Abstract: According to the present invention, an ultrathin buried diffusion barrier layer (UBDBL) is formed over all or part of the doped polysilicon layer of a polysilicide structure composed of the polycrystalline silicon film and an overlying film of a metal, metal silicide, or metal nitride. More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a memory cell is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate, a P well, an N well, an N type active region, a P type active region, an isolation region, a polysilicide gate electrode structure, and a diffusion barrier layer. The P well is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The N well is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the P well. The N type active region is defined in the P well and the P type active region is defined in the N well. The isolation region is arranged to isolate the N type active region from the P type active region.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an ultrathin buried diffusion barrier layer (UBDBL) is formed over all or part of the doped polysilicon layer of a polysilicide structure composed of the polycrystalline silicon film and an overlying film of a metal, metal silicide, or metal nitride. More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a memory cell is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate, a P well, an N well, an N type active region, a P type active region, an isolation region, a polysilicide gate electrode structure, and a diffusion barrier layer. The P well is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The N well is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the P well. The N type active region is defined in the P well and the P type active region is defined in the N well. The isolation region is arranged to isolate the N type active region from the P type active region.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of fabricating a circuit in a manner to place certain structures within a predefined distance of one another. Electrical connections are formed between certain structures of silicon, by annealing a conductive material to cause silicon out-diffusing to form local interconnects. The silicon out-diffusion can be facilitated without a masking step thereby simplifying as well as speeding up the fabrication process. The invention also includes a local interconnect thus formed.

Abstract: The method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above a substrate and a plurality of transistors, forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer, the dielectric layer comprised of a material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0, forming a plurality of openings in the dielectric layer and the BPSG layer, each of the openings allowing contact to a doped region of one of the transistors, and forming a conductive local interconnect in each of the openings. In another embodiment, the method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above the substrate and between the transistors, forming a local interconnect in openings formed in the BPSG layer, reducing a thickness of the BPSG layer after the local interconnects are formed, and forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer and between the local interconnects, wherein the dielectric layer has a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure pad oxide layer is enlarged by local oxidation of silicon to form a field oxide. An etchback causes the thinnest portions of the field oxide to recede such that a portion of the semiconductor substrate is exposed. An etch through the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate forms a microtrench between the field oxide and the nitride layer with a lateral dimension that is less than that currently achievable by conventional photolithography. The microtrench is then filled by oxide or nitride growth or by deposition of a dielectric material. In another embodiment, formation of the microtrench is carried out as set forth above, but the nitride layer is removed immediately following trench formation. Alternatively, the pad oxide layer is stripped and a new oxide layer is regrown that substantially covers all exposed surfaces of active areas of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an ultrathin buried diffusion barrier layer (UBDBL) is formed over all or part of the doped polysilicon layer of a polysilicide structure composed of the polycrystalline silicon film and an overlying film of a metal, metal silicide, or metal nitride. More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a memory cell is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate, a P well, an N well, an N type active region, a P type active region, an isolation region, a polysilicide gate electrode structure, and a diffusion barrier layer. The P well is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The N well is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the P well. The N type active region is defined in the P well and the P type active region is defined in the N well. The isolation region is arranged to isolate the N type active region from the P type active region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure pad oxide layer is enlarged by local oxidation of silicon to form a field oxide. An etchback causes the thinnest portions of the field oxide to recede such that a portion of the semiconductor substrate is exposed. An etch through the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate forms a microtrench between the field oxide and the nitride layer with a lateral dimension that is less than that currently achievable by conventional photolithography. The microtrench is then filled by oxide or nitride growth or by deposition of a dielectric material. In another embodiment, formation of the microtrench is carried out as set forth above, but the nitride layer is removed immediately following trench formation. Alternatively, the pad oxide layer is stripped and a new oxide layer is regrown that substantially covers all exposed surfaces of active areas of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above a substrate and a plurality of transistors, forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer, the dielectric layer comprised of a material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0, forming a plurality of openings in the dielectric layer and the BPSG layer, each of the openings allowing contact to a doped region of one of the transistors, and forming a conductive local interconnect in each of the openings. In another embodiment, the method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above the substrate and between the transistors, forming a local interconnect in openings formed in the BPSG layer, reducing a thickness of the BPSG layer after the local interconnects are formed, and forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer and between the local interconnects, wherein the dielectric layer has a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0.

Abstract: The method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above a substrate and a plurality of transistors, forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer, the dielectric layer comprised of a material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0, forming a plurality of openings in the dielectric layer and the BPSG layer, each of the openings allowing contact to a doped region of one of the transistors, and forming a conductive local interconnect in each of the openings. In another embodiment, the method comprises forming, a layer comprised of BPSG above the substrate and between the transistors, forming a local interconnect in openings formed in the BPSG layer, reducing a thickness of the BPSG layer after the local interconnects are formed, and forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer and between the local interconnects, wherein the dielectric layer has a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an ultrathin buried diffusion barrier layer (UBDBL) is formed over all or part of the doped polysilicon layer of a polysilicide structure composed of the polycrystalline silicon film and an overlying film of a metal, metal silicide, or metal nitride. More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a memory cell is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate, a P well, an N well, an N type active region, a P type active region, an isolation region, a polysilicide gate electrode structure, and a diffusion barrier layer. The P well is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The N well is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the P well. The N type active region is defined in the P well and the P type active region is defined in the N well. The isolation region is arranged to isolate the N type active region from the P type active region.

Abstract: The method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above a substrate and a plurality of transistors, forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer, the dielectric layer comprised of a material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0, forming a plurality of openings in the dielectric layer and the BPSG layer, each of the openings allowing contact to a doped region of one of the transistors, and forming a conductive local interconnect in each of the openings. In another embodiment, the method comprises forming a layer comprised of BPSG above the substrate and between the transistors, forming a local interconnect in openings formed in the BPSG layer, reducing a thickness of the BPSG layer after the local interconnects are formed, and forming a dielectric layer above the BPSG layer and between the local interconnects, wherein the dielectric layer has a dielectric constant greater than approximately 6.0.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of fabricating a circuit in a manner to place certain structures within a predefined distance of one another. Electrical connections are formed between certain structures of silicon, by annealing a conductive material to cause silicon out-diffusing to form local interconnects. The silicon out-diffusion can be facilitated without a masking step thereby simplifying as well as speeding up the fabrication process. The invention also includes a local interconnect thus formed.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of fabricating a circuit in a manner to place certain structures within a predefined distance of one another. Electrical connections are formed between certain structures of silicon, by annealing a conductive material to cause silicon out-diffusing to form local interconnects. The silicon out-diffusion can be facilitated without a masking step thereby simplifying as well as speeding up the fabrication process. The invention also includes a local interconnect thus formed.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of fabricating a circuit in a manner to place certain structures within a predefined distance of one another. Electrical connections are formed between certain structures of silicon, by annealing a conductive material to cause silicon out-diffusing to form local interconnects. The silicon out-diffusion can be facilitated without a masking step thereby simplifying as well as speeding up the fabrication process. The invention also includes a local interconnect thus formed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an ultrathin buried diffusion barrier layer (UBDBL) is formed over all or part of the doped polysilicon layer of a polycilicide structure composed of the polycrystalline silicon film and an overlying film of a metal, metal silicide, or metal nitride. More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a memory cell is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate, a P well, an N well, an N type active region, a P type active region, an isolation region, a polycilicide gate electrode structure, and a diffusion barrier layer. The P well is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The N well is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the P well. The N type active region is defined in the P well and the P type active region is defined in the N well. The isolation region is arranged to isolate the N type active region from the P type active region.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of fabricating a circuit in a manner to place certain structures within a predefined distance of one another. Electrical connections are formed between certain structures of silicon, by annealing a conductive material to cause silicon out-diffusing to form local interconnects. The silicon out-diffusion can be facilitated without a masking step thereby simplifying as well as speeding up the fabrication process. The invention also includes a local interconnect thus formed.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure pad oxide layer is enlarged by local oxidation of silicon to form a field oxide. An etchback causes the thinnest portions of the field oxide to recede such that a portion of the semiconductor substrate is exposed. An etch through the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate forms a microtrench between the field oxide and the nitride layer with a lateral dimension that is less than that currently achievable by conventional photolithography. The microtrench is then filled by oxide or nitride growth or by deposition of a dielectric material. In another embodiment, formation of the microtrench is carried out as set forth above, but the nitride layer is removed immediately following trench formation. Alternatively, the pad oxide layer is stripped and a new oxide layer is regrown that substantially covers all exposed surfaces of active areas of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming field oxide comprises the steps of forming a pad oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate, then forming a silicon layer over the pad oxide layer. A patterned mask is formed over the silicon layer and the silicon layer is etched to form openings in the silicon layer. Next, a blanket nitride layer is formed over the silicon and within the openings, and the nitride layer is then planarized to remove the nitride which overlies the silicon which leaves the nitride in the openings. Subsequent to the step of planarizing the nitride, the silicon layer is removed thereby forming openings in the nitride layer. The substrate is oxidized at the openings in the nitride layer to form field oxide from the substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming field oxide comprises the steps of forming a pad oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate, then forming a silicon layer over the pad oxide layer. A patterned mask is formed over the silicon layer and the silicon layer is etched to form openings in the silicon layer. Next, a blanket nitride layer is formed over the silicon and within the openings, and the nitride layer is then planarized to remove the nitride which overlies the silicon which leaves the nitride in the openings. Subsequent to the step of planarizing the nitride, the silicon layer is removed thereby forming openings in the nitride layer. The substrate is oxidized at the openings in the nitride layer to form field oxide from the substrate.