Abstract: A probing apparatus comprises a wafer chuck configured to receive a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuit devices and test keys configured to monitor the fabrication quality of the integrated circuit devices, a carrier configured to receive a probe card having a plurality of probe needles configured to contact the test keys of the semiconductor wafer and collect electrical information of the integrated circuit devices, and an angular adjusting module configured to adjust the angle between the probe card and the semiconductor wafer by rotating the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method for preparing a memory structure comprises the steps of forming a plurality of line-shaped blocks on a dielectric structure of a substrate, and forming a first etching mask exposing a sidewall of the line-shaped blocks. A portion of the line-shaped blocks is removed incorporating the first etching mask to reduce the width of the line-shaped blocks to form a second etching mask including a plurality of first blocks and second blocks arranged in an interlaced manner. Subsequently, a portion of the dielectric structure not covered by the second etching mask is removed to form a plurality of openings in the dielectric structure, and a conductive plug is formed in each of the openings. The plurality of openings includes first openings positioned between the first blocks and second openings positioned between the second blocks, and the first opening and the second opening extend to opposite sides of an active area.

Abstract: A test key for a semiconductor structure is provided for in-line defecting defects of the contact. The test key is disposed on a scribe line of a wafer substrate, and includes conductive structures and contacts under test. The conductive structures are electrically connected with the substrate and the contacts under test are not electrically connected with the substrate. The conductive structures and the contacts under test are regularly arranged in array. When an electronic beam is utilized to perform in-line monitoring, the normal contacts under test will be shown as bright dots and the bright dots are regularly arranged in the array; any contact under test with defect will be shown as a dark dot which results in an irregular arrangement of the bright dots.

Abstract: A capacitor structure comprises a substrate having a contact plug, a conductive cylinder positioned on the substrate and an electroplating structure covering the conductive cylinder, wherein a bottom electrode of the capacitor structure comprises the conductive cylinder and the electroplating structure. The conductive cylinder can be a hollow conductive cylinder, and the electroplating structure comprises a first conductive layer covering the inner sidewall and bottom surface of the hollow conductive cylinder and a second conductive layer covering the first conductive layer and the outer sidewall of the hollow conductive cylinder. The conductive cylinder and the electroplating structure can be made of different conductive material, and the free end of the conductive cylinder is preferably round. The conductive cylinder can be made of titanium nitride or tantalum nitride, while the electroplating structure can be made of ruthenium or platinum.

Abstract: Phase change memory devices and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a phase change memory device comprises a substrate. A dielectric layer is formed over the substrate and a phase change material layer is embedded in the dielectric layer. A first conductive electrode is also embedded in the dielectric layer to penetrate the phase change material layer and extends perpendicular to a top surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A phase-change memory comprises a bottom electrode formed on a substrate. A first isolation layer is formed on the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed on the isolation layer. A first phase-change material is formed in the first isolation layer, wherein the top electrode and the bottom electrode are electrically connected via the first phase-change material. Since the phase-change material can have a diameter less than the resolution limit of the photolithography process, an operating current for a state conversion of the phase-change material pattern may be reduced so as to decrease a power dissipation of the phase-change memory device.

Abstract: A phase-change memory element with side-wall contacts is disclosed. The phase-change memory element comprises a bottom electrode. A first dielectric layer is formed on the bottom electrode. A first electrical contact is formed on the first dielectric layer and electrically connects to the bottom electrode. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first electrical contact. A second electrical contact is formed on the second dielectric layer, wherein the second electrical contact comprises an outstanding terminal. An opening passes through the second electrical contact, the second dielectric layer, and the first electrical contact. A phase-change material occupies at least one portion of the opening. A third dielectric layer is formed on and covers the second electrical contact, exposing a top surface of outstanding terminal. A top electrode is formed on the third dielectric layer, contacting the outstanding terminal.

Abstract: A phase-change memory element with side-wall contacts is disclosed, which has a bottom electrode. A non-metallic layer is formed on the electrode, exposing the periphery of the top surface of the electrode. A first electrical contact is on the non-metallic layer to connect the electrode. A dielectric layer is on and covering the first electrical contact. A second electrical contact is on the dielectric layer. An opening is to pass through the second electrical contact, the dielectric layer, and the first electrical contact and preferably separated from the electrode by the non-metallic layer. A phase-change material is to occupy one portion of the opening, wherein the first and second electrical contacts interface the phase-change material at the side-walls of the phase-change material. A second non-metallic layer may be formed on the second electrical contact. A top electrode contacts the top surface of the outstanding terminal of the second electrical contact.

Abstract: An exemplary hollow stylus-shaped structure is disclosed, including a hollow column spacer formed over a base layer and a hollow cone spacer stacked over the hollow column spacer, wherein the hollow cone spacer, the hollow column spacer, and the base layer form a space, and sidewalls of the hollow cone spacer and the hollow column spacer are made of silicon-containing organic or inorganic materials.

Abstract: A method for preparing a doped polysilicon conductor according to this aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of (a) placing a substrate in a reaction chamber, (b) performing a deposition process to form a polysilicon layer on the substrate, (c) performing a grain growth process to form a plurality of polysilicon grains on the polysilicon layer, and (d) performing a dopant diffusion process to diffuse conductive dopants into the polysilicon layer via the polysilicon grains to form the doped polysilicon conductor.

Abstract: A phase change memory device is provided. The phase change memory device includes a substrate comprising a stacked structure. The stacked structure comprises a plurality of insulating layers and conductive layers. Any two of the conductive layers are spaced apart by one of the conductive layers. A first electrode structure with a first sidewall and a second sidewall is formed on the stacked structure. A plurality of heating electrodes is placed on the conductive layers and adjacent to the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the first electrode structure. A pair of phase change material spacers is placed on the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the first electrode structure. The phase change material sidewalls cover the plurality of heating electrodes.

Abstract: A recessed gate structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, a recess positioned in the semiconductor substrate, a gate oxide layer positioned in the recess and a conductive layer positioned on the gate oxide layer, wherein the semiconductor substrate has a multi-step structure in the recess. The thickness of the gate oxide layer on one step surface can be different from that on another step surface of the multi-step structure. In addition, the recessed gate structure further comprises a plurality of doped regions positioned in the semiconductor substrate under the multi-step structure, and these doped regions may use different dosages and different types of dopants. There is a carrier channel in the semiconductor substrate under the recessed gate structure and the overall channel length of the carrier channel is substantially the summation of the lateral width and twice of the vertical depth of the recessed gate structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a phase-change memory element. The method includes providing a substrate with an electrode formed thereon; sequentially forming a conductive layer and a first dielectric layer on the substrate; forming a patterned photoresist layer on the first dielectric layer; subjecting the patterned photoresist layer to a trimming process, remaining a photoresist pillar; etching the first dielectric layer with the photoresist pillar as etching mask, remaining a dielectric pillar; comformally forming a first phase-change material layer on the conductive layer and the dielectric pillar to cover the top surface and side walls of the dielectric pillar; forming a second dielectric layer to cover the first phase-change material layer; subjecting to the second dielectric layer and the first phase-change material layer to a planarization until exposing the top surface of the dielectric pillar; and forming a second phase-change material layer on the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A phase change memory wherein several phase change storage elements are coupled in series to share a single current source. The current provided by the current source is directed by a plurality of switches. To write/read the phase change storage elements, the invention provides techniques to control the current value generated by the current source and controls the states of the switches. The impedance summation of the phase change storage elements vary with the data stored therein.

Abstract: Phase change memories comprising a top electrode, a phase change element, a plurality of via holes allocated between the top electrode and the phase change element, at least four heaters aiming at different regions of the phase change element, and a plurality of bottom electrodes and transistors corresponding to the heaters. The bottom electrodes are respectively coupled to the heaters. Regarding the transistors, their first terminals are respectively coupled to the bottom electrodes, their control terminals are used for coupling to word lines, and their second terminals are used for coupling to bit lines. In an embodiment with four heaters, the regions the heaters aimed at the phase change element form a 2×2 storage array.

Abstract: Memories with low power consumption and methods for suppressing current leakage of a memory. The memory cell of the memory has a storage element and a transistor coupled in series. The invention sets a voltage across the transistor approaching to zero when the memory is not been accessed.

Abstract: A mask at frequency domain comprises a plurality of amplitude patterns positioned on a first surface of the mask and a plurality of phase patterns positioned on a second surface of the mask. The amplitude patterns have different vertical thicknesses to change the amplitude of an exposing light, and the phase patterns have different vertical thicknesses to change the phase of the exposing light. Preferably, the amplitude patterns are made of inorganic material, such as molybdenum silicide (MoSi), and the phase patterns are made of transparent material, such as quartz. The amplitude patterns and phase patterns are the Fourier transform of a circuit layout, and their numbers and positions are correspondent with each other.

Abstract: A memory cell structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, two stack structures positioned on the semiconductor substrate, two conductive spacers positioned on sidewalls of the two stack structures, a gate oxide layer covering a portion of the semiconductor substrate between the two conductive spacers and a gate structure positioned at least on the gate oxide layer. Particularly, each of two stack structures includes a first oxide block, a conductive block and a second oxide block, and the two conductive spacers are positioned at on the sidewall of the two conductive blocks of the two stack structures. The two conductive spacers are preferably made of polysilicon, and have a top end lower than the bottom surface of the second oxide block. In addition, a dielectric spacer is positioned on each of the two conductive spacers.

Abstract: A data programming circuit for storing a writing data into a memory cell is provided. The data programming circuit includes a control circuit and a current generating circuit. The control circuit generates a control signal according to the writing data. The current generating circuit provides a writing current to the memory cell to change a crystalline state of the memory cell. The writing current has a pulse width corresponding to the writing data, and the crystalline state corresponds to the writing data.

Abstract: A phase change memory device comprising an electrode, a phase change layer crossing and contacting the electrode at a cross region thereof, and a transistor comprising a source and a drain, wherein the drain of the transistor electrically connects the electrode or the phase change layer is disclosed.