| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080237885 | Method for Improving Design Window - A method of forming photo masks having rectangular patterns and a method for forming a semiconductor structure using the photo masks is provided. The method for forming the photo masks includes determining a minimum spacing and identifying vertical conductive feature patterns having a spacing less than the minimum spacing value. The method further includes determining a first direction to expand and a second direction to shrink, and checking against design rules to see if the design rules are violated for each of the vertical conductive feature patterns identified. If designed rules are not violated, the identified vertical conductive feature pattern is replaced with a revised vertical conductive feature pattern having a rectangular shape. The photo masks are then formed. The semiconductor structure can be formed using the photo masks. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080258228 | Contact Scheme for MOSFETs - A semiconductor structure and methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a first inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the semiconductor substrate; a contact extending from a top surface of the first ILD into the first ILD; a second ILD over the first ILD; a bottom inter-metal dielectric (IMD) over the second ILD; and a dual damascene structure comprising a metal line in the IMD and a via in the second ILD, wherein the via is connected to the contact. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080263492 | 3-Dimensional Device Design Layout - A method for defining a layout of 3-D devices, such as a finFET, is provided. The method includes determining an area required by a desired 3-D device and designing a circuit using planar devices having an equivalent area. The planar device corresponding to the desired 3-D device is used to layout a circuit design, thereby allowing circuit and layout designers to work at a higher level without the need to specify each individual fin or 3-D structure. Thereafter, the planar design may be converted to a 3-D design by replacing planar active areas with 3-D devices occupying an equivalent area. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080296691 | Layout methods of integrated circuits having unit MOS devices - A semiconductor structure includes an array of unit metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns is provided. Each of the unit MOS devices includes an active region laid out in a row direction and a gate electrode laid out in a column direction. The semiconductor structure further includes a first unit MOS device in the array and a second unit MOS device in the array, wherein active regions of the first and the second unit MOS devices have different conductivity types. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080305599 | Gate Control and Endcap Improvement - A method of forming semiconductor structures comprises following steps. A gate dielectric layer is formed over a substrate in an active region. A gate electrode layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A first photo resist is formed over the gate electrode layer. The gate electrode layer and dielectric layer are etched thereby forming gate structures and dummy patterns, wherein at least one of the dummy patterns has at least a portion in the active region. The first photo resist is removed. A second photo resist is formed covering the gate structures. The dummy patterns unprotected by the second photo resist are removed. The second photo resist is then removed. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080315320 | Semiconductor Device with both I/O and Core Components and Method of Fabricating Same - A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090236633 | SRAM Devices Utilizing Strained-Channel Transistors and Methods of Manufacture - A novel SRAM memory cell structure and method of making the same are provided. The SRAM memory cell structure comprises strained PMOS transistors formed in a semiconductor substrate. The PMOS transistors comprise epitaxial grown source/drain regions that result in significant PMOS transistor drive current increase. An insulation layer is formed atop an STI that is used to electrically isolate adjacent PMOS transistors. The insulation layer is substantially elevated from the semiconductor substrate surface. The elevated insulation layer facilitates the formation of desirable thick epitaxial source/drain regions, and prevents the bridging between adjacent epitaxial layers due to the epitaxial layer lateral extension during the process of growing epitaxial sour/drain regions. The processing steps of forming the elevated insulation layer are compatible with a conventional CMOS process flow. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090273052 | Reducing Device Performance Drift Caused by Large Spacings Between Action Regions - A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a first and a second MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a first gate over the first active region. The second MOS device includes a second active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate over the second active region. The method further include forming a dielectric region between the first and the second active regions, wherein the dielectric region has an inherent stress; and implanting the dielectric region to form a stress-released region in the dielectric region, wherein source and drain regions of the first and the second MOS devices are not implanted during the step of implanting. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090273055 | Fuse Structure - An electrical fuse and a method of forming the same are presented. A first-layer conductive line is formed over a base material. A via is formed over the first-layer conductive line. The via preferably comprises a barrier layer and a conductive material. A second-layer conductive line is formed over the via. A first external pad is formed coupling to the first-layer conductive line. A second external pad is formed coupling to the second-layer conductive line. The via, the first conductive line and the second conductive line are adapted to be an electrical fuse. The electrical fuse can be burned out by applying a current. The vertical structure of the preferred embodiment is suitable to be formed in any layer. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090286384 | Dishing-free gap-filling with multiple CMPs - A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming patterned features over the semiconductor substrate, wherein gaps are formed between the patterned features; filling the gaps with a first filling material, wherein the first filling material has a first top surface higher than top surfaces of the patterned features; and performing a first planarization to lower the top surface of the first filling material, until the top surfaces of the patterned features are exposed. The method further includes depositing a second filling material, wherein the second filling material has a second top surface higher than the top surfaces of the patterned features; and performing a second planarization to lower the top surface of the second filling material, until the top surfaces of the patterned features are exposed. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20100013029 | Structure and a Method of Manufacture for Low Resistance NiSix - A device and a method for forming a metal silicide is presented. A device, which includes a gate region, a source region, and a drain region, is formed on a substrate. A metal is disposed on the substrate, followed by a first anneal, forming a metal silicide on at least one of the gate region, the source region, and the drain region. The unreacted metal is removed from the substrate. The metal silicide is implanted with atoms. The implant is followed by a super anneal of the substrate. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100022061 | Spacer Shape Engineering for Void-Free Gap-Filling Process - A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate spacer adjacent to a sidewall of the gate stack; thinning the gate spacer; and forming a secondary gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate spacer after the step of thinning the gate spacer. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100062577 | HIGH-K METAL GATE STRUCTURE FABRICATION METHOD INCLUDING HARD MASK - Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including a high-k metal gate structure. A substrate is provided including a dummy gate structure (e.g., a sacrificial polysilicon gate), a first and second hard mask layer overlie the dummy gate structure. In one embodiment, a strained region is formed on the substrate. After forming the strained region, the second hard mask layer may be removed. A source/drain region may be formed. An ILD layer is then formed on the substrate. A CMP process may planarize the ILD layer using the first hard mask layer as a stop layer. The CMP process may be continued to remove the first hard mask layer. The dummy gate structure is then removed and a metal gate provided. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100078695 | Low Leakage Capacitors Including Portions in Inter-Layer Dielectrics - An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region; an insulation region in the second region of the semiconductor substrate; and an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the insulation region. A transistor is in the first region. The transistor includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. A first conductive line and a second conductive line are over the insulation region. The first conductive line and the second conductive line are substantially parallel to each other and extending in a first direction. A first metal line and a second metal line are in a bottom metal layer (M | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100155783 | Standard Cell Architecture and Methods with Variable Design Rules - Structures and methods for standard cell layouts having variable rules for spacing of layers to cell boundaries are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first standard cell layout is provided with a conductive layer having at least two portions spaced apart by a minimum spacing distance, the conductive layer having at least one portion spaced from a cell boundary by a first spacing distance of less than half of the minimum spacing distance; a second standard cell disposed adjacent the first standard cell with at least one second portion of the conductive layer in the second cell disposed adjacent the first portion in the first standard cell and spaced apart from a common cell boundary by a second spacing greater than half of the minimum; wherein the sum of the first and second spacings is at least as great as the minimum spacing. A method for forming standard is disclosed. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100159685 | Eliminating Poly Uni-Direction Line-End Shortening Using Second Cut - A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a substrate including a first active region and a second active region; forming a gate electrode layer over the substrate; and etching the gate electrode layer. The remaining portions of the gate electrode layer include a first gate strip and a second gate strip substantially parallel to each other; and a sacrificial strip unparallel to, and interconnecting, the first gate strip and the second gate strip. The sacrificial strip is between the first active region and the second active region. The method further includes forming a mask layer covering portions of the first gate strip and the second gate strip, wherein the sacrificial strip and portions of the first gate strip and the second gate strip are exposed through an opening in the mask layer; and etching the sacrificial strip and the portions of the first gate strip and the second gate strip through the opening. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100285643 | Modifying Work Function in PMOS Devices by Counter-Doping - A semiconductor structure comprising an SRAM/inverter cell and a method for forming the same are provided, wherein the SRAM/inverter cell has an improved write margin. The SRAM/inverter cell includes a pull-up PMOS device comprising a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode on the gate dielectric wherein the gate electrode comprises a p-type impurity and an n-type impurity, and a stressor formed in a source/drain region. The device drive current of the pull-up PMOS device is reduced due to the counter-doping of the gate electrode. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110076813 | Semiconductor Device with both I/O and Core Components and Method of Fabricating Same - A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110133276 | Gate Dielectric Formation for High-Voltage MOS Devices - An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a high-voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor (HVMOS) device, which includes a first high-voltage well (HVW) region of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate; a drain region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate and spaced apart from the first HVW region; a gate dielectric with at least a portion directly over the first HVW region; and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. The gate dielectric includes a bottom gate oxide region; and a silicon nitride region over the bottom gate oxide region. | 06-09-2011 |
