Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for suppressing latch-up in bulk CMOS devices. The structure comprises a damage layer formed in a substrate, a first doped well formed in the substrate, and a second doped well formed in the substrate proximate to the first doped well. The damage layer extends within the substrate to intersect the first and second doped wells. The damage layer may be formed by ion implantation followed by growth of an epitaxial layer to segregate the active device regions from the damage layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an epitaxial imprinting process for fabricating a hybrid substrate that includes a bottom semiconductor layer; a continuous buried insulating layer present atop said bottom semiconductor layer; and a top semiconductor layer present on said continuous buried insulating layer, wherein said top semiconductor layer includes separate planar semiconductor regions that have different crystal orientations, said separate planar semiconductor regions are isolated from each other. The epitaxial printing process of the present invention utilizing epitaxial growth, wafer bonding and a recrystallization anneal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of executing an electrical function, such as a fusing operation, by activation through a chip embedded photodiode through spectrally selected external light activation, and corresponding structure and circuit. The present invention is based on having incident light with specific intensity/wave length characteristics, in conjunction with additional circuit elements to an integrated circuit, perform the implementation of repairs, i.e., replacing failing circuit elements with redundant ones for yield and/or reliability. Also to perform disconnection of ESD protection device from input pad once the packaged chip is placed in system. No additional pins on the package are necessary.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including at least one e-fuse embedded within a trench that is located in a semiconductor substrate (bulk or semiconductor-on-insulator) is provided. In accordance with the present invention, the e-fuse is in electrical contact with a dopant region that is located within the semiconductor substrate. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a semiconductor structure in which the embedded e-fuse is formed substantially at the same time with the trench isolation regions.

Abstract: An antifuse device (120) that includes a bias element (124) and an programmable antifuse element (128) arranged in series with one another so as to form a voltage divider having an output node (F) located between the bias and antifuse elements. When the antifuse device is in its unprogrammed state, each of the bias element and antifuse element is non-conductive. When the antifuse device is in its programmed state, the bias element remains non-conductive, but the antifuse element is conductive. The difference in the resistance of the antifuse element between its unprogrammed state and programmed state causes the difference in voltages seen at the output node to be on the order of hundreds of mili-volts when a voltage of 1 V is applied across the antifuse device. This voltage difference is so high that it can be readily sensed using a simple sensing circuit (228).

Abstract: A structure, apparatus and method for utilizing vertically interdigitated electrodes serves to increase the capacitor area surface while maintaining a minimal horizontal foot print. Since capacitance is proportional to the surface area the structure enables continual use of current dielectric materials such as Si3N4 at current thicknesses. In a second embodiment of the interdigitated MIMCAP structure the electrodes are formed in a spiral fashion which serves to increase the physical strength of the MIMCAP. Also included is a spiral shaped capacitor electrode which lends itself to modular design by offering a wide range of discrete capacitive values easily specified by the circuit designer.

Abstract: A structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (a) a semiconductor layer including a channel region disposed between first and second S/D regions; (b) a gate dielectric region on the channel region; (c) a gate region on the gate dielectric region and electrically insulated from the channel region by the gate dielectric region; (d) a protection umbrella region on the gate region, wherein the protection umbrella region comprises a first dielectric material, and wherein the gate region is completely in a shadow of the protection umbrella region; and (e) a filled contact hole (i) directly above and electrically connected to the second S/D region and (ii) aligned with an edge of the protection umbrella region, wherein the contact hole is physically isolated from the gate region by an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer which comprises a second dielectric material different from the first dielectric material.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first apparatus is provided. The first apparatus is an eFuse including (1) a semiconducting layer above an insulating oxide layer of a substrate; (2) a diode formed in the semiconducting layer; and (3) a silicide layer formed on the diode. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a bipolar transistor in which a collector layer is formed which includes an active portion having a relatively high dopant concentration and a second portion which has a lower dopant concentration. An epitaxial intrinsic base layer is formed to overlie the collector layer in conductive communication with the active portion of the collector layer. A low-capacitance region is formed laterally adjacent to the second portion of the collector layer, the low-capacitance region including a dielectric region disposed in an undercut directly underlying the intrinsic base layer. An emitter layer is formed to overlie the intrinsic base layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating and back-end-of-line (BEOL) metalization structures includes simultaneous high-k and low-k dielectric regions. An interconnect structure includes a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer and a second ILD layer with the first ILD layer underlying the second ILD layer. A plurality of columnar air gaps is formed in the first ILD. The columnar air gap structure is created using a two-phase photoresist material for providing different etching selectivity during subsequent processing.

Abstract: Structure and method are provided for forming a bipolar transistor. As disclosed, an intrinsic base layer is provided overlying a collector layer. A low-capacitance region is disposed laterally adjacent the collector layer. The low-capacitance region includes at least one of a dielectric region and a void disposed in an undercut underlying the intrinsic base layer. An emitter layer overlies the intrinsic base layer, and a raised extrinsic base layer overlies the intrinsic base layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor structure having FinFET's and planar devices, such as MOSFET's, on a common substrate by a damascene approach. A semiconductor fin of the FinFET is formed on a substrate with damascene processing in which the fin growth may be interrupted to implant ions that are subsequently transformed into a region that electrically isolates the fin from the substrate. The isolation region is self-aligned with the fin because the mask used to form the damascene-body fin also serves as an implantation mask for the implanted ions. The fin may be supported by the patterned layer during processing that forms the FinFET and, more specifically, the gate of the FinFET. The electrical isolation surrounding the FinFET may also be supplied by a self-aligned process that recesses the substrate about the FinFET and at least partially fills the recess with a dielectric material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a programmable semiconductor device, preferably a FinFET or tri-gate structure, that contains a first contact element, a second contact element, and at least one fin-shaped fusible link region coupled between the first and second contact elements. The second contact element is laterally spaced apart from the first contact element, and the fin-shaped fusible link region has a vertically notched section. A programming current flowing through the fin-shaped fusible link region causes either significant resistance increase or formation of an electric discontinuity in the vertically notched section. Alternatively, the vertically notched section may contain a dielectric material, and application of a programming voltage between a gate electrode overlaying the vertically notched section and one of the contact elements breaks down the dielectric material and allows current flow between the gate electrode and the fin-shaped fusible link region.

Abstract: An eFuse begins with a single crystal silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure that has a single crystal silicon layer on a first insulator layer. The single crystal silicon layer is patterned into a strip. Before or after the patterning, the single crystal silicon layer is doped with one or more impurities. At least an upper portion of the single crystal silicon layer is then silicided to form a silicided strip. In one embodiment the entire single crystal silicon strip is silicided to create a silicide strip. Second insulator(s) is/are formed on the silicide strip, so as to isolate the silicided strip from surrounding structures. Before or after forming the second insulators, the method forms electrical contacts through the second insulators to ends of the silicided strip. By utilizing a single crystal silicon strip, any form of semiconductor, such as a diode, conductor, insulator, transistor, etc. can form the underlying portion of the fuse structure.

Abstract: A structure and method for providing an antifuse which is closed by laser energy with an electrostatic assist. Two or more metal segments are formed over a semiconductor structure with an air gap or a porous dielectric between the metal segments. Pulsed laser energy is applied to one or more of the metal segments while a voltage potential is applied between the metal segments to create an electrostatic field. The pulsed laser energy softens the metal segment, and the electrostatic field causes the metal segments to move into contact with each other. The electrostatic field reduces the amount of laser energy which must be applied to the semiconductor structure to close the antifuse.

Abstract: The present invention provides an epitaxial imprinting process for fabricating a hybrid substrate that includes a bottom semiconductor layer; a continuous buried insulating layer present atop said bottom semiconductor layer; and a top semiconductor layer present on said continuous buried insulating layer, wherein said top semiconductor layer includes separate planar semiconductor regions that have different crystal orientations, said separate planar semiconductor regions are isolated from each other. The epitaxial printing process of the present invention utilizing epitaxial growth, wafer bonding and a recrystallization anneal.

Abstract: A plurality of semiconductor devices are provided on a carrier for testing or burning-in. The carrier is then cut up to provide single chip-on-carrier components or multi-chip-on-carrier components. The carrier is used as a first level package for each chip. Thus, the carrier serves a dual purpose for test and burn-in and for packaging. A lead reduction mechanism, such as a built-in self-test engine, can be provided on each chip or on the carrier and is connected to contacts of the carrier for the testing and burn-in steps. The final package after cutting includes at least one known good die and may include an array of chips on the carrier, such as a SIMM or a DIMM. The final package can also be a stack of chips each mounted on a separate carrier. The carriers of the stack are connected to each other through a substrate mounted along a side face of the stack that is electrically connected to a line of pads along an edge of each carrier.

Abstract: A programmable element that has a first diode having an electrode and a first insulator disposed between the substrate and said electrode of said first device, said first insulator having a first value of a given characteristic, and an FET having an electrode and a second insulator disposed between the substrate and said electrode of said second device, said second insulator having a second value of said given characteristic that is different from said first value. The electrodes of the diode and the FET are coupled to one another, and a source of programming energy is coupled to the diode to cause it to permanently decrease in resistivity when programmed. The programmed state of the diode is indicated by a current in the FET, which is read by a sense latch. Thus a small resistance change in the diode translates to a large signal gain/change in the latch. This allows the diode to be programmed at lower voltages.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with an insulating layer on a silicon substrate, a plurality of electrically-isolated silicon-on-insulator (SOI) regions separated from the substrate by the insulating layer, and a plurality of electrically-isolated silicon bulk regions extending through the insulating layer to the substrate. Each of one number of the SOI regions is oriented with a first crystal orientation and each of another number of the SOI regions is oriented with a second crystal orientation that differs from the first crystal orientation. The bulk silicon regions are each oriented with a third crystal orientation. Damascene or imprinting methods of forming the SOI regions and bulk silicon regions are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor structures characterized by a thin active silicon layer on an insulating substrate by a crystal imprinting or damascene approach. The methods include patterning an insulating layer to define a plurality of apertures, filling the apertures in the patterned insulating layer with amorphous silicon to define a plurality of amorphous silicon features, and re-growing the amorphous silicon features to define a thin active silicon layer consisting of regrown silicon features. The amorphous silicon features may be regrown such that a number have a first crystal orientation and another number have a different second crystal orientation.