Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for forming a buried semiconductor structure, comprising: providing a single crystal semiconductor substrate having an upper surface; forming an epi-layer on the substrate; forming a first dielectric on the epi-layer, wherein the first dielectric is at least 0.5 microns thick; forming a cavity extending through the first dielectric layer, the epi-layer, and into the substrate; forming a second dielectric on the surface of the cavity; partially filling the cavity with a first polycrystalline semiconductor deposited on the second dielectric; removing the second dielectric layer above the polycrystalline semiconductor thus exposing a portion of the epi-layer at a sidewall of the cavity and exposing the first dielectric layer at the top of the cavity; and forming a semiconductor layer lining the cavity and extending outside of the cavity on top of the first dielectric layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for forming a buried semiconductor structure, comprising: providing a single crystal semiconductor substrate having an upper surface; forming an epi-layer on the substrate; forming a first dielectric on the epi-layer, wherein the first dielectric is at least 0.5 microns thick; forming a cavity extending through the first dielectric layer, the epi-layer, and into the substrate; forming a second dielectric on the surface of the cavity; partially filling the cavity with a first polycrystalline semiconductor deposited on the second dielectric; removing the second dielectric layer above the polycrystalline semiconductor thus exposing a portion of the epi-layer at a sidewall of the cavity and exposing the first dielectric layer at the top of the cavity; and forming a semiconductor layer lining the cavity and extending outside of the cavity on top of the first dielectric layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a second polycrystalline region on top of the first polycrystalline region, a third polycrystalline region covering the first dielectric layer, and a single crystal region covering the exposed portion of the epi-layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of implanting impurities into the second and third polycrystalline regions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first dielectric is from 0.5 to 1.2 micrometers thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of etching the semiconductor layer so that a portion of the semiconductor layer does not extend beyond the lateral boundaries of the cavity.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for forming serially connected buried transistors and capacitor regions in a cavity formed in a substrate wherein the cavity is partially dielectrically lined and partially refilled with a polycrystalline semiconductor, comprising simultaneously (a) partly refilling the cavity with a polycrystalline semiconductor, (b) forming an epitaxial single crystal region on a sidewall of the cavity above the polycrystalline semiconductor, and (c) forming a further polycrystalline semiconductor above a principal surface of the substrate from which the cavity extends and extending into the cavity, wherein a portion of the further polycrystalline semiconductor forms a rim totally within the interior boundary of the cavity.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for forming serially connected buried transistors and capacitor regions in a cavity formed in a substrate wherein the cavity is partially dielectrically lined and partially refilled with a polycrystalline semiconductor, comprising simultaneously (a) partly refilling the cavity with a polycrystalline semiconductor, (b) forming an epitaxial single crystal region on a sidewall of the cavity above the polycrystalline semiconductor, and (c) forming a further polycrystalline semiconductor above a principal surface of the substrate from which the cavity extends and extending into the cavity, wherein a portion of the further polycrystalline semiconductor forms a rim totally within the interior boundary of the cavity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for forming a serially coupled capacitor and transistor in a cavity formed in a semiconductor substrate comprising the steps of: forming an epi-layer on the substrate; forming a first dielectric layer on the epi-layer; etching the cavity through the first dielectric layer, the epi-layer, and into the substrate; lining the cavity with a capacitor dielectric; partially filling the cavity with a first semiconductor material; removing the capacitor dielectric above the first semiconductor material; forming a second semiconductor material lining the cavity and having lateral surfaces on top of the first semiconductor material and at the top of the cavity, and a vertical surface lining a sidewall of the cavity; ion implanting impurities into the lateral surfaces of the second semiconductor material; and patterning the second semiconductor material to form a bit line, which extends away from the cavity over the first dielectric layer, and a rim-shaped drain which lies totally within the interior boundary of the cavity.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for forming a serially coupled capacitor and transistor in a cavity formed in a semiconductor substrate comprising the steps of: forming an epi-layer on the substrate; forming a first dielectric layer on the epi-layer; etching the cavity through the first dielectric layer, the epi-layer, and into the substrate; lining the cavity with a capacitor dielectric; partially filling the cavity with a first semiconductor material; removing the capacitor dielectric above the first semiconductor material; forming a second semiconductor material lining the cavity and having lateral surfaces on top of the first semiconductor material and at the top of the cavity, and a vertical surface lining a sidewall of the cavity; ion implanting impurities into the lateral surfaces of the second semiconductor material; and patterning the second semiconductor material to form a bit line, which extends away from the cavity over the first dielectric layer, and a rim-shaped drain which lies totally within the interior boundary of the cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the width of the cavity is at least as large as the width of the bit line.