Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes at least one bipolar transistor. At least one isolation structure is disposed in a substrate. The at least one isolation structure is configured to electrically isolate two terminals of the at least one bipolar transistor. At least one diode is electrically coupled with the at least one bipolar transistor, wherein a junction interface of the at least one diode is disposed adjacent the at least one isolation structure.

Abstract: A high voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor laterally diffused device (HV LDMOS) and a method of making it are provided in this disclosure. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure formed on the substrate, a source and a drain formed in the substrate on either side of the gate structure, a first doped well formed in the substrate, and a second doped well formed in the first well. One portion of the second well surrounds the source and the other portion of the second well extends laterally from the first portion in the first well.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided that, in an embodiment, is in the form of a high voltage MOS (HVMOS) device. The device includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate structure formed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric which has a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness. A gate electrode is disposed on the first and second portion. In an embodiment, a drift region underlies the second portion of the gate dielectric. A method of fabricating the same is also provided.

Abstract: A high voltage (HV) device includes a well region of a first dopant type disposed in a substrate. A first well region of a second dopant type is disposed in the well region of the first dopant type. An isolation structure is at least partially disposed in the well region of the first dopant type. A first gate electrode is disposed over the isolation structure and the first well region of the second dopant type. A second well region of the second dopant type is disposed in the well region of the first dopant type. The second well region of the second dopant type is spaced from the first well region of the second dopant type. A second gate electrode is disposed between and over the first well region of the second dopant type and the second well region of the second dopant type.

Abstract: A method for forming a support structure for supporting and handling a semiconductor wafer containing vertical FETs formed at the front surface thereof is provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor wafer is provided having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the front surface comprises one or more dies separated by dicing lines. The wafer is thinned to a predetermined thickness. A plurality of patterned metal features are formed on a thinned rear surface to provide support for the wafer, wherein each of the plurality of patterned metal features covers substantially one die, leaving the dicing lines substantially uncovered. The wafer is thereafter diced along the dicing lines to separate the one or more dies for later chip packaging.

Abstract: A high voltage (HV) device includes a gate dielectric structure over a substrate. The gate dielectric structure has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first thickness and is over a first well region of a first dopant type in the substrate. The second portion has a second thickness and is over a second well region of a second dopant type. The first thickness is larger than the second thickness. A gate electrode is disposed over the gate dielectric structure. A metallic layer is over and coupled with the gate electrode. The metallic layer extends along a direction of a channel under the gate dielectric structure. At least one source/drain (S/D) region is disposed within the first well region of the first dopant type.

Abstract: A semiconductor device provides a high breakdown voltage and a low turn-on resistance. The device includes: a substrate; a buried n+ layer disposed in the substrate; an n-epi layer disposed over the buried n+ layer; a p-well disposed in the n-epi layer; a source n+ region disposed in the p-well and connected to a source contact on one side; a first insulation layer disposed on top of the p-well and the n-epi layer; a gate disposed on top of the first insulation layer; and a metal electrode extending from the buried n+ layer to a drain contact, wherein the metal electrode is insulated from the n-epi layer and the p-well using by a second insulation layer.

Abstract: A method for forming self-aligned contact (SAC) is disclosed to improve device reliability. The method includes forming a dielectric liner over the contact opening before the contact plug is filled in. Optional contact implantation before and after the liner formation can be added to enhance the doping profile of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-reflection films for lithographic application on polysilicon containing substrate. A structure for improving lithography patterning in an integrated circuit comprises a polysilicon layer, a diaphanous layer located above the polysilicon layer, an anti-reflection layer located above the diaphanous layer, and then a photoresist layer located above the anti-reflection layer for patterning the integrated circuit pattern. The anti-reflection layer is preferably oxynitride.

Abstract: A gate silicon oxide layer is formed on the silicon substrate. A doped layer of polysilicon is formed over the gate silicon oxide layer. The polysilicon layer is patterned to provide the gate electrodes of the transistor. Source/drain regions are formed through ion implantation followed by spacer formation. A node contact oxide is blanket deposited and an opening is formed therein to the silicon substrate at the location of the buried contact. A dual layer of polysilicon is deposited over the node contact oxide and within the opening to the substrate. This dual layer consists of a bottom layer of undoped polysilicon and a top layer of in-situ doped polysilicon wherein the relative thicknesses of the two layers have been determined to optimize both concentration of dopant at the surface of the capacitor node and junction depth. The substrate is annealed to drive in the buried junction. The dual polysilicon layers are patterned to form the capacitor node.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon oxide isolation region on the surface of a silicon wafer consisting of a thin layer of silicon oxide on the wafer, a layer of impurity-doped polysilicon, and a layer of silicon nitride. The oxidation mask is formed by patterning the silicon nitride layer and at least a portion of the doped polysilicon layer. The silicon oxide field isolation region is formed by subjecting the structure to a thermal oxidation ambient. The oxidation mask is removed in one continuous etching step using a single etchant, such as phosphoric acid which etches the silicon nitride and polysilicon layers at substantially the same rate to complete the formation of the isolation region without pitting the monocrystalline substrate.

Abstract: A method for making a DRAM MOSFET integrated circuit and resulting device having low leakage and long retention time in a semiconductor wafer is described. A pattern of gate dielectric and gate electrode structures is provided over the semiconductor wafer having a first conductivity imparting dopant in the cell array region and the peripheral circuits region of the integrated circuit. The pattern of gate dielectric and gate electrode structures as a mask for ion implantation to form lightly doped regions of a second and opposite conductivity imparting dopant in the semiconductor wafer wherein certain of the lightly doped regions within the cell array region are to be bit line regions and capacitor node regions. A capacitor is formed within the cell array region. An interlevel dielectric insulating layer is formed over the surface of the structure. A highly doped bit line contact is formed to the bit line regions.

Abstract: A method for fabricating DRAM capacitors is described. Field effect devices are foraged in the silicon substrate. A first oxide layer is formed over the device and field oxide areas. The capacitors are formed by first depositing a heavily doped silicon layer over the device and field oxide areas. Then forming openings to the desired source/drain structures by etching through the silicon layer, and first oxide layers, wherein the opening extends over a portion of the gate electrode polysilicon layer of the gate structure and the field oxide areas. An undoped polysilicon layer is deposited over the openings to the source/drain structures. Patterning anisotropically the silicon and molysilicon layers so as to have their remaining portions over the planned capacitor areas, and wherein a portion of the heavily doped silicon layer remains over both the portion of the polysilicon gate electrode of the gate structure and the field oxide areas.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon oxide isolation region on the surface of a silicon wafer consisting of a thin layer of silicon oxide on the wafer, a layer of impurity-doped polysilicon, and a layer of silicon nitride. The oxidation mask is formed by patterning the silicon nitride layer and at least a portion of the doped polysilicon layer. The silicon oxide field isolation region is formed by subjecting the structure to a thermal oxidation ambient. The oxidation mask is removed in one continuous etching step using a single etchant, such as phosphoric acid which etches the silicon nitride and polysilicon layers at substantially the same rate to complete the formation of the isolation region without pitting the monocrystalline substrate.

Abstract: A method and resulting structure for defining a dielectric layer thickness and etching openings having a desired aspect ratio through said dielectric layer covering regions in the peripheral circuits of a DRAM integrated circuit to be electrically contacted in a semiconductor wafer is described. The DRAM integrated circuit including the peripheral circuits to be electrically contacted is provide in the semiconductor wafer. A first conductive polysilicon layer is formed over said DRAM integrated circuit and the layer is patterned to leave the layer over the peripheral circuits. A first interlevel dielectric layer is formed over the polysilicon layer which has been patterned. A second conductive polysilicon layer is formed over the first interlevel dielectric layer and patterned to leave the layer over areas other than the peripheral circuits.

Abstract: A new method to produce a microminiturized capacitor having a roughened surface electrode is achieved. The method involves depositing a first polycrystalline or amorphous silicon layer over a suitable insulating base. The silicon layer is either in situ heavily, uniformly doped or deposited undoped and thereafter heavily doped by ion implantation followed by heating. The structure is annealed at above about 875.degree. C. to render any amorphous silicon polycrystalline and to adjust the crystal grain size of the layer. The polysilicon surface is no subjected to a solution of phosphoric acid at a temperature of above about 140.degree. C. to partially etch the surface and cause the uniformly roughened surface. A capacitor dielectric layer is deposited thereover. The capacitor structure is completed by depositing a second thin polycrystalline silicon layer over the capacitor dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor devices having field oxide isolation with channel stop is described which overcomes the encroachment problems of the prior art. A semiconductor substrate is provided. A multilayer oxidation masking structure of a silicon oxide layer, a polycrystalline silicon layer and a silicon nitride layer is formed. The multilayer oxidation mask is patterned by removing the silicon nitride layer and a portion of the polycrystalline silicon layer in the areas designated to have field oxide isolation grown therein. A sidewall insulator structure is formed on the exposed sidewalls of the patterned oxidation mask. Impurities are implanted into the area designated to have field oxide isolation to form the channel stop. The sidewall insulator structure is removed. The field oxide insulator structure is grown by subjecting the structure to oxidation whereby the channel stop is confined under the field oxide isolation and not encroaching the planned device regions.