A novel 3-D BiCMOS technology using selective epitaxy growth (SEG)and lateral solid phase epitaxial (LSPE)

In this paper, a novel three-dimensional (3-D) BiCMOS technology is proposed and demonstrated. In this technology, the NMOS transistor is fabricated on the bulk substrate (bottom layer) and the PMOS transistor is fabricated on the single-crystal top layer obtained using the selective epitaxy growth (SEG) and lateral solid phase epitaxy (LSPE). In addition, the BJT is fabricated in the SEG region. The mobility of the PMOS transistors fabricated on the top layer is only approximately 5% lower than that of the PMOS fabricated on SOI, and the BJTs also have high performance with a peak f_T of 17 GHz and f_max of 14 GHz at V_ce=3 V. This 3-D BiCMOS technology is very promising for low power, high speed, and high frequency integrated circuit applications     

Substrate coupling evaluation in BiCMOS technology

The magnitude of switching noise coupled through common substrate in BiCMOS technology is analyzed. Noise dependence on collector resistance and buried layer doping of the noisy bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is obtained by means of simulation. It is observed that trends are different depending on bipolar transistor biasing: in common-collector, a low collector resistance is desired, while in common-emitter biasing, large values of Rc make the transistor less noisy. A test chip is fabricated in 3-μm BiCMOS technology to measure the substrate coupling produced by different BICMOS inverter gates. These experimental measurements show that noise increases with transistor size and collector resistance. Dependence on distance and speed of signal are also obtained, together with the effect of a guard ring     

Shallow buried channel gated BJT on TFSOI substrate

The gated BJT structure is inherently suitable for SOI BiCMOS technology. However, being a surface channel device, it suffers higher noise and degraded carrier transport. In this study, a novel shallow buried channel design on TFSOI is proposed. Devices with various geometries have been fabricated with a simple CMOS-compatible process. These devices have low turn-on voltage, ideal BJT I-V characteristics with current gain higher than 1000, and a maximum transconductance of 290 mS/mm for a 0.5 μm channel length and 15 nm gate oxide. Careful measurements show that an order of magnitude improvement in noise performance can be expected from the buried channel operation. These devices are suitable for various BiCMOS applications     

Scaling of digital BiCMOS circuits

A generalized first-order scaling theory for BiCMOS digital circuit structures is presented. The effect of horizontal, vertical, and voltage scaling on the speed performance of various BiCMOS circuits is presented. The generalized scaling theory is used for the MOSFET, and the constant collector current (CIC) scaling scheme is used for the bipolar junction transistor (BJT). In scaling the bipolar transistor, polysilicon emitter contact and bandgap narrowing are taken into account. A case study for scaling BiCMOS circuits operating at 5- and 3.3-V power supplies shows that scaling improved BiCMOS buffers more significantly than CMOS buffers. Moreover, the low delay-to-load sensitivity of BiCMOS is preserved with scaling     

Scaled CMOS technology using SEG isolation and buried well process

An advanced bulk CMOS technology has been developed using the selective epitaxial growth (SEG) isolation technique and buried n-well process. CMOS devices are fabricated on a selective epitaxial layer, isolated by a thick SiO2insulator over the p⁺substrate. p-channel devices are designed on buried n-wells, formed by introducing a phosphorus ion implantation into the p⁺substrate before the epitaxial growth. The use of an SiO2sidewall and square side direction is effective for defect-free selective epitaxy. The epitaxial autodoping effect from the p⁺substrate and the buried layer is estimated to be within less than 1 µm. A 20-nm-thick gate oxide and 500-nm-thick phosphorus-doped polysilicon gate electrode are used for both channel devices. Submicrometer gate CMOS operation is confirmed using the SEG isolation technique. This isolation structure, combined with the buried well, shows large latchup immunity for scaled CMOS circuits.     

The SCC BJT: a high-performance bipolar transistor compatible withhigh-density deep-submicrometer BiCMOS SRAM technologies

We present the process development and device characterization of the Selectively Compensated Collector (SCC) BJT specifically designed for high-density deep-submicrometer BiCMOS SRAM technologies. This double-poly BJT takes advantage of the self-aligned polysilicon layers of the SRAM bit cell to obtain high performance without adding excessive process complexity. Furthermore, although an NPN device, the SCC BJT is formed in a lightly doped p-well in which the collector is formed with a single 370 keV phosphorus implant to minimize parasitic junction capacitances without the use of trench isolation or recessed oxides. The suitability of this bipolar structure outside of its original FSRAM intent is proven with its potential for bipolar logic and mixed-mode RF applications. ECL delays of 50 ps at 200 μA and a CML power-delay product of 4.5 fJ at 1.1 V supply were obtained. A 900 MHz noise figure as low as 0.54 dB at 0.5 mA with an associated gain of 14.7 dB was demonstrated as well as a dual modulus ÷4/5 prescaler operating up to 3.3 GHz for a switch current of 200 μA     

Characteristics of low-leakage deep-trench diode for ESD protection design in 0.18-/spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS process

This paper proposes a novel low-leakage BiCMOS deep-trench (DT) diode in a 0.18-/spl mu/m silicon germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS process. By means of the DT and an n/sup +/ buried layer in the SiGe BiCMOS process, a parasitic vertical p-n-p bipolar transistor with an open-base configuration is formed in the BiCMOS DT diode. Based on the two-dimensional (2-D) simulation and measured results, the BiCMOS DT diode indeed has the lowest substrate leakage current as compared to the conventional p/sup +//n-well diode even at high temperature conditions, which mainly results from the existence of the parasitic open-base bipolar transistor. Considering the applications of the diode string in electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit designs, the BiCMOS DT diode string also provides a good ESD performance. Owing to the characteristics of the low leakage current and high ESD robustness, it is very convenient for circuit designers to use the BiCMOS DT diode string in their IC designs.     

A shallow buried-layer formation technique utilizing diffusion fromimplanted polysilicon layer

A shallow buried-layer (0.25~0.50 μm) formation technique utilizing diffusion from an arsenic-implanted polysilicon layer is discussed. The polysilicon layer is removed by converting it into an oxide layer and wet etching the oxide layer. Vertical n-p-n bipolar transistors are fabricated on epitaxial layers deposited on buried layers formed utilizing this technique. The transistor characteristics indicate that high-quality epitaxial layers can be grown on these buried layers. Using this technique, a buried layer with a sheet resistance of 28 Ω/□ and a junction depth of ~0.4 μm was obtained (prior to the epitaxial growth)     

Quasi-dielectrically isolated bipolar junction transistor withsubcollector fabricated using silicon selective epitaxy

A novel quasi-dielectrically isolated bipolar junction transistor (QDI-BJT) was developed for intelligent power ICs. Using a combination of junction and dielectric isolation, the QDI-BJT was achieved by selective epitaxial growth (SEG) of single-crystal silicon in an oxide-lined trench. Buried collectors formed by ion implantation and in situ doped SEG silicon drastically reduce collector resistance with no detrimental effects on transistor performance. The emitter-base and collector-base ideality factors at 1.10 and 1.09, respectively, were very close to those of similar devices fabricated in the substrate in the same die, indicating excellent crystal quality of the SEG silicon. Due to the use of a trench structure to facilitate isolation and control the SEG thickness, the QDI process can be used for any application where the thickness and resistivity of the control and power areas are independently optimized     

SiGe BiCMOS工艺中HBT的关键制造工艺研究

研究了0.18μm SiGe BiCMOS中的核心器件SiGe HBT的关键制造工艺,包括集电极的形成、SiGe基区的淀积、发射极窗口的形成、发射极多晶的淀积、深孔刻蚀等,指出了这些制造工艺的难点和问题,提出了解决办法,并报导了解决相关难题的实验结果。     

High-gain lateral p-n-p bipolar action in a p-MOSFET structure

Lateral p-n-p bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) fabricated using a bulk 0.25 μm CMOS technology are presented. The devices are structurally the same as p-MOSFETs in which the gate and the n-well are internally connected to form the base. The p-n-p BJT has an adjustable current gain which can be higher than 1000 and its peak cutoff frequency is 3.7 GHz. Since the lateral p-n-p BJT is fully process compatible with submicrometer CMOS and/or BiCMOS technologies, extension to a BiCMOS and/or complementary BiCMOS process is readily achieved     

High-speed BiCMOS technology with a buried twin well structure

A buried twin well and polysilicon emitter structure is developed for high-speed BiCMOS VLSI's. A bipolar transistor of high cutoff frequency (fT= 4 GHz) and small size (500 µm²) has been fabricated on the same chip with a standard 2-µm CMOS, without degrading the device characteristics of the MOSFET. Latchup immunity is improved due to the low well resistance of the buried layer. The well triggering current is a 0.5-1.0 order of magnitude higher than that of a standard n-well CMOS. To evaluate the utility of this technology, a 15-stage ring oscillator of the 2NAND BiCMOS gate is fabricated. The gate has a 0.71-ns propagation delay time and 0.25-mW power dissipation at 0.85-pF loading capacitance and 4-MHz operation. Drive ability is 0.24 ns/pF, which is 2.5 times larger than that of the equal-area CMOS gate.     

The design and characterization of nonoverlapping superself-aligned BiCMOS technology

An optimal device structure for integrating bipolar and CMOS is described. Process design and device performance are discussed. Both the vertical n-p-n and MOS devices have non-overlapping super self-aligned (NOVA) structures. The base-collector and source/drain junction capacitances are significantly reduced. This structure allows complete silicidation of active polysilicon electrodes, cutting down the parasitic resistances of source, drain, and extrinsic base. The critical gate and emitter regions are protected from direct reactive ion etching exposure and damage. All shallow junctions are contacted by polysilicon electrodes which suppress silicide-induced leakage. An arsenic buried layer minimizes collector resistance and collector-substrate capacitance. A novel selective epitaxy capping technique suppresses lateral autodoping from the arsenic buried layer. Fully recessed oxide with polysilicon buffer layer is used to achieve a low defect density device isolation. CMOS with L_eff=1.1 μm and W _n/W_p=10 μm/10 μm exhibits averaged ring oscillator delay of 128 ps/stage. An n-p-n transistor with f_T, of 14 GHz and low-power emitter-coupled logic ring oscillator with a delay of 97 ps/stage have been fabricated     

A very small bipolar transistor technology with sidewall polycidebase electrode for ECL-CMOS LSIs

Very small, high-performance, silicon bipolar transistors (SPOTEC) are developed for use in ECL-CMOS LSIs. The transistors are fabricated with a sidewall polycide base; chemical vapor deposition is used to selectively deposit tungsten on the sidewall surface of the polysilicon base. The tungsten is then silicided. This self-aligned polycide technology makes a narrow (0.4-μm wide), low-resistance (7 Ω/□) base electrode possible. Narrow U-groove isolation and narrow collector metallization techniques are used to reduce the transistor area to 10 μm². A shallow E-B junction and base layer have now been formed by using rapid-vapor-phase doping. The resulting transistors have good I-V characteristics without leakage current or high current gain. They have a high cut-off frequency of 37 GHz (53 GHz with pedestal collector ion implantation and thin epitaxial layer) and small junction capacitances. These transistors facilitate the development of very-high-speed, high-density ULSIs     

一种单层多晶硅BiCMOS工艺研究

介绍了一种单层多晶硅ＣＭＯＳ工艺。该工艺采用Ｐ型衬底,Ｎ型Ｐ型双埋层,Ｎ型薄外延结构,掺杂多晶硅作为ＣＭＯＳ晶体管栅极和双极ＮＰＮ晶体管的发射极。ＣＭＯＳ晶体管采用源漏自对准结构,钛和铝双层金属作为元件互连线,ＰＥＣＶＤＳｉＮｘ介质作为钝化薄膜。     

A process for the combined fabrication of ion sensors and CMOScircuits

A novel process for the fabrication of ion-selective field-effect transistors (ISFETs) together with CMOS circuits on the same chip is reported. The process is based on a standard 2-μm, n-well, CMOS process, which is only modified starting at the metal interconnect step. The interconnect layer used is tungsten silicide. ISFETs are fabricated with floating polysilicon gates, which are exposed to photolithographic masking and HF etching before silicon nitride is deposited on the wafer. This layer of Si₃N₄ acts both as the pH-sensitive insulator for the ISFETs and as a protection layer for the on-chip circuitry buried beneath it. A source-follower circuit is described that provides an output voltage dependent on the threshold-voltage variations of the sensing transistor     

A 0.5-μm very-high-speed silicon bipolar devices technologyU-groove-isolated SICOS

A 0.5-μm high-performance silicon bipolar technology is developed and a very-high-speed emitter-coupled-logic (ECL) circuit is demonstrated. Circuits are fabricated with a 0.5-μm SICOS (sidewall base contact structure) technology featuring U-groove isolation, a shallow impurity profile, and reduced base resistance. A U-groove-isolated SICOS structure is realized by the new self-alignment technology using the double polysilicon planarization method. To reduce the extrinsic base resistance, a large-grain base polysilicon is grown from the amorphous silicon layer. A greatly reduced substrate capacitance and small base resistance are obtained. Using these technologies, a minimum ECL gate delay of 27 ps at F_in =1 is realized. A 20-ps ECL gate will be possible in a device having a smaller emitter and the optimal graft base depth     

Three-Dimensional Integration Technology Based on Wafer Bonding With Vertical Buried Interconnections

A three-dimensional (3-D) integration technology has been developed for the fabrication of a new 3-D shared-memory test chip. This 3-D technology is based on the wafer bonding and thinning method. Five key technologies for 3-D integration were developed, namely, the formation of vertical buried interconnections, metal microbump formations, stacked wafer thinning, wafer alignment, and wafer bonding. Deep trenches having a diameter of 2 mum and a depth of approximately 50 mum were formed in the silicon substrate using inductively coupled plasma etching to form vertical buried interconnections. These trenches were oxidized and filled with n+ polycrystalline silicon or tungsten. The 3-D devices and 3-D shared-memory test chips with three-stacked layers were fabricated by bonding the wafers with vertical buried interconnections after thinning. No characteristic degradation was observed in the fabricated 3-D devices. It was confirmed that fundamental memory operation and broadcast operation between the three memory layers could be successfully performed in the fabricated 3-D shared-memory test chip     

Air-gap polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors for fully integrated sensors

Air gap thin-film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated using a solid phase crystallization process. Undoped polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) was used as the active layer and a highly doped polysilicon bridge was used as the gate, which promotes the air gap. These TFTs have comparable threshold voltage (V/sub T/) and subthreshold slope characteristics to TFTs fabricated using pulsed laser crystallization, and using silicon dioxide as gate insulator. The low value of V/sub T/ is very important for low power consumption. Moreover, the air-gap TFT fabrication process is compatible with low-temperature glass substrate technology, which allows the integration of sensors and electronics circuits.     

The effect of thin interfacial oxides on the electrical characteristics of silicon bipolar devices

The effect of thin interfacial oxides on the impurity diffusion from polysilicon to the silicon substrate has been studied in detail. Polysilicon films were deposited on the silicon substrate in two different process conditions to control the thickness of interfacial oxides. Results show that the presence of about 1-nm-thick oxides retarded the impurity diffusion by about 10 nm and an increase of the sheet resistance of about 10 percent has been observed. Bipolar devices, which are sensitive to the impurity profiles, were fabricated with identical processing apart from the polysilicon deposition conditions. A detailed analysis of their electrical characteristics shows the difference of collector current components and hence the increase of current gain by about two times. These results indicate that the effect of interfacial oxides on the impurity profile is expressed by the segregation coefficientm, which is the ratio of Csi/CpolySiat the interface. The sensitivity ofmfor the device characteristics was calculated by a process-device simulator, and it is demonstrated that the current gain is a strong function ofmfor shallow emitters.