Abstract: This invention provides a process for making an insulation layer for use in microelectronic devices, whereby capacitive coupling and propagation delay in the microelectronic devices are reduced. This invention can include the formation of a stable solution of spherical particles consisting of a ceramic core 10 and a non-polar coating 20. This solution can be applied to an microelectronic substrate, and dried to form a continuous, porous layer. Novel methods are disclosed for bonding these particles together into an integral layer. Porous layers formed by the process of this invention possess a very low dielectric constant, and can be produced using equipment and techniques common and available to those skilled in the art of microelectronic fabrication.

Abstract: The method of the present invention introduces a method of forming conductively doped contacts on a supporting substrate in a semiconductor device that minimizes the lateral out-diffusion of the conductive dopants and also provides for a low resistive contact by the steps of: preparing a conductive area to accept contact formation; forming a phosphorus insitu doped polysilicon layer over the conductive area; forming an arsenic insitu doped polysilicon layer over the phosphorus insitu doped polysilicon layer, wherein the two insitu doped polysilicon layers are deposited one after another in separate deposition steps; and annealing the layers at a temperature range of approximately 900.degree.-1100.degree. C. thereby, resulting in sufficient thermal treatment to allow phosphorus atoms to break up a first interfacial silicon dioxide layer formed between the conductive area and the phosphorus insitu doped polysilicon layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a semiconductor device and method for fabricating the semiconductor device, for forming a source and drain structure having no side diffusion. The semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a gate formed on the silicon substrate with a gate insulation film in between, and a source and drain formed of conductive material layers buried in the substrate to a designated depth at opposite sides of the gate, thereby providing a source with no side diffusion, preventing reduction of channel length, and improving element integration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for stressing the oxide layer (36) of an MOS integrated circuit during the fabrication process. One aspect of the invention is a method for fabricating an MOS integrated circuit. In accordance with this method, an oxide layer (36) is formed on a semiconductor substrate (34), and a gate layer (38) is formed on top of the oxide layer (36). During fabrication of the MOS integrated circuit, a potential is applied between the gate layer (38) and the semiconductor substrate (34) in order to stress the oxide layer (36). Other aspects of the invention include applying both a forward and reverse potential to stress the oxide layer (36). Also, the oxide stress can be applied at an elevated temperature. Elevated temperature aids in stressing the oxide layer (36).

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming integrated circuitry on a semiconductor wafer includes, a) forming at least two discrete wafer alignment patterns on the wafer, the two discrete alignment patterns having respective-series of elevation steps provided therein; and b) while fabricating integrated circuitry elsewhere on the wafer, processing a first portion of at least one of the alignment patterns differently from a second portion of the one alignment pattern to render the first portion to be different from the second portion in the one alignment pattern. Such preferably superimposes a secondary step, most preferably of the same degree, over only a portion of the elevation steps in at least one of the wafer alignment patterns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a random access memory of the preloading static type, in which use is made of a static random access memory constituted by MOS transistors formed from the memory flip-flop array and in which a particle or photon beam is applied to the said MOS transistors in such a way that the accumulated dose received exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A semiconductor interconnection consists of a corrosion resistant integrated fuse and Controlled, Collapse Chip Connection (C4) structure for the planar copper Back End of Line (BEOL). Non copper fuse material is directly connected to copper wiring.

Abstract: In a method for forming a groove-type isolation area, an insulating pattern is formed by a selective oxidation process or a LOCOS process on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is etched with a mask of the insulating pattern to create a groove in the semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is buried in the groove to form the groove-type isolation area.

Abstract: A contact hole and a wiring groove are formed in an insulating layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. A silver layer is formed inside of the contact hole and the wiring groove and on the insulating layer with the use of an electroless plating bath comprising: silver nitrate containing silver ions; tartaric acid serving as a reducing agent of the silver ions; ethylenediamine serving as a complexing agent of the silver ions; and metallic ions of tetramethylammoniumhydroxide serving as a pH control agent. Then, the silver layer on the insulating layer is removed by a chemical and mechanical polishing method such that an embedded wiring is formed in each of the contact hole and the wiring groove.

Abstract: A method for fabricating wiring in a semiconductor device in which a conductor line and a contact hole are formed by self-alignment, includes the steps of: forming an insulating layer on a substrate; forming an etch-step layer on the insulating layer; etching the etch-stop layer of a wiring region connected to a window and the insulating layer to a predetermined thickness; forming a mask layer on the etch-stop layer and the insulating layer; etching the mask layer to remove the mask layer at the central part of the window; and etching the insulating layer of the central part of the window so as to form a contact hole. By applying such a method, a highly improved reliability can be obtained, and a process thereof is simplified by a single photolithography. Also, the contact hole is formed by self-alignment in the lengthwise direction and in the vertical direction of the conductor line.

Abstract: A method for forming an oxide film over a spin-on-glass (SOG) layer by a plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (PECVD) is disclosed. The SOG layer is pre-processed in a forming gas of hydrogen and nitrogen in a PECVD chamber. Then the oxide film is formed over the SOG layer by means of the PECVD process in the PECVD chamber.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of providing a polysilicon layer atop a semiconductor wafer comprises the following sequential steps: a) depositing a first layer of arsenic atop a semiconductor wafer; b) depositing a second layer of silicon over the arsenic layer, the second layer having an outer surface; c) first annealing the wafer at a temperature of at least about 600.degree. C. for a time period sufficient to impart growth of polycrystalline silicon grains in the second layer and providing a predominately polysilicon second layer, the first annealing step imparting diffusion of arsenic within the second layer to promote growth of large polysilicon grains; and d) with the second layer outer surface being outwardly exposed, second annealing the wafer at a temperature effectively higher than the first annealing temperature for a time period sufficient to outgas arsenic from the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor on insulator structure (50) includes a silicon layer (30) formed on an insulating substrate (20). The silicon layer (30) is partitioned into two sections (32, 34) which are electrically isolated from each other. The thickness of the silicon layer (30) in a first section (32) of the silicon layer (30) is adjusted independently from the thickness of the silicon layer (30) in a second section (34) of the silicon layer (30). Independently adjusting the thickness of the silicon layer (30) allows optimizing the performance of semiconductor devices (60, 80) fabricated in the first and second sections (32, 34) of the semiconductor on insulator structure (50).

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) integrated circuit (10). The DRAM (10) includes a recessed region (20) defined in a semiconductor substrate (22). This recessed region has substantially vertical sides (34) extending from a bottom surface (32). A field effect transistor (18) is defined adjacent to the recessed region (20). A capacitor structure, including a lower capacitor plate (26), a capacitor dielectric (28), and an upper capacitor plate (30), is defined in the recessed region (20) and over the field effect transistor (18), thereby providing a greater capacitor surface.

Abstract: A low pressure chloride chemical vapor deposition method for depositing a titanium nitride film within a contact hole formed in an insulation film overlying a silicon substrate is carried out by reacting a nitrogen source gas in plasma state, which contains gas molecules decomposed or excited, with a titanium source gas in non-plasma state, which contains titanium chloride undecomposed so that the titanium nitride film has a good step coverage and a low concentration of residual chlorine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor laser diode in optical communication system, and the present invention uses both an oxide and a nitride pattern as an etch mask instead of the single oxide pattern in order to decrease the under cut of the edge of the oxide pattern.

Abstract: A method is provided for suppressing or eliminating void formation during the manufacture of integrated circuits. TEOS is deposited and etched to form recesses that assist in eliminating or suppressing void formation. The recesses may be located in an interlevel layer, or within the oxide layer just beneath the passivation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method having a low-permittivity material between closely-spaced leads in order to decrease unwanted capacitance, while having a more structurally strong dielectric between widely-spaced leads where capacitance is not as critical. A metal layer 14 is deposited on a substrate 12 of a semiconductor wafer 10, where the metal layer 14 has a first region 15 and a second region 17. An insulating layer 39 is deposited on the metal layer, and the insulating layer 39 is patterned with a conductor pattern of widely-spaced leads and closely-spaced leads. Widely-spaced leads 16 are formed in the first region 15 of the metal layer 14. At least adjacent portions of closely-spaced leads 18 are formed in the second region 17 of the metal layer 14. A low-permittivity material 34 is deposited between adjacent portions of the closely-spaced leads 18. A structural dielectric layer 26 is deposited between at least the widely-spaced leads.

Abstract: An improved process for forming titanium silicide layers on semiconductor device silicon regions which have native oxide thereon utilizes a reactively sputter deposited layer of TiH.sub.x.ltoreq.2 followed by a rapid thermal anneal in a nitrogen bearing gas. This process results in lowered silicidation activation energy and lower anneal temperature requirements. Production throughput is improved with respect to prior art methods of removing the native oxide or minimizing its negative effect on silicide formation. The same process produces a titanium nitride/titanium silicide bilayer on silicon, and a titanium nitride/titanium bilayer on silicon dioxide. The thickness of the titanium nitride layer over silicon dioxide is enhanced by the use of TiH.sub.x.ltoreq.2 in place of Ti layers used in prior art, thus improving the utility of the titanium nitride as a diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a silicon substrate which optimizes extrinsic gettering during semiconductor fabrication is provided in which phosphorous ions are diffused into the backside surface of a silicon substrate during wafer slice manufacture. Forming gettering sites at the backside surface prior to gate polysilicon deposition, extrinsic gettering is optimized. Initially, both the frontside and backside surfaces of a silicon substrate are subjected to dopant materials. Thereafter, at least one thin film is formed on both the frontside and backside surfaces. The thin films are then removed from the frontside surface along with a layer of the silicon substrate immediately below the frontside surface to a depth of about 10.0 .mu.m. The final polishing step of a typical silicon wafer manufacturing process removes a layer of silicon to a depth of about 10.0 .mu.