Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell comprising a deep trench storage capacitor having an active transistor device partially disposed on a side wall of the trench. The side wall is aligned to a first crystallographic plane having a crystallographic orientation along a single crystal axis. A process for manufacturing such a DRAM cell comprises: (a) forming a deep trench in a substrate, (b) forming a faceted crystal region along the trench side wall having a single crystallographic orientation, and (c) forming a transistor device partially disposed on the faceted crystal region in the side wall. The faceted crystal region may be formed by growing an oxide collar, such as by local thermal oxidation under oxidation conditions selected to promote a higher oxidation rate along a first family of crystallographic axes than along a second family of crystallographic axes.

Abstract: A memory cell structure including a planar semiconductor substrate. A deep trench is in the semiconductor substrate. The deep trench has a plurality of side walls and a bottom. A storage capacitor is at the bottom of the deep trench. A vertical transistor extends down at least one side wall of the deep trench above the storage capacitor. The transistor has a source diffusion extending in the plane of the substrate adjacent the deep trench. An isolation extends down at least one other sidewall of the deep trench opposite the vertical transistor. Shallow trench isolation regions extend along a surface of the substrate in a direction transverse to the sidewall where the vertical transistor extends. A gate conductor extends within the deep trench. A wordline extends over the deep trench and is connected to the gate conductor. A bitline extends above the surface plane of the substrate and has a contact to the source diffusion between the shallow trench isolation regions.

Abstract: A method and structure for a dynamic random access memory device comprising a storage trench, a storage conductor within the storage trench, a lip strap connected to the storage conductor, and a control device electrically connected to the storage conductor through the lip strap. The trench contains a corner adjacent the control device and the lip strap and has a conductor surrounding the corner. The control device has a control device conductive region adjacent the trench and the lip strap and has a conductor extending along a side of the trench and along a portion of the control device conductive region. In addition, the device can have a collar insulator along a top portion of the trench, wherein the lip strap includes a conductor extending from a top of the collar to a top of the trench. The lip strap can also extend along a surface of the device adjacent the trench and perpendicular to the trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory cell, in accordance with the present invention includes a deep trench formed in a substrate. The deep trench includes a storage node in a lower portion of the deep trench, and a gate conductor formed in an upper portion of the deep trench. The gate conductor is electrically isolated from the storage node. An active area is formed adjacent to the deep trench and is formed in the substrate to provide a channel region of an access transistor of the memory cell. A buried strap is formed to electrically connect the storage node to the active area when the gate conductor is activated. A body contact is formed opposite the deep trench in the active area and corresponding in position to the buried strap to prevent floating body effects due to outdiffusion of the buried strap. Methods for forming the body contact are also described.

Abstract: A method and structure for manufacturing an integrated circuit chip includes a substrate and an opening in the substrate. The opening has at least one step and a first conductor in the opening below the step. The invention has a first diffusion region in the substrate adjacent the first conductor and below the step. A gate conductor is over the step and in the opening. A second conductor is over the substrate adjacent the gate conductor. A second diffusion region in the substrate is adjacent the second comductor.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures having improved dopant configurations are obtained by use of barrier layers containing silicon, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms and having a thickness of about 5 to 50 Å. A doped semiconductor structure with controlled dopant configuration can be formed by: (a) providing a first semiconductor material region, (b) forming an interface layer comprising silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen on the first region, (c) forming a second semiconductor material region on the interface layer, the second semiconductor material region being on an opposite side of the interface layer from the first semiconductor material region, (d) providing a dopant in the second region, and (e) heating the first and second regions whereby at least a portion of the dopant diffuses from the second region through the interface layer to the first region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to provide a new deep trench collar process which reduces encroachment of strap diffusion upon array metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET's) in semiconductor devices. The invention allows a reduced effective deep trench edge bias at the top of the deep trench, without compromising storage capacitance, by maximizing the distance between the MOSFET gate conductor and the deep trench storage capacitor.

Abstract: Improved process for preparing vertical transistor structures in DRAMs, in which the trench top oxide separates the bottom storage capacitor from the switching transistor, and in which the upper part of the trench contains the vertical transistor at its side wall, to obtain homogeneous gate oxidation at all different crystal planes inside the trench so that homogeneous thickness is independent of crystal orientation comprising: a) subjecting a wafer trench side wall to ion bombardment for a period sufficient to generate an amorphous layer of oxide side wall; and b) heating the wafer resulting from step (a) in an oxidizing atmosphere to cause oxidation and recrystallization of the amorphous layer.

Abstract: A method and structure for a dynamic random access memory device comprising a storage trench, a storage conductor within the storage trench, a lip strap connected to the storage conductor, and a control device electrically connected to the storage conductor through the lip strap. The trench contains a corner adjacent the control device and the lip strap and has a conductor surrounding the corner. The control device has a control device conductive region adjacent the trench and the lip strap and has a conductor extending along a side of the trench and along a portion of the control device conductive region. In addition, the device can have a collar insulator along a top portion of the trench, wherein the lip strap includes a conductor extending from a top of the collar to a top of the trench. The lip strap can also extend along a surface of the device adjacent the trench and perpendicular to the trench.

Abstract: A method for growing a dielectric layer on a substrate, in accordance with the present invention, includes the steps of providing a substrate having at least two crystallographic planes which experience different dielectric layer growth rates due to the at least two crystallographic planes. A first dielectric layer is grown on the at least two crystallographic planes such that the first dielectric layer has a first thickness on a first crystallographic plane and a second thickness on a second crystallographic plane. The first thickness is thicker than the second thickness for the first dielectric layer. Dopants are implanted through the first dielectric layer. A greater number of dopants are implanted in the substrate through the second thickness than through the first thickness of the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is then removed. A second dielectric layer is grown at a same location as the removed first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for controlling isolation layer thickness in deep trenches for semiconductor memories in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a deep trench having a storage node formed therein, the storage node having a buried strap, depositing an isolation layer on the buried strap for providing electrical isolation for the storage node, forming a masking layer on the isolation layer to mask a portion of the isolation layer in contact with the buried strap and removing the isolation layer except the portion masked by the mask layer such that control of a thickness of the isolation layer is improved. A method for fabricating vertical transistors by recessing a substrate to permit increased overlap between a transistor channel and buried strap outdiffusion when the transistor is formed is also included. A semiconductor device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a gate oxide of a vertical transistor. In a first step, a trench is formed in a substrate, the trench extending from a top surface of the substrate and having a trench bottom and a trench side wall. The trench side wall comprises a <100> crystal plane and a <110> crystal plane. Next, a sacrificial layer having a uniform thickness is formed on the trench side wall. Following formation of the sacrificial layer, nitrogen ions are implanted through the sacrificial layer such that the nitrogen ions are implanted into the <110> crystal plane of the trench side wall, but not into the <100> crystal plane of the trench side wall. The sacrificial layer is then removed and the trench side wall is oxidized to form the gate oxide.

Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transistor. A pad layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. A trough is formed through the pad layer and in the semiconductor substrate. A bit line is formed buried in the trough. The bit line is enclosed by a dielectric material. A strap is formed extending through the dielectric material to connect the bit line to the semiconductor substrate. The trough is filled above the bit line with a conductor. The conductor is cut along its longitudinal axis such that the conductor remains on one side of the trough. Wordline troughs are formed, substantially orthogonal to the bit line, above the semiconductor substrate. A portion of the conductor is removed under the wordline trough to separate the conductor into separate gate conductors. Wordlines are formed in the wordline trough connected to the separate gate conductors.

Abstract: A memory cell structure including a planar semiconductor substrate. A deep trench is in the semiconductor substrate. The deep trench has a plurality of side walls and a bottom. A storage capacitor is at the bottom of the deep trench. A vertical transistor extends down at least one side wall of the deep trench above the storage capacitor. The transistor has a source diffusion extending in the plane of the substrate adjacent the deep trench. An isolation extends down at least one other sidewall of the deep trench opposite the vertical transistor. Shallow trench isolation regions extend along a surface of the substrate in a direction transverse to the sidewall where the vertical transistor extends. A gate conductor extends within the deep trench. A wordline extends over the deep trench and is connected to the gate conductor. A bitline extends above the surface plane of the substrate and has a contact to the source diffusion between the shallow trench isolation regions.

Abstract: A method and structure for manufacturing an integrated circuit device includes forming a storage device in a substrate, lithographically forming a gate opening in the substrate over the storage device, forming first spacers in the gate opening, forming a strap opening in the substrate using the first spacers to align the strap opening, forming second spacers in the strap opening, forming an isolation opening in the substrate using the second spacers to align the isolation opening, filling the isolation opening with an isolation material, removing the first spacers and a portion of the second spacers to form a step in the gate opening, (wherein the second spacers comprise at least one conductive strap electrically connected to the storage device) forming a first diffusion region in the substrate adjacent the conductive strap, forming a gate insulator layer over the substrate and he step, forming a gate conductor over a portion of the gate insulator layer above the step, forming a second diffusion region in the

Abstract: A method of forming a dynamic random access memory cell in a semiconductor substrate. The cell has a transistor in an active area of the semiconductor substrate electrically coupled to a storage capacitor through a buried strap or coupling region. The method includes forming an electrode for the capacitor in a lower portion of a trench in the semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial material is formed on the sidewall portion of the trench, such sacrificial material extending from the surface of the semiconductor substrate into the substrate beneath the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The active area for the transistor is delineated and includes forming a covering material over the surface of the semiconductor substrate with a portion of the sacrificial material being projecting through the covering material to expose such portion of the sacrificial material.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising first and second bitline pairs 410 and 420 is described. The bitline paths of a bitline pair are on different bitline levels. The bitline paths of the first and second bitline pairs which are on different bitline levels are adjacent to each other. The first bitline pair comprises m vertical-horizontal twists 440, where m is a whole number≧1, and the second bitline pair comprises n vertical-horizontal twists 460 and 461, where n is a whole number≠m. The vertical-horizontal twists transform coupling noise into common mode noise.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a first and second MOSFET transistors in different electrically isolated active areas of a semiconductor body, each one of the transistors having a plurality of layers. A first gate oxide layer and a first poly-crystalline silicon layer are deposited over the semiconductor body over the active areas. Trenches are etched in said first gate oxide and poly-crystalline silicon layers and said semiconductor body to delineate the first and second active areas, thereby forming first delineated gate oxide layer and poly-crystalline silicon layers coextensive with the first active area. Material is deposited in said trenches to form the active area isolations, the active area isolations having a top surface above said semiconductor body. A masking layer is then formed over said first and second active areas and selective portions of it are removed to expose said second active area.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising first and second adjacent signal line pairs 310 and 320 is described. The signal line pairs comprise diagonal signal paths 311p, 312p; 321p and 322p with directional changes 335. The first signal line pair comprises m twists 340, where m is a whole number ≧1, and the second signal line pair comprises n twists 360 and 361, where n is a whole number ≠m.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a trench capacitor wherein the trench in the substrate. The walls of the trench are lined with a semiconductor material having a substantially uniform thickness over sidewalls of the trench, such trench being void of the material in an inner region of the trench. A dielectric collar is formed in an upper portion of the trench above the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material is removed from the bottom portion of the trench. A node dielectric is formed that lines the collar and trench sidewalls at the bottom portion of the trench. The trench is filed with a doped semiconductor material, such doped semiconductor material providing an electrode of the trench capacitor. The trench is forming includes forming the trench with a diameter of the lower portion of the trench effectively at least equal to about the upper portion of the trench.