Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A vertical channel device integrated circuit comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a buried source region having a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type overlying said semiconductor substrate; an epitaxial layer of said second conductivity type overlying said buried source region wherein said epitaxial layer has a dopant concentration less than the dopant concentration of said buried source region; a well region of said first conductivity type within the central portion of said epitaxial layer wherein said well region defines the active region of said integrated circuit; field oxide regions in and on the outer edges of said epitaxial layer; a top planarized layer of silicon oxide overlying said field oxide regions and said well region; gate oxide lined trenches extending through said well region and contacting said buried source region; polysilicon gate electrodes within said gate oxide lined trenches; drain regions of said second conductivity type within the top surface of said well region and between said gate oxide lined trenches; first tungsten plug-filled trenches through said planarized silicon oxide layer contacting said drain regions; and second tungsten plug-filled trenches through said field oxide regions contacting said buried source region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A vertical channel device integrated circuit comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a buried source region having a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type overlying said semiconductor substrate; an epitaxial layer of said second conductivity type overlying said buried source region wherein said epitaxial layer has a dopant concentration less than the dopant concentration of said buried source region; a well region of said first conductivity type within the central portion of said epitaxial layer wherein said well region defines the active region of said integrated circuit; field oxide regions in and on the outer edges of said epitaxial layer; a top planarized layer of silicon oxide overlying said field oxide regions and said well region; gate oxide lined trenches extending through said well region and contacting said buried source region; polysilicon gate electrodes within said gate oxide lined trenches; drain regions of said second conductivity type within the top surface of said well region and between said gate oxide lined trenches; first tungsten plug-filled trenches through said planarized silicon oxide layer contacting said drain regions; and second tungsten plug-filled trenches through said field oxide regions contacting said buried source region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical channel device is an NMOS device and wherein said first conductivity type is P and said second conductivity type is N.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical channel device is a PMOS device and wherein said first conductivity type is N and said second conductivity type is P.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said buried source region has a dopant concentration of between about 1 E 15 to 1 E 16 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said epitaxial layer has a thickness of between about 2000 to 4000 Angstroms and a dopant concentration of between about 1 E 11 to 1 E 12 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said well region is a P-well having a dopant concentration of between about 5 E 12 to 5 E 13 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said well region is an N-well having a dopant concentration of between about 5 E 12 to 5 E 13 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said second tungsten-plug filled trenches extend through said field oxide regions and said underlying epitaxial layer to said buried source region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said second tungsten-plug filled trenches extend through said field oxide regions to said underlying epitaxial layer and wherein implanted regions in said epitaxial layer having the same conductivity type as said buried source region connect said second tungsten plug-filled trenches to said buried source region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A vertical channel integrated circuit comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first doped layer of a first conductivity type; a buried source/drain region having a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type overlying said first doped layer; a second doped layer of said second conductivity type overlying said buried source/drain region; a well region of said first conductivity type within a portion of said second doped layer; a layer of silicon oxide overlying said well region; trenches having walls extending through said well region to said buried source/drain region; a gate insulator layer coveting said walls of said trenches polysilicon gate electrodes within said trenches, said polysilicon gate electrodes separated from said buried source/drain region by said gate insulator layer; source/drain regions of said second conductivity type within said well region; conducting regions extending through said silicon oxide layer and contacting said source/drain regions of said second conductivity type within said well region; and a conductor-filled trench extending to electrically contact said buried source/drain region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A vertical channel integrated circuit comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first doped layer of a first conductivity type; a buried source/drain region having a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type overlying said first doped layer; a second doped layer of said second conductivity type overlying said buried source/drain region; a well region of said first conductivity type within a portion of said second doped layer; a layer of silicon oxide overlying said well region; trenches having walls extending through said well region to said buried source/drain region; a gate insulator layer coveting said walls of said trenches polysilicon gate electrodes within said trenches, said polysilicon gate electrodes separated from said buried source/drain region by said gate insulator layer; source/drain regions of said second conductivity type within said well region; conducting regions extending through said silicon oxide layer and contacting said source/drain regions of said second conductivity type within said well region; and a conductor-filled trench extending to electrically contact said buried source/drain region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 10, comprising: a plurality of source/drain regions of said second conductivity type within said well region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said vertical channel device is an NMOS device and wherein said first conductivity type is P and said second conductivity type is N.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said well region has a P-type dopant concentration of between about 5 E 12 to 5 E 13 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said vertical channel device is a PMOS device and wherein said first conductivity type is N and said second conductivity type is P.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 14 wherein said well region is an N-well having a dopant concentration of between about 5 E 12 to 5 E 13 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said buried source region has a dopant concentration of between about 1 E 15 to 1 E 16 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said layer of said second conductivity type overlying said buried source/drain region is an epitaxial layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said buried source/drain region is common to said plurality of source/drain regions of said second conductivity type within said well region.