High capacity DRAM trench capacitor and methods of fabricating same
First Claim
1. A trench capacitor formed within an integrated circuit, comprising:
- a substrate having a depression within a surface thereof; and
capacitor means formed within the depression, the capacitor means including a first plate electrode means having a surface area comprised of an inner surface area of the depression and an outer surface area of a pillar structure extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the depression, the pillar structure being physically and electrically contiguous with the substrate, the capacitor means further including a second plate electrode means comprised of a region of electrically conductive material that substantially fills a volume of the depression not occupied by the pillar structure, the capacitor means further comprising a thin layer of dielectric material interposed between the first plate electrode means and the second plate electrode means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trench capacitor and a method of forming same within an integrated circuit. The capacitor includes a first plate electrode having a surface area comprised of an inner surface area of the trench and an outer surface area of an upstanding pillar structure that is formed within the trench and which extends upwardly from a bottom surface thereof. The pillar structure is physically and electrically contiguous with the semiconductor substrate and has the same type of electrical conductivity. The capacitor further includes a second plate electrode comprised of a region of electrically conductive material that substantially fills a volume of the trench. The capacitor further includes a thin layer of dielectric material interposed between the first plate electrode and the second plate electrode. The second plate electrode is conductively coupled to a planar access device through a conductive, self-aligned surface strap.
134 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A trench capacitor formed within an integrated circuit, comprising:
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a substrate having a depression within a surface thereof; and capacitor means formed within the depression, the capacitor means including a first plate electrode means having a surface area comprised of an inner surface area of the depression and an outer surface area of a pillar structure extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the depression, the pillar structure being physically and electrically contiguous with the substrate, the capacitor means further including a second plate electrode means comprised of a region of electrically conductive material that substantially fills a volume of the depression not occupied by the pillar structure, the capacitor means further comprising a thin layer of dielectric material interposed between the first plate electrode means and the second plate electrode means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of fabricating a trench capacitor within an integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate having a major surface, the substrate being comprised of a semiconductor material having a first type of electrical conductivity; removing a portion of the substrate to form a trench that extends from the major surface down into the substrate to a predetermined depth; forming an upstanding pedestal structure within the trench, the pedestal structure being formed to extend upwardly from a bottom surface of the trench to a height that is less than the predetermined depth, the pedestal structure being comprised of a semiconductor material having the first type of electrical conductivity; covering exposed inner surfaces of the trench and exposed outer surfaces of the pedestal structure with a layer comprised of an electrical insulator; and filling a remaining volume of the trench with an electrically conductive material, whereby the inner surfaces of the trench and the outer surfaces of the pedestal structure form a first plate of a capacitor means, the layer of electrical insulator forms a capacitor means dielectric, and surfaces of the electrically conductive material that are in contact with the layer of electrical insulator form a second plate of the capacitor means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 21, 22, 23)
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20. A method as set forth 19 and further including a step of fabricating a wordline conductor such that is vertically disposed over the silicide strap.
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24. A memory cell, comprising;
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a trench capacitor formed within an opening into a semiconductor substrate, the trench capacitor including first plate electrode means and second plate electrode means having a dielectric material interposed therebetween; and an access device having a first terminal coupled to the second plate electrode means, wherein the first plate electrode means has a surface area that includes an inner surface area of the opening and an outer surface area of a structure that extends into the opening from a bottom surface of the opening, the structure being electrically coupled to the semiconductor substrate, and wherein the second plate electrode means is comprised of an electrically conductive material that overlies the dielectric material. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification