Abstract: A method of fabricating a CMOS image sensor is disclosed, by which image sensor characteristics are enhanced. In one aspect, the method includes forming a plurality of photodiodes in the photodiode region of a semiconductor substrate; stacking a first insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate including the photodiodes; forming a metal pad on the insulating layer in the pad region of the substrate; forming a second insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate including the metal pad; selectively etching exposed portions of the second insulating layer, using a mask, to form simultaneously a pad opening in the pad region and a trench in the photodiode region; selectively etching portions of the second insulating layer and the first insulating layer under the trench; and forming a slope on lateral sides of at least the second insulating layer.

Abstract: A spin transistor includes a non-magnetic semiconductor substrate having a channel region, a first area, and a second area. The channel region is between the first and the second areas. The spin transistor also includes a first conductive layer located above the first area and made of a ferromagnetic material magnetized in a first direction; and a second conductive layer located above the second area and made of a ferromagnetic material magnetized in one of the first direction and a second direction that is antiparallel with respect to the first direction. The channel region introduces electron spin between the conductive layers. The spin transistor also includes a gate electrode located between the conductive layers and above the channel region; and a tunnel barrier film located between the non-magnetic semiconductor substrate and at least one of the conductive layers.

Abstract: The present invention aims to enhance the reliability of a semiconductor device having first through fourth capacitive elements. The first through fourth capacitive elements are disposed over a semiconductor substrate. A series circuit of the first and second capacitive elements and a series circuit of the third and fourth capacitive elements are coupled in parallel between first and second potentials. Lower electrodes of the first and third capacitive elements are respectively formed by a common conductor pattern and coupled to the first potential. Lower electrodes of the second and fourth capacitive elements are respectively formed by a conductor pattern of the same layer as the above conductor pattern and coupled to the second potential. Upper electrodes of the first and second capacitive elements are respectively formed by a common conductor pattern and brought to a floating potential.

Abstract: A deep trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The deep trench may comprise a pair of parallel substantially vertical sidewalls having a constant separation distance. A set of outer substantially vertical sidewalls may have a closed shape in a horizontal cross-section. At least one dielectric layer is formed in the deep trench. The deep trench is filled with at least one conductive trench fill material to form a conductive deep trench fill region. A shallow trench isolation structure is formed directly on the deep trench to encapsulate the conductive deep trench fill region therebeneath. The stack of the deep trench and the shallow trench isolation structure form a deep trench inter-well isolation structure that provides electrical isolation of devices on one side of the stack from devices on the other side.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a first wafer and a second wafer, between which a glue layer can be used for combination. The first wafer comprises a first semiconductor cell structure, and a surface of the first wafer comprises conductive pads electrically connected to the first semiconductor cell structure. The second wafer comprises a second semiconductor cell structure and is bonded to the surface of the first wafer having the conductive pads. The first and second semiconductor cell structures are electrically connected through the conductive pads, and the conductive pads are formed around each die of the first wafer. The density of the first semiconductor cell structure in the first wafer is larger than the density of the second semiconductor cell structure in the second wafer.

Abstract: A one cylinder storage device and a method for fabricating a capacitor are disclosed, realizing simplified fabrication by overexposure with a mask having a plurality of holes, in which the method includes forming a contact hole in an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive layer on the insulating layer to fill the contact hole; forming a photoresist layer on the conductive layer; forming a photoresist layer pattern by overexposure and generating a side lobe phenomenon; forming a cylindrical lower electrode by patterning the conductive layer using the photoresist layer pattern as a mask; and forming a dielectric layer and an upper electrode covering the lower electrode.

Abstract: An illuminating efficiency-increasable and light-erasable embedded memory structure including a substrate, a memory device, many dielectric layers, many cap layers and at least three metal layers is described. The substrate includes a memory region and a core circuit region. The memory device includes a select gate and a floating gate, and the select gate and the floating gate are disposed adjacently on the substrate in the memory region. The dielectric layers are disposed on the substrate and cover the memory device. The dielectric layers have a first opening located above the floating gate. Each of the cap layers is disposed on each of the dielectric layers, respectively. The metal layers are disposed in the dielectric layers in the core circuit region.

Abstract: A method for forming Z-RAM cells and the resulting semiconductor structure are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate; an opening in the dielectric layer, wherein the semiconductor substrate is exposed through the opening; a semiconductor strip on the dielectric layer and adjacent the opening; a gate dielectric over a surface of the semiconductor strip; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; and a source/drain region in the semiconductor strip and adjacent the gate electrode.

Abstract: A memory structure including a substrate, dielectric patterns, spacer patterns, a first dielectric layer, a conductor pattern, a second dielectric layer and doped regions is described. The dielectric patterns are disposed on the substrate. The spacer patterns are disposed on each sidewall of each of the dielectric patterns respectively. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the spacer patterns and the substrate. The conductor pattern is disposed on the substrate and covers the spacer patterns. The second dielectric layer is disposed between the spacer patterns and the conductor pattern. The doped regions are disposed in the substrate under each of the dielectric patterns respectively.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first well of a first conductivity type, which is formed in a semiconductor substrate of the first conductivity type, a plurality of memory cell transistors that are formed in the first well, a second well of a second conductivity type, which includes a first part that surrounds a side region of the first well and a second part that surrounds a lower region of the first well, and electrically isolates the first well from the semiconductor substrate, and a third well of the second conductivity type, which is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The third well has a less depth than the second part of the second well.

Abstract: The invention provides a flash memory device and a method for fabricating thereof. The device comprises a gate stack layer of a gate dielectric layer and a gate polysilicon layer formed on a substrate, a stack layer comprising a floating polysilicon layer and gate spacer formed on the sidewall of the gate stack layer. A metal layer is formed on the gate stack layer and is utilized in place of a portion of the gate polysilicon layer. Because the metal layer has relatively high conductivity and is electrically connected to a metal plug later formed, current velocity of the device is increased to improve performance.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells, each including a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a floating gate formed on the semiconductor substrate with the inclusion of the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the floating gate, and a control gate formed on the floating gate with the inclusion of the second insulating film; an element isolation insulating film formed in the semiconductor substrate and extending in a gate-length direction to isolate between memory cells adjoining in a gate-width direction; and an air gap formed on the element isolation insulating film and between floating gates adjoining in the gate-width direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing on a substrate (24) a semiconductor device with improved floating-gate to control-gate coupling ratio is described. The method comprises the steps of first forming an isolation zone (22) in the substrate (24), thereafter forming the floating gate (28) on the substrate (24), thereafter extending the floating gate (28) using polysilicon spacers (40), and thereafter forming the control gate (44) over the floating gate (28) and the polysilicon spacers (40). Such a semiconductor device may be used in flash memory cells or EEPROMs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes exposing a photoresist using an exposing mask provided with a light-shielding pattern having two or more narrow width portions, developing the photoresist to form a plurality of stripe-shaped resist patterns, selectively etching a first conductive film using the resist pattern as a mask, forming an intermediate insulating film on the first conductive film, forming a second conductive film on the intermediate insulating film, and forming, by patterning the first conductive film, the intermediate insulating film, and the second conductive film, a flash memory cell and a structure constructed by forming a lower conductor pattern, a segment of the intermediate insulating film, and a dummy gate electrode in this stacking order.

Abstract: A dual-gate memory cell includes a first memory device and a second memory device each having a gate electrode and a charge storage gate dielectric layer. The first and second memory devices share a channel region and source and drain regions. Such a memory cell is read by sensing the charge in one of the dielectric layers by applying a first voltage in the gate electrode associated with the dielectric layer sensed, and applying a second voltage substantially different than the first voltage in the other dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device includes sequentially depositing a first insulation layer, a charge storage layer, and a second insulation layer on a substrate, forming a first opening through the resultant structure to expose the substrate, forming second and third openings through the second insulation layer to form a second insulation layer pattern, forming a conductive layer on the second insulation layer pattern, forming a photoresist pattern structure on the conductive layer, and forming simultaneously a common source line, at least one ground selection line, at least one string selection line, and a plurality of gate structures on the substrate by etching through the photoresist pattern structure, wherein the common source line and the gate structures are formed simultaneously on a substantially same level and of substantially same components.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment there is a semiconductor component, which is arranged in a semiconductor body, with at least one source zone and with at least one drain zone which in each case is a first conductivity type, with at least one body zone of a second conductivity type arranged in each case between source zone and drain zone, and with at least one gate electrode insulated with an insulating layer relative to the semiconductor body. The insulating layer is a consolidated, preferably sintered, layer containing quantum dots.

Abstract: A two-bit flash memory cell includes a substrate, a gate oxide layer disposed on the substrate, a gate stacked on the gate oxide layer. A charge storage spacer stack is disposed at either side of the gate. The charge storage spacer stack includes a bottom charge storage layer and an upper spacer layer. An insulating layer is disposed between the charge storage spacer stack and the gate. A liner is disposed underneath the bottom charge storage layer. A source/drain region is disposed at one side of the bottom charge storage layer within the substrate.

Abstract: Provided are nonvolatile memory devices and methods of fabricating the same which may prevent or reduce deterioration of device characteristics and deterioration of a breakdown voltage. The nonvolatile memory device may include a semiconductor substrate, a charge-trap insulation layer on the semiconductor substrate and having a first region and second regions having a lower density of charge-trap sites than the first region, and a gate electrode on the charge-trap insulation layer, wherein the first region is overlapped by the gate electrode and the second regions are outside of the first region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having tipless epitaxial source/drain regions and a method for its formation are described. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a gate stack on a substrate. The gate stack is comprised of a gate electrode above a gate dielectric layer and is above a channel region in the substrate. The semiconductor device also comprises a pair of source/drain regions in the substrate on either side of the channel region. The pair of source/drain regions is in direct contact with the gate dielectric layer and the lattice constant of the pair of source/drain regions is different than the lattice constant of the channel region. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device is formed by using a dielectric gate stack placeholder.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with first and second silicon pillars formed substantially perpendicularly to a main surface of a substrate, a gate electrode covering side surfaces of the first and second silicon pillars via a gate insulation film, first and second diffusion layers provided on a lower part and an upper part of the first silicon pillar, respectively, a cap insulation film covering an upper part of the second silicon pillar, a gate contact connected to the gate electrode, and a protection insulation film in contact with the upper surfaces of the first and second silicon pillars. The gate contact is connected to an upper region of the gate electrode provided at the periphery of the cap insulation film. An opening is formed on the protection insulation film provided at the side of the first silicon pillar.

Abstract: A lateral DMOS device having a structure that prevents breakdown of a semiconductor device while enhancing the breakdown voltage property.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a second-conductivity-type base region provided on a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a first-conductivity-type source region provided on the second-conductivity-type base region, a gate insulating film covering an inner wall of a trench which passes through the second-conductivity-type base region and reaching the first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a gate electrode buried in the trench via the gate insulating film, and a second-conductivity-type region being adjacent to the second-conductivity-type base region below the first-conductivity-type source region, spaced from the gate insulating film, and having a higher impurity concentration than the second-conductivity-type base region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and method of forming an integrated circuit is disclosed. One embodiment includes a FinFET of a first type having a first gate electrode and a FinFET of a second type having a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is formed in a gate groove that is defined in a semiconductor substrate and a bottom side of a portion of the second gate electrode is disposed above a main surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A high-voltage semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The disclosed high-voltage semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first N type well in the semiconductor substrate, a first P type well in the first N type well, second N type wells in the first N type well along a periphery of the first P type well, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode on the first P type well, and first heavily-doped N type impurity regions in the first P type well at opposite sides of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate having a (110)-oriented surface, a PN column layer disposed on the (110)-oriented surface, a channel-forming layer disposed on the PN column layer, a plurality of source regions disposed at a surface portion of the channel-forming layer, and gate electrodes penetrate through the channel-forming layer. The PN column layer includes first columns having a first conductivity type and second columns having a second conductivity type which are alternately arranged in such a manner that the first columns contact the second columns on (111)-oriented surfaces, respectively. The gate electrodes are adjacent to the source regions, respectively, and each of the gate electrodes has side surfaces that cross the contact surfaces of the first columns and the second columns in a plane of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a super junction structure on the substrate. The super junction structure is constructed with p-type and n-type column regions that are alternately arranged. A p-type channel layer is formed to a surface of the super junction structure. A trench gate structure is formed to the n-type column region. An n+-type source region is formed to a surface of the channel layer near the trench structure. A p+-type region is formed to the surface of the channel layer between adjacent n+-type source regions. A p-type body region is formed in the channel layer between adjacent trench gate structures and in contact with the p+-type region. Avalanche current is caused to flow from the body region to a source electrode via the p+-type region without passing through the n+-type source region.

Abstract: An impurity buried layer constructed by two buried regions formed by impurities of identical type exist, a buried region formed by an impurity having a slow diffusion speed is provided on the entire surface of a transistor formation region, and a buried region formed by an impurity having a fast diffusion speed is provided inwardly from beneath the inside end of an isolation insulating film serving as a region on which an electric field concentrates partially.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high voltage semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The high voltage semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first high voltage N-type well formed on the semiconductor substrate; a first high voltage P-type well formed inside the first high voltage N-type well; a second high voltage N-type well formed to surround the first high voltage P-type well inside the first high voltage N-type well; a gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode formed to be stacked on the upper of the first high voltage P-type well; and a first N-type high-concentration impurity region formed at both sides of the gate electrode in the first high voltage P-type well, wherein the concentration of the upper region of the first high voltage N-type well is lower than that of the lower region thereof, based on a portion formed with the first high voltage P-type well.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate in which contamination of a semiconductor layer due to an impurity is prevented and the bonding strength between a support substrate and the semiconductor layer can be increased. An oxide film containing first halogen is formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and the semiconductor substrate is irradiated with ions of second halogen, whereby a separation layer is formed and the second halogen is contained in a semiconductor substrate. Then, heat treatment is performed in a state in which the semiconductor substrate and the support substrate are superposed with an insulating surface containing hydrogen interposed therebetween, whereby part of the semiconductor substrate is separated along the separation layer, so that a semiconductor layer containing the second halogen is provided over the support substrate.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor structure in which a body of monocrystalline silicon is formed on a sidewall of a sacrificial mandrel and semiconductor structures made by the methods. After the body of monocrystalline silicon is formed, the sacrificial material of the mandrel is removed selective to the monocrystalline silicon of the body. The mandrel may be composed of porous silicon and the body may be fabricated using either a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate or a bulk substrate. The body may be used to fabricate a fin body of a fin-type field effect transistor.

Abstract: A MOSFET structure includes a planar semiconductor substrate, a gate dielectric and a gate. A UT SOI channel extends to a first depth below the top surface of the substrate and is self-aligned to and is laterally coextensive with the gate. Source-drain regions, extend to a second depth greater than the first depth below the top surface, and are self-aligned to the UT channel region. A BOX1 region extends across the entire structure, and vertically from the second depth to a third depth below the top surface. An upper portion of a BOX2 region under the UT channel region is self-aligned to and is laterally coextensive with the gate, and extends vertically from the first depth to a third depth below the top surface, and where the third depth is greater than the second depth.

Abstract: Several methods and structures are disclosed for determining electrical properties of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers and alternate versions of such wafers such as strained silicon:silicon/germanium:-on-insulator (SSGOI) wafers. The analyzed electrical properties include mobilities, interface state densities, and oxide charge by depositing electrodes on the wafer surface and measuring the current-voltage behavior using these electrodes. In a single gate structure, the source and drain electrodes reside on the wafer surface and the buried insulator acts as the gate oxide, with the substrate acting as the gate electrode. In a double gate structure, an oxide is used on the upper surface between the source and drain electrodes and an additional metal layer is used on top of this oxide to act as a second gate electrode.

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: A dual-gate device includes an active layer between a first gate structure and a second gate structure. Each gate structure is isolated from the active layer by a dielectric layer and is located above a semiconductor or channel region in the active layer defined by spaced-apart diffusion regions formed by implanting antimony ions. The antimony-doped diffusion regions are particularly suitable in the dual-gate device because it can be implanted and activated at a temperature less than 900° C. and show little movement of the implanted antimony ions even after numerous thermal steps in the manufacturing process. As a result, dual-gate devices with well-controlled channel lengths may be achieved.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductivity type well formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a first transistor and a second transistor formed on the well. The first transistor has first pocket regions containing a first conductivity type impurity and first source/drain regions containing a second conductivity type impurity, and the second transistor has second pocket regions containing a first conductivity type impurity and second source/drain regions containing a second conductivity type impurity, and executes an analog function. A concentration of the first conductivity type impurity contained in the source-side and the drain-side second pocket regions is lower than a concentration of the first conductivity type impurity included in the first pocket regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method can form a structure of a thin film transistor (TFT) having a symmetric lightly doped region, and thus provide superior operation reliability and electrical performance. In addition, the manufacturing method forms gate patterns of different TFTs by the same mask process and thereby avoids the misalignment of masks so as to improve the processing yield and reduce the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a silicon wafer 10, a multilayer interconnection 12 buried in inter-layer insulation film formed on the upper surface of the silicon wafer 10, and a silicon nitride film 16b which is formed on the back surface of the silicon wafer 10 and is an insulation film having a tensile stress, relaxing a stress exerted to the silicon wafer 10 by the inter-layer insulation films in which the multilayer interconnection 12 is buried.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a multi-fin component arrangement has a plurality of multi-fin component partial arrangements. Each of the multi-fin component partial arrangements has a plurality of electronic components, which electronic components have a multi-fin structure. At least one multi-fin component partial arrangement has at least one dummy structure, which at least one dummy structure is formed between at least two of the electronic components formed in the at least one multi-fin component partial arrangement. The dummy structure is formed in such a way that electrical characteristics of the electronic components formed in the multi-fin component partial arrangements are adapted to one another.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a semiconductor device and method of manufacture therefore. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, in one embodiment, includes providing a substrate having a PMOS device region and NMOS device region. Thereafter, a first gate structure and a second gate structure are formed over the PMOS device region and the NMOS device region, respectively. Additionally, recessed epitaxial SiGe regions may be formed in the substrate on opposing sides of the first gate structure. Moreover, first source/drain regions may be formed on opposing sides of the first gate structure and second source/drain regions on opposing sides of the second gate structure. The first source/drain regions and second source/drain regions may then be annealed to form activated first source/drain regions and activated second source/drain regions, respectively.

Abstract: System and method for creating stressed polycrystalline silicon in an integrated circuit. A preferred embodiment comprises manufacturing an integrated circuit, comprising forming a trench in an integrated circuit substrate, forming a cavity within the integrated circuit substrate, wherein the cavity is linked to the trench, depositing a dielectric layer within the cavity, and depositing polycrystalline silicon over the dielectric layer, wherein an inherent stress is induced in the polycrystalline silicon that grows on the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer may be, for example, silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAlON), mullite (3Al2O3.2SiO2), and alumina (Al2O3).

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first MIS transistor and a second MIS transistor. The first MIS transistor includes a first gate insulating film formed on a first active region, and a first gate electrode formed on the first gate insulating film. The second MIS transistor includes a second gate insulating film formed on a second active region and made of an insulating material different from that of the first gate insulating film, and a second gate electrode formed on the second gate insulating film. Upper regions of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are electrically connected to each other on the isolation region located between the first active region and the second active region, and lower regions thereof are separated from each other with a sidewall insulating film made of the same insulating material as that of the first gate insulating film being interposed therebetween.

Abstract: In a p channel MOS transistor and an n channel MOS transistor each having a gate electrode made of metal on a gate insulating film made of oxide whose relative dielectric constant is higher than that of silicon oxide, threshold voltage thereof is reduced. A gate insulating film of a p channel MOS transistor and an n channel MOS transistor is made of hafnium oxide, a gate electrode of the p channel MOS transistor is made of ruthenium, and a gate electrode of the n channel MOS transistor is made of alloy containing ruthenium as a base material and hafnium.

Abstract: By depositing and forming a spacer out of a semiconductor material layer or a dielectric material layer on the edges of an inter-well isolation area while forming a plug over an intra-well isolation area, a narrow intra-well isolation trench having a normal depth is formed in the intra-well isolation area, while a wider inter-well isolation trench having an extended portion is formed in the inter-well isolation area. The extended portion of the inter-well isolation trench provides enhanced inter-well isolation due to the presence of the extended portion beneath the normal depth. The extended portion of the inter-well isolation trench enables reduction of the width of the intra-well isolation trench structure relative to prior art inter-well isolation structures having a normal depth.

Abstract: An OTP memory cell according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor substrate including a lower electrode forming region having a lower electrode formed therein, a diffusion layer forming region having a source and a drain formed therein, a first trench-type insulating region, and a second trench-type insulating region; an upper electrode being in contact with the first trench-type insulating region and formed on the lower electrode with the first insulating film interposed therebetween; and a gate electrode being in contact with the second trench-type insulating region and formed on a channel region with the second insulating film interposed therebetween, in which a shape of at least a part of an end of the lower electrode forming region in contact with the first insulating film is sharper than a shape of an end of the channel region in contact with the second insulating film.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that comprises placing a blocking layer, a CMP stop layer and a bulk oxide layer over an oxide cap layer that is located over gate structures and source/drains located adjacent thereto. The bulk oxide layer and the CMP stop layer are removed with a CMP process to expose the top of gate electrodes and are removed from over the source/drain areas with a wet etch. The CMP stop layer has a CMP removal rate that is less than a CMP removal rate of the bulk oxide layer and has a wet etch removal rate that is greater than a wet etch removal rate of the blocking layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure and a method of forming the same are provided. The method includes providing a surface; performing an ionized oxygen treatment to the surface; forming an initial layer comprising silicon oxide using first process gases comprising a first oxygen-containing gas and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS); and forming a silicate glass over the initial layer. The method may further include forming a buffer layer using second process gases comprising a second oxygen-containing gas and TEOS, wherein the first and the second process gases have different oxygen-to-TEOS ratio.

Abstract: A structure, semiconductor device and method having a substantially L-shaped silicide element for a contact are disclosed. The substantially L-shaped silicide element, inter alia, reduces contact resistance and may allow increased density of CMOS circuits. In one embodiment, the structure includes a substantially L-shaped silicide element including a base member and an extended member, wherein the base member extends at least partially into a shallow trench isolation (STI) region such that a substantially horizontal surface of the base member directly contacts a substantially horizontal surface of the STI region; and a contact contacting the substantially L-shaped silicide element. The contact may include a notch region for mating with the base member and a portion of the extended member, which increases the silicide-to-contact area and reduces contact resistance.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a trench isolation structure, a semiconductor device, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device, in one embodiment, includes a substrate having a first device region and a second device region, wherein the first device region includes a first gate structure and first source/drain regions and the second device region includes a second gate structure and second source/drain regions. The semiconductor device further includes a trench isolation structure configured to isolate the first device region from the second device region, the trench isolation structure comprising: 1) an isolation trench located within the substrate, wherein the isolation trench includes an opening portion and a bulbous portion, and further wherein a maximum width of the opening portion is less than a maximum width of the bulbous portion, and 2) dielectric material substantially filling the isolation trench.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes a substrate having a PMOS device region and NMOS device region. A first gate structure including a first hardmask and a second gate structure including a second hardmask are formed in the region and region, respectively. Epitaxial SiGe regions are created in the substrate proximate the first gate structure, the first hardmask protecting the first gate structure from the SiGe. First source/drain regions are formed proximate the first gate structure, at least a portion of each of the first source/drain regions located within one of the SiGe regions. Additionally, a raised portion is grown above the substrate proximate the second gate structure, the portion forming at least a part of second source/drain regions located on opposing sides of the second gate structure. Additionally, the first and second hardmasks protect the first and second gate structures from the growing.