Abstract:
Methods and structures for forming localized, differently-strained regions in a semiconductor layer on a substrate are described. An initial, unstrained, semiconductor-on-insulator substrate may be processed to form the differently-strained regions in the original semiconductor layer. The differently-strained regions may have opposite types of strain. The strains in the different regions may be formed independently.
Abstract:
A method for making a semiconductor device includes forming laterally spaced-apart semiconductor fins above a substrate. At least one dielectric layer is formed adjacent an end portion of the semiconductor fins and within the space between adjacent semiconductor fins. A pair of sidewall spacers is formed adjacent outermost semiconductor fins at the end portion of the semiconductor fins. The at least one dielectric layer and end portion of the semiconductor fins between the pair of sidewall spacers are removed. Source/drain regions are formed between the pair of sidewall spacers.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit transistor is formed on a substrate. A trench in the substrate is at least partially filled with a metal material to form a source (or drain) contact buried in the substrate. The substrate further includes a source (or drain) region in the substrate which is in electrical connection with the source (or drain) contact. The substrate further includes a channel region adjacent to the source (or drain) region. A gate dielectric is provided on top of the channel region and a gate electrode is provided on top of the gate dielectric. The substrate may be of the silicon on insulator (SOI) or bulk type. The buried source (or drain) contact makes electrical connection to a side of the source (or drain) region using a junction provided at a same level of the substrate as the source (or drain) and channel regions.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit die includes a substrate having a first layer of semiconductor material, a layer of dielectric material on the first layer of semiconductor material, and a second layer of semiconductor material on the layer of dielectric material. An extended channel region of a transistor is positioned in the second layer of semiconductor material, interacting with a top surface, side surfaces, and potentially portions of a bottom surface of the second layer of semiconductor material. A gate dielectric is positioned on a top surface and on the exposed side surface of the second layer of semiconductor material. A gate electrode is positioned on the top surface and the exposed side surface of the second layer of semiconductor material.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a sensor chip including at least one sensing device and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive configuration data as input, and acquire data from the at least one sensing device in accordance with the configuration data. The control circuit classifies a context of the at least one sensing device relative to its surroundings based on analysis of the acquired data in accordance with the configuration data.
Abstract:
An electronic device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one conductive trace thereon. A system on chip (SoC) is mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the conductive trace. A sensor chip is mounted on the PCB in a spaced apart relation with the SoC and electrically coupled to the conductive trace such that the sensor chip and SoC are electrically coupled. The sensor chip includes an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive configuration data as input, acquire data from the accelerometer and/or the gyroscope. The control circuit is also configured to process the data so as to generate a context of the electronic device relative to its surroundings, the processing being performed in using a processing technique operating in accordance with the configuration data, and output the context.
Abstract:
A thermoelectric device includes a plurality of thin-film thermoelectric elements. Each thin-film thermoelectric element is a Seebeck-Peltier device. The thin-film thermoelectric elements are electrically coupled in parallel with each other. The thermoelectric device may be fabricated using conventional semiconductor processing technologies and may be a thin-film type device.
Abstract:
A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a dummy gate above a semiconductor layer on an insulating layer, forming sidewall spacers above the semiconductor layer and on opposing sides of the dummy gate, forming source and drain regions on opposing sides of the sidewall spacers, and removing the dummy gate and underlying portions of the semiconductor layer between the sidewall spacers to provide a thinned channel region having a thickness less than a remainder of the semiconductor layer outside the thinned channel region. The method may further include forming a replacement gate stack over the thinned channel region and between the sidewall spacers and having a lower portion extending below a level of adjacent bottom portions of the sidewall spacers.
Abstract:
A method of making an inkjet print head may include forming, by sawing with a rotary saw blade, continuous slotted recesses in a first surface of a wafer. The continuous slotted recesses may be arranged in parallel, spaced apart relation, and each continuous slotted recess may extend continuously across the first surface. The method may further include forming discontinuous slotted recesses in a second surface of the wafer to be aligned and coupled in communication with the continuous slotted recesses to define alternating through-wafer channels and slotted recess portions. The method may further include selectively filling the residual slotted recess portions to define through-wafer ink channels.
Abstract:
Methods and structures for forming strained-channel finFETs are described. Fin structures for finFETs may be formed using two epitaxial layers of different lattice constants that are grown over a bulk substrate. A first thin, strained, epitaxial layer may be cut to form strain-relieved base structures for fins. The base structures may be constrained in a strained-relieved state. Fin structures may be epitaxially grown in a second layer over the base structures. The constrained base structures can cause higher amounts of strain to form in the epitaxially-grown fins than would occur for non-constrained base structures.