Abstract: A structure and method of fabrication of a semiconductor device having a stress relief layer under a stress layer in one region of a substrate. In a first example, a stress relief layer is formed over a first region of the substrate (e.g., PFET region) and not over a second region (e.g., NFET region). A stress layer is over the stress relief layer in the first region and over the devices and substrate/silicide in the second region. The NFET transistor performance is enhanced due to the overall tensile stress in the NFET channel while the degradation in the PFET transistor performance is reduced/eliminated due to the inclusion of the stress relief layer. In a second example embodiment, the stress relief layer is formed over the second region, but not the first region and the stress of the stress layer is reversed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of fabricating a structure for an integrated circuit incorporating hybrid orientation technology (HOT) and trench isolation regions. The structure of the integrated circuit comprising: a substrate with a first silicon layer of a first crystalline orientation and a second silicon layer, of a second crystalline orientation different from the first crystalline orientation, disposed on the first silicon layer; a dielectric layer on the substrate; a first silicon active trench region, having first crystalline orientation, extending to the first silicon layer; a second silicon active trench region, having the second crystalline orientation, extending to the second silicon layer, the first silicon active region electrically isolated from the second silicon active region by a portion of the dielectric layer; a first transistor on the first silicon active region; and a second transistor on the second silicon active region.

Abstract: An example embodiment for a method of fabrication of a semiconductor device comprises the following. We provide a substrate with a first device region and a second device region. We provide a first type FET transistor in the first device region and provide a second type FET transistor in the second device region. We form an etch stop layer over the first and second device regions and forming a first stressor layer over the first device region. The first stressor layer puts a first type stress on the substrate in the first device region. We form a second stressor layer over the second device region. The second stressor layer puts a second type stress on the substrate in the second device region. Another example embodiment is the structure of a dual stress layer device having an etch stop layer.

Abstract: A structure and method of fabrication of a semiconductor device having a stress relief layer under a stress layer in one region of a substrate. In a first example, a stress relief layer is formed over a first region of the substrate (e.g., PFET region) and not over a second region (e.g., NFET region). A stress layer is over the stress relief layer in the first region and over the devices and substrate/silicide in the second region. The NFET transistor performance is enhanced due to the overall tensile stress in the NFET channel while the degradation in the PFET transistor performance is reduced/eliminated due to the inclusion of the stress relief layer. In a second example embodiment, the stress relief layer is formed over the second region, but not the first region and the stress of the stress layer is reversed.

Abstract: A first example embodiment provides a method of removing first spacers from gates and incorporating a low-k material into the ILD layer to increase device performance. A second example embodiment comprises replacing the first spacers after silicidation with low-k spacers. This serves to reduce the parasitic capacitances. Also, by implementing the low-k spacers only after silicidation, the embodiments' low-k spacers are not compromised by multiple high dose ion implantations and resist strip steps. The example embodiments can improve device performance, such as the performance of a rim oscillator.

Abstract: An example method embodiment forms spacers that create tensile stress on the substrate on both the PFET and NFET regions. We form PFET and NFET gates and form tensile spacers on the PFET and NFET gates. We implant first ions into the tensile PFET spacers to form neutralized stress PFET spacers. The neutralized stress PFET spacers relieve the tensile stress created by the tensile stress spacers on the substrate. This improves device performance.

Abstract: A method (and apparatus) of post silicide spacer removal includes preventing damage to the silicide spacer through the use of at least one of an oxide layer and a nitride layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a double-gated transistor having a rounded active region to improve GOI and leakage current control comprises the following steps, inter alia. An SOI substrate is patterned and a rounded oxide layer is formed over the exposed side walls of a patterned upper SOI silicon layer. A dummy layer, having an opening defining a gate, is formed over the exposed patterned top oxide layer and the exposed portions of the upper SOI silicon layer. An undercut is formed into the undercut lower SOI oxide layer and the exposed gate area portion of the oxide layer is removed. The portion of the rounded oxide layer within the gate area is removed and a conformal oxide layer is formed over a part of the structure. A gate is formed within the second patterned dummy layer opening and the patterned dummy layer is removed to form the double gated transistor.

Abstract: In accordance with the objects of this invention, a new method of fabricating a polysilicon gate transistor is achieved. An alternating aperture phase shift mask (AAPSM) is used to pattern polysilicon gates in a single exposure without a trim mask. A semiconductor substrate is provided. A gate dielectric layer is deposited. A polysilicon layer is deposited. The polysilicon layer, the gate dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate are patterned to form trenches for planned shallow trench isolations (STI). A trench oxide layer is deposited filling the trenches. The trench oxide layer is polished down to the top surface of the polysilicon layer to complete the STI. A photoresist layer is deposited and patterned to form a feature mask for planned polysilicon gates. The patterning is by a single exposure using an AAPSM mask. Unwanted features in the photoresist pattern that are caused by phase conflicts overlie the STI. The polysilicon layer is etched to form the polysilicon gates.

Abstract: A method of forming a double-gated transistor having a rounded active region to improve GOI and leakage current control comprises the following steps. An SOI substrate is patterned and a rounded oxide layer is formed over the exposed side walls of a patterned upper SOI silicon layer. A dummy layer, having an opening defining a gate, is formed over the exposed patterned top oxide layer and the exposed portions of the upper SOI silicon layer. An undercut is formed into the undercut lower SOI oxide layer and the exposed gate area portion of the oxide layer is removed. The portion of the rounded oxide layer within the gate area is removed and a conformal oxide layer is formed over a part of the structure. A gate is formed within the second patterned dummy layer opening and the patterned dummy layer is removed to form the double-gated transistor.

Abstract: A method of forming a double-gated transistor having a rounded active region to improve GOI and leakage current control comprises the following steps, inter alia. An SOI substrate is patterned and a rounded oxide layer is formed over the exposed side walls of a patterned upper SOI silicon layer. A dummy layer, having an opening defining a gate, is formed over the exposed patterned top oxide layer and the exposed portions of the upper SOI silicon layer. An undercut is formed into the undercut lower SOI oxide layer and the exposed gate area portion of the oxide layer is removed. The portion of the rounded oxide layer within the gate area is removed and a conformal oxide layer is formed over a part of the structure. A gate is formed within the second patterned dummy layer opening and the patterned dummy layer is removed to form the double gated transistor.

Abstract: A method of forming a double gated SOI channel transistor comprising the following steps. A substrate having an SOI structure formed thereover is provided. The SOI structure including a lower SOI silicon oxide layer and an upper SOI silicon layer. The SOI silicon layer is patterned to form a patterned silicon layer. A dummy layer is formed over the SOI silicon oxide layer and the patterned SOI silicon layer. The dummy layer is patterned to form a damascene opening therein exposing: a portion of the lower SOI silicon oxide layer; and a central portion of the patterned SOI silicon layer to define a source structure and a drain structure. Patterning the exposed lower SOI silicon oxide layer to form a recess. Gate oxide layer portions are formed around the exposed portion of the patterned SOI silicon layer. A planarized layer portion is formed within the final damascene opening. The planarized layer portion including a bottom gate and a top gate.

Abstract: A method of forming a double-gated transistor comprising the following sequential steps. A substrate having an SOI structure formed thereover is provided. The SOI structure including a lower SOI oxide layer and an upper SOI silicon layer. The SOI silicon layer is patterned to form a patterned SOI silicon layer including a source region and a drain region connected by a channel portion. An encasing oxide layer is formed over the patterned SOI silicon layer to form an encased patterned SOI silicon layer. A patterned dummy layer is formed over the encased patterned SOI silicon layer. The patterned dummy layer having an opening, with exposed side walls, exposing: the channel portion of the encased patterned SOI silicon layer; and portions of the upper surface of the SOI oxide layer. Offset spacers are over the exposed side walls of the patterned dummy layer opening.

Abstract: A method to form a closely-spaced, vertical NMOS and PMOS transistor pair in an integrated circuit device is achieved. A substrate comprise silicon implanted oxide (SIMOX) wherein an oxide layer is sandwiched between underlying and overlying silicon layers. Ions are selectively implanted into a first part of the overlying silicon layer to form a drain, channel region, and source for an NMOS transistor. The drain is formed directly overlying the oxide layer, the channel region is formed overlying the drain, and the source is formed overlying the channel region. Ions are selectively implanted into a second part of the overlying silicon layer to form a drain, channel region, and source for a PMOS transistor. The drain is formed directly overlying the oxide layer, the PMOS channel region is formed overlying the drain, and the source is formed overlying the channel region. The PMOS transistor drain is in contact with said NMOS transistor drain.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate dielectric having regions with different dielectric constants. A low-K dielectric layer is formed over a semiconductor structure. A dummy dielectric layer is formed over the low-K dielectric layer. The dummy dielectric layer and low-K dielectric layer are patterned to form an opening. The dummy dielectric layer is isontropically etched selectively to the low-K dielectric layer to form a stepped gate opening. A high-K dielectric layer is formed over the dummy dielectric and in the stepped gate opening. A gate electrode is formed on the high-K dielectric layer.

Abstract: In accordance with the objects of this invention, a new method of fabricating a polysilicon gate transistor is achieved. An alternating aperture phase shift mask (AAPSM) is used to pattern polysilicon gates in a single exposure without a trim mask. A semiconductor substrate is provided. A gate dielectric layer is deposited. A polysilicon layer is deposited. The polysilicon layer, the gate dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate are patterned to form trenches for planned shallow trench isolations (STI). A trench oxide layer is deposited filling the trenches. The trench oxide layer is polished down to the top surface of the polysilicon layer to complete the STI. A photoresist layer is deposited and patterned to form a feature mask for planned polysilicon gates. The patterning is by a single exposure using an AAPSM mask. Unwanted features in the photoresist pattern that are caused by phase conflicts overlie the STI. The polysilicon layer is etched to form the polysilicon gates.

Abstract: A method to grow layers of gate oxide or gate base materials of different thicknesses for dual gate structures. The process starts with a semiconductor surface in which STI regions have been formed and over the surface of which a layer of gate base material has been grown. A dielectric, such as nitride, is deposited, masked and etched over a first region where thin gate base material must be created thereby exposing the surface of the deposited layer of gate base material in that region. The gate base material is etched to the desired thickness, creating a first thin layer of gate base material. A thick first layer of gate electrode material, poly, is deposited over the dielectric thereby including the surface of the first thin layer of gate base material, and polished down to the surface of the dielectric leaving gate electrode material deposited in the opening above the first thin layer of gate base material.

Abstract: A method to form a closely-spaced, vertical NMOS and PMOS transistor pair in an integrated circuit device is achieved. A substrate comprise silicon implanted oxide (SIMOX) wherein an oxide layer is sandwiched between underlying and overlying silicon layers. Ions are selectively implanted into a first part of the overlying silicon layer, to form a drain, channel region, and source for an NMOS transistor. The drain is formed directly overlying the oxide layer, the channel region is formed overlying the drain, and the source is formed overlying the channel region. Ions are selectively implanted into a second part of the overlying silicon layer to form a drain, channel region, and source for a PMOS transistor. The drain is formed directly overlying the oxide layer, the PMOS channel region is formed overlying the drain, and the source is formed overlying the channel region. The PMOS transistor drain is in contact with said NMOS transistor drain.

Abstract: A method to form elevated source/drain (S/D) over staircase shaped openings in insulating layers. A gate structure is formed over a substrate. The gate structure is preferably comprised of a gate dielectric layer, gate electrode, first spacers, and hard mask. A first insulating layer is formed over the substrate and the gate structure. A resist layer is formed having an opening over the gate structure and over a lateral area adjacent to the gate structure. We etch the insulating layer through the opening in the resist layer. The etching removes a first thickness of the insulating layer to form a source/drain (S/D) opening. We remove the first spacers and hardmask to form a source/drain (S/D) contact opening. We implant ions into the substrate through the source/drain (S/D) contact opening to form lightly doped drain regions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an isolated vertical transistor comprising the following steps. A wafer having a first implanted region selected from the group comprising a source region and a drain region is provided. The wafer further includes STI areas on either side of a center transistor area. The wafer is patterned down to the first implanted region to form a vertical pillar within the center transistor area using a patterned hardmask. The vertical pillar having side walls. A pad dielectric layer is formed over the wafer, lining the vertical pillar. A nitride layer is formed over the pad dielectric layer. The structure is patterned and etched through the nitride layer and the pad dielectric layer; and into the wafer within the STI areas to form STI trenches within the wafer. The STI trenches are filled with insulative material to form STIs within STI trenches. The patterned nitride and pad dielectric layers are removed. The patterned hardmask is removed.