Abstract:
The present disclosure describes apparatuses and methods for manufacturing programmable memory devices with optimized gate oxide thickness. In some aspects, lithography masks are used to fabricate oxide gates for programmable memory devices of an integrated-circuit (IC) die that are thinner than oxide gates fabricated for processor core devices of the IC die. In other aspects, lithography masks are used to fabricate oxide gates for the programmable memory devices of the IC die such that they are thicker than the oxide gates fabricated for the processor core devices of the IC die. By so doing, the programmable memory devices can be manufactured with optimized gate oxide thickness that may reduce programming voltage or increase device reliability of the programmable memory devices.
Abstract:
A method of forming vias aligned with metal lines in an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes: forming a stacked dielectric, capped, hard mask, and first film and photoresist layers; patterning first photoresist layer to provide metal line masks; etching hard mask layer based on patterned first photoresist layer to form metal line masks; ashing first photoresist and film layers; forming second film and photoresist layers on hard mask layer; patterning second photoresist layer to form via masks across opposing sides of metal line masks; etching second film and capped layers based on patterned second photoresist layer; ashing second photoresist and film layers; etching dielectric and capped layers based on a pattern of hard mask layer to provide via and metal line regions; etching hard mask and capped layers; and performing dual damascene process operations to form vias and metal lines in via and metal line regions.
Abstract:
A memory includes a module and a demultiplexer. The module is configured to monitor outputs of sense amplifiers. Each of the outputs of the sense amplifiers is configured to be in a first state or a second state. The module is configured to determine that two or more of the outputs of the sense amplifiers are in a same state. The same state is the first state or the second state. The module is configured to output the state of the two or more outputs of the sense amplifiers. The demultiplexer is configured to provide the state of the two or more outputs of the sense amplifiers to a latch.
Abstract:
A method including: forming a stack of resistive layers; prior to or subsequent to forming the stack of resistive layers, forming a conductive layer; applying a mask layer on the stack of resistive layers or the conductive layer; forming a first spacer on the mask layer; and etching away a first portion of the mask layer using the first spacer as a first mask to provide a remainder. The method further includes: forming a second spacer on the stack of the resistive layers or the conductive layer and the remainder of the mask layer; etching away a second portion of the remainder of the mask layer to form an island; and using the island as a second mask, etching the stack of the resistive layers to form a resistive element of a memory, and etching the conductive layer to form a conductive element of the memory.
Abstract:
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate including a surface having a planar portion and a fin feature extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar portion and having a thickness less than a thickness of the substrate. The apparatus also includes a first transistor that includes a first gate region formed over the fin feature, a first source region formed from a body of the fin feature, and a first drain region formed from the body of the fin feature. Additionally, the apparatus includes a second transistor that includes a second gate region formed over the fin feature, a second source region formed from the body of the fin feature, and a second drain region formed from the body of the fin feature. Further, the apparatus includes an isolation component formed between the first transistor and the second transistor, where the isolation component has a width less than 30 nm.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes aspects of a sub-device field-effect transistor architecture for integrated circuits. In some aspects, an integrated field-effect transistor (FET) is implemented with multiple FET sub-devices. During operation, source-side FET sub-devices of the integrated FET may operate in the linear region instead of in saturation. Operating in the linear region, the source-side FET sub-devices of the integrated FET may exhibit less threshold voltage or current sensitivity than other drain-side FET sub-devices that operate in saturation. A device layout of the integrated FET may be designed such that the less sensitive source-side FET sub-devices surround or protect the other more sensitive drain-side FET sub-devices from random variations or density issues at edges of the device layout. By so doing, a threshold voltage or current sensitivity of the integrated FET may be reduced, resulting in improved matching between integrated FET devices.
Abstract:
In an embodiment, a method comprises: forming a fin feature on a portion of a surface of a substrate; forming a first region of polycrystalline silicon over a first portion of the fin feature; forming a second region of polycrystalline silicon over a second portion of the fin feature; forming a third region of polycrystalline silicon over a third portion of the fin feature, wherein the third region of polycrystalline silicon is disposed between (i) the first region and (ii) the second region; forming a first spacer region between the first region and the third region; forming a second spacer region between the second region and the third region; removing the third region and at least a portion of the fin feature formed under the third region to thereby form a gap; and disposing a second dielectric material into the gap to form an isolation component.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes apparatuses and methods for manufacturing programmable memory devices with optimized gate oxide thickness. In some aspects, lithography masks are used to fabricate oxide gates for programmable memory devices of an integrated-circuit (IC) die that are thinner than oxide gates fabricated for processor core devices of the IC die. In other aspects, lithography masks are used to fabricate oxide gates for the programmable memory devices of the IC die such that they are thicker than the oxide gates fabricated for the processor core devices of the IC die. By so doing, the programmable memory devices can be manufactured with optimized gate oxide thickness that may reduce programming voltage or increase device reliability of the programmable memory devices.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first surface, a second surface that is disposed opposite to the first surface, wherein at least a portion of the first surface is recessed to form a recessed region of the semiconductor substrate, and one or more vias formed in the recessed region of the semiconductor substrate to provide an electrical or thermal pathway between the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a die coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the die being electrically coupled to the one or more vias formed in the recessed region of the semiconductor substrate. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
Abstract:
In an embodiment, a method comprises: forming a fin feature on a portion of a surface of a substrate; forming a first region of polycrystalline silicon over a first portion of the fin feature; forming a second region of polycrystalline silicon over a second portion of the fin feature; forming a third region of polycrystalline silicon over a third portion of the fin feature, wherein the third region of polycrystalline silicon is disposed between (i) the first region and (ii) the second region; forming a first spacer region between the first region and the third region; forming a second spacer region between the second region and the third region; removing the third region and at least a portion of the fin feature formed under the third region to thereby form a gap; and disposing a second dielectric material into the gap to form an isolation component.