Abstract: By recessing a semiconductor layer, preferably by locally oxidizing the semiconductor layer, a stress-inducing material and/or a dopant species may be introduced into the thinned semiconductor layer in the vicinity of a gate electrode structure by means of a subsequent epitaxial growth process. In particular, the stress-inducing material formed adjacent to the gate electrode structure exerts compressive or tensile stress, depending on the type of material deposited, thereby also enhancing the mobility of the charge carriers in a channel region of the transistor element.

Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device (100) having reduced gate resistance and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device (100). A gate structure (112) is formed on a major surface (104) of a semiconductor substrate (102). Successive nitride spacers (118, 128) are formed adjacent the sidewalls of the gate structure (112). The nitride spacers (118, 128) are etched and recessed using a single etch to expose the upper portions (115A, 117A) of the gate structure (112). Source (132) and drain (134) regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate (102). Silicide regions (140, 142, 144) are formed on the top surface (109) and the exposed upper portions (115A, 117A) of the gate structure (112) and the source region (132) and the drain region (134). Electrodes (150, 152, 154) are formed in contact with the silicide (140, 142, 144) of the respective gate structure (112), source region (132), and the drain region (134).

Abstract: Semiconductor devices with improved transistor performance are fabricated by forming a composite oxide/nitride liner under a gate electrode sidewall spacer. Embodiments include depositing a conformal oxide layer by decoupled plasma deposition, depositing a conformal nitride layer by decoupled plasma deposition, depositing a spacer layer and then etching.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing are provided. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming first and second gate stacks on a substrate and forming an insulating layer on the substrate. The insulating layer has portions adjacent to the first stack and portions adjacent to the second gate stack. A first pair of insulating structures is formed adjacent to the first gate stack and a second pair of insulating structures is formed adjacent to the second gate stack. The first pair of insulating structures is removed. The portions of the insulating layer adjacent to the first gate stack are thickened while the second pair of insulating structures prevents thickening of the portions of the insulating film adjacent to the second gate stack. Differential insulating layer thickness for different gate devices is permitted to enable reduction in leakage currents for selected devices without harming speed performance for others.

Abstract: An insulated gate semiconductor device (100) having reduced gate resistance and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device (100). A gate structure (112) is formed on a major surface (104) of a semiconductor substrate (102). Successive nitride spacers (118, 128) are formed adjacent the sidewalls of the gate structure (112). The nitride spacers (118, 128) are etched and recessed using a single etch to expose the upper portions (115A, 117A) of the gate structure (112). Source (132) and drain (134) regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate (102). Silicide regions (140, 142, 144) are formed on the top surface (109) and the exposed upper portions (115A, 117A) of the gate structure (112) and the source region (132) and the drain region (134). Electrodes (150, 152, 154) are formed in contact with the silicide (140, 142, 144) of the respective gate structure (112), source region (132), and the drain region (134).

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with semiconducting sidewall spacers used in the formation of source/drain regions. The semiconducting sidewall spacers also reduce the possibility of suicide shorting through shallow source/drain junctions. Embodiments include doping the semiconducting sidewall spacers so that they serve as a source of impurities for forming source/drain extensions during activation annealing.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with semiconducting sidewall spacers used in the formation of source/drain regions. The semiconducting sidewall spacers also reduce the possibility of silicide shorting through shallow source/drain junctions. Embodiments include doping the semiconducting sidewall spacers so that they serve as a source of impurities for forming source/drain extensions during activation annealing.

Abstract: Channel carrier mobility is increased by reducing gate/gate dielectric interface roughness, thereby reducing surface scattering. Embodiments include depositing a layer of silicon by selective epitaxy prior to gate oxide formation to provide a substantially atomically smooth surface resulting in a smoother interface between the gate polysilicon and silicon oxide after oxidation.

Abstract: A method is provided, the method including forming a gate dielectric layer above a substrate layer, forming a gate conductor layer above the gate dielectric layer, forming a first hard mask layer above the gate conductor layer, and forming a second hard mask layer above the first hard mask layer. The method also includes forming a trimmed photoresist mask above the second hard mask layer, and forming a patterned hard mask in the second hard mask layer using the trimmed photoresist mask to remove portions of the second hard mask layer, the patterned hard mask having a first dimension. The method further includes forming a selectively etched hard mask in the first hard mask layer by removing portions of the first hard mask layer adjacent the patterned hard mask, the selectively etched hard mask having a second dimension less than the first dimension, and forming a gate structure using the selectively etched hard mask to remove portions of the gate conductor layer above the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process directed to forming differential field oxide thickness on a single wafer with minimized process steps and optimized planarity. When patterning the masking layer, at least two window widths are formed in the masking layer, exposing the underlying substrate and pad oxide. When one of the window widths is sufficiently small, oxidation of the substrate will be inhibited causing reduced growth and thus a reduced field oxide thickness in that window as compared to other larger windows formed in the same masking layer, creating differential field oxide thicknesses in one growth step. To optimize planarity, prior to oxidation variable depth trenches are formed in alignment with the windows so that the resulting field oxide regions are substantially planar with the substantial surface.

Abstract: A narrow groove is formed over a substrate. To form such a narrow groove, a first material is formed over a substrate, the first material having a sidewall. A spacer is formed abutting the sidewall. Subsequently a second material is formed adjacent to the spacer. The spacer is removed leaving a groove between the first material and second material. In one embodiment, the groove is filled with material for a narrow feature, such as a gate, and the first material and second material are removed. As a result a gate or other narrow feature is formed having a length defined by the width of a spacer. In another embodiment, an implant is performed through the small groove, resulting in a small localized implant.

Abstract: The capacitance between the gate electrode and the source/drain regions of a semiconductor device is reduced by forming sub-spacers of a low dielectric constant (K) material at the corners of the gate electrode above the source/drain regions. Subsequently, insulating sidewall spacers are formed over the sub-spacers to shield-shallow source/drain regions from subsequent impurity implantations. The resulting semiconductor device exhibits reduced capacitance between the gate electrode and the source/drain regions, while maintaining circuit reliability.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for independently doping the gate and the source-drain regions of a semiconductor device. The method is initiated by the provision. of a substrate having isolation regions and a thin insulating layer. Over the substrate is formed a polysilicon layer which is doped with a first type of dopant at a first doping level. Over the polysilicon layer is formed a conducting layer of material that can withstand temperatures of 1000° C., and over the conducting layer is formed a blocking layer. The polysilicon layer, the conducting layer and the blocking layer are etched to form a gate stack. Source-drain regions are subsequently doped with a second type of dopant at a second doping level. Source-drain regions are activated in a 1000° C. heat cycle, and, subsequently, TiSi2 is formed on the source-drain regions. Contacts are then formed.

Abstract: Halo implant regions are formed in a P-channel semiconductor device employing a zero degree tilt angle. N-type impurities are ion implanted to the desired depth in the semiconductor substrate prior to forming P-channel lightly doped source/drain areas. Subsequently, moderately or heavily doped source/drain regions are formed, followed by activation annealing. The halo implants diffuse to form halo structures at the desired location, thereby reducing short channel effects, such as subsurface punchthrough. Other embodiments enable independent control of the junction depths and channel lengths of N- and P-channel transistors, while maintaining high manufacturing throughput.

Abstract: An ultra-low thermal budget process is provided for channel implant by using a reverse process sequence where a conventional MOS transistor is formed without the channel implant. The originally deposited polysilicon gate is removed, a nitride film deposition and etch is used to form a nitride spacer with a predetermined configuration, and a self-aligned channel implant is performed. After the channel implantation, anneal and super-retrograded doping, the nitride spacer and the gate oxide are removed for subsequent regrowth of a second gate oxide and a polysilicon deposition to form a second polysilicon gate.

Abstract: Impurities are formed in the active region of a semiconductor substrate by diffusion from a gate electrode sidewall spacer. A gate electrode is formed on a semiconductor substrate with a gate dielectric layer therebetween. Sidewall spacers are formed on the side surfaces of the gate electrode. Dopant atoms are subsequently introduce to transform the spacers into solid dopant sources. Dopant atoms are diffused from the spacers into the semiconductor substrate to form first doped regions.

Abstract: A CMOS semiconductor device is formed having an N-channel transistor comprising a drain region with a graded N-LDD junction. The graded N-LDD junction is obtained by plural ion implantations at different implantation dosages, energies and angles. The graded N-LDD junction reduces the electric field around the drain, thereby increasing the HCI lifetime without adversely impacting the short channel effect.

Abstract: A CMOS semiconductor device is formed having an N-channel transistor comprising a graded junction with reduced junction capacitance. The graded junction is achieved by forming a second sidewall spacer on the gate electrode, after source/drain implantations, and ion-implanting an N-type impurity with high diffusivity, e.g., P into an A.sub.5 implant, followed by activation annealing.

Abstract: A process in accordance with the invention enables the manufacturability of raised source-drain MOSFETs. In accordance with the invention, a raised source-drain material, having a window therein, is formed over the substrate. A gate oxide and window sidewall oxides are subsequently formed. Dopants are diffused into the substrate. A gate is formed within the window.

Abstract: A process in accordance with the invention minimizes the number of heat steps to which an source-drain extension region is exposed, thus minimizing source-drain extension region diffusion and allowing more precise control of source-drain extension region thickness over conventional processes. In accordance with the invention, spacers are formed abutting the gate and then heavily doped source and drain regions are formed. The gate and source and drain regions are silicided. The spacers are subsequently removed and source-drain extension regions are then formed. In one embodiment of the invention, a laser doping process is used to form the source-drain extension regions.