Abstract: A conductor crossing a trench around an electrical component is electrically connected to an isolated intermediate conducting region in order to move the field strength concentrations out of the electrical component and into the intermediate conducting region. This prevents avalanche breakdown from occurring in the electrical component.

Abstract: The propagation of a crack from the surface of the dielectric layer of an integrated circuit, through to the underlying circuit elements, is prevented by controlling the interface between the outermost, dielectric layer or layers and the inner layer or layers of the integrated circuit construction. The interface is weakened so that a crack that encounters the interface is caused to propagate in a horizontal manner, along the interface, preventing propagation of the crack in a direction that would be harmful to the manufactured article. This is preferably accomplished with multiple layers of material, each of which is made capable of redirecting (deflecting) the crack. Deflection of the crack, and arrest of the deflected crack along the interface, is made possible by controlling the fracture resistance of the interface.

Abstract: A resist pattern (51) is formed only on buried silicon oxide films (2) on the whole surface of an alignment mark area (11A) and a trench (10C). With the resist pattern (51), preetching is performed by dry etching, to remove the silicon oxide film (2) on the whole of a memory cell area (11B) and part of a peripheral circuit area (11C) by a predetermined thickness. After removing the resist pattern (51), a silicon oxide film (3) and a silicon nitride film (4) are removed by CMP polishing, to provide a height difference between the highest portion and the lowest portion of the silicon oxide film (2A) which serves as an alignment mark. Thus, a semiconductor device with trench isolation structure which achieves a highly accurate alignment without deterioration of device performance and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device can be provided.

Abstract: A first conductive layer and a second conductive layer are formed apart from each other on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A first contact hole for exposing a surface of first conductive layer is formed in an interlayer insulating film. A first interconnection layer is buried in first contact hole so as to be in contact with first conductive layer. The position of the surface of first interconnection layer is the same as or lower than the surface of interlayer insulating film. The surface of first interconnection layer is covered with an insulating film. A second contact hole for exposing a surface of second conductive layer is provided in interlayer insulating film. A second conductive layer is connected to second conductive layer through second contact hole.

Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a method for determining lithographic misalignment of a via relative to an electrically active area. An electrically measured test structure is provided which is designed to have targeted via areas shifted from the midline(s) of a targeted active area(s). Further, the test structure is designed to have a test pad(s) that electrically communicates with the targeted active area(s). Design specifications of the test structure require the targeted via areas to be offset from the midline(s) of the active area(s) by varying distances. The above-mentioned method involves processing the designed test structure. An electrical signal may then be applied to conductors coupled to each of the vias while it is also being applied to the test pad. The resulting electrical response should be proportional to the distance that a via is misaligned from its desired location.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for detecting undesired connection between conductive structures within multiple layers on a semiconductor wafer during fabrication of an integrated circuit on the semiconductor wafer. The present invention includes a first conductive structure fabricated within a first layer on the semiconductor wafer and a second conductive structure fabricated within a second layer on the semiconductor wafer. The present invention also includes an interlevel of an insulating material disposed between the first layer and the second layer for separating the first layer from the second layer. The present invention further includes a contact structure of conductive material disposed within the interlevel of the insulating material.

Abstract: An alignment mark AM appears on the surface of an aluminum (Al) wiring layer 110 when the Al wiring layer is formed to fill up a recess 108 therewith, the recess 108 being formed in oxide layers 104 and 106 formed over the surface of a silicon substrate 102 by etching these layers in part. The depth of the recess 108 is controlled such that there is formed no direct contact between the Al wiring layer 110 and the metallic silicon of the silicon substrate 102. Consequently, in the process of forming the alignment mark, the Al wiring layer 110 is prevented from chemically reacting with the metallic silicon. Thus, there is caused neither deterioration in the quality of oxide films 104 and 106, nor destruction of the alignment mark AM appearing on the surface of the Al wiring layer 110, even if the Al wiring layer 110 is formed by sputtering aluminum on oxide layers and the recess as well at a high temperature.

Abstract: A resistor protect mask is used on a shallow trench isolation device junction to cover a device area except for a strip on the perimeter of the device area. The silicide layer formed on the central surface portion of the device and the strip area on the perimeter of the device upon which silicide formation is prevented forms a test structure for evaluation of junction formation that is immune from the effects of silicide formation on a device trench sidewall. Electrical tests and leakage measurements upon the test structure are compared directly to similar silicide shallow trench isolated devices which do not incorporate the resistor protect mask and shallow trench isolated devices without silicide to determine whether salicide processing is a cause of junction effects including junction leakage and short-circuiting.

Abstract: A technique for fabricating a dual damascene interconnect structure using a low dielectric constant material as a dielectric layer or layers. A low dielectric constant (low-.epsilon.) dielectric material is used to form an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer between metallization layers and in which via and trench openings are formed in the low-.epsilon. ILD. The dual damascene technique allows for both the via and trench openings to be filled at the same time.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of defect layers separated from one another in the semiconductor layer. A distance separating any adjacent ones of the defect layers is kept such that they are prevented from contacting each other and those regions having effect of shortening a carrier lifetime overlap each other.

Abstract: The semiconductor device is formed according to the following steps. A TiN film 71 and a W film 72 are deposited on a silicon oxide film 64 including the inside of a via-hole 66 by the CVD method and thereafter, the W film 72 and TiN film 71 on the silicon oxide film 64 are etched back to leave only the inside of the via-hole 66 and form a plug 73. Then, a TiN film 74, Al-alloy film 75, and Ti film 76 are deposited on the silicon oxide film 64 including the surface of the plug 73 by the sputtering method and thereafter, the Ti film 76, Al-alloy film 75, and TiN film 74 are patterned to form second-layer wirings 77 and 78.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having an insulating layer thereon; forming a connection hole including a first sub-hole and a second sub-hole mutually connected in the insulating layer, wherein the first sub-hole has a first diameter and the second sub-hole has a second diameter larger than the first diameter; forming a first conductive layer over the substrate; removing the first conductive layer to a thickness so as to form a side wall spacer film on a side wall of the second sub-hole and a plug film in the first sub-hole; forming a barrier metal layer over the substrate to cover the side wall spacer and the plug film; forming a second conductive layer over the substrate to fill space in the connection hole; and chemical mechanical polishing the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A trench isolation in a semiconductor substrate is provided. The trench isolation includes a recessed region in the semiconductor substrate. The trench isolation also has a first insulator layer lining the recessed region. The first insulator aligns with the semiconductor substrate at edge of the recessed region. The trench isolation further includes a second insulator layer filling within the recessed region over the first insulator. As a preferred embodiment, the recessed region can have well rounded corners at bottom and abutting top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first insulator has inwardly increased height after the planarization process. The second insulator layer aligns with the first insulator at inner edge of the first insulator. The second insulator layer can also have a top plain region.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensionally structured vertical transistor or memory cell forms a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure on a semiconductor substrate and sequentially deposits a drain region, a channel region and a source region on the SOI substrate structure. The transistor includes a cylinder-type gate insulation layer surrounding the channel region and a gate electrode surrounding the gate insulation layer, having increased integration. This process and structure avoid the characteristic degradation caused by the leakage current associated with the trench process and structure.

Abstract: A vertical transistor (70) comprising a first semiconductor layer (14) of a first conductive type. A gate structure (32) of a second conductive type disposed on the first semiconductor layer (14). The gate structure (32) may include a plurality of gates (38) separated by channels (40). A second semiconductor layer (50) of the first conductive type may be disposed over the gate structure (32) and in the channels (40). An arresting element (36) may be disposed between and upper surface of the gates (38) and the second semiconductor layer (50). A void (52) may be formed in the second semiconductor layer (50) over the gate (38).

Abstract: A surface treatment for porous silica to enhance adhesion of overlying layers. Treatments include surface group substitution, pore collapse, and gap filling layer (520) which invades open surface pores (514) of xerogel (510).

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a metal layer pattern which prevents cracks from forming in insulating spaces. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of metal layers stacked vertically and a plurality of insulating layers, interposed vertically between the plurality of metal layers. A metal wiring pattern is formed on each of the plurality of metal layers. The wiring patterns are separated by insulating spaces, and the insulating spaces in each of the plurality of metal layers are vertically shifted with regard to the neighboring one of the plurality of metal layers.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit of which a bonding condition can be evaluated simply is provided. Two external connecting electrodes are provided on the surface, via holes are formed below them, and conductive portions are formed in the via holes. Then, a first metal film is formed on a rear face of a chip and a second metal film is formed on a surface of a ceramic substrate, and then both of them are made contact and heated so as to bond the chip and the ceramic substrate. Further, when the first metal film is formed, a slit portion which no first metal film exists is provided. When the bonding condition is evaluated, a resistance between two external connecting electrodes is measured.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes a method of forming a roughened layer of platinum, comprising: a) providing a substrate within a reaction chamber; b) flowing an oxidizing gas into the reaction chamber; c) flowing a platinum precursor into the reaction chamber and depositing platinum from the platinum precursor over the substrate in the presence of the oxidizing gas; and d) maintaining a temperature within the reaction chamber at from about 0.degree. C. to less than 300.degree. C. during the depositing. In another aspect, the invention includes a platinum-containing material, comprising: a) a substrate; and b) a roughened platinum layer over the substrate, the roughened platinum layer having a continuous surface characterized by columnar pedestals having heights greater than or equal to about one-third of a total thickness of the platinum layer.

Abstract: A ROM (read-only memory) device of the type including an array of MOSFET (metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) memory cells and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method allows for better planarization of the wafer surface of the ROM device with increased gap fill capability. Further, the bit lines are formed by forming a substantially grid-like structure including a plurality of substantially parallel-spaced first portions oriented in a first direction and a plurality of substantially parallel-spaced second portions oriented in a second direction. The first portions serve as bit lines and the second portions serve as channels.