Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing an insulating layer containing a plurality of openings, forming a first semiconductor layer in the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the first semiconductor layer, such that first conductivity type second portions of the first semiconductor layer remain in lower portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer, and upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer remain unfilled. The method also includes forming a second semiconductor layer in the upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the second semiconductor layer located over the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming a first photoresist layer over a sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, forming a spacer layer over the first and second photoresist features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the first and second photoresist features, forming third photoresist features between the spacer features, removing the spacer features, and patterning the sacrificial layer using the first, second and third photoresist features as a mask to form sacrificial features.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming a first photoresist layer over a sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, forming a spacer layer over the first and second photoresist features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the first and second photoresist features, forming third photoresist features between the spacer features, removing the spacer features, and patterning the sacrificial layer using the first, second and third photoresist features as a mask to form sacrificial features.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming a first photoresist layer over a sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, forming a spacer layer over the first and second photoresist features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the first and second photoresist features, forming third photoresist features between the spacer features, removing the spacer features, and patterning the sacrificial layer using the first, second and third photoresist features as a mask to form sacrificial features.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device contains a three dimensional stack of horizontal diodes located in a trench in an insulating material, a plurality of storage elements, a plurality of word lines extending substantially vertically, and a plurality of bit lines. Each of the plurality of bit lines has a first portion that extends up along at least one side of the trench and a second portion that extends substantially horizontally through the three dimensional stack of the horizontal diodes. Each of the horizontal diodes is a steering element of a respective non-volatile memory cell of the non-volatile memory device, and each of the plurality of storage elements is located adjacent to a respective steering element.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device contains a three dimensional stack of horizontal diodes located in a trench in an insulating material, a plurality of storage elements, a plurality of word lines extending substantially vertically, and a plurality of bit lines. Each of the plurality of bit lines has a first portion that extends up along at least one side of the trench and a second portion that extends substantially horizontally through the three dimensional stack of the horizontal diodes. Each of the horizontal diodes is a steering element of a respective non-volatile memory cell of the non-volatile memory device, and each of the plurality of storage elements is located adjacent to a respective steering element.

Abstract: Test structures are formed during semiconductor processing with a single mask that is used in a manner that also allows alignment marks to be formed which do not interfere with one another as subsequent layers are patterned. The test structures can provide insight into performance characteristics of different types of devices as the semiconductor process proceeds.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming a first photoresist layer over a sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, forming a spacer layer over the first and second photoresist features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the first and second photoresist features, forming third photoresist features between the spacer features, removing the spacer features, and patterning the sacrificial layer using the first, second and third photoresist features as a mask to form sacrificial features.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming an underlying mask layer over an underlying layer, forming a first mask layer over the underlying mask layer, patterning the first mask layer to form first mask features, undercutting the underlying mask layer to form underlying mask features using the first mask features as a mask, removing the first mask features, and patterning the underlying layer using at least the underlying mask features as a mask.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming a first photoresist layer over a sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, forming a spacer layer over the first and second photoresist features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the first and second photoresist features, forming third photoresist features between the spacer features, removing the spacer features, and patterning the sacrificial layer using the first, second and third photoresist features as a mask to form sacrificial features.

Abstract: A mask is reused to form the same pattern in multiple layers in semiconductor processing. Reference marks that allow alignment accuracy to be checked are also formed with the mask. The manner of using the mask advantageously mitigates interference between reference marks in different layers.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming a first photoresist layer over a sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, forming a spacer layer over the first and second photoresist features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the first and second photoresist features, forming third photoresist features between the spacer features, removing the spacer features, and patterning the sacrificial layer using the first, second and third photoresist features as a mask to form sacrificial features.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing an insulating layer containing a plurality of openings, forming a first semiconductor layer in the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the first semiconductor layer, such that first conductivity type second portions of the first semiconductor layer remain in lower portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer, and upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer remain unfilled. The method also includes forming a second semiconductor layer in the upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the second semiconductor layer located over the insulating layer.

Abstract: Test structures are formed during semiconductor processing. The test structures allow performance characteristics to be monitored as the process proceeds. The test structures are formed with a single mask that is used in a manner that also allows alignment marks to be formed which do not interfere with one another as subsequent levels are patterned. The manner of using the mask also allows different types of test structures having different features to be formed. The different types of test structures can provide insight into performance characteristics of different types of devices.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming a first sacrificial layer over an underlying layer, forming a first photoresist layer over the first sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, etching the first sacrificial layer using both the first and the second photoresist features as a mask to form first sacrificial features, forming a spacer layer over the first sacrificial features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the sacrificial features, removing the first sacrificial features, and etching at least part of the underlying layer using the spacer features as a mask.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing an insulating layer containing a plurality of openings, forming a first semiconductor layer in the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the first semiconductor layer, such that first conductivity type second portions of the first semiconductor layer remain in lower portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer, and upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer remain unfilled. The method also includes forming a second semiconductor layer in the upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the second semiconductor layer located over the insulating layer.

Abstract: Different types of test structures are formed during semiconductor processing. One type of test structure comprises features that are aligned with one another and that are formed from different layers. Other types of test structures comprise features formed from respective layers that are not aligned with other test structure features. The different types of test structures are formed with a single mask that is used in a manner that also allows alignment marks to be formed which do not interfere with one another as subsequent layers are patterned. The different types of test structures can provide insight into performance characteristics of different types of devices as the semiconductor process proceeds.

Abstract: A method of making a device includes forming an underlying mask layer over an underlying layer, forming a first mask layer over the underlying mask layer, patterning the first mask layer to form first mask features, undercutting the underlying mask layer to form underlying mask features using the first mask features as a mask, removing the first mask features, and patterning the underlying layer using at least the underlying mask features as a mask.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing an insulating layer containing a plurality of openings, forming a first semiconductor layer in the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the first semiconductor layer, such that first conductivity type second portions of the first semiconductor layer remain in lower portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer, and upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer remain unfilled. The method also includes forming a second semiconductor layer in the upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the second semiconductor layer located over the insulating layer.

Abstract: Test structures are formed during semiconductor processing. The test structures allow performance characteristics to be monitored as the process proceeds. The test structures are formed with a single mask that is used in a manner that also allows alignment marks to be formed which do not interfere with one another as subsequent levels are patterned. The manner of using the mask also allows different types of test structures having different features to be formed. The different types of test structures can provide insight into performance characteristics of different types of devices.