Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including at least one of the following steps: (1) Forming a plurality of lower electrodes over a substrate. (2) Forming a first stop film over the lower electrodes. (3) Forming a filling layer over the first stop film. (4) Forming a second stop film over the filling layer. (5) Forming a first interlayer insulating layer over the second stop film. (6) Forming a plurality of upper electrodes over the first interlayer insulating layer. (7) Forming a second interlayer insulating layer over the upper electrodes. (8) Etching the second interlayer insulating layer and the first interlayer insulating layer to form a cavity. (9) Forming a contact ball in the cavity.

Abstract: A method of forming stressed-channel NMOS transistors and strained-channel PMOS transistors forms p-type source and drain regions before an n-type source and drain dopant is implanted and a stress memorization layer is formed, thereby reducing the stress imparted to the n-channel of the PMOS transistors. In addition, a non-conductive layer is formed after the p-type source and drain regions are formed, but before the n-type dopant is implanted. The non-conductive layer allows shallower n-type implants to be realized, and also serves as a buffer layer for the stress memorization layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for plasma processing a substrate. The method comprising providing a process chamber having a wall; providing a plasma source adjacent to the wall of the process chamber; providing a work piece support within the process chamber; loading a work piece onto the work piece support, the work piece having a support film, a frame and the substrate; providing a cover ring above the work piece, the cover ring having at least one perforated region, and at least one non-perforated region; generating a plasma using the plasma source; and processing the work piece using the generated plasma.

Abstract: A deposition mask 601 is used to form a thin film 3 in a prescribed pattern on a substrate 10 by deposition. Each of a plurality of improved openings 62A of the deposition mask 601 has a protruding opening portion 64, and is formed so that the opening amount at an end in a lateral direction is larger than that in a central portion in the lateral direction. In a deposition apparatus 50, the deposition mask 601 is held in a fixed relative positional relation with a deposition source 53 by a mask unit 55. In the case of forming the thin film 3 in a stripe pattern on the substrate 10 by the deposition apparatus 50, deposition particles are sequentially deposited on the substrate 10 while relatively moving the substrate 10 along a scanning direction with a gap H being provided between the substrate 10 and the deposition mask 601.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first region and a second region, a gate group disposed in the first region of the substrate, the gate group including a plurality of cell gate patterns and at least one selection gate pattern, a first gate pattern disposed in the second region of the substrate, a group spacer covering a top surface and a side surface of the gate group, the group spacer having a first inflection point, and a first pattern spacer covering a top surface and a side surface of the first gate pattern, the first pattern spacer having a second inflection point.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal silicide is disclosed below. A substrate having a first region and a second region is proviced. A silicon layer is formed on the substrate. A planarization process is performed to make the silicon layer having a planar surface. A part of the silicon layer is removed to form a plurality of first gates on the first region and to form a plurality of second gates on the second region. The height of the first gates is greater than the height of the second gates, and top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates have the same height level. A dielectric layer covering the first gates and the second gates is formed and exposes the top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates. A metal silicide is formed on the top surfaces of the first gates and the second gates.

Abstract: When forming high-k metal gate electrode structures in transistors of different conductivity type while also incorporating an embedded strain-inducing semiconductor alloy selectively in one type of transistor, superior process uniformity may be accomplished by selectively reducing the thickness of a dielectric cap material of a gate layer stack above the active region of transistors which do not receive the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy. In this case, superior confinement and thus integrity of sensitive gate materials may be accomplished in process strategies in which the sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structures are formed in an early manufacturing stage, while, in a replacement gate approach, superior process uniformity is achieved upon exposing the surface of a placeholder electrode material.

Abstract: A method of forming capacitors includes providing first capacitor electrodes within support material. The first capacitor electrodes contain TiN and the support material contains polysilicon. The polysilicon-containing support material is dry isotropically etched selectively relative to the TiN-containing first capacitor electrodes using a sulfur and fluorine-containing etching chemistry. A capacitor dielectric is formed over sidewalls of the first capacitor electrodes and a second capacitor electrode is formed over the capacitor dielectric. Additional methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes forming gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate; forming a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; forming a passivation layer on the substrate having the gate lines, data lines and the thin film transistor; forming a first conductive material layer on the passivation layer and connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; oxidizing a surface of the first conductive material layer; forming a second conductive material layer on the oxidized first conductive material layer; forming a photoresist pattern on the second conductive material layer; etching the first and second conductive material layers using the photoresist pattern to form pixel and common electrodes which are alternately arranged in the pixel region and produces an in-plane electric field; and removing the photoresist pattern.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for improving uniformity of chemical-mechanical planarization process, comprising the steps of: forming features on a substrate; forming a first dielectric isolation layer between the features; planarizing the first dielectric isolation layer until the features are exposed, causing the first dielectric isolation layer between the features to have a recess depth; forming a second dielectric isolation layer on the features and the first dielectric isolation layer, whereby reducing the difference in height between the second dielectric isolation layer between the features and the second dielectric isolation layer on the top of the features; planarizing the second dielectric isolation layer until the features are exposed.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a finFET device. Multiple fin structures are formed over a BOX layer, and a gate stack is formed on the BOX layer. The fin structures each include a semiconductor layer and extend in a first direction, and the gate stack is formed over the fin structures and extends in a second direction. The gate stack includes dielectric and polysilicon layers. Gate spacers are formed on vertical sidewalls of the gate stack, and an epi layer is deposited over the fin structures. Ions are implanted to form source and drain regions, and the gate spacers are etched so that their upper surface is below an upper surface of the gate stack. After etching the gate spacers, silicidation is performed to fully silicide the polysilicon layer of the gate stack and to form silicide regions in an upper surface of the source and drain regions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes forming a base region for a transistor using a base mask and forming a contact region to the base region. The contact region is formed in an area that is at least partially outside of the base mask. The method then forms an emitter region in a diffused base region. The base region diffuses outwardly to be formed under the contact region.

Abstract: A cavity wafer for flip chip stacking includes an electrostatic (ESC) chuck wafer with a plurality of cavities, and a bonding layer on a surface of the ESC chuck wafer. The bonding layer is configured to receive a through-silicon-via (TSV) interposer with solder bumps. The plurality of cavities are configured to receive the solder bumps at the TSV interposer. The bonding layer is configured to receive an electrostatic bias for bonding the ESC chuck wafer to the TSV interposer with the solder bumps.

Abstract: Combinatorial workflow is provided for evaluating cleaning processes after forming a gate structure of transistor devices, to provide optimized process conditions for gate stack formation, including metal gate stack using high-k dielectrics. NMOS and PMOS transistor devices are combinatorially fabricated on multiple regions of a substrate, with each region exposed to a different cleaning chemical and process. The transistor devices are then characterized, and the data are compared to categorize the potential damages of different cleaning chemicals and processes. Optimized chemicals and processes can be obtained to satisfy desired device requirements.

Abstract: In complex semiconductor devices, the contact characteristics may be efficiently determined on the basis of a test structure which includes a combination of interconnect chain structures and a comb structure including gate electrode structures. Consequently, an increased amount of measurement information may be obtained on the basis of a reduced overall floor space of the test structure. In this manner, the complex manufacturing sequence for forming a contact level of a semiconductor device may be quantitatively estimated and monitored.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor substrate located on an insulating layer; and an insulator located on the insulating layer and embedded in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the insulator applies stress therein to the semiconductor substrate. A method for forming a semiconductor device comprises: forming a semiconductor substrate on an insulating layer; forming a cavity within the semiconductor substrate so as to expose the insulating layer; forming an insulator in the cavity, wherein the insulator applies stress therein to the semiconductor substrate. It facilitates the reduction of the short channel effect, the resistance of source/drain regions and parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: A second stem wires (17c), formed by a reflective pixel electrode layer formed as a different layer from first stem wires (17a), is provided in such a way as to extend along a long side of its adjacent one of the first stem wires (17a). This makes it possible to achieve a TFT array substrate (1) on which a gate drive circuit (15) and its wires (17a, 17b, 17c, 18) have been monolithically formed, wherein the width of a frame part in which the a gate drive circuit (15) and its wires (17a, 17b, 17c, 18) are formed can be reduced.

Abstract: A method of singulating a plurality of semiconductor dies includes providing a carrier substrate and joining a semiconductor substrate to the carrier substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of devices. The method also includes forming a mask layer on the semiconductor substrate, exposing a predetermined portion of the mask layer to light, and processing the predetermined portion of the mask layer to form a predetermined mask pattern on the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming the plurality of semiconductor dies, each of the plurality of semiconductor dies being associated with the predetermined mask pattern and including one or more of the plurality of devices and separating the plurality of semiconductor dies from the carrier substrate.

Abstract: Forming a photoresist on a region other than a region on a trench gate electrode for a mask, a third gate insulating film on the trench gate electrode is etched and removed. After that, a non-doped polycrystalline silicon layer is formed on second and third gate insulating films and also on the trench gate electrode, and, N-type and P-type high concentration impurities are introduced by an ion implantation with the use of separate masks on the polycrystalline silicon layer of NMOS transistors and PMOS transistors with a low breakdown voltage and a high breakdown voltage. Then, a second gate electrode is formed by anisotropic etching. With the steps as described above, a first gate electrode inside the trench and the second gate electrode to be used in the lateral MOS transistor are laminated, to thereby reduce fluctuations due to the etching.

Abstract: A phase-change memory device includes a word line on a substrate and a phase-change memory cell on the word line and comprising a phase-change material pattern. The device also includes a non-uniform conductivity layer pattern comprising a conductive region on the phase-change material pattern and a non-conductive region contiguous therewith. The device further includes a bit line on the conductive region of the non-uniform conductivity layer pattern. In some embodiments, the phase-change memory cell may further include a diode on the word line, a heating electrode on the diode and wherein the phase-change material layer is disposed on the heating electrode. An ohmic contact layer and a contact plug may be disposed between the diode and the heating electrode.