Patent ID: 7855098
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for modifying the electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device to a desired state, the semiconductor device of a type having a metal oxide structure and a population of mobile carrier atoms of a first charge type disposed within said metal oxide structure, said mobile carrier atoms having been caused to migrate to desired regions of the metal oxide structure, comprising the steps of: elevating the temperature of the device; creating an electric field within a first region of the metal oxide structure of the device such that at least a portion of the mobile carrier atoms migrate from a second region of the structure which is outside said electric field toward said first region of the metal oxide structure, thereby creating a depletion region in said second region; and removing the electric field and lowering the temperature of the metal oxide structure such that the migrated mobile carrier atoms remain in the locations to which they migrated, and further such that the location to which the carrier atoms migrated results in the modification of the electrical characteristics of the device to the desired state; whereby exposure of the structure to light in order to cause the mobile carrier atoms to migrate is not performed.