Abstract:
An exemplary ESD protection device is adapted for a high-voltage tolerant I/O circuit and includes a stacked transistor and a gate-grounded transistor e.g., a non-lightly doped drain type gate-grounded transistor. The stacked transistor and the gate-grounded transistor are electrically coupled in parallel between an I/O pad and a grounding voltage of the high-voltage tolerant I/O circuit.
Abstract:
An AC stress test circuit for HCI degradation evaluation in semiconductor devices includes a ring oscillator circuit, first and second pads, and first and second isolating switches. The ring oscillator circuit has a plurality of stages connected in series to form a loop. Each of the stages comprises a first node and a second node. The first and second isolating switches respectively connect the first and second pads to the first and second nodes of a designated stage and both are switched-off during ring oscillator stressing of the designated stage. The present invention also provides a method of evaluating AC stress induced HCI degradation, and a test structure.
Abstract:
A wafer level test structure in which, a heating plate is formed on the wafer for heating a structure to be tested positioned above or adjacent to the heating plate. The heating plate produces heat by electrically connecting to a current. Thus, the heat provided by the heating plate and the electric input/output into/from the structure to be tested are controlled separately and not influenced each other.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses a wafer level test structure and a test method; in which, a heating plate is formed on the wafer for heating a structure to be tested positioned above or adjacent to the heating plate. The heating plate produces heat by electrically connecting to a current. Thus, the heat provided by the heating plate and the electric input/output into/from the structure to be tested are controlled separately and not influenced each other.
Abstract:
A yield enhancement system has a fabrication line with semiconductor fabrication devices for fabricating a wafer, an inspection and measurement monitoring system coupled to the fabrication line for determining process data corresponding to semiconductor fabrication devices, and a post-process testing line coupled to the fabrication line for performing in-line wafer-level testing. The post-process testing line includes a wafer acceptance tester, a yield monitor coupled to the wafer acceptance tester, and a wafer level reliability tester coupled to the wafer acceptance tester for estimating a life span of a device on the wafer.
Abstract:
A method of reducing junction capacitance of a source/drain region. A gate oxide layer is formed on a first conductive type substrate. A polysilicon layer is formed and patterned on the gate. Light second conductive type ions are implanted into the substrate with the polysilicon layer as a mask. An insulation layer is formed to cover a side wall of the polysilicon layer. A first step heavy of ion implantation with second conductive type ions is perform to the substrate using the polysilicon layer and the spacer as mask, so that a heavily doped region is formed. A second step of heavy ion implantation with the second conductive type ions is performed to the substrate using the polysilicon layer and the spacer as masks, so that the heavily doped region is broadened and deepened with a smooth ion distribution profile.
Abstract:
A method for eliminating plasma-induced charging damage during manufacture of an integrated circuit is described. A semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type is provided. An oxide layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. An opening is formed in the oxide layer. A polysilicon layer is formed over the oxide layer and in the opening. A diffusion region is formed in the semiconductor substrate, connected to the polysilicon layer through the opening, having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, whereby a buried contact is formed. The buried contact is connected, through the substrate, to a ground reference. Further processing in a plasma environment is performed that would normally produce charging damage to the integrated circuit, but whereby the buried contact prevents the charging damage.
Abstract:
The invention describes recessed source/drain regions formed in trenches in the substrate that provide a smooth surface topology, smaller devils and improved device performance. The recessed source/drain regions have two conductive regions: the first upper lightly doped region on the trench sidewalls, and the second lower region under the trench bottom. In addition, two buried layers are formed between adjacent source/drain regions: a threshold voltage layer near the substrate surface and an anti-punchthrough layer formed at approximately the same depth as the lower source/drain regions on the trench bottoms. The upper lightly doped source/drain region and the anti-punchthrough layer have the effect of increasing the punchthrough voltage without increasing the threshold voltage. The upper and lower source/drain regions lower the overall resistivity of the source/drain allowing use of smaller line pitches and therefore smaller devils. Overall, the recessed source/drain regions and the two buried layers allow the formation of smaller devices with improved performance.
Abstract:
A multi-state read-only-memory device and a method for fabricating the same is suitable for forming on a semiconductor substrate. The read-only memory device is provided with bit lines and word lines which are mutually intersecting. In accordance with the present invention, multiple polysilicon selective deposition procedures are utilized to form a plurality of protrusion portions onto the word lines but with multiple thicknesses. Then, one implantation procedure is applied to program the device into multiple states at the same time without incurring misalignment problems that result in inaccuracy.