Abstract: A method of routing power supply voltage electrodes and reference voltage electrodes which makes efficient use of chip area, maximizes decoupling capacitance, and reduces voltage drops due to electrode resistance is described. The two top wiring layers of an integrated circuit chip are used as power distribution layers to distribute the power supply voltage and reference voltage so that the power supply voltage bus electrode and reference voltage bus electrode are in separate wiring layers. The chip is partitioned into a number of sub-blocks with spaces between the sub-blocks. In a first wiring layer the power supply voltage bus electrode is routed so as to surround each of the sub-blocks. In a second wiring layer the reference voltage bus electrode is routed so as to surround each of the sub-blocks.

Abstract: A memory device wherein a diode is serially connected to a programmable resistor and is in electrical communication with a buried digit line. An electrically conductive plug is electrically interposed between the digit line and a strapping layer, thereby creating a double metal scheme wherein the strapping layer is a second metal layer overlying metal wordlines. In a method of a first embodiment the strapping material is electrically connected to the digit line through a planar landing pad overlying the conductive plug. An insulative material is sloped to the planar landing pad in order to provide a surface conducive to the formation of the strapping material.

Abstract: A ROM embedded in a multi-layered integrated circuit includes rows of transistor memory cells. For reduced area, each transistor in a row optionally shares a terminal with an adjacent transistor in the row, whereby adjacent transistors share one of a source and a drain. A plurality of contact lines, one each connected to each common terminal, serve as address terminals for cells. A plurality of metal layers are connected to the other of the drain or source terminals by filled vias and include a final metal layer defining a metal pad for each of the other terminals. Filled vias couple selected metal pads to selected signal lines to provide “1” outputs from selected cells and signal lines which are not coupled by filled vias to the metal pads provide “0” outputs from selected cells.

Abstract: A multi-layer electronic device package includes first and second outer layers and at least one signal layer disposed between the outer layers. The signal layer includes signal traces and ground traces interleaved with the signal traces. A method of routing signal traces in an electronic device package includes the acts of disposing a plurality of signal traces in at least one substrate layer, and interleaving a plurality of ground traces with the signal traces.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method of forming an electrical connection in an integrated circuitry device. According to one preferred implementation, a diffusion region is formed in semiconductive material. A conductive line is formed which is laterally spaced from the diffusion region. The conductive line is preferably formed relative to and within isolation oxide which separates substrate active areas. The conductive line is subsequently interconnected with the diffusion region. According to another preferred implementation, an oxide isolation grid is formed within semiconductive material. Conductive material is formed within the oxide isolation grid to form a conductive grid therein. Selected portions of the conductive grid are then removed to define interconnect lines within the oxide isolation grid. According to another preferred implementation, a plurality of oxide isolation regions are formed over a semiconductive substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first wiring layer formed in a first direction, a second wiring layer formed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a third wiring layer formed in the second direction to sandwich the first wiring layer between the third wiring layer and the second wiring layer. The second and third wiring layers are shifted from each other by a predetermined distance in the first direction. An automatic layout method for a semiconductor integrated circuit, and a recording medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: Resist film patterns are formed on a light shielding film formed on a surface of the glass substrate. The resist film patterns cover regions A and B of the surface of the substrate. Then, using the resist film patterns as a mask, the light shielding film is patterned to form the light shielding film pattern in the regions A and B. The light shielding film pattern formed in region B is used as a dummy pattern. Then, a further resist film is formed over the light shielding film patterns of the regions A and B. The resist film is patterned to provide only a resist film pattern covering the region A. Thereafter, an etching processing is applied for removing the light shielding film pattern in the region B using the resist film pattern as a mask. In this method, the presence of the dummy pattern is an important feature.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip package is provided which incorporates one or more differential pairs of signal lines coupled to an integrated circuit chip. The differential pairs each include a first signal line and a second signal line. The first signal lines are non-coplanar with the second signal lines. The first signal lines of the differential pairs may be provided in a first plane. The second signal lines of the differential pairs may be provided in a second plane different from the first plane. A first ground plane is provided adjacent the first signal lines and a second ground plane is provided adjacent the second signal lines. The spacing of respective signal lines provides, among other things, the capability of having a greater density of differential pairs of signal lines within the planar area of an integrated circuit chip package.

Abstract: The present invention provides integrated circuit fabrication methods and devices wherein triple damascene structures are formed in five consecutive dielectric layers (312, 314, 316, 318 and 320), using two etching sequences. A first etching sequence comprising: depositing a first etch mask layer (322), on the fifth (top) layer (320), developing a power line trench pattern (324) and a via pattern (326) in the first mask layer, simultaneously etching the power line trench pattern (324) and the via pattern (326) through the top three dielectric layers (316, 318, 320), and removing the first etch mask layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having a voltage source and a plurality of conductive power bus tiers extending across the integrated circuit. Each of the power bus tiers are electrically coupled in parallel to the voltage source. The integrated circuit includes a filter capacitor having a first plate and a second plate that are separated by a capacitor dielectric. The first plate forms a bus strap coupling to each of the plurality of power bus tiers.

Abstract: A method of routing power supply voltage electrodes and reference voltage electrodes which makes efficient use of chip area, maximizes decoupling capacitance, and reduces voltage drops due to electrode resistance is described. The two top wiring layers of an integrated circuit chip are used as power distribution layers to distribute the power supply voltage and reference voltage so that the power supply voltage bus electrode and reference voltage bus electrode are in separate wiring layers. The chip is partitioned into a number of sub-blocks with spaces between the sub-blocks. In a first wiring layer the power supply voltage bus electrode is routed so as to surround each of the sub-blocks. In a second wiring layer the reference voltage bus electrode is routed so as to surround each of the sub-blocks.

Abstract: A dual damascene process and structure for fabricating semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a protection layer is deposited on top of a metal layer to protect the metal layer during subsequent etching of an oxide layer to form the via and damascene trench. Because the selectivity between the oxide layer and the protection layer is high, the number and complexity of processing steps are thereby reduced. Other embodiments of the present invention use a metal sealant layer and/or anti-reflective coating in conjunction with the protection layer in a dual-damascene process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a capacitor. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a dielectric layer formed of a metal oxide layer including a Ta2O5 layer, and a second electrode composed of first and second metal nitride layers sequentially stacked. Each of the first and second metal nitride layers has a TiN layer and a WN layer. The second electrode of the capacitor is a double-layered structure having the first and second metal nitride layers, and thus annealing after forming the second electrode is performed at 750° C. or less, to thereby reduce an equivalent oxide thickness of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first region, a second region and a border region between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device has an interlayer dielectric layer, covering at least the first region and the second region. A first wiring layer is located in the first region and defines a relatively small pattern. A second wiring layer is located in the second region and defines a relatively large pattern that is wider than the small pattern. A first dummy pattern is formed in the first region and a second dummy pattern is formed in the border region. The interlayer dielectric layer includes a planarization silicon oxide film. The planarization silicon oxide film is one of a silicon oxide film formed by a polycondensation reaction between a silicon compound and hydrogen peroxide, an organic SOG (Spin On Glass) film an inorganic SOG film and a silicon oxide film formed by reacting an organic silane with ozone or water.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnection by using a landing pad is disclosed. In a semiconductor device having a memory cell portion and a peripheral circuit portion, a refractory metal is used for the bitline instead of the usual polycide, to concurrently form a contact on an active region of an N-type and a P-type substrate. A landing pad is formed on the peripheral circuit portion at the same time as a bitline is formed on the memory cell portion. In such a process, a substantial contact hole for the interconnection is formed on the landing pad so that an aspect ratio of the contact can be lowered. Accordingly, when forming a metal interconnection, the contact hole for the interconnection is easily filled by Al-reflow so that the step coverage of the metal being deposited in the contact hole for the interconnection is enhanced, and the contact resistance is reduced. As a result, the reliability of the semiconductor device is improved.

Abstract: A system and method for providing power to the gates of a semiconductor chip routes power and ground from one layer of the chip to another layer of the chip using a first metal strip located at a first metal layer and a second metal strip located at a second metal layer, wherein the second metal layer is not directly adjacent to the first metal layer. A stacked via is used to connect the first metal strip to the second metal strip. The stacked via may comprise, for example, a first via connecting the first metal strip to an intermediate metal strip and a second via connecting the intermediate metal strip to the second metal strip. Alternatively, the stacked via may comprise a plurality of vias connecting the first metal strip to the intermediate metal strip and a plurality of vias connecting the intermediate metal strip to the second metal strip.

Abstract: A semiconductor device mask and a method for forming the same is provided in which a mask pattern defines dummy active regions in isolating regions. The semiconductor device mask and method reduce surface unevenness and prevent damage to an active region, which have been problems in isolating devices by trenches. The semiconductor device mask includes real active pattern regions formed in regions defined as the active regions in a mask having an isolating region and the active regions. A plurality of dummy active pattern regions preferably spaced at fixed intervals from one another surrounding relatively isolated active regions and excluding gate pattern forming regions. The gate pattern forming regions are preferably formed extending in one direction across the isolating region and the real active pattern regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing thereof are provided so as to make a spare electronic circuit available without changing arrangement of normal electronic circuit interconnections under a design rule. In order to achieve this, second metal interconnections as spare electronic circuit interconnections are preliminary formed in a region where the spare inverter circuit is formed.

Abstract: A method for creating and preserving alignment marks used for aligning mask layers in integrated circuit formation including the steps of creating a first set of marks within a reference layer to form a basic alignment mark, creating a second set of marks overlapping the first set of marks and positioned perpendicular to the first set of marks in the same reference layer to form a preservation pattern, and etching the reference layer to form a substantially checkerboard-type pattern where portions of the first set of marks are recessed within a thickness of the reference layer. After creating the checkerboard-type pattern formed from the first and second marks, a first metal a layer may be deposited to fill in any recesses contained within the pattern. CMP follows without damaging the segmented portions of the first set of marks which lie recessed within a thickness of the reference layer. Finally, the preserved portions of the first set of marks are aligned with pattern marks for a second metal layer.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device using fill shape patterns incorporated into wiring levels to increase the planarity of the wiring levels, the fill shapes are aligned from one wiring level to another wiring level to provide lines of sight to lower wiring levels for visual inspection. Also, in accordance with the invention, selected aligned fill shapes are interconnected with vias to form conductive stacks for contacting lower wiring level conductive wires from upper wiring levels in order to perform electrical test probing/diagnostics.

Abstract: The primary objective of the present invention is to select a connecting combination of the plurality of solder ball connection pads and the plurality of wire bond pads, and generate an optimum wiring candidate. For this objective, the wiring pattern generation unit generates a wiring pattern as the information for specifying an in-area wiring route to be wired in each row and an in-area wiring route to be connected to the next row among the solder ball connection pad area closer to the wire bond pad area, based on the design conditions of the wiring route stored in the design condition memory. Then, the wiring plan generation unit generates a wiring plan laying out the plurality of wiring routes by combining the wiring patterns generated for each row, and the wiring rule check unit selects some of the generated wiring plans suited for the wiring rules and generates the plurality of wiring candidates.

Abstract: A base cell, having four sites, for use in a gate array retains the same design rules as a prior art base cell, but the area of the base cell has been reduced. The reduction in the size of the base cell is the result of arranging all transistor pairs to be fabricated over a common moat regions, thereby eliminating areas previously used for moat-to-moat spacing. In addition, at least one moat region is configured to permit a conducting path passing nearby to observe the design rules without appreciable. Components forming the base cell have been rearranged to permit the D-type flip-flop circuit to be implemented using three of the base cell sites instead of the four base cell sites required by the prior art. This component rearrangement is useful for other circuits implemented by the base cell as well.

Abstract: A typical integrated circuit interconnects millions of microscopic transistors and resistors with aluminum wires buried in silicon-dioxide insulation. Yet, aluminum wires and silicon-dioxide insulation are a less attractive combination than gold, silver, or copper wires combined with polymer-based insulation, which promise both lower electrical resistance and capacitance and thus faster, more efficient circuits. Unfortunately, conventional etch-based techniques are ineffective with gold, silver, or copper, and conventional polymer formation promote reactions with metals that undermine the insulative properties of polymer-based insulations. Accordingly, the inventor devised methods which use a liftoff procedure to avoid etching problems and a non-acid-polymeric precursor and non-oxidizing cure procedure to preserve the insulative properties of the polymeric insulator. The resulting interconnective structures facilitate integrated circuits with better speed and efficiency.

Abstract: A method for forming a T-shaped contact plug is disclosed. A first insulating layer is formed atop of a substrate. A second insulating layer is then formed atop of the first insulating layer. The first and second insulating layers are patterned and etched to form a contact opening to the substrate. A portion of the second insulating layer surrounding the contact opening is removed. Next, a barrier metal layer is formed along the walls of the contact opening and atop the second insulating layer. Then a conducting layer is formed into the contact opening and atop the barrier metal layer. Finally, a portion of the first conducting layer and barrier metal layer atop the second insulating layer is removed. This leaves a plug formed of the remaining portion of the conducting layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising an insulation film covering a semiconductor chip so as to expose electrodes or pads fabricated in the chip and wiring lines located on the insulation film and connected to the respective electrodes or pads is produced by a method which comprises: providing a semiconductor chip provided with an insulation film covering the chip so as to expose a conductor layer for electrodes or pads fabricated in the chip, ion milling the surface of the chip provided with the insulation film by a mixed gas of argon and hydrogen, forming a patterned conductor layer for wiring lines on the ion-milled surface of the chip, and dry etching the surface of the chip provided with the insulation film and the patterned conductor layer by nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for editing an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit substrate is placed into a laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) tool and a conductive metal film is deposited onto the integrated circuit substrate over an area of interest. The integrated circuit substrate is subsequently placed into a focused ion beam (FIB) tool where an optional FIB cleaning step is performed on the conductive element deposited by the LCVD tool to help ensure that a good electrical contact can be made. The FIB tool is also used to introduce any desired cuts into signal lines of the integrated circuit to complete edits. The FIB is also used to remove passivation over integrated circuit nodes of interest to expose buried metal lines for subsequent coupling to the conductive element deposited with the LCVD tool.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present invention is formed on a semiconductor chip and has a common module and a plurality of selectable modules. Each selectable module on the semiconductor chip performs a defined function and has a separate input power terminal. The device also has a voltage pad for connecting to a first voltage source having a first voltage level, so that the voltage pad supplies power to the input power terminal of each selectable module. The output of each selectable module may be connected to one common output pad, or alternatively, may be connected to a dedicated output pad. Also connected to each selectable module is a die/sort pad used for disconnecting a corresponding selectable module from the first voltage source. In the wiring between the first voltage source and the selectable modules, there is provided a plurality of fuses, each fuse having first and second terminals.

Abstract: An interconnect track connects, on several metallization levels, an insulated gate of a transistor to a discharge diode within an integrated circuit. The interconnect track comprises a first track element extending under the highest metallization level, having a first end connected to the gate and having a length greater than a predetermined critical length. This first track element includes an interrupted track portion at a site a first distance less than the critical length away from the first end. This point is compatible with the placement of the metallization level above, and extends between two insulating layers on the same metallization level. The two branches of the interrupted portion are mutually connected by a metallic filling contact which also extends in the insulating support layer of the metallization level immediately above that containing the interrupted track portion.

Abstract: A library used for manufacturing a semiconductor IC and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor IC. The library includes structures designed with a predetermined design rule. The library has a main part including one or more circuit elements, and a connecting terminal connected to the main part. The connecting terminal has a width less than a minimum space between the conductive patterns of the predetermined design rule. The library further includes a head portion connected to the connecting terminal at an end thereof. A width of the head portion is greater than the minimum space between the conductive patterns of the predetermined design rule.

Abstract: A method of making an IGFET and a protected resistor includes providing a semiconductor substrate with an active region and a resistor region, forming a gate over the active region, forming a diffused resistor in the resistor region, forming an insulating layer over the gate and the diffused resistor, forming a masking layer over the insulating layer that covers the resistor region and includes an opening above the active region, applying an etch using the masking layer as an etch mask so that unetched portions of the insulating layer over the active region form spacers in close proximity to opposing sidewalls of the gate and an unetched portion of the insulating layer over the resistor region forms a resistor-protect insulator, and forming a source and a drain in the active region. In this manner, a single insulating layer provides both sidewall spacers for the gate and a resistor-protect insulator for the diffused resistor.

Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device having superior flatness and highly precise pattern is obtained. A first metal interconnection 7a is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1. An interlayer insulating film 8a is provided on semiconductor substrate 1 to cover the first metal interconnection 7a. A second metal interconnection 7b is provided on the interlayer insulating film 8a. The interlayer insulating film 8a includes a first silicon oxide film 107a provided on semiconductor substrate 1 to cover the first metal interconnection 7a, and a second silicon oxide film 108a provided to fill concave portions at the surface of the first silicon oxide film 107a. Height of the interlayer insulating film 8a from the surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 is made uniform entirely over one chip.

Abstract: The present invention is a semiconductor integrated circuit capable of reducing a cross talk noise produced between data buses. A typical semiconductor integrated circuit of the present invention comprises a plurality of data buses which are formed in an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate and arranged substantially in parallel with one another and an extension portion extended from a given data bus of the plurality of data buses wherein the extension portion is spaced away from an adjacent data bus.

Abstract: A process for the formation of a device edge morphological structure for protecting and sealing peripherally an electronic circuit integrated in a major surface of a substrate of semiconductor material includes formation above an intermediate process structure of a dielectric multilayer comprising a layer of amorphous planarizing material. The process also includes the partial removal of the dielectric multilayer so as to create at least one peripheral termination of the multilayer in the device edge morphological structure. Removal of the dielectric multilayer requires that the peripheral termination thereof be located in a zone of the intermediate process structure relatively higher than the level of the major surface, if compared with adjacent zones of the intermediate structure itself at least internally toward the circuit and in so far as to the device edge morphological structure.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnection by using a landing pad is disclosed. In a semiconductor device having a memory cell portion and a peripheral circuit portion, a refractory metal is used for the bitline instead of the usual polycide, to concurrently form a contact on each active region of an N-type and a P-type, then a landing pad is formed on the peripheral circuit portion when a bitline is formed on the memory cell portion. In such a process, a substantial contact hole for the interconnection is formed on the landing pad so that an aspect ratio of the contact can be lowered. Accordingly, when forming a metal interconnection, the contact hole for the interconnection is easily filled by Al reflow so that the coverage-step of the metal being depositing in the contact hole for the interconnection is enhanced, the contact resistance is reduced. Further, the reliability of the semiconductor device is improved.

Abstract: A method of electroplating a high density integrated circuit (IC) substrate using a removable plating bus including the steps of providing an IC substrate made of nonconductive material having a plurality of conductive traces formed on its surface. Attaching a removable plating bus to the IC substrate, covering the plurality of conductive traces. Forming through holes (or vias) in predetermined locations. The holes going through the removable plating bus and IC substrate, exposing edges of selected conductive traces in the holes. Plating the through holes with a conductive material (such as copper) that electrically connects the removable plating bus to the exposed edges of the traces in the holes. Coating the IC substrate (including the removable plating bus) with plating resist and selectively removing portions of the removable plating bus, along with the plating resist, to expose selected areas of traces on the IC substrate that require plating.

Abstract: In a method for forming redundant signal traces and corresponding electronic components, a photoresist pattern which defines a semi-additive signal image is coated on at least one first conductive layer of a composite base substrate. A barrier layer of etch-resistant metal is deposited on the first conductive layer. The photoresist is removed, thereby forming a first barrier signal trace having a first line width. Optionally, one or more vias may be formed in the substrate. A surface conductive layer is deposited on the first conductive layer, the barrier layer, and on a surface of the optional vias. A photoresist pattern is coated on the surface conductive layer which defines a subtractive signal image. Predetermined portions of the surface conductive layer and the first conductive layer are removed. The photoresist is removed forming a second signal trace in overlying relationship with the first barrier signal trace and having a second line width greater than the first line width.

Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit device having a plurality of arrays of cells on a chip and a plurality of circuit blocks larger in scale than the cells and embedded among the arrays of cells, including the steps of placing the cells and the circuit blocks in a region of a chip, grouping adjacent ones of the circuit blocks, generating a group power supply ring around the grouped circuit blocks and a block power supply ring around another one of the circuit blocks, and generating a grid-shaped pattern of internal power supply interconnections on the chip which are connected to the group power supply ring or the block power supply ring.

Abstract: A wafer structure and method of forming a wafer structure with all of the dielectric material and conducting material films removed from the outer periphery of the wafer in order to protect the dielectric and conducting films from damage due to wafer handling, storage, or clamping. The dielectric or conducting material is removed from the wafer edge using wafer edge exposure or edge bead rinse methods. The wafer edge exposure method is carried out at the same time the dielectric or conducting layer is being patterned.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a multi-level integrated circuit is disclosed which utilizes a grid pattern from which portions corresponding to the metal layer are selectively removed to form a mask which is subsequently used to deposit dummy features in the open areas between metal lines, thereby to allow the deposition of a substantially planar dielectric surface over the metal layers and dummy features.

Abstract: In order to modify a combination of logic gates based on relationships between physical locations of the logic gates in a semiconductor integrated circuit which has already been subjected to layout design in the middle of design of the semiconductor integrated circuit, circuit portions whose combination is to be modified are specified, then the circuit portions are transformed into logically equivalent intermediate representations (NAND2s, IVs, etc.), then anew combination of the logic gates is generated based on the intermediate representation, and then the prior combination of the logic gates is replaced with the new combination of the logic gates.

Abstract: In preparation for etch processing a semiconductor chip having areas of little or no pattern and areas that are heavily patterned, adding non-operative patterns to the areas having little or no pattern so that the overall pattern density is about the same across the chip.

Abstract: A master slice type gate array has a plurality of block areas. Each block area includes a plurality of basic cells arranged in a matrix. Different block areas have transistors with different channel widths. Within each of the block areas, a plurality of basic cells are connected to one another through a wiring layer to form function cells. First layer wirings for the function cells are completed within an area between rows of power source wirings Vdd and Vss of the first layer in the transverse direction. Contacts for connecting the sources and drains of P- and N-channel type MOS transistors to the first layer wirings are arranged in rows. Even if the channel widths are changed, the position of the contacts for forming the function cells and the wiring pattern remain unchanged for every block. Therefore, the master slice type gate array can be optimized for various performance parameters such as speed, integration, power consumption and other factors.

Abstract: A metallization and bonding process for manufacturing a power semiconductor device includes a step of depositing a first metal layer over the entire surface of a chip; a step of selectively etching of the first metal layer to form desired patterns of metal interconnection lines between components previously defined; a step of depositing a layer of passivating material over the entire surface of the chip; a step of selectively etching of the layer of passivating material down to the first metal layer to define bonding areas represented by uncovered portions of the first metal layer; a step of depositing of a thick second metal layer over the entire surface of the chip; a step of selectively etching of the second metal layer down to the layer of passivating material to remove the second metal layer outside the bonding areas; and a step of connecting bonding wires to the surface of the second metal layer in correspondence of said bonding areas.

Abstract: A method of making gate array ASIC components from a master slice wafer having a first conducting layer containing logic elements, a second conducting layer containing first electrically conducting elements extending in a first direction, and a third conducting layer comprises interconnecting at least some of the logic elements to one another with a single masking process step by defining, on the third conducting layer, second conducting elements connected to the first electrically conducting elements to define connections between the logic elements.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to completely reduce a difference in level in a short time at a convex pattern spreading horizontally on a large scale and obtain a semiconductor device having a planarized surface. An insulating film is formed on a semiconductor substrate to cover a horizontally spreading convex pattern and to fill in a concave portion. A portion of insulating film located on a planarized portion of convex pattern is selectively etched away so as to leave a frame-shaped insulating film having a width of 1-500 .mu.m at least on the outer periphery portion of convex pattern. Insulating film left on semiconductor substrate is etched by chemical/mechanical polishing method, thereby planarizing a surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Each circuit block of a plurality of circuit blocks on a semiconductor substrate is imaged in an exposure field defined by a reticle. The circuit blocks are separated and electrically isolated within the semiconductor substrate by an isolation such as a field oxide or trench isolation. The circuit blocks are globally interconnected by depositing a blanket metal layer, masking the metal layer and etching the metal layer using a stitching reticle having an exposure field overlapping the plurality of circuit blocks. The combination of reticle-imaged circuit blocks allows each individual circuit block to be fabricated independently, using independent imaging resolution, layout rules, design rules, different polysilicon sizes and source/drain region sizes and the like. In addition different reticles, including different reticle types, resolutions and qualities may be used to construct the various circuit blocks.

Abstract: A method for eliminating the antenna effect in the manufacture of an integrated circuit in a silicon substrate, wherein there are contact pad areas at the periphery of the integrated circuit and interconnection lines connecting the contact pad areas with the integrated circuit. This is achieved by grounding the contact pad areas to the silicon substrate; processing in a plasma environment that would normally produce electrical charge build-up at the gate oxide of the integrated circuit, but wherein the grounded contact pad areas eliminates the charge build-up; and disabling the grounding of the contact pad areas to retrieve the functioning of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: The device has a semiconductor chip having active circuitry in the face thereof. The circuitry has busing over it containing two conductive layers having a plurality of contacts and vias with spacings between them that alternate with respect to one another to provide current ballasting and improved switching uniformity. The spacings between the alternating contacts and vias provide regions of maximum conductor thickness and therefore reduces the busing resistance. Staggering the rows of alternating contacts and vias provides further current ballasting. A first conducting layer is used to contact and provide electrically isolated low resistive conducting paths to the various semiconductor regions while the second conducting region is used to provide selective contact to the first conductive layer, thus providing a means of busing large currents over active semiconductor area without sacrificing performance parameters.

Abstract: The present method employs a first plating resist for forming circuit lines on a carrier substrate. While the plating resist is still in place a metal, such as nickel, is deposited on top of the circuit lines. A second plating resist is employed for plating solder on the circuit lines at solder sites. At this stage additional solder can be deposited at each solder site to provide or supplement the necessary low melt solder required for forming a solder joint. The first and second resists along with solder thereon are then stripped and copper foil on the carrier substrate is etched away around the circuit lines. A soldermask is then formed on the carrier substrate over the circuit lines except for circuit lines in the chip sites. The soldermask has a single large opening at each chip site which has lateral dimensions which are slightly larger than the lateral dimensions of the chip to be connected at the chip site.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a mask for forming a metallurgy system on a semiconductor device that provides a planar top surface is described. An initial mask pattern for the metallurgy system is designed that includes operative conductive lines that electrically connect device structure, and include parallel lines that are non-uniformly spaced, resulting in large areas. The mask design is re-designed to fill in parallel dummy lines in the large areas where the spacing of the conductive lines is equal to or greater than three times the feature size, or alternatively, the width of the lines.