Abstract: A stacked surrounding reintrant wall capacitor (SSRWC) using a modified stacked capacitor storage cell fabrication process. The SSRWC is made up of polysilicon structure, having an elongated v-shaped cross-section, located at a buried contact and extending to an adjacent storage node overlaid by polysilicon with a dielectric sandwiched in between. The addition of the polysilicon structure increases storage capability 50% without enlarging the surface area defined for a normal stacked capacitor cell.

Abstract: A mushroom double stacked capacitor (mushroom cell) using a modified stacked capacitor storage cell fabrication process. The mushroom cell is made up of polysilicon structure, having a mushroom extended V-shaped cross-section. The storage node plate of the mushroom cell is overlaid by polysilicon with a dielectric sandwiched in between and connects to an access device's active area via a buried contact. The plate extends to an adjacent storage node but is isolated from the adjacent node by less than the critical resolution dimension of a given lithographic technology. The shape of the polysilicon structure increases storage capability 200% or more without enlarging the surface area defined for a normal buried digit line stacked capacitor cell.

Abstract: A low-stress process for creating field isolation regions on a silicon substrate that are fully recessed with respect to active areas. The field isolation regions, which have no bird's beak transition regions at their edges, are created by oxidizing an epitaxially-grown layer of silicon, the edges of which are isolated from active area silicon by a an oxide-backed silicon nitride spacer. Each nitride spacer is contiguous with a horizontal silicon nitride layer segment that protects an active area from oxidation during thermal field oxidation. A modification of the process, which requires the deposition of an additional silicon dioxide layer and a wet etch to remove spacers created from that additional layer, further reduces stress during thermal oxidation of the epitaxially-grown silicon layer by providing a void around the periphery of the epitaxial layer for expansion during the thermal oxidation thereof.

Abstract: A DRAM fabrication process is disclosed for constructing a reduced resistance digit-line. The digit-line is so constructed as to maintain low resistance as it crosses the gaps between word-lines. By bridging gaps having a dimension less than or falling below a calculated critical gap spacing, and following the contours of gaps having a dimension greater or falling above that critical gap dimension, the digit-line resistance can be minimized.

Abstract: A double dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell comprising two vertically stacked access transistors and storage capacitors. A first access transistor is formed on a silicon substrate. A seed contact to the first access transistor is then utilized for growing an intermediate silicon substrate by Confined Lateral Selective Epitaxial Overgrowth (CLSEG). A second access transistor is formed upon the intermediate silicon substrate. A storage capacitor for the first access transistor may be formed as a trench capacitor in the silicon substrate. A storage capacitor for the second access transistor may be stacked on the second access transistor. A common buried bit line connects the two access transistors.

Abstract: A DRAM cell having enhanced capacitance attributable to the use of a textured polycrystalline silicon storage-node capacitor plate. The present invention is particularly applicable to DRAM cells which employ a stacked-capacitor design, as such designs generally a conductively-doped polycrystalline silicon layer as the storage-node, or lower, capacitor plate. A poly texturization process imparts a three-dimensional texturized character to the upper surface of the storage-node plate. Texturization is accomplished by subjecting the storage-node plate layer to a wet oxidation step. Since oxidation at the crystal grain boundaries on the surface of the poly layer proceeds more rapidly than elsewhere, the surface becomes bumpy. When maximum texturization has been achieved, the overlying oxide is removed during a wet etch step.

Abstract: A split-polysilicon CMOS DRAM process incorporating self-aligned silicidation of the cell plate, transistor gates and N+ regions with a minimum of additional processing steps. By employing a light oxidation step to protect the P-channel transistor sidewall gates from silicidation during a subsequent processing step, the process avoids the problems that may be created by the double etching of the field oxide and active area regions that has heretofore been required for self-aligned silidation utilizing a split-polysilicon CMOS process. A protective nitride layer is used to prevent oxidation on those regions which are to be silicided. When this improved process is utilized for DRAM fabrication, the protective nitride layer may also be utilized as the cell dielectric.

Abstract: A process for creating a DRAM array having feature widths that transcend the resolution limit of the employed photolithographic process using only five photomasking steps.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes a wet or vapor isotropic etchback process of carefully controlled duration to create a field-effect transistor having reduced-slope, staircase-profile sidewall spacers formed from a pair of TEOS oxide layers. The spacer's reduced sidewall slope and staircase profile facilitates digit line deposition and aids in reducing the existence of short-prone polysilicon stringers.