Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a substrate and a source in electrical communication with the substrate. A drain is also in electrical communication with the substrate. A gate overlies the substrate between the source and the drain, wherein a channel is defined within the substrate directly underlying the gate, and where a Schottky portion of the substrate is positioned between the channel and the source.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a gate stack covering a middle portion of a semiconductor fin, forming a gate spacer layer over the gate stack and the semiconductor fin, and patterning the gate spacer layer. The resulting spacers include a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack, and a fin spacer on a sidewall of an end portion of the semiconductor fin. The fin spacer is then etched. When the etching is finished, a height of the fin spacer is smaller than about a half of the height of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: Integrated circuits with electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and methods of providing ESD protection in an integrated circuit are provided. An ESD protection circuit the ESD protection circuit may incorporate a transistor, such as a MOSFET, and a voltage limiter coupled to a gate of the transistor. The voltage limiter may be configured such that with an ESD disturbance on the voltage supply rail, Vdd, a gate voltage of the transistor of the ESD protection circuit is held below the supply voltage (Vdd) inducing base current, Isub, within the transistor to effectively shunt a current arising from the ESD event from the voltage supply rail Vdd to the voltage supply rail Vss.

Abstract: Integrated circuits and methods of producing such integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a heavily doped source area having conductivity determining impurities at a heavily doped source concentration and a lightly doped drain area having conductivity determining impurities at a lightly doped drain concentration less than the heavily doped source concentration. A drain conductor directly contacts the lightly doped drain area, and a channel is positioned between the heavily doped source area and the lightly doped drain area. A gate overlies the channel.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a gate stack covering a middle portion of a semiconductor fin, forming a gate spacer layer over the gate stack and the semiconductor fin, and patterning the gate spacer layer. The resulting spacers include a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack, and a fin spacer on a sidewall of an end portion of the semiconductor fin. The fin spacer is then etched. When the etching is finished, a height of the fin spacer is smaller than about a half of the height of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: An embodiment integrated circuit (e.g., diode) and method of making the same. The embodiment integrated circuit includes a well having a first doping type formed over a substrate having the first doping type, the well including a fin, a source formed over the well on a first side of the fin, the source having a second doping type, a drain formed over the well on a second side of the fin, the drain having the first doping type, and a gate oxide formed over the fin, the gate oxide laterally spaced apart from the source by a back off region of the fin. The integrated circuit is compatible with a FinFET fabrication process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increased holding voltage SCRs. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a first well of the first conductivity type; a second well of a second conductivity type adjacent to the first well, an intersection of the first well and the second well forming a p-n junction; a first diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the first well and coupled to a ground terminal; a first diffused region of the second conductivity type formed at the first well; a second diffused region of the first conductivity type formed at the second well and coupled to a pad terminal; a second diffused region of the second conductivity type formed in the second well; and a Schottky junction formed adjacent to the first diffused region of the second conductivity type coupled to a ground terminal. Methods for forming devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A diode string having a plurality of diodes for ESD protection of a CMOS IC device comprises a first diode and a last diode in the diode string, wherein the first diode and the last diode are both formed on a bottom layer in a silicon substrate, and remaining diodes in the diode string. The remaining diodes are formed on a top layer placed on top of the bottom layer. The diode string further comprises a plurality of conductive lines that connect the first diode and the last diode on the bottom layer sequentially with the remaining diodes on the top layer to form a three dimensional (3D) structure of the diode string.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate, insulation regions extending into the semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor fin protruding above the insulation regions. The insulation regions have a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion and the second portion on opposite sides of the semiconductor fin. The semiconductor fin has a first height. The integrated circuit device further includes a gate stack over a middle portion of the semiconductor fin, and a fin spacer on a sidewall of an end portion of the semiconductor fin. The fin spacer has a second height. The first height is greater than about two times the second height.

Abstract: A diode string having a plurality of diodes for ESD protection of a CMOS IC device comprises a first diode and a last diode in the diode string, wherein the first diode and the last diode are both formed on a bottom layer in a silicon substrate, and remaining diodes in the diode string. The remaining diodes are formed on a top layer placed on top of the bottom layer. The diode string further comprises a plurality of conductive lines that connect the first diode and the last diode on the bottom layer sequentially with the remaining diodes on the top layer to form a three dimensional (3D) structure of the diode string.

Abstract: An embodiment integrated circuit (e.g., diode) and method of making the same. The embodiment integrated circuit includes a well having a first doping type formed over a substrate having the first doping type, the well including a fin, a source formed over the well on a first side of the fin, the source having a second doping type, a drain formed over the well on a second side of the fin, the drain having the first doping type, and a gate oxide formed over the fin, the gate oxide laterally spaced apart from the source by a back off region of the fin. The integrated circuit is compatible with a FinFET fabrication process.

Abstract: An embodiment integrated circuit (e.g., diode) and method of making the same. The embodiment integrated circuit includes a well having a first doping type formed over a substrate having the first doping type, the well including a fin, a source formed over the well on a first side of the fin, the source having a second doping type, a drain formed over the well on a second side of the fin, the drain having the first doping type, and a gate oxide formed over the fin, the gate oxide laterally spaced apart from the source by a back off region of the fin. The integrated circuit is compatible with a FinFET fabrication process.

Abstract: One or more techniques or systems for forming an n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor for electrostatic discharge (ESD) are provided herein. In some embodiments, the NMOS transistor includes a first region, a first n-type plus (NP) region, a first p-type plus (PP) region, a second NP region, a second PP region, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a gate stack. In some embodiments, the first PP region is between the first NP region and the second NP region. In some embodiments, the second NP region is between the first PP region and the second PP region, the gate stack is between the first PP region and the second NP region, the STI region is between the second NP region and the second PP region. Accordingly, the first PP region enables ESD current to discharge based on a low trigger voltage for the NMOS transistor.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a gate stack covering a middle portion of a semiconductor fin, forming a gate spacer layer over the gate stack and the semiconductor fin, and patterning the gate spacer layer. The resulting spacers include a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack, and a fin spacer on a sidewall of an end portion of the semiconductor fin. The fin spacer is then etched. When the etching is finished, a height of the fin spacer is smaller than about a half of the height of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a first well of a first conductivity type, a second well of a second conductivity type, a plurality of first regions, a second region and a plurality of electrodes. The first regions are of the first conductivity type and are formed in the second well. The second region is of the second conductivity type and is formed in the first well. Each of the electrodes is formed upon the second well and between adjacent two first regions of the first regions.

Abstract: One or more techniques or systems for forming an n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor for electrostatic discharge (ESD) are provided herein. In some embodiments, the NMOS transistor includes a first region, a first n-type plus (NP) region, a first p-type plus (PP) region, a second NP region, a second PP region, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, and a gate stack. In some embodiments, the first PP region is between the first NP region and the second NP region. In some embodiments, the second NP region is between the first PP region and the second PP region, the gate stack is between the first PP region and the second NP region, the STI region is between the second NP region and the second PP region. Accordingly, the first PP region enables ESD current to discharge based on a low trigger voltage for the NMOS transistor.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate, and an insulation region extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a first node and a second node, and an Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) device coupled between the first node and the second node. The ESD device includes a semiconductor fin adjacent to and over a top surface of the insulation region. The ESD device is configured to, in response to an ESD transient on the first node, conduct a current from the first node to the second node.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a gate stack covering a middle portion of a semiconductor fin, forming a gate spacer layer over the gate stack and the semiconductor fin, and patterning the gate spacer layer. The resulting spacers include a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack, and a fin spacer on a sidewall of an end portion of the semiconductor fin. The fin spacer is then etched. When the etching is finished, a height of the fin spacer is smaller than about a half of the height of the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: An embodiment integrated circuit (e.g., diode) and method of making the same. The embodiment integrated circuit includes a well having a first doping type formed over a substrate having the first doping type, the well including a fin, a source formed over the well on a first side of the fin, the source having a second doping type, a drain formed over the well on a second side of the fin, the drain having the first doping type, and a gate oxide formed over the fin, the gate oxide laterally spaced apart from the source by a back off region of the fin. The integrated circuit is compatible with a FinFET fabrication process.

Abstract: An embodiment integrated circuit (e.g., diode) and method of making the same. The embodiment integrated circuit includes a well having a first doping type formed over a substrate having the first doping type, the well including a fin, a source formed over the well on a first side of the fin, the source having a second doping type, a drain formed over the well on a second side of the fin, the drain having the first doping type, and a gate oxide formed over the fin, the gate oxide laterally spaced apart from the source by a back off region of the fin. The integrated circuit is compatible with a FinFET fabrication process.