Abstract: A lateral extent of a gate electrode of a field effect transistor along a gate electrode direction that is perpendicular to a channel direction can be the same as a width of an underlying active region. A gate electrode of an additional field effect transistor may extend over a trench isolation structure that laterally surrounds the additional field effect transistor. Different types of electrodes may be formed by patterning a lower gate material layer and by patterning an upper gate material layer with different patterns such that patterned portions of the lower gate material layer are confined within areas of active regions, while patterned portions of the upper gate material layer extends outside of the areas of the active regions.

Abstract: A lateral extent of a gate electrode of a field effect transistor along a gate electrode direction that is perpendicular to a channel direction can be the same as a width of an underlying active region. A gate electrode of an additional field effect transistor may extend over a trench isolation structure that laterally surrounds the additional field effect transistor. Different types of electrodes may be formed by patterning a lower gate material layer and by patterning an upper gate material layer with different patterns such that patterned portions of the lower gate material layer are confined within areas of active regions, while patterned portions of the upper gate material layer extends outside of the areas of the active regions.

Abstract: A three dimensional non-volatile memory structure includes word lines connected to non-volatile memory cells arranged in blocks. A plurality of word line switches are connected to the word lines and one or more sources of voltage. The word line switches are arranged in groups of X word line switches such that each group of X word line switches is positioned in a line under Y blocks of non-volatile memory cells and has a length that is equal to the width of the Y blocks of non-volatile memory cells. To allow closer placement of word line switches that supply different blocks and support the possible large voltage differences between their transistors, word line switches supplying different blocks are formed over a single active region and separated by an intermediate control gate set to be off.

Abstract: A lateral extent of a gate electrode of a field effect transistor along a gate electrode direction that is perpendicular to a channel direction can be the same as a width of an underlying active region. A gate electrode of an additional field effect transistor may extend over a trench isolation structure that laterally surrounds the additional field effect transistor. Different types of electrodes may be formed by patterning a lower gate material layer and by patterning an upper gate material layer with different patterns such that patterned portions of the lower gate material layer are confined within areas of active regions, while patterned portions of the upper gate material layer extends outside of the areas of the active regions.

Abstract: A transistor includes a first active region and a second active region separated by a semiconductor channel, a gate stack structure including a gate dielectric and a gate electrode overlying the semiconductor channel, a gate contact via structure overlying and electrically connected to the gate electrode and having a top surface located in a first horizontal plane, a first active-region contact via structure overlying and electrically connected to the first active region, and having a top surface located within a second horizontal plane that underlies the first horizontal plane, a first connection line structure contacting a top surface of the first active-region contact via structure, and a first connection via structure contacting a top surface of the first connection line structure and having a top surface within the first horizontal plane.

Abstract: A bonded assembly includes a memory die containing a three-dimensional memory array, a first logic die bonded to the memory die, a first peripheral circuit located in the logic die and configured to control operation of a first set of electrical nodes of the three-dimensional memory array, and a second peripheral circuit configured to control operation of a second set of electrical nodes of the three-dimensional memory array, where the second peripheral circuit is located at a different vertical level than the first peripheral circuit relative to the three-dimensional-memory array.

Abstract: A field effect transistor for a high voltage operation can include vertical current paths, which may include vertical surface regions of a pedestal semiconductor portion that protrudes above a base semiconductor portion. The pedestal semiconductor portion can be formed by etching a semiconductor material layer employing a gate structure as an etch mask. A dielectric gate spacer can be formed on sidewalls of the pedestal semiconductor portion. A source region and a drain region may be formed underneath top surfaces of the base semiconductor portion. Alternatively, epitaxial semiconductor material portions can be grown on the top surfaces of the base semiconductor portions, and a source region and a drain region can be formed therein. Alternatively, a source region and a drain region can be formed within via cavities in a planarization dielectric layer.

Abstract: Field effect transistors for an SRAM cell can be formed employing n-doped gate electrode portions for p-type pull-up transistors. The SRAM cell includes a first series connection of a first p-type pull-up transistor and a first n-type pull-down transistor located between a power supply source and electrical ground, and a second series connection of a second p-type pull-up transistor and a second n-type pull-down transistor located between the power supply source and the electrical ground. Each gate electrode of the SRAM cell can include a respective n-doped gate electrode portion.

Abstract: Field effect transistors for an SRAM cell can be formed employing n-doped gate electrode portions for p-type pull-up transistors. The SRAM cell includes a first series connection of a first p-type pull-up transistor and a first n-type pull-down transistor located between a power supply source and electrical ground, and a second series connection of a second p-type pull-up transistor and a second n-type pull-down transistor located between the power supply source and the electrical ground. Each gate electrode of the SRAM cell can include a respective n-doped gate electrode portion.

Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.

Abstract: Field effect transistors for an SRAM cell can be formed employing n-doped gate electrode portions for p-type pull-up transistors. The SRAM cell includes a first series connection of a first p-type pull-up transistor and a first n-type pull-down transistor located between a power supply source and electrical ground, and a second series connection of a second p-type pull-up transistor and a second n-type pull-down transistor located between the power supply source and the electrical ground. Each gate electrode of the SRAM cell can include a respective n-doped gate electrode portion.

Abstract: Field effect transistors for an SRAM cell can be formed employing n-doped gate electrode portions for p-type pull-up transistors. The SRAM cell includes a first series connection of a first p-type pull-up transistor and a first n-type pull-down transistor located between a power supply source and electrical ground, and a second series connection of a second p-type pull-up transistor and a second n-type pull-down transistor located between the power supply source and the electrical ground. Each gate electrode of the SRAM cell can include a respective n-doped gate electrode portion.

Abstract: A first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor are formed on a substrate. A silicon nitride liner is formed over the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor. An upper portion of the silicon nitride liner is converted into a thermal silicon oxide liner. A lower portion of the silicon nitride liner remains as a silicon nitride material portion. A first portion of the thermal silicon oxide liner is removed from above the second field effect transistor, and a second portion of the thermal silicon oxide liner remains above the first field effect transistor. Selective presence of the silicon oxide liner provides differential stress within the channels of the first and second field effect transistors, which can be employed to optimize performance of different types of field effect transistors.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor device, a hydrogen diffusion barrier layer, a lower metal line structure located below the hydrogen diffusion barrier layer, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack in a memory array region, a through-stack contact via structure extending through the alternating stack and through the hydrogen diffusion barrier layer in the memory array region and contacting the lower metal line structure, and a through-stack insulating spacer laterally surrounding the through-stack contact via structure and extending through the alternating stack but not extending through the hydrogen diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor device, a hydrogen diffusion barrier layer, a lower metal line structure located below the hydrogen diffusion barrier layer, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack in a memory array region, a through-stack contact via structure extending through the alternating stack and through the hydrogen diffusion barrier layer in the memory array region and contacting the lower metal line structure, and a through-stack insulating spacer laterally surrounding the through-stack contact via structure and extending through the alternating stack but not extending through the hydrogen diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.

Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes wiring layers formed over a semiconductor wafer, a via-layer between the wiring layers, conductive films in the wiring layers, and a via-plug in the via-layer connecting the conductive films of the wiring layers above and below, a scribe region at an outer periphery of a chip region along an edge of the semiconductor substrate and including a pad region in the vicinity of the edge, the pad region overlapping the conductive films of the plurality of wiring layers in the plan view, the plurality of wiring layers including first second wiring layers, the conductive film of the first wiring layer includes a first conductive pattern formed over an entire surface of said pad region in a plan view, and the conductive film of the second wiring layer includes a second conductive pattern formed in a part of the pad region in a plan view.

Abstract: An annular dielectric spacer can be formed at a level of a joint-level dielectric material layer between vertically neighboring pairs of alternating stacks of insulating layers and spacer material layers. After formation of a memory opening through multiple alternating stacks and formation of a memory film therein, an anisotropic etch can be performed to remove a horizontal bottom portion of the memory film. The annular dielectric spacer can protect underlying portions of the memory film during the anisotropic etch. In addition, a silicon nitride barrier may be employed to suppress hydrogen diffusion at an edge region of peripheral devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer includes: a first semiconductor chip area formed with a semiconductor element; a second semiconductor chip area formed with a semiconductor element; and a scribe area sandwiched between said first and second semiconductor chip areas; wherein: the first semiconductor chip area includes a first metal ring surrounding the semiconductor element formed in the first semiconductor chip area; and the metal ring is constituted of a plurality of metal layers including an lower metal layer and an upper metal layer superposed upon the lower metal layer, and the upper metal layer is superposed upon the lower metal layer in such a manner that an outer side wall of the upper metal layer is flush with the outer side wall of the lower metal layer or is at an inner position of said first semiconductor chip area relative to said outer side wall of the lower metal layer.