Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
A method for manufacturing a transistor with gate-side air gaps (GASs) on a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of: forming a gate oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on said gate oxide layer; patterning said gate oxide layer and said polysilicon layer to form a gate structure; forming a first dielectric layer on said substrate and said gate structure; forming a second dielectric layer on said first dielectric layer; etching said second dielectric layer to form first side-wall spacers on side walls of said gate structure, a first portion of said first dielectric layer remaining between the gate structure and said first side-wall spacers, a second portion of said first dielectric layer remaining under said first side-wall spacers; forming a buffer layer on said substrate, said first side-wall spacers and on said gate structure, wherein said buffer layer acts as a buffer for a first ion implantation; performing said first ion implantation to doped ions through said buffer layer into said substrate, thereby forming first doped ions regions to serve as the source and drain of said transistor; performing an oxidation to convert said buffer layer into a doped oxide layer, and drive said ions into said substrate, second doped ion regions being generated by diffusing ions in said doped oxide into said substrate, said second doped ion regions being next to said first doped ions regions; etching said doped oxide layer to form second side-wall spacers on said first side-wall spacers; removing said first side-wall spacers, therefore forming said gate-side air gaps (GASs) between said gate structure and said second side-wall spacers; performing a second ion implantation through said GASs to form third doped ion regions next to said second doped ion regions; and forming a third dielectric layer on said substrate, said second side-wall spacers and on said gate structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
308 words
A method for manufacturing a transistor with gate-side air gaps (GASs) on a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of: forming a gate oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on said gate oxide layer; patterning said gate oxide layer and said polysilicon layer to form a gate structure; forming a first dielectric layer on said substrate and said gate structure; forming a second dielectric layer on said first dielectric layer; etching said second dielectric layer to form first side-wall spacers on side walls of said gate structure, a first portion of said first dielectric layer remaining between the gate structure and said first side-wall spacers, a second portion of said first dielectric layer remaining under said first side-wall spacers; forming a buffer layer on said substrate, said first side-wall spacers and on said gate structure, wherein said buffer layer acts as a buffer for a first ion implantation; performing said first ion implantation to doped ions through said buffer layer into said substrate, thereby forming first doped ions regions to serve as the source and drain of said transistor; performing an oxidation to convert said buffer layer into a doped oxide layer, and drive said ions into said substrate, second doped ion regions being generated by diffusing ions in said doped oxide into said substrate, said second doped ion regions being next to said first doped ions regions; etching said doped oxide layer to form second side-wall spacers on said first side-wall spacers; removing said first side-wall spacers, therefore forming said gate-side air gaps (GASs) between said gate structure and said second side-wall spacers; performing a second ion implantation through said GASs to form third doped ion regions next to said second doped ion regions; and forming a third dielectric layer on said substrate, said second side-wall spacers and on said gate structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, further including performing a rapid thermal process (RTP) after forming third dielectric layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, further including forming a metal silicide layer on said first doped ion regions and on top of said gate structure after forming said second side-wall spacers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first dielectric layer comprises silicon oxynitride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said first dielectric layer is formed by oxidation in an N 2 O ambient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said second dielectric layer comprises silicon nitride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said GASs are formed by removing said second dielectric layer using hot H 3 PO 4 solution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said third dielectric layer comprises oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said buffer layer comprises amorphous silicon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said buffer layer is converted by wet oxidation at a temperature of about 700° to 1100° Centigrade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first doped ion regions are formed to have a concentration of about 1E20 to 1E21 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said second doped ion regions are formed to have a concentration of about 1E20 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said third doped ion regions are formed to have a concentration of about 5E17 to 1E20 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 15
Independent Claim
325 words
A method for manufacturing a transistor with gate-side air gaps (GASs) on a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of: forming a gate oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on said gate oxide layer; patterning said gate oxide layer and said polysilicon layer to form a gate structure; forming a silicon oxynitride layer on said substrate and said gate structure; forming a silicon nitride layer on said silicon oxynitride layer; etching said silicon nitride layer to form first side-wall spacers on side walls of said gate structure, a first portion of said silicon oxynitride layer remaining between the gate structure and said first side-wall spacers, a second portion of said silicon oxynitride layer remaining under said first side-wall spacers; forming an amorphous layer on said substrate, said first side-wall spacers and on said gate structure, wherein said amorphous layer acts as a buffer for a first ion implantation; performing said first ion implantation to doped ions through said amorphous layer into said substrate, thereby forming first doped ions regions to serve as the source and drain of said transistor; performing an oxidation to convert said amorphous layer into a doped oxide layer, and drive said ions into said substrate, second doped ion regions being generated by diffusing ions in said doped oxide into said substrate, said second doped ion regions being next to said first doped ions regions; etching said doped oxide layer to form second side-wall spacers on said first side-wall spacers; forming a metal silicide layer on said first doped ion regions and on top of said gate structure; removing said first side-wall spacers, therefore forming said gate-side air gaps (GASs) between said gate structure and said second side-wall spacers; performing a second ion implantation through said GASs to form third doped ion regions next to said second doped ion regions; and forming an oxide layer on said substrate, said second side-wall spacers and on said gate structure.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
325 words
A method for manufacturing a transistor with gate-side air gaps (GASs) on a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of: forming a gate oxide layer on said semiconductor substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on said gate oxide layer; patterning said gate oxide layer and said polysilicon layer to form a gate structure; forming a silicon oxynitride layer on said substrate and said gate structure; forming a silicon nitride layer on said silicon oxynitride layer; etching said silicon nitride layer to form first side-wall spacers on side walls of said gate structure, a first portion of said silicon oxynitride layer remaining between the gate structure and said first side-wall spacers, a second portion of said silicon oxynitride layer remaining under said first side-wall spacers; forming an amorphous layer on said substrate, said first side-wall spacers and on said gate structure, wherein said amorphous layer acts as a buffer for a first ion implantation; performing said first ion implantation to doped ions through said amorphous layer into said substrate, thereby forming first doped ions regions to serve as the source and drain of said transistor; performing an oxidation to convert said amorphous layer into a doped oxide layer, and drive said ions into said substrate, second doped ion regions being generated by diffusing ions in said doped oxide into said substrate, said second doped ion regions being next to said first doped ions regions; etching said doped oxide layer to form second side-wall spacers on said first side-wall spacers; forming a metal silicide layer on said first doped ion regions and on top of said gate structure; removing said first side-wall spacers, therefore forming said gate-side air gaps (GASs) between said gate structure and said second side-wall spacers; performing a second ion implantation through said GASs to form third doped ion regions next to said second doped ion regions; and forming an oxide layer on said substrate, said second side-wall spacers and on said gate structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14, further including performing a rapid thermal process (RTP) after forming said oxide layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said silicon oxynitride layer is formed by oxidation in an N 2 O ambient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said amorphous layer is converted by wet oxidation at a temperature of about 700° to 1100° Centigrade.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said GASs are formed by removing said silicon nitride layer using a hot H 3 PO 4 solution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said first doped ion regions are formed to have a concentration of about 1E20 to 1E21 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said second doped ion regions are formed to have a concentration of about 1E20 atoms/cm 3 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said third doped ion regions are formed to have a concentration of about 5E17 to 1E20 atoms/cm 3 .