Abstract: An architecture for creating a vertical silicon-on-insulator MOSFET. Generally, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor area with a major surface formed along a plane and a first source/drain contact region formed in the surface. A relatively thin single crystalline layer is oriented vertically above the major surface and comprises a first source/drain doped region over which is located a doped channel region, over which is located a second source/drain region. An insulating layer is disposed adjacent said first and said second source/drain regions and said channel region, serving as the insulating material of the SOI device. In another embodiment, insulating material is adjacent only said first and said second source/drain regions. A conductive region is adjacent the channel region for connecting the back side of the channel region to ground, for example, to prevent the channel region from floating.

Abstract: An architecture for creating multiple operating voltage MOSFETs. Generally, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor area with a major surface formed along a plane and first and second spaced-apart doped regions formed in the surface. A third doped region forming a channel of different conductivity type than the first region is positioned over the first region. A fourth doped region of a different conductivity and forming a channel is positioned over the second region. The process of creating the gate structure for each of the two transistors allows for the formation of oxide layers of different thickness between the two transistors. The transistors are therefore capable of operating at different operating voltages (including different threshold voltages). Each transistor further includes fifth and sixth layers positioned respectively over the third and fourth regions and having an opposite conductivity type with respect to the third and fourth regions.

Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of MOSFETs wherein each one of the MOSFET has a unique predetermined threshold voltage. A doped well or tub is formed for each MOSFET. A patterned mask is then used to form a material line proximate each semiconductor well, wherein the width of the line is dependent upon the desired threshold voltage for the MOSFET. A tilted ion implantation is performed at an acute angle with respect to the substrate surface such that the ion beam passes through the material line. Thicker lines have a lower transmission coefficient for the ion beam and thus the intensity of the ion beam reaching the adjacent semiconductor well is reduced. By appropriate selection of the line width the dopant density in the well, and thus the final MOSFET threshold voltage, is controllable.

Abstract: An architecture for creating a vertical JFET. Generally, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor area with a major surface formed along a plane and a first source/drain doped region formed in the surface. A second doped region forming a channel of different conductivity type than the first region is positioned over the first region. A third doped region is formed over the second doped region having an opposite conductivity type with respect to the second doped region, and forming a source/drain region. A gate is formed over the channel to form a vertical JFET. In an associated method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, a first source/drain region is formed in a semiconductor layer. A field-effect transistor gate region, including a channel and a gate electrode, is formed over the first source/drain region. A second source/drain region is then formed over the channel having the appropriate conductivity type.

Abstract: A thin-film multilayer high-Q inductor having a ferromagnetic core and spanning at least three metal layers is formed by forming a plurality of parallel first metal runners on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of first and second vertical conductive vias are formed in electrical connection with each end of the plurality of metal runners. A plurality of third and fourth conductive vias are formed over the plurality of first and second conductive vias and a plurality of second metal runners are formed interconnecting the plurality of third and fourth conductive vias. The first metal runners and second metal runners are oriented such that one end of a first metal runner is connected to an overlying end of a second metal runner by way of the first and third vertical conductive vias. The other end of the second metal runner is connected to the next metal one runner by way of the second and fourth vertical conductive vias., forming a continuously conductive structure having a generally helical shape.

Abstract: A method for forming an oxide layer on a vertical, non-planar semiconductor surface provides a low stress oxide layer having a pristine interface characterized by a roughness of less than 3 angstroms. The oxide layer includes a portion that is substantially amorphous and notably dense. The oxide layer is a graded growth oxide layer including a composite of a first oxide portion formed at a relatively low temperature below the viscoelastic temperature of the oxide film and a second oxide portion formed at a relatively high temperature above the viscoelastic temperature of the oxide film. The process for forming the oxide layer includes thermally oxidizing at a first temperature below the viscoelastic temperature of the film, and slowly ramping up the temperature to a second temperature above the viscoelastic temperature of the film and heating at the second temperature.

Abstract: A method for predetermining the initial state of the memory cells of a static random access memory such that when the memory is powered up the predetermined initial states are attained. The initial states can be predetermined by modifying one or more physical or operational parameters of the MOSFETS comprising the memory cells.

Abstract: An architecture for creating multiple operating voltage MOSFETs. Generally, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor area with a major surface formed along a plane and first and second spaced-apart doped regions formed in the surface. A third doped region forming a channel of different conductivity type than the first region is positioned over the first region. A fourth doped region of a different conductivity and forming a channel is positioned over the second region. The process of creating the gate structure for each of the two transistors allows for the formation of oxide layers of different thickness between the two transistors. The transistors are therefore capable of operating at different operating voltages (including different threshold voltages). Each transistor further includes fifth and sixth layers positioned respectively over the third and fourth regions and having an opposite conductivity type with respect to the third and fourth regions.

Abstract: A memory array operates as an alpha particle detector. A predetermined state is stored in each memory storage location. The operating voltage of the memory array is established at a voltage where the stored values are relatively stable and not subject to change except as a result of alpha particle impingement. Impinging alpha particles are detected by the state changes they cause in the memory storage locations.

Abstract: A process and an architecture related to a vertical MOSFET device and a capacitor for use in integrated circuits. Generally, the integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor layer with a major surface formed along a plane thereof and further including a first doped region formed in the surface. A second doped region of a different conductivity type than the first doped region is positioned over the first region. A third doped region of a different conductivity type than the second region is positioned over the second region.

Abstract: An architecture for creating a vertical silicon-on-insulator MOSFET. Generally, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor area with a major surface formed along a plane and a first source/drain contact region formed in the surface. A relatively thin single crystalline layer is oriented vertically above the major surface and comprises a first source/drain doped region over which is located a doped channel region, over which is located a second source/drain region. An insulating layer is disposed adjacent said first and said second source/drain regions and said channel region, serving as the insulating material of the SOI device. In another embodiment, insulating material is adjacent only said first and said second source/drain regions. A conductive region is adjacent the channel region for connecting the back side of the channel region to ground, for example, to prevent the channel region from floating.

Abstract: A reduced feature size MOS transistor and its method of manufacture is disclosed. The present invention reduces short channel effects but does not include an LDD structure In an illustrative embodiment, a MOS transistor has a gate length of 1.25 &mgr;m or less. The exemplary MOS transistor includes a gate oxide that forms a planar and substantially stress free interface with a substrate. As a result of the planarity and substantially stress free nature of the oxide/substrate interface, the incidence of hot carriers, and thereby, deleterious hot carrier effects are reduced. By eliminating the use of the LDD structure, fabrication complexity is reduced and series source-drain resistance is reduced resulting in improved drive current and switching speed.

Abstract: A structure and a process for fabricating a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) that is compatible with the fabrication of a vertical MOSFET is disclosed. In the process, at least three layers of material are formed sequentially on a semiconductor substrate, where the substrate includes a buried collector region for the BJT and a source region for the MOSFET. After the at least three layers are formed on the substrate, two windows or trenches are formed in the layers. The first window terminates at the surface of the silicon substrate where the source region has been formed; the second window terminates at the buried collector region. Both windows are then filled with semiconductor material. For the BJT, the bottom portion of the window is filled with material of a conductivity type matching the conductivity of the buried collector, while the upper region of the semiconductor material is doped the opposite conductivity to form the BJT base.

Abstract: An architecture for creating a vertical JFET. Generally, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor area with a major surface formed along a plane and a first source/drain doped region formed in the surface. A second doped region forming a channel of different conductivity type than the first region is positioned over the first region. A third doped region is formed over the second doped region having an opposite conductivity type with respect to the second doped region, and forming a source/drain region. A gate is formed over the channel to form a vertical JFET.

Abstract: A reduced feature size MOS transistor and its method of manufacture is disclosed. The present invention reduces short channel effects but does not include an LDD structure In an illustrative embodiment, a MOS transistor has a gate length of 1.25 &mgr;m or less. The exemplary MOS transistor includes a gate oxide that forms a planar and substantially stress free interface with a substrate. As a result of the planarity and substantially stress free nature of the oxide/substrate interface, the incidence of hot carriers, and thereby, deleterious hot carrier effects are reduced. By eliminating the use of the LDD structure, fabrication complexity is reduced and series source-drain resistance is reduced resulting in improved drive current and switching speed.

Abstract: A method of identifying an integrated circuit device based on the initial state of certain memory cells within a memory array of the integrated circuit device. For many cells in the memory array the initial state is relatively consistent at each power-up, due to mismatches between the transistors that form each memory cell. Thus these consistent initial states provide a signature of the memory array and the integrated circuit device.

Abstract: A method for predetermining the initial state of the memory cells of a static random access memory such that when the memory is powered up the predetermined initial states are attained. The initial states can be predetermined by modifying one or more physical or operational parameters of the MOSFETS comprising the memory cells.

Abstract: A method of identifying an integrated circuit device based on the initial state of certain memory cells within a memory array of the integrated circuit device. For many cells in the memory array the initial state is relatively consistent at each power-up, due to mismatches between the transistors that form each memory cell. Thus these consistent initial states provide a signature of the memory array and the integrated circuit device.

Abstract: A memory array operates as an alpha particle detector. A predetermined state is stored in each memory storage location. The operating voltage of the memory array is established at a voltage where the stored values are relatively stable and not subject to change except as a result of alpha particle impingement. Impinging alpha particles are detected by the state changes they cause in the memory storage locations.

Abstract: An architecture for creating a vertical silicon-on-insulator MOSFET. Generally, an integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor area with a major surface formed along a plane and a first source/drain contact region formed in the surface. A relatively thin single crystalline layer is oriented vertically above the major surface and comprises a first source/drain doped region over which is located a doped channel region, over which is located a second source/drain region. An insulating layer is disposed adjacent said first and said second source/drain regions and said channel region, serving as the insulating material of the SOI device. In another embodiment, insulating material is adjacent only said first and said second source/drain regions. A conductive region is adjacent the channel region for connecting the back side of the channel region to ground, for example, to prevent the channel region from floating.