Abstract: A read-preferred SRAM cell includes a pull-up MOS device having a first drive current, a pull-down MOS device coupled to the pull-up MOS device, the pull-down MOS device having a second drive current, and a pass-gate MOS device having a third drive current coupled to the pull-up MOS device and the pull-down MOS device. The first drive current and the third drive current preferably have an ? ratio of between about 0.5 and about 1. The second drive current and the third drive current preferably have a ? ratio of between about 1.45 and 5.

Abstract: A crack prevention ring at the exterior edge of an integrated circuit prevents delamination and cracking during the separation of the integrated circuits into individual die. The crack prevention ring extends vertically into a semiconductor workpiece to at least a metallization layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be formed simultaneously with the formation of test pads of the integrated circuits. The crack prevention ring may be partially or completely filled with conductive material. An air pocket may be formed within the crack prevention ring beneath a passivation layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be removed during the singulation process.

Abstract: A method of forming a crack prevention ring at the exterior edge of an integrated circuit to prevent delamination and cracking during the separation of the integrated circuits into individual die. The crack prevention ring extends vertically into a semiconductor workpiece to at least a metallization layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be formed simultaneously with the formation of test pads of the integrated circuits. The crack prevention ring may be partially or completely filled with conductive material. An air pocket may be formed within the crack prevention ring beneath a passivation layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be removed during the singulation process. An optional seal ring may be formed between the crack prevention ring and the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes of a plurality of semiconductor fins overlying an insulator layer, a gate dielectric overlying a portion of said semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric. Each of the semiconductor fins has a top surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface. Dopant ions are implanted at a first angle (e.g., greater than about 7°) with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the first sidewall surface and the top surface. Further dopant ions are implanted with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the second sidewall surface and the top surface.

Abstract: A memory device is formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure, the SOI structure including a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate, and a semiconductor film on the insulating layer. The memory device includes a memory array in a memory region of the SOI structure, a plurality of first substrate contacts in the peripheral region of the memory device, and a plurality of second substrate contacts in the memory region of the SOI structure, wherein the first substrate contacts and the second substrate contacts are formed in and over the semiconductor film and in the insulating layer and are electrically connected to the substrate of the SOI structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes of a plurality of semiconductor fins overlying an insulator layer, a gate dielectric overlying a portion of said semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric. Each of the semiconductor fins has a top surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface. Dopant ions are implanted at a first angle (e.g., greater than about 7°) with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the first sidewall surface and the top surface. Further dopant ions are implanted with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the second sidewall surface and the top surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes of a plurality of semiconductor fins overlying an insulator layer, a gate dielectric overlying a portion of said semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric. Each of the semiconductor fins has a top surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface. Dopant ions are implanted at a first angle (e.g., greater than about 7°) with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the first sidewall surface and the top surface. Further dopant ions are implanted with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the second sidewall surface and the top surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a crack prevention ring at the exterior edge of an integrated circuit to prevent delamination and cracking during the separation of the integrated circuits into individual die. The crack prevention ring extends vertically into a semiconductor workpiece to at least a metallization layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be formed simultaneously with the formation of test pads of the integrated circuits. The crack prevention ring may be partially or completely filled with conductive material. An air pocket may be formed within the crack prevention ring beneath a passivation layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be removed during the singulation process. An optional seal ring may be formed between the crack prevention ring and the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus including, in one embodiment, a plurality of transistors each formed by: (1) at least a portion of one of a plurality of doped regions formed in a substrate; and (2) at least a portion of one of a plurality of first conductors each extending over one of the plurality of doped regions, the plurality of first conductors included in a first metal layer. A second metal layer includes a plurality of second conductors each interconnecting ones of the plurality of transistors. A third metal layer includes a plurality of bit lines each interconnecting ones of the plurality of transistors. A fourth metal layer includes a plurality of word lines each interconnecting ones of the plurality of transistors.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for an SRAM device cell having at least one device of a first semiconductor type and at lease one device of a second semiconductor type. The cell has a first device of the first type constructed as a part of a first FinFET having one or more devices of the first type, a first device of the second type whose poly region is an extension of a poly region of the first device of the first type with no contact needed to connect therebetween, wherein the two devices are constructed using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology so that they are separated by an insulator region therebetween so as to minimize the distance between the two devices.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for an SRAM device cell having at least one device of a first semiconductor type and at lease one device of a second semiconductor type. The cell has a first device of the first type constructed as a part of a first FinFET having one or more devices of the first type, a first device of the second type whose poly region is an extension of a poly region of the first device of the first type with no contact needed to connect therebetween, wherein the two devices are constructed using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology so that they are separated by an insulator region therebetween so as to minimize the distance between the two devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes of a plurality of semiconductor fins overlying an insulator layer, a gate dielectric overlying a portion of said semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric. Each of the semiconductor fins has a top surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface. Dopant ions are implanted at a first angle (e.g., greater than about 7°) with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the first sidewall surface and the top surface. Further dopant ions are implanted with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the second sidewall surface and the top surface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel damascene local interconnect process to avoid junction leakage caused by poor interface of the interconnection with isolation edges. The process comprises the steps of: (a) forming a first dielectric layer over the substrate surface; (b) forming an interconnection in the upper level of the dielectric layer which spans over the first and second active areas; (c) forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and the interconnection; (d) etching first and second contact holes adjacent to the opposite ends of the interconnection through the second and first dielectric layers, the first and second contact holes extending down to the first and second active area respectively; and (e) filling the first and second contact holes with first and second conductive plugs respectively, wherein the interconnection thereby connects the first and second conductive plugs to couple the first and second active areas.

Abstract: A method for forming a high-performance oxide as a tunneling dielectric for non-volatile memory applications. A silicon film containing amorphous silicon and good crystalline silicon micrograins is deposited in a silicon substrate by a LPCVD system. Then, a oxidation is performed at a temperature selected in a range such that non-uniform epitaxial silicon growth occurs at the silicon substrate. During an initial thermal oxidation process, the amorphous silicon region is quickly oxidized to form SiO.sub.2 and the good-crystalline silicon micrograins are also quickly oxidized to form the silicon-rich SiO.sub.2 (TOAS). In a following oxidation process, silicon precipitates are formed at the silicon-enriched region and the non-uniform epitaxial silicon growth is also enhanced at the silicon-enriched region. The enhanced non-uniformed silicon growth creates mild microtips. The silicon precipitates connect to the mild silicon microtips.

Abstract: A digitizer whose sensing elements are made of magnetoresistive materials is designed for use with a computer system. The digitizer board includes a substrate made of dielectric material; a first array of strip-shaped magneto-resistors arranged on the front surface of the substrate; a second array of strip-shaped magneto-resistors arranged on the reverse surface of the substrate; a plurality of analog comparators coupled to the magneto-resistors; and a pen with a magnetic pinpoint used for pointing to a particular location on the front side of the digitizer board. The resistance of the magneto-resistors will vary due to a magnetic field emerging from the nearby pinpoint, and the magnetic-resistors will be effected, and subsequently the comparators connected to the magneto-resistors will send digital signals to the computer system.