Abstract: A confocal three dimensional inspection system, and process for use thereof, allows for rapid inspecting of bumps and other three dimensional (3D) features on wafers, other semiconductor substrates and other large format micro topographies. The sensor eliminates out of focus light using a confocal principal to create a narrow depth response in the micron range.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a silicon nitride layer on a semiconductor substrate on which a predetermined pattern is formed. The silicon nitride layer includes a plurality of bonds formed between silicon and nitrogen. A portion of the bonds formed between silicon and nitrogen is broken to form at least one free bonding site on a surface of the silicon nitride layer. A silane compound and a flow fill method are used to form a silicon oxide layer on the silicon nitride layer.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating a layer of oxide on a silicon carbide layer are provided by forming the oxide layer on the silicon carbide layer by oxidizing the silicon carbide layer in an N2O environment. A predetermined temperature profile and/or a predetermined flow rate profile of N2O are provided during the oxidation. The predetermined temperature profile and/or predetermined flow rate profile may be constant or variable and may include ramps to steady state conditions. The predetermined temperature profile and/or the predetermined flow rate profile are selected so as to reduce interface states of the oxide/silicon carbide interface with energies near the conduction band of SiC.

Abstract: A temperature control method is provided which is capable of maintaining the accuracy of control based on a detected value of a temperature sensor substantially constant regardless of a change in an error of measurements of the temperature sensor. Measured values of thermocouples 7A, 7B, 7C of a thermocouple thermometer and those of sensor members 6A, 6B, 6C of a radiation thermometer 6 of a sheet-feed apparatus are detected as the processing proceeds. A temperature control parameter of the sheet-feed apparatus is made to change based on differences between the detected temperature values as the processing proceeds.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a thin film is formed on a semiconductor substrate using a reaction gas described in the present invention as active species is disclosed, where a film formation process is subdivided into multiple stages and a film is formed by varying the gas pressure or the gas flow speed of the active species within a reaction chamber for each stage.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled focus ring assembly for use in a plasma chamber that includes a focus ring surrounding a wafer pedestal for confining plasma ions to a top surface of a wafer positioned on the wafer pedestal; a heat transfer means in intimate contact with the focus ring for decreasing or increasing the temperature of the focus ring; and a controller for controlling the temperature of the focus ring to a predetermined value. The invention further discloses a method for operating a plasma chamber equipped with a temperature-controlled focus ring assembly.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment includes a method for monitoring the performance of a filter positioned in an airstream in a semiconductor processing system. The method includes sampling the airstream at a location upstream of the filter to detect the molecular contaminants present in the airstream; identifying a target species of the contaminants upstream; selecting a non-polluting species of a contaminant having a concentration greater than a concentration of the target species; measuring the non-polluting species in the airstream at a plurality of locations; and determining the performance of the filter with respect to the target species from measurements of the non-polluting species. The plurality of locations includes a location downstream of the filter and at a location within the filter. Further, the method for monitoring includes generating a numerical representation of a chromatogram of the airstream sampled at a location upstream of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to various methods of correcting non-linearity in metrology tools, and a system for performing same. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises creating a non-linear model of measurement data produced by a metrology tool when measuring a plurality of features, each of which has a different, known feature size, measuring a production feature using the metrology tool to produce metrology data for the production feature, determining a correction factor to be applied to the metrology data for the production feature by comparing the non-linear model to a linear model, and applying the determined correction factor to the metrology data for the production feature.

Abstract: A technique in accordance with the invention includes obtaining a semiconductor structure that has a metal disposed thereon. At least a portion of the metal is etched using an etching fluid while sonic energy is applied to the etching fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a low dielectric constant film includes depositing a silicon oxide based film, preferably by reaction of an organosilicon compound and an oxidizing gas at a low RF power level from about 10 W to about 500 W, exposing the silicon oxide based film to water or a hydrophobic-imparting surfactant such as hexamethyldisilazane, and curing the silicon oxide based film at an elevated temperature. Dissociation of the oxidizing gas can be increased in a separate microwave chamber to assist in controlling the carbon content of the deposited film. The moisture resistance of the silicon oxide based films is enhanced.

Abstract: A method is provided for advantageously etching dielectric material between highly integrated polysilicon devices with high dielectric-to-polysilicon selectivity to expose polysilicon with minimal polysilicon loss and without photoresist lift. A wet etch solution comprising surfactant and between about 0% and about 10% NH4F is used to wet etch the dielectric material and reduce polysilicon loss thickness, polysilicon resistance ratios, and polysilicon etch rates, while increasing dielectric-to-polysilicon selectivity. Advantageously, the present invention may penetrate into increasingly small geometries of highly integrated devices and may also be used for general wet etches of dielectric material in conjunction with photoresist.

Abstract: A system and method for conserving and/or recycling hydrogen used in processing operations. The present invention can be used with any conventional reactor, which supports semiconductor processes using hydrogen. Hydrogen is pumped into the reactor from a hydrogen gas supply chamber. The hydrogen is used in the reactor as needed to perform the process function. The hydrogen accompanied with other process gases is exhausted from the reactor. The exhausted gases are routed through a scrubber, which is used to separate the hydrogen from the other gases. The other gases are allowed to vent from the system in a typical manner. The hydrogen is then pumped through an H2 purifier, which cleans the hydrogen gas making the gas once again useable in the semiconductor process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing post-etch residues or polymers from the surface of semiconductor devices which comprises treating the semiconductor device with an aqueous ammonia or ammonium hydroxide solution, optionally containing ozone for a time sufficient to effectively remove said post-etch residues or polymers from the surface of the semiconductor device and rinsing the semiconductor device with ozonized water, i.e. water enriched with ozone, in which water is preferably deionized (ozone-DIW).

Abstract: For determining the quality of interconnections in integrated circuits, especially in damascene applications, a method of monitoring voids is disclosed, wherein a barrier metal layer is directly deposited on a planarized metal to provide a large-area surface that is not required to be destroyed for further analysis of the interface between the metal and the barrier metal layer. The analysis may be carried out by employing an electron microscope operated in a back-scatter mode.

Abstract: Cleaning methods are disclosed for removing sidewall polymers from interconnect vias or trenches, wherein a wafer is exposed to a plasma comprising hydrogen and an inert gas in a plasma cleaning chamber following etch-stop etching.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a substrate includes performing a wet process by supplying a working liquid to a substrate in a wet processing apparatus, transferring the substrate in a non-dry state from the wet processing apparatus to a drying apparatus, and subjecting the substrate to a supercritical drying by a supercritical fluid in the drying apparatus.

Abstract: A burn-in and electrical test system (20) includes a temperature controlled zone (22) and a cool zone (24) separated by a transition zone 25. The temperature controlled zone (22) is configured to receive a plurality of wafer cartridges (26) and connect the cartridges (26) to test electronics (28) and power electronics (30), which are mounted in the cool zone (24). Each of the wafer cartridges (26) contains a semiconductor wafer incorporating a plurality of integrated circuits. The test electronics (28) consists of a pattern generator PCB (100) and a signal driver and fault analysis PCB (102) connected together by a parallel bus (104). The pattern generator PCB (100) and the fault analysis PCB (102) are connected to a rigid signal probe PCB (104) in cartridge (26) to provide a straight through signal path.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of forming a layer on a semiconductor substrate that is provided within a reaction chamber. The chamber has at least two inlet ports that terminate in openings. A first material is flowed into the reaction chamber through the opening of a first of the inlet ports. At least a portion of the first material is deposited onto the substrate. The reaction chamber is purged by flowing an inert material into the reaction chamber through the opening of a second of the inlet ports. The inert material passes from the opening and through a distribution head that is positioned within the reaction chamber between the first and second openings. A second material can then be flowed into the chamber through an opening in a third inlet port and deposited onto the substrate. The invention also includes a chemical vapor deposition apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes are provided. A system may include a stage configured to support a specimen and coupled to a measurement device. The measurement device may include an illumination system and a detection system. The illumination system and the detection system may be configured such that the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of the specimen. For example, the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of a specimen including, but not limited to, a presence of macro defects and overlay of a specimen. In this manner, a measurement device may perform multiple optical and/or non-optical metrology and/or inspection techniques.

Abstract: Semiconductor chips mounted in a laminated manner on a substrate and a semiconductor integrated circuit device using the semiconductor chips. A predetermined semiconductor chip is selected by chip selection signals from an external unit despite the chips having the same wiring pattern are laminated in a plural number one upon the other. The semiconductor integrated circuit device is fabricated by using such semiconductor chips.