Abstract: A transition-metal silicide process includes the formation of a boron nitride capping layer overlying a transition-metal layer. In one embodiment, a transition-metal layer (30) is deposited onto a silicon surface (22), and onto a polysilicon gate electrode (12). A capping layer (32), which can be either boron nitride or boron oxynitride is deposited onto the transition-metal layer (30), and an annealing process is carried out to form a transition-metal/silicon alloy layer (34, 36, 38) at the silicon surface (22), and on the gate electrode (12). The capping layer (32) overlies the transition-metal layer (30) during the annealing process and prevents the formation of an oxide layer at the silicon surfaces (22, 12). After the annealing process is complete, the capping layer (13) is removed by a selective wet etch process, and a second annealing step is carried out to form a transition-metal silicide layer (40, 42, 44).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which exposes a P-N junction portion in mesa groove to attain high reverse voltage blocking ability and a method of manufacturing the same. The mesa groove is provided in the form of a ring, and a section thereof is finished in positive bevel configuration being increased in width from a major surface toward an inner portion. Thus, a surface electric field of the mesa groove is weakened to attain high reverse voltage blocking ability, while the mesa groove of positive beveled structure can be accurately formed by employing a drill provided with a cutting edge having a mesa type sectional configuration.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a field-effect transistor is disclosed wherein only two masking steps are used in the development of the device. The semiconductor wafer used in the process has a non-alloyed contact at its top surface, that is, a contact which does not require alloying temperatures in excess of 200 degrees C. The first mask is used to create conventional mesa structures which isolate each individual field-effect transistor from its adjacent neighbors. A second mask is utilized to define the source and drain electrodes and also to create a gap through which the gate electrode structure is fabricated. By using a single mask for creation of both the source and drain electrodes and the gate structure, very close tolerances are obtained between the gate structure and the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided by forming an isolation region in a portion of a semiconductor layer, forming a doped region in the semiconductor layer adjacent the isolation region, such doped region having a conductivity type opposite the conductivity type of the semiconductor layer, selectively masking a surface of the semiconductor layer exposing a portion of the doped region adjacent to the isolation region, and selectively etching the exposed portions of the adjacent doped region forming a depression having converging side walls separated from the isolation region by portions of the doped region. The semiconductor layer is an epitaxial layer providing the collector region of a transistor. The bottom portion of the depression is lightly doped to provide an active base region for the transistor. The active base region is electrically connected to the base contact through the more heavily doped region formed in the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Structures which improve the high frequency performance of bipolar discrete or integrated transistors through minimization of base contact size and hence collector-base capacitance (and collector-substrate capacitance, if integrated), are disclosed. The transistor comprises at least one elongate emitter arm and substantially minimum-dimension base contacts positioned one facing each side of each emitter arm at at least a minimum dimension from each emitter arm. A base diffusion area is positioned under and is minimum-dimensionally larger than the outer perimeter of the areas bounded by all of the smallest imaginary triangles each including a base contact and a facing emitter arm. Specific examples are described, namely a so-called "lozenge" structure, for relatively narrow emitters, a "cross" structure for wider emitters, and a "T" structure.

Abstract: A multiple-zone junction termination extension region is formed adjacent a reverse-blocking junction in a semiconductor device to increase the breakdown voltage of such device. A single mask is used to form the multiple-zone JTE region, with the mask having different patterns of openings in the different zones of the mask. Adjacent openings are maintained with a center-to-center spacing of less than 25 percent of the depletion width of the reverse-blocking junction in a voltage-supporting semiconductor layer adjoining the reverse-blocking junction at the ideal breakdown voltage of the junction. As a consequence, the resulting non-uniformities in doping of the various zones of the JTE region are negligibly small. An alternative JTE region is finely-graduated in dopant level from one end of the region to the other, as opposed to having multiple zones of discrete doping levels.

Abstract: A vertical bipolar transistor having a subcollector region of two different thicknesses is provided to increase packing density. The thicker portion lies beneath the area between the emitter and the collector contact. A single additional masking step is needed to provide the dual thickness subcollector region.

Abstract: The method suggests the replacement of all or part of the solid or blanket buried region, typically a subcollector region of a bipolar transistor, by a mesh or stripe shaped subcollector. During subsequent thermal processing involving growth of the epitaxial layer, the stripes will at least partially merge, resulting in a solid subcollector. The method of minimizing autodoping implies only a special design of the subcollector mask. Therefore, there is no longer any need for technological changes either in the process or in the equipment. The method also applies to other buried layers, such as, subemitters, resistors, bottom isolation regions, etc.