Abstract: A method for depositing an organosilicate layer on a substrate includes varying one or more processing conditions during a process sequence for depositing an organosilicate layer from a gas mixture comprising an organosilicon compound in the presence of RF power in a processing chamber. In one aspect, the distance between the substrate and a gas distribution manifold in the processing chamber is varied during processing. Preferably, the method of depositing an organosilicate layer minimizes plasma-induced damage to the substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a substrate including providing a processing gas comprising hydrogen gas and an organosilicon compound comprising a phenyl group to the processing chamber, and reacting the processing gas to deposit a low k silicon carbide barrier layer useful as a barrier layer in damascene or dual damascene applications with low k dielectric materials.

Abstract: A method for depositing an organosilicate layer on a substrate includes varying one or more processing conditions during a process sequence for depositing an organosilicate layer from a gas mixture comprising an organosilicon compound in the presence of RF power in a processing chamber. In one aspect, the distance between the substrate and a gas distribution manifold in the processing chamber is varied during processing. Preferably, the method of depositing an organosilicate layer minimizes plasma-induced damage to the substrate.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film having a dielectric constant of about 3.5 or less is provided by blending one or more cyclic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic organosilicon compounds, and one or more low molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. In one aspect, a gas mixture comprising one or more cyclic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds, one or more oxidizing gases, and a carrier gas is reacted at conditions sufficient to deposit a low dielectric constant film on a substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film having a dielectric constant of about 3.5 or less is provided by blending one or more cyclic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic organosilicon compounds, and one or more low molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. In one aspect, a gas mixture comprising one or more cyclic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds, one or more oxidizing gases, and a carrier gas is reacted at conditions sufficient to deposit a low dielectric constant film on a substrate surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a substrate including providing a processing gas comprising hydrogen gas and an organosilicon compound comprising a phenyl group to the processing chamber, and reacting the processing gas to deposit a low k silicon carbide barrier layer useful as a barrier layer in damascene or dual damascene applications with low k dielectric materials.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an interconnect structure comprising etching a via into an upper low K dielectric layer and into a hardened portion of a lower low K dielectric layer. The via is defined by a pattern formed in a photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is then stripped, and a trench that circumscribes the via as defined by a hard mask is etched into the upper low K dielectric layer and, simultaneously, the via that was etched into the hardened portion of the lower low K dielectric layer is further etched into the lower low K dielectric layer. The result is a low K dielectric dual damascene structure.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for depositing low-k dielectric films that includes steps of: (a) CVD-depositing a low-k dielectric film; and (b) plasma treating the CVD-deposited, low-k dielectric film.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a substrate including providing a processing gas comprising hydrogen gas and an organosilicon compound comprising a phenyl group to the processing chamber, and reacting the processing gas to deposit a low k silicon carbide barrier layer useful as a barrier layer in damascene or dual damascene applications with low k dielectric materials.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film on a substrate. The method includes depositing a low dielectric constant film comprising silicon, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen on the substrate disposed in a chemical vapor deposition chamber, introducing a gas mixture comprising a hydrogen-containing gas to the chemical vapor deposition chamber, forming a plasma of the gas mixture proximate the low dielectric constant film using a radio frequency power, and applying a direct current bias to at least one of the substrate or a gas distribution plate to cure the low dielectric constant film.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film on a substrate. The method includes depositing a low dielectric constant film comprising silicon, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen in a chemical vapor deposition chamber. The method further includes exposing the low dielectric constant film to an electron beam having an exposure dose less than about 400 &mgr;C/cm2 at conditions sufficient to increase the hardness of the low dielectric constant film.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film having a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less, preferably about 2.5 or less, is provided by reacting a gas mixture including one or more organosilicon compounds and one or more oxidizing gases. In one aspect, the organosilicon compound comprises a hydrocarbon component having one or more unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, and in another aspect, the gas mixture further comprises one or more aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds having one or more unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. The low dielectric constant film is post-treated after it is deposited. In one aspect, the post treatment is an electron beam treatment, and in another aspect, the post-treatment is an annealing process.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film having a dielectric constant of about 3.5 or less is provided by blending one or more cyclic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic organosilicon compounds, and one or more low molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. In one aspect, a gas mixture comprising one or more cyclic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic organosilicon compounds, one or more aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds, one or more oxidizing gases, and a carrier gas is reacted at conditions sufficient to deposit a low dielectric constant film on a substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film having a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less, preferably about 2.5 or less, is provided by using one or more cyclic organic precursors and one or more aliphatic precursors. In one aspect, a cyclic organosilicon compound, an aliphatic organosilicon, and an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound are reacted with an oxidizing gas at conditions sufficient to deposit a low dielectric constant film on the semiconductor substrate. The cyclic organosilicon compound includes at least one silicon-carbon bond. The aliphatic organosilicon compound includes a silicon-hydrogen bond or a silicon-oxygen bond.

Abstract: A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film having an improved hardness and elastic modulus is provided. In one aspect, the method comprises depositing a low dielectric constant film having silicon, carbon, and hydrogen, and then treating the deposited film with a plasma of helium, hydrogen, or a mixture thereof at conditions sufficient to increase the hardness of the film.

Abstract: A computer-assisted diagnostic (CAD) method and apparatus are described for the enhancement and detection of suspicious regions in digital X-ray images, with particular emphasis on early cancer detection using digital mammography. An objective is to improve the sensitivity of detection of suspicious areas such as masses, while maintaining a low false positive detection rate, and to classify masses as benign or malignant. A modular CAD technique has been developed as a potentially automatic and/or second-opinion method for mass detection and classification in digital mammography that may in turn be readily modified for application with different digital X-ray detectors with varying gray-scale and resolution characteristics. The method consists of using a plurality of CAD modules to preprocess and enhance image features in the gray-level, the directional texture, and the morphological domains.

Abstract: A computer-assisted diagnostic (CAD) method and apparatus are described for the enhancement and detection of suspicious regions in digital X-ray images, with particular emphasis on early cancer detection using digital mammography. An objective is to improve the sensitivity of detection of suspicious areas such as masses, while maintaining a low false positive detection rate, and to classify masses as benign or malignant. A modular CAD technique has been developed as a potentially automatic and/or second-opinion method for mass detection and classification in digital mammography that may in turn be readily modified for application with different digital X-ray detectors with varying gray-scale and resolution characteristics. The method consists of using a plurality of CAD modules to preprocess and enhance image features in the gray-level, the directional texture, and the morphological domains.