Abstract: An integrated circuit is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The integrated circuit includes a trench formed in a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The trench includes a first trench portion and a second trench portion. The first trench portion is connected with the second trench portion. Openings of the first and second trench portions are adjacent to the first main surface. The integrated circuit further includes a trench transistor structure including a gate electrode disposed in the first trench portion, and a trench capacitor structure including a capacitor dielectric and a first capacitor electrode. The capacitor dielectric and the first capacitor electrode are disposed in the second trench portion. The first capacitor electrode includes a layer conformal with a sidewall of the second trench portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed in a semiconductor substrate includes a source region, a drain region, a gate electrode, and a body region disposed between the source region and the drain region. The gate electrode is disposed adjacent at least two sides of the body region, and the source region and the gate electrode are coupled to a source terminal. A width of the body region between the two sides of the body region is selected so that the body region is configured to be fully depleted.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a body region, a drift zone, and a gate electrode adjacent to the body region. The body region, the drift zone, the source region and the drain region are disposed in a first semiconductor layer having a first main surface. The body region and the drift zone are disposed along a first direction between the source region and the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface. Trenches are disposed in the first semiconductor layer, the trenches extending in the first direction. The transistor further includes a drift control region arranged adjacent to the drift zone. The drift control region and the gate electrode are disposed in the trenches.

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed in a semiconductor substrate includes an isolation trench in the semiconductor substrate to laterally insulate adjacent components of the semiconductor device. A lateral isolation layer is disposed in the isolation trench. The semiconductor device further includes a source region and a drain region, and a body region and a drift region disposed between the source region and the drain region. The semiconductor device additionally includes a gate electrode adjacent to at least a portion of the body region and a field plate adjacent to at least a portion of the drift region. A field dielectric layer is disposed between the drift region and the field plate. A top surface of the field dielectric layer is disposed at a greater height measured from a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate than a top surface of the lateral isolation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor, formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a drift zone, and a gate electrode being adjacent to the channel region, the gate electrode configured to control a conductivity of a channel formed in the channel region. The channel region and the drift zone are disposed along a first direction between the source region and the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface. The channel region has a shape of a ridge extending along the first direction and the drift zone including a superjunction layer stack.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating an integrated circuit that includes a deep trench capacitor. One method includes fabricating a plurality of transistors on a semiconductor substrate, the plurality of transistors each including gate structures, source and drain regions, and silicide contacts to the source and drain regions. A trench is then etched into the semiconductor substrate in proximity to the drain region of a selected transistor. The trench is filled with a layer of metal in contact with the semiconductor substrate, a layer of dielectric material overlying the layer of metal, and a second metal overlying the layer of dielectric material. A metal contact is then formed coupling the second metal to the silicide contact on the drain region of the selected transistor. A bit line is formed contacting the source region of the selected transistor and a word line is formed contacting the gate structure of the transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a transistor. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a body region, a drift zone, and a gate electrode being adjacent to the body region. The body region, the drift zone, the source region and the drain region are disposed in a first semiconductor layer having a first main surface. The body region and the drift zone are disposed along a first direction between the source region and the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface. The transistor further comprises a drift control region arranged adjacent to the drift zone, the drift control region being disposed over the first main surface.

Abstract: When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices, a replacement gate approach may be applied in combination with a self-aligned contact regime by forming the self-aligned contacts prior to replacing the placeholder material of the gate electrode structures.

Abstract: When forming capacitive structures in a metallization system, such as in a dynamic RAM area, placeholder metal regions may be formed together with “regular” metal features, thereby achieving a very efficient overall process flow. At a certain manufacturing stage, the metal of the placeholder metal region may be removed on the basis of a wet chemical etch recipe followed by the deposition of the electrode materials and the dielectric materials for the capacitive structure without unduly affecting other portions of the metallization system. In this manner, very high capacitance values may be realized on the basis of a very efficient overall manufacturing flow.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a high-k metal gate electrode structure that is positioned above an active region, has a top surface that is positioned at a gate height level, and includes a high-k dielectric material and an electrode metal. Raised drain and source regions are positioned laterally adjacent to the high-k metal gate electrode structure and connect to the active region, and a top surface of each of the raised drain and source regions is positioned at a contact height level that is below the gate height level. An etch stop layer is positioned above the top surface of the raised drain and source regions and a contact element connects to one of the raised drain and source regions, the contact element extending through the etch stop layer and a dielectric material positioned above the high-k metal gate electrode structure and the raised drain and source regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor, formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a drift zone, and a gate electrode being adjacent to the channel region, the gate electrode configured to control a conductivity of a channel formed in the channel region. The channel region and the drift zone are disposed along a first direction between the source region and the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface. The channel region has a shape of a ridge extending along the first direction and the drift zone including a superjunction layer stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a drift zone, and a gate electrode being adjacent to the channel region. The gate electrode is configured to control a conductivity of a channel formed in the channel region, the channel region and the drift zone are disposed along a first direction between the source region and the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface. The channel region has a shape of a first ridge extending along the first direction, and the transistor includes a first field plate arranged adjacent to the drift zone.

Abstract: When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices including high-k metal gate electrode structures, a raised drain and source configuration may be used for controlling the height upon performing a replacement gate approach, thereby providing superior conditions for forming contact elements and also obtaining a well-controllable reduced gate height.

Abstract: An eDRAM is fabricated including high performance logic transistor technology and ultra low leakage DRAM transistor technology. Embodiments include forming a recessed channel in a substrate, forming a first gate oxide to a first thickness lining the channel and a second gate oxide to a second thickness over a portion of an upper surface of the substrate, forming a first polysilicon gate in the recessed channel and overlying the recessed channel, forming a second polysilicon gate on the second gate oxide, forming spacers on opposite sides of each of the first and second polysilicon gates, removing the first and second polysilicon gates forming first and second cavities, forming a high-k dielectric layer on the first and second gate oxides, and forming first and second metal gates in the first and second cavities, respectively.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is at least partially formed in a semiconductor substrate, the substrate including first and second opposing main surfaces. The semiconductor device includes a cell field portion and a contact area, the contact area being electrically coupled to the cell field portion, the cell field portion including at least a transistor. The contact area includes a connection substrate portion insulated from other substrate portions and including a part of the semiconductor substrate, an electrode adjacent to the second main surface and in contact with the connection substrate portion, and a metal layer disposed over the first main surface, the connection substrate portion being electrically coupled to the metal layer to form an ohmic contact between the electrode and metal layer. The connection substrate portion is not electrically coupled to a component of the cell field portion by a conductive material disposed between the first and second main surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a semiconductor device. In one example, the method includes forming a gate electrode structure above a semiconducting substrate, wherein the gate electrode structure includes a gate insulation layer, a gate electrode, a first sidewall spacer positioned proximate the gate electrode, and a gate cap layer, and forming an etch stop layer above the gate cap layer and above the substrate proximate the gate electrode structure. The method further includes forming a layer of spacer material above the etch stop layer, and performing at least one first planarization process to remove the portion of said layer of spacer material positioned above the gate electrode, the portion of the etch stop layer positioned above the gate electrode and the gate cap layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor including a source region, a drain region, and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is disposed in a first trench arranged in a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a control electrode. The control electrode is disposed in a second trench arranged in the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second trench has a second shape that is different from a first shape of the first trench.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to a semiconductor device with DRAM bit lines made from the same material as the gate electrodes in non-memory regions of the device, and methods of making the same. One illustrative method disclosed herein comprises forming a semiconductor device including a memory array and a logic region. The method further comprises forming a buried word line in the memory array and, after forming the buried word line, performing a first common process operation to form at least a portion of a conductive gate electrode in the logic region and to form at least a portion of a conductive bit line in the memory array.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor with a first drift zone, and a plurality of second transistors, each second transistor comprising a source region, a drain region and a gate electrode. The second transistors are electrically coupled in series to form a series circuit that is electrically coupled to the first transistor, the first and the plurality of second transistors being at least partially disposed in a semiconductor substrate including a buried doped layer, wherein the source or the drain regions of the second transistors are disposed in the buried doped layer.

Abstract: Ferroelectric circuit elements, such as field effect transistors or capacitors, may be formed on the basis of hafnium oxide, which may also be used during the fabrication of sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structures of fast transistors. To this end, the hafnium-based oxide having appropriate thickness and material composition may be patterned at any appropriate manufacturing stage, without unduly affecting the overall process flow for fabricating a sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structure.