Abstract: A plasma treatment process for increasing the tensile stress of a silicon wafer is described. Following deposition of a dielectric layer on a substrate, the substrate is lifted to an elevated position above the substrate receiving surface and exposed to a plasma treatment process which treats both the top and bottom surface of the wafer and increases the tensile stress of the deposited layer. Another embodiment of the invention involves biasing of the substrate prior to plasma treatment to bombard the wafer with plasma ions and raise the temperature of the substrate. In another embodiment of the invention, a two-step plasma treatment process can be used where the substrate is first exposed to a plasma at a processing position directly after deposition, and then raised to an elevated position where both the top and bottom of the wafer are exposed to the plasma.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device having: first and second fins formed on a semiconductor substrate to oppose each other, and made of a semiconductor layer; an active region which is formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to be connected to the first and second fins, and supplies a predetermined voltage to the first and second fins; and a gate electrode formed on an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, in a position separated from the active region by a predetermined spacing, so as to cross the first and second fins, wherein in the active region, a predetermined portion between a first portion connected to the first fin and a second portion connected to the second fin is removed.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes an upwardly protruding fin disposed on a substrate and a control gate electrode crossing the fin. A floating gate is interposed between the control gate electrode and the fin and includes a first storage gate and a second storage gate. The first storage gate is disposed on a sidewall of the fin, and the second storage gate is disposed on a top surface of the fin and is connected to the first storage gate. A first insulation layer is interposed between the first storage gate and the sidewall of the fin, and a second insulation layer is interposed between the second storage gate and the top surface of the fin. The second insulation layer is thinner than the first insulation layer. A blocking insulation pattern is interposed between the control gate electrode and the floating gate.

Abstract: To provide a carbon nanotube device capable of efficiently exerting various electrical or physical characteristics of a carbon nanotube, the present invention provides: a carbon nanotube device, in which a carbon nanotube structure layer having a network structure in which plural carbon nanotubes mutually cross-link, is formed in an arbitrary pattern on a surface of a base body; and a method of manufacturing the carbon nanotube device with which the carbon nanotube can be suitably manufactured.

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: The present invention relates generally to photolithographic systems and methods, and more particularly to systems and methodologies that facilitate compensating for retrograde feature profiles on an imprint mask. An aspect of the invention generates feedback information that facilitates control of imprint mask feature profile via employing a scatterometry system to detect retrograde feature profiles, and mitigating the retrograde profiles via a spacer etchback procedure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ferroelectric thin film with good crystallinity and improved surface roughness includes: forming on a substrate a metal nitride-based precursor layer containing one selected from the group consisting of TiN, ZrxTi(1-x)N (0<x<1), FeN, and NbN; forming on the metal nitride-based precursor layer a mixed gas atmosphere containing oxygen (O2) and one reactive gas selected from the group consisting of PbO(g), Bi2O3(g), and K2O(g); annealing the metal nitride-based precursor layer in the mixed gas atmosphere and forming a ferroelectric thin film containing one selected from the group consisting of PbTiO3, PbZrxTi(1-x)O3 (0<x<1), Bi2Ti2O7, Bi4Ti3O12, BiFeO3, and KNbO3.

Abstract: A packaging substrate and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method includes following steps. First, a first packaging substrate including several first substrate units and at least one defected substrate unit is provided. Next, the defected substrate unit is separated from the packaging substrate, and at least one opening is formed in a frame of the first packaging substrate correspondingly. Then, a second substrate unit is provided. The shape of the second substrate unit is different from the shape of the opening. Afterwards, the second substrate unit is disposed in the opening.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes a substrate having a semiconductor layer having a first portion for non-volatile memory and a second portion exclusive of the first portion. A first dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor layer. A plasma nitridation is performed on the first dielectric layer. A first plurality of nanoclusters is formed over the first portion and a second plurality of nanoclusters over the second portion. The second plurality of nanoclusters is removed. A second dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor layer. A conductive layer is formed over the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a gate structure with a pulled-back conductive layer and the use of the method are provided. The method conducts a local, not global, pull-back process on the conductive layer of the gate structure at the position intended for contact window formation, wherein the pull-back process is conducted after rapid thermal oxidation to prevent CBCB short, CB open and/or CBGC short.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical or electronic module provided with a plastic package including: providing at least one optical or electronic component, the component having an operative region, via which it is in operative connection with the surroundings in the finished module, encapsulating the component with at least one polymer compound to form the plastic package, before or after the encapsulation, ascertaining the position of the component by direct measurement of the position of the component, aligning the component with respect to a device for partially removing the polymer compound or alignment of such a device with respect to the component, the alignment taking place with allowance for the ascertained position of the component, and partial removal of the polymer compound from the outside such that the polymer compound between the operative region and the outer side of the plastic package is at least partially removed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device for subsequent processing is disclosed. The method includes establishing an anti-stiction material on exposed surfaces of the MEMS device. The exposed surfaces include at least an interior surface of a chamber and an external surface of the MEMS device. The anti-stiction material is selectively removed from at least a portion of the external surface via a plasma sputtering process under controlled conditions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coreless packaging substrate is disclosed. The method can produce a coreless packaging substrate which comprises: at least a built-up structure having a first solder mask and a second solder mask, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the first and second solder mask to expose the conductive pads of the built-up structure; and a plurality of solder bumps as well as solder layers formed on the conductive pads. Therefore, the invention can produce the coreless packaging substrate with high density of circuit layout, less manufacturing steps, and small size.

Abstract: In some methods of fabricating a silicon-on-insulator substrate, a semiconductor substrate is provided that includes a single crystalline structure within at least a defined region thereof. A first insulating film is formed on the defined region of the semiconductor substrate with an opening that exposes a portion of the defined region of the semiconductor substrate having the single crystalline structure. A first non-single crystalline film is formed on the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate and that at least substantially fills the opening in the first insulating film. A laser beam is generated that heats the first non-single crystalline film to change the first non-single crystalline film into a first single crystalline film having substantially the same single crystalline structure as the defined region of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a transistor including: forming a gate oxide layer pattern and gate polysilicon layer pattern on a silicon substrate; forming a low energy ion implantation region aligned with both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer pattern; forming an amorphous region at a lower part of both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer pattern; reducing a channel length by removing the amorphous region so as to form a notch at a lower part of both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer pattern; forming a gate spacer at both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer pattern; and forming a high energy ion implantation region by high energy ion implantation of source/drain impurities into an entire surface of the silicon substrate including the gate polysilicon layer pattern and gate spacer.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes a substrate having a semiconductor layer having a first portion for non-volatile memory and a second portion exclusive of the first portion. A first dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor layer. A first plurality of nanoclusters is formed over the first portion and a second plurality of nanoclusters is formed over the second portion. A layer of nitrided oxide is formed around each nanocluster of the first plurality and the second plurality of nanoclusters. Remote plasma nitridation is performed on the layers of nitrided oxide of the first plurality of nanoclusters. The nanoclusters are removed from the second portion. A second dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor layer. A conductive layer is formed over the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coreless packaging substrate is disclosed. The method can produce a coreless packaging substrate which comprises: at least a built-up structure having a first solder mask and a second solder mask, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the first and second solder mask to expose the conductive pads of the built-up structure; and a plurality of solder bumps as well as solder layers formed on the conductive pads. Therefore, the invention can produce the coreless packaging substrate with high density of circuit layout, less manufacturing steps, and small size.

Abstract: Copper diffusion barrier films having a boron-doped silicon carbide layer with at least 25% boron by atomic weight of the layer composition have advantages for semiconductor device integration schemes. The films have an integration worthy etch selectivity to carbon doped oxide of at least 10 to 1, can adhere to copper with an adhesion energy of at least 20 J/m2, and can maintain an effective dielectric constant of less than 4.5 in the presence of atmospheric moisture. The films are suitable for use in a wide range of VLSI and ULSI structures and devices.

Abstract: A method for forming a landing contact plug in a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a plurality of gate structures on a substrate, each gate structure including a gate hard mask; forming an inter-layer insulation layer over the gate structures; planarizing the inter-layer insulation layer until the gate hard mask is exposed; forming an etch barrier layer on the inter-layer insulation layer; etching a predetermined portion of the inter-layer insulation layer by using the etch barrier layer as an etch barrier to form a plurality of contact holes; forming a conductive layer until the conductive layer fills the contact holes; removing surface roughness created during the formation of the conductive layer by a first etch-back process; and planarizing the conductive layer by a second etch-back process until the gate hard mask is exposed.

Abstract: Via structure and process flow for interconnection in a semiconductor product. A bottom metal layer is provided to represent a connection layer in the semiconductor product. An isolation layer on the bottom metal layer comprises a via hole exposing a portion of the bottom metal layer. The via hole comprises a sidewall and a bottom. A first barrier metal layer is disposed on the sidewall of the via hole, but not on the bottom of the via hole. A metal under-layer is formed on the bottom of the via hole and on the first barrier metal layer. A second barrier metal layer is formed on the metal under-layer. A metal fill layer fills the via hole. A lattice mismatch between the metal under-layer and the second barrier metal layer is less than about 5%.