Reflow Of Insulator Patents (Class 438/438)
  • Patent number: 11342193
    Abstract: In a method of forming a groove pattern extending in a first axis in an underlying layer over a semiconductor substrate, a first opening is formed in the underlying layer, and the first opening is extended in the first axis by directional etching to form the groove pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ru-Gun Liu, Chih-Ming Lai, Wei-Liang Lin, Yung-Sung Yen, Ken-Hsien Hsieh, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 11169443
    Abstract: There is provided a gap filling composition which can reduce pattern collapse and a pattern forming method using the composition. There is provided a gap filling composition including a gap filling compound, an organic solvent, and as required, water, the gap filling compound having a certain structure and containing hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, or amino groups intramolecularly. There is provided a pattern forming method using a low molecular weight compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wang, Tatsuro Nagahara
  • Patent number: 9537118
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate including a display region displaying an image and a peripheral region surrounding the display region, a plurality of pad wires formed in the peripheral region of the substrate, and a plurality of bumps formed between the plurality of pad wires. The organic light emitting diode display blocks or relieves impact which is generated when a temporary upper protective film is half-cut and applied to a plurality of pad wires or an insulating layer by forming a plurality of bumps between the plurality of pad wires, thus preventing a damage to the pad wires or the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Ho Yang
  • Patent number: 9034715
    Abstract: A finFET and method of fabrication are disclosed. A sacrificial layer is formed on a bulk semiconductor substrate. A top semiconductor layer (such as silicon) is disposed on the sacrificial layer. The bulk semiconductor substrate is recessed in the area adjacent to the transistor gate and a stressor layer is formed in the recessed area. The sacrificial layer is selectively removed and replaced with an insulator, such as a flowable oxide. The insulator provides isolation between the transistor channel and the bulk substrate without the use of dopants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yanfeng Wang, Dechao Guo, Darsen Lu, Philip J. Oldiges, Gan Wang, Xin Wang
  • Publication number: 20150132921
    Abstract: Provided are gap-fill methods. The methods comprise: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a relief image on a surface of the substrate, the relief image comprising a plurality of gaps to be filled; (b) applying a gap-fill composition over the relief image, wherein the gap-fill composition comprises a self-crosslinkable polymer and a solvent, wherein the self-crosslinkable polymer comprises a first unit comprising a polymerized backbone and a crosslinkable group pendant to the backbone; and (c) heating the gap-fill composition at a temperature to cause the polymer to self-crosslink. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices for the filling of high aspect ratio gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Jong Keun PARK, Cheng-Bai XU, Phillip D. Hustad, Mingqi LI
  • Patent number: 8969172
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a method for forming an isolation structure having a low shrinkage percentage and a low tensile stress. [Means for Solving] A first polysilazane composition containing a porogen is cast on the surface of a substrate to form a coat, and then the coat is fired to form a porous siliceous film having a refractive index of 1.3 or less. Thereafter, the surface of the porous siliceous film is soaked with a second polysilazane composition, and then fired to form an isolation structure of a siliceous film having a refractive index of 1.4 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: AZ Electronic Materials USA Corp.
    Inventors: Naoko Nakamoto, Katsuchika Suzuki, Shinji Sugahara, Tatsuro Nagahara
  • Patent number: 8941156
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a set of device features on top of a substrate; forming a first dielectric layer directly on top of the set of device features and on top of the substrate, thereby creating a height profile of the first dielectric layer measured from a top surface of the substrate, the height profile being associated with a pattern of an insulating structure that fully surrounds the set of device features; and forming a second dielectric layer in areas that are defined by the pattern to create the insulating structure. A structure formed by the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, GlobalFoundries, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Adam Bergendahl, Kangguo Cheng, David Vaclav Horak, Ali Khakifirooz, Shom Ponoth, Theodorus Eduardus Standaert, Chih-Chao Yang, Charles William Koburger, III, Xiuyu Cai, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 8927388
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a dielectric layer includes the following steps. At first, a dielectric layer is formed on a substrate, and a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed on the dielectric layer. Subsequently, a surface treatment process is performed on the dielectric layer after the chemical mechanical polishing process, and the surface treatment process includes introducing an oxygen plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jei-Ming Chen, Wen-Yi Teng, Chia-Lung Chang, Chih-Chien Liu
  • Patent number: 8895381
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes providing a substrate including a biaxial strained semiconductor layer that is present directly on a dielectric layer, and patterning the biaxial strained semiconductor layer to provide a first conductivity region of a laterally relaxed semiconductor portion and a second conductivity region of a biaxial strained semiconductor portion, wherein the laterally relaxed semiconductor portion is present over an undercut region in the dielectric layer. A hydrogen anneal is applied to the first and second conductivity region, wherein the laterally relaxed semiconductor portion is relaxed to an unstrained state. A first semiconductor device is formed in first conductivity region and a second semiconductor device is formed in the second conductivity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Pouya Hashemi, Ali Khakifirooz, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 8853544
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention provide a transfer method for peeling off an MIM structure (comprising lower electrode/dielectric layer/upper electrodes) film formed on a supporting substrate and then transferring onto a transfer substrate with sufficiently uniform and low damage. Various aspects of the present invention also provide a thin film element provided with one or more thin film components which are transferred onto a substrate by using said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Kondou, Kenichi Ota
  • Patent number: 8829642
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a semiconductor device, which comprises: a substrate, and a shallow trench isolation in the substrate, characterized in that, the semiconductor device further comprises a stress release layer between the substrate and the shallow trench isolation. In the semiconductor device and the method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention, the stresses accumulated during the formation of the STI can be released by interposing the stress release layer made of a softer material between the substrate and the STI, thereby reducing the leakage current of the substrate of the device and improving the device reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Science
    Inventors: Haizhou Yin, Wei Jiang
  • Patent number: 8728921
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor components includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate having a circuit side, a back side and integrated circuits and circuitry on the circuit side; thinning the substrate from the back side to a selected thickness to form a thinned substrate; applying a dopant to the back side of the thinned substrate; and laser processing the back side of the thinned substrate to form a plurality of patterns of lasered features containing the dopant. The dopant can be selected to modify properties of the semiconductor substrate such as carrier properties, gettering properties, mechanical properties or visual properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Tim Corbett
  • Patent number: 8716103
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Long Cheng, Sheng-Chen Chung, Kong-Beng Thei, Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang, Mong-Song Liang
  • Patent number: 8642399
    Abstract: A fuse of a semiconductor device includes first fuse metals formed over an underlying structure and a second fuse metal formed between the first fuse metals. Accordingly, upon blowing, the fuse metals are not migrated under conditions, such as specific temperature and specific humidity. Thus, reliability of a semiconductor device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Hyung Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8563395
    Abstract: Amongst the candidates for very high efficiency solid state lights sources and full solar spectrum solar cells are devices based upon InGaN nanowires. Additionally these nanowires typically require heterostructures, quantum dots, etc which all place requirements for these structures to be grown with relatively few defects. Further manufacturing requirements demand reproducible nanowire diameter, length etc to allow these nanowires to be embedded within device structures. Additionally flexibility according to the device design requires that the nanowire at the substrate may be either InN or GaN. According to the invention a method of growing relatively defect free nanowires and associated structures for group III—nitrides is presented without the requirement for foreign metal catalysts and overcoming the non-uniform growth of prior art non-catalyst growth techniques. The technique also allows for unique dot-within-a-dot nanowire structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: The Royal Institute For The Advancement of Learning/McGill University
    Inventor: Zetian Mi
  • Patent number: 8476144
    Abstract: An arrangement, process and mask for implementing single-scan continuous motion sequential lateral solidification of a thin film provided on a sample such that artifacts formed at the edges of the beamlets irradiating the thin film are significantly reduced. According to this invention, the edge areas of the previously irradiated and resolidified areas which likely have artifacts provided therein are overlapped by the subsequent beamlets. In this manner, the edge areas of the previously resolidified irradiated areas and artifacts therein are completely melted throughout their thickness. At least the subsequent beamlets are shaped such that the grains of the previously irradiated and resolidified areas which border the edge areas melted by the subsequent beamlets grow into these resolidifying edges areas so as to substantially reduce or eliminate the artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventor: James S. Im
  • Patent number: 8470686
    Abstract: Methods for forming dielectric layers, and structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided. The invention provides an aluminum oxide/silicon oxide laminate film formed by sequentially exposing a substrate to an organoaluminum catalyst to form a monolayer over the surface, remote plasmas of oxygen and nitrogen to convert the organoaluminum layer to a porous aluminum oxide layer, and a silanol precursor to form a thick layer of silicon dioxide over the porous oxide layer. The process provides an increased rate of deposition of the silicon dioxide, with each cycle producing a thick layer of silicon dioxide of about 120 ? over the layer of porous aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris W. Hill, Garo J. Derderian
  • Patent number: 8461629
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Long Cheng, Sheng-Chen Chung, Kong-Beng Thei, Harry Chuang, Mong-Song Liang
  • Patent number: 8450182
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor memory element including a variable resistance element and a non-ohmic element. The variable resistance element includes a first electrode, a variable resistance layer, and a shared electrode. The non-ohmic element includes the shared electrode, a semiconductor or insulator layer, and a second electrode. The method includes: forming the first electrode on a substrate; forming the variable resistance layer on the first electrode; forming the shared electrode by nitriding a front surface of the variable resistance layer; forming the semiconductor or insulator layer on the shared electrode; and forming the second electrode. In the forming of the shared electrode, a front surface of a transition metal oxide is nitrided by a plasma nitriding process to form the shared electrode comprising a transition metal nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Fujii, Takumi Mikawa
  • Patent number: 8330260
    Abstract: A method for producing an electronic component of a VQFN (very thin quad flat pack no-lead) design includes the following method steps: anchoring at least one integrated circuit element on a sacrificial substrate; contact-connecting the at least one integrated circuit element to the sacrificial substrate with formation of contact-connecting points on the sacrificial substrate; forming an encapsulation on a top side of the sacrificial substrate, the at least one anchored integrated circuit element being mounted on the top side of the sacrificial substrate; removing the sacrificial substrate, thereby uncovering a portion of the contact-connecting points on the underside of the encapsulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Bauer, Ludwig Heitzer, Christian Stuempfl
  • Patent number: 8318584
    Abstract: The formation of a gap-filling silicon oxide layer with reduced volume fraction of voids is described. The deposition involves the formation of an oxygen-rich less-flowable liner layer before an oxygen-poor more-flowable gapfill layer. However, the liner layer is deposited within the same chamber as the gapfill layer. The liner layer and the gapfill layer may both be formed by combining a radical component with an unexcited silicon-containing precursor (i.e. not directly excited by application of plasma power). The liner layer has more oxygen content than the gapfill layer and deposits more conformally. The deposition rate of the gapfill layer may be increased by the presence of the liner layer. The gapfill layer may contain silicon, oxygen and nitrogen and be converted at elevated temperature to contain more oxygen and less nitrogen. The presence of the gapfill liner provides a source of oxygen underneath the gapfill layer to augment the gas phase oxygen introduced during the conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: DongQing Li, Jingmei Liang, Nitin K. Ingle
  • Patent number: 8294238
    Abstract: A peripheral circuit area is formed around a memory cell array area. The peripheral circuit area has element regions, an element isolation region isolating the element regions, and field-effect transistor formed in each of the element regions and including a gate electrode extending in a channel width direction, on a semiconductor substrate. An end portion and a corner portion of the gate electrode are on the element isolation region. A radius of curvature of the corner portion of the gate electrode is smaller than a length from the end portion of the element region in the channel width direction to the end portion of the gate electrode in the channel width direction, and is less than 85 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kutsukake, Takayuki Toba, Yoshiko Kato, Kenji Gomikawa, Haruhiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 8268703
    Abstract: A process of forming a rough interface in a semiconductor substrate. The process includes the steps of depositing a material on a surface of the substrate, forming a zone of irregularities in the material, and forming a rough interface in the semiconductor substrate by a thermal oxidation of the material and a part of the substrate. Additionally, the surface of the oxidized material may be prepared and the surface may be assembled with a second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: S.O.I.TEC Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventors: Bernard Aspar, Chrystelle Lagahe Blanchard, Nicolas Sousbie
  • Patent number: 8232180
    Abstract: The active region of an NMOS transistor and the active region of a PMOS transistor are divided by an STI element isolation structure. The STI element isolation structure is made up of a first element isolation structure formed so as to include the interval between both active regions, and a second element isolation structure formed in the region other than the first element isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Naoyoshi Tamura
  • Patent number: 8158488
    Abstract: Methods for forming dielectric layers, and structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided. The invention provides an aluminum oxide/silicon oxide laminate film formed by sequentially exposing a substrate to an organoaluminum catalyst to form a monolayer over the surface, remote plasmas of oxygen and nitrogen to convert the organoaluminum layer to a porous aluminum oxide layer, and a silanol precursor to form a thick layer of silicon dioxide over the porous oxide layer. The process provides an increased rate of deposition of the silicon dioxide, with each cycle producing a thick layer of silicon dioxide of about 120 ? over the layer of porous aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris W Hill, Garo J Derderian
  • Patent number: 8115272
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a semiconductor layer (2) having therein a cavity (4). A dielectric layer (3) is formed on the semiconductor layer. A plurality of etchant openings (24) extend through the dielectric layer for passage of etchant for etching the cavity. An SiO2 pillar (25) extends from a bottom of the cavity to engage and support a portion of the dielectric layer extending over the cavity. In one embodiment, a cap layer (34) on the dielectric layer covers the etchant openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter B. Meinel, Kalin V. Lazarov, Brian E. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 8114779
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a semiconductor layer (2) having therein a cavity (4). A dielectric layer (3) is formed on the semiconductor layer. A plurality of etchant openings (24) extend through the dielectric layer for passage of etchant for etching the cavity. An SiO2 pillar (25) extends from a bottom of the cavity to engage and support a portion of the dielectric layer extending over the cavity. In one embodiment, a cap layer (34) on the dielectric layer covers the etchant openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter B. Meinel, Kalin V. Lazarov, Brian E. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 8026177
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer (2) having therein a cavity (4). A dielectric layer (3) is formed on the semiconductor layer. A plurality of etchant openings (24) extend through the dielectric layer for passage of etchant for etching the cavity. An SiO2 pillar (25) extends from a bottom of the cavity to engage and support a portion of the dielectric layer extending over the cavity. In one embodiment, a cap layer (34) on the dielectric layer covers the etchant openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter B. Meinel, Kalin V. Lazarov, Brian E. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 8017496
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a mask pattern is formed on an active region of a substrate. An exposed portion of the substrate is removed to form a trench in the substrate. A preliminary first insulation layer is formed on a bottom and sidewalls of the trench and the mask pattern. A plasma treatment is performed on the preliminary first insulation layer using fluorine-containing plasma to form a first insulation layer including fluorine. A second insulation layer is formed on the first insulation layer to fill the trench. A thickness of a gate insulation layer adjacent to an upper edge of the trench may be selectively increased, and generation of leakage current may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Gyun Kim, Dong-Suk Shin
  • Publication number: 20110215384
    Abstract: In manufacturing processes of a semiconductor device including a shallow trench element isolation region and an interlayer insulating film of a multilayer structure, it is necessary to repeatedly use CMP, but since the CMP itself is costly, the repeated use of the CMP is a cause to increase the manufacturing cost. As an insulating film for use in a shallow trench (ST) element isolation region and/or a lowermost-layer interlayer insulating film, use is made of an insulating coating film that can be coated by spin coating. The insulating coating film has a composition expressed by ((CH3)nSiO2-n/2)x(SiO2)1-x(where n=1 to 3 and 0?x?1.0) and a film with a different relative permittivity k is formed by selecting heat treatment conditions. The STI element isolation region can be formed by modifying the insulating coating film completely to a SiO2 film, while the interlayer insulating film with a small relative permittivity k can be formed by converting it to a state not completely modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicants: National University Corporation Tohoku University, Tokyo Electron Limited, Ube Industries, Ltd., Ube-Nitto Kasei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Takaaki Matsuoka, Atsutoshi Inokuchi, Kohei Watanuki, Tadashi Koike, Tatsuhiko Adachi
  • Patent number: 7998830
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Long Cheng, Sheng-Chen Chung, Kong-Beng Thei, Harry Chuang, Mong-Song Liang
  • Publication number: 20110129985
    Abstract: A shallow isolation trench structure and methods of forming the same wherein the method of formation comprises a layered structure of a buffer film layer over a dielectric layer that is atop a semiconductor substrate. The buffer film layer comprises a material that is oxidation resistant and can be etched selectively to oxide films. The layered structure is patterned with a resist material and etched to form a shallow trench. A thin oxide layer is formed in the trench and the buffer film layer is selectively etched to move the buffer film layer back from the corners of the trench. An isolation material is then used to fill the shallow trench and the buffer film layer is stripped to form an isolation structure. When the structure is etched by subsequent processing step(s), a capped shallow trench isolation structure that covers the shallow trench corners is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Pai-Hung Pan
  • Publication number: 20110027966
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an isolation layer in a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate; forming a flowable insulation layer on the trench and the semiconductor substrate; converting the flowable insulation layer to a silicon oxide layer by implementing a curing process comprising continuously heating the flowable insulation layer; and forming an isolation layer by planarizing the silicon oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventor: Jin Yul Lee
  • Patent number: 7868361
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Long Cheng, Sheng-Chen Chung, Kong-Beng Thei, Harry Chuang, Mong Song Liang
  • Patent number: 7838390
    Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a trench in a surface of semiconductor substrate and filling the trench with an electrically insulating region having a seam therein. The trench may be filled by depositing a sufficiently thick electrically insulating layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench. Curing ions are then implanted into the electrically insulating region at a sufficient energy and dose to reduce a degree of atomic order therein. The curing ions may be ones selected from a group consisting of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), boron (B), arsenic (As), carbon (C), argon (Ar), germanium (Ge), helium (He), neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe). These curing ions may be implanted at an energy of at least about 80 KeV and a dose of at least about 5×1014 ions/cm2. The electrically insulating region is then annealed at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient duration to increase a degree of atomic order within the electrically insulating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-jung Kim, Joo-chan Kim, Jae-eon Park, Richard Anthony Conti, Zhao Lun, Johnny Widodo, William C. Wille, Biao Zuo
  • Patent number: 7799706
    Abstract: A neutral beam-assisted atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD) apparatus is provided for uniformly depositing an oxide layer filling a planarization layer or a trench to increase uniformity and density of the oxide layer using neutral beams generated by a neutral beam generator without a seam or void occurring in an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or ALD-like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, thereby solving problems on the void or seam and low density occurring when a high-density planarization layer or a shallow trench having a width of 65 nm or less is formed, and improving a next generation oxide layer isolation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration
    Inventors: Geun-young Yeom, Byoung-jae Park, Sung-woo Kim, Jong-tae Lim
  • Patent number: 7795109
    Abstract: Methods of forming isolation trenches, semiconductor devices, structures thereof, and methods of operating memory arrays are disclosed. In one embodiment, an isolation trench includes a recess disposed in a workpiece. A conductive material is disposed in a lower portion of the channel. An insulating material is disposed in an upper portion of the recess over the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Rolf Weis, Thomas D. Happ
  • Publication number: 20100105189
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes applying a coating oxide film to a surface of a substrate including a semiconductor substrate so that a recess formed in the surface is filled with the coating oxide film, applying a steam oxidation treatment to the substrate at a first temperature, soaking the substrate in heated water while applying a megasonic wave to the substrate in the heated water, and applying a steam oxidation treatment to the substrate at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi KAWAMOTO, Naoki Kai, Koichi Matsuno, Minori Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 7659181
    Abstract: A method of depositing dielectric material into sub-micron spaces and resultant structures is provided. After a trench is etched in the surface of a wafer, an oxygen barrier is deposited into the trench. An expandable, oxidizable liner, preferably amorphous silicon, is then deposited. The trench is then filled with a spin-on dielectric (SOD) material. A densification process is then applied, whereby the SOD material contracts and the oxidizable liner expands. Preferably, the temperature is ramped up while oxidizing during at least part of the densification process. The resulting trench has a negligible vertical wet etch rate gradient and a negligible recess at the top of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Smythe, III, Jigish D. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 7651924
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes applying a coating oxide film to a surface of a substrate including a semiconductor substrate so that a recess formed in the surface is filled with the coating oxide film, applying a steam oxidation treatment to the substrate at a first temperature, soaking the substrate in heated water while applying a megasonic wave to the substrate in the heated water, and applying a steam oxidation treatment to the substrate at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamoto, Naoki Kai, Koichi Matsuno, Minori Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 7611983
    Abstract: A first BPSG film covering a transistor is formed. Next, a second BPSG film is formed on the first BPSG film. The B concentration in the first BPSG film is about five times higher than the B concentration in the second BPSG film. Next, the first BPSG film is separated into a part of a source diffusion layer side and a part of a drain diffusion layer side, with a gate electrode being a boundary. Subsequently, a contact hole reaching the source diffusion layer is formed in the first and second BPSG films. Then, by removing the first BPSG film exposed to the contact hole by isotropic etching, a hollow portion is formed between the source diffusion layer and the second BPSG film. Then, a barrier metal film made of TiN or the like is formed in the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Akihito Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7572712
    Abstract: Embodiments for FET devices with stress on the channel region by forming stressor regions under the source/drain regions or the channel region and forming a selective strained Si using lateral epitaxy over the stressor regions. In a first example embodiment, a lateral epitaxial layer is formed over a stressor region under a channel region of an FET. In a second example embodiment, a lateral S/D epitaxial layer is formed over S/D stressor region under the source/drain regions of an FET. In a third example embodiment, both PFET and NFET devices are formed. In the PFET device, a lateral S/D epitaxial layer is formed over S/D stressor region under the source/drain regions. In the NFET device, the lateral epitaxial layer is formed over a stressor region under a channel region of the NFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignees: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd., International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
    Inventors: Yung Fu Chong, Zhijiong Luo, Judson R. Holt
  • Patent number: 7563658
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor film, including the steps of forming a transparent conductive film, forming a first conductive film over the transparent conductive film, forming a second conductive film over the first conductive film, etching the second conductive film with a gas including chlorine, and etching the first conductive film with a gas including fluorine. During etching of the second conductive film with a gas including chlorine, the transparent conductive film is protected by the first conductive film. During etching of the first conductive film with the gas including fluorine, the transparent conductive film does not react with the gas including fluorine. Therefore, no particle is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Ishizuka, Satoru Okamoto, Shigeharu Monoe, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7553713
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes a semiconductor base substrate that has an oxide film selectively formed on a part thereof, the oxide film having a non-uniform thickness; and a semiconductor layer that is formed on the oxide film by epitaxial growth so as to have a non-uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiki Hara
  • Patent number: 7521367
    Abstract: A method for circuit modification of an microelectronic chip having at least one conductor in an organic dielectric, includes applying a protective inorganic surface layer on top of the organic dielectric, forming at least one window in the protective inorganic surface layer to selectively expose the underlying organic dielectric, etching the organic dielectric in the window area to selectively remove the organic dielectric adjacent to the conductor, and performing at least one process that modifies the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20090098706
    Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a trench in a surface of semiconductor substrate and filling the trench with an electrically insulating region having a seam therein. The trench may be filled by depositing a sufficiently thick electrically insulating layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench. Curing ions are then implanted into the electrically insulating region at a sufficient energy and dose to reduce a degree of atomic order therein. The curing ions may be ones selected from a group consisting of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), boron (B), arsenic (As), carbon (C), argon (Ar), germanium (Ge), helium (He), neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe). These curing ions may be implanted at an energy of at least about 80 KeV and a dose of at least about 5×1014 ions/cm2. The electrically insulating region is then annealed at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient duration to increase a degree of atomic order within the electrically insulating region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Jun-jung Kim, Joo-chan Kim, Jae-eon Park, Richard Anthony Conti, Zhao Lun, Johnny Widodo, William C. Wille, Biao Zuo
  • Patent number: 7510946
    Abstract: A processing method for use in the fabrication of fabrication of nanoscale electronic, optical, magnetic, biological, and fluidic devices and structures, for filling nanoscale holes and trenches, for planarizing a wafer surface, or for achieving both filling and planarizing of a wafer surface simultaneously. The method has the initial step of depositing a layer of a meltable material on a wafer surface. The material is then pressed using a transparent mold while shining a light pulse through the transparent mold to melt the deposited layer of meltable material. A flow of the molten layer material fills the holes and trenches, and conforms to surface features on the transparent mold. The transparent mold is subsequently removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Princeton University
    Inventors: Stephen Y. Chou, Bo Cui, Christopher F. Keimel
  • Patent number: 7491622
    Abstract: A process of forming an electronic device can include patterning a semiconductor layer to define an opening extending to an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer lies between a substrate and the semiconductor layer. After patterning a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer can have a sidewall and a surface, the surface can be spaced apart from the insulating layer, and the sidewall can extend from the surface towards the insulating layer. The process can also include chemical vapor depositing a first layer adjacent to the sidewall, wherein the first layer lies within the opening and adjacent to the sidewall, and is spaced apart from the surface. Chemical vapor depositing the first layer can be performed using an inductively coupled plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Turner, Mohamad M. Jahanbani, Toni D. Van Gompel, Mark D. Hall
  • Patent number: 7470585
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has at least one semiconductor device for storing charge that includes at least one elementary active component and at least one elementary storage capacitor. The device includes a substrate having a lower region containing at least one buried capacitive elementary trench forming the elementary storage capacitor, and an elementary well located above the lower region of the substrate and isolated laterally by a lateral electrical isolation region. The elementary active component is located in the elementary well or in and on the elementary well. The capacitive elementary trench is located under the elementary active component and is in electrical contact with the elementary well. In one preferred embodiment, the lateral electrical isolation region is formed by a trench filled with a dielectric material and has a greater depth than that of the elementary well. Also provided is a method for fabricating an integrated circuit that includes a semiconductor device for storing charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Menut, Yvon Gris
  • Patent number: 7462565
    Abstract: A substrate having a copper wiring is prepared. An insulating film is formed on the copper wiring. The insulating film is etched with a gas containing fluorine to form an opening reaching the copper wiring. A plasma treatment is carried out on a surface of copper exposed at a bottom of the opening without turning plasma discharge off after forming the opening in the same chamber as the formation of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Kenji Tabaru