To provide a memory device which operates at high speed or a memory device in which the frequency of refresh operations is reduced. In a cell array, a potential is supplied from a driver circuit to a wiring connected to a memory cell. The cell array is provided over the driver circuit. Each of memory cells included in the cell array includes a switching element, and a capacitor in which supply, holding, and discharge of electric charge are controlled by the switching element. Further, a channel formation region of the transistor used as the switching element includes a semiconductor whose band gap is wider than that of silicon and whose intrinsic carrier density is lower than that of silicon.

A method of fabricating a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure on a substrate includes forming a patterned metal layer over the substrate; forming an insulator layer over the patterned metal layer; forming a second metal layer over the insulator layer; removing part of the insulating layer and part of the second metal layer thereby forming a substantially coplanar surface that is formed by the patterned metal layer, the insulator layer, and the second metal layer; removing a portion of the second metal layer and a portion of the patterned metal layer to form a fin from the insulator layer that protrudes beyond the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and forming an inter-metal dielectric layer over the fin.

A method of forming an IC includes providing a field dielectric in a portion of a semiconductor surface, a bipolar or Schottky diode (BSD) class device area, a CMOS transistor area, and a resistor area. A polysilicon layer is deposited to provide a polysilicon gate area for MOS transistors in the CMOS transistor area, over the BSD class device area, and over the field dielectric for providing a polysilicon resistor in the resistor area. A first mask pattern is formed on the polysilicon layer. Using the first mask pattern, first implanting (I.sub.1) of the polysilicon resistor providing a first projected range (R.sub.P1)<a thickness of the polysilicon layer and second implanting (I.sub.2) providing a second R.sub.P (R.sub.P2), where R.sub.P2>R.sub.P1. I.sub.2 provides a CMOS implant into the semiconductor surface layer in the CMOS transistor area and/or a BSD implant into the semiconductor surface layer in the BSD area.

A multi-layer electronic device is disclosed that comprises a ceramic layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer contains a first tab portion extending to the first lateral edge of the ceramic layer, the first electrode layer further defining a first cut-out region. The second electrode layer contains a second tab portion extending to the first lateral edge of the ceramic layer, the second electrode layer further defining a second cut-out region. The first tab portion of the first electrode layer is offset from the second tab portion of the second electrode layer in the longitudinal direction so that a first gap region is formed within which the first tab portion does not overlap the second tab portion. Further, the first cut-out region at least partially overlaps the second cut-out region.

In connection with a semiconductor device including a capacitor element there is provided a technique capable of improving the reliability of the capacitor element. A capacitor element is formed in an element isolation region formed over a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor element includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode formed over the lower electrode through a capacitor insulating film. Basically, the lower electrode and the upper electrode are formed from polysilicon films and a cobalt silicide film formed over the surfaces of the polysilicon films. End portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the upper electrode are spaced apart a distance from end portions of the upper electrode. Besides, end portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the lower electrode are spaced apart a distance from boundaries between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.

Devices and methods for improving voltage handling and/or bi-directionality of stacks of elements when connected between terminals are described. Such devices and method include use of symmetrical compensation capacitances, symmetrical series capacitors, or symmetrical sizing of the elements of the stack.

A variable capacitor includes a fixed main capacitor electrode disposed in a first metal layer overlying a substrate, a second main capacitor electrode spaced from the fixed main capacitor electrode, and a movable capacitor electrode disposed in the first metal layer adjacent the fixed main capacitor electrode. The movable capacitor electrode can be caused to be in a first position ohmically electrically connected to the fixed main capacitor electrode such that the variable capacitor has a first capacitance value or in a second position spaced from the fixed main capacitor electrode such that the variable capacitor has a second capacitance value.

The present invention generally relates to a MEMS digital variable capacitor (DVC) (900) and a method for manufacture thereof. The movable plate (938) within a MEMS DVC should have the same stress level to ensure proper operation of the MEMS DVC. To obtain the same stress level, the movable plate is decoupled from CMOS ground during fabrication. The movable plate is only electrically coupled to CMOS ground after the plate has been completely formed. The coupling occurs by using the same layer (948) that forms the pull-up electrode as the layer that electrically couples the movable plate to CMOS ground. As the same layer couples the movable plate to CMOS ground and also provides the pull-up electrode for the MEMS DVC, the deposition occurs in the same processing step. By electrically coupling the movable plate to CMOS ground after formation, the stress in each of the layers of the movable plate can be substantially identical.

A method for fabricating a multi-layer, crown-shaped MIM capacitor is provided. A base having therein a conductive region within a capacitor-forming region is formed. An IMD layer is deposited on the base to cover the capacitor-forming region. A capacitor trench is formed within the capacitor-forming region. The capacitor trench penetrates through the IMD layer, thereby exposing a portion of the conductive region. A concentric capacitor lower electrode structure is formed within the capacitor trench. The concentric capacitor lower electrode structure includes a first electrode and a second electrode surrounded by the first electrode. The first electrode is in direct contact with the conductive region. A conductive supporting pedestal is formed within the capacitor trench for fixing and electrically connecting bottom portions of the first and second electrodes. A capacitor dielectric layer conformally lining the first and second electrodes and a top surface of the conductive supporting pedestal is formed.

A dynamic memory structure is disclosed. The dynamic memory structure includes: a substrate; a first strip semiconductor material disposed on the substrate and extending along a first direction; a gate standing astride the first strip semiconductor material, extending along a second direction and dividing the first strip semiconductor material into a first source terminal, a first drain terminal and a first channel region; a first dielectric layer sandwiched between the gate and the first strip semiconductor material; a first capacitor unit disposed on the substrate and comprising the first source terminal serving as a bottom electrode, a second dielectric layer covering the first source terminal to serve as a capacitor dielectric layer and a capacitor metal layer covering the second dielectric layer to serve as a top electrode. Preferably, the first source terminal and the first drain terminal have asymmetric shapes.