Micron Technology Incorporated

Micron Semiconductor, Inc.

Shubneesh Batra

Gurtej S Sandhu

Monte Manning

Pierre C Fazan

Sanjay K Banerjee

Troy A Manning

Chris G Martin

Kenneth William Marr

John Damiano, Jr

Charles H Dennison

Tyler A Lowrey

Todd A Merritt

Luan C Tran

Christophe Pierrat

Stephen L Casper

Brian M Shirley

Brian L Brown

Ming-Bo Liu

Christopher B Cooper

LeTien Jung

Salman Akram

Brent Keeth

John K Zahurak

Brian L Johnson

Zhiqiang (Jeff) Wu

Howard Kirsch

Todd R Abbott

Michael D Chaine

Chih-Chen Cho

Rongsheng Yang

Robert B Kerr

Xianfeng Zhou

Eric J Smith

H Monte Manning

Donald M Morgan

Jeff Honeycutt

The invention provides a method of forming an electron memory storage device and the resulting device. The device comprises a gate structure which, in form, comprises a first gate insulating layer formed over a semiconductor substrate, a self-forming electron trapping layer of noble metal nano-crystals formed over the first gate insulating layer, a second gate insulating layer formed over the electron trapping layer, a gate electrode formed over the second gate insulating layer, and source and drain regions formed on opposite sides of the gate structure.

Method of forming a non-volatile electron storage memory and the resulting device

Multiple trench depths within an integrated circuit device are formed by first forming trenches in a substrate to a first depth, but of varying widths. Formation of a dielectric layer can cause some of the trenches to fill or close off while leaving other, wider trenches open. Removal of a portion of the dielectric material can then be tailored to expose a bottom of the open trenches while leaving remaining trenches filled. Removal of exposed portions of the underlying substrate can then be used to selectively deepen the open trenches, which can subsequently be filled. Such methods can be used to form trenches of varying depths without the need for subsequent masking.

Multiple-depth STI trenches in integrated circuit fabrication

A method of forming a thin film transistor relative to a substrate includes, a) providing a thin film transistor layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate, the polycrystalline material comprising grain boundaries; b) providing a fluorine containing layer adjacent the polycrystalline thin film layer; c) annealing the fluorine containing layer at a temperature and for a time period which in combination are effective to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries; and d) providing a transistor gate operatively adjacent the thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor can be fabricated to be bottom gated or top gated. A buffering layer can be provided intermediate the thin film transistor layer and the fluorine containing layer, with the buffering layer being transmissive of fluorine from the fluorine containing layer during the annealing. Preferably, the annealing temperature is both sufficiently high to drive fluorine from the fluorine containing layer into the polycrystalline thin film layer and incorporate fluorine within the grain boundaries to passivate said grain boundaries, but sufficiently low to prevent chemical reaction of the fluorine containing layer with the polycrystalline thin film layer.

Method of forming a thin film transistor

Thin film transistors and semiconductor constructions

An interconnection array subunit and method for forming the interconnection array subunit are provided, the interconnection array subunit including a first pair of line conductors in first and second regions, the first pair of line conductors including a first true line conductor and a first associated complementary line conductor connected and vertically twisted in a vertical twisting region between the first and second regions. The interconnection array subunit also includes a second pair of line conductors adjacent to the first pair of line conductors in the first and second regions, the second pair of line conductors including a second true line conductor and a second associated complementary line conductor. The interconnection array subunit also includes a first interconnection layer disposed in the vertical twisting region, the first interconnection layer connecting the second associated complementary line conductor in the first region to the second associated complementary line conductor in the second region. The interconnection array subunit also includes a second interconnection layer disposed in the vertical twisting region, the second interconnection layer connecting the second true line conductor in the first region to the second true line conductor in the second region. The first true line conductor is disposed below the first associated complementary line conductor in the first region and above the first associated complementary line conductor in the second region. The second true line conductor is disposed below the second associated complementary line conductor in the first and second regions.

Vertical twist scheme for high-density DRAMs

A method of reducing parasitic capacitance in an integrated circuit having three or more metal levels is described. The method comprises forming a bond pad at least partially exposed at the top surface of the integrated circuit, forming a metal pad on the metal level below the bond pad and forming an underlying metal pad on each of the one or more lower metal levels. In the illustrated embodiments, the ratio of an area of at least one of the underlying metal pads to the area of the bond pad is less than 30%. Parasitic capacitance is thus greatly reduced and signal propagation speeds improved.

Method and structures for reduced parasitic capacitance in integrated circuit metallizations

An antifuse structure and method of use are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention a first programming voltage is coupled to a well of a first conductivity type in a substrate of a second conductivity type in an antifuse. A second programming voltage is coupled to a conductive terminal of the second conductivity type in the antifuse to create a current path through an insulator between the conductive terminal and the well to program the antifuse. The first programming voltage may be coupled to an ohmic contact in the well in the antifuse.

Antifuse structure and method of use

In one aspect, the invention encompasses a method of forming a polished material. A substrate is provided and an elevational step is provided relative to the substrate. The elevational step has an uppermost surface. A material is formed beside the elevational step. The material extends to above the elevational step uppermost surface and has lower and upper layers. The lower layer polishes at slower rate than the upper layer under common polishing conditions. The lower layer joins the upper layer at an interface. The material is polished down to about the elevational level of the elevational step uppermost surface utilizing the common polishing conditions. In another aspect, the invention encompasses a method of forming an isolation region. A substrate is provided. The substrate has an opening extending therein and a surface proximate the opening. A material is formed within the opening. The material extends to above the substrate surface, and comprises a lower layer and an upper layer. The lower layer is more dense than the upper layer, and joins the upper layer at an interface that extends to at or below an elevational level of the substrate surface. The material is polished at least down to about the elevational level of the substrate surface.

Methods of forming polished material and methods of forming isolation regions

Impurities are added to a conductor layer in a semiconductor process to prevent formation of void spaces and encourage complete filling of contacts. The impurities reduce the melting point and surface tension of a conductor layer, thereby improving filling characteristics during a reflow step. The impurities may be added at any time during the process, including during conductor deposition and/or reflow.

Low temperature reflow method for filling high aspect ratio contacts

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

Shubneesh Batra