Abstract: A method and structure is disclosed for a transistor having a gate, a channel region below the gate, a source region on one side of the channel region, a drain region on an opposite side of the channel region from the source region, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in the substrate between the drain region and the channel region, and a drain extension below the STI region. The drain extension is positioned along a bottom of the STI region and along a portion of sides of the STI. Portions of the drain extension along the bottom of the STI may comprise different dopant implants than the portions of the drain extensions along the sides of the STI. Portions of the drain extensions along sides of the STI extend from the bottom of the STI to a position partially up the sides of the STI. The STI region is below a portion of the gate. The drain extension provides a conductive path between the drain region and the channel region around a lower perimeter of the STI.

Abstract: A vertically oriented FET having a self-aligned dog-bone structure as well as a method for fabricating the same are provided. Specifically, the vertically oriented FET includes a channel region, a source region and a drain region. The channel region has a first horizontal width and the source and drain regions having a second horizontal width that is greater than the first horizontal width. Each of the source and drain regions have tapered portions abutting the channel region with a horizontal width that varies in a substantially linear manner from the first horizontal width to the second horizontal width.

Abstract: An asymmetric field effect transistor (FET) that has a threshold voltage that is compatible with current CMOS circuit designs and a low-resistance gate electrode is provided. Specifically, the asymmetric FET includes a p-type gate portion and an n-type gate portion on a vertical semiconductor body; an interconnect between the p-type gate portion and the n-type gate portion; and a planarizing structure above the interconnect.

Abstract: A method for detecting semiconductor process stress-induced defects. The method comprising: providing a polysilicon-bounded test diode, the diode comprising a diffused first region within an upper portion of a second region of a silicon substrate, the second region of an opposite dopant type from the first region, the first region surrounded by a peripheral dielectric isolation, a peripheral polysilicon gate comprising a polysilicon layer over a dielectric layer and the gate overlapping a peripheral portion of the first region; stressing the diode; and monitoring the stressed diode for spikes in gate current during the stress, determining the frequency distribution of the slope of the forward bias voltage versus the first region current at the pre-selected forward bias voltage and monitoring, after stress, the diode for soft breakdown. A DRAM cell may be substituted for the diode. The use of the diode as an antifuse is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mask/wafer control structure and an algorithm for placement thereof provide for data placement of measurement control structures, called a PLS, Process limiting Structure, on a mask and a plurality of chips on the wafer which provide for tighter control of both mask manufacture and wafer production by providing the most critical design structures for measurement during creation of the mask, and in the photolithography and etch processes. The PLS structures are located at multiple locations throughout the chip, and so they receive the same data preparation as the chip, and measurement tools are able to measure the same features at each fabrication step from fabrication of the mask to final formation of the etched features. Manufacturing control and the interlock between the wafer fabrication and the mask fabrication are enhanced, allowing for improved quality of the final product.

Abstract: A method of ensuring against deterioration of an underlying silicide layer over which a refractory material layer is deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is realized by first providing a continuous polysilicon layer prior to the refractory material deposition. The continuous polysilicon layer, preferably no thicker than 50 Å, serves a sacrificial purpose and prevents interaction between any fluorine that is released during the refractory material deposition step from interacting with the underlying silicide.

Abstract: A method for detecting semiconductor process stress-induced defects. The method comprising: providing a polysilicon-bounded test diode, the diode comprising a diffused first region within an upper portion of a second region of a silicon substrate, the second region of an opposite dopant type from the first region, the first region surrounded by a peripheral dielectric isolation, a peripheral polysilicon gate comprising a polysilicon layer over a dielectric layer and the gate overlapping a peripheral portion of the first region; stressing the diode; and monitoring the stressed diode for spikes in gate current during the stress, determining the frequency distribution of the slope of the forward bias voltage versus the first region current at the pre-selected forward bias voltage and monitoring, after stress, the diode for soft breakdown. A DRAM cell may be substituted for the diode. The use of the diode as an antifuse is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for fabricating a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a double-gate and a double-channel wherein the gate region is self-aligned to the channel regions and the source/drain diffusion junctions. The present invention also relates to the FIN MOSFFET structure which is formed using method of the present invention.

Abstract: A body contact structure utilizing an insulating structure between the body contact portion of the active area and the transistor portion of the active area is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention substitutes an insulator for at least a portion of the gate layer in the regions between the transistor and the body contact. In another embodiment, a portion of the gate layer is removed and replaced with an insulative layer in regions between the transistor and the body contact. In still another embodiment, the insulative structure is formed by forming multiple layers of gate dielectric between the gate and the body in regions between the transistor and the body contact. The body contact produced by these methods adds no significant gate capacitance to the gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; and an SRAM comprising four NFETs and two PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the NFET and PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region, wherein the bodies of two of the NFETs are electrically connected to ground. Additionally, the bodies of the two PFETs are electrically connected to VDD.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for fabrication of fin-type field effect transistors (FinFETs) and thick-body devices on the same chip using common masks and steps to achieve greater efficiency than prior methods. The reduction in the number of masks and steps is achieved by using common masks and steps with several scaling strategies. In one embodiment, the structure normally associated with a FinFET is created on the side of a thick silicon mesa, the bulk of which is doped to connect with a body contact on the opposite side of the mesa. The invention also includes FinFETs, thick-body devices, and chips fabricated by the methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for fabricating a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a double-gate and a double-channel wherein the gate region is self-aligned to the channel regions and the source/drain diffusion junctions. The present invention also relates to the FIN MOSFFET structure which is formed using method of the present invention.

Abstract: A vertically oriented FET having a self-aligned dog-bone structure as well as a method for fabricating the same are provided. Specifically, the vertically oriented FET includes a channel region, a source region and a drain region. The channel region has a first horizontal width and the source and drain regions having a second horizontal width that is greater than the first horizontal width. Each of the source and drain regions have tapered portions abutting the channel region with a horizontal width that varies in a substantially linear manner from the first horizontal width to the second horizontal width.

Abstract: A body contact structure utilizing an insulating structure between the body contact portion of the active area and the transistor portion of the active area is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention substitutes an insulator for at least a portion of the gate layer in the regions between the transistor and the body contact. In another embodiment, a portion of the gate layer is removed and replaced with an insulative layer in regions between the transistor and the body contact. In still another embodiment, the insulative structure is formed by forming multiple layers of gate dielectric between the gate and the body in regions between the transistor and the body contact. The body contact produced by these methods adds no significant gate capacitance to the gate.

Abstract: Standard photolithography is used to pattern and fabricate a final polysilicon wafer imaged structure which is smaller than normal allowable photo-lithographic minimum dimensions. Three different methods are provided to produce such sub-minimum dimension structures, a first method uses a photolithographic mask with a sub-minimum space between minimum size pattern features of the mask, a second method uses a photolithographic mask with a sub-minimum widthwise jog or offset between minimum size pattern features of the mask, and a third method is a combination of the first and second methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device design and method for forming Field Effect Transistors (FETs) that have improved performance without negative impacts to device density. The present invention forms high-gain p-channel transistors by forming them on silicon islands where hole mobility has been increased. The hole mobility is increased by applying physical straining to the silicon islands. By straining the silicon islands, the hole mobility is increased resulting in increased device gain. This is accomplished without requiring an increase in the size of the devices, or the size of the contacts to the devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor device fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator substrate and having an active well scheme as well as methods, including a non-self-aligned and self-aligned, of fabricating such a device are disclosed herein. The semiconductor device includes field effect transistor 124 comprising at least body region 127 and diffusion regions 132; buried interconnect plane 122 optionally self-aligned to diffusion regions 132 and in contact with body region 127; isolation oxide region 118 between diffusion regions 132 and buried interconnect plane 122; and buried oxide layer 104 present beneath buried interconnect plane 122.

Abstract: A double gated silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFET is fabricated by using a mandrel shallow trench isolation formation process, followed by a damascene gate. The double gated MOSFET features narrow diffusion lines defined sublithographically or lithographically and shrunk, damascene process defined by an STI-like mandrel process. The double gated SOI MOSFET increases current drive per layout width and provides low out conductance.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprising: an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer on top of a buried insulator; and an SRAM comprising four NFETs and two PFETs located in the thin silicon layer, each the NFET and PFET having a body region between a source region and a drain region, wherein the bodies of two of the NFETs are electrically connected to ground. Additionally, the bodies of the two PFETs are electrically connected to VDD.

Abstract: A method for detecting semiconductor process stress-induced defects. The method comprising: providing a polysilicon-bounded test diode, the diode comprising a diffused first region within an upper portion of a second region of a silicon substrate, the second region of an opposite dopant type from the first region, the first region surrounded by a peripheral dielectric isolation, a peripheral polysilicon gate comprising a polysilicon layer over a dielectric layer and the gate overlapping a peripheral portion of the first region; stressing the diode; and monitoring the stressed diode for spikes in gate current during the stress, determining the frequency distribution of the slope of the forward bias voltage versus the first region current at the pre-selected forward bias voltage and monitoring, after stress, the diode for soft breakdown. A DRAM cell may be substituted for the diode. The use of the diode as an antifuse is also disclosed.