Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method that includes forming a high k dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on the high k dielectric layer; patterning the high k dielectric layer and polysilicon layer to form first and second dummy gates in first and second field effect transistor (FET) regions, respectively; forming an inter-level dielectric (ILD); applying a first CMP process to the semiconductor substrate, exposing the first and second dummy gates; removing the polysilicon from the first dummy gate, resulting in a first gate trench; forming a first metal electrode in the first gate trench; applying a second CMP process; forming a mask covering the first FET region and exposing the second dummy gate; thereafter removing the polysilicon from the second dummy gate, resulting in a second gate trench; forming a second metal electrode in the second gate trench; and applying a third CMP process.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device includes alternately and repeatedly stacking sacrificial layers and insulating layers on a substrate, forming an active pattern penetrating the sacrificial layers and the insulating layers, continuously patterning the insulating layers and the sacrificial layers to form a trench, removing the sacrificial layers exposed in the trench to form recess regions exposing a sidewall of the active pattern, forming an information storage layer on the substrate, forming a gate conductive layer on the information storage layer, such that the gate conductive layer fills the recess regions and defines an empty region in the trench, the empty region being surrounded by the gate conductive layer, and performing an isotropic etch process with respect to the gate conductive layer to form gate electrodes in the recess regions, such that the gate electrodes are separated from each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip has a FinFET structure with three independently controllable FETs on a single fin. The three FETs are connected in parallel so that current will flow between a common source and a common drain if one or more of the three independently controllable FETs is turned on. The three independently controllable FETs may be used in logic gates.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; gates, spacers on both sides of the respective gates, and source and gain regions on both sides of the respective spacers, which are formed on the semiconductor substrate; lower contacts located on the respective source and gain regions and abutting outer-sidewalls of the spacers, with bottoms covering at least a portion of the respective source and gain regions; an inter-layer dielectric layer formed on the gates, the spacers, the source and gain regions, and the lower contacts, wherein the respective source and gain regions of each of the transistor structures are isolated from each other by the inter-layer dielectric layer; and upper contacts formed in the inter-layer dielectric layer and corresponding to the lower contacts. Methods for fabricating such a semiconductor device and for manufacturing contacts for semiconductor devices.

Abstract: It is intended to achieve a sufficiently-small SRAM cell area and a stable operation margin in a CMOS 6T-SRAM comprising a vertical transistor SGT. In a static type memory cell made up using six MOS transistors, each of the MOS transistor constituting the memory cell is formed on a planar silicon layer formed on a buried oxide film, to have a structure where a drain, a gate and a source are arranged in a vertical direction, wherein the gate is formed to surround a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. The planar silicon layer comprises a first active region having a first conductive type, and a second active region having a second conductive type. The first and second active regions are connected to each other through a silicide layer formed in a surface of the planar silicon layer to achieve an SRAM cell having a sufficiently-small area.

Abstract: A method of removing a hard mask during fabrication of semiconductor devices is provided. A protective layer, such as a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer or other dielectric layer, is formed over structures formed on a substrate, wherein spacers are formed alongside the structures. In an embodiment, the structures are gate electrodes having a hard mask formed thereon and the spacers are spacers formed alongside the gate electrodes. A photoresist layer is formed over the protective layer, and the photoresist layer may be patterned to remove a portion of the photoresist layer over portions of the protective layer. Thereafter, an etch-back process is performed, such that the protective layer adjacent to the spacers remains to substantially protect the spacers. The hard mask is then removed while the protective layer protects the spacers.

Abstract: A FinFET device and method for fabricating a FinFET device is disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a fin structure over the semiconductor substrate, the fin structure including a first material portion over the semiconductor substrate and a second material portion over the first material portion; forming a gate structure over a portion of the fin structure, such that the gate structure traverses the fin structure, thereby separating a source region and a drain region of the fin structure, wherein the source and drain regions of the fin structure define a channel therebetween; removing the second material portion from the source and drain regions of the fin structure; and after removing the second material portion, forming a third material portion in the source and drain regions of the fin structure.

Abstract: A method for providing self aligned contacts for a trench power MOSFET is disclosed. The method includes, etching trenches in a substrate through a mask of silicon nitride deposited on an oxide layer, forming a gate oxide layer on the walls of the trenches, applying polysilicon to fill the trenches and to cover the surface of the mask of silicon nitride, removing the polysilicon from the surface of the mask of silicon nitride and applying a photoresist mask to cover a location of a gate bus.

Abstract: Performance of P-channel transistors may be enhanced on the basis of an embedded strain-inducing semiconductor alloy by forming a gate electrode structure on the basis of a high-k dielectric material in combination with a metal-containing cap layer in order to obtain an undercut configuration of the gate electrode structure. Consequently, the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy may be formed on the basis of a sidewall spacer of minimum thickness in order to position the strain-inducing semiconductor material closer to a central area of the channel region.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes a forming plurality of trenches in a substrate to thereby define a fin structure for a FinFET device, forming a first region of a first insulating material within each of the trenches, wherein the as-deposited surface of the first insulating material is positioned below an upper surface of the fin, forming a layer of a second material that contacts the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material and overfills the trenches, performing at least one process operation to remove at least a portion of the layer of the second material from above the fin structure, and, after performing the at least one process operation, performing a second process operation to selectively remove the second material from above the first region of the first insulating material and thereby expose the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material.

Abstract: A layout method of junction diodes for preventing damage caused by plasma charge includes forming an active layer to form a plurality of active regions in a unit layout pattern; forming a gate layer to form a plurality of gate regions on the active regions; forming a first conductive type doping region in at least one of the plurality of active regions within a well layer where a second conductive type well region is formed to form a first conductive type active region; forming a second conductive type doping region in at least one of the plurality of active regions outside of the second conductive type well region to form a second conductive type active region; and forming a second conductive type doping region connected with the gate regions to form a junction diode in at least one active region between the first and second conductive type active regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first cells having a first cell height, and a plurality of second cells having a second cell height. Each of the first cells has a first MIS transistor of a first conductivity type, and a substrate contact region of a second conductivity type. Each of the second cells has a second MIS transistor of the first conductivity type, a power supply region of the first conductivity type, and a first extended region of the first conductivity type that is silicidated at a surface thereof. The first cell height is greater than the second cell height.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device with a superior charge holding characteristic in which highly-efficient writing is possible at low voltage, and to provide a manufacturing method thereof. The nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor film having a pair of impurity regions formed apart from each other and a channel formation region provided between the impurity regions; and a first insulating film, a charge accumulating layer, a second insulating film, and a conductive film functioning as a gate electrode layer which are provided over the channel formation region. In the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, a second barrier formed by the first insulating film against a charge of the charge accumulating layer is higher in energy than a first barrier formed by the first insulating film against a charge of the semiconductor film.

Abstract: A multi-gate transistor having a plurality of sidewall contacts and a fabrication method that includes forming a semiconductor fin on a semiconductor substrate and etching a trench within the semiconductor fin, depositing an oxide material within the etched trench, and etching the oxide material to form a dummy oxide layer along exposed walls within the etched trench; and forming a spacer dielectric layer along vertical sidewalls of the dummy oxide layer. The method further includes removing exposed dummy oxide layer in a channel region in the semiconductor fin and beneath the spacer dielectric layer, forming a high-k material liner along sidewalls of the channel region in the semiconductor fin, forming a metal gate stack within the etched trench, and forming a plurality of sidewall contacts within the semiconductor fin along adjacent sidewalls of the dummy oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET on a substrate, the first FET comprising a first interfacial oxide layer, and the second FET comprising a second interfacial oxide layer; encapsulating the first interfacial oxide layer of the first FET; and performing lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET, wherein the lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET converts a portion of the substrate located underneath the second FET into additional interfacial oxide.

Abstract: In a power semiconductor device and a method of forming a power semiconductor device, a thin layer of semiconductor substrate is left below the drift region of a semiconductor device. A power semiconductor device has an active region that includes the drift region and has top and bottom surfaces formed in a layer provided on a semiconductor substrate. A portion of the semiconductor substrate below the active region is removed to leave a thin layer of semiconductor substrate below the drift region. Electrical terminals are provided directly or indirectly to the top surface of the active region to allow a voltage to be applied laterally across the drift region.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device can include first transistors that include a first gate insulating layer having a first thickness and second transistors include a second gate insulating layer having a second thickness less than the first thickness. At least one of the transistors formed on the first or second gate insulating layers is directly over a dummy well.

Abstract: This invention provides a structure for low-voltage power supply in high-voltage devices or IC's made on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The structure comprises a heavily doped semiconductor region of the first conductivity type between, but not contacted with, two semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type. When the two semiconductor regions of the second conductivity type have reverse-biased voltage with respect to substrate, the depletion region of substrate reaches the heavily doped semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, the heavily doped semiconductor region of the first conductivity type constructs a terminal of low-voltage power supply and any one of the semiconductor region of the second conductivity type constructs another terminal. The heavily doped semiconductor region is used as one terminal of a primary low-voltage power supply and any other region is used as another terminal of it.

Abstract: A first semiconductor element portion for switching a first current includes a first channel surface having a first plane orientation. A first region of a semiconductor layer includes a first trench having the first channel surface. A first gate insulating film covers the first channel surface with a first thickness. A second semiconductor element portion for switching a second current smaller than the first current includes a second channel surface having a second plane orientation different from the first plane orientation. A second region of the semiconductor layer includes a second trench having the second channel surface. A second gate insulating film covers the second channel surface with a second thickness larger than the first thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit device having series-connected planar or non-planar field effect transistors (FETs) with integrated voltage equalization and a method of forming the device. The series-connected FETs comprise gates positioned along a semiconductor body to define the channel regions for the series-connected FETs. Source/drain regions are located within the semiconductor body on opposing sides of the channel regions such that each portion of the semiconductor body between adjacent gates comprises one source/drain region for one field effect transistor abutting another source/drain region for another field effect transistor. Integrated voltage equalization is achieved through a conformal conductive layer having a desired resistance and positioned over the series-connected FETs such that it is electrically isolated from the gates, but in contact with the source/drain regions within the semiconductor body.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing a low voltage high density multi-bit storage flash memory. A dual bit memory cell of the invention comprises a substrate having a common source, a first drain and first channel, and a second drain and a second channel. A common control gate is located above the source. A first floating gate and a second floating gate are located on opposite sides of the control gate. Each floating gate is formed with a sharp tip adjacent to the control gate and an upper curved surface that follows a contour of the surface of the control gate. The sharp tips of the floating gates efficiently discharge electrons into the control gate when the memory cell is erased. The curved surfaces increase capacitor coupling between the control gate and the floating gates.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing thereof, the device includes a substrate of single-crystal semiconductor material extending in a horizontal direction and a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers on the substrate. A plurality of gate patterns are provided, each gate pattern being between a neighboring lower interlayer dielectric layer and a neighboring upper interlayer dielectric layer. A vertical channel of single-crystal semiconductor material extends in a vertical direction through the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the plurality to of gate patterns, a gate insulating layer being between each gate pattern and the vertical channel that insulates the gate pattern from the vertical channel.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (DMOS) device and a manufacturing method thereof. The DMOS device includes: an isolation structure for defining device regions; a gate with a ring-shaped structure; a drain located outside the ring; and a lightly doped drain, a source, and a body electrode located inside the ring. To increase the sub-threshold voltage at the corners of the gate, the corners are located completely on the isolation structure, or the lightly doped drain is apart from the corners by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: By recessing portions of the drain and source areas on the basis of a spacer structure, the subsequent implantation process for forming the deep drain and source regions may result in a moderately high dopant concentration extending down to the buried insulating layer of an SOI transistor. Furthermore, the spacer structure maintains a significant amount of a strained semiconductor alloy with its original thickness, thereby providing an efficient strain-inducing mechanism. By using sophisticated anneal techniques, undue lateral diffusion may be avoided, thereby allowing a reduction of the lateral width of the respective spacers and thus a reduction of the length of the transistor devices. Hence, enhanced charge carrier mobility in combination with reduced junction capacitance may be accomplished on the basis of reduced lateral dimensions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a MOS transistor that comprises a dual-metal gate that is formed from heterotypical metals. A gate dielectric (34), such as HfO2, is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial layer (35), is next deposited over the gate dielectric. The sacrificial layer is patterned so that the gate dielectric over a first (pMOS, for example) area (32) of the substrate is exposed and gate dielectric over a second (nMOS, for example) area (33) of the substrate continues to be protected by the sacrificial layer. A first gate conductor material (51) is deposited over the remaining sacrificial area and over the exposed gate dielectric. The first gate conductor material is patterned so that first gate conductor material over the second area of the substrate is etched away. The sacrificial layer over the second area prevents damage to the underlying dielectric material as the first gate conductor material is removed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first transistor including a first gate electrode, a first diffusion region, and a second diffusion region respectively formed above the semiconductor substrate, second transistor including a second gate electrode, the first diffusion region, and a third diffusion region respectively formed above the semiconductor substrate, and a node electrode formed above the first diffusion layer, and coupled thereto. The first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are formed separately at respective side walls of the node electrode.

Abstract: In a method of making a semiconductor device, a first gate stack is formed on a substrate at a pFET region, which includes a first gate electrode material. The source/drain regions of the substrate are etched at the pFET region and the first gate electrode material of the first gate stack is etched at the pFET region. The etching is at least partially selective against etching oxide and/or nitride materials so that the nFET region is shielded by a nitride layer (and/or a first oxide layer) and so that the spacer structure of the pFET region at least partially remains. Source/drain recesses are formed and at least part of the first gate electrode material is removed by the etching to form a gate electrode recess at the pFET region. A SiGe material is epitaxially grown in the source/drain recesses and in the gate electrode recess at the pFET region. The SMT effect is achieved from the same nitride nFETs mask.

Abstract: A SiC semiconductor device having a MOS structure includes: a SiC substrate; a channel region providing a current path; first and second impurity regions on upstream and downstream sides of the current path, respectively; and a gate on the channel region through the gate insulating film. The channel region for flowing current between the first and second impurity regions is controlled by a voltage applied to the gate. An interface between the channel region and the gate insulating film has a hydrogen concentration equal to or greater than 4.7×1020 cm?3. The interface provides a channel surface having a (000-1)-orientation surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate; and a second transistor formed above the semiconductor substrate with an insulation film interposed therebetween. The first transistor includes a first body region formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a first source region and a first drain region formed so as to sandwich the first body region, the second transistor includes a semiconductor layer formed on the insulation film, a second body region formed in a part of the semiconductor layer, a second source region and a second drain region formed so as to sandwich the second body region in the semiconductor layer, agate insulation film formed on the body region of the semiconductor layer, and agate electrode formed on the gate insulation film, and the second drain region is disposed on the first body region.

Abstract: An electronic device including an integrated circuit can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, and a vertical conductive structure extending through the semiconductor layer and electrically connected to the buried conductive region. The integrated circuit can further include a doped structure having an opposite conductivity type as compared to the buried conductive region, lying closer to an opposing surface than to a primary surface of the semiconductor layer, and being electrically connected to the buried conductive region. The integrated circuit can also include a well region that includes a portion of the semiconductor layer, wherein the portion overlies the doped structure and has a lower dopant concentration as compared to the doped structure. In other embodiment, the doped structure can be spaced apart from the buried conductive region.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor having a stacked structure in a peripheral circuit region to increase net die and forming a metal silicide layer over a source/drain region of a transistor formed over an upper layer to reduce a contact resistance. The semiconductor device may include: a second active region including a silicon layer connected to a first active region of a semiconductor substrate; a gate formed over the second active region; a spacer formed on sidewalls of the gate; a source/drain region form at both sides of the spacer; and a metal silicide layer formed over the gate and the source/drain region.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a transistor. An exemplary method involves depositing an oxide layer overlying a layer of semiconductor material, forming an oxygen-diffusion barrier layer overlying the oxide layer, forming a layer of high-k dielectric material overlying the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer, forming a layer of conductive material overlying the layer of high-k dielectric material, selectively removing portions of the layer of conductive material, the layer of high-k dielectric material, the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer, and the oxide layer to form a gate stack, and forming source and drain regions about the gate stack. When the conductive material is an oxygen-gettering conductive material, the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer prevents diffusion of oxygen from the deposited oxide layer to the oxygen-gettering conductive material.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes providing a semiconductor substrate including at least a thin gate oxide pFET device region and a thick gate oxide pFET device region and forming a thin gate oxide pFET within the thin gate oxide pFET device region and a thick gate oxide pFET within the thick gate oxide pFET device region. The thin gate oxide pFET that is formed includes a layer of SiGe on an upper surface of the thin gate oxide pFET device region, a high k gate dielectric located on an upper surface of the layer of SiGe, a pFET threshold voltage adjusting layer located on an upper surface of the high k gate dielectric, and a gate conductor material atop the pFET threshold voltage adjusting layer. The thick gate oxide pFET that is formed includes a thermal oxide located on an upper surface of the thick gate oxide pFET device region, a silicon layer located on an upper surface of the thermal oxide and a gate conductor material located atop the silicon layer.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. A method comprises forming a layer of a first semiconductor material overlying the bulk substrate and forming a layer of a second semiconductor material overlying the layer of the first semiconductor material. The method further comprises creating a fin pattern mask on the layer of the second semiconductor material and anisotropically etching the layer of the second semiconductor material and the layer of the first semiconductor material using the fin pattern mask as an etch mask. The anisotropic etching results in a fin formed from the second semiconductor material and an exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin. The method further comprises forming an isolation layer in the exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include apparatuses and methods relating to NMOS and PMOS transistor strain.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a memory block including a transistor region and a memory region. A variable resistance layer of the memory region acts as a gate insulating layer in the transistor region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed, the method comprises including: forming etching an oxide layer to form a pattern of parallel oxide bars on a substrate; forming nitride spacers on side walls of the parallel oxide bars, with gaps remaining between adjacent nitride spacers; forming silicon pillars in the gaps; removing the nitride spacers to form a plurality of fin bodies; forming an isolation region in between each of the fin bodies; and coating the plurality of fin bodies, the nitride spacers, and the isolation regions with a protective film.

Abstract: A vertical structure is formed upon a semiconductor substrate. The vertical structure comprises four dielectric layers parallel to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and three conducting layers, one conducting layer between each vertically adjacent dielectric layer. A first FET (field effect transistor) and a third FET are arranged parallel to the top surface of the semiconductor and a second FET is arranged orthogonal to the top surface of the semiconductor. All three FETs are independently controllable. The first conducting layer is a gate electrode of the first FET; the second conducting layer is a gate electrode of the second FET, and the third conducting layer is the gate electrode of the third FET.

Abstract: An semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a semiconductor body, a layer of insulating material disposed over the semiconductor body, and a region of gate electrode material disposed over the layer of insulating material. Also included are a source region adjacent to gate region and a drain region adjacent to the gate region. A gate connection is disposed over the semiconductor body, wherein the gate connection includes a region of gate electrode material electrically coupling a contact region to the gate electrode. An insulating region is disposed on the semiconductor body beneath the gate connection.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for manufacturing a one-time programmable (OTP) memory includes a first and second MOS transistors connected in parallel and controlled by a common gate formed with a single polysilicon stripe. The method further comprises a step of implanting a drift region in a substrate region below a drain and source of the first and second MOS transistors counter doping a lightly dope drain (LDD) encompassing and surrounding a drain and a source of the first MOS transistor having a different threshold voltage than the second MOS transistor not reached by the drift region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for making metal gate stacks of a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a high k dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a conductive material layer on the high k dielectric material layer; forming a dummy gate in a n-type field-effect transistor (nFET) region and a second dummy gate in a pFET region employing polysilicon; forming an inter-level dielectric (ILD) material on the semiconductor substrate; applying a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process to the semiconductor substrate; removing the polysilicon from the first dummy gate, resulting in a first gate trench; forming a n-type metal to the first gate trench; applying a second CMP process to the semiconductor substrate; removing the polysilicon from the second dummy gate, resulting in a second gate trench; forming a p-type metal to the second gate trench; and applying a third CMP process to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; gates, spacers on both sides of the respective gates, and source and gain regions on both sides of the respective spacers, which are formed on the semiconductor substrate; lower contacts located on the respective source and gain regions and abutting outer-sidewalls of the spacers, with bottoms covering at least a portion of the respective source and gain regions; an inter-layer dielectric layer formed on the gates, the spacers, the source and gain regions, and the lower contacts, wherein the respective source and gain regions of each of the transistor structures are isolated from each other by the inter-layer dielectric layer; and upper contacts formed in the inter-layer dielectric layer and corresponding to the lower contacts. Methods for fabricating such a semiconductor device and for manufacturing contacts for semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device supported on a semiconductor substrate that includes a plurality of transistor cells, each cell has a source and a drain region disposed on opposite sides of a gate region in the semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode is formed as an electrode layer on top of the gate region for controlling an electric current transmitted between the source and the drain regions. The gate electrode layer disposed on top of the semiconductor substrate is patterned into a wave-like shaped stripes for substantially increasing an electric current conduction area between the source and drain regions across the gate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices begins by providing or fabricating a device structure that includes a semiconductor material and a plurality of gate structures formed overlying the semiconductor material. The method continues by creating light dose extension implants in the semiconductor material by bombarding the device structure with ions at a non-tilted angle relative to an exposed surface of the semiconductor material. During this step, the plurality of gate structures are used as a first implantation mask. The method continues by forming a patterned mask overlying the semiconductor material, the patterned mask being arranged to protect shared drain regions of the semiconductor material and to leave shared source regions of the semiconductor material substantially exposed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device having a transistor. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, and a channel region that are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The channel region is disposed between the source and drain regions. The transistor includes a first gate that is disposed over the channel region. The transistor includes a plurality of second gates that are disposed over the drain region.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a semiconductor device comprises a substrate with a plurality of isolation structures formed therein, defining first and second areas over the substrate. A transistor is formed on a portion of the substrate in the first and second areas, respectively, wherein the transistor in the second area is formed with merely a pocket doping region in the substrate adjacent to a drain region thereof. A first dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, covering the transistor formed in the first and second areas. A plurality of first contact plugs is formed through the first dielectric layer, electrically connecting a source region and a drain region of the transistor in the second area, respectively. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer with a capacitor formed therein, wherein the capacitor electrically connects one of the first contact plugs.

Abstract: More complete charge transfer is achieved in a CMOS or CCD imager by reducing the spacing in the gaps between gates in each pixel cell, and/or by providing a lightly doped region between adjacent gates in each pixel cell, and particularly at least between the charge collecting gate and the gate downstream to the charge collecting gate. To reduce the gaps between gates, an insulator cap with spacers on its sidewalls is formed for each gate over a conductive layer. The gates are then etched from the conductive layer using the insulator caps and spacers as hard masks, enabling the gates to be formed significantly closer together than previously possible, which, in turn increases charge transfer efficiency. By providing a lightly doped region on between adjacent gates, a more complete charge transfer is effected from the charge collecting gate.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor element structure is provided. First, a substrate including a first MOS and a second MOS is provided. The gate electrode of the first MOS is connected to the gate electrode of the second MOS, wherein the first MOS includes a first high-K material and a first metal for use in a first gate, and a second MOS includes a second high-K material and a second metal for use in a second gate. Then the first gate and the second gate are partially removed to form a connecting recess. Afterwards, the connecting recess is filled with a conductive material to form a bridge channel for electrically connecting the first metal and the second metal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes N plane-like metal layers. A first plane-like metal layer includes M contact portions that communicate with the N plane-like metal layers, respectively. The first plane-like metal layer and the N plane-like metal layers are located separate planes. First and second drain regions have a symmetric shape across at least one of horizontal and vertical centerlines. First and second gate regions have a first shape that surrounds the first and second drain regions, respectively. First and second source regions are arranged adjacent to and on one side of the first gate region, the second gate region and the connecting region. The first source region, the second source region, the first drain region and the second drain region communicate with at least two of the N plane-like metal layers.

Abstract: A memory array with data/bit lines extending generally in a first direction formed in an upper surface of a substrate and access transistors extending generally upward and aligned generally atop a corresponding data/bit line. The access transistors have a pillar extending generally upward with a source region formed so as to be in electrical communication with the corresponding data/bit line and a drain region formed generally at an upper portion of the pillar and a surround gate structure substantially completely encompassing the pillar in lateral directions and extending substantially the entire vertical extent of the pillar and word lines extending generally in a second direction and in electrical contact with a corresponding surround gate structure at least a first surface thereof such that bias voltage applied to a given word line is communicated substantially uniformly in a laterally symmetric extent about the corresponding pillar via the surround gate structure.