Abstract: Various embodiments include a substrate having including a first doped region and a second doped region located on a first side of the substrate, and a third doped region and a fourth doped region located on a second side of the substrate, an insulation layer overlying the substrate, a gate layer overlying the insulation layer, a barrier layer overlying the gate layer, and an electrode layer overlying the barrier layer. The first and third doped regions may be located on a first side of the gate layer. The second and fourth doped regions may be located on a second side of the gate layer. The first and third doped regions may be source and drain regions of a first transistor. The second and fourth doped regions may be source and drain regions of a second transistor. The gate layer may include a gate segment to couple to a third transistor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method of forming a field effect transistor includes etching an opening into source/drain area of a semiconductor substrate. The opening has a base comprising semiconductive material. After the etching, insulative material is formed within the opening over the semiconductive material base. The insulative material less than completely fills the opening and has a substantially uniform thickness across the opening. Semiconductive source/drain material is formed within the opening over the insulative material within the opening. A transistor gate is provided operatively proximate the semiconductive source/drain material. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: Methods for forming a redistribution layer on microfeature workpieces, and microfeature workpieces having such a redistribution layer are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes constructing a dielectric structure on a microfeature workpiece having a substrate and a terminal carried by the substrate, and removing a section of the dielectric structure to form an opening. The opening has a first portion extending through the dielectric structure and exposing the terminal and a second portion extending to an intermediate depth in the dielectric structure. The second portion is spaced laterally apart from the terminal. The method further includes forming a conductive layer on the microfeature workpiece with the conductive layer in electrical contact with the terminal and disposed in the first and second portions of the opening.

Abstract: A memory device comprising a vertical transistor includes a digit line that is directly coupled to the source regions of each memory cell. Because an electrical plug is not used to form a contact between the digit line and the source regions, a number of fabrication steps may be reduced and the possibility for manufacturing defects may also be reduced. In some embodiments, a memory device may include a vertical transistor having gate regions that are recessed from an upper portion of a silicon substrate. With the gate regions recessed from the silicon substrate, the gate regions are spaced further from the source/drain regions and, accordingly, cross capacitance between the gate regions and the source/drain regions may be reduced.

Abstract: A transistor gate forming method includes forming a metal layer within a line opening and forming a fill layer within the opening over the metal layer. The fill layer is substantially selectively etchable with respect to the metal layer. A transistor structure includes a line opening, a dielectric layer within the opening, a metal layer over the dielectric layer within the opening, and a fill layer over the metal layer within the opening. The metal layer/fill layer combination exhibits less intrinsic less than would otherwise exist if the fill layer were replaced by an increased thickness of the metal layer. The inventions apply at least to 3-D transistor structures.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming field effect transistors. In one implementation, the invention encompasses a method of forming a field effect transistor on a substrate, where the field effect transistor comprises a pair of conductively doped source/drain regions, a channel region received intermediate the pair of source/drain regions, and a transistor gate received operably proximate the channel region. Such implementation includes conducting a dopant activation anneal of the pair of source/drain regions prior to depositing material from which a conductive portion of the transistor gate is made. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: A memory device comprises an active area comprising a source and at least two drains defining a first axis. At least two substantially parallel word lines are defined by a first pitch, with one word line located between each drain and the source. Digit lines are defined by a second pitch, one of the digit lines being coupled to the source and forming a second axis. The active areas of the memory array are tilted at 45° to the grid defined by the word lines and digit lines. The word line pitch is about 1.5 F, while the digit line pitch is about 3 F.

Abstract: A vertical transistor having a wrap-around-gate and a method of fabricating such a transistor. The wrap-around-gate (WAG) vertical transistors are fabricated by a process in which source, drain and channel regions of the transistor are automatically defined and aligned by the fabrication process, without photolithographic patterning.

Abstract: Methods for forming a redistribution layer on microfeature workpieces, and microfeature workpieces having such a redistribution layer are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes constructing a dielectric structure on a microfeature workpiece having a substrate and a terminal carried by the substrate, and removing a section of the dielectric structure to form an opening. The opening has a first portion extending through the dielectric structure and exposing the terminal and a second portion extending to an intermediate depth in the dielectric structure. The second portion is spaced laterally apart from the terminal. The method further includes forming a conductive layer on the microfeature workpiece with the conductive layer in electrical contact with the terminal and disposed in the first and second portions of the opening.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods of fabricating components for microelectronic devices, microelectronic devices including memory cells or other components, and computers including memory devices. For example, one embodiment is directed toward a method of fabricating a memory cell on a workpiece having a substrate, a plurality of active areas in the substrate, and a dielectric layer over the active areas. One embodiment of the method includes constructing bit line contact openings in the dielectric layer over first portions of the active areas and cell plug openings over second portions of the active areas. The method also includes depositing a first conductive material into the bit line contact openings to form bit line contacts and into the cell plug openings to form cell plugs. This embodiment continues by forming a trench through an upper portion of a plurality of the bit line contacts and portions of the dielectric layer between bit line contacts.

Abstract: The present inventions include a vertical transistor formed by defining a channel length of the vertical-surrounding-gate field effect transistor with self-aligning features. The method provides process steps to define the transistor channel length and recess silicon pillars used to form the vertical-surrounding gate field effect transistor structure for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A contact structure and a method of forming thereof for semiconductor devices or assemblies are described. The method provides process steps to create a contact structure encompassed by a sacrificial contact medium having an opening therein that is lined with a conductive spacer liner that effectively prevents the contact structure from being damaged during removal of the surrounding sacrificial contact medium material. The sacrificial contact medium is then replaced with a non-boron doped dielectric material.

Abstract: A field emission tip includes a base with a central portion and a tapered portion. The central portion of the base includes a peripheral surface, at least a portion of which is oriented substantially vertically or perpendicularly relative to a plane in which a substrate from which the field emission tip protrudes resides. An apex may be located at an exposed end of the central portion of the base. The tapered portion of the base includes an inclined surface that extends toward the exposed end of the central portion of the base. The tapered portion of the base may be formed from material that is redeposited as the emission tip is fabricated. The apex may be formed, at least in part, from a low work function material, such as one or more of aluminum titanium silicide, titanium silicide nitride, titanium nitride, tri-chromium mono-silicon, and tantalum nitride. Field emission arrays and field emission displays that include such field emission tips are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention includes a transistor device having a semiconductor substrate with an upper surface. A pair of source/drain regions are formed within the semiconductor substrate and a channel region is formed within the semiconductor substrate and extends generally perpendicularly relative to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. A gate is formed within the semiconductor substrate between the pair of the source/drain regions.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method of forming a field effect transistor includes etching an opening into source/drain area of a semiconductor substrate. The opening has a base comprising semiconductive material. After the etching, insulative material is formed within the opening over the semiconductive material base. The insulative material less than completely fills the opening and has a substantially uniform thickness across the opening. Semiconductive source/drain material is formed within the opening over the insulative material within the opening. A transistor gate is provided operatively proximate the semiconductive source/drain material. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: Vertical transistors for memory cells, such as 4F2 memory cells, are disclosed. The memory cells use digit line connections formed within the isolation trench to connect the digit line with the lower active area. Vertical transistor pillars can be formed from epitaxial silicon or etched from bulk silicon. Memory cells can be formed by creating a cell capacitor electrically connected to each transistor pillar.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming recessed access devices. A substrate is provided to have recessed access device trenches therein. A pair of the recessed access device trenches are adjacent one another. Electrically conductive material is formed within the recessed access device trenches, and source/drain regions are formed proximate the electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material and source/drain regions together are incorporated into a pair of adjacent recessed access devices. After the recessed access device trenches are formed within the substrate, an isolation region trench is formed between the adjacent recessed access devices and filled with electrically insulative material to form a trenched isolation region.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and memory cells are formed using silicon rich barrier layers to prevent diffusion of dopants from differently doped polysilicon films to overlying conductive layers or to substrates. A polycilicide gate electrode structure may be formed using the silicon rich barrier layers. Methods of forming the semiconductor devices and memory cells are also provided.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of forming field effect transistors are disclosed. In one aspect, an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate comprising bulk semiconductive material. Electrically insulative material is received within the bulk semiconductive material. Semiconductor material is formed on the insulative material. A field effect transistor is included and comprises a gate, a channel region, and a pair of source/drain regions. In one implementation, one of the source/drain regions is formed in the semiconductor material, and the other of the source/drain regions is formed in the bulk semiconductive material. In one implementation, the electrically insulative material extends from beneath one of the source/drain regions to beneath only a portion of the channel region. Other aspects and implementations, including methodical aspects, are disclosed.