Abstract: A method of testing a leakage current caused by a self-aligned silicide process is described. The invention uses different test structure to monitor degree of and reason for a leakage current caused by a self-aligned silicide process. While monitoring a self-aligned silicide process performed on a metal-oxide semiconductor transistor without a LDD region, in addition to considering a leakage current occurring from the metal silicide layer to the junction and occurring at edge of the metal silicide layer, the invention further considers a leakage current at comer of the metal silicide layer. For a metal-oxide semiconductor transistor having a LDD region, the invention further considers a leakage current from the metal silicide layer to the LDD region. The invention monitors a leakage current at comer of the metal silicide layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a shallow trench isolation includes formation of a polishing stop layer. The polishing stop layer is formed in a fill material by performing ion implantation to implant atoms in the fill material. The depth of the polishing stop layer can be controlled by the energy of the implanted atoms. The polishing stop layer prevents the fill material from being dished by chemical-mechanical polishing. The polishing stop layer also prevents scratches from forming in the surface of the fill material, which is used to form isolation regions.

Abstract: The invention describes a wafer protective container for holding integrated circuit (IC) wafers. The wafer protective container comprises a container body, a locking device, a container cover, and a plurality of fasteners assembled together to prevent movement of the IC wafers during transportation. The container body has at least an opening to allow easy loading and unloading of the IC wafers, while the locking device is used to keep the IC wafers in position in the container body. The container cover, which covers the container body, provides more protection for the IC wafers. The container cover has a plurality of notches to enhance ease of opening the IC wafer protective container. Since the fasteners can secure the container cover to the container body, a seal between the container cover and the container body is not broken as a result of rigorous movement during transportation, thus reducing the risk of contaminating the IC wafers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a two-bit flash memory. A substrate has a thin oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer and a material layer formed thereon in sequence. An opening is formed in the material layer and the silicon nitride layer to expose a portion of the thin oxide layer. A source/drain region is formed in the substrate beneath the portion of the thin oxide layer exposed by the opening. A first dielectric layer is formed in the opening. A portion of the material layer and a portion of the silicon nitride layer are removed to form a spacer on the sidewall of the first dielectric layer. The remaining material layer is removed. A portion of the thin oxide layer exposed by the remaining silicon nitride layer and the first dielectric layer is removed. A second dielectric layer is formed on a portion of the substrate exposed by the remaining thin oxide layer. A control gate is formed over the substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bit line of a flash memory. A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) has a buried oxide layer therein and a silicon layer thereon. A patterned hard mask layer is formed on the silicon layer. The exposed silicon layer and the buried oxide layer thereunder are removed to form a bit line opening while using the hard mask layer as a mask. A conformal lightly doped polysilicon layer is formed over the substrate. A heavily doped polysilicon layer is formed over the substrate and filling the bit line opening. The lightly doped polysilicon layer and the heavily doped polysilicon layer are removed until arriving at the silicon layer to form a bit line. The hard mask layer is then removed.

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory structure. The structure includes a substrate having protruding sections and recessed sections, in which the protruding sections have sidewalls and a substrate surface is located between the protruding sections and the recessed sections. A gate oxide layer is formed on the sidewalls of the protruding sections and on the surfaces between the protruding sections and the recessed sections. A doped region is formed near the bottom of each protruding section, and these doped regions serve as buried bit lines. A channel region is formed in the protruding section and a gate electrode is formed on each side of the channel region. A storage electrode is connected to the other end of the protruding section and a word line is connected to the gate electrode. The word line and the buried bit line are perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A method for forming a multi-layered liner on the sidewalls of a node contact opening includes the steps of providing a substrate having a dielectric layer thereon. The dielectric layer further includes a node contact opening that exposes a portion of the substrate. A first liner layer is then formed on the sidewalls of the node contact opening. Next, a second liner layer is formed over the first liner layer such that the first liner layer and the second liner layer together form a dual-layered liner. The first liner layer in contact with the dielectric layer has good insulation capacity while the second liner layer has good etch-resisting property.

Abstract: A fabrication process for a polysilicon gate is described in which a silicon dioxide layer of various thicknesses is formed on the substrate and on the polysilicon gate with an overlying anti-reflection layer. The silicon dioxide layer is removed with enough silicon dioxide layer remaining to cover the sidewalls of the polysilicon gate and the silicon substrate before the removal of the anti-reflection layer. The sidewalls of the polysilicon gate and the silicon substrate are thus simultaneously protected during the removal of the anti-reflection layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating dynamic random access memory. A conductive layer, a metal silicide layer, a first cap layer and a second cap layer are formed and patterned to form gate structures on the substrate. A first oxide layer is formed over the sidewalls of the metal silicide layer and the conductive layer as well as over the exposed substrate. First spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate structures. A second oxide layer is formed over the substrate. Second spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the second oxide layer. A third oxide layer is formed over the substrate. The second spacers, the second oxide layer and a portion of the first oxide layer are removed to expose a portion of the substrate. Contact pads that expose the second cap layer and a portion of the first spacers are formed, and then a first dielectric layer is formed over the entire substrate. Source/drain regions are formed on each side of the third oxide layer in the substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a bottom electrode is provided. In this method a dielectric layer is formed on a substrate having a source/drain region. A via hole is formed in the dielectric layer to expose the source/drain region. A patterned, doped polysilicon layer is formed on the dielectric layer and fills the via hole, wherein the cross-section of the patterned doped polysilicon layer is arced or polygonal. The surface of the patterned polysilicon layer is transformed into an amorphous silicon layer. A hemispherical-grain layer is formed on the amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a dynamic random access memory cell such that the gate conductive layer, the bit line contact, the node contact, the bit line and the node contact plug are all formed using self-aligned processes. By employing the self-aligned method of forming DRAM cell, isolation structures are no longer etched in the process of forming the node contact opening. In addition, the aspect ratio of the node contact opening is reduced and processing window is thereby widened.

Abstract: A Method for forming a dynamic random access memory device with an ultra-short channel and an ultra-shallow junction is described in the invention. In the invention, the spacer is used as a mask to define the channel length of the device, so that the channel length of the device is not limited by the resolution of the photolithography process, and the performance of the device is improved thereby. Furthermore, an inversion layer serves as a junction to reduce the electric field; thus, the reliability of the device is increased.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a lower electrode of a capacitor. A sacrificial multilayer is formed on a semiconductor layer. The sacrificial multi-layer is a stack of alternating first and second sacrificial layers. A patterned first mask layer having a first opening above a conductive plug in the semiconductor substrate is formed on the sacrificial multi-layer. A planar spacer is formed on the sidewall of the first opening. A second mask layer is formed to fill the first opening. The planar spacer and the sacrificial multi-layer thereunder are anisotropically etched until the semiconductor substrate is exposed to form a second opening while using the first mask layer and second mask layer as a mask. The first sacrificial layers exposed by the second opening are isotropically etched to form a plurality of recesses. The second opening and the recesses are filled with a conductive material layer. Finally, the first mask layer, second mask layer, and sacrificial multi-layer are removed.

Abstract: A multiple box case for housing audio equipment in both a transport and an operating mode is disclosed. An upper box has six latches extending downward to engage two continuous slider members fastened to a lower box to secure the case in the transport or closed mode. In an open or operating position, the upper box is cantilevered over the rear of the lower box and four of the six latches engage the two slider members in an operator preferred one of a plurality of continuously selectable positions. A safety stop bolt is installed in each slider member so as to preclude unstable positioning of the upper box.

Abstract: A method of forming buried bit lines. A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate includes a silicon base layer, a first insulation layer and an epitaxial silicon layer. A shallow trench isolation (STI) layer that contacts the first insulation layer is formed in the epitaxial silicon layer. A trench that penetrates the STI layer and runs deep into the first insulation layer is formed. A buried bit line is formed inside the trench such that the top surface of the buried bit line is located between the upper and the lower surface of the STI layer. A second insulation layer is next formed over the buried bit line such that the top surface of the second insulation layer is at the same level as the top surface of the epitaxial silicon layer. A plurality of word lines and a plurality of source/drain regions are formed over the substrate and in the epitaxial silicon layer.

Abstract: A method for integrating a high-voltage device and a low-voltage device. A substrate has a high-voltage device region, a low-voltage device region and a scribe region, wherein a patterned insulating layer is formed on the substrate in the high-voltage device region and the scribe region. A grade region is formed in the substrate exposed by the patterned insulating layer in the high-voltage device region. A plurality of protuberances is formed on the substrate exposed by the patterned insulating layer in the high-voltage device region and in the scribe region. The patterned insulating layer and the protuberances are removed to form recesses at locations of the protuberances. A first gate structure and a second gate structure are respectively formed on the substrate between the grade region in the high-voltage device region and on the substrate in the low-voltage device region while using the recesses as alignment marks.

Abstract: A method of spin-on-glass planarization. A spin-on-glass layer is formed on a substrate. An accuflo layer with a better fluidity than the spin-on-glass material is formed on the spin-on-glass layer. The accuflo layer and the spin-on-glass layer are etched back by two etching steps with different etching rate. The accuflo layer after being etched is stripped. A dielectric layer is formed.

Abstract: A plumb system for construction projects having a laser module embedded within includes a spring or the like device acting as a connecting device to a tripod or the like apparatus for projecting a vertical laser beam to a vertical end point, from the floor to a certain top point. Conversely, a spring or the like device mounted to the opposite end of the laser module of the plumb can be mounted to a certain high point for projecting a top to bottom laser beam for determining an end point at the floor. An optional horizontal base designed to horizontally receive the plumb for projecting a horizontal laser beam. A horizontal level indicator mounted onto the horizontal base can ensure a true horizontal plane. An optional self standing horizontal block can be used to determine the intermediate points of the horizontal laser beam.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) device integrates a shallow trench isolation (STI) process and a storage node process into the fabrication of the DRAM device. With a bit line over capacitor (BOC) structure, the capacitor is laid out in parts of the shallow trench isolation structure to increase the surface area of the storage node by using the trench. During the fabrication of the capacitor, a stacked plug used to connect the bit line is formed. The stacked plug used as the interconnection in the circuit region is also formed. An insulating layer is formed to cover the capacitor, and an opening is formed therein to expose the stacked plug. A bit line and an interconnection are formed on the insulating layer to connect with a conducting layer which is located in the stacked plug and contacted with the source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method to form a better quality of an alignment pattern includes several steps, first starts from forming a polysilicon layer on a semiconductor substrate. Next, most of a central portion of the polysilicon layer is removed to expose the substrate. Then, an oxide layer is formed over the substrate and is patterned to form an opening, which exposes the substrate. A W layer is deposited over the substrate and is planarized by WCMP process to form a W plug inside the opening. A metal layer is formed over the substrate. The alignment mark pattern is formed on the metal layer.