Abstract: Array contacts for semiconductor memories may be formed using a first set of parallel stripe masks and subsequently a second set of parallel stripe masks transverse to the first set. For example, one set of masks may be utilized to etch a dielectric layer, to form parallel spaced trenches. Then the trenches may be filled with a sacrificial material. That sacrificial material may then be masked transversely to its length and etched, for example. The resulting openings may be filled with a metal to form array contacts.

Abstract: Systems, methods and fabrication processes relating to dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices involving data signals grouped into 10 bits are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation a DRAM device may comprise a memory core, circuitry that receives a data bus inversion (DBI) bit associated with a data signal as input directly, without transmission through DBI logic associated with an input buffer, circuitry that stores the DBI bit into the memory core, reads the DBI bit from the memory core, and provides the DBI bit as output. In further implementations, DRAM devices herein may store and process the DBI bit on an internal data bus as a regular data bit.

Abstract: A method for forming coreless flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) substrates comprising the steps of sequentially depositing a pair of laminates, each having a plurality of insulated metallization layers simultaneously respectively on each side of a temporary carrier substrate, and then removing the temporary carrier to separate the pair of laminates, so that each laminate has an outer ball grid metal pad array, and during the depositing of the pair of laminates on the carrier substrate, further depositing a supporting layer of dielectric material enclosing the metal pad array, wherein said supporting layers of dielectric material provides structural support for each of the laminates after the separation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: forming a film to be a first metal layer on a substrate where an element portion is formed; forming a first insulating layer provided with an opening on the film to be the first metal layer; forming a second metal layer in the opening of the first insulating layer; eliminating the first insulating layer; eliminating the film to be the first metal layer with the second metal layer used as a mask so as to form the first metal layer; and forming an electrode portion by covering exposed surfaces of the first metal layer and the second metal layer with a third metal layer including a metal of a smaller ionization tendency than the metal of the second metal layer.

Abstract: A method and a resulting device are provided for forming stack overlay and registration monitoring structures for FEOL layers including implant layers and for forming BEOL SEM overlay and registration monitoring structures including BEOL interconnections, respectively. Embodiments include forming an active monitoring structure having first and second edges separated by a first distance in an active layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a poly monitoring structure having first and second edges separated by a second distance in a poly layer; and forming one or more contact monitoring structures in a contact layer, collectively exposing at least the first and second edges of each of the active and poly monitoring structures; wherein the active, poly, and contact monitoring structures are formed in an area which includes no IC patterns in the active, the poly, and the contact layers, respectively.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate with a recess, having a bottom and sides, extending into the substrate from the substrate's upper surface. The sides include first and second sides oriented transversely to one another. A stack of alternating active and insulating layers overlie the substrate's surface and the recess. At least some of the active layers have an upper and lower portions extending along upper and lower planes over and generally parallel to the upper surface and to the bottom, respectively. The active layers have first and second upward extensions positioned along the first and second sides to extend from the lower portions of their respective active layers. Conductive strips adjoin the second upward extensions of the said active layers. The conductive strips can comprise sidewall spacers on the sides of the second upward extensions, the conductive strips connected to overlying conductors by interlayer conductors.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate that includes electronic circuitry. The apparatus further includes a first die that includes electronic circuitry, and at least one shielded interconnect. The shielded interconnect(s) couple(s) electronic circuitry in the substrate to electronic circuitry in the first die.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are disclosed. The interconnect structure includes a lower conductive feature in a lower low-k (LK) dielectric layer; a first etch stop layer (ESL) over the lower conductive feature, wherein the first ESL comprises a metal compound; an upper LK dielectric layer over the first ESL; and an upper conductive feature in the upper LK dielectric layer, wherein the upper conductive feature extends through the first ESL and connected to the lower conductive feature. The interconnect structure may further include a second ESL between the upper LK dielectric layer and the first ESL, or between the first ESL and the lower conductive feature, wherein the second ESL comprises a silicon compound.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductor structure can result in vertical sidewalls. The method deposits a lining over a plurality of spaced-apart stacks of active layers. An isolation material is formed over the lining, over and in between the spaced-apart stacks. A plurality of trenches in the isolation material is arranged to cross over the plurality of spaced-apart stacks of active strips, leaving at least a residue of the lining on a bottom of the trenches between the stacks of active strips and over a sidewall of the spaced-apart stacks of active strips. The residue of the lining on the bottom of the trenches and the sidewalls of the spaced-apart stacks of active layers is selectively removed. Then the plurality of trenches is filled with conductive or semiconductor material to form the damascene structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of power or ground rails for an integrated circuit, the plurality of power or ground rails vertically separated on a plane, a plurality of functional cells between the plurality of power rails or between the plurality of ground rails or both, and a jumper connection between the vertically separated power rails or ground rails, the jumper connection within a vertically aligned gap among the plurality of functional cells. A method of mitigating IR drop and electromigration affects in an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of power rails or ground rails, each of the power rails or ground rails on separate vertical levels of a plane of an integrated circuit layout and connecting with a jumper connection at least two power rails or two ground rails, the jumper connection within a vertically aligned gap among cells of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of a semiconductor wafer having wafer-level die attach metallization on a back-side of the semiconductor wafer, resulting semiconductor dies, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor wafer includes a semiconductor structure and a front-side metallization that includes front-side metallization elements for a number of semiconductor die areas. The semiconductor wafer also includes vias that extend from a back-side of the semiconductor structure to the front-side metallization elements. A back-side metallization is on the back-side of the semiconductor structure and within the vias. For each via, one or more barrier layers are on a portion of the back-side metallization that is within the via and around a periphery of the via. The semiconductor wafer further includes wafer-level die attach metallization on the back-side metallization other than the portions of the back-side metallization that are within the vias and around the peripheries of the vias.

Abstract: The profile of a via can be controlled by forming a profile control liner within each via opening that is formed into a dielectric material prior to forming a line opening within the dielectric material. The presence of the profile control liner within each via opening during the formation of the line opening prevents rounding of the corners of a dielectric material portion that is present beneath the line opening and adjacent the via opening.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device having an MEMS element over a single semiconductor chip, the movable part of the MEMS element is fixed before the formation of a rewiring. After formation of the rewiring, the wafer is diced. Then, the movable part of the MEMS element is released by etching the wafer.

Abstract: A plug structure including a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, a barrier layer and a second plug is provided. The first dielectric layer having a first plug therein is located on a substrate, wherein the first plug physically contacts a source/drain in the substrate. The second dielectric layer having an opening exposing the first plug is located on the first dielectric layer. The barrier layer conformally covers the opening, wherein the barrier layer has a bottom part and a sidewall part, and the bottom part is a single layer and physically contacts the first plug while the sidewall part is a dual layer. The second plug fills the opening and on the barrier layer. Moreover, a process of forming a plug structure is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is prepared by an annealing process to interconnect at least two components of the device by a conductor line surrounded by an insulator material. The annealing process results in formation of residual stresses within the conductor line and the insulator material. A notch is designed in the layout on a selective portion of the mask for patterning conductor line. The existence of a shape of notch on the selective portion generates extra stress components within the conductor line than if without the existence of the notch. The position of the notch is selected so that the extra stress components substantially counteract the residual stresses, thereby causing a net reduction in the residual stresses. The reduction in the residual stresses results in a corresponding mechanical stress migration and therefore improvement in the reliability of the device.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor element, a capacitor, and a package substrate. The capacitor supplies transient current to the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element and the capacitor are mounted on the package substrate. The semiconductor element includes an integrated circuit, a first connecting part, and a second connecting part. The capacitor includes a third connecting part and a fourth connecting part. The package substrate includes a first metallic layer, a second metallic layer, and a dielectric layer. The first metallic layer includes a first conductive region, a second conductive region, a third conductive region, and a fourth conductive region. The first conductive region is connected via a fifth connecting part to the second metallic layer. The third conductive region is connected via a sixth connecting part to the second metallic layer. The second and fourth conductive regions are connected to each other inside the first metallic layer.

Abstract: A method and structure is disclosed whereby multiple interconnect layers having effective air gaps positioned in regions most susceptible to capacitive coupling can be formed. The method includes providing a layer of conductive features, the layer including at least two line members disposed on a substrate and spaced from one another by less than or equal to an effective distance, and at least one such line member also having a via member extending away from the substrate, depositing a poorly conformal dielectric coating to form an air gap between such line members, and exposing a top end of the via.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating conductive metal lines of a semiconductor device are described herein. In one embodiment, such a method may comprise depositing a conductive material over a substrate, and depositing a first barrier layer on the conductive layer. Such a method may also comprise patterning a mask on the first barrier layer, the pattern comprising a layout of the conductive lines. Such an exemplary method may also comprise etching the conductive material and the first barrier layer using the patterned mask to form the conductive lines. In addition, a low temperature post-flow may be performed on the structure. The method may also include depositing a dielectric material over and between the patterned conductive lines.

Abstract: A method for patterning a semiconductor structure is provided. The method comprises following steps. A first mask defining a first pattern in a first region and a second pattern in a second region adjacent to the first region is provided. The first pattern defined by the first mask is transferred to a first film structure in the first region, and the second pattern defined by the first mask is transferred to the first film structure in the second region. A second film structure is formed on the first film structure. A second mask defining a third pattern in the first region is provided. At least 50% of a part of the first region occupied by the first pattern defined by the first mask is identical with a part of the first region occupied by the third pattern defined by the second mask.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a miniaturized semiconductor device so as to form MTJ elements therein include the steps of depositing a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) precursor layer on a substrate and planarizing the precursor layer; forming a sacrificial and patternable dielectric layer on the MTJ precursor layer; patterning the sacrificial dielectric layer in accordance with predetermined placements and shapes of a to-be-formed hard mask, the patterning forming corresponding openings in the sacrificial dielectric layer; depositing an etch-resistant conductive material such as Cu in the openings for example by way of plating, and selectively removing the sacrificial dielectric layer so as to leave behind the etch-resistant conductive material in the form of a desired hard mask. Using the hard mask to etch and thus pattern the MTJ precursor layer so as to form MTJ elements having desired locations, sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods and structures using contacts to create differential stresses on devices in an integrated circuit (IC) chip. An IC chip is disclosed having a p-type field effect transistor (PFET) and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET). One embodiment of this invention includes creating this differential stress by varying the deposition conditions for forming PFET and NFET contacts, for example, the temperature at which the fill materials are deposited, and the rate at which the fill materials are deposited. In another embodiment, the differential stress is created by filling the contacts with differing materials that will impart differential stress due to differing coefficient of thermal expansions. In another embodiment, the differential stress is created by including a silicide layer within the NFET contacts and/or the PFET contacts.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and depositing a conductive layer on the substrate. A patterned hard mask and a catalyst layer are formed on the conductive layer. The method further includes growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from the catalyst layer and etching the conductive layer by using the CNTs and the patterned hard mask as an etching mask to form metal features.

Abstract: A semiconductor die includes a semiconductor substrate having an edge region surrounding an active region, the active region containing devices of an integrated circuit. The semiconductor die further includes interconnect wiring over the active region in an interlayer dielectric and electrically connected to the devices in the active region, and ancillary wiring over the edge region in the interlayer dielectric and isolated from the interconnect wiring and the devices in the active device region. The interlayer dielectric is passivated, and bond pads are provided over the interconnect wiring and electrically connected to the interconnect wiring through openings in the passivation over the active region. Additional bond pads are provided over the ancillary wiring and are electrically connected to the interconnect wiring through additional openings in the passivation over the active region.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: forming a first metal layer on a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate including a diffusion layer; forming an insulating layer having an opening on the first metal layer; forming a second metal layer on the first metal layer in the opening of the insulating layer; removing the insulating layer; covering an exposed surface of the second metal layer with a third metal layer, the third metal layer including a metal having an ionization tendency lower than that of the second metal layer; and forming an electrode interconnect including the first metal layer, the second metal layer, and the third metal layer by removing the first metal layer using the third metal layer as a mask.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein includes forming a plurality of source/drain contacts that are conductively coupled to a source/drain region of a plurality of transistor devices, wherein at least one of the source/drain contacts is a local interconnect structure that spans the isolation region and is conductively coupled to a first source/drain region in a first active region and to a second source/drain region in a second active region, and forming a patterned mask layer that covers the first and second active regions and exposes at least a portion of the local interconnect structure positioned above an isolation region that separates the first and second active regions. The method further includes performing an etching process through the patterned mask layer to remove a portion of the local interconnect structure, thereby defining a recess positioned above a remaining portion of the local interconnect structure, and forming an insulating material in the recess.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first interconnect over the semiconductor substrate; forming an interlayer dielectric film over the first interconnect; forming a hole in the interlayer dielectric film such that the hole reaches the first interconnect; forming a trench in the interlayer dielectric film; and embedded a conductive film in the hole and the trench, thereby a via is formed in the hole and a second interconnect in the trench, wherein, in a planar view, the first interconnect extends in a first direction, wherein, in a planar view, the second interconnect extends in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein a maximum width of the via in the second direction is larger than a maximum width of the via in the first direction.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes providing a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 4.0 or less and at least one conductive material embedded therein, the at least one conductive material has an upper surface that is coplanar with an upper surface of the dielectric material and the upper surface of the at least one conductive material has hollow-metal related defects that extend inward into the at least one conductive material; and filling the hollow-metal related defects with a surface repair material.

Abstract: A structure and method of making the structure. The structure includes a dielectric layer on a substrate; a first wire formed in a first trench in the dielectric layer, a first liner on sidewalls and a bottom of the first trench and a first copper layer filling all remaining space in the first trench; a second wire formed in a second trench in the dielectric layer, a second liner on sidewalls and a bottom of the second trench and a second copper layer filling all remaining space in the second trench; and an electromigration stop formed in a third trench in the dielectric layer, a third liner on sidewalls and a bottom of the third trench and a third copper layer filling all remaining space in the third trench, the electromigration stop between and abutting respective ends of the first and second wires.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices and fabrication methods. An exemplary CMOS device can be formed by providing a first dummy gate over a semiconductor substrate in a first region, providing a second dummy gate over the semiconductor substrate in a second region, and amorphizing a surface portion of the first dummy gate to form a first amorphous silicon layer. The first amorphous silicon layer can be used to protect the first dummy gate in the first region, when a second opening is formed in the second region by wet etching at least the second dummy gate. A second metal gate can then be formed in the second opening, followed by removing the first amorphous silicon layer and at least the first dummy gate to form a first opening in the first region. A first metal gate can be formed in the first opening.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein prevent wire flaking (collapse). One aspect is an improved way of forming wires over trenches, which may be located in a hookup region of a 3D memory array, and may be used to form electrical connections between conductive lines in the memory array and drivers. The trenches are formed between CMP dummy structures. The trenches are partially filled with a flowable oxide film, which leaves a gap in the trench that is at least as wide as the total pitch of the wires to be formed. A capping layer is formed over the flowable film. After forming a conductive layer over the dielectric layer, the conductive layer is etched to form conductive wires. Some of the capping layer, as well as the CMP dummy structures may be removed. Thus, the conductive wires may be at least temporarily supported by lines of material formed from the capping layer.

Abstract: Methods and associated structures of forming a microelectronic device are described. Those methods may include forming a structure comprising a first contact metal disposed on a source/drain contact of a substrate, and a second contact metal disposed on a top surface of the first contact metal, wherein the second contact metal is disposed within an IID disposed on a top surface of a metal gate disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: A virtually substrate-less composite power semiconductor device (VSLCPSD) and method are disclosed. The VSLCPSD has a power semiconductor device (PSD), a front-face device carrier (FDC) made out of a carrier material and an intervening bonding layer (IBL). Both carrier and IBL material can be conductive or non-conductive. The PSD has back substrate portion, front semiconductor device portion with patterned front-face device metallization pads and a virtually diminishing thickness TPSD. The FDC has patterned back-face carrier metallizations contacting the front-face device metallization pads, patterned front-face carrier metallization pads and numerous parallelly connected through-carrier conductive vias respectively connecting the back-face carrier metallizations to the front-face carrier metallization pads. The FDC thickness TFDC is large enough to provide structural rigidity to the VSLCPSD.

Abstract: A multilayer interconnect structure is formed by, providing a substrate (40) having thereon a first dielectric (50, 27) for supporting a multi-layer interconnection (39) having lower conductor MN (22, 23), upper conductor MN+1 (34, 35), dielectric interlayer (DIL) (68) and interconnecting via conductor VN+1/N (36, 36?). The lower conductor MN (22, 23) has a first upper surface (61) located in a recess below a second upper surface (56) of the first dielectric (50, 27). The DIL (68) is formed above the first (61) and second (56) surfaces. A cavity (1263) is etched through the DIL (68) from a desired location (122) of the upper conductor MN+1 (34), exposing the first surface (61). The cavity (1263) is filled with a further electrical conductor (80) to form the upper conductor MN+1 (34) and the connecting via conductor VN+1/N (36, 36?) making electrical contact with the first upper surface (61).

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a substrate including a gate structure separating source and drain (S/D) features. The semiconductor device further includes a first dielectric layer formed over the substrate, the first dielectric layer including a first interconnect structure in electrical contact with the S/D features. The semiconductor device further includes an intermediate layer formed over the first dielectric layer, the intermediate layer having a top surface that is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the first interconnect structure. The semiconductor device further includes a second dielectric layer formed over the intermediate layer, the second dielectric layer including a second interconnect structure in electrical contact with the first interconnect structure and a third interconnect structure in electrical contact with the gate structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor integrated circuit line structures for improving a process window in the vicinity of dense-to-isolated pattern transition areas and a technique to implement the line structures in the layout process are described in this disclosure. The disclosed structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a material layer above the substrate. The material layer has a closely spaced dense line structure, an isolated line structure next to the dense line structure, and a dummy line shoulder structure formed in the vicinity of the dense line and the isolated line structures. One end of the dummy line shoulder structure connects to the isolated line structure and another end extends away from the isolated line structure in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the isolated line structure.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for efficiently varying the composition of the metal interconnects for a semiconductor device. A metal interconnect according to the present disclosure has an intermediate layer on a dielectric material, the intermediate layer having a relatively higher concentration of an impurity metal along with a primary metal, the impurity metal having a lower reduction potential than the primary metal. The metal interconnect has a main layer of the metal alloy interconnect on top of the intermediate layer and surrounded by the intermediate layer, the main layer having a relatively higher concentration of the primary metal than the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate and main layers of the metal alloy interconnect each maintains a material uniformity.

Abstract: Methods and memory devices formed using etch bias homogenization are provided. One example method of forming a memory device using etch bias homogenization includes forming conductive material at respective levels over a substrate. Each respective level of conductive material is electrically coupled to corresponding circuitry on the substrate during patterning of the respective level of conductive material so that each respective level of conductive material has a homogenized etch bias during patterning thereof. Each respective level of conductive material electrically coupled to corresponding circuitry on the substrate is patterned.

Abstract: Methods of forming fine patterns are provided. The methods may include forming first hard mask patterns extending in a first direction on a lower layer, forming second hard mask patterns filling gap regions between the first hard mask patterns, forming first mask patterns extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the first and second hard mask patterns, etching the first hard mask patterns using the first mask patterns as etch masks to form first openings, forming second mask patterns filling the first openings and extending in the second direction, and etching the second hard mask patterns using the second mask patterns as etch masks to form second openings spaced apart from the first openings in a diagonal direction with respect to the first direction.

Abstract: For simplifying the dual-damascene formation steps of a multilevel Cu interconnect, a formation step of an antireflective film below a photoresist film is omitted. Described specifically, an interlayer insulating film is dry etched with a photoresist film formed thereover as a mask, and interconnect trenches are formed by terminating etching at the surface of a stopper film formed in the interlayer insulating film. The stopper film is made of an SiCN film having a low optical reflectance, thereby causing it to serve as an antireflective film when the photoresist film is exposed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) devices. The method includes coupling a first surface of a first intermediate substrate to a first surface of a second intermediate substrate, forming a first plurality of patterned metal layers on a second surface of the first intermediate substrate to form a first substrate and a second plurality of patterned metal layers on a second surface of the second intermediate substrate to form a second substrate, and separating the first and second substrates. Each of the first substrate and the second substrate is configured to facilitate electrical interconnection between a respective IC die and a respective printed circuit board (PCB).

Abstract: Also in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a copper embedded wiring as a main wiring layer, generally, the uppermost-layer wiring layer is often an aluminum-based pad layer in order to ensure wire bonding characteristics. The aluminum-based pad layer is also generally used as a wiring layer (general intercoupling wiring such as power source wiring or signal wiring). However, such a general intercoupling wiring has a relatively large wiring length. This causes a demerit for the device to be susceptible to damages during a plasma treatment due to the antenna effect, and other demerits. With the present invention, in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a metal multilayer wiring system having a lower-layer embedded type multilayer wiring layer and an upper-layer non-embedded type aluminum-based pad metal layer, the non-embedded type aluminum-based pad metal layer substantially does not have a power supply ring wiring.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) backlight unit without a Printed Circuit board (PCB). The LED backlight unit includes a chassis, insulating resin layer, and one or more light source modules. The insulating resin layer is formed on the chassis. The circuit patterns are formed on the insulating resin layer. The light source modules are mounted on the insulating resin layer and are electrically connected to the circuit patterns. The insulating resin layer has a thickness of 200 ?m or less, and is formed by laminating solid film insulating resin on the chassis or by applying liquid insulating resin to the chassis using a molding method employing spin coating or blade coating. Furthermore, the circuit patterns are formed by filling the engraved circuit patterns of the insulating resin layer with metal material.

Abstract: The embodiments fill the need to enhance electro-migration performance, provide lower metal resistivity, and improve metal-to-metal interfacial adhesion for copper interconnects by providing improved processes and systems that produce an improved metal-to-metal interface, more specifically copper-to-cobalt-alloy interface. An exemplary method of preparing a substrate surface of a substrate to selectively deposit a thin layer of a cobalt-alloy material on a copper surface of a copper interconnect of the substrate in an integrated system to improve electromigration performance of the copper interconnect is provided. The method includes removing contaminants and metal oxides from the substrate surface in the integrated system, and reconditioning the substrate surface using a reducing environment after removing contaminants and metal oxides in the integrated system.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a line-and-space structure, a first film and a second film. The line-and-space structure includes line patterns arranged on the substrate parallel to one another at a predetermined distance. The first film is formed on side surfaces and bottom surfaces of the line patterns by an insulating film material. The second film is formed on the line-and-space structure across a space between the line patterns by a material showing low wettability to the first film. Space between the line patterns includes an air gap in which at least a bottom surface of the first film is totally exposed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a variable interconnect geometry formed on a substrate that allows for increased electrical performance of the interconnects without compromising mechanical reliability. The compliance of the interconnects varies from the center of the substrate to edges of the substrate. The variation in compliance can either be step-wise or continuous. Exemplary low-compliance interconnects include columnar interconnects and exemplary high-compliance interconnects include helix interconnects. A cost-effective implementation using batch fabrication of the interconnects at a wafer level through sequential lithography and electroplating processes may be employed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; an underlying wiring on the semiconductor substrate; a resin film extending to the semiconductor substrate and the underlying wiring, and having a first opening on the underlying wiring; a first SiN film on the underlying wiring and the resin film, and having a second opening in the first opening; an upper layer wiring on the underlying wiring and part of the resin film; and a second SiN film on the upper layer wiring and the resin film, and joined to the first SiN film on the resin film. The upper layer wiring includes a Ti film, connected to the underlying wiring via the first and second openings, and an Au film on the Ti film. The first and second SiN films circumferentially protect the Ti film.

Abstract: Conductive structures include a plurality of conductive steps and a contact extending at least partially therethrough in communication with at least one of the plurality of conductive steps and insulated from at least another one of the conductive steps. Devices may include such conductive structures. Systems may include a semiconductor device and a stair step conductive structure having a plurality of contacts extending through a step of the stair step conductive structure. Methods of forming conductive structures include forming contacts in contact holes formed through at least one conductive step of a conductive structure. Methods of forming electrical connections in stair step conductive structures include forming contacts in contact holes formed through each step of the stair step conductive structure.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure, BEOL wiring structures, and design structures for a BEOL wiring structure. The BEOL wiring may be fabricated by forming a first wire in a dielectric layer and annealing the first wire in an oxygen-free atmosphere. After the first wire is annealed, a second wire is formed in vertical alignment with the first wire. A final passivation layer, which is comprised of an organic material such as polyimide, is formed that covers an entirety of a sidewall of the second wire.

Abstract: A multilayer system includes first and second functional layers, for example, semiconductor layers. A third or intermediate layer is disposed between the first and second functional layers and adheres relatively well to the first and second layers yet has relatively little or no detrimental effect on the functionality of the first and second layers. The third layer is applied to the first layer. Anchoring elements are provided which are partly embedded in the third layer, and the second layer is secured to the third layer by the anchoring elements. This structure yields good adhesion between the three layers, because the third layer adheres relatively well to the first layer and the third layer and the second layer are mechanically bonded together relatively strongly by the anchoring elements.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating layer over a semiconductor substrate, a contact plug within the first insulating layer, an etch stop layer over the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer over the etch stop layer. The second insulating layer has an opening over the contact plug. A first metal layer, a dielectric material, and a second metal layer are deposited in the opening. The first metal layer engages the contact plug and is free of direct contact with the first insulating layer.