Abstract: An optical receiver including an ASIC, a light detector element, and a protective mask is disclosed. The light detector element is disposed on the ASIC and has a top surface oriented toward incident light, the top surface including a portion configured to receive the incident light and via which the incident light reaches an active area of the light detector element. The protective mask is placed over the ASIC so as to (i) cover, from the incident light, a portion of the ASIC, and (ii) provide an aperture that defines an optical path for the incident light through the protective mask to the portion of the top surface of the light detector element.

Abstract: Approaches based on differential hardmasks for modulation of electrobucket sensitivity for semiconductor structure fabrication, and the resulting structures, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating an interconnect structure for an integrated circuit includes forming a hardmask layer above an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer formed above a substrate. A plurality of dielectric spacers is formed on the hardmask layer. The hardmask layer is patterned to form a plurality of first hardmask portions. A plurality of second hardmask portions is formed alternating with the first hardmask portions. A plurality of electrobuckets is formed on the alternating first and second hardmask portions and in openings between the plurality of dielectric spacers. Select ones of the plurality of electrobuckets are exposed to a lithographic exposure and removed to define a set of via locations.

Abstract: A (000-1) C-plane of an n? type silicon carbide substrate having an off-angle ? in a <11-20> direction is defined as a principal plane, and a periphery of a portion of this principal surface layer defined as an alignment mark is selectively removed to leave the convex-shaped alignment mark. The alignment mark has a cross-like plane shape such that two rectangles having longitudinal dimensions tilted by 45 degrees relative to the <11-20> direction are orthogonal to each other. When a film thickness of a p? type epitaxial layer is Y; a width of the alignment mark parallel to the principal surface of the n? type silicon carbide substrate is X; and an off-angle of the n? type silicon carbide substrate is ?, an epitaxial layer is formed on an upper surface of the alignment mark such that Y?X·tan ? is satisfied.

Abstract: A process for fabrication of a power semiconductor device is disclosed in which a single photomask is used to define each of p-conductivity well regions and n-conductivity type source regions. In the process a single photomask is deposited on a layer of polysilicon on a wafer, the polysilicon layer is removed from first regions of the power semiconductor device where the p-conductivity well regions and the n-conductivity type source regions are to be formed, and both p-conductivity type and n-conductivity type dopants are introduced into the wafer through the first regions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid-state image sensor having photoelectric conversion elements and one or more MOS transistors are formed on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes forming a resist pattern having an opening and a shielding portion over the substrate; and implanting ions in the substrate through the opening. When the substrate is viewed from a direction, an isolation region that is positioned between accumulation regions adjacent to one another is exposed in the opening, and when viewed from a different direction, a channel region of the MOS transistors is exposed in the opening, and the isolation region is shielded by the shielding portion. Ions irradiated in the direction are implanted in the isolation region, and ions irradiated in the different direction are implanted in the channel region.

Abstract: A process for fabrication of a power semiconductor device is disclosed in which a single photomask is used to define each of p-conductivity well regions and n-conductivity type source regions. In the process a single photomask is deposited on a layer of polysilicon on a wafer, the polysilicon layer is removed from first regions of the power semiconductor device where the p-conductivity well regions and the n-conductivity type source regions are to be formed, and both p-conductivity type and n-conductivity type dopants are introduced into the wafer through the first regions.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor construction having a pair of lines extending primarily along a first direction, and having a pair of contacts between the lines. The contacts are spaced from one another by a lithographic dimension, and are spaced from the lines by sub-lithographic dimensions. Some embodiments include a method of forming a semiconductor construction. Features are formed over a base. Each feature has a first type sidewall and a second type sidewall. The features are spaced from one another by gaps. Some of the gaps are first type gaps between first type sidewalls, and others of the gaps are second type gaps between second type sidewalls. Masking material is formed to selectively fill the first type gaps relative to the second type gaps. Excess masking material is removed to leave a patterned mask. A pattern is transferred from the patterned mask into the base.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a high-voltage semiconductor device. The method includes designating first, second, and third regions in a substrate. The first and second regions are regions where a source and a drain of the semiconductor device will be formed, respectively. The third region separates the first and second regions. The method further includes forming a slotted implant mask layer at least partially over the third region. The method also includes implanting dopants into the first, second, and third regions. The slotted implant mask layer protects portions of the third region therebelow during the implanting. The method further includes annealing the substrate in a manner to cause diffusion of the dopants in the third region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing doping patterns includes providing a substrate having a plurality of STIs defining and electrically isolating a plurality of active regions in the substrate, forming a patterned photoresist having a plurality of exposing regions for exposing the active regions and the STIs in between the active regions on the substrate, and performing an ion implantation to form a plurality of doping patterns in the active regions.

Abstract: A method of forming an undercut microstructure includes: forming an etch mask on a top surface of a substrate; forming, on a top surface of the etch mask, an ion implantation mask having a top surface that is smaller than the top surface of the etch mask and that does not extend beyond the top surface of the etch mask; ion implanting the substrate in the presence of the etch mask and the ion implantation mask so that a damaged region is generated at a depth below an area of the surface that is not masked by the ion implantation mask; and etching the surface of the substrate until the damaged region is removed.

Abstract: By providing a novel bipolar device design implementation, a standard CMOS process (105-109) can be used unchanged to fabricate useful bipolar transistors (80) and other bipolar devices having adjustable properties by partially blocking the P or N well doping (25) used for the transistor base (581). This provides a hump-shaped base (583, 584) region with an adjustable base width (79), thereby achieving, for example, higher gain than can be obtained with the unmodified CMOS process (101-104) alone. By further partially blocking the source/drain doping step (107) used to form the emitter (74) of the bipolar transistor (80), the emitter shape and effective base width (79) can be further varied to provide additional control over the bipolar device (80) properties. The embodiments thus include prescribed modifications to the masks (57, 62, 72, 46) associated with the bipolar device (80) that are configured to obtain desired device properties.

Abstract: A method and an equipment for cleaning masks used for photolithography steps, including at least one step of thermal treatment under pumping at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure and at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of producing a PN junction the method including providing a single crystal substrate; forming an insulating layer on the single crystal substrate; forming a via through the insulating layer to provide an exposed portion of the single crystal substrate; forming amorphous Si on at least the exposed portion of the single crystal substrate; converting at least a portion of the amorphous Si into single crystal Si; and forming dopant regions in the single crystal Si. In one embodiment the diode of the present invention is integrated with a memory device.

Abstract: A semiconductor body includes a substrate, a buried zone having a first conductivity type that is formed in the substrate, a first zone having the first conductivity type that is above the buried zone, a second zone having a second conductivity type that is different from the first conductivity type and above the first zone, and a third zone having the first conductivity type that is above the second zone. The buried zone includes first and second implantation regions that are formed via first and second implantations that are performed using a mask. The buried zone, the first zone, the second zone and the third zone are parts of a first transistor structure.

Abstract: A system for making small modifications to the pattern in standard processed semiconductor devices. The modifications are made to create a small variable part of the pattern against a large constant part of the same pattern. In a preferred embodiment the exposure of the variable and constant parts are done with the same wavelength in the same combined stepper and code-writer. The invention devices a way of writing variable parts of the chip that is automatic, inexpensive and risk-free. A system for automatic design and production of die-unique patterns is also shown.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a semiconductor device is provided, the method including: forming a substrate; forming a first gate on the substrate; forming a mask layer on the substrate, the mask layer including a first window covering an area within which the first gate is formed so that the first gate divides the substrate exposed by the first window into a first region and a second region; and doping the exposed substrate using rays inclined with respect to the substrate top surface, where the position of the first gate with respect to a border of the first window is chosen such that the inclined doping rays impinge more on the first region than on the second region.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an improved process and resulting structure that allows a single masking step to be used to define both the body and the threshold adjustment layer of the body. The method consists of forming a first mask on a surface of a substrate with an opening exposing a first region of the substrate; implanting through the opening a first impurity of a first conductivity type and having a first diffusion coefficient; and implanting through the opening a second impurity of the first conductivity type and having a second diffusion coefficient lower than the first diffusion coefficient. The first and second impurities are then co-diffused to form a body region of a field effect transistor. The remainder of the device is formed.

Abstract: A memory cell of an SRAM has two drive MISFETs and two vertical MISFETs. The p channel vertical MISFETs are formed above the n channel drive MISFETs. The vertical MISFETs respectively mainly comprise laminate formed of a lower semiconductor layer, intermediate semiconductor layer and upper semiconductor layer laminated in this sequence, a gate insulating film of silicon oxide formed on the surface of the side wall of the laminate, and a gate electrode formed so as to cover the side wall of the laminate. The vertical MISFETs are perfect depletion type MISFETs.

Abstract: A boron ion stream may be used to implant ions, such as boron ions, into the sidewalls of an active area, such as an NFET active area. The boron ion stream has both vertical tilt and horizontal rotation components relative to the sidewalls and/or the silicon device, to provide a better line of sight onto the sidewalls. This may allow components of the silicon device to be moved closer together without unduly reducing the effectiveness of boron doping of NFET active area sidewalls, and provides an improved line of sight of a boron ion stream onto the sidewalls of an NFET active area prior to filling the surrounding trench with STI material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor article and a semiconductor article is provided, wherein a base region of a first semiconductor material is applied, a silicide layer is applied above the base region, after the application of the silicide layer, an opening is created in the silicide layer by removing the silicide layer within the area of the opening, and after this, an emitter region is formed within the opening.

Abstract: A method for forming a bipolar transistor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate. An oxide layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The oxide layer is patterned to form an opening that exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate. A dopant, such as antimony, is implanted into the semiconductor substrate through the opening to form a buried layer. An upper portion of the mask layer is removed to define a thin mask layer. A buried layer diffusion process is performed to drive in the implanted dopants while mitigating recess formation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes channels for a pFET and an nFET. A SiGe layer is selectively grown in the source and drain regions of the pFET channel and a Si:C layer is selectively grown in source and drain regions of the nFET channel. The SiGe and Si:C layer match a lattice network of the underlying Si layer to create a stress component. In one implementation, this causes a compressive component in the pFET channel and a tensile component in the nFET channel.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device having a semiconductor memory including a plurality of nonvolatile memory elements, comprising a step of forming a mask on the semiconductor memory and a step of irradiating through the mask with electron beams, the mask having transmission parts on one or more nonvolatile memory elements selected from the plurality of nonvolatile memory elements and a blocking part in which the electron beam is blocked, thereby said one or more nonvolatile memory elements are irradiated with electron beams without requiring an additional process.

Abstract: A method of forming bipolar transistors by using the same mask to form the collector region in a substrate of an opposite conductivity type as to form the base in the collector region. More specifically, impurities of a first conductivity type are introduced into a region of a substrate of a second conductivity type through a first aperture in a first mask to form a collector region. Impurities of the second conductivity type are introduced in the collector through the first aperture in the first mask to form the base region. Impurities of the first conductivity type are then introduced into the base region through a second aperture in a second mask to form the emitter region. The minimum dimension of the first aperture of the first mask is selected for a desired collector to base breakdown voltage. This allows tuning of the breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the gates of several transistors of the CMOS image sensor are formed in an active region defined by an isolation region for a unit pixel of the CMOS image sensor, and a passivation layer composed of insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Impurities are ion-implanted into the active region to form one or more diffusion regions of a photo diode of the CMOS image sensor, wherein the passivation layer prevents a boundary portion of the active region from being ion-implanted. Thus, damages by ion implantation at the boundary portion between the diffusion region for the photo diode and the isolation region are prevented, and the dark current of the CMOS image sensor is reduced.

Abstract: A method for forming a patterned photoresist layer aligned with a predetermined layer is described. A photoresist layer is formed on a substrate and then exposed. The overlay offset between the exposed portions of the photoresist layer and the predetermined layer is measured for determining whether the exposed portions of the photoresist layer are aligned with the predetermined layer. A development step is performed when the exposed portions of the photoresist layer are found to align with the predetermined layer. An apparatus for forming a patterned photoresist layer is also described, which utilizes the aforementioned method and has a mechanism capable of feeding back the overlay offset in real time for reducing the cycle time and the rework time in the lithography process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bipolar junction transistor results in an integrated polysilicon base contact and field plate element minimally spaced from a polysilicon emitter contact by using a single mask to define respective openings for these elements. In particular, a dielectric layer is deposited on a semiconductor wafer and has two openings defined by a single masking step, one opening above an emitter region and a second opening above a base-collector junction region. Polysilicon is deposited on the dielectric layer and selectively doped in the areas of the openings. Thus for an NPN transistor for example, the area above the emitter opening is doped N type and the area above the base/field plate opening is doped P type. The doped polysilicon is patterned and etched to leave a polysilicon emitter contact and an integrated polysilicon base contact and field plate within the respective openings.

Abstract: Methods of positioning and orienting nanostructures, and particularly nanowires, on surfaces for subsequent use or integration. The methods utilize mask based processes alone or in combination with flow based alignment of the nanostructures to provide oriented and positioned nanostructures on surfaces. Also provided are populations of positioned and/or oriented nanostructures, devices that include populations of positioned and/or oriented nanostructures, systems for positioning and/or orienting nanostructures, and related devices, systems and methods.

Abstract: A low temperature polysilicon thin film transistor and a method of forming the polysilicon layer inside the thin film transistor. An amorphous silicon layer is formed over a panel. The panel has a display region and a peripheral circuit region. A metallic layer is formed over a portion of the amorphous silicon layer in the peripheral circuit region. A crystallization process is performed to transform the amorphous silicon layer in the peripheral circuit region into a polysilicon layer. Thereafter, an excimer laser annealing process is performed to increase the grain size of the polysilicon layer in the peripheral circuit region and, at the same time, transform the amorphous silicon layer in the display region into a polysilicon layer. Since the average grain size of the polysilicon layer in the peripheral circuit region is larger, electron mobility is increased as demanded.

Abstract: A dual-gate CMOS semiconductor device and a manufacturing method therefor suppressing mutual diffusion of P type impurities and N type impurities in a gate electrode are provided. This invention is comprised of an NMOS part 103 and a PMOS part 104 formed on a semiconductor substrate; a polycrystalline silicon layer formed on the NMOS part 103 and the PMOS part 104 and consisting of an N type impurity containing polycrystalline silicon layer 106 and a P type impurity containing polycrystalline silicon layer 107; and a first conductive layer 108 formed on the polycrystalline silicon layer so as to include a groove region 120, in which the first conductive layer is not formed, on a predetermined region including a boundary between the N type impurity containing polycrystalline silicon layer 106 and the P type impurity containing polycrystalline silicon layer 107.

Abstract: A correcting device that properly maintains the flatness of a mask, an exposure apparatus in which overlay accuracy is increased by making use of the correcting device, and a device production method. The correcting device includes a gas flow path including a first area and a second area. The first area is formed above a reticle having formed thereon a pattern that is projected onto a material to be processed in order to form an image of the pattern on the material to be processed. The second area is connected to the first area, has a cross-sectional area that is different from that of the first area, and is not disposed in line with the reticle. The correcting device also includes a blowing section that blows gas to the gas flow path.

Abstract: The reliability of a photomask is improved. The planar shape of a mask substrate 1 of a resist shading mask having a shading pattern composed of a resist film is made circular.

Abstract: The reliability of a photomask is improved. The planar shape of a mask substrate 1 of a resist shading mask having a shading pattern composed of a resist film is made circular.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which can use commonly a part of a step of forming a PAP transistor with a step of forming an NON transistor. In an area separated by a side separation region (5) of PNP formed by doping N-type impurities simultaneously with the formation of the collector region (4) of NPN, an N-type bottom separation region (8) of PNP, a collector region (9) and a base region (10) are formed by using the same mask. Trenches (18, 17) extending to the collector regions (9, 4) are formed by an over-etching treatment carried out when the emitter electrodes (16, 15) of PNP and NPN are subjected to a patterning treatment, and N-type impurities are doped through the trench (17) simultaneously with the formation of an external base region (20) of PNP, thereby forming a collector drawing region (21) of NPN.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has an isolation structure in the form of a double diode moat. The P substrate has P+ buried layers 8601 and 8602 on opposite sides of N+ buried layer 8605. Analog devices are formed behind one diode moat, digital CMOS devices are formed behind the other moat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collector pin and a trench in an integrated circuit intended for high speed communication, and to a manufacturing method for these items. The collector pin is achieved by creating an area which is implantation damaged or made amorphous and at least partially doped (139) by means of ion implantation from an upper silicon surface comprised in a semiconductor structure (144) down to a depth lower than the depth of the surrounding field oxide (120), and that the semiconductor structure (144) is then heat treated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating an integrated circuit including an NPN-type bipolar transistor, including the steps of defining a base-emitter location of the transistor with polysilicon spacers resting on a silicon nitride layer; overetching the silicon nitride under the spacers; filling the overetched layer with highly-doped N-type polysilicon; depositing an N-type doped polysilicon layer; and diffusing the doping contained in the third and fourth layers to form the emitter of the bipolar transistor.

Abstract: A method for forming a p-type halo implant as ROM cell isolation in a flat-cell mask ROM process is described. A P-well is formed within a semiconductor substrate and an oxide layer is formed overlying a surface of the substrate. A photomask is formed overlying the oxide layer wherein openings are left within the photomask exposing portions of the oxide layer. First, ions are implanted through the exposed portions of the oxide layer into the underlying semiconductor substrate whereby buried bit lines are formed. Thereafter, second ions are implanted through the exposed portions of the oxide layer whereby halo regions are formed encompassing the buried bit lines. The halo regions provide ROM isolation and punch-through protection for the buried bit lines. Thereafter, the photomask is removed and fabrication of flat-cell mask ROM device is completed.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor compatible with CMOS processes utilizes only a single layer of polysilicon while maintaining the low base resistance associated with conventional double-polysilicon bipolar designs. Dopant is implanted to form the intrinsic base through the same dielectric window in which the polysilicon emitter contact component is later created. Following poly deposition within the window and etch to create the polysilicon emitter contact component, large-angle tilt ion implantation is employed to form a link base between the intrinsic base and a subsequently-formed base contact region. Tilted implantation enables the link base region to extend underneath the edges of the polysilicon emitter contact component, creating a low resistance path between the intrinsic base and the extrinsic base. Fabrication of the device is much simplified over a conventional double-poly transistor, particularly if tilted implantation is already employed in the process flow to form an associated structure such as an LDMOS.

Abstract: A method for making self-aligned sub-micrometer bipolar transistors and FETs on a substrate for BiFET and BiCMOS circuits was achieved using a novel LOCOS structure as a self-aligned implant mask. This LOCOS structure uses a silicon nitride mask comprised of stripes with well defined widths and spacings to form a punchthrough oxide mask of varying thicknesses over the emitter, base, and collector of the bipolar transistor, while providing a thick field oxide elsewhere on the substrate. The oxide mask serves as a self-aligned implant mask for implanting the emitter, base, and collector of the bipolar transistor. The nitride mask can be patterned concurrently to form an implant mask for the FET. A series of ion implants is then used to form the emitter, base, and collector without requiring separate photoresist masks. An array of nitride stripes with well defined widths and spacings can be used to make larger transistors, such as bipolar power transistors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided in which a vertical NPN transistor and a vertical PNP transistor electrically isolated from each other are formed on a p-type semiconductor substrate. An n-type buried separating region of the vertical PNP transistor is formed by high-energy ion implantation after formation of the n.sup.+ type buried collector region of the vertical NPN transistor, and a p.sup.+ type buried collector region of the vertical PNP transistor is formed subsequently to formation of an n-type epitaxial layer and a device separating region whereby the thickness of the n-type epitaxial layer is optimized to a required minimum value. A method for producing a semiconductor device is also provided in which a first vertical bipolar transistor of a first conductivity type and a second vertical bipolar transistor of a second conductivity type, electrically isolated from each other, are formed on a semiconductor substrate having a pre-set conductivity type.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for lateral bipolar transistors on an SOI substrate, a ridge-shaped gate electrode (8/9) is applied onto a mesa (3) provided with a basic doping and is covered surface-wide with a TEOS layer (10) that has vertical portions functioning as spacers (11,12) at the sidewalls of this gate electrode. Dopants for a collector region (4) and an emitter region (6) are introduced using lacquer masks (13,14). After the removal of the TEOS layer (10), the base implantation ensues in the region of the spacer (11) along an edge of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A vertical PNP transistor and method for making it provide a transistor in a surface layer (12), which may be an epitaxial layer, of P- type conductivity at a surface of a substrate (11) of P+ type conductivity. An isolation region (14) of N- type conductivity in the P- surface layer (12) contains a collector region (25) of P- type conductivity. A base region (30) of N type conductivity is contained in the collector region (25), and an emitter region (40) of P+ type conductivity is contained in the base region (30). The base region (30) may be provided with a higher N type impurity concentration than a P type impurity concentration of the collector region (25). At least the collector region (25) and the base region (30) may be self aligned. The collector region (25) may be of thickness of about 2.2 .mu.m, the base region (30) of thickness of about 0.1 .mu.m, and the emitter region (40) of thickness of about 0.4 .mu.m.