Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device includes a substrate and first and second spacers on the substrate. The semiconductor device includes a gate stack between the first and second spacers. The gate stack includes a gate dielectric layer having a first portion formed on the substrate and a second portion formed on the first and second spacers. The first portion includes a crystalline material and the second portion comprises an amorphous material. The gate stack further includes a gate electrode on the first and second portions of the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a radiation-sensing region, at least one isolation structure, and a doped passivation layer. The radiation-sensing region is present in the semiconductor substrate. The isolation structure is present in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the radiation-sensing region. The doped passivation layer at least partially surrounds the isolation structure in a substantially conformal manner.

Abstract: A method for performing a photolithography process is provided. The method includes forming a layer over a substrate, and exposing a portion of the layer to form an exposed region. The method also includes performing a baking process on the layer, so that voids are formed in the exposed region of the layer. The method further includes filling the void with a post treatment coating material, and the post treatment coating material is over the exposed region of the layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a phase change random access memory (PCRAM) device is provided. The method includes: forming a memory stack over an insulator layer. A first etch process is performed to pattern the memory stack defining a memory cell including a top electrode overlying a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer includes a center region laterally between a first outer region and a second outer region. An etchant used in the first etch process creates a compound in the first and second outer regions, the compound has a first melting point temperature. A first deposition process is performed to form a first sidewall spacer over the memory cell, the first sidewall spacer is in direct contact with outer sidewalls of the memory cell. The first deposition process reaches a first maximum temperature less than the first melting point temperature.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by using a gate replacement technology, a gate space constituted by dielectric material portions, in which a semiconductor fin channel layer is exposed, is formed. The surfaces of the dielectric material portions are made hydrophobic. A first dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor fin channel layer, while maintaining the surfaces of the dielectric material portions hydrophobic. A surface of the formed first dielectric layer is hydrophilic. A first conductive layer is formed over the first dielectric layer, while maintaining the surfaces of the dielectric material portions hydrophobic. A second conductive layer is formed over the first conductive layer and on the hydrophobic surfaces of the dielectric material portions, thereby filling the gate space.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a substrate, which includes a periphery region having a first substrate surface and a memory cell region having a second substrate surface. The second substrate surface is recessed within the substrate relative to the first substrate surface. A high k metal gate (HKMG) transistor is disposed on the first substrate surface and includes a HKMG gate. Two neighboring flash memory cells are disposed on the second substrate surface and include a pair of flash memory cell control gates. Top surfaces of the HKMG gate and flash memory cell control gates are co-planar.

Abstract: At least a first reticle is stored in a housing of a stocker. A first gas is delivered to the housing. At least one reticle pod having an additional reticle is delivered into a enclosure within the housing of the stocker. A second gas different from the first gas is delivered to the enclosure. The reticle pod is automatically retrieved from the enclosure. The delivery and retrieval of the reticle pod and delivery of the first gas and the second gas are automatically controlled.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) device is provided in accordance with some embodiments. The SRAM device comprises a plurality of two-port SRAM arrays, which comprise a plurality of two-port SRAM cells. Each two-port SRAM cell comprises a write port portion, a read port portion, a first plurality of metal lines located in a first metal layer, a second plurality of metal lines located in a second metal layer, a third plurality of metal lines located in a third metal layer a plurality of edge cells, a plurality of well strap cells, and a plurality of jumper structures. Each jumper structure comprises first, second, and third metal landing pads located in the second metal layer and electrically connecting metal lines of the first and third metal layers.

Abstract: An aluminum (Al) layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. A selective portion of the Al layer is removed to form openings. The Al layer is anodized to obtain an alumina dielectric layer with a plurality of pores substantially perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The openings are filled with a conductive interconnect material. The pores are widened to form air gaps and a top etch stop layer is formed over the alumina dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of generating a scaled integrated chip design by scaling a FEOL and a BEOL of an original IC design at different scaling ratios, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming an original integrated chip (IC) design that is a graphical representation of an integrated chip. The original IC design has a front-end-of-the-line (FEOL) section, a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) section, and a middle-of-the-line (MOL) section that is disposed between the FEOL and BEOL sections. A scaled integrated chip design is formed by scaling (i.e., shrinking) the FEOL section and the BEOL section of the original integrated chip design at different scaling ratios, and by scaling different design layers within the MOL section at different scaling ratios to avoid misalignment errors between the FEOL section and the BEOL section.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for fabricating an interconnection structure. A substrate is provided with a dielectric layer thereon. The dielectric layer comprises at least one opening therein. A gap-filling material is applied on the substrate filling the at least one opening. The gap-filling material is planarized using a template to create a substantially planarized surface.

Abstract: A test system for testing a large number of dice on a semiconductor wafer without repositioning test probes is disclosed. The test system includes a set of dice under test (DUT) connected together by a plurality of signal buses formed on a semiconductor wafer, at least one test die designed for carrying out tests of the dice under test, the test die having a set of pads to be connected to one or more probes of an external test apparatus, and a probe card with at least one multiplexer implemented in the probe card, such that the test die is capable of receiving signals from the external test apparatus to select any die under test within the set via the multiplexer and the signal buses without repositioning the probes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least one first gate dielectric layer over a substrate. A first transition-metal oxycarbide (MCxOy) containing layer is formed over the at least one first gate dielectric layer, wherein the transition-metal (M) has an atomic percentage of about 40 at. % or more. A first gate is formed over the first transition-metal oxycarbide containing layer. At least one first doped region is formed within the substrate and adjacent to a sidewall of the first gate.

Abstract: A system for sending multimedia information from at least one base station to one or more mobile stations via at least one wireless communication link includes at least one multimedia source for generating the multimedia information. At least one processor is coupled to the multimedia source for generating a number of data streams derived from the multimedia information on a media control access (MAC) layer. At least one data channel modulator is coupled to the processor for mapping the data streams into a number of data packets on a forward packet data channel between the base station and the mobile station, using a physical layer signaling based on a code-division multiple access (CDMA) or orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM) technology.

Abstract: The dual bit split gate flash memory of the invention comprises a plurality of memory cells wherein each memory cell comprises a select gate overlying a substrate and isolated from the substrate by a select gate oxide layer, a first and second floating gate on opposite sidewalls of the select gate and isolated from the select gate by an oxide spacer, and a control gate overlying the select gate and the first and second floating gates and isolated from the select gate and the first and second floating gates by a dielectric layer, and source and drain regions within the substrate and shared by adjacent memory cells.

Abstract: A new method and structure is created for a multi-transistor SRAM device. Standard processing steps are followed for the creation of CMOS devices of providing a patterned layer of gate material, of performing LDD impurity implants, of creating gate spacers. After the creation of the gate spacers, a new step of photoresist patterning and exposure is added. The mask for this additional step is a modified butt-contact mask, comprising enlarging the conventional butt-contact opening by between about 0.005 &mgr;m and 0.2 &mgr;m, an effect that can also be achieved by photo over-expose. This modified butt-contact mask exposes a spacer that is adjacent to the butt-contact hole, this spacer is removed. S/D impurity implant is performed after which conventional processing steps are applied for completion of the multi-transistor SRAM device.

Abstract: A method of forming dual gate insulator layers, each with a specific insulator thickness, featuring a HF type pre-clean procedure performed prior to formation of each of the gate insulator layers, has been developed. After a first HF type pre-clean procedure a silicon nitride layer is deposited on the native oxide free, semiconductor substrate followed by selective removal of silicon nitride layer from a second portion of the semiconductor substrate. After a second HF type pre-clean procedure a silicon dioxide gate insulator layer is formed on the second portion of the native oxide free, semiconductor substrate, with the silicon dioxide gate insulator layer comprised with a different thickness than the silicon nitride gate insulator layer, located on a first portion of the semiconductor substrate. The procedure used to form the silicon dioxide gate insulator layer also removes bulk traps in the silicon nitride gate insulator layer.

Abstract: A method for reducing sidewall capacitance by 25% or more in an STI structure is described. A conformal barrier layer is deposited on sloped sidewalls in a shallow trench within a substrate. The trench is filled with a low k dielectric material which is planarized and etched back. Next a barrier cap layer is deposited that is different than the underlying low k dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the barrier cap layer is a SiCOH material that is modified for enhanced CMP performance that yields fewer surface scratches and defects. A nitride etch stop layer and a pad oxide are removed above an active area on the substrate to afford the final STI structure. Optionally, the barrier cap layer is omitted and the low k dielectric layer extends slightly above the substrate level. Total parasitic capacitance in the resulting MOS device is reduced by 15% or more.

Abstract: A new method and structure is provided for the polishing of the surface of a layer of low-k dielectric material. Low-k dielectric material of low density and relatively high porosity is combined with low-k dielectric material of high density and low porosity whereby the latter high density layer is, prior to polishing of the combined layers, deposited over the former low density layer. Polishing of the combined layers removes flaking of the polished low-k layers of dielectric. This method can further be extended by forming conductive interconnects through the layers of dielectric, prior to the layer of dielectric.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a MOSFET device featuring a raised source/drain structure on a heavily doped source/drain region as well as on a portion of a lightly doped source/drain (LDD) region, after removal of an insulator spacer component, has been developed. After formation of an LDD region a composite insulator spacer, comprised of an underlying silicon oxide spacer component and an overlying silicon nitride spacer component, is formed on the sides of a gate structure. Formation of a heavily doped source/drain is followed by removal of the silicon nitride spacer resulting in recessing of, and damage formation to, the heavily doped source/drain region, as well as recessing of the gate structure. Removal of a horizontal component of the silicon oxide spacer component results in additional recessing of the heavily doped source/drain region, and of the gate structure.