Abstract: In an embodiment, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device may include a first diffusion region, a second diffusion region an active region disposed between the first diffusion region and the second diffusion region, a control region disposed above the active region, a first trench isolation disposed laterally adjacent to the first diffusion region opposite to the active region, and a second trench isolation disposed between the second diffusion region and the active region. The second trench isolation may have a smaller depth than the first trench isolation.

Abstract: A method and structures are provided for implementing decoupling capacitors with hot spot thermal reduction on integrated circuit chips including silicon-on-insulator (SOI) circuits. A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure includes a silicon substrate layer, a thin buried oxide (BOX) layer carried by the silicon substrate layer, and an active layer carried by the thin BOX layer. A thermal conductive path is built proximate to a hotspot area in the active layer to reduce thermal effects including a backside thermal connection from a backside of the SOI structure. The backside thermal connection includes a backside etched opening extending from the backside of the SOI structure into the silicon substrate layer, a capacitor dielectric formed on said backside etched opening; and a thermal connection material deposited on said capacitor dielectric filling said backside etched opening.

Abstract: A method for initializing a ferroelectric memory device is provided. The method includes the steps of: packaging a ferroelectric memory device having memory cells arranged in an array, each of the memory cells having a ferroelectric film disposed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode; applying a potential between the lower electrode and the upper electrode in an examination step; and after the examination step, applying a first potential to the upper electrode and applying a second voltage higher than the first potential to the lower electrode, and thereafter conducting a heat treatment at a first temperature higher than an operation guarantee temperature.

Abstract: A link portion between a first electrode and a second electrode includes a semiconductor link portion and a metal semiconductor alloy link portion comprising a first metal semiconductor alloy. An electrical pulse converts the entirety of the link portion into a second metal semiconductor alloy having a lower concentration of metal than the first metal semiconductor alloy. Due to the stoichiometric differences between the first and second metal semiconductor alloys, the link portion has a higher resistance after programming than prior to programming. The shift in electrical resistance well controlled, which is advantageously employed to as a programmable precision resistor.

Abstract: A discrete semiconductor device has a substrate with a first conductivity type of semiconductor material. A first semiconductor layer is formed over the substrate. The first semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type of semiconductor material. A second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer has a second conductivity type of semiconductor material. A trench is formed through the second semiconductor layer and extends into the second semiconductor layer. The trench has a rounded or polygonal shape and vertical sidewalls. The trench is lined with an insulating layer and filled with an insulating material. A boundary between the first and second semiconductor layers forms a p-n junction. The trench surrounds the p-n junction to terminate the electric field of a voltage imposed on the second semiconductor layer. The discrete semiconductor device can also be a transistor, thyristor, triac, or transient voltage suppressor.

Abstract: Germanium on insulator (GOI) semiconductor substrates are generally described. In one example, a GOI semiconductor substrate comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising an insulative surface region wherein a concentration of dopant in the insulative surface region is less than a concentration of dopant in the semiconductor substrate outside of the insulative surface region and a thin film of germanium coupled to the insulative surface region of the semiconductor substrate wherein the thin film of germanium and the insulative surface region are simultaneously formed by oxidation anneal of a thin film of silicon germanium (Si1-xGex) deposited to the semiconductor substrate wherein x is a value between 0 and 1 that provides a relative amount of silicon and germanium in the thin film of Si1-xGex.

Abstract: IC and design structure including various ways of raising a passive element such as an inductor off the surface of the substrate to improve the performance of the passive element are presented. A first wafer may be provided, and passive elements diced from a second wafer. The passive elements are flipped, and then aligned to be bonded on the first wafer such that the passive elements are raised a distance off the first wafer because of the presence of chip connections such as C4 solder bumps. A gap between the passive elements and the first wafer can be filled with underfill or air. If air is used, a hermetic seal around the gap can be created using chip connections such as C4 solder bumps or other known bonding means to seal the gap.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit is provided that includes a short channel device, and a long channel device that is electrically isolated from the short channel device. The long channel device comprises a plurality of first gate electrodes, a first source region adjacent one of the plurality of first gate electrodes, a first drain region adjacent another of the plurality of first gate electrodes, and a plurality of common source/drain regions positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of first gate electrodes. The first gate electrodes each overlie portions of a layer of high-dielectric constant (k) gate insulator material. Each of the first gate electrodes are electrically coupled to at least one of the other first gate electrodes.

Abstract: It is made possible to provide a spin MOSFET that can minimize the increase in production costs and can perform both spin injection writing and reading. A spin MOSFET includes: a substrate that has a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; first and second ferromagnetic stacked films that are formed at a distance from each other on the semiconductor region, and each have the same stacked structure comprising a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked in this order, the second ferromagnetic stacked film having a film-plane area different from that of the first ferromagnetic stacked film; a gate insulating film that is formed on a portion of the semiconductor region, the portion being located between the first ferromagnetic stacked film and the second ferromagnetic stacked film; and a gate that is formed on the gate insulating film.

Abstract: An integrated circuit on a substrate comprises a buffer capacitor in a buffer region. The buffer capacitor comprises a buffer electrode arranged at least partially in a recess, and a dielectric layer disposed between the buffer electrode and the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip includes: a continuous first stress ring proximate to a perimeter of the integrated circuit chip, respective edges of the first stress ring parallel to respective edges of the integrated circuit chip; a continuous second stress ring between the first stress ring and the perimeter of the integrated circuit chip, respective edges the second stress ring parallel to respective edges of the integrated circuit chip, the first and second stress rings having opposite internal stresses; a continuous gap between the first stress ring and the second stress ring; and a set of wiring levels from a first wiring level to a last wiring level on the substrate.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. One exemplary method comprises providing a silicon-comprising substrate having a first surface, etching a recess into the first surface, the recess having a side surface and a bottom surface, implanting carbon ions into the side surface and the bottom surface, and forming an impurity-doped, silicon-comprising region overlying the side surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes the steps of: successively forming, on a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating film and first and second dummy sections stacked in this order; forming a notch section by processing the gate insulating film and the first and second dummy gate sections into a previously set pattern and making the first dummy gate section move back in the gate length direction relative to the second dummy gate section; forming a side wall of an insulating material in a side part of each of the gate insulating film and the first and second dummy gate sections and embedding the notch section therewith; removing the first and second dummy gate sections to leave the gate insulating film and the notch section in the bottom of a removed portion; and forming a gate electrode made of a conductive material by embedding the removed portion with the conductive material.

Abstract: A layer structure and process for providing sublithographic structures are provided. A first auxiliary layer is formed over a surface of a carrier layer. A lithographically patterned second auxiliary layer structure is formed on a surface of the first auxiliary layer. The first auxiliary layer is anisotropically etched using the patterned second auxiliary layer structure as mask to form an anisotropically patterned first auxiliary layer structure. The anisotropically patterned first auxiliary layer structure is isotropically etched back using the patterned second auxiliary layer structure to remove subsections below the second auxiliary layer structure and to form an isotropically patterned first auxiliary layer structure. A mask layer is formed over the carrier layer including the subsections beneath the second auxiliary layer structure and is anisotropically etched down to the carrier layer to form the sublithographic structures.

Abstract: A shielded gate trench field effect transistor (FET) comprises trenches extending into a semiconductor region. A shield electrode is disposed in a bottom portion of each trench. The shield electrode is insulated from the semiconductor region by a shield dielectric. A gate electrode is disposed in each trench over the shield electrode, and an inter-electrode dielectric (IED) comprising a low-k dielectric extends between the shield electrode and the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a substrate region. The method also includes forming a pad oxide layer overlying the substrate region. The method additionally includes forming a stop layer overlying the pad oxide layer. Furthermore, the method includes patterning the stop layer and the pad oxide layer to expose a portion of the substrate region. In addition, the method includes forming a trench within an exposed portion of the substrate region, the trench having sidewalls and a bottom and a height. Also, the method includes depositing alternating layers of oxide and silicon nitride to at least fill the trench, the oxide being deposited by an HDP-CVD process. The method additionally includes performing a planarization process to remove a portion of the silicon nitride and oxide layers. In addition, the method includes removing the pad oxide and stop layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has: a substrate; a basic logic cell placed on the substrate and configured to function as a part of a logic circuit; and a dummy cell placed on the substrate and not configured to function as a part of a logic circuit. The basic logic cell includes a diffusion layer formed in the substrate, and a distance from the diffusion layer to a boundary between the basic logic cell and another cell adjacent to the basic logic cell is equal to a first distance. The dummy cell includes a dummy diffusion layer that is a diffusion layer formed in the substrate, and a distance from the dummy diffusion layer to a boundary between the dummy cell and another cell adjacent to the dummy cell is equal to the first distance.

Abstract: A memory system is disclosed that includes a set of non-volatile storage elements. A given memory cell has a dielectric cap above the floating gate. In one embodiment, the dielectric cap resides between the floating gate and a conformal IPD layer. The dielectric cap reduces the leakage current between the floating gate and a control gate. The dielectric cap achieves this reduction by reducing the strength of the electric field at the top of the floating gate, which is where the electric field would be strongest without the dielectric cap for a floating gate having a narrow stem.

Abstract: To facilitate counting of memory cells in failure analysis, without limiting the arrangement of memory cells or increasing the number of processes. A memory cell array region 3 in which memory cells 3a are formed in a repetitive pattern is formed on a semiconductor substrate 2. Power supply wirings 4a and ground wirings 4b in a predetermined layer formed on the memory cell array region 3 are vertically and horizontally arranged in the form of a gird to correspond to the arrangement of the memory cells 3a at least in the memory cell array region 3.

Abstract: A parallel plate capacitor formed in the back end of an integrated circuit employs conductive capacitor plates that are formed simultaneously with the other interconnects on that level of the back end (having the same material, thickness, etc). The capacitor plates are set into the interlevel dielectric using the same process as the other interconnects on that level of the back end (preferably dual damascene). Some versions of the capacitors have perforations in the plates and vertical conductive members connecting all plates of the same polarity, thereby increasing reliability, saving space and increasing the capacitive density compared with solid plates.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) fabrication technique is provided for isolating very high voltage (1000 s of volts) circuitry and low voltage circuitry formed on the same semiconductor die. Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology is combined with a pair of adjacent backside high voltage isolation trenches that are fabricated to be wide enough to stand off voltages in excess of 1000V. The lateral trench is fabricated at two levels: the active silicon level and at the wafer backside in the SOI bulk.

Abstract: Back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structures that include an on-chip inductor and an on-chip capacitor, as well as design structures for a radiofrequency integrated circuit. The on-chip inductor and an on-chip capacitor, which are fabricated as conductive features in different metallization levels, are vertically aligned with each other. The on-chip capacitor, which is located between the on-chip inductor and the substrate, may serve as a Faraday shield for the on-chip inductor. Optionally, the BEOL wiring structure may include an optional Faraday shield located vertically either between the on-chip capacitor and the on-chip inductor, or between the on-chip capacitor and the top surface of the substrate. The BEOL wiring structure may include at least one floating electrode capable of being selectively coupled with the electrodes of the on-chip capacitor to permit tuning, during circuit operation, of a resonance frequency of an LC resonator that further includes the on-chip inductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure, a fabrication method, and a design structure for a FinFet. The FinFet includes a dielectric layer, a central semiconductor fin region on the dielectric layer, a first semiconductor seed region on the dielectric layer, and a first strain creating fin region. The first semiconductor seed region is sandwiched between the first strain creating fin region and the dielectric layer. The first semiconductor seed region includes a first semiconductor material. The first strain creating fin region includes the first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material different than the first semiconductor material. A first atom percent of the first semiconductor material in the first semiconductor seed region is different than a second atom percent of the first semiconductor material in the first strain creating fin region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure, a fabrication method, and a design structure of the same. The semiconductor structure includes (i) a semiconductor substrate which includes a top substrate surface perpendicular to the top substrate surface, (ii) a control gate electrode region and a first semiconductor body region on the semiconductor substrate, and (iii) a second semiconductor body region on the first semiconductor body region. The semiconductor structure further includes (i) a first gate dielectric region sandwiched between the first semiconductor body region and the control gate electrode region and (ii) a second gate dielectric region sandwiched between the second semiconductor body region and the control gate electrode region. The second semiconductor body region overlaps the first semiconductor body region in the reference direction. A first thickness of the first gate dielectric region is different from a second thickness of the second gate dielectric region.

Abstract: A semiconductor package comprises an integrated radio frequency circuit that may be provided in a semiconductor die. A ground plane may be attached to the semiconductor die. The ground plane is selectively patterned in a direction that is perpendicular to an inductor trace of an inductor of the radio frequency circuit. In some embodiments, the ground plane may be selectively patterned to allow an eddy current in the semiconductor package not to flow in opposite direction of a main current in the inductor. In one example, the ground plane may be a portion of the semiconductor package substrate or a die back metallization of the semiconductor die.

Abstract: An ESD protection structure includes, in part, a NMOS transistor having a source and drain in a well in a substrate and a gate on the substrate with the source and drain being connected between ground and a series diode, and the gate being connected to ground. The structure further includes a diode having a cathode connected to the input pad and an anode connected to the well so that the diode is reverse-biased in the event of a positive voltage ESD event on the input pad. As a result, in a positive voltage ESD event, the avalanche effect rapidly injects current into the substrate and therefore into the base of the parasitic bipolar transistor so as to trigger the transistor into conduction and discharge the ESD pulse. Alternatively, the diode is a Zener diode and the current is generated by the Zener effect. A complementary structure provides protection against a negative ESD pulse.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure which includes a trench gate FET is formed as follows. A plurality of trenches is formed in a semiconductor region using a mask. The mask includes (i) a first insulating layer over a surface of the semiconductor region, (ii) a first oxidation barrier layer over the first insulating layer, and (iii) a second insulating layer over the first oxidation barrier layer. A thick bottom dielectric (TBD) is formed along the bottom of each trench. The first oxidation barrier layer prevents formation of a dielectric layer along the surface of the semiconductor region during formation of the TBD.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a field electrode and method. One embodiment provides a controllable semiconductor device including a control electrode for controlling the semiconductor device and a field electrode. The field electrode includes a number of longish segments which extend in a first lateral direction and which run substantially parallel to one another. The control electrode includes a number of longish segments extending in a second lateral direction and running substantially parallel to one another, wherein the first lateral direction is different from the second lateral direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a programming circuit that includes an active device and a programmable electronic component. The programmable electronic component includes a carbon nanotube having a segment with an adjusted diameter. The programmable electronic component has a value that depends upon the adjusted diameter. The programming circuit also includes interconnects that couple the active device to the programmable electronic component. The active device is configured to control a current transmitted to the programmable electronic component.

Abstract: Methods of forming isolation trenches, semiconductor devices, structures thereof, and methods of operating memory arrays are disclosed. In one embodiment, an isolation trench includes a recess disposed in a workpiece. A conductive material is disposed in a lower portion of the channel. An insulating material is disposed in an upper portion of the recess over the conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrostatic discharging (ESD) device includes forming a first and a second semiconductor fin over a substrate and adjacent to each other; epitaxially growing a semiconductor material on the first and the second semiconductor fins, wherein a first portion of the semiconductor material grown from the first semiconductor fin joins a second portion of the semiconductor material grown from the second semiconductor fin; and implanting a first end and a second end of the semiconductor material and first end portions of the first and the second semiconductor fins to form a first and a second implant region, respectively. A P-N junction is formed between the first end and the second end of the semiconductor material. The P-N junction is a junction of an ESD diode, or a junction in an NPN or a PNP BJT.

Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a memory device, comprising: a substrate; a gate stack disposed over the substrate, the gate stack comprising a charge storage layer and a high-k dielectric layer; and a cover layer disposed over at least the sidewall surfaces of the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.

Abstract: A resistive random access memory (RRAM) includes a switch region formed of a material having bi-polar properties; and a memory resistor formed of a material having uni-polar properties. The RRAM further includes a lower electrode formed below the switch region; an upper electrode formed on the memory resistor; and an intermediate electrode formed between the switch region and the memory resistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with stress enhanced channels, a design structure and a method of manufacturing the integrated circuit is provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate structure on a substrate and forming a trench in the dummy gate structure. The method further includes filling a portion of the trench with a strain inducing material and filling a remaining portion of the trench with gate material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device that includes at least one semiconductor Fin structure atop the surface of a substrate; the semiconducting fin structure including a channel of a first conductivity type and source/drain regions of a second conductivity type, the source/drain regions present at each end of the semiconductor fin structure; a gate structure immediately adjacent to the semiconductor fin structure, a dielectric spacer abutting each sidewall of the gate structure wherein the each end of the fin structure extends a dimension that is less than about ¼ a length of the Si-containing fin structure from a sidewall of the dielectric spacer; and a semiconductor region to the each end of the semiconductor fin structure, wherein the semiconductor region to the each end of the semiconductor fin structure is separated from the gate structure by the dielectric spacer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) having a symmetrical layout such that the resistance between drains and sources is reduced, thereby reducing power dissipation. Drain pads, source pads, and gates are placed on the MOSFET such that the distances -between drains, sources, and gates are optimized to reduce resistance and power dissipation. The gates may be arranged in a trapezoidal arrangement in order to maximize a ratio of the gate widths to gate lengths for current driving while reducing resistance and power dissipation.

Abstract: A deep trench capacitor includes a trench having walls and a floor. The deep trench capacitor also includes a layer of gate oxide on the walls and floor. Gate polysilicon is deposited over the gate oxide.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having a substrate on which first and second active regions are defined. The first active region comprises a first transistor and the second active region comprises a second transistor having a first type stress. A barrier layer is provided over the substrate to reduce outdiffusion of dopants in the first active region.

Abstract: A programmable device including a source-drain-gate structure. The device includes two programming electrodes and an antiferromagnetic multiferroic material between the two programming electrodes for switching the spontaneous polarization between a first spontaneous polarization direction and a second spontaneous polarization direction. The programmable device further includes a ferromagnetic material, which is in immediate contact with the multiferroic material. Magnetization of the ferromagnetic material is switchable by a transition between the first switching state and the second switching state of the multiferroic material by an exchange coupling between electronic states of the multiferroic material and the ferromagnetic material. The programmable device also includes means for determining a direction of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic material. A spin valve effect is used for causing an electrical resistance between the source and the drain electrode.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) with localized SiGe embedded in a substrate and a method of manufacturing the IC is provided. The method includes forming recesses in a substrate on each side of a gate structure and remote from a shallow trench isolation structure. The method further includes growing a stress material within the recesses such that the stress material is bounded on its side only by the substrate.

Abstract: Methods of isolating gates in a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, isolation is achieved using a spacer material in combination with fins having substantially vertical sidewalls. In another embodiment, etch characteristics of various materials utilized in fabrication of the semiconductor structure are used to increase the effective gate length (“Leffective”) and the field gate oxide. In yet another embodiment, a V-shaped trench is formed in the semiconductor structure to increase the Leffective and the field gate oxide. Semiconductor structures formed by these methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. Metal electrodes may be disposed on a dielectric containing a hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an array of transistors and wordlines, where individual wordlines are coupled to a number of the transistors. Conductive structures that are insulated from the wordlines are disposed in a layer beneath the wordlines and are arranged between the transistors.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inorganic substrate coated with a thin silica type glass layer of 2 H to 9 H pencil hardness, said method comprising the steps of: coating an inorganic substrate with a cyclic dihydrogenpolysiloxane and/or a hydrogenpolysiloxane represented by a specific unit formula, and curing it; an inorganic substrate coated with a thin silica type glass layer; a coating agent for an inorganic substrate that is composed of a cyclic dihydrogenpolysiloxane and/or a hydrogenpolysiloxane represented by a specific unit formula; and a semiconductor device having an inorganic substrate coated with a thin silica type glass layer.

Abstract: A device in one embodiment includes a plurality of tunnel junction resistors coupled in series; a first lead coupled to one end of the plurality of tunnel junction resistors coupled in series; and a second lead coupled to another end of the plurality of tunnel junction resistors coupled in series. A device in another embodiment includes a magnetoresistive sensor; a plurality of tunnel junction resistors coupled in series; a first lead coupling one end of the magnetoresistive sensor to one end of the plurality of tunnel junction resistors coupled in series; and a second lead coupling another end of the magnetoresistive sensor to another end of the plurality of tunnel junction resistors coupled in series.

Abstract: A method for forming silicide contacts in integrated circuits (ICs) is described. A spacer pull-back etch is performed during the salicidation process to reduce the stress between the spacer and source/drain silicide contact at the spacer undercut. This prevents the propagation of surface defects into the substrate, thereby minimizing the occurrence of silicide pipe defects. The spacer pull-back etch can be performed after a first annealing step to form the silicide contacts.

Abstract: A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes a high resistivity substrate and a buried inductor formed directly in the high resistivity substrate and devoid of an insulating layer therebetween.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a MOSFET (e.g., a PMOS FET) includes providing a semiconductor substrate having surface characterized by a (110) surface orientation or (110) sidewall surfaces, forming a gate structure on the surface, and forming a source extension and a drain extension in the semiconductor substrate asymmetrically positioned with respect to the gate structure. An ion implantation process is performed at a non-zero tilt angle. At least one spacer and the gate electrode mask a portion of the surface during the ion implantation process such that the source extension and drain extension are asymmetrically positioned with respect to the gate structure by an asymmetry measure.

Abstract: Programmable devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of programming devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a programmable device includes a link and at least one first contact coupled to a first end of the link. The at least one first contact is adjacent a portion of a top surface of the link and at least one sidewall of the link. The programmable device includes at least one second contact coupled to a second end of the link. The at least one second contact is adjacent a portion of the top surface of the link and at least one sidewall of the link.