Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a first electrode; a second electrode; a gate electrode; an n-type first silicon carbide region positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and between the gate electrode and the second electrode; a p-type second silicon carbide region positioned between the first electrode and the first silicon carbide region; a third silicon carbide region of metal containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), and platinum (Pt), positioned between the first electrode and the second silicon carbide region and spaced apart from the first silicon carbide region; and a gate insulating layer positioned between the gate electrode and the second silicon carbide region.

Abstract: A wiring board for a fingerprint sensor includes an insulating board including insulating layers; outer strip electrodes disposed on the insulating layer in an uppermost layer, and side by side in a first direction; inner strip electrodes disposed on the insulating layer in a next layer contacting the insulating layer in the uppermost layer, and side by side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a pad electrode disposed on the insulating layer in the uppermost layer, and on the inner strip electrodes and between the outer strip electrodes; and a via conductor extending through the insulating layer in an outermost layer between the pad electrode and the inner strip electrodes and electrically connecting the pad electrode and the inner strip electrodes to each other. The via conductor has an elliptical shape that is long in the first direction in top view.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with electrical overstress (EOS) protection is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semi-insulating layer, a first contact disposed onto the semi-insulating layer, and a second contact disposed onto the semi-insulating layer. A passivation layer is disposed onto the semi-insulating layer. The passivation layer has a dielectric strength that is greater than that of the semi-insulating layer to ensure that a voltage breakdown occurs within the semi-insulating layer within a semi-insulating region between the first contact and the second contact before a voltage breakdown can occur in the passivation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer supported by the substrate, an interconnect adjacent the dielectric layer, the interconnect including a conduction material and a barrier material disposed along sidewalls of the interconnect between the conduction material and the dielectric layer, and a layer disposed over the interconnect to establish an interface between the conduction material, the barrier material, and the layer. A plate is disposed along a section of the interconnect to interrupt the interface.

Abstract: A method for producing a low temperature polycrystalline silicon thin film, comprising steps of: providing a substrate; forming a thermal conduction and electrical insulation layer, a buffer layer and an amorphous silicon layer on the substrate in this order; and performing a high-temperature treatment and a laser annealing on the amorphous silicon layer to convert the amorphous silicon layer to a polycrystalline silicon thin film, wherein the thermal conduction and electrical insulation layer comprises regular patterns distributed on the substrate.

Abstract: The surface recombination velocity of a silicon sample is reduced by deposition of a thin hydrogenated amorphous silicon or hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide film, followed by deposition of a thin hydrogenated silicon nitride film. The surface recombination velocity is further decreased by a subsequent anneal. Silicon solar cell structures using this new method for efficient reduction of the surface recombination velocity is claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a board reinforcing structure for reinforcing a circuit board in which an electronic component is mounted on a first surface, the electronic component having an electrode arranged in a rectangular-shaped region on the first surface. The board reinforcing structure includes a reinforcing member bonded to positions corresponding to corner parts of four corners of the rectangular-shaped region on a second surface provided on a side opposite to the first surface of the circuit board. In the board reinforcing structure, corresponding one of notches is formed in the reinforcing member at a position corresponding to one of the corner parts of the four corners of the rectangular-shaped region, and at least two apexes of the reinforcing member directed to an outside are formed to shape a contour thereof with the one of the notches.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment, includes a dielectric film and an Si semiconductor part. The dielectric film is formed by using one of oxide, nitride and oxynitride. The Si semiconductor part is arranged below the dielectric film, having at least one element of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te) present in an interface with the dielectric film, and formed by using silicon (Si).

Abstract: A method of preventing surface decomposition of a III-V compound semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming a silicon film having a thickness from 10 ? to 400 ? on a surface of an III-V compound semiconductor. After forming the silicon film onto the surface of the III-V compound semiconductor, a high performance semiconductor device including, for example, a MOSFET, can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor. During the MOSFET fabrication, a high k dielectric can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor and thereafter, activated source and drain regions can be formed into the III-V compound semiconductor.

Abstract: Oxide thin film, electronic devices including the oxide thin film and methods of manufacturing the oxide thin film, the methods including (A) applying an oxide precursor solution comprising at least one of zinc (Zn), indium (In) and tin (Sn) on a substrate, (B) heat-treating the oxide precursor solution to form an oxide layer, and (C) repeating the steps (A) and (B) to form a plurality of the oxide layers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a P-type region on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming at least one Al electrode on the P-type region, forming an interlayer film in contact with the at least one Al electrode, the interlayer film being of a material which is less reactive with Si than is Al, and forming a semi-insulating film on the interlayer film, the semi-insulating film containing Si.

Abstract: To improve connection reliability of a through electrode in a semiconductor device, and prevent deterioration of electrical characteristics due to a residue generated from a pad at the time of forming the through electrode. A contact area between a pad and a conductor layer is equal to a diameter of a hole of an opening provided in a silicon substrate. Consequently, it is possible to increase the contact area as compared with a conventional configuration. This improves the connection reliability. Furthermore, a residue containing metal is attached to the outside of an insulation film in the manufacturing process. Consequently, the residue is prevented from contacting a silicon substrate body. Also, heavy metals, such as Cu, in the residue are prevented from being diffused into the silicon substrate body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of electrical characteristics.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, an insulating interlayer having a groove is formed on an insulating underlayer. A silicon-diffused metal layer including no metal silicide is buried in the groove. A metal diffusion barrier layer is formed on the silicon-diffused metal layer and the insulating interlayer.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a wafer that incorporates fill structures with varying configurations to provide uniform reflectance. Uniform reflectance is achieved by distributing across the wafer fill structures having different semiconductor materials such that approximately the same ratio and density between the different semiconductor materials is achieved within each region and, optimally, each sub-region. Alternatively, it is achieved by distributing across the wafer fill structures, including one or more hybrid fill structure containing varying proportions of different semiconductor materials, such that approximately the same ratio between the different semiconductor materials is achieved within each region and, optimally, each sub-region.

Abstract: The present invention includes a substrate structural body having a high electrostatic chuck force at a low voltage even when an insulated board is used, and a method for manufacturing the substrate structural body. As the substrate structural body, there is provided a substrate structural body for attaining its fixing by an electrostatic chuck mechanism, comprising at least a first polycrystalline silicon film formed on the back surface of a substrate comprised of an insulating material or its back and side surfaces, wherein a top layer of part of the back surface or the back and side surfaces is of a first silicon insulating film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and method for manufacture includes a substrate having a top first layer; a second thin transition layer located on top of the first layer; and, a third layer located on top of the transition layer, wherein the second thin transition layer provides strong adhesion and cohesive strength between the first and third layers of the structure. Additionally, a semiconductor device structure and method for manufacture includes an insulating structure comprising a multitude of dielectric and conductive layers with respective transition bonding layers disposed to enhance interfacial strength among the different layers. Further, an electronic device structure incorporates layers of insulating and conductive materials as intralevel or interlevel dielectrics in a back-end-of-the-line (“BEOL”) wiring structure in which the interfacial strength between different pairs of dielectric films is enhanced by a thin intermediate transition bonding layer.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, an insulating interlayer having a groove is formed on an insulating underlayer. A silicon-diffused metal layer including no metal silicide is buried in the groove. A metal diffusion barrier layer is formed on the silicon-diffused metal layer and the insulating interlayer.

Abstract: The task of the present invention is to enable formation of a gate insulating film structure having a good-quality interface between a silicon oxide film and silicon in an interface between a high dielectric constant thin film and a silicon substrate to provide a semiconductor device and a semiconductor manufacturing method which are capable of improving interface electrical characteristics, which has been a longstanding task in practical use of a high dielectric constant insulating film. A metal layer deposition process and a heat treatment process which supply metal elements constituting a high dielectric constant film on a surface of a base silicon oxide film 103 allow the metal elements to be diffused into the base silicon oxide film 103 to thereby form an insulating film structure 105 as a gate insulating film, after forming the base silicon oxide film 103 on a surface of a silicon substrate 101.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device may include an insulating layer and a metal interconnection. An insulating layer may include a first layer including fluorine and a second layer including SRO (silicon rich oxide) having a dangling bond. A metal interconnection may be formed over the insulating layer.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface, and methods of forming a resistance variable device. In one implementation, a method of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface includes providing a deposition chamber comprising a sputtering target and a substrate to be depositing upon. The target comprises silver, and the substrate comprises an exposed surface comprising metal selenide. Gaseous cesium is flowed to the target and a bombarding inert sputtering species is flowed to the target effective to sputter negative silver ions from the target. The sputtered negative silver ions are flowed to the exposed metal selenide-comprising surface effective to deposit a continuous and completely covering silver film on the exposed metal selenide of the substrate.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices containing a CVD BPSG layer and an undoped CVD oxide cap layer are described. The cap layer can be any silicon oxide material with a thickness between about 50 ? and about 350 ?. The cap layer may be formed using a low temperature CVD process that is controlled for density by adjusting the amount of silicon precursor in the gas-phase. In some embodiments, the cap layer is deposited on the BPSG layer followed immediately by the BPSG film deposition prior to any annealing of the BPSG layer. The cap layer may prevent dopant out-diffusion and/or out-gassing during storage and high-temperature annealing, and moisture penetration into the BPSG layer, as well as suppress defect nucleation on the as-deposited BPSG surface and defect formation during high temperature annealing, while still allowing flow ability of the BPSG layer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention includes a substrate structural body having a high electrostatic chuck force at a low voltage even when an insulated board is used, and a method for manufacturing the substrate structural body. As the substrate structural body, there is provided a substrate structural body for attaining its fixing by an electrostatic chuck mechanism, comprising at least a first polycrystalline silicon film formed on the back surface of a substrate comprised of an insulating material or its back and side surfaces, wherein a top layer of part of the back surface or the back and side surfaces is of a first silicon insulating film.

Abstract: An optical device having a high reflector tunable stress coating includes a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) platform, a mirror disposed on the MEMS platform, and a multiple layer coating disposed on the mirror. The multiple layer coating includes a layer of silver (Ag), a layer of silicon dioxide (SiO2) deposited on the layer of Ag, a layer of intrinsic silicon (Si) deposited on the layer of SiO2, and a layer of silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) deposited on the layer of Si. The concentration of nitrogen is increased and/or decreased to tune the stress (e.g., tensile, none, compressive).

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device, which prevents the penetration of hydrogen or moisture to a ferroelectric capacitor from its surrounding area including a contact plug portion, comprises a ferroelectric capacitor formed above a semiconductor substrate, a first hydrogen barrier film formed on an upper surface of the ferroelectric capacitor to work as a mask in the formation of the ferroelectric capacitor, a second hydrogen barrier film formed on the upper surface and a side face of the ferroelectric capacitor including on the first hydrogen barrier film, and a contact plug disposed through the first and second hydrogen barrier films, and connected to an upper electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor, a side face thereof being surrounded with the hydrogen barrier films.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a silicide layer, including forming an interlayer insulating layer on an entire surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming a contact hole in the interlayer insulating layer, sequentially forming a silicide material and a barrier metal layer over the interlayer insulating layer including the contact hole, and performing an annealing process on the interlayer insulating layer to thereby form the silicide layer between a bottom surface of the interlayer insulating layer, which is exposed by the contact hole, and the silicide material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device suitable for the miniaturization and comprising properly controlled Si/SiGe gate electrode comprises an insulator formed on a semiconductor substrate, a first gate electrode formed on the insulator and including silicon-germanium, wherein a germanium concentration is higher near an interface to the insulator and lower in a surface side opposite to the insulator, and a second gate electrode formed on the insulator and including silicon-germanium, wherein a germanium concentration is substantially uniform and an n-type dopant of a concentration of above 6×1020 atoms/cm3 is contained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor component having a semiconductor body (100) and at least one pn junction present in the semiconductor body (100) and an amorphous passivation layer (70) arranged at least in sections on a surface (101) of the semiconductor body (100), the following holding true for the minimum Ds,min of an interface state density Ds at the junction between the passivation layer (70) and the semiconductor body (100): D s , min ? N S , Bd E g where NS,Bd is the breakdown charge and Eg is the band gap of the semiconductor material used for the semiconductor body (100).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an insulating layer that ensures reproducibility across like manufacturing apparatus. The insulating layer is formed on the substrate by (a) flowing an oxidizing gas at an oxidizing gas flow rate, (b) flowing a first carrier gas at a first carrier gas flow rate while carrying a first impurity including boron flowing at a first impurity flow rate, (c) flowing a second carrier gas at a second carrier gas flow rate while carrying a second impurity including phosphorus flowing at a second impurity flow rate, and (d) flowing a silicon source material at a silicon source flow rate. The second carrier gas flow rate is greater than the first carrier gas flow rate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate that further includes source, drain and channel regions. The device may further include a bottom oxide layer formed upon the substrate, a charge storage layer formed upon the bottom oxide layer, and a steam oxide layer thermally grown upon the charge storage layer. The device may also include an alumina oxide layer formed upon the steam oxide layer and a gate electrode formed upon the alumina oxide layer.

Abstract: A Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor, HBT, (100) containing a collector layer (104), a base layer (105) and an emitter layer (106) is constructed such that the collector layer (104), the base layer (105) and the emitter layer (106) have different lattice constants of ac, ab and ae respectively, and a value of ab between values of ac and ae (in other words, the values of ac, ab and ae satisfy a relationship of ac>ab>ae or ac<ab<ae). According to the present invention, the HBT having a high reliability can be realized without altering the existing apparatus and steps for producing the HBT extensively.

Abstract: Dielectric materials including elements of Si, C, O and H having specific values of mechanical properties (tensile stress, elastic modulus, hardness cohesive strength, crack velocity in water) that result in a stable ultra low k film which is not degraded by water vapor or integration processing are provided. The dielectric materials have a dielectric constant of about 2.8 or less, a tensile stress of less than 45 MPa, an elastic modulus from about 2 to about 15 GPa, and a hardness from about 0.2 to about 2 GPa. Electronic structures including the dielectric materials of the present invention as well as various methods of fabricating the dielectric materials are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of processing a substrate including loading a substrate into a plasma chamber and setting a pressure of the plasma chamber to a pre-determined pressure set point. Several inner surfaces that define a plasma zone are heated to a processing temperature of greater than about 200 degrees C. A process gas is injected into the plasma zone to form a plasma and the substrate is processed.

Abstract: An organic polymer film of low dielectric constant and high heating resistance which is applicable as an insulating layer of a semiconductor devices is provided, as well as a manufacturing method for the film and a semiconductor device incorporating the film.

Abstract: A low-thermal budget, silicon-rich silicon nitride film may include a concentration of hydrogen in Si—H bonds being at least 1.5 times as great as a concentration of hydrogen in N—H bonds. The silicon nitride film suppresses boron diffusion in boron-doped devices when such devices are processed using high-temperature processing operations that conventionally urge boron diffusion. The low-thermal budget, silicon-rich silicon nitride film may be used to form spacers in CMOS devices, it may be used as part of a dielectric stack to prevent shorting in tightly packed SRAM arrays, and it may be used in BiCMOS processing to form a base nitride layer and/or nitride spacers isolating the base from the emitter. Furthermore the low-thermal budget, silicon-rich silicon nitride film may remain covering the CMOS structure while bipolar devices are being formed, as it suppresses the boron diffusion that results in boron penetration and boron-doped poly depletion.

Abstract: A high frequency semiconductor device including wiring layers which are formed above a semiconductor substrate and in which transmission lines are formed by combining with a ground plate having a potential fixed at the ground potential, at least one crossing portion in which the wiring layers mutually cross, with insulating interlayers provided therebetween, and at least one separation electrode being selectively provided on one of the insulating interlayers, the at least one separation electrode having a potential fixed at the ground potential. Accordingly, in the high frequency semiconductor device, electrical interference between two crossing wiring layer is prevented and transmission loss is suppressed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device, comprising a first wiring structure formed on a semiconductor substrate and including a first plug and a first wiring formed on the first plug, and a second wiring structure formed on the semiconductor substrate belonging to the wiring layer equal to the first wiring structure and including a second plug and a second wiring formed on the second plug, wherein the upper surface of the first wiring is positioned higher than the upper surface of the second wiring, and the lower surface of the first wiring is positioned flush with or lower than the upper surface of the second wiring. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing the particular semiconductor device.

Abstract: Polycrystalline silicon in semiconductor device is usually crystallized at high temperature annealing. Generally a low heat conducting underlayer is needed to protect substrate and silicon from high temperature crystallization. This invention proposes a new underlayer that improves silicon crystallization and protects substrate during the annealing process. The semiconductor device is a thin film transistor suitable for use in such applications as liquid crystal displays, light emitting diodes, imaging sensors and photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory node (1) to which charge is written through a tunnel barrier configuration (2) from a control electrode (9). The stored charge effects the conductivity of a source/drain path (4) and data is read by monitoring the conductivity of the path. The charge barrier configuration comprises a multiple tunnel barrier configuration, which may comprise alternating layers (16) of polysilicon of 3 nm thickness and layers (15) of Si3N4 of 1 nm thickness, overlying polycrystalline layer of silicon (1) which forms the memory node. Alternative barrier configurations (2) are described, including a Schottky barrier configuration, and conductive nanometer scale conductive islands (30, 36, 44), which act as the memory node, distributed in an electrically insulating matrix.

Abstract: There is disclosed a semiconductor device comprising an insulating film which is provided in at least one layer above a substrate and whose relative dielectric constant is 3.4 or less, at least one conductive layer provided in the insulating film, at least one conductive plug which is formed in the insulating film and which is electrically connected to the conductive layer to form a conduction path, at least one reinforcing material which is provided under at least the conductive layer and whose Young's modulus is 30 GPa or more, and at least one first reinforcing plug which is connected to the conductive layer and which is formed in contact with the reinforcing material.

Abstract: Gate and storage dielectric systems and methods of their fabrication are presented. A passivated overlayer deposited between a layer of dielectric material and a gate or first storage plate maintains a high K (dielectric constant) value of the dielectric material. The high K dielectric material forms an improved interface with a substrate or second plate. This improves dielectric system reliability and uniformity and permits greater scalability, dielectric interface compatibility, structural stability, charge control, and stoichiometric reproducibility. Furthermore, etch selectivity, low leakage current, uniform dielectric breakdown, and improved high temperature chemical passivity also result.

Abstract: A new multilayer dielectric film for improving dielectric constant and thermal stability of gate dielectrics is provided. The multilayer dielectric film comprises a first layer formed of a metal oxide material having a high dielectric constant, and a second layer formed on the first layer. The second layer is formed of a metal silicate material having a dielectric constant lower than the dielectric constant of the first layer. A semiconductor transistor incorporating the multilayer dielectric film is also provided.

Abstract: A interconnection structure of the damascene type is produced on a surface of a microelectronic device that includes at least one dielectric material layer for housing at least one interconnection and at least one interface layer on the dielectric material layer. The interface layer may include at least one SiCH layer and at least one SiOCH layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a film having enhanced reflow characteristics at low thermal budget is disclosed, in which a surface layer of material is formed above a base layer of material, the surface layer having a lower melting point than the base layer. In this way, a composite film having two layers is created. After reflow, the surface layer can be removed using conventional methods.

Abstract: The invention is a method for constructing an integrated circuit structure and an apparatus produced by the method. The method generally comprises constructing an integrated circuit structure by disposing a layer of doped oxide, the dopant being iso-electronic to silicon, and then reflowing the layer of doped oxide. Thus, the apparatus of the invention is an integrated circuit structure comprising a reflowed layer of doped oxide wherein the dopant is iso-electronic to silicon. In one particular embodiment, the method generally comprises constructing an integrated circuit feature on a substrate; disposing a layer of doped oxide, the dopant being iso-electronic to silicon, over the integrated circuit feature and the substrate in a substantially conformal manner; reflowing the layer of doped oxide; and etching the insulating layer and the oxide.

Abstract: An interlayer film covering a semiconductor device formed on the semiconductor substrate has a film having ability of gettering the metal impurities invading from an upper portion of the interlayer film, and with this ability, the metal impurities are prevented from reaching the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Low k dielectrics such as black diamond have a tendency to delaminate from the edges of a silicon wafer, causing multiple problems, including blinding of the alignment mark. This problem has been overcome by inserting a layer of silicon nitride between the low k layer and the substrate. A key requirement is that said layer of silicon nitride be under substantial compressive stress (at least 5×109 dynes/cm2). In the case of a layer of black diamond, on which material the invention is particularly focused, a nucleating layer is also inserted between the silicon nitride and the black diamond. A process for laying down the required layers is described together with an example of applying the invention to a dual damascene structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for endpointing a planarization process of a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the microelectronic substrate can include a semiconductor base, a first material, such as an oxide, disposed on the base, a second material, such as a nitride, disposed on the first material to stiffen the first material, and an endpointing material, such as polysilicon, disposed on the second material. The endpointing material can have a hardness and/or a fracture resistance that is less than a hardness and/or a fracture resistance of the stiffening material and, in one embodiment, can have a coefficient of friction that is different than surrounding material of the microelectronic substrate so as to be detected when exposed to a planarizing medium.

Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of compound semiconductor materials can be grown overlying large silicon wafers by first growing an accommodating buffer layer on a silicon wafer. The accommodating buffer layer is a layer of monocrystalline oxide spaced apart from the silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer of silicon oxide. The amorphous interface layer dissipates strain and permits the growth of a high quality monocrystalline oxide accommodating buffer layer. The accommodating buffer layer is lattice matched to both the underlying silicon wafer and the overlying monocrystalline compound semiconductor layer. Any lattice mismatch between the accommodating buffer layer and the underlying silicon substrate is taken care of by the amorphous interface layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an SrRuO3 thin film is disclosed. The method utilizes a multi-step deposition process for the separate control of the Ru reagent, relative to the Sr reagent, which requires a much lower deposition temperature than the Sr reagent. A Ru reagent gas is supplied by a bubbler and deposited onto a substrate. Following the deposition of the Ru reagent, the Sr liquid reagent is vaporized and deposited onto the Ru layer.

Abstract: A contact between a polycrystalline silicon structure and a monocrystalline silicon region is produced by doping the silicon structure in amorphous or polycrystalline form and/or doping the monocrystalline silicon region with a dopant, in particular with oxygen, in such a concentration that a solubility limit is exceeded. In a subsequent heat treatment, dopant precipitations are formed which either control grain growth in the polycrystalline silicon layer or prevent a propagation of crystal faults into a substrate in the monocrystalline silicon region. Such a contact can be used, in particular, as a buried strap in a DRAM trench cell.