Abstract: Randomized coded arrays and method of forming a randomized coded array. The methods include: forming a dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming an array of openings extending through the dielectric layer; introducing particles into a random set of less than all of the openings; and forming a conductive material in each opening of the array of openings, thereby creating the randomized coded array, wherein a first resistance of a pathway through the conductive material in openings containing the particles is different from a second resistance of a path through openings not containing the particles. Also, a physically unclonable function embodied in a circuit.

Abstract: FinFET structures and methods of manufacturing the FinFET structures are disclosed. The method includes performing an oxygen anneal process on a gate stack of a FinFET structure to induce Vt shift. The oxygen anneal process is performed after sidewall pull down and post silicide.

Abstract: A gate structure in a semiconductor device includes: a gate stack formed on a substrate with three sections: a bottom portion, a top portion, and a sacrificial cap layer over the top portion; gate spacers; source and drain regions; a nitride encapsulation over top and sidewalls of the gate stack after removal of the sacrificial cap layer; an organic planarizing layer over the nitride encapsulation, planarizing the encapsulation; and silicidation performed over the source and drain regions and the bottom portion after removal of the nitride encapsulation, the organic planarizing layer, and the top portion of the gate stack.

Abstract: A hybrid interconnect structure (of the single or dual damascene type) is provided in which a dense (i.e., non-porous) dielectric spacer is present on the sidewalls of a dielectric material. More specifically, the structure includes a dielectric material having a conductive material embedded within at least one opening in the dielectric material, wherein the conductive material is laterally spaced apart from the dielectric material by a diffusion barrier, a dense dielectric spacer and, optionally, an air gap. The presence of the dense dielectric spacer results in a hybrid interconnect structure that has improved reliability and performance. Moreover, the hybrid interconnect structure provides for better process control which leads to the potential for high volume manufacturing.

Abstract: In a circuit structure, PFET devices have a gate dielectric including a high-k dielectric, a gatestack with a metal, a p-source/drain and silicide layer formed over the p-source/drain; NFET devices include a gate dielectric including a high-k dielectric, a gatestack with a metal, an n-source/drain and silicide layer formed over the n-source/drain. An epitaxial SiGe is present underneath and in direct contact with the PFET gate dielectric, while the epitaxial SiGe is absent underneath the NFET gate dielectric.