A self-aligned retrograde twin-well structure with buried p+-layer

The retrograde twin wells and buried p⁺ layer are fabricated by a single lithographic step using high-energy ion implantation. The retrograde n-well is self-aligned to the retrograde p-well regions. This simple process allows a scalable CMOS structure for the very tight n⁺-to-p⁺ spacing. It provides latch-up immunity at the 1.5-μm n⁺-to-p⁺ spacing and good isolation characteristics without additional n- and p-channel stops     

Process integration and device performance of a submicrometerBiCMOS with 16-GHz ft double poly-bipolar devices

Submicrometer-channel CMOS devices have been integrated with self-aligned double-polysilicon bipolar devices showing a cutoff frequency of 16 GHz. n-p-n bipolar transistors and p-channel MOSFETs were built in an n-type epitaxial layer on an n⁺ buried layer, and n-channel MOSFETs were built in a p-well on a p⁺ buried layer. Deep trenches with depths of 4 μm and widths of 1 μm isolated the n-p-n bipolar transistors and the n- and p-channel MOSFETs from each other. CMOS, BiCMOS, and bipolar ECL circuits were characterized and compared with each other in terms of circuit speed as a function of loading capacitance, power dissipation, and power supply voltage. The BiCMOS circuit showed a significant speed degradation and became slower than the CMOS circuit when the power supply voltage was reduced below 3.3 V. The bipolar ECL circuit maintained the highest speed, with a propagation delay time of 65 ps for C_L=0 pF and 300 ps for C_L=1.0 pF with a power dissipation of 8 mW per gate. The circuit speed improvements in the CMOS circuits as the effective channel lengths of the MOS devices were scaled from 0.8 to 0.4 μm were maintained at almost the same ratio     

Submicrometer CMOS devices in zone-melting-recrystallized SOI films

CMOS devices with effective channel lengths ranging from 0.7 to 4.0 µm have been fabricated in zone-melting-recrystallized (ZMR) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) films prepared by the graphite-strip-heater technique. Low-temperature processing was utilized to minimize dopant diffusion along subboundaries in the films. Both n- and p-channel devices have low leakage current (<0.1-pA/µm channel width) and good subthreshold characteristics. For ring oscillators with a transistor channel length of 0.8 µm, the propagation delay is 95 ps at a supply voltage of 5 V.     

Process and device performance of submicrometer-channel CMOS devices using deep-trench isolation and self-aligned TiSi2technologies

According to our scaling study, a deeper n-well allows for a lower n-well surface concentration with improved short-channel effects in submicrometer-channel PMOS-FET's. The deep n-well, however, requires a large space between n- and p-channel devices. This large space limits the integration density in scaled bulk CMOS VLSI's. The deep-trench isolation combined with an epitaxial layer resolves this drawback with significantly improved device-to-device isolation and latchup susceptibility. The 6-µm-deep with 2-µm-wide deep trench is etched in the epitaxial layer and is refilled with 1500 Å of thermal silicon-dioxide film and 2 µm of polysilicon film. The sheet resistances of N⁺and P⁺diffusion and N⁺-doped polysilicon layers were reduced to 3 to 4 Ω/□ by using the self-aligned TiSi2layer with an oxide sidewall spacer. As a result of this low sheet resistance, the saturation drain current of submicrometer n- and p-channel MOSFET's was improved approximately 33 to 37 percent compared with conventional MOSFET's without the self-aligned TiSi2layer. The 0.5-µm-channel CMOS devices using the deep-trench isolation with an epitaxial layer and the self-aligned TiSi2layer operated at a propagation delay time of 140 ps with a power dissipation of 1.1 mW per inverter and attained a maximum clock frequency of 400 MHz in a static / 4 counter without suffering from latchup even at the latchup trigger current of 200 mA.     

Si-gate CMOS devices on a Si/CaF2/Si structure

Si-gate CMOS inverter chains and 1/8 dynamic frequency dividers have been fabricated on a Si/CaF2/Si structure. A high-quality heteroepitaxial Si/CaF2/Si structure was formed by successive molecular-beam epitaxy of CaF2and Si. Transistors have been fabricated with an improved CMOS process that prevents crystal degradation during the fabrication process as much as possible. The maximum effective mobilities are about 570 and 240 cm²/V . s for n-channel and p-channel transistors, respectively. The inverter chain with an effective channel length of 2.0 µm has a delay time per gate of 360 ps. A maximum operating frequency of 300 MHz is obtained in the divider with an effective channel length of 2.5µm at a supply voltage of 5 V. These results indicate that the Si/CaF2/Si structure has potential for the fabrication of high-speed silicon-on-insulator devices.     

Low 1/f noise design of Hi-CMOS devices

Low-frequency noise characteristics of High-Performance CMOS(Hi-CMOS) devices were measured. It was found that the equivalent input noise power SVg,eqfor n-channel MOSFET's has a 1/fα spectrum (0.8 < α < 0.95) above 10 µA, even for sealed-down devices with channel lengths LGof 2 µm. The SVg,eqis clearly proportional to 1/Leffdown to 0.8 µm. The noise characteristics of p-channel and n-channel MOSFET's were compared. It was found that in Hi-CMOS devices, noise reduction in normally-off-type p-channel devices was obtained by light boron-ion implantations at doses below 10¹²cm^-2. The 1/f noise level of p-channel devices was reduced to 1/10- 1/20 that of n-channel devices. In n-channel devices, the low-frequency noise power is a slow increasing function of the drain current. In p-channel devices, on the other hand, a threshold current was observed at which the noise begins to increase rapidly. The results are discussed in this paper in relation to the theoretical model of 1/f noise. The device design for reducing 1/f noise in CMOS differential amplifiers is also examined.     

Effects of ionizing radiation on SOI/CMOS Devices fabricated in zone-melting-recrystallized Si films on SiO2

The effects of ionizing radiation on SOI/CMOS devices fabricated in zone-melting-recrystallized Si films on SiO2-coated Si substrates have been investigated as a function of the negative bias applied to the substrate during irradiation and measurement. For these devices, which have a thin gate oxide 10 nm thick, the optimum substrate bias is - 5 V. For total doses up to 10⁷rad(Si), with this bias they exhibit low subthreshold leakage currents (<0.2-pA/µm channel width), small threshold voltage shifts (<-0.18 V for n-channel devices and <-0.46 V for p-channel devices) and very little transconductance degradation (<5 percent).     

TaSi2gate for VLSI CMOS circuits

It is shown, that lateral shrinkage of 2-µm CMOS devices and reduction of the gate oxide thickness to about 20 nm is significantly facilitated by replacing the n⁺-poly-Si or polycide gates by TaSi2. Due to its higher work function, TaSi2allows the simultaneous reduction of the channel doping in the n-channel and the charge compensation in the p-channel without changing the threshold voltages. Thus compared with n⁺-poly-Si gate n-channel transistors substrate sensitivity and substrate current are reduced, and low-level breakdown strength is raised. In p-channel transistors, the subthreshold current behavior and UT(L)-dependence are improved. Consequently, the channel length of both n- and p-channel transistors can be reduced by about 0.5 µm without significant degradation. The MOS characteristics Nss, flatband and threshold voltage stability, and dielectric strength appear similar for TaSi2and n+-poly Si gate transistors.     

Polycrystalline-silicon device technology for large-area electronics

The process sequence used to fabricate post-hydrogenated polycrystalline silicon thin-film devices has a dramatic impact on performance. A near-optimal process for devices that have hole mobilities of up to 50 cm²/V . s and electron mobilities of 70 cm²/V . s is demonstrated. These observed mobilities are substantially higher than previous literature reports. Implantation of boron or phosphorus into the polycrystalline-silicon device channel after the gate-oxidation step allows threshold-voltage tailoring for achievement of either enhancement-or depletion-mode operation of n- and p-channel devices. These results indicate that CMOS or NMOS logic could be fabricated using polycrystalline-silicon devices. Devices with steam-grown gate oxides have reduced channel mobility in comparison with devices oxidized in dry O2at the same temperature. Possible mechanisms for the variation in performance with oxidation conditions are discussed.     

Process and device performance of 1 µm-channel n-well CMOS technology

The process and device performance of 1 µm-channel n-well CMOS have been characterized in terms of substrate resistivities of 40 and 10 Ω.cm, substrate materials with and without an epitaxial layer, n-well surface concentrations ranging from5 times 10^{15}to4 times 10^{16}cm^-3, n-well depths of 3, 4, and 5 µm, channel boron implantation doses from2 times 10^{11}to1.3 times 10^{12}cm^-2, and effective channel lengths down to 0.6 µm. The deeper n-well more effectively improved the short-channel effects in p-channel MOSFET's having lower n-well surface concentrations. The impact-ionization current of the 0.9 µm n-channel MOSFET started to increase at a drain voltage of 5.2 V, while that of the 0.6 µm p-channel MOSFET did not increase until the drain voltage exceeded 12 V. Minimum latchup trigger current was observed when the output terminal of an inverter was driven over the power supply voltage. This minimum latchup trigger current was improved about 25 to 35 percent by changing the n-well depth from 3 to 5 µm and was further improved about 35 to 75 percent by using a substrate resistivity of 10 Ω.cm instead of 40 Ω.cm. The epitaxial wafer with a substrate resistivity of 0.008 Ω.cm improved the minimum latchup trigger current by more than 40 mA. It was estimated from the inverter characteristics that the effective mobility ratio between surface electrons and holes is about 1.4 at effective channel lengths of 1.0 µm for p-channel MOSFET's and 1.4 µm for n-channel MOSFET's. The optimized 1 µm-channel n-well CMOS resulted in a propagation delay time of 200 ps with a power dissipation of 500 µW and attained a maximum clock frequency of 267 MHz in a static ÷ 4 counter. The deep-trench-isolated CMOS structure was demonstrated to break through the scaling effect drawback of n-well depth and surface concentration.     

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.     

A self-aligned retrograde twin-well structure with buried p+-layer

A self-aligned retrograde twin-well structure with a buried p⁺-layer surrounding the n-well is presented. The retrograde twin well and buried p⁺-layer are fabricated by a single lithographic step using high-energy ion implantation. The retrograde n-well is self-aligned to the retrograde p-well regions, and the channel stop processes are eliminated by using tight spatial distributions of retrograde n- and p-wells. This simple process is compatible with both local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) and trench isolation processes and allows a scalable CMOS structure for very tight n⁺-to-p⁺ spacing. The present CMOS structure provides high latchup immunity at 1.5-μm n⁺-to-p⁺ spacing and good isolation characteristics without additional n- and p-channel stop dopings     

Radiation-hardened silicon-on-insulator complementary junction field-effect transistors

The effects of total-dose radiation have been investigated for complementary junction field-effect transistors fabricated in zone-melting recrystallized Si films on SiO2-coated Si substrates. With a - 5-V bias applied to the Si substrate during irradiation and device operation, both n- and p-channel devices show low threshold-voltage shift (<-0.09 and <-0.12 V, respectively), low leakage currents (<- 1- and <3-pA/µm channel width, respectively) and small transconductance degradation (<15 percent) for total doses up to 10⁸rad (Si).     

Device isolation in high-density LOCOS-isolated CMOS

Leakage paths between n- and p-channel devices in high packing density CMOS circuits fabricated using standard LOCOS isolation are investigated. Experimental results and the results of two-dimensional numerical modeling are presented for both a conventional n-well and a retrograde n-well technology. Adequate isolation for 5-V circuit operation is demonstrated for retrograde n-well structures with a 1.8-µm n⁺to p⁺diffusion separation, and for conventional n-well structures with a 2.4-µm n⁺to p⁺diffusion separation. In both cases, good latchup protection is also demonstrated using thin p^-on p⁺epitaxial material.     

An advanced bipolar-MOS-I2L technology with a thin epitaxial layer for analog-digital VLSI

A novel Bi-MOS technology, Advanced Bipolar CMOS (ABC), is proposed. Bipolar transistors (n-p-n, p-n-p, I²L) and MOS transistors (both n- and p-channel) have been successfully fabricated on the same chip with no decrease in performance by using a 3-µm design rule. Thin epitaxial layer (leq 2 microm) is used in order to obtain small-size high-performance (3-GHz) bipolar devices. Device size is reduced by using a shallow junction and self-aligning technique. n-channel MOS transistors are formed in p-well regions designed to reach p-type substrate, and p-channel MOS transistors are formed in epitaxial layer with an n⁺buried layer. This technology has the potential for monolithic multifunctional analog-digital VLSI.     

A fully implanted NMOS, CMOS, bipolar technology for VLSI of analog-digital systems

A fully ion-implanted process allows high-density integration of NMOS, CMOS, and bipolar transistors for VLSI of analog-digital systems. Supply voltage can be 20 V. Thresholds are ± 1.5 V for p- and n-channel enhancement transistors, respectively. Standard deviation per wafer is 15 mV for the NMOS threshold, while the NMOS gain constant is 30 µAV^-2. The bipolar transistors have a low-resistance base contact. Current gain βFcan be set independently. Forbeta_{F} = 90, the Early voltage isV_{A} = 110V. No epi layer, isolation diffusions, or channel stoppers are required. The mask count is 6 for structure definition plus 2 for the masking of implants. The process can be scaled along the learning curve of digital MOS VLSI.     

Experimental results on submicron-size p-channel MOSFET's

We report results on p-channel MOSFET's with channel lengths as small as 0.5 µm. Using design criteria obtained from numerical simulation, the devices have been fabricated by a low temperature process with very short annealing times. Fabricated devices with submicron channel lengths are dominated by velocity saturation of holes. Comparing the drive capability of n- and p-channel devices, we find the intrinsic device currents to be within a factor of 1.4 for a channel length of 0.5 µm.     

1/4-µm CMOS isolation technique using selective epitaxy

A new CMOS isolation technique has been developed for reducing isolation width to a 1/4 µm with large latchup immunity. This technique is supported by three key processes. The first is to form 1/4 µm thick insulator films on trench sidewalls, which are shaped perpendicularly to the substrate surface plane. The second is to refill the trenches with selectively grown single-crystal silicon with a planar surface. The third is to form a low-resistance well for latchup prevention. The CMOS devices are composed of n-channel devices fabricated on a p-type substrate and p-channel devices fabricated on an n-type epi-layer. In this isolation structure, a parasitic MIS operation with vertical channel induces large leakage currents along the isolation sidewalls. However, the highly doped p-type region, due to deep boron implant in the p-type substrate, is effective to suppress parasitic operation. Submicrometer-gate CMOS inverter operation is shown, when the channel stop implant is carried out.     

A 7-mask CMOS process with selective oxide deposition

A seven mask CMOS process using liquid phase oxide deposition which has selectivity against photoresist is described. The process modules for self-aligned well and one-mask LDD formation are developed. The features of the process are: (1) short TAT (7 masks to first metallization), (2) self-aligned twin retrograde wells with 40% reduction of the p⁺-n⁺ spacing compared to conventional wells, and (3) optimal LDD design using different sidewall spacer width for n- and p-channel MOSFETs giving a 10% larger on-current for p-channel MOSFETs compared to a conventional process     

Threshold voltage variations with temperature in MOS transistors

Variations with temperature in the threshold voltage of n- and p-channel MOS transistors are obtained by calculation as well as measurement, with the results comparing quite closely. The amount of voltage change per °C under normal operating conditions is found to be dependent upon the channel doping concentration. The calculations show that for either n- or p-channel devices the voltage change per °C is -4 mV/°C for an impurity concentration of 3 × 10¹⁶/cm³and -2 mV/°C for an impurity concentration of 10¹⁵/cm³. This information is important because if the MOS transistor is subjected to a changing temperature environment, the accompanying threshold voltage change may be intolerable.