Abstract: Semiconductor devices including structures of active region are disclosed. An example semiconductor device according to the disclosure includes a substrate, a layer on the substrate and a dielectric layer on the layer. The layer includes an interface in contact with the dielectric layer. The interface includes a first portion on a surface of the layer and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion.

Abstract: The present application discloses a semiconductor chip, a semiconductor device and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection method for a semiconductor device. The semiconductor chip includes an electrical contact, an application circuit, and an ESD protection unit. The application circuit performs operations according to a one signal received by the electrical contact. The ESD protection unit is coupled to the electrical contact. The capacitance of the ESD protection unit is adjustable.

Abstract: A method of detecting threshold voltage shift and a threshold voltage shift detection device are provided. The method is applied to a pixel driving circuit which I is electrically coupled to a control line, a voltage line and a detection node, respectively. The method includes: in a detection cycle including a setting phase and a detection phase, in the setting phase, controlling a transistor included in the pixel driving circuit to be in a biased state; in the detection phase, providing a preset control voltage signal to the control line, providing a preset voltage signal to the voltage line, and determining a threshold voltage shift state of the transistor according to an electric potential of the detection node.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a magnetoresistive memory device. The memory device includes active areas arranged on a semiconductor substrate, resistance change elements arrayed to matrix in an X direction and a Y direction above the substrate, and selective transistors provided to correspond to the respective resistance change elements. A plurality of gate electrodes of the selective transistors are spaced apart at regular intervals in the X direction and arranged along the Y direction. Each of the active areas is provided to cross two of the gate electrodes adjacent to each other, such as to be along the X direction at a portion crossing the gate electrodes, and formed to be inclined with respect to the X direction between the adjacent gate electrodes.

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: A semiconductor arrangement that includes: a substrate; a back gate formed on the substrate; fins formed on opposite sides of the back gate; and back gate dielectric layers interposed between the back gate and the respective fins. The back gate has opposite end portions recessed with respect to a middle portion thereof between the end portions, so that an overlap area between each of the end portions and each of the fins is smaller than an overlap area between the middle portion and the fin.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is provided for producing a randomized value. A cell in the data processing apparatus comprises a dielectric oxide layer and stress voltage circuitry is configured to apply a stress voltage across the dielectric oxide layer of the cell to cause an oxide breakdown process to occur. Oxide breakdown detection circuitry is configured to determine a current extent of the oxide breakdown process by measuring a response of the dielectric oxide layer to the stress voltage and randomized value determination circuitry is configured to determine a randomized value in dependence on the current extent of the oxide breakdown process.

Abstract: An antifuse of a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same capable of causing an antifuse to stably operate by rupturing the antifuse at a specific point and stabilizing a current level when rupturing the antifuse are provided. The antifuse may include: a device isolation layer defining a first active region in a semiconductor substrate; a first and second junction regions provided in the first active region; a second active region formed over the first junction region; a gate insulating layer formed over the first active region and the second active region; and a gate electrode formed over the gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, isolation regions at a surface of the substrate, and a semiconductor region over a top surface of the isolation regions. A conductive feature is disposed over the top surface of the isolation regions, wherein the conductive feature is adjacent to the semiconductor region. A dielectric material is disposed between the conductive feature and the semiconductor region. The dielectric material, the conductive feature, and the semiconductor region form an anti-fuse.

Abstract: A method of forming an electronic fuse including providing an Mx level including a first Mx metal, a second Mx metal, and an Mx cap dielectric above of the first and second Mx metal, forming an Mx+1 level above the Mx level, the Mx+1 level including an Mx+1 metal and a via electrically connecting the second Mx metal to the Mx+1 metal in a vertical orientation, and forming a nano-pillar from the Mx cap dielectric at a bottom of the via and above the second Mx metal, the nano-pillar having a height less than a height of the via.

Abstract: A fuse, a method of making the fuse and a circuit containing the fuse. The fuse includes an electrically conductive and conformal liner on sidewalls and the bottom of a trench; a copper layer on the conformal liner, a first thickness of the copper layer over the bottom of the trench in a lower portion of the trench greater than a second thickness of the copper layer over the sidewalls of the trench in an abutting upper portion of the trench; and a dielectric material on the copper layer in the trench, the dielectric material filling remaining space in the upper portion of said trench.

Abstract: An electronic fuse structure having an Mx level including an Mx dielectric, a fuse line, an Mx cap dielectric above at least a portion of the Mx dielectric, and a modified portion of the Mx cap dielectric directly above at least a portion of the fuse line, where the modified portion of the Mx cap dielectric is chemically different from the remainder of the Mx cap dielectric, an Mx+1 level including an Mx+1 dielectric, a first Mx+1 metal, an Mx+1 cap dielectric above of the Mx+1 dielectric and the first Mx+1 metal, where the Mx+1 level is above the Mx level, and a first via electrically connecting the fuse line to the first Mx+1 metal.

Abstract: As for a memory element implemented in a semiconductor device typified by an RFID, it is an object of the present invention to reduce manufacturing steps and to provide a memory element and a memory circuit having the element with reduced cost. It is a feature of the present invention that a memory element sandwiched between electrodes has an organic compound, and an electrode connected to a semiconductor element controlling the memory element functions as an electrode of the memory element. In addition, an extremely thin semiconductor film formed on an insulated surface is used for the memory element; therefore cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment includes a method of manufacturing a fuse element that includes forming a polysilicon layer over a semiconductor structure, doping the polysilicon layer with carbon or nitrogen, depositing a metal over the polysilicon layer; and annealing the metal and polysilicon layer to form a silicide in an upper portion of the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: An electrically reprogrammable fuse comprising an interconnect disposed in a dielectric material, a sensing wire disposed at a first end of the interconnect, a first programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, and a second programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, wherein the fuse is operative to form a surface void at the interface between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a first directional electron current is applied from the first programming wire through the interconnect to the second programming wire, and wherein, the fuse is further operative to heal the surface void between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a second directional electron current is applied from the second programming wire through the interconnect to the first programming wire.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an antifuse for preventing a flow of electrical current in an integrated circuit. One such antifuse includes a reactive material and a silicon region thermally coupled to the reactive material, where an electrical current to the reactive material causes the reactive material to release heat which transitions the silicon region from a high resistance state to a low resistance state. Another such antifuse includes a reactive material, at least one metal and a silicon region adjacent to the at least one metal and thermally coupled to the reactive material, where an electrical current to the reactive material causes the reactive material to release heat which transitions the silicon region from a high resistance state to a low resistance state.

Abstract: An e-fuse structure and method has an anode; a fuse link (a first end of the fuse link is connected to the anode); a cathode (a second end of the fuse link opposite the first end is connected to the cathode); and a silicide layer on the fuse link. The silicide layer has a first silicide region adjacent the anode and a second silicide region adjacent the cathode. The second silicide region comprises an impurity not contained within the first silicide region. Further, the first silicide region is thinner than the second silicide region.

Abstract: An e-fuse structure and method has an anode; a fuse link (a first end of the fuse link is connected to the anode); a cathode (a second end of the fuse link opposite the first end is connected to the cathode); and a silicide layer on the fuse link. The silicide layer has a first silicide region adjacent the anode and a second silicide region adjacent the cathode. The second silicide region comprises an impurity not contained within the first silicide region. Further, the first silicide region is thinner than the second silicide region.

Abstract: An anti-fuse memory cell having a variable thickness gate oxide. The variable thickness gate oxide is formed by depositing a first oxide over a channel region of the anti-fuse memory cell, removing the first oxide in a thin oxide area of the channel region, and then thermally growing a second oxide in the thin oxide area. The remaining first oxide defines a thick oxide area of the channel region. The second oxide growth occurs under the remaining first oxide, but at a rate less than thermal oxide growth in the thin oxide area. This results in a combined thickness of the first oxide and the second oxide in the thick oxide area being greater than second oxide in the thin oxide area.

Abstract: Pass-through 3D interconnects and microelectronic dies and systems of stacked dies that include such interconnects to disable electrical connections are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system of stacked dies includes a first microelectronic die having a backside, an interconnect extending through the first die to the backside, an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the interconnect, and a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) device electrically isolated from the interconnect. A second microelectronic die has a front side coupled to the backside of the first die, a metal contact at the front side electrically coupled to the interconnect, and a second ESD device electrically coupled to the metal contact. In another embodiment, the first die further includes a substrate carrying the integrated circuit and the first ESD device, and the interconnect is positioned in the substrate to disable an electrical connection between the first ESD device and the interconnect.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, isolation regions at a surface of the substrate, and a semiconductor region over a top surface of the isolation regions. A conductive feature is disposed over the top surface of the isolation regions, wherein the conductive feature is adjacent to the semiconductor region. A dielectric material is disposed between the conductive feature and the semiconductor region. The dielectric material, the conductive feature, and the semiconductor region form an anti-fuse.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a fuse device of a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to an electrical fuse device of a semiconductor device. Embodiments of the invention provide a fuse device that is capable of reducing programming error caused by non-uniform current densities in a fuse link. In one respect, there is provided an electrical fuse device that includes: an anode; a fuse link coupled to the anode on a first side of the fuse link; a cathode coupled to the fuse link on a second side of the fuse link; a first cathode contact coupled to the cathode; and a first anode contact coupled to the anode, at least one of the first cathode contact and the first anode contact being disposed across a virtual extending surface of the fuse link.

Abstract: An antifuse of a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same capable of causing an antifuse to stably operate by rupturing the antifuse at a specific point and stabilizing a current level when rupturing the antifuse are provided. The antifuse may include: a device isolation layer defining a first active region in a semiconductor substrate; a first and second junction regions provided in the first active region; a second active region formed over the first junction region; a gate insulating layer formed over the first active region and the second active region; and a gate electrode formed over the gate insulating layer.

Abstract: An electrically reprogrammable fuse comprising an interconnect disposed in a dielectric material, a sensing wire disposed at a first end of the interconnect, a first programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, and a second programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, wherein the fuse is operative to form a surface void at the interface between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a first directional electron current is applied from the first programming wire through the interconnect to the second programming wire, and wherein, the fuse is further operative to heal the surface void between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a second directional electron current is applied from the second programming wire through the interconnect to the first programming wire.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide semiconductor structures and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor substrate can contain a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that includes a fuse region. A protective layer can be provided on the high-K dielectric layer, which is provided on the semiconductor substrate. A portion of each of the protective layer and the high-K dielectric layer can be removed from the fuse region to expose the STI structure. A fuse layer can be formed on the exposed surface of the STI structure. A portion of the fuse layer, the remaining portion of the protective layer, and a remaining portion of the high-K dielectric layer outside of the fuse region can be removed from the semiconductor substrate to form a fuse structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a gate region extending above a semiconductor substrate and extending in a first longitudinal direction. A first fin has a first sidewall that extends in a second longitudinal direction above the semiconductor substrate such that the first fin intersects the gate region. A second fin has a second sidewall extending in the second direction above the semiconductor substrate such that the second fin intersects the gate region. A shallow trench isolation (STI) region is formed in the semiconductor substrate between the first and second sidewalls of the first and second fins. A conductive layer disposed over the first insulating layer and over top surfaces of the first and second fins. A first insulating layer is disposed between an upper surface of the STI region and a lower surface of the conductive layer to separate the STI region from the conductive layer.

Abstract: An embodiment is a fuse structure. In accordance with an embodiment, a fuse structure comprises an anode, a cathode, a fuse link interposed between the anode and the cathode, and cathode connectors coupled to the cathode. The cathode connectors are each equivalent to or larger than about two times a minimum feature size of a contact that couples to an active device.

Abstract: A fabrication method for fabricating an electrically programmable fuse method includes depositing a polysilicon layer on a substrate, patterning an anode contact region, a cathode contact region and a fuse link conductively connecting the cathode contact region with the anode contact region, which is programmable by applying a programming current, depositing a silicide layer on the polysilicon layer, and forming a plurality of anisometric contacts on the silicide layer of the cathode contact region and the anode contact region in a predetermined configuration, respectively.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a floating-gate PMOSFET (p-type metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) is disclosed. A silicide blocking layer (e.g. oxide, nitride) is used not only to block areas from being silicided but to also form an insulator on top of a poly-silicon gate. The insulator along with a top electrode (control gate) forms a capacitor on top of the poly-silicon gate. The poly-silicon gate also serves at the bottom electrode of the capacitor. The capacitor can then be used to capacitively couple charge to the poly-silicon gate. Because the poly-silicon gate is surrounded by insulating material, the charge coupled to the poly-silicon gate may be stored for a long period of time after a programming operation.

Abstract: An electrically reprogrammable fuse comprising an interconnect disposed in a dielectric material, a sensing wire disposed at a first end of the interconnect, a first programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, and a second programming wire disposed at a second end of the interconnect, wherein the fuse is operative to form a surface void at the interface between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a first directional electron current is applied from the first programming wire through the interconnect to the second programming wire, and wherein, the fuse is further operative to heal the surface void between the interconnect and the sensing wire when a second directional electron current is applied from the second programming wire through the interconnect to the first programming wire.

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 semiconductor device includes: an e-fuse gate, a floating pattern between the e-fuse gate and an e-fuse active portion, a blocking dielectric pattern between the floating pattern and the e-fuse gate, and an e-fuse dielectric layer between the floating pattern and the e-fuse active portion. The floating pattern includes a first portion between the e-fuse gate and the e-fuse active portion and a pair of second portions extended upward along both sidewalls of the e-fuse gate from both edges of the first portion.

Abstract: A method forms an eFuse structure that has a pair of adjacent semiconducting fins projecting from the planar surface of a substrate (in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface). The fins have planar sidewalls (perpendicular to the planar surface of the substrate) and planar tops (parallel to the planar surface of the substrate). The tops are positioned at distal ends of the fins relative to the substrate. An insulating layer covers the tops and the sidewalls of the fins and covers an intervening substrate portion of the planar surface of the substrate located between the fins. A metal layer covers the insulating layer. A pair of conductive contacts are connected to the metal layer at locations where the metal layer is adjacent the top of the fins.

Abstract: Techniques for incorporating nanotechnology into electronic fuse (e-fuse) designs are provided. In one aspect, an e-fuse structure is provided. The e-fuse structure includes a first electrode; a dielectric layer on the first electrode having a plurality of nanochannels therein; an array of metal silicide nanopillars that fill the nanochannels in the dielectric layer, each nanopillar in the array serving as an e-fuse element; and a second electrode in contact with the array of metal silicide nanopillars opposite the first electrode. Methods for fabricating the e-fuse structure are also provided as are semiconductor devices incorporating the e-fuse structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a base insulating layer, a silicon fuse, a pair of silicon wires, a silicon guard ring, an insulation coating, a first interlayer insulating layer, a via guard ring, a metal guard ring, a final insulating layer, and a fuse window. The base insulating layer is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The silicon fuse is disposed on the base insulating layer. The pair of silicon wires is disposed on the base insulating layer. The silicon guard ring is disposed on the base insulating layer. The insulation coating is deposited at least over surfaces of the silicon wires. The first interlayer insulating layer is disposed on the base insulating layer. The final insulating layer is disposed on the interlayer insulating layer. The fuse window is defined above the silicon fuse inside the guard rings.

Abstract: Pass-through 3D interconnects and microelectronic dies and systems of stacked dies that include such interconnects to disable electrical connections are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system of stacked dies includes a first microelectronic die having a backside, an interconnect extending through the first die to the backside, an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the interconnect, and a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) device electrically isolated from the interconnect. A second microelectronic die has a front side coupled to the backside of the first die, a metal contact at the front side electrically coupled to the interconnect, and a second ESD device electrically coupled to the metal contact. In another embodiment, the first die further includes a substrate carrying the integrated circuit and the first ESD device, and the interconnect is positioned in the substrate to disable an electrical connection between the first ESD device and the interconnect.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a drain region of a transistor, a channel region of the transistor, and a doped region that is disposed under substantially all of the channel region, is not disposed under substantially all of a heavily doped portion of the drain region, and has a higher dopant concentration compared to the channel region. A process of forming an electronic device can include forming a drain region, a channel region, and a doped region, wherein the drain region has a conductivity type opposite that of the channel and doped region. After forming the drain, channel, and doped regions, the doped region is disposed under substantially all of the channel region, the doped region is not disposed under substantially all of a heavily doped portion of the drain region, and the drain region is laterally closer to the doped region than to the channel region.

Abstract: In a replacement gate approach, the semiconductor material of the gate electrode structures may be efficiently removed during a wet chemical etch process, while this material may be substantially preserved in electronic fuses. Consequently, well-established semiconductor-based electronic fuses may be used instead of requiring sophisticated metal-based fuse structures. The etch selectivity of the semiconductor material may be modified on the basis of ion implantation or electron bombardment.

Abstract: A fuse device includes a fuse unit, which includes a cathode, an anode, and a fuse link coupling the cathode and the anode. A transistor includes at least a portion of the fuse unit to be used as an element of the transistor.

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 semiconductor device includes an electric fuse formed on a substrate. The electric fuse includes: a first interconnect formed on one end side thereof; a second interconnect formed in a layer different from a layer in which the first interconnect is formed; a first via provided in contact with the first interconnect and the second interconnect to connect those interconnects; a third interconnect formed on another end side thereof, the third interconnect being formed in the same layer in which the first interconnect is formed, as being separated from the first interconnect; and a second via provided in contact with the third interconnect and the second interconnect to connect those interconnects, the second via being lower in resistance than the first via. The electric fuse is disconnected by a flowing-out portion to be formed of a conductive material forming the electric fuse which flows outwardly during disconnection.

Abstract: A layout design method for a semiconductor device includes a step of arranging transistors, a dummy gate forming step of forming dummy gates, which has a shape identical with a shape including gate electrodes or the gate electrodes and projected parts from active regions of the gate electrodes, in positions in parallel with and a fixed distance apart from the gate electrodes arranged at both ends in a gate length direction on active regions of the transistors and, when the transistors have plural gate electrodes with different gate widths, extending the projected parts to the outside of the active regions by a necessary length, a gate connecting step of, when gate patterns and contact regions are connected to the gate electrodes of the transistors, connecting the gate electrodes and the dummy gates according to a positional relation between the gate electrodes and the dummy gates, and a wiring step of wiring a metal layer.

Abstract: A copper-compatible fuse target is fabricated by forming a target structure at the same time that a trace structure is formed on a passivation layer, followed by the formation of an overlying non-conductive structure. After the overlying non-conductive structure has been formed, a passivation opening is formed in the non-conductive structure to expose the passivation layer and the side wall of the target structure.

Abstract: In sophisticated integrated circuits, an electronic fuse may be formed such that an increased sensitivity to electromigration may be accomplished by including at least one region of increased current density. This may be accomplished by forming a corresponding fuse region as a non-linear configuration, wherein at corresponding connection portions of linear segments, the desired enhanced current crowding may occur during the application of the programming voltage. Hence, increased reliability and more space-efficient layout of the electronic fuses may be accomplished.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an electric fuse formed on a semiconductor substrate and composed of an electric conductor. The electric fuse includes an upper layer interconnect, a via coupled to the upper interconnect and a lower layer interconnect coupled to the via, which are formed in different layers, respectively, in a condition before cutting the electric fuse, and wherein the electric fuse includes a flowing-out region formed of the electric conductor being flowed toward outside from the second interconnect and a void region formed between the first interconnect and the via or in the via, in a condition after cutting the electric fuse.

Abstract: A method of forming a programmable fuse structure includes forming at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate, forming an e-fuse over the at least one STI and depositing an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer over the e-fuse. Additionally, the method includes removing at least a portion of the at least one STI under the e-fuse to provide an air gap below a portion of the e-fuse and removing at least a portion of the ILD layer over the e-fuse to provide the air gap above the portion of the e-fuse.

Abstract: A fuse element is laminated on a resistor and the resistor is formed in a concave shape below a region in which cutting of the fuse element is carried out with a laser. Accordingly, there can be provided a semiconductor device which occupies a small area, causes no damage on the resistor in the cutting of the fuse element, has a small contact resistance occurred between elements, and has stable characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, element properties of an element property extraction pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer is extracted as element properties of a current control element corresponding to the element property extraction pattern. A supply energy to the current control element is set which is formed between nodes on the semiconductor wafer, based on the extracted element properties. The set supply energy is supplied to the current control element to irreversible control an electrical connection between the nodes through the device breakdown by the current control element.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas pendulum style level posture sensing chip and its manufacturing method and a level posture sensor. The gas pendulum style level posture sensing chip includes: a semiconductor substrate; two sets of arm thermosensitive fuses formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, each set of the thermosensitive fuses including two thermosensitive fuses in parallel to each other, the two sets of thermosensitive fuses being vertical to each other; electrodes formed at the two ends of the thermosensitive fuses. For the level posture sensing chip and sensor provided by the present invention, the parallelism and verticality of the thermosensitive fuses is high in precision such that the more accurate measurement can be implemented.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes an interconnect structure and a fuse structure located in different areas, yet within the same interconnect level. The interconnect structure has high electromigration resistance, while the fuse structure has a lower electromigration resistance as compared with the interconnect structure. The fuse structure includes a conductive material embedded within an interconnect dielectric in which the upper surface of the conductive material has a high concentration of oxygen present therein. A dielectric capping layer is located atop the dielectric material and the conductive material. The presence of the surface oxide layer at the interface between the conductive material and the dielectric capping layer degrades the adhesion between the conductive material and the dielectric capping layer.