Abstract: A metal interconnect structure and method for making the same provides an alloying elements layer that lines a via in a dielectric layer. The alloying element layer is therefore inserted at a critical electromigration failure site, i.e., at the fast diffusion site below the via in the underlying metal. Once the copper fill is performed in the via, an annealing step allows the alloying element to go into solid solution with the copper in and around the via. The solid solution of the alloying element and copper at the bottom of the via in the copper line improves the electromigration reliability of the structure.

Abstract: An electronic component includes a semiconductor chip and/or a test structure. The semiconductor chip includes a multi-layer coating having at least one interconnect layer, at least one insulation layer, and at least one planarization layer. A method of producing the component is also disclosed. Embedded adhesion regions are provided in the planarization layer, whereby the adhesion regions provide adhesion surfaces to the adjacent insulation layers.

Abstract: An interconnection wiring system incorporating two levels of interconnection wiring separated by a first dielectric, a capacitor formed by a second dielectric, a bottom electrode of the lower interconnection wiring or a via and a top electrode of the upper interconnection wiring or a separate metal layer. The invention overcomes the problem of leakage current and of substrate stray capacitance by positioning the capacitor between two levels of interconnection wiring.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling wafer temperature in a plasma etcher during a plasma-on state and a method for using such apparatus are disclosed. In the apparatus, an additional temperature sensor for sensing the wafer backside temperature and a second flow control valve of a mass flow controller are utilized such that the second flow control valve may be opened to increase the flow of cooling gas through the wafer backside when a temperature rise is detected by the temperature sensor. When the wafer temperature detected is too high, i.e., higher than 65° C., the second flow control valve is opened to increase the flow of helium cooling gas from a nominal rate of 13 sccm by at least 50%. When the temperature of the wafer detected is below 65° C., the flow of the helium cooling gas can be reduced by closing the second flow control valve.

Abstract: An interlayer insulating film and a first via connected to a diffusion layer in a MOS transistor are formed on the diffusion layer. Then, a low dielectric constant film for a first layer copper interconnection, and the first layer copper interconnection connected to the first via are formed. Then, an etching stopper film, an interlayer insulating film, and a low dielectric constant film for a second layer copper interconnection are formed in this order. Then, a via hole is formed in the etching stopper film and the interlayer insulating film, and a groove is formed in the low dielectric constant film for the second layer copper interconnection. A barrier metal layer is then formed. Thereafter, Ar ions are implanted. At the time, the implantation energy is 50 keV, and the dose is 1×1017 cm−2. A second via and the second layer copper interconnection are formed, and annealing is performed at a temperature of 400° C.

Abstract: A memory module and a method of packaging memory devices are provided. The method prepares semiconductor packages of the memory devices, each of which has external pins that include data pins and command signal pins, and mounts the packages on a printed circuit board, on which a first bus, a second bus, and a third bus are formed. The data pins of odd-numbered packages and even-numbered packages connect to the first bus and the second bus, respectively. The control signal pins connect to the third bus. Each package can optionally include dummy pins, where the dummy pins of the even-numbered packages and the odd-numbered packages respectively connect to the first and second buses so that each of the first, second and third buses connects to the same number of external pins. The pin assignment of the even-numbered packages can be different from the pin assignment of the odd-numbered packages to facilitate connections of the buses.

Abstract: A method for processing a substrate comprising depositing a dielectric layer comprising silicon, oxygen, and carbon on the substrate by chemical vapor deposition, wherein the dielectric layer has a carbon content of at least 1% by atomic weight and a dielectric constant of less than about 3, and depositing a silicon and carbon containing layer on the dielectric layer. The dielectric constant of a dielectric layer deposited by reaction of an organosilicon compound having three or more methyl groups is significantly reduced by further depositing an amorphous hydrogenated silicon carbide layer by reaction of an alkylsilane in a plasma of a relatively inert gas.

Abstract: A process for performing CMP in two steps is described. After trenches have been formed and over-filled with copper, in a first embodiment of the invention a hard pad is used initially to remove most of the copper until a point is reached where dishing effects would begin to appear. A soft pad is then substituted and CMP continued until all copper has been removed, except in the trenches. In a second embodiment, CMP is initiated using a pad to which high-pressure is applied and which rotates relatively slowly. As before, this combination is used until the point is reached where dishing effects would begin to appear. Then, relatively low pressure in combination with relatively high rotational speed is used until all copper has been removed, except in the trenches. Both of these embodiments result in trenches which are just-filled with copper, with little or no dishing effects, and with all traces of copper removed everywhere except in the trenches themselves.

Abstract: A method for etching features in an integrated circuit wafer, the wafer incorporating at least one dielectric layer is provided. Generally, the wafer is disposed within a reaction chamber. An etchant gas comprising a hydrocarbon additive and an active etchant is flowed into the reaction chamber. A plasma is formed from the etchant gas within the reaction chamber. The feature is etched in at least a portion of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Described is an electronic device having a compliant fibrous interface. The interface comprises a free fiber tip structure having flocked thermally conductive fibers embedded in an adhesive in substantially vertical orientation with portions of the fibers extending out of the adhesive and an encapsulant between the portions of the fibers that extend out of the adhesive and the fiber's free tips.

Abstract: A method for growing films on substrates using sequentially pulsed precursors and reactants, system and devices for performing the method, semiconductor devices so produced, and machine readable media containing the method.

Abstract: A process for producing an integrated semiconductor memory configuration, in particular one suited to the use of ferroelectric materials as storage dielectrics, in which a conductive connection between one electrode of a storage capacitor and a selection transistor is not produced until after the storage dielectric has been deposited; and a semiconductor memory configuration produced using the production process.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a solder bump including the following steps. A UBM over a substrate.having an exposed pad portion is provided. The UBM being in electrical contact with the pad portion. A first patterning layer is formed over the UBM. The first patterning layer including a photosensitive material sensitive to light having a first wavelength. A second patterning layer is formed over the first patterning layer. The second patterning layer including a photosensitive material sensitive to light having a second wavelength. The first patterning layer is selectively exposed with the light having the first wavelength, leaving a first unexposed portion substantially centered over the pad portion between first exposed portions. The second patterning layer is selectively exposed with the light having the second wavelength, leaving a second unexposed portion wider than, and substantially centered over, the first unexposed portion of the exposed first patterning layer.

Abstract: A shallow junction EEPROM device and process for fabricating the device includes the formation of a control-gate region and a tunnel region in a semiconductor substrate in which the control-gate region has a substantially higher total doping concentration than the tunnel region. To compensate for rate enhanced oxidation of the silicon surface overlying the control-gate region, nitrogen is selectively introduced into the control-gate region, such that the resulting dielectric layer thickness overlying the control-gate region is substantially the same as that overlying the tunnel region. The relatively high doping concentration of the control-gate region enables fabrication of an EEPROM device having high capacitance coupling, shallow junctions, and a relatively small capacitor area.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is formed in a substrate and contains a drain area of a first dopant concentration abutting an extended drain area having a dopant concentration lower than the first dopant concentration. Similarly, a highly doped source area abuts a lower doped source extension area. The source and drain are laterally bounded by oxide regions and covered by an insulation layer. The areas of lower doping prevent charge crowding during an electrostatic discharge event by resistively forcing current though the nearly planer bottom surface of the drain, rather than the curved drain extension. In addition, a highly doped buried layer can abut an area of a graded doping level. By adjusting the doping levels of the graded areas and the buried layers, the substrate breakdown voltage is pre-selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing a process gas through a processing apparatus, such as a vapor deposition chamber. The apparatus comprises a pumping plate for a processing chamber having an annular body member wherein said body member has a first portion and a second defining a circumferential edge and a central opening. The first portion comprises a sidewall of the circumferential edge having a plurality of circumferentially spaced through holes and the second portion has comprises a lateral portion that protrudes from the circumferential edge, such that, in a processing chamber, the first portion defines a first gas flow region comprising the central opening and a second gas flow region comprising the lateral portion of the second portion.

Abstract: A method for making an electrically programmable and erasable memory cell is disclosed. Specifically, a method for creating a floating gate using shallow trench isolation-type techniques is utilized to provide a floating gate having sharply defined tip characteristics. A first insulating layer is formed over a substrate. A conductive material is formed over the first insulating layer. A trench is defined in the conductive layer. This trench is filled with an oxide which is used as a mask to define tips of the floating gate during an etching process which defines the edges of the floating gate. After the floating gate has been etched, a tunneling oxide deposited over the floating gate. A conductive material is then formed over the tunneling oxide.

Abstract: The invention includes several aspects related to semiconductor-on-insulator transistors, to memory and other DRAM circuitry and arrays, to transistor gate arrays, and to methods of fabricating such constructions. In one aspect, a semiconductor-on-insulator transistor includes, a) an insulator layer; b) a layer of semiconductor material over the insulator layer; c) a transistor gate provided within the semiconductor material layer; and d) an outer elevation source/drain diffusion region and an inner elevation diffusion region provided within the semiconductor material layer in operable proximity to the transistor gate. In another aspect, DRAM circuitry includes a plurality of memory cells not requiring sequential access, at least a portion of the plurality having more than two memory cells for a single bit line contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip is mounted on a first surface of a substrate, the substrate having wiring formed on the first surface, so that a circuit formation surface of the semiconductor chip faces the first surface of the substrate and that electrodes provided on the circuit formation surface are connected with the wiring. A sealing resin layer is then formed on the first surface of the substrate to cover the semiconductor chip. The sealing resin layer and the semiconductor chip are ground starting from a surface opposite to the circuit formation surface to thin the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: In the fabrication of a transistor device, particularly a low-voltage high-frequency transistor for use in mobile telecommunications, a method for improving the transistor performance and the high-frequency characteristics of the device is described. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate (1) with an n-doped collector layer (5) surrounded by isolation areas (4), implanting antimony ions into the collector layer such that a thin highly n-doped layer (18) is formed in the uppermost portion of the collector layer, and forming a base on top of said thin highly n-doped layer (18).