Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to devices with slotted active regions and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming a mandrel on top of a diffusion region comprising a diffusion material; forming a first material over the mandrel and the diffusion region; removing the mandrel to form multiple spacers each having a thickness; depositing a second material over the spacers and the diffusion material; and forming slots in the diffusion region by removing a portion of the second material over the diffusion region and the underlying diffusion material.

Abstract: One illustrative device disclosed herein includes at least one fin structure and an isolation structure comprising a stepped upper surface comprising a first region and a second region. The first region has a first upper surface and the second region has a second upper surface, wherein the first upper surface is positioned at a first level and the second upper surface is positioned at a second level and wherein the first level is below the second level. In this illustrative example, the device also includes a gate structure comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the gate structure is positioned above the first upper surface of the isolation structure and above the at least one fin structure and wherein the second portion of the gate structure is positioned above the second upper surface of the isolation structure.

Abstract: One illustrative device disclosed herein includes at least one fin structure and an isolation structure comprising a stepped upper surface comprising a first region and a second region. The first region has a first upper surface and the second region has a second upper surface, wherein the first upper surface is positioned at a first level and the second upper surface is positioned at a second level and wherein the first level is below the second level. In this illustrative example, the device also includes a gate structure comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the gate structure is positioned above the first upper surface of the isolation structure and above the at least one fin structure and wherein the second portion of the gate structure is positioned above the second upper surface of the isolation structure.

Abstract: When forming semiconductor devices, plasma-induced damage may be prevented or restricted by providing a conductive path between critical areas and the substrate of the semiconductor device. According to the present disclosure, a negative effect of any such protective structures on the performance of the semiconductor device may be significantly reduced by permanently interrupting the corresponding electrical connection at any appropriate point in time of the manufacturing sequence. Furthermore, respective fuse structures acting as current-sensitive areas may also be implemented in test structures in order to evaluate plasma-induced currents, thereby providing a possibility for a more efficient design of respective protective structures and/or for contributing to superior process control of critical plasma treatments.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to devices with slotted active regions and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming a mandrel on top of a diffusion region comprising a diffusion material; forming a first material over the mandrel and the diffusion region; removing the mandrel to form multiple spacers each having a thickness; depositing a second material over the spacers and the diffusion material; and forming slots in the diffusion region by removing a portion of the second material over the diffusion region and the underlying diffusion material.

Abstract: One illustrative embodiment disclosed herein relates to a semiconductor device that includes, among other things, a semiconductor substrate including a base semiconductor layer, an active semiconductor layer, and a buried insulating layer positioned between the base semiconductor layer and the active semiconductor layer. The device further includes a set of functional gate structures including at least one functional gate structure formed above the active semiconductor layer, a first source/drain region positioned in the active semiconductor layer adjacent a first functional gate structure in the set, a first auxiliary gate structure positioned adjacent the first source/drain region, and a discharge device coupled to the base semiconductor layer and the first auxiliary gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to devices with slotted active regions and methods of manufacture. The method includes: forming a mandrel on top of a diffusion region comprising a diffusion material; forming a first material over the mandrel and the diffusion region; removing the mandrel to form multiple spacers each having a thickness; depositing a second material over the spacers and the diffusion material; and forming slots in the diffusion region by removing a portion of the second material over the diffusion region and the underlying diffusion material.

Abstract: When forming semiconductor devices, plasma-induced damage may be prevented or restricted by providing a conductive path between critical areas and the substrate of the semiconductor device. According to the present disclosure, a negative effect of any such protective structures on the performance of the semiconductor device may be significantly reduced by permanently interrupting the corresponding electrical connection at any appropriate point in time of the manufacturing sequence. Furthermore, respective fuse structures acting as current-sensitive areas may also be implemented in test structures in order to evaluate plasma-induced currents, thereby providing a possibility for a more efficient design of respective protective structures and/or for contributing to superior process control of critical plasma treatments.

Abstract: Methods for eliminating the distance between a BULEX and SOI and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a silicon layer on a BOX layer on a silicon substrate; forming two active areas in the silicon layer, separated by a space; forming first and second polysilicon gates over one active area, a third polysilicon gate over the space, and fourth and fifth polysilicon gates over the other active area, the second and fourth gates abutting edges of the space; forming spacers at opposite sides of each gate; removing the second, third, and fourth gates and the corresponding spacers; removing the silicon layer and BOX layer in the space, forming a trench and exposing the silicon substrate; forming second spacers on sidewalls of the trench; forming raised source/drain regions on each active area; and forming a p-well contact on the silicon substrate between the second spacers.

Abstract: Methods for eliminating the distance between a BULEX and SOI and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a silicon layer on a BOX layer on a silicon substrate; forming two active areas in the silicon layer, separated by a space; forming first and second polysilicon gates over one active area, a third polysilicon gate over the space, and fourth and fifth polysilicon gates over the other active area, the second and fourth gates abutting edges of the space; forming spacers at opposite sides of each gate; removing the second, third, and fourth gates and the corresponding spacers; removing the silicon layer and BOX layer in the space, forming a trench and exposing the silicon substrate; forming second spacers on sidewalls of the trench; forming raised source/drain regions on each active area; and forming a p-well contact on the silicon substrate between the second spacers.

Abstract: Methods for eliminating the distance between a BULEX and SOI and the resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a silicon layer on a BOX layer on a silicon substrate; forming two active areas in the silicon layer, separated by a space; forming first and second polysilicon gates over one active area, a third polysilicon gate over the space, and fourth and fifth polysilicon gates over the other active area, the second and fourth gates abutting edges of the space; forming spacers at opposite sides of each gate; removing the second, third, and fourth gates and the corresponding spacers; removing the silicon layer and BOX layer in the space, forming a trench and exposing the silicon substrate; forming second spacers on sidewalls of the trench; forming raised source/drain regions on each active area; and forming a p-well contact on the silicon substrate between the second spacers.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating cross-coupled line segments on a wafer for use, for instance, in fabricating cross-coupled gates of two or more transistors. The fabricating includes: patterning a first line segment with a first side projection using a first mask; and patterning a second line segment with a second side projection using a second mask. The second line segment is offset from the first line segment, and the patterned second side projection overlies the patterned first side projection, and facilitates defining a cross-stitch segment connecting the first and second line segments. The method further includes selectively cutting the first and second line segments in defining the cross-coupled line segments from the first and second line segments and the cross-stitch segment.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating cross-coupled line segments on a wafer for use, for instance, in fabricating cross-coupled gates of two or more transistors. The fabricating includes: patterning a first line segment with a first side projection using a first mask; and patterning a second line segment with a second side projection using a second mask. The second line segment is offset from the first line segment, and the patterned second side projection overlies the patterned first side projection, and facilitates defining a cross-stitch segment connecting the first and second line segments. The method further includes selectively cutting the first and second line segments in defining the cross-coupled line segments from the first and second line segments and the cross-stitch segment.