Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: (a) selectively forming a first layer on a surface of a second layer of semiconductor material, so as to leave a surface area region of said second layer exposed by an aperture through said first layer, said first layer containing material having a diffusion coefficient for impurities greater than that of said second layer; (b) forming a third layer, of semiconductor material, in said aperture and upon said surface area region of said second layer; (c) introducing conductivity type determining impurities into only a prescribed portion of said first layer which is spaced apart from said aperture through said first layer, and into said third layer; and (d) annealing the structure resulting from step (c), so as to cause impurities that have been introduced into said third layer to diffuse vertically therethrough to said second layer, and to cause impurities that have been introduced into said prescribed portion of said first layer to diffuse laterally throughout said first layer and vertically through said first layer to said second layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: (a) selectively forming a first layer on a surface of a second layer of semiconductor material, so as to leave a surface area region of said second layer exposed by an aperture through said first layer, said first layer containing material having a diffusion coefficient for impurities greater than that of said second layer; (b) forming a third layer, of semiconductor material, in said aperture and upon said surface area region of said second layer; (c) introducing conductivity type determining impurities into only a prescribed portion of said first layer which is spaced apart from said aperture through said first layer, and into said third layer; and (d) annealing the structure resulting from step (c), so as to cause impurities that have been introduced into said third layer to diffuse vertically therethrough to said second layer, and to cause impurities that have been introduced into said prescribed portion of said first layer to diffuse laterally throughout said first layer and vertically through said first layer to said second layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises a semiconductor layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises an undoped semiconductor layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises a silicide layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said silicide layer comprises a tungsten silicide layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said surface area region of said second layer exposed by said aperture through said first layer has a conductivity type opposite to that of conductivity type determining impurities introduced in step (c) into said third layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises a first polycrystalline semiconductor layer portion that is formed directly upon said surface of said second layer, and a second layer portion that is formed on said first polycrystalline semiconductor layer portion and has said diffusion coefficient, and wherein step (c) comprises introducing conductivity type determining impurities into only a prescribed portion of said second layer portion which is spaced apart from said aperture through said first layer, and wherein step (d) comprises annealing the structure resulting from step (c), so as to cause conductivity type determining impurities that have been introduced into said prescribed portion of said second layer portion to diffuse laterally therethroughout and vertically therethrough and into and through said first polycrystalline semiconductor layer portion to said second layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises a first layer portion that is formed directly upon said surface of said second layer and has said diffusion coefficient, and wherein step (c) comprises introducing conductivity type determining impurities into only a prescribed portion of said first layer portion which is spaced apart from said aperture through said first layer, and wherein step (d) comprises annealing the structure resulting from step (c), so as to cause said conductivity type determining impurities that have been introduced into said prescribed portion of said first layer portion to diffuse laterally therethroughout and vertically therethrough to said second layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said surface area region of said second layer exposed by said aperture through said first layer has a conductivity type corresponding to that of said conductivity type determining impurities introduced in step (c) into said prescribed portion of said first layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said diffusion coefficient for said first layer is at least several orders of magnitude greater than for said second layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said third layer comprises a polycrystalline semiconductor material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the step of causing diffusion of conductivity type determining impurities through said third layer in said aperture, and diffusion of conductivity type impurities through said first layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor material in said aperture comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said surface area region of said second layer has a first conductivity type, and wherein step (c) comprises introducing impurities of a second conductivity type into said third layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said surface area region of said second layer has a first conductivity type, and wherein step (c) comprises introducing impurities of said first conductivity type into said prescribed portion of said first layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said surface area region of said second layer has a first conductivity type, and wherein step (c) comprises introducing impurities of said first conductivity type into said prescribed portion of said first layer, and introducing impurities of a second conductivity type into said third layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, further including the step of heating the structure resulting from step (b) to a prescribed elevated temperature prior to performing step (c).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said prescribed elevated temperature is at least 900° C.