Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A field-effect-transistor structure having reduced gate sheet resistance and relatively low source and drain sheet resistance, said field effect transistor structure comprising in combination: a. a substrate of single-crystal silicon having an upper surface; b. source and drain regions formed in said substrate adjacent the upper surface thereof and spaced apart from one another, said source and drain regions each having a sheet resistance associated therewith; c. a gate structure formed upon the upper surface of said substrate generally between said source and drain regions, said gate structure including a layer of silicon dioxide formed upon the upper surface of said substrate, and a layer of polycide formed upon said silicon dioxide layer, said polycide layer being a composite of a layer of polysilicon over which a layer of a refractory metal silicide is deposited, said polycide layer having lateral edges, said polycide layer having a sheet resistance associated therewith, said gate structure further including a composite annealed layer of a transition metal formed upon and annealed with said polycide layer to reduce the effective sheet resistance of the polycide layer, said composite annealed layer of a transition metal extending between said lateral edges of said polycide layer and being substantially coextensive with the entire polycide layer; and d. first and second metal silicide layers formed upon said source and drain regions, respectively, each of said first and second metal silicide layers being a composite of a layer of said transition metal formed upon and reacted with said single-crystal silicon at said respective source and drain regions for reducing the effective sheet resistance associated with each of said source and drain regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
A field-effect-transistor structure having reduced gate sheet resistance and relatively low source and drain sheet resistance, said field effect transistor structure comprising in combination: a. a substrate of single-crystal silicon having an upper surface; b. source and drain regions formed in said substrate adjacent the upper surface thereof and spaced apart from one another, said source and drain regions each having a sheet resistance associated therewith; c. a gate structure formed upon the upper surface of said substrate generally between said source and drain regions, said gate structure including a layer of silicon dioxide formed upon the upper surface of said substrate, and a layer of polycide formed upon said silicon dioxide layer, said polycide layer being a composite of a layer of polysilicon over which a layer of a refractory metal silicide is deposited, said polycide layer having lateral edges, said polycide layer having a sheet resistance associated therewith, said gate structure further including a composite annealed layer of a transition metal formed upon and annealed with said polycide layer to reduce the effective sheet resistance of the polycide layer, said composite annealed layer of a transition metal extending between said lateral edges of said polycide layer and being substantially coextensive with the entire polycide layer; and d. first and second metal silicide layers formed upon said source and drain regions, respectively, each of said first and second metal silicide layers being a composite of a layer of said transition metal formed upon and reacted with said single-crystal silicon at said respective source and drain regions for reducing the effective sheet resistance associated with each of said source and drain regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 1 further including a layer of deposited glass overlying said source and drain regions and overlying said gate structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said layer of deposited glass has contact openings formed therein above said gate structure and above said source and drain regions to facilitate electrical interconnection thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 3 further including formations of a barrier metal within each of said contact openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 4 further including a patterned layer of aluminum-silicon formed upon said layer of deposited glass and overlying said formations of said barrier metal to make electrical interconnections with said gate structure and with said source and drain regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said source and drain regions comprise regions of said substrate adjacent the upper surface thereof into which a dopant is introduced by ion implantation followed by thermal drive-in of the implanted ions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said layer of polysilicon within said gate structure is initially in the range of 1300 to 2500 angstroms thick prior to deposition of said refractory metal silicide layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 7 wherein said layer of refractory metal silicide deposited upon said layer of polysilicon is initially in the range of 1500 to 3000 angstroms thick before combining with said layer of polysilicon to form said polycide layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said refractory metal silicide deposited upon said layer of polysilicon is a molten material selected from the group consisting of WSi x , TaSi x , TiSi x , and MoSi x , and wherein x is greater than or equal to 2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 9 wherein said transition metal is an element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Pt, Co, Ni, and Pd.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 10 wherein the thickness of said transition metal layer deposited upon said polycide layer is initially in the range of 300 to 700 angstroms thick prior to annealing with said polycide layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said transition metal is an element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Pt, Co, Ni, and Pd.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A field-effect-transistor structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said transition metal layer deposited upon said polycide layer is initially in the range of 300 to 700 angstroms thick prior to annealing with said polycide layer.