Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that selectively apply strain to multiple regions of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device having one or more regions is provided (102). A strain inducing liner is formed over the semiconductor device (104). A selection mechanism, such as a layer of photoresist or UV reflective coating is applied to the semiconductor device to select a region (106). The selected region is treated with a stress altering treatment that alters a type and/or magnitude of stress produced by the selected region (108).

Abstract: An inductor structure (102) formed in an integrated circuit (100) is disclosed, and includes a first isolation layer (106) and a first core plate (104) disposed over or within the first isolation layer (106, 114). The first core plate (104) includes a plurality of electrically coupled conductive traces composed of a conductive ferromagnetic material layer. A second isolation layer (108) overlies the first isolation layer and an inductor coil (102) composed of a conductive material layer (118) is formed within the second isolation layer (108). Another core plate may be formed over the coil. The one or more core plates increase an inductance (L) of the inductor coil (102).

Abstract: An integrated circuit capacitor having a bottom plate 50a, a dielectric layer 250?, and a ferromagnetic top plate 20a.

Abstract: An on-chip decoupling capacitor (106) and method of fabrication. The decoupling capacitor (104) is integrated at the top metal interconnect level (104) and may be implemented with only one additional masking layer. The decoupling capacitor (106) is formed on a copper interconnect line (104a). An aluminum cap layer (118) provides electrical connection to the top electrode (112) of the decoupling capacitor (106).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming an interconnect on a semiconductor substrate 100. The method includes forming an opening 230 over an inner surface of the opening 130, the depositing forming a reentrant profile near a top portion of the opening 130. A portion of barrier 230 is etched, which removes at least a portion of the barrier 230 to reduce the reentrant profile. The etching also removes at least a portion of the barrier 230 layer at the bottom of the opening 130.

Abstract: A method (10) of forming a MIM (metal insulator metal) capacitor is disclosed whereby adverse affects associated with copper diffusion are mitigated even as the capacitor is scaled down. A sidewall spacer (156) is formed against an edge (137) of a layer of bottom electrode/copper diffusion barrier material (136), an edge (151) of a layer of capacitor dielectric material (150) and at least some of an edge (153) of a layer of top electrode material. The sidewall spacer (156) is dielectric or non-conductive and mitigates “shorting” currents that can develop between the plates as a result of copper diffusion. Bottom electrode diffusion barrier material (136) mitigates copper diffusion and/or copper drift, thereby reducing the likelihood of premature device failure.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a capping layer of a back end structure (step 706), drilling an extraction line from the capping layer to an inter-metal dielectric layer (step 708), performing a supercritical fluid process to remove portions of the inter-metal dielectric layer that are coupled to the extraction line (step 710): thereby forming a denuded dielectric region. Another embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit 2 having a back-end structure 5 coupled to a front-end structure 4. The back-end structure 5 having a first metal level 22. The first metal level 22 having metal interconnects 15 and an inter-metal dielectric layer 19. The back-end structure 5 further containing an extraction line 24 and a denuded dielectric region 25 coupled to the extraction line 24.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. An interlayer dielectric layer is formed on one or more semiconductor layers (402). One or more feature regions are formed in the interlayer dielectric layer (404). A first conductive layer is formed in at least a portion of the feature regions and on the interlayer dielectric layer (406)). A first anneal is performed that promotes grain growth of the first conductive layer (408). An additional conductive layer is formed on the first conductive layer (410) and an additional anneal is performed (412) that promotes grain growth of the additional conductive layer and further promotes grain size growth of the first conductive layer. Additional conductive layers can be formed and annealed until a sufficient overburden amount has been obtained. Subsequently, a planarization process is performed that removes excess conductive material and thereby forms and isolates conductive features in the semiconductor device (414).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit on a semiconductor wafer. The method comprising forming a bottom plate of a capacitor 50a and a bottom portion of an induction coil 50a, forming an etch stop layer 250?, forming a ferromagnetic capacitor top plate 20a and a ferromagnetic core 20b, forming a top portion of the induction coil 50b plus vias 50c that couple the top portion of the induction coil 50b to the bottom portion of the induction coil 50c.

Abstract: A method (10) of forming a MIM (metal insulator metal) capacitor is disclosed whereby adverse affects associated with copper diffusion are mitigated even as the capacitor is scaled down. A layer of bottom electrode/copper diffusion barrier material (136) is formed (16) within an aperture (128) wherein the capacitor (100) is to be defined. The bottom electrode layer (136) is formed via a directional process so that a horizontal aspect (138) of the layer (136) is formed over a metal (110) at a bottom of the aperture (128) to a thickness (142) that is greater than a thickness (144) of a sidewall aspect (148) of the layer (136) formed upon sidewalls (132) of the aperture (128). Accordingly, the thinner sidewall aspects (148) are removed during an etching act (18) while some of the thicker horizontal aspect (138) remains. A layer of capacitor dielectric material (150) is then conformally formed (20) into the aperture 128 and over the horizontal aspect (138).

Abstract: An on-chip decoupling capacitor (106) and method of fabrication. The decoupling capacitor (106) is integrated at the top metal interconnect level (104) and includes surface protection layer (109) for the copper metal (104b) of the top metal interconnect.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a capacitor comprising a bottom electrode 70 coupled to a first interconnect 30a of the top metal level 10, a capacitor dielectric 90, sidewalls 105, and a top electrode 110 coupled to a second interconnect 30b of the top metal level 10. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a capacitor using a first mask 140 to form a material stack that includes a bottom electrode 70 coupled to a first interconnect 30a of the top metal level 10, a capacitor dielectric 90, and a partial top electrode 100. The method further includes using a second mask 150 to form a complete top electrode coupled to a second interconnect 30b of the top metal level 10.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.

Abstract: A trench (70) is formed in a dielectric layer (20). A first metal layer (80) is formed in the trench using physical vapor deposition. A second metal layer (100) is formed in the trench (70) over the first metal layer (80) using chemical vapor deposition. Copper (110) is used to fill the trench (70) by electroplating copper directly onto the second metal (100).

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a capacitor comprising a bottom electrode 70 coupled to a first interconnect 30a of the top metal level 10, a capacitor dielectric 90, sidewalls 105, and a top electrode 110 coupled to a second interconnect 30b of the top metal level 10. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a capacitor using a first mask 140 to form a material stack that includes a bottom electrodes 70 coupled to a first interconnect 30a of the top metal level 10, a capacitor dielectric 90, and a partial top electrode 100. The method further includes using a second mask 150 to form a complete top electrode coupled to a second interconnect 30b of the top metal level 10.

Abstract: A coil (50) is placed adjacent to a semiconductor wafer (10). An AC excitation current is used to create a changing electromagnetic field (60) is the wafer (10). The wafer is heated by a heat source (20) and the conductivity of the wafer (10) will change as a function of the wafer temperature. Induced eddy currents will cause the inductance of the coil (50) to change and the temperature of the wafer (10) can be determined by monitoring the inductance of the coil (50).

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.

Abstract: A gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) (40) is formed in an ion beam tool (20). The position of a particle (30) on the wafer surface is determined and the GCIB is directed unto the particle (30) removing the particle from the surface on which it rests.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.