Abstract: A method of fabricating a bipolar transistor device includes performing a first plurality of implantation procedures to implant dopant of a first conductivity type to form emitter and collector regions laterally spaced from one another in a semiconductor substrate, and performing a second plurality of implantation procedures to implant dopant of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate to form a composite base region. The composite base region includes a base contact region, a buried region through which a buried conduction path between the emitter and collector regions is formed during operation, and a base link region electrically connecting the base contact region and the buried region. The base link region has a dopant concentration level higher than the buried region and is disposed laterally between the emitter and collector regions.

Abstract: A six-transistor memory cell based upon a thyristor for an SRAM integrated circuit is described together with methods of operation. Methods of increasing the operational speed in reading the contents of a selected memory cell in an array of such memory cells while lowering power consumption, and of avoiding an indeterminate memory cell state when a memory cell is “awakened” from Standby are described.

Abstract: Disclosed are an npn-type bipolar transistor as a nitride semiconductor device having good characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the same. A so-called pn epitaxial substrate has a structure wherein an n-type collector layer and a p-type base layer of a three-layer structure are provided over a substrate. The three-layer structure includes first (lower layer side), second, and third (upper layer side) p-type base layers which differ in thickness and p-type impurity concentration. In a partial region inside the second p-type base layer located as an intermediate layer in the p-type base layer of the three-layer structure, an n-type emitter region is formed by ion implantation.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first doped region, a second doped region, a doped strip and a top doped region. The first doped region has a first type conductivity. The second doped region is formed in the first doped region and has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity. The doped strip is formed in the first doped region and has the second type conductivity. The top doped region is formed in the doped strip and has the first type conductivity. The top doped region has a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall. The doped strip is extended beyond the first sidewall or the second sidewall.

Abstract: A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), an integrated circuit (IC) chip including at least one HBT and a method of forming the IC. The HBT includes an extrinsic base with one or more buried interstitial barrier layer. The extrinsic base may be heavily doped with boron and each buried interstitial barrier layer is doped with a dopant containing carbon, e.g., carbon or SiGe:C. The surface of the extrinsic base may be silicided.

Abstract: A polarity switching member of a dot inversion system is revealed. A first transistor and a second transistor are disposed in a P-well while a N-well is arranged in the P-well, located between the first transistor and the second transistor. The N-well includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor. One end of the third transistor is coupled to one end of the first transistor to generate a first input end and one end of the fourth transistor is coupled to one end of the second transistor to generate a second input end. The other end of the first transistor, the other end of the second transistor, the other end of the third transistor, and the other end of the fourth transistor are coupled to generate an output end. Thereby, by switching of voltage polarity of the P-well and the N-well, a larger range of output voltage difference is achieved.

Abstract: A circuit substrate structure including a substrate, a dielectric stack layer, a first plating layer and a second plating layer is provided. The substrate has a pad. The dielectric stack layer is disposed on the substrate and has an opening exposing the pad, wherein the dielectric stack layer includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and a third dielectric layer located between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, and there is a gap between the portion of the first dielectric layer surrounding the opening and the portion of the second dielectric layer surrounding the opening. The first plating layer is disposed at the dielectric stack layer. The second plating layer is disposed at the pad, wherein the gap isolates the first plating layer from the second plating layer.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge devices and methods of forming thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device region disposed within a semiconductor body. A first ESD device is disposed in a first region of the ESD device region, and a second ESD device disposed in a second region of the ESD device region. The second region is separated from the first region by a first trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type; a well having a second conductivity type and provided inside the semiconductor substrate; a first impurity region having the first conductivity type and provided within the well; a second impurity region having the second conductivity type, provided inside the well and away from the first impurity region; and a third impurity region having a first conductivity type, provided surrounding the well and away from the second impurity region. In this semiconductor device, the well is formed to be deeper than the first impurity region, the second impurity region, and the third impurity region, in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate; and a minimum distance between the first impurity region and the second impurity region is smaller than a minimum distance between the second impurity region and the third impurity region.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a first base region 16 is extended to a part under a gate electrode 7 while having a vertical concentration profile of an impurity that increases from the surface of a semiconductor layer 3 and becomes maximum under an emitter region 5, and the length in the lateral direction from a point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum located under an end of the gate electrode 7 to the boundary with a second base region 15 is not smaller than the length in the vertical direction from the point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum to the boundary with the second base region 15.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device coupled between a first power line and a second power line is provided. A first N-type doped region is formed in a P-type well. A first P-type doped region is formed in the first N-type doped region. A second P-type doped region includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the second P-type doped region is formed in the first N-type doped region. The second portion of the second P-type doped region is formed outside of the first N-type doped region. A second N-type doped region is formed in the first portion of the second P-type doped region. The first P-type doped region, the first N-type doped region, the second P-type doped region and the second N-type doped region constitute an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an inverter having an NMOSFET and a PMOSFET having sources, drains and gate electrodes respectively, the drains being connected to each other and the gate electrodes being connected to each other, and a pnp bipolar transistor including a collector (C), a base (B) and an emitter (E), the base (B) receiving an output of the inverter.

Abstract: Insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices are presented. An IGBT-ESD device includes a semiconductor substrate and patterned insulation regions disposed on the semiconductor substrate defining a first active region and a second active region. A high-V N-well is formed in the first active region of the semiconductor substrate. A P-body doped region is formed in the second active region of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the high-V N-well and the P-body doped region are separated with a predetermined distance exposing the semiconductor substrate. A P+ doped drain region is disposed in the high-V N-well. A P+ diffused region and an N+ doped source region are disposed in the P-body doped region. A gate structure is disposed on the semiconductor substrate with one end adjacent to the N+ doped source region and the other end extending over the insulation region.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device has a photodiode over a P-type substrate, an NPN transistor formed over the P-type substrate, an N+-type buried region provided right under the NPN transistor as being buried in the P-type substrate, and a P+-type buried region formed in the N+-type buried region.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a first base region 16 is extended to a part under a gate electrode 7 while having a vertical concentration profile of an impurity that increases from the surface of a semiconductor layer 3 and becomes maximum under an emitter region 5, and the length in the lateral direction from a point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum located under an end of the gate electrode 7 to the boundary with a second base region 15 is not smaller than the length in the vertical direction from the point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum to the boundary with the second base region 15.

Abstract: An embedded memory required for a high performance, multifunction SOC, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The memory includes a bipolar transistor, a phase-change memory device and a MOS transistor, adjacent and electrically connected, on a substrate. The bipolar transistor includes a base composed of SiGe disposed on a collector. The phase-change memory device has a phase-change material layer which is changed from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by a current, and a heating layer composed of SiGe that contacts the lower surface of the phase-change material layer.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a first base region 16 is extended to a part under a gate electrode 7 while having a vertical concentration profile of an impurity that increases from the surface of a semiconductor layer 3 and becomes maximum under an emitter region 5, and the length in the lateral direction from a point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum located under an end of the gate electrode 7 to the boundary with a second base region 15 is not smaller than the length in the vertical direction from the point where the impurity concentration becomes maximum to the boundary with the second base region 15.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a component arrangement including a load and an open-load detector. The load transistor has a first transistor region arranged in a semiconductor body, a second transistor region arranged in the semiconductor body and a third transistor region arranged between the first transistor region and the second transistor region and doped in complementary fashion to the first transistor region and the second transistor region. The open-load detector has a sense region arranged in the third transistor region and of conduction type complementary to the third transistor region and having an evaluation circuit connected to the sense region.

Abstract: In a complementary SiGe bipolar process, a pnpn thyristor structure is formed from some of the layers of a pnp transistor and an npn transistor formed on top of each other and making use of the SiGe gates to define the blocking junction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a wiring layer below an insulator layer. A pad comprises a conductive material that is on the insulator layer. The pad has a wirebond connection region and a probe pad region. An inspection mark is between the wirebond connection region and the probe pad region. The inspection mark comprises an opening in the insulator layer that is filled with the conductive material. In addition, a contact that is through the insulator layer is adapted to electrically connect the conductor wire in the wiring layer to the pad. The contact is formed of the same conductive material used for the pad and the inspection mark.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bipolar junction transistors (BJTS). The collector region of each BJT is located in a semiconductor substrate surface and adjacent to a first shallow trench isolation (STI) region. A second STI region is provided, which extends between the first STI region and the collection region and undercuts a portion of the active base region with an undercut angle of not more than about 90°. For example, the second STI region may a substantially triangular cross-section with an undercut angle of less than about 90°, or a substantially rectangular cross-section with an undercut angle of about 90°. Such a second STI region can be fabricated using a porous surface section formed in an upper surface of the collector region.

Abstract: A lateral bipolar transistor includes an emitter region, a base region, a collector region, and a gate disposed over the base region. A bias line is connected to the gate for applying a bias voltage thereto during operation of the transistor. The polarity of the bias voltage is such as to create an accumulation layer in the base under the gate. The accumulation layer provides a low-resistance path for the transistor base current, thus reducing the base resistance of the transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the invention includes an N-type embedded diffusion region between a substrate and a first epitaxial layer in island regions serving as small signal section. The substrate and the first epitaxial layer are thus partitioned by the N-type embedded diffusion region having supply potential in the island regions serving as small signal section. This structure prevents the inflow of free carriers (electrons) generated from a power NPN transistor due to the back electromotive force of the motor into the small signal section, thus preventing the malfunction of the small signal section.

Abstract: A layout method of a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided which improves characteristics of the circuit by giving hierarchical structure of interconnections regularity. A pair of emitter followers is disposed symmetrically with respect to a center line of a differential amplifier. Thus, interconnections within a circuit block and a ground wiring can be made with a single metal layer, since an area where the interconnections cross with each other is eliminated. Herewith cross talk due to the intersection of the interconnections can be resolved. Also, the interconnections between the differential amplifier and the emitter follower circuits can be made equal in length. It is possible to assign a second metal layer to interconnections between circuit blocks and a third metal layer to a power supply so that characteristics of the semiconductor integrated circuit are improved.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and resulting structure for fabricating high performance vertical NPN and PNP transistors for use in BiCMOS devices. The resulting high performance vertical PNP transistor includes an emitter region including silicon and germanium, and has its PNP emitter sharing a single layer of silicon with the NPN transistor's base. The method adds two additional masking steps to conventional fabrication processes for CMOS and bipolar devices, thus representing minor additions to the entire process flow. The resulting structure significantly enhances PNP device performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique device structure and method that provides increased transistor performance in integrated bipolar circuit devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides improved high speed performance by providing reduced base resistence. The preferred design forms the extrinsic base by diffusing dopants from a dopant source layer and into the extrinsic base region. This diffusion of dopants forms at least a portion of the extrinsic base. In particular, the portion adjacent to the intrinsic base region is formed by diffusion. This solution avoids the problems caused by traditional solutions that implanted the extrinsic base. Specifically, by forming at least a portion of the extrinsic base by diffusion, the problem of damage to base region is minimized. This reduced damage enhances dopant diffusion into the intrinsic base. Additionally, the formed extrinsic base can have improved resistence, resulting in an improved maximum frequency for the bipolar device.

Abstract: An interfacial oxide layer (185) is formed in the emitter regions of the NPN transistor (280, 220) and the PNP transistor (290, 200). Fluorine is selectively introduced into the polysilicon emitter region of the NPN transistor (220) to reduce the 1/f noise in the NPN transistor.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor structure includes trench isolation dielectric material formed in a semiconductor substrate to define a substrate active device region. A collector region is formed beneath the surface of the active device region. A base region is formed in the active device region above the collector region and extends to the surface of the active device region. A layer of dielectric material is formed to extend at least partially over the trench isolation and over the surface of the base region. A layer of doped polysilicon is formed over the layer of dielectric material and extends over the edge of the layer of dielectric material and over the surface of the base region. The doped polysilicon is patterned to define a polysilicon emitter region that extends over the edge of the layer of dielectric material to provide an ultra-small emitter contact on the surface of the base region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bipolar transistor and a method of manufacture thereof. The bipolar transistor includes a dielectric region located in a semiconductor substrate and a collector located in the semiconductor substrate and at least partially over the dielectric region. The bipolar transistor device further includes a base located over and in contact with the dielectric region and at least partially about the collector and an emitter located over and in contact with the dielectric region and adjacent the base.

Abstract: An NPN bipolar transistor and a PNP bipolar transistor are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The NPN bipolar transistor has a p type emitter region, a p type collector region and an n type base region and is formed in an NPN forming region. The PNP bipolar transistor has an n type emitter region, an n type collector region and a p type base region and is formed in a PNP forming region. Only one conductive type burying region is formed in at least one of the NPN forming region and the PNP forming region. A current that flows from the p type emitter region to the n type base region flows in the n type base region in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate layer having a major surface formed along a crystal plane. In one embodiment a first conductivity type region is formed in the substrate layer and a substantially monocrystalline semiconductor layer is deposited thereon. The deposited layer includes a first portion of a second conductivity type and a second portion of the first conductivity type formed over the first portion. The first portion and the first region form a pn junction. An upper-most substrate surface formed along a first plane and a first doped region of a first conductivity type is formed above the first plane. A second doped region of a second conductivity type is formed over the first doped region resulting in formation of a p-n junction in a second plane above the first plane. Electrical connection is provided to the first doped region with a conductor formed between the first and second planes.

Abstract: The lateral pnp transistor encompasses a p-type semiconductor substrate, an n-type first buried region disposed on the semiconductor substrate, an n-type uniform base region disposed on the first buried region, an n-type first plug region disposed in the uniform base region, a p-type first emitter region and a first collector region disposed in and at the top surface of the uniform base region, a graded base region disposed in the uniform base region and a first base contact region disposed in the first plug region. The graded base region encloses the bottom and the side of the first main electrode region. The doping profile in the graded base region intervening between the first emitter region and the first collector region is such that the impurity concentration is gradually decreases towards the second main electrode region from the first main electrode region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided in which a plurality of MOSFETs including a vertical MOSFET is formed on a substrate. The device includes a silicon carbide substrate having front and back surfaces facing each other, an isolating region formed in the substrate to extend from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate, and first and second MOSFETs formed on opposite sides of the isolating region, respectively.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a buried layer that improves the latch up immunity of digital devices while providing isolation structures that provide noise isolation for both the digital and analog devices. The buried layer of the preferred embodiment is formed to reside within or below the subcollector region in the transistor. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment the subcollector is isolated from buried layer outside the transistor region by deep isolation trenches formed at the edges of the subcollector. Additionally, an array of deep isolation trenches provides increased isolation between devices where needed. Thus, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated circuit structure and method that provides improved latchup immunity while also providing improved noise tolerance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an essentially discrete semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor body (10) having a first, preferably bipolar, transistor (T1) with a first region (1) forming a collector (1) of T1, and a second, preferably also bipolar, transistor (T2) with a second region (2) forming a collector (2) of T2, which transistors (T1, T2) are in a cascode configuration wherein the collector (1) of T1is connected to the emitter (4) of T2. Such a device cannot suitably be used in a base station for mobile communication. According to the invention, the first region (1) and the second region (2) are positioned next to each other within a semiconductor region (5), a part of which situated below the first region (1) is provided with a higher doping concentration at the location of T1. In this way, T1 has a low collector-emitter breakdown voltage and a high cutoff frequency, whereas for T2 said voltage and frequency are, respectively, high(er) and low(er).

Abstract: Collector regions (32, 33) with films capable of withstanding high voltage by laminating 4 epitaxial layers when the collector regions (32, 33) are formed. In order to reduce effects caused by interference between the transistors (21, 22) and also reduce parasitic transistor, the epitaxial layers and substrate are etched in a V-groove. Each etched region is dielectrically isolated by the poly-Si (42).

Abstract: Copper or a low resistivity copper alloy is initially deposited to fill relatively narrow openings leaving relatively wider openings unfilled. A copper alloy having improved electromigration resistance with respect to copper is then selectively deposited to fill the relatively wider openings, thereby improving electromigration resistance without increasing narrow line resistance. Embodiments include annealing after filling the relatively narrow openings and before filling the relatively wider openings, thereby reducing void formation in narrow lines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated circuit bidirectional switch formed from bipolar transistor devices, in which the saturation voltage is sought to be reduced. More specifically, an integrated NPN bipolar transistor is formed with oxide insulation, and the normal direction of current flow is from the emitter to collector, and an integrated PNP bipolar transistor is formed with oxide insulation, and the normal direction of current flow is from the collector to emitter.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a buried layer that improves the latch up immunity of digital devices while providing isolation structures that provide noise isolation for both the digital and analog devices. The buried layer of the preferred embodiment is formed to reside within or below the subcollector region in the transistor. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment the subcollector is isolated from buried layer outside the transistor region by deep isolation trenches formed at the edges of the subcollector. Additionally, an array of deep isolation trenches provides increased isolation between devices where needed. Thus, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated circuit structure and method that provides improved latchup immunity while also providing improved noise tolerance.

Abstract: A lateral bipolar transistor includes a semiconductor layer overlying an electrically insulating material and an insulating layer overlying a central portion of the semiconductor layer. A contact hole resides in the insulating layer and a conductive material overlies the insulating layer and makes electrical contact with the semiconductor layer through the contact hole, thereby forming a base contact. The semiconductor layer has a first conductivity type in a central region which substantially underlies the conductive material, and has a second conductivity type in regions adjacent the central region. The first region forms a base region and the adjacent regions form a collector region and an emitter region, respectively. A method of forming a lateral bipolar transistor device is also disclosed. The method includes forming a semiconductor layer over an insulating material and forming an insulating layer over the semiconductor material.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor is vertically isolated from underlying silicon by an isolation layer of conductivity type opposite that of the collector. This isolation layer lies beneath the heavily doped buried layer portion of the collector, and is formed either by ion implantation prior to epitaxial growth of well regions, or by high energy ion implantation into the substrate prior to formation of the well and the heavily doped buried collector layer. Utilization of trench lateral isolation extending into the semiconductor material beyond the isolation layer permits blanket implant of the isolation layer, obviating the need for an additional masking step.

Abstract: An ultra-large-scale integrated (ULSI) circuit includes MOSFETs which have different threshold voltages and yet have the same channel characteristics. The MOSFETs include gate structures with a polysilicon material. The polysilicon material is implanted with lower concentrations of germanium where lower threshold voltage MOSFETs are required. Over a range of 0-60% concentration of germanium, the threshold voltage can be varied by roughly 240 mV.

Abstract: A device isolation film is formed on one major surface of a semiconductor substrate so as to surround a device formation region. The device isolation film consists of a first layer made of silicon dioxide, a second layer made of polycrystalline silicon, and a third layer made of silicon dioxide. In a transistor formed in the device formation region, PN junction ends of source and drain regions are in contact with the first layer, and a gate electrode and source and drain electrodes are formed within an opening of the device isolation film. The top surfaces of the gate electrode and the source and drain electrodes are substantially flush with the surface of the third layer of the device isolation film. A gate electrode wiring layer and a source/drain electrode wiring layer for one of the source and drain electrodes are formed on the surface of the third layer.

Abstract: A method and the device produced by the method of selective refractory metal growth/deposition on exposed silicon, but not on the field oxide is disclosed. The method includes preconditioning a wafer in a DHF dip followed by the steps of 1) selectively depositing a refractory metal on the exposed surfaces of the silicon substrate by reacting a refractory metal halide with the exposed surfaces of said silicon substrate; 2) limiting silicon substrate consumption by reacting the refractory metal halide with a silicon containing gas; and 3) further increasing the refractory metal thickness by reacting the refractory metal halide with hydrogen. Through an adequate pretreatment and selection of the parameters of 1) temperature; 2) pressure; 3) time; 4) flow and 5) flow ratio during each of the deposition steps, this invention adequately addresses the difficulties of uneven n+ versus p+ (source/drain) growth, deep consumption/encroachment by the refractory metal into silicon regions (e.g.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device manufacturing method for forming first and second bipolar transistors on a semiconductor substrate 1, a link base layer 5 for connecting a graft base layer (graft base layer 8) of the first bipolar transistor and an intrinsic base layer 12 to each other, and at least a part of a base layer 6 of the second bipolar transistor are formed simultaneously with each other, and then the link base layer 5 in a region where the intrinsic base layer 12 will be formed is removed by an etching treatment, and then by a selective epitaxial growth method, the intrinsic base layer 12 is formed in the region where the link base layer 5 is removed.

Abstract: A fabrication process for dielectrically isolated high frequency complementary analog bipolar and CMOS transistors. Polysilicon extrinsic bases, polysilicon emitters with sidewall spacers formed after intrinsic base formation provides high current gain, large emitter-to-base breakdown voltage, large Early voltage, and high cutoff frequency.

Abstract: An n-type epitaxial layer is formed on a main surface of a p-type silicon substrate. An n-type buried diffusion layer is formed extending in both the p-type silicon substrate and the n-type epitaxial layer. An n-type diffusion layer is formed in the surface of the n-type epitaxial layer, which is disposed above the n-type buried diffusion layer. A p-type diffusion layer is formed so as to surround side ends of the n-type diffusion layer. A p-type buried diffusion layer is formed so as to have a bottom face within the n-type buried diffusion layer and have side ends thereof inside side ends of the p-type diffusion layer. A collector region of a vertical pnp bipolar transistor consists of the p-type buried diffusion layer and the p-type diffusion layer. A p-type diffusion layer, which serves as an emitter region of the pnp bipolar transistor, is formed in the surface of the n-type diffusion layer.

Abstract: A method for forming trench isolation and in specific shallow trench isolation(STI) using SiO.sub.2 plugs is proposed. The SiO.sub.2 plugs of the STI have a buried phosphorus (P) rich layer introduced during and subsequent to the trench formation to tie up any sodium ionic contamination from processes prior to gate formation. P impurity layer is formed below the surface of the deposited SiO.sub.2 layer. A preferred method for forming the buried P layer is by shallow implantation in a vertical direction into the deposited SiO.sub.2 layer prior to planarization. The process is self aligned to the trench isolation regions.

Abstract: A method is described for fabricating a complementary, vertical bipolar sconducting structure. An N+ silicon island and a P+ silicon island separated by a first oxide layer are formed on a sapphire substrate. An NPN junction device is formed on the N+ silicon island by epitaxially growing an N-type silicon layer on the N+ silicon island. Then, a P region is created in the N-type silicon layer. An N+ region created in the P region completes the NPN junction device. Similarly, a PNP junction device is formed by epitaxially growing a P-type silicon layer on the P+ silicon island. Then, an N region is created in the P-type silicon layer. A P+ region created in the N region completes the PNP junction device.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for fabricating a bipolar junction transistor ("BJT") from a semiconductor substrate having a base region, wherein the BJT comprises an increased Early voltage. The method initially comprises the step of forming a patterned interlevel dielectric layer superjacent the substrate such that a segment of the substrate is exposed. Subsequently, a contact comprising a material having a grain size smaller than polycrystalline silicon is formed superjacent the patterned interlevel dielectric layer and the segment of the substrate exposed. The contact is then implanted with a dopant. Once implanted, the substrate is annealed to enable the dopant to diffuse from the contact into the base region impeded by the grain size to form an emitter region and thereby increase the Early voltage of the bipolar junction transistor.