Abstract: This invention relates to the design and manufacture of a wafer-size integrated circuit. Lower layers of the wafer sized integrated circuit comprise electrically isolated repeating blocks such as logic elements or blocks of circuit elements. An upper conductive layer comprises data and address bus structures. A discretionary via layer located between the upper layer and the lower layers can be patterned. Patterning of the via layer avoids connecting the bus structure to defective elements or blocks, establishes addresses of elements, and establishes the organization of the addressing structure and data structure. The via layer is patterned to connect the upper bus lines to selected regions in the lower metal levels after testing for good and bad elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design and manufacture of a wafer-size integrated circuit. Lower layers of the wafer sized integrated circuit comprise electrically isolated repeating blocks such as logic elements or blocks of circuit elements. An upper conductive layer comprises data and address bus structures. A discretionary via layer located between the upper layer and the lower layers can be patterned to accomplish multiple purposes. Patterning of the via layer avoids connecting the bus structure to defective elements or blocks, establishes addresses of elements, and establishes the organization of the addressing structure and data structure (for a memory wafer the word length, number of banks of words, and number of words per bank). The via layer is patterned to connect the upper bus lines to selected regions in the lower metal levels after testing (testing uses conventional techniques) for good and bad elements.

Abstract: A package for housing a large scale semiconductor integrated circuit structure, such as a wafer or an assemblage of chips in a hybrid configuration, comprises a heat spreading and dissipating base plate to which the wafer or hybrid circuit is directly bonded. Electrical connections from the periphery of the package interior to the wafer are preferably made with equal length TAB (Tape Automated Bonding) strips connected to electrically conductive pads located along a diameter of the wafer or the centerline of the hybrid circuit. If hermeticity is desired, the integrated circuit structure is encircled by a boundary strip of sandwich construction through which signals are routed, and to which a lid is attached. For hermeticity, the integrated circuit structure is surrounded on all sides with a barrier combining metal and ceramic; the remainder of the package may be constructed from conventional printed circuit board materials.

Abstract: A package for multiple semiconductor integrated circuit chips uses an interconnect structure manufactured by semiconductor processing techniques to provide dense interconnections between chips and to input/output terminals. Chips are thermally connected to a Kovar or molybdenum heatsink. The interconnect structure is constructed by fabricating multiple layers of interconnect metallization on an optically flat glass (or other dielectric) surface patterned into lines and separated by smoothed glass dielectric. The metallization lines are interconnected by vias and lead to pads which are connected to chip pads and to exterior pins or wiring. An interconnect frame allows access to the chips and the interconnect structure to effect wire bonding of the chips to the metallization and provide sealable cavities for the chips. Elastomeric connectors extend through and are aligned by the frame to connect pads on the interconnect structure top to traces on a mother board to which the package is mounted.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit structure is disclosed comprising MOS devices formed with at least raised polysilicon gate contact portions. Metal silicide is formed over at least a portion of the source and drain regions to provide conductive paths to the source and drain contacts. In a preferred embodiment, the source and drain contacts also comprise raised contacts which are also formed from the same polysilicon layer to permit formation of a highly planarized structure with self-aligned contacts formed by planarizing an insulating layer formed over the structure sufficiently to expose the upper surface of all of the contacts.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit structure is disclosed comprising bipolar and MOS devices formed on the same substrate. The bipolar devices have at least the emitter and the collector contact portions formed from a polysilicon layer which results in raised contacts. The MOS devices are similarly formed with raised gate contact portions formed from the same polysilicon layer. Metal silicide is formed over at least a portion of the base, source, and drain regions to provide conductive paths to the base, source, and drain contacts. In one embodiment, the base, source, and drain contacts are also formed from the same polysilicon layer to permit formation of a highly planarized structure with self-aligned contacts formed by planarizing an insulating layer formed over the structure sufficiently to expose the upper surface of the contacts.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit structure is disclosed comprising bipolar and MOS devices formed on the same substrate. The bipolar devices have at least the emitter and the collector contact portions formed from a polysilicon layer which results in raised contacts. The MOS devices are similarly formed with raised gate contact portions formed from the same polysilicon layer. Metal silicide is formed over at least a portion of the base, source, and drain regions to provide conductive paths to the base, source, and drain contacts. In one embodiment, the base, source, and drain contacts are also formed from the same polysilicon layer to permit formation of a highly planarized structure with self-aligned contacts formed by planarizing an insulating layer formed over the structure sifficiently to expose the upper surface of the contacts.

Abstract: An improved method is described for constructing one or more integrated circuit components including bipolar and MOS devices on a silicon substrate without damaging areas of the substrate wherein active elements of the integrated circuit components will be formed. The method comprises forming multilayer pedestals of masking materials over the active regions of the substrate and subsequently removing these masking materials using wet etching to avoid damage to the substrate by dry etching.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit structure is disclosed wherein a first metal layer is coated with a dielectric material and another metal layer is applied over the dielectric layer and a via electrically interconnects at least a portion of the first metal layer with at least a portion of the second metal layer. The via is formed having a lower first width dimension adjacent the first metal layer and an upper enlarged width portion adjacent the second metal layer formed by masking the dielectric with a mask having an opening conforming to the first dimension and isotropically etching the dielectric through the mask to provide the enlarged portion adjacent the upper surface of the dielectric.

Abstract: A highly planarized integrated circuit structure having at least one bipolar device and at least one MOS device is described as well as a method of making the structure. The structure comprises a substrate having a field oxide grown thereon with portions defined therein respectively for formation of a collector region and a base/emitter region for a bipolar device and a source/gate/drain region for an MOS device. All of the contacts of the devices are formed using polysilicon which fills the defined portions in the field oxide resulting in the highly planarized structure.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for improving the isolation between semi-oxide insulated devices, formed on mesa structures. In the fabrication of such devices, a silicon substrate is provided. Patterned regions of one type of conductivity are formed in a major surface of the substrate and an epitaxial layer of silicon is formed on the substrate over the major surface. A patterned mask layer is formed on the epitaxial layer and is etched to expose portions of the epitaxial layer. The exposed portions of the epitaxial layer are removed to form the mesa structures, which overlie the doped patterned regions. Regions of opposite conductivity, called channel stops, are then formed in the substrate between the patterned regions. After filling in the areas between the mesa structures with a field oxide, the devices (bipolar or MOS transistors) are formed on the mesa structures.

Abstract: A highly planarized integrated circuit structure having at least one MOS device is described as well as a method of making the structure. The structure comprises a substrate having a field oxide grown thereon with at least one portion defined therein for formation of a source/gate/drain region for an MOS device. All of the contacts of the device are formed using polysilicon which fills the defined portions in the field oxide resulting in the highly planarized structure.

Abstract: A highly planarized integrated circuit structure having at least one bipolar device is described as well as a method of making the structure. The structure comprises a substrate having a field oxide grown thereon with openings defined therein respectively for formation of a collector contact region and a base/emitter region for a bipolar device in the substrate. All of the contacts of the bipolar device are formed using polysilicon which fills the defined openings in the field oxide resulting in a highly planarized structure.

Abstract: An improved bipolar device is disclosed having a polysilicon emitter formed over a base region of a silicon substrate with oxide spacer portions formed on the sides of the emitter and metal silicide portions formed over the base region adjacent the oxide spacers whereby the use of polysilicon for the emitter results in high gain as well as vertical shrinking of the device because of the shallow diffusion of the emitter into the base and the elimination of an extrinsic base region. The use of oxide spacers and metal silicide adjacent the spacers results in a shrinkage of the horizontal spacing of the device to lower the base-emitter resistance and capacitance to thereby increase the speed of the device.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit structure, and method of making the structure, is disclosed wherein at least one metallization layer is coated during production of the structure with a conductive layer capable of withstanding metal removal means, and an upper metallization layer is subsequently applied to the structure. At least a portion of the subsequent metallization layer is in ohmic contact with the conductive layer and the lower metallization layer is protected by the intervening conductive layer during subsequent removal of the upper metallization layer if subsequent reworking of the structure becomes necessary. In a preferred embodiment, the use of the conductive layer over a metallization layer further enhances the construction process during patterning of a photoresist applied over the conductive layer by the use of a conductive material having antireflective properties.

Abstract: An improved ECL bipolar memory cell is disclosed which comprises connecting the respective collectors of the memory transistors in the flip-flop circuit to bit lines using Schottky diodes to protect against latch-up of the ECL cell; and the inversion of the transistors in the circuits to provide a buried emitter construction for alpha strike protection. In a preferred embodiment, the Schottky diode and the load devices, such as resistors or load transistors used to coupled the cell to one of the word lines are made using polysilicon to facilitate construction of the cell, reduce the total number of contacts needed, and enhance the speed of the cell.

Abstract: An integrated circuit bipolar transistor fabrication technique is disclosed. The process includes steps to form shallow, self-aligned, heavily doped, extrinsic base regions which do not encroach substantially upon the emitter region. The process allows for construction of transistors which require a thinner epitaxial layer or, in the alternative, i.e., with a typical epitaxial layer, have a higher collector-to-base breakdown voltage.

Abstract: An improved ECL bipolar memory cell is disclosed which comprises connecting the respective collectors of the memory transistors in the flip-flop circuit to bit lines using Schottky diodes to protect against latch-up of the ECL cell; and the inversion of the transistors in the circuits to provide a buried emitter construction for alpha strike protection. In a preferred embodiment, the Schottky diode and the load devices, such as resistors or load transistors used to couple the cell to one of the word lines are made using polysilicon to facilitate construction of the cell, reduce the total number of contacts needed, and enhance the speed of the cell.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for making an integrated circuit structure wherein a trench is etched into one or more layers to electrically separate one of the devices in the integrated circuit structure from other portions thereof by first patterning silicon dioxide and silicon nitride layer on a layer of silicon. The improvement comprises isotropically etching the silicon layer to provide an enlarged shallow etch area undercutting the patterned silicon dioxide and silicon nitride layers. Subsequent deeper anisotropic etching to form the trench will result in a trench having an enlarged upper width which, in turn, prevents the formation of voids adjacent the upper portion of the trench during subsequent oxidation and polysilicon deposition steps. Possible creation of openings to such voids in the polysilicon during subsequent planarization is thereby eliminated thus avoiding undesirable oxidation of such voids and undesirable stress formation therefrom.

Abstract: An improved ECL bipolar memory cell is disclosed which comprises connecting the respective collectors of the memory transistors in the flip-flop circuit to bit lines using Schottky diodes to protect against latch-up of the ECL cell; and the inversion of the transistors in the circuits to provide a buried emitter construction for alpha strike protection. In a preferred embodiment, the Schottky diode and the load devices, such as resistors or load transistors used to couple the cell to one of the word lines are made using polysilicon to facilitate construction of the cell, reduce the total number of contacts needed, and enhance the speed of the cell.