Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor structure, having a completely silicided extrinsic base for reduced base resistance Rb. Specifically, a metal silicide layer covers the extrinsic base, including the portion of the extrinsic base that extends below the upper portion of a T-shaped emitter. One exemplary technique for ensuring that the metal silicide layer covers this portion of the extrinsic base requires tapering the upper portion of the emitter. Such tapering allows a sacrificial layer below the upper portion of the emitter to be completely removed during processing, thereby exposing the extrinsic base below and allowing the metal layer required for silicidation to be deposited thereon. This metal layer can be deposited, for example, using a high pressure sputtering technique to ensure that all exposed surfaces of the extrinsic base, even those below the upper portion of the emitter, are covered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor structure, having a completely silicided extrinsic base for reduced base resistance Rb. Specifically, a metal silicide layer covers the extrinsic base, including the portion of the extrinsic base that extends below the upper portion of a T-shaped emitter. One exemplary technique for ensuring that the metal silicide layer covers this portion of the extrinsic base requires tapering the upper portion of the emitter. Such tapering allows a sacrificial layer below the upper portion of the emitter to be completely removed during processing, thereby exposing the extrinsic base below and allowing the metal layer required for silicidation to be deposited thereon. This metal layer can be deposited, for example, using a high pressure sputtering technique to ensure that all exposed surfaces of the extrinsic base, even those below the upper portion of the emitter, are covered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transistor structure, having a completely silicided extrinsic base for reduced base resistance Rb. Specifically, a metal silicide layer covers the extrinsic base, including the portion of the extrinsic base that extends below the upper portion of a T-shaped emitter. One exemplary technique for ensuring that the metal silicide layer covers this portion of the extrinsic base requires tapering the upper portion of the emitter. Such tapering allows a sacrificial layer below the upper portion of the emitter to be completely removed during processing, thereby exposing the extrinsic base below and allowing the metal layer required for silicidation to be deposited thereon. This metal layer can be deposited, for example, using a high pressure sputtering technique to ensure that all exposed surfaces of the extrinsic base, even those below the upper portion of the emitter, are covered.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a multi-layer spacer located adjacent and adjoining a sidewall of a topographic feature within the semiconductor structure. The multi-layer spacer includes a first spacer sub-layer comprising a deposited silicon oxide material laminated to a second spacer sub-layer comprising a material that is other than the deposited silicon oxide material. The first spacer sub-layer is recessed with respect to the second spacer sub-layer by a recess distance of no greater than a thickness of the first spacer sub-layer (and preferably from about 50 to about 150 angstroms). Such a recess distance is realized through use of a chemical oxide removal (COR) etchant that is self limiting for the deposited silicon oxide material with respect to a thermally grown silicon oxide material. Dimensional integrity and delamination avoidance is thus assured for the multi-layer spacer layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a multi-layer spacer located adjacent and adjoining a sidewall of a topographic feature within the semiconductor structure. The multi-layer spacer includes a first spacer sub-layer comprising a deposited silicon oxide material laminated to a second spacer sub-layer comprising a material that is other than the deposited silicon oxide material. The first spacer sub-layer is recessed with respect to the second spacer sub-layer by a recess distance of no greater than a thickness of the first spacer sub-layer (and preferably from about 50 to about 150 angstroms). Such a recess distance is realized through use of a chemical oxide removal (COR) etchant that is self limiting for the deposited silicon oxide material with respect to a thermally grown silicon oxide material. Dimensional integrity and delamination avoidance is thus assured for the multi-layer spacer layer.

Abstract: Lines are fabricated by patterning a hard mask to provide a line segment, the line segment having a first dimension measured across the line segment; reacting a surface layer of the line segment to form a layer of a reaction product on a remaining portion of the line segment; and removing the reaction product without attacking the remaining portion of the line segment and without attacking the substrate to form the line segment with a dimension across the line segment that is smaller than the first dimension.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique device structure and method that provides increased transistor performance in integrated bipolar circuit devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides improved high speed performance by providing reduced base resistence. The preferred design forms the extrinsic base by diffusing dopants from a dopant source layer and into the extrinsic base region. This diffusion of dopants forms at least a portion of the extrinsic base. In particular, the portion adjacent to the intrinsic base region is formed by diffusion. This solution avoids the problems caused by traditional solutions that implanted the extrinsic base. Specifically, by forming at least a portion of the extrinsic base by diffusion, the problem of damage to base region is minimized. This reduced damage enhances dopant diffusion into the intrinsic base. Additionally, the formed extrinsic base can have improved resistence, resulting in an improved maximum frequency for the bipolar device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique device structure and method that provides increased transistor performance in integrated bipolar circuit devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides improved high speed performance by providing reduced base resistence. The preferred design forms the extrinsic base by diffusing dopants from a dopant source layer and into the extrinsic base region. This diffusion of dopants forms at least a portion of the extrinsic base. In particular, the portion adjacent to the intrinsic base region is formed by diffusion. This solution avoids the problems caused by traditional solutions that implanted the extrinsic base. Specifically, by forming at least a portion of the extrinsic base by diffusion, the problem of damage to base region is minimized. This reduced damage enhances dopant diffusion into the intrinsic base. Additionally, the formed extrinsic base can have improved resistence, resulting in an improved maximum frequency for the bipolar device.

Abstract: An oxide etch process is described which may be used for emitter and base preparation in bipolar SiGe devices. The low temperature process employed produces electrical insulation between the emitter and base by a COR etch which preserves insulating TEOS glass. The insulating TEOS glass provides reduced capacitance and helps to achieve high speed. An apparatus is also described for practicing the disclosed process.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an FET device. A semiconductor substrate is covered with a gate dielectric layer and with a conductive gate electrode formed over the gate dielectric. Blanket layers of silicon oxide may be added. An optional collar of silicon nitride may be formed over the silicon oxide layer around the gate electrode. Two precleaning steps are performed. Chemical oxide removal gases are then deposited, covering the device with an adsorbed reactant film. The gate dielectric (aside from the gate electrode) is removed, as the adsorbed reactant film reacts with the gate dielectric layer to form a rounded corner of silicon oxide at the base of the gate electrode. One or two in-situ doped silicon layers are deposited over the source/drain regions to form single or laminated epitaxial raised source/drain regions over the substrate protruding beyond the surface of the gate dielectric.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an FET device. A semiconductor substrate is covered with a gate dielectric layer and with a conductive gate electrode formed over the gate dielectric. Blanket layers of silicon oxide may be added. An optional collar of silicon nitride may be formed over the silicon oxide layer around the gate electrode. Two precleaning steps are performed. Chemical oxide removal gases are then deposited, covering the device with an adsorbed reactant film. The gate dielectric (aside from the gate electrode) is removed, as the adsorbed reactant film reacts with the gate dielectric layer to form a rounded corner of silicon oxide at the base of the gate electrode. One or two in-situ doped silicon layers are deposited over the source/drain regions to form single or laminated epitaxial raised source/drain regions over the substrate protruding beyond the surface of the gate dielectric.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique device structure and method that provides increased transistor performance in integrated bipolar circuit devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides improved high speed performance by providing reduced base resistence. The preferred design forms the extrinsic base by diffusing dopants from a dopant source layer and into the extrinsic base region. This diffusion of dopants forms at least a portion of the extrinsic base. In particular, the portion adjacent to the intrinsic base region is formed by diffusion. This solution avoids the problems caused by traditional solutions that implanted the extrinsic base. Specifically, by forming at least a portion of the extrinsic base by diffusion, the problem of damage to base region is minimized. This reduced damage enhances dopant diffusion into the intrinsic base. Additionally, the formed extrinsic base can have improved resistence, resulting in an improved maximum frequency for the bipolar device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a silicide on a semiconductor substrate by integrating under a constant vacuum the processes of removing an oxide from a surface of a semiconductor substrate and depositing a metal on the cleaned surface without exposing the cleaned surface to air. The method and apparatus of the present invention eliminates the exposure of the cleaned substrate to air between the oxide removal and metal deposition steps. This in-situ cleaning of the silicon substrate prior to cobalt deposition provides a cleaner silicon substrate surface, resulting in enhanced formation of cobalt silicide when the cobalt layer is annealed.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an FET device. A semiconductor substrate is covered with a gate dielectric layer and with a conductive gate electrode formed over the gate dielectric. Blanket layers of silicon oxide may be added. An optional collar of silicon nitride may be formed over the silicon oxide layer around the gate electrode. Two precleaning steps are performed. Chemical oxide removal gases are then deposited, covering the device with an adsorbed reactant film. The gate dielectric (aside from the gate electrode) is removed, as the adsorbed reactant film reacts with the gate dielectric layer to form a rounded corner of silicon oxide at the base of the gate electrode. One or two in-situ doped silicon layers are deposited over the source/drain regions to form single or laminated epitaxial raised source/drain regions over the substrate protruding beyond the surface of the gate dielectric.

Abstract: An oxide etch process is described which may be used for emitter and base preparation in bipolar SiGe devices. The low temperature process employed produces electrical insulation between the emitter and base by a COR etch which preserves insulating TEOS glass. The insulating TEOS glass provides reduced capacitance and helps to achieve high speed. An apparatus is also described for practicing the disclosed process.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an FET device. A semiconductor substrate is covered with a gate dielectric layer and with a conductive gate electrode formed over the gate dielectric. Blanket layers of silicon oxide may be added. An optional collar of silicon nitride may be formed over the silicon oxide layer around the gate electrode. Two precleaning steps are performed. Chemical oxide removal gases are then deposited, covering the device with an adsorbed reactant film. The gate dielectric (aside from the gate electrode) is removed, as the adsorbed reactant film reacts with the gate dielectric layer to form a rounded corner of silicon oxide at the base of the gate electrode. One or two in-situ doped silicon layers are deposited over the source/drain regions to form single or laminated epitaxial raised source/drain regions over the substrate protruding beyond the surface of the gate dielectric.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique device structure and method that provides increased transistor performance in integrated bipolar circuit devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides improved high speed performance by providing reduced base resistence. The preferred design forms the extrinsic base by diffusing dopants from a dopant source layer and into the extrinsic base region. This diffusion of dopants forms at least a portion of the extrinsic base. In particular, the portion adjacent to the intrinsic base region is formed by diffusion. This solution avoids the problems caused by traditional solutions that implanted the extrinsic base. Specifically, by forming at least a portion of the extrinsic base by diffusion, the problem of damage to base region is minimized. This reduced damage enhances dopant diffusion into the intrinsic base. Additionally, the formed extrinsic base can have improved resistence, resulting in an improved maximum frequency for the bipolar device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bipolar transistor. The method comprising: forming an emitter opening in a dielectric layer to expose a surface of a base layer; performing a clean of the exposed surface, the clean removing any oxide present on the surface and passivating the surface to inhibit oxide growth; and forming an emitter layer on the surface after the performing a clean.

Abstract: A method for limiting divot formation in shallow trench isolation structures. The method includes: providing a trench formed in a silicon region with a deposited oxide; oxidizing a top layer of the silicon region to form a layer of thermal oxide on top of the silicon region; and selectively etching the thermal oxide with respect to the deposited oxide.

Abstract: Lines are fabricated by patterning a hard mask to provide a line segment, the line segment having a first dimension measured across the line segment; reacting a surface layer of the line segment to form a layer of a reaction product on a remaining portion of the line segment; and removing the reaction product without attacking the remaining portion of the line segment and without attacking the substrate to form the line segment with a dimension across the line segment that is smaller than the first dimension.