Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes an input terminal, a transistor, and an output terminal. The input terminal is configured to receive an input signal. The transistor includes a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, and a drift region that has a resistance in series between the first and second source/drain regions and that is configured to attenuate an ESD voltage in the input signal. The output terminal is connected to the second source/drain region.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method for cell placement in a semiconductor layout is provided. The method includes: providing a first cell having two sides, each side configured as at least one of a source side and a drain side; providing a place-and-route boundary (prBoundary) of the first cell based on the configuration of the two sides of the first cell; providing a second cell having two sides, each side configured as at least one of a source side and a drain side; providing a prBoundary of the second cell based on the configuration of the two sides of the second cell; and placing the first cell and the second cell based on the prBoundary of the first cell and the prBoundary of the second cell.

Abstract: A method of forming an SRAM cell includes forming a first vertical pull-down transistor, a second vertical pull-down transistor, a first vertical pass-gate transistor, and a second vertical pass-gate transistor over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a first conductive trace over a top surface of the first vertical pull-down transistor and the first vertical pass-gate transistor, forming a second conductive trace over a top surface of the second vertical pull-down transistor and the second vertical pass-gate transistor, and forming a first vertical pull-up transistor over a first portion of the first conductive trace. The method also includes forming a second vertical pull-up transistor over a first portion of the second conductive trace. The method also includes forming a first via over the first conductive trace and forming a second via over the second conductive trace.

Abstract: A 3D-IC includes a first tier device and a second tier deice. The first tier device and the second tier device are vertically stacked together. The first tier device includes a first substrate and a first connect structure formed over the first substrate. The second tier device includes a second substrate, a doped region formed in the second substrate, a dummy gate formed over the substrate, and a second interconnect structure formed over the second substrate. The 3D-IC also includes an inter-tier via extends vertically through the second substrate. The inter-tier via has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the inter-tier via is coupled to the first interconnect structure. The second end of the inter-tier via is coupled to one of: the doped region, the dummy gate, or the second interconnect structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a substrate region and a first semiconductor column projecting from the substrate region. The semiconductor arrangement includes a second semiconductor column projecting from the substrate region and adjacent the first semiconductor column. The second semiconductor column is separated a first distance from the first semiconductor column along a first axis. The semiconductor arrangement includes a third semiconductor column projecting from the substrate region and adjacent the first semiconductor column. The third semiconductor column is separated a second distance from the first semiconductor column along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The second distance is different than the first distance.

Abstract: A method includes patterning a substrate to form a nanowire over the substrate, applying a plurality of doping processes to the nanowire to form a first drain/source region at a lower portion of the nanowire, a second drain/source region at an upper portion of the nanowire and a channel region, wherein the channel region is between the first drain/source region and the second drain/source region, depositing a first dielectric layer along sidewalls of the channel region, depositing a control gate layer over the first dielectric layer, wherein the control gate layer surrounds a lower portion of the channel region, depositing a second dielectric layer along the sidewalls of the channel region and over the control gate layer and forming a floating gate region surrounding an upper portion of the channel region.

Abstract: Stacked devices and circuits formed by stacked devices are described. In accordance with some embodiments, a semiconductor post extends vertically from a substrate. A first source/drain region is in the semiconductor post. A first gate electrode layer laterally surrounds the semiconductor post and is vertically above the first source/drain region. A first gate dielectric layer is interposed between the first gate electrode layer and the semiconductor post. A second source/drain region is in the semiconductor post and is vertically above the first gate electrode layer. The second source/drain region is connected to a power supply node. A second gate electrode layer laterally surrounds the semiconductor post and is vertically above the second source/drain region. A second gate dielectric layer is interposed between the second gate electrode layer and the semiconductor post. A third source/drain region is in the semiconductor post and is vertically above the second gate electrode layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first type region including a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a second type region including a second conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a channel region extending between the first type region and the second type region. The semiconductor device includes a first silicide region on a first type surface region of the first type region. The first silicide region is separated at least one of a first distance from a first type diffusion region of the first type region or a second distance from the channel region.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes an input terminal, a transistor, and an output terminal. The input terminal is configured to receive an input signal. The transistor includes a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, and a drift region that has a resistance in series between the first and second source/drain regions and that is configured to attenuate an ESD voltage in the input signal. The output terminal is connected to the second source/drain region.

Abstract: Static random access memories (SRAM) are provided. The SRAM includes a plurality of bit cells. Each bit cell includes a first inverter, a second inverter cross-coupled with the first inverter, a first pass gate transistor coupled between the first inverter and a bit line, and a second pass gate transistor coupled between the second inverter and a complementary bit line. The bit cells are divided into a plurality of top tier cells and a plurality of bottom tier cells, and each of the bottom tier cells is disposed under the individual top tier cell. The first inverter of the top tier cell is disposed on the second inverter of the corresponding bottom tier cell within a substrate, and the second inverter of the top tier cell is disposed on the first inverter of the corresponding bottom tier cell within the substrate.

Abstract: A method comprises doping a lower portion of a nanowire to form a first drain/source region, wherein the nanowire is formed over a substrate, doping an upper portion of the nanowire to form a second drain/source region, doping a middle portion of the nanowire to form a channel region, wherein the channel region is between the first drain/source region and the second drain/source region, forming a ring-shaped gate structure surrounding a lower portion of the channel region, wherein the ring-shaped gate structure comprises a vertical portion of a first work-function metal layer and depositing a low-resistivity gate metal layer over a horizontal portion of the first work-function metal layer, wherein the low-resistivity gate metal layer is electrically coupled to the vertical portion of the first work-function metal layer through the horizontal portion of the first work-function metal layer.

Abstract: A 3D-IC includes a first tier device and a second tier device. The first tier device and the second tier device are vertically stacked together. The first tier device includes a first substrate and a first interconnect structure formed over the first substrate. The second tier device includes a second substrate, a doped region formed in the second substrate, a dummy gate formed over the substrate, and a second interconnect structure formed over the second substrate. The 3D-IC also includes an inter-tier via extends vertically through the second substrate. The inter-tier via has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the inter-tier via is coupled to the first interconnect structure. The second end of the inter-tier via is coupled to one of: the doped region, the dummy gate, or the second interconnect structure.

Abstract: A device comprises a nanowire over a substrate, wherein the nanowire comprises a first drain/source region over the substrate, a channel region over the first drain/source region and a second drain/source region over the channel region, a high-k dielectric layer and a control gate layer surrounding a lower portion of the channel region and a tunneling layer and a ring-shaped floating gate layer surrounding an upper portion of the channel region.

Abstract: Static random access memories (SRAM) are provided. The SRAM includes a plurality of bit cells. Each bit cell includes a first inverter, a second inverter cross-coupled with the first inverter, a first pass gate transistor coupled between the first inverter and a bit line, and a second pass gate transistor coupled between the second inverter and a complementary bit line. The bit cells are divided into a plurality of top tier cells and a plurality of bottom tier cells, and each of the bottom tier cells is disposed under the individual top tier cell. The first inverter of the top tier cell is disposed on the second inverter of the corresponding bottom tier cell within a substrate, and the second inverter of the top tier cell is disposed on the first inverter of the corresponding bottom tier cell within the substrate.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for crystalline junctionless transistors used in nonvolatile memory arrays are introduced. Various embodiments in accordance with this disclosure provide a method of fabricating a monolithic 3D cross-bar nonvolatile memory array with low thermal budget. The method incorporates crystalline junctionless transistors into nonvolatile memory structures by transferring a layer of doped crystalline semiconductor material from a seed wafer to form the source, drain, and connecting channel of the junctionless transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) comprises first and second conductors in one layer of the IC, wherein the first conductor is oriented along a first direction, the second conductor is oriented along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, and the second conductor is electrically connected to the first conductor. The IC further comprises a third conductor in another layer of the IC, oriented along the second direction, and above the second conductor; a first via connecting the first and third conductors; and a second via connecting the second and third conductors.

Abstract: Stacked devices and circuits formed by stacked devices are described. In accordance with some embodiments, a semiconductor post extends vertically from a substrate. A first source/drain region is in the semiconductor post. A first gate electrode layer laterally surrounds the semiconductor post and is vertically above the first source/drain region. A first gate dielectric layer is interposed between the first gate electrode layer and the semiconductor post. A second source/drain region is in the semiconductor post and is vertically above the first gate electrode layer. The second source/drain region is connected to a power supply node. A second gate electrode layer laterally surrounds the semiconductor post and is vertically above the second source/drain region. A second gate dielectric layer is interposed between the second gate electrode layer and the semiconductor post. A third source/drain region is in the semiconductor post and is vertically above the second gate electrode layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first type region including a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a second type region including a second conductivity type. The semiconductor device includes a channel region extending between the first type region and the second type region. The semiconductor device includes a first silicide region on a first type surface region of the first type region. The first silicide region is separated at least one of a first distance from a first type diffusion region of the first type region or a second distance from the channel region.

Abstract: Static random access memories (SRAM) are provided. The SRAM includes a plurality of bit cells. Each bit cell includes a first inverter, a second inverter cross-coupled with the first inverter, a first pass gate transistor coupled between the first inverter and a bit line, and a second pass gate transistor coupled between the second inverter and a complementary bit line. The bit cells are divided into a plurality of top tier cells and a plurality of bottom tier cells, and each of the bottom tier cells is disposed under the individual top tier cell. The first inverter of the top tier cell is disposed on the second inverter of the corresponding bottom tier cell within a substrate, and the second inverter of the top tier cell is disposed on the first inverter of the corresponding bottom tier cell within the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a first semiconductor device including a first type region having a first conductivity type and a second type region having a second conductivity type. The semiconductor arrangement includes a second semiconductor device adjacent the first semiconductor device. The second semiconductor device includes a third type region having a third conductivity type and a fourth type region having a fourth conductivity type. The semiconductor arrangement includes a first insulator layer including a first insulator portion around at least some of the first semiconductor device and a second insulator portion around at least some of the second semiconductor device. The first insulator portion has a first insulator height, and the second insulator portion has a second insulator height. The first insulator height is different than the second insulator height. A method of forming a semiconductor arrangement is provided.