Abstract: An exemplary method of forming a contact hole in a semiconductor device includes: forming a first insulation layer on a lower substrate; forming a first conductive layer on the first insulation layer; forming a second insulation layer on the first insulation layer and the first conductive layer; forming a second conductive layer on the second insulation layer; forming a third insulation layer on the second insulation layer and the second conductive layer; patterning a resist on the third insulation layer using an exposure mask of which transmittance is different at a region over the first conductive layer and at a region over the second conductive layer; and forming a first contact hole and a second contact hole by etching the resist and the third insulation layer such that the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are exposed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a dual damascene pattern. The method can include forming a first etch stop layer, a first dielectric layer, a second etch stop layer, a second dielectric layer and a cap insulating layer on a substrate, forming a preliminary via hole exposing a part of the first etch stop layer by patterning the insulating layer structure, and forming a sacrificial layer pattern in the preliminary via hole. After forming a mask pattern on the cap insulating layer, a trench is formed by patterning the cap insulating layer, the second dielectric layer and a part of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer pattern and the mask pattern are removed in-situ through an ashing process, thereby forming a via hole.

Abstract: A SONOS device and a method of manufacturing the same is provided. A tunnel dielectric layer, a charge trap layer, and a charge blocking layer are formed on a semiconductor substrate, and the charge blocking layer is formed on the charge trap layer such that the charge blocking layer is relatively thicker at regions adjacent to or overlapping the source and the drain and relatively thinner at a region overlapping the channel region. A gate is then formed on the blocking layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof in which the semiconductor device includes capacitors having a metal/insulator/metal (MIM) structure are disclosed. The method includes forming an interlayer insulating film on a structure of a semiconductor substrate that exposes lower wiring and a lower insulating film; selectively etching the interlayer insulating film to form a first electrode opening that exposes the lower wiring; forming a first electrode in the first electrode opening such that the first electrode opening is filled; selectively etching the interlayer insulating film at a region of the same adjacent to the first electrode to thereby form a second electrode opening; forming a dielectric layer along inner walls that define the second electrode opening; forming a second electrode on the dielectric layer in such a manner to fill the second electrode opening; and forming upper wiring on at least a portion of the second electrode.

Abstract: Capacitors having a horizontally folded dielectric layer and methods of manufacturing is the same are provided. An example method for manufacturing a capacitor includes forming a first insulating layer pattern above a substrate, forming a first silicon epitaxial growth layer above a region of the silicon substrate exposed by the first insulating layer pattern through epitaxial growth of a first silicon layer, selectively etching the first insulating layer pattern, forming a dielectric layer pattern above the lateral surface of the first silicon epitaxial growth layer in a shape of a spacer, and forming a second silicon epitaxial growth layer above the silicon substrate through epitaxial growth of a second silicon layer. A capacitor including electrodes made of the first and second silicon epitaxial growth layers with the dielectric layer pattern formed therebetween may be formed by such a method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabricating a MOS transistor. The present method includes the steps of: (a) forming a gate electrode including a gate insulating layer and a polysilicon gate conductive layer on an active region in a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a metal layer over the substrate including the gate electrode; (c) heat-treating the substrate to form a polycide layer on a top surface and sidewalls of the gate electrode; (d) removing an unreacted portion of the metal layer; (e) removing the polycide layer from the top surface and sidewalls of the gate electrode, thus reducing a width of the gate electrode; and (f) forming source and drain regions in the active region adjacent to the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a silicon nitride layer on a substrate is provided to effectively remove negative-charged impurities such as polymer and particle from the silicon nitride layer. In the method, the zeta potential of the silicon nitride layer is changed from positive to negative, and then the silicon nitride layer is cleaned with a first solution selected from an alkali solution and an NC-2 solution. So the negatively-charged impurities can be easily removed due to a repulsion force. The substrate can be treated with spin scrubber or quick dump rinse before and/or after the changing of the zeta potential. To change the zeta potential, the substrate can be dipped into a second solution such as an SC-1 solution, an NC-2 solution, and an alkali solution.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a high voltage MOS transistor. The device includes a gate oxide layer disposed between a gate electrode and a substrate on an active area and having relatively thick portions at edges thereof. A fabrication method includes forming on the substrate is a nitride layer having an opening in a high voltage region. An oxide layer is deposited over the substrate and anisotropically etched to remain only on sidewalls of the opening. A first gate oxide layer is formed on the substrate in the opening, and the nitride layer is removed. Then a second gate oxide layer is formed over the substrate such that the second gate oxide layer has a relatively thinner thickness than the first gate oxide layer. Gate electrodes are then formed in the high voltage region and the low voltage region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preventing a metal corrosion in a semiconductor device. The present method includes the steps of etching of a metal layer in a chamber, the metal layer having a photoresist pattern thereon or thereover; oxidizing a surface of the metal layer using a plasma comprising N2O in the same chamber; and removing the photoresist. Therefore, metal corrosion as well as bridges between metal wirings can be suppressed or prevented, thereby improving the profile of metal layer and the reliability and yield of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: In order to diversify a current control method of a semiconductor device, improve performance (including a current drive performance) of the semiconductor device, and reduce a size of the semiconductor device, a second gate may be formed inside a substrate that forms a channel upon applying a bias voltage thereto. In one aspect, the semiconductor device includes: a well region of a first conductivity; source and drain regions of a second conductivity in the well region; a first gate on an oxide layer above the well region, controlling a first channel region of a second conductivity between the source region and the drain region; and a second gate under the first channel region.

Abstract: Provided are a flash memory and a method for manufacturing the same. The flash memory includes a semiconductor substrate having a device isolation region and an active region; a stacked gate on the semiconductor substrate; an insulation layer covering the semiconductor substrate and the stacked gate; a drain contact penetrating the insulation layer on one side of the stacked gate; and a source line penetrating the insulation layer on an opposite side of the stacked gate.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing semiconductors are disclosed. One example method includes forming a trench through a dual damascene process, depositing a barrier metal layer on the overall surface, and depositing copper in the trench to form a copper line. The example method may also include performing a wet etching process to remove the top portion of the copper line, depositing a barrier layer on the etched copper line, and performing a planarization process to flatten the barrier layer.

Abstract: A multi-layered copper line structure of a semiconductor device with a lower copper line, an upper copper line, and a via contact, which electrically connects the lower copper line and the upper copper line, can incorporate one or more dummy via contacts to reduce the occurrence of voids in the via contacts. The one or more dummy via contacts can be formed adjacent the via contact and non-electrically connected to the lower copper line.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor and method for fabricating same are provided. The CMOS image sensor can include a gate electrode formed on an active area of a first conductive type semiconductor substrate, on which a photodiode area and a transistor area are defined; a low-density second conductive type diffusion region formed on the photodiode area at a first side of the gate electrode; a high-density second conductive the diffusion region formed on the transistor area at a second side of the gate electrode; an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the gate electrode with a thickness less than a thickness of the gate electrode, but greater than a thickness of a gate insulating layer; and insulating layer sidewalls formed on the insulating layer at both sides of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an image sensor using a microlens mold is provided. The method includes: forming an interlayer dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate having photodiodes; forming color filter layers on the interlayer dielectric layer; forming a planarization layer on the color filter layers; coating photoresist on the planarization layer; aligning a mold having a lens shaped pattern on the semiconductor substrate with the photoresist applied thereon; pressing the mold and the semiconductor substrate closely to each other such that a pattern formed in the mold is transferred onto the photoresist; and separating the mold from the semiconductor substrate, thereby forming micro-lenses.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a floating gate formed on a tunnel oxide layer that is on a semiconductor substrate. The device also includes a drain region formed in the substrate adjacent to one side of the floating gate, a source region formed adjacent to another side of the floating gate. The source region is apart from the floating gate, and an inter-gate insulating layer formed on a portion of an active region between the source region and the floating gate and on a sidewall of the floating gate directing toward the source region, and on a sidewall of the floating gate directing toward the drain region. The device includes a word line formed over the floating gate and being across the substrate in one direction, and a field oxide layer interposing between the word line and the source region.

Abstract: A method of forming a transistor includes: forming a gate oxide layer and a gate polysilicon layer on a silicon substrate; forming low-energy ion implantation regions in the silicon substrate and in alignment with both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer; forming gate spacers on both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer; forming amorphous layers on surfaces of the gate polysilicon layer and the silicon substrate by implanting impurities at a low implantation energy into the gate polysilicon layer and the silicon substrate; and forming high-energy ion implantation regions by implanting source/drain impurities at a high implantation energy into the silicon substrate including the gate polysilicon layer and the amorphous layer.

Abstract: A method of making a monitoring pattern to measure a depth and profile of a shallow trench isolation is disclosed. An example method of making a monitoring pattern of a shallow trench isolation profile forms a first pattern on a substrate to monitor a depth of a first shallow trench isolation. In the example method, the first pattern includes a plurality of unequally spaced active regions on the substrate. The example method also forms a second pattern on the substrate to measure electrical effects associated with a depth and a profile of a second shallow trench isolation. In the example method, the second pattern includes a plurality of equally spaced active regions on the substrate and a plurality of contact regions that electrically connect the equally spaced active regions.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. An example method includes loading a first substrate to be provided with an oxynitride layer along with a second substrate having a nitride layer in a boat, and forming the oxynitride layer on the first substrate by placing the boat into a furnace and thermally treating the boat under an oxygen atmosphere.

Abstract: Provided is a CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensor can include a semiconductor substrate, a blue photodiode region, a red photodiode region, a green photodiode region, an overcoat layer, and microlenses. The substrate can have a first photodiode region, a second photodiode region, and a transistor region. The blue photodiode region is formed having a predetermined depth in the first photodiode region. The red photodiode region is formed in the first photodiode region having a depth greater than that of the blue photodiode region with a gap separating the red photodiode region from the blue photodiode region. The green photodiode region is formed in the second photodiode region having a depth between the depths of the blue and red photodiode regions. The overcoat layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and microlenses are formed on the overcoat layer to correspond to the first and second photodiode regions.