Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes a first substrate and a second substrate, with active layers formed on the first surfaces of each substrate, and with the second surfaces of each substrate coupled together. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit assembly includes forming active layers on the first surfaces of each of two substrates, and coupling the second surfaces of the substrates together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in improving the linearity characteristics of MOSFET devices using an accumulated charge sink (ACS) are disclosed. The method and apparatus are adapted to remove, reduce, or otherwise control accumulated charge in SOI MOSFETs, thereby yielding improvements in FET performance characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, a circuit having at least one SOI MOSFET is configured to operate in an accumulated charge regime. An accumulated charge sink, operatively coupled to the body of the SOI MOSFET, eliminates, removes or otherwise controls accumulated charge when the FET is operated in the accumulated charge regime, thereby reducing the nonlinearity of the parasitic off-state source-to-drain capacitance of the SOI MOSFET. In RF switch circuits implemented with the improved SOI MOSFET devices, harmonic and intermodulation distortion is reduced by removing or otherwise controlling the accumulated charge when the SOI MOSFET operates in an accumulated charge regime.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes an insulating layer having a having a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface of the insulating layer is less than 10 microns below an upper plane of the integrated circuit assembly. An active layer contacts the first surface of the insulating layer. A metal bond pad is electrically connected to the active layer and formed on the second surface of the insulating layer, and is also electrically connected to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: Various methods and devices that involve phase change material (PCM) switches are disclosed. An exemplary integrated circuit comprises an active layer with a plurality of field effect transistor (FET) channels for a plurality of FETs. The integrated circuit also comprises an interconnect layer comprising a plurality of conductive interconnects. The plurality of conductive interconnects couple the plurality of field effect transistors. The integrated circuit also comprises an insulator layer covering at least a portion of the interconnect layer. The integrated circuit also comprises a channel of a radio-frequency (RF) PCM switch. The channel of the RF PCM switch is formed on the insulator layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly comprises an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a handle layer, a metal interconnect layer, and transistors. The insulating layer has a first surface, a second surface, and a hole extending from the first surface to the second surface. The semiconductor layer has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the semiconductor layer contacting the first surface of the insulating layer. The handle layer is coupled to the second surface of the semiconductor layer. The metal interconnect layer is coupled to the second surface of the insulating layer, the metal interconnect layer being disposed within the hole in the insulating layer. The transistors are located in the semiconductor layer. The hole in the insulating layer extends to at least the first surface of the semiconductor layer. The metal interconnect layer electrically couples a plurality of the transistors to each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is formed with an active layer having an active device including a body region. The active device is formed by top side processing in and on a top side of a semiconductor on insulator wafer. A damaged region is formed within a portion of the body region by bottom side processing at a bottom side of the semiconductor on insulator wafer, the damaged region having a structure sufficient to prevent a kink effect and self-latching in operation of the active device.

Abstract: Various methods and devices that involve phase change material (PCM) switches are disclosed. An exemplary integrated circuit comprises an active layer with a plurality of field effect transistor (FET) channels for a plurality of FETs. The integrated circuit also comprises an interconnect layer comprising a plurality of conductive interconnects. The plurality of conductive interconnects couple the plurality of field effect transistors. The integrated circuit also comprises an insulator layer covering at least a portion of the interconnect layer. The integrated circuit also comprises a channel of a radio-frequency (RF) PCM switch. The channel of the RF PCM switch is formed on the insulator layer.

Abstract: Various methods and devices that involve EMI shields for radio frequency layer transferred devices are disclosed. One method comprises forming a radio frequency field effect transistor in an active layer of a semiconductor on insulator wafer. The semiconductor on insulator wafer has a buried insulator side and an active layer side. The method further comprises bonding a second wafer to the active layer side of the semiconductor on insulator wafer. The method further comprises forming a shield layer for the semiconductor device. The shield layer comprises an electrically conductive material. The method further comprises coupling the radio frequency field effect transistor to a circuit comprising a radio frequency component. The method further comprises singulating the radio frequency field effect transistor, radio frequency component, and the shield layer into a die. The shield layer is located between a substrate of the radio frequency component and the radio frequency field effect transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip is formed with an active layer and a trap rich layer. The active layer is formed with an active device layer and a metal interconnect layer. The trap rich layer is formed above the active layer. In some embodiments, the active layer is included in a semiconductor wafer, and the trap rich layer is included in a handle wafer.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device is formed in a semiconductor layer having a first surface, a second surface and background doping. A first doped region, doped to a conductivity type opposite that of the background, is formed at the second surface of the semiconductor layer. A second doped region of the same conductivity type as the background is formed at the second surface of the semiconductor layer, inside the first doped region. A portion of the semiconductor layer is removed at the first surface, exposing a new third surface. A third doped region is formed inside the semiconductor layer at the third surface. Electrical contact is made at least to the second doped region (via the second surface) and the third doped region (via the new third surface). In this way, vertical DMOS, IGBT, bipolar transistors, thyristors, and other types of devices can be fabricated in thinned semiconductor, or SOI layers.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor device is formed in a semiconductor layer having a first surface, a second surface and background doping. A first doped region, doped to a conductivity type opposite that of the background, is formed at the second surface of the semiconductor layer. A second doped region of the same conductivity type as the background is formed at the second surface of the semiconductor layer, inside the first doped region. A portion of the semiconductor layer is removed at the first surface, exposing a new third surface. A third doped region is formed inside the semiconductor layer at the third surface. Electrical contact is made at least to the second doped region (via the second surface) and the third doped region (via the new third surface). In this way, vertical DMOS, IGBT, bipolar transistors, thyristors, and other types of devices can be fabricated in thinned semiconductor, or SOI layers.

Abstract: A trap rich layer for an integrated circuit chip is formed by chemical etching and/or laser texturing of a surface of a semiconductor layer. In some embodiments, a trap rich layer is formed by a technique selected from the group of techniques consisting of laser texturing, chemical etch, irradiation, nanocavity formation, porous Si-etch, semi-insulating polysilicon, thermal stress relief and mechanical texturing. Additionally, combinations of two or more of these techniques may be used to form a trap rich layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip is formed with an active layer and a trap rich layer. The active layer is formed with an active device layer and a metal interconnect layer. The trap rich layer is formed above the active layer. In some embodiments, the active layer is included in a semiconductor wafer, and the trap rich layer is included in a handle wafer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in improving the linearity characteristics of MOSFET devices using an accumulated charge sink (ACS) are disclosed. The method and apparatus are adapted to remove, reduce, or otherwise control accumulated charge in SOI MOSFETs, thereby yielding improvements in FET performance characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, a circuit having at least one SOI MOSFET is configured to operate in an accumulated charge regime. An accumulated charge sink, operatively coupled to the body of the SOI MOSFET, eliminates, removes or otherwise controls accumulated charge when the FET is operated in the accumulated charge regime, thereby reducing the nonlinearity of the parasitic off-state source-to-drain capacitance of the SOI MOSFET. In RF switch circuits implemented with the improved SOI MOSFET devices, harmonic and intermodulation distortion is reduced by removing or otherwise controlling the accumulated charge when the SOI MOSFET operates in an accumulated charge regime.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit with a signal-processing region is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a silicon-on-insulator die singulated from a silicon-on-insulator wafer. The silicon on insulator die comprises an active layer, an insulator layer, a substrate, and a strengthening layer. The substrate consists of an excavated substrate region, and a support region, the support region is in contact with the insulator layer. The excavated region covers a majority of the signal-processing region of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method comprises fabricating a device layer on a top portion of a semiconductor wafer that comprises a substrate. The device layer comprises an active device. The method also comprises forming a trap rich layer at a top portion of a handle wafer. The forming comprises etching the top portion of the handle wafer to form a structure in the top portion of the handle wafer that configures the trap rich layer. The method also comprises bonding a top surface of the handle wafer to a top surface of the semiconductor wafer. The method also comprises removing a bottom substrate portion of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A trap rich layer for an integrated circuit chip is formed by chemical etching and/or laser texturing of a surface of a semiconductor layer. In some embodiments, a trap rich layer is formed by a technique selected from the group of techniques consisting of laser texturing, chemical etch, irradiation, nanocavity formation, porous Si-etch, semi-insulating polysilicon, thermal stress relief and mechanical texturing. Additionally, combinations of two or more of these techniques may be used to form a trap rich layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes an insulating layer having a having a first surface and a second surface. A first active layer contacts the first surface of the insulating layer. A metal bond pad is electrically connected to the first active layer and formed on the second surface of the insulating layer. A substrate having a first surface and a second surface, with a second active layer formed in the first surface, is provided such that the first active layer is coupled to the second surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly is formed with an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, an active device, first, second, and third electrically conductive interconnect layers, and a plurality of electrically conductive vias. The insulating layer has a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is below the first surface. A substrate layer has been removed from the second surface. The semiconductor layer has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the semiconductor layer contacts the first surface of the insulating layer. The active device is formed in a region of the semiconductor layer. The first electrically conductive interconnect layer forms an electrically conductive ring. The second electrically conductive interconnect layer forms a first electrically conductive plate above the electrically conductive ring and the region of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for the provisioning of efficient support to semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. Embodiments of the present invention may additionally provide for SOI structures with improved heat dissipation performance while preserving the beneficial electrical device characteristics that accompany SOI architectures. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a silicon-on-insulator die from a silicon-on-insulator wafer. The silicon on insulator die comprises an active layer, an insulator layer, a substrate, and a strengthening layer. The substrate consists of an excavated substrate region, and a support region, the support region is in contact with the insulator layer. The support region and the strengthening layer are configured to act in combination to provide a majority of a required stabilizing force to the silicon-on-insulator die when it is singulated from the silicon-on-insulator wafer.