Abstract: A memory cell is disclosed which comprises a filament channel transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The transistor comprises a substantially cylindrical channel filament which is formed substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface between the surface and the capacitor. The capacitor comprises a storage layer which can be formed of a ferroelectric material such that the memory cell is nonvolatile. The storage layer may also comprise a high dielectric material such that the memory cell is operable as a dynamic random access memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor module that densely packs integrated circuit chips to provide electronic systems or large memory modules in an array of stacked silicon boards. The semiconductor chips may be flip mounted and the back side of each chip is in thermal contact with an adjacent silicon board to provide heat conduction away from the chip.

Abstract: A memory cell is disclosed which comprises a filament channel transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The transistor comprises a substantially cylindrical channel filament which is formed substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface between the surface and the capacitor. The capacitor comprises a storage layer which can be formed of a ferroelectric material such that the memory cell is nonvolatile. The storage layer may also comprise a high dielectric material such that the memory cell is operable as a dynamic random access memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor module that densely packs integrated circuit chips to provide electronic systems or large memory modules in an array of stacked silicon boards. The semiconductor chips may be flip mounted and the back side of each chip is in thermal contact with an adjacent silicon board to provide heat conduction away from the chip.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and a device wherein circuit elements (10) are formed on the surface of a semiconductor body (12). A layer of oxide (22) is applied over the circuit element (10). An aperture (32) is opened through the oxide layer (22). The surface of oxide layer (22) is nonuniformly substantially roughened. A layer of metal (24) such as aluminum is formed over the oxide layer (22) and extends into the aperture (32) for contact with a portion of the device (10). The layer of metal (24) has increased granular structure and a roughened exterior surface to provide enhanced electromigration properties.

Abstract: A transistor for VLSI devices made by the sidewall-spacer method uses a reach-through implant both before and after the sidewall spacer is defined. An arsenic implant self-aligned with the gate prior to the sidewall oxide, then a phosphorus implant and lateral diffusion performed after the sidewall oxide etch creates a reduced impurity concentration and graded junction for the reach-through implanted region beneath the oxide sidewall spacer. An arsenic implant after the sidewall spacer is in place provides heavily-doped low-resistance source/drain regions.

Abstract: A simplified process for metal gate and contact/interconnect systems for MOS VLSI devices employs a refractory metal structure for the gate, including a thick layer of tungsten alone, with stress and adhesion controlled by the deposition conditions. The metal gate receives sidewall oxide spacers during a metal-cladding operation for the source/drain areas. Contacts to the source/drain region include a molybdenum/tungsten stack and a top layer of gold.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and a device wherein circuit elements (10) are formed on the surface of a semiconductor body (12). A layer of oxide (22) is applied over the circuit element (10). An aperture (32) is opened through the oxide layer (22). The surface of oxide layer (22) is nonuniformly substantially roughened. A layer of metal (24) such as aluminum is formed over the oxide layer (22) and extends into the aperture (32) for contact with a portion of the device (10). The layer of metal (24) has increased granular structure and a roughened exterior surface to provide enhanced electromigration properties.

Abstract: A simplified process for metal gate and contact/interconnect system for MOS VLSI devices employs a refractory metal structure for the gate, including a thick layer of tungsten alone, with stress and adhesion controlled by the deposition conditions. The metal gate receives sidewall oxide spacers during a metal-cladding operation for the source/drain areas. Contacts to the source/drain region include a molybdenum/tungsten stack and a top layer of gold.

Abstract: A metal gate and contact/interconnect system for MOS VLSI devices employs a multiple-level refractory metal structure including a thin layer of molybdenum for adhesion to oxide and a thicker layer of tungsten over the molybdenum. The metal gate is encapsulated in oxide during a self-aligned siliciding operation. A contact to the silicide-clad source/drain region includes a thin tungsten layer, then the molybdenum/tungstem stack, and a top layer of gold.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is programmed by a laser beam which causes an electrical short between two conductors on a silicon substrate, as by melting an insulator between the conductors and fusing or shorting the conductors. The conductors may be first and second levels of polycrystalline silicon in a standard double-level poly process, and the insulator is thermal silicon oxide. The laser beam is focused on an area which is shielded from the silicon substrate by the first-level conductor, so heating and disruption of the substrate or underlying circuit structure is minimized.

Abstract: Molybdenum-gate transistors with self-aligned, silicided source/drain regions are made by a process that avoids unwanted etching of the molybdenum of the gate when the unreacted metal used for siliciding is removed. The molybdenum gate is protected by encapsulating with a cap oxide and sidewall oxide; this encapsulation is applied in a manner to seal the interfaces between the two oxides. The oxides may be dual layer--first plasma deposited then phosphorus doped CVD oxide. A dilute sulphuric acid etch may be used to remove unreacted titanium employed for the siliciding.

Abstract: A molybdenum mask is used instead of a photoresist mask in defining and etching an oxide-encapsulated molybdenum gate in a VLSI manufacturing method. The molybdenum mask is first defined by a photoresist mask, then the photoresist is removed, leaving the molybdenum mask. A long over etch can then be tolerated so that oxide filaments can be avoided; this would be otherwise unreliable due to damage to photoresist during the over etch.

Abstract: Metal contacts and interconnections for semiconductor integrated circuits are formed by a process of two metal depositions to increase step or sidewall coverage. After a first layer of metal is deposited, a preferential etch removes all of the metal except on the vertical sides of steps or apertures. A second layer of metal is deposited over the remaining parts of the first, resulting in smoother transistions and greater thickness at steps.