Abstract: Upon a wafer, integrated circuit (IC) chips are separated by a kerf that includes a through kerf via (TKV). The chips are removed from the wafer and separated from each other by removing the TKV. The TKV may be formed simultaneous or subsequent to formation of a through via (TSV) within an active inner region of each IC chip. The TKV reduces wasted area of the wafer allowing for more IC chips to be included thereupon. Further, the TKV allows for IC chips included in the wafer to differ in perimeter geometry.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active inner region and a crack stop region. The active inner region includes a semiconductor substrate, an integrated circuit (IC) device layer formed upon the semiconductor substrate, and a wiring layer formed upon the IC device layer. The IC device layer includes an integrated circuit device and the wiring layer includes wiring in electrical contact with the integrated circuit device. The crack stop region limits the propagation of cracks and delamination into the active inner region and includes semiconductor material surrounding a crack stop via (CSV) extending through the crack stop region. A lower surface of the CSV may be coplanar with lower surfaces of the crack stop layer and the active inner layer. An upper surface of the CSV may be coplanar with upper surfaces of the crack stop layer and the active inner layer.

Abstract: A method of protecting a mold having at least one substantially planar surface provided with a plurality of mold cavities includes inserting a plurality of mandrels into respective ones of the plurality of mold cavities, depositing a layer of mold protection material onto the at least one substantially planar surface and the plurality of mandrels, and removing the plurality of mandrels from the mold substrate.

Abstract: A method of protecting a mold having at least one substantially planar surface provided with a plurality of mold cavities includes inserting a plurality of mandrels into respective ones of the plurality of mold cavities, depositing a layer of mold protection material onto the at least one substantially planar surface and the plurality of mandrels, and removing the plurality of mandrels from the mold substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a mold having a protective layer includes forming a mold substrate having at least one substantially planar surface, depositing a layer of mold protection material onto the at least one substantially planar surface, and etching a plurality of cavities into the at least one substantially planar surface through the mold protection layer.

Abstract: An interconnect structure having an incomplete via opening is processed to deepen a via opening and to expose a metal line. In case the interconnect structure comprises a metal pad or a blanket metal layer, the metal pad or the metal layer is removed selective to an underlying dielectric layer to expose the incomplete via opening. Another dielectric layer is formed within the incomplete via opening to compensated for differences in the total dielectric thickness above the metal line relative to an optimal dielectric stack. A photoresist is applied thereupon and patterned. An anisotropic etch process for formation of a normal via opening may be employed with no or minimal modification to form a proper via opening and to expose the metal line. A metal pad is formed upon the metal line so that electrical contact is provided between the metal pad and the metal line.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing movement of work-in-process materials between processing units in an automated manufacturing environment are provided. A system includes a host system in communication with a work-in-process (WIP) material lot. The system also includes an application executing on the host. The application implements a method that includes tracking a position of the WIP material lot, receiving a list of the processing units designated to be inoperative during a down time, and receiving a start time and a duration of the down time. The method also includes determining a maximum dwell time for each of the designated processing units and scheduling movement of the WIP material lot during an interim between a current time and the start time of the down time based on current position of the work-in-process material lot, the current time, the start time and duration of the down time, and the maximum dwell time.

Abstract: A computer program product for performing automated error checking in an automated production line, includes instructions for: receiving change information for changing a production process; comparing the change information to standard information for the production process; and reporting information from the comparing. Manufacturing execution software and a system for employing the manufacturing execution software are provided.

Abstract: A method for automated resource management and optimization, the method includes: monitoring one or more of the following: resource usage, level of resource utilization, and resource amenities; receiving a request for reserving a resource; determining whether the request for the resource is granted as originally requested; wherein the determining of whether to grant the request for resources as originally requested is based one or more thresholds and conditions; wherein the one or more thresholds and conditions are based on the monitoring of at least one of the following: resource usage, the level of resource utilization; and resource amenities; and wherein if the request for reserving a resource fails to meet the one or more thresholds and conditions the request is either denied or modified.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing movement of work-in-process materials between processing units in an automated manufacturing environment are provided. A system includes a host system in communication with a work-in-process (WIP) material lot. The system also includes an application executing on the host. The application implements a method that includes tracking a position of the WIP material lot, receiving a list of the processing units designated to be inoperative during a down time, and receiving a start time and a duration of the down time. The method also includes determining a maximum dwell time for each of the designated processing units and scheduling movement of the WIP material lot during an interim between a current time and the start time of the down time based on current position of the work-in-process material lot, the current time, the start time and duration of the down time, and the maximum dwell time.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing movement of work-in-process materials (WIPs) between processing units are provided. A system includes a host system and an application executing thereon. The application implements a method that includes receiving a list of WIP lots, and indexing a list of routes with raw process time by process steps and with safe holding points. The method also includes indexing a scheduled start time of shutdown for the process units and calculating transport time for moving each of the lots to the next nearest safe holding point in the route. For each lot, the method includes determining whether the lot is at a safe holding point, and assigning a dispatch priority to the lot if it is not at the safe holding point. The method further includes sending a list of assigned dispatch priorities to a dispatcher for transporting the lots to corresponding safe holding points prior to initiating the shutdown.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing movement of work-in-process materials between processing units in an automated manufacturing environment are provided. A system includes a host system in communication with a work-in-process (WIP) material lot. The system also includes an application executing on the host. The application implements a method that includes tracking a position of the WIP material lot, receiving a list of the processing units designated to be inoperative during a down time, and receiving a start time and a duration of the down time. The method also includes determining a maximum dwell time for each of the designated processing units and scheduling movement of the WIP material lot during an interim between a current time and the start time of the down time based on current position of the work-in-process material lot, the current time, the start time and duration of the down time, and the maximum dwell time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing uni-directional diffusion of a metal during silicidation by using a metal-containing silicon alloy in conjunction with a first anneal in which two distinct thermal cycles are performed. The first thermal cycle of the first anneal is performed at a temperature that is capable of enhancing the uni-directional diffusion of metal, e.g., Co and/or Ni, into a Si-containing layer. The first thermal cycle causes an amorphous metal-containing silicide to form. The second thermal cycle is performed at a temperature that converts the amorphous metal-containing silicide into a crystallized metal rich silicide that is substantially non-etchable as compared to the metal-containing silicon alloy layer or a pure metal-containing layer. Following the first anneal, a selective etch is performed to remove any unreacted metal-containing alloy layer from the structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a metal silicide contact for a semiconductor device includes forming a refractory metal layer over a substrate, including active and non-active area of said substrate, and forming a cap layer over the refractory metal layer. A counter tensile layer is formed over the cap layer, wherein the counter tensile layer is selected from a material such that an opposing directional stress is created between the counter tensile layer and the cap layer, with respect to a directional stress created between the refractory metal layer and the cap layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a deposited layer on a bottom surface of a substrate, the deposited layer proximate to an edge of the substrate. The method comprises: providing a chuck for supporting the bottom surface of the substrate, an peripheral portion of the bottom surface proximate to the edge extending past a periphery of the chuck; positioning a shield spaced away from and over a top surface of the substrate, a bottom surface of the shield opposite a top surface of the substrate; directing a reactant containing gas to the bottom surface of the substrate proximate to the edge of the substrate; and converting the reactant gas to a reactant species, the reactant species reacting with the deposited layer in order to cause removal of the deposited layer from the substrate.

Abstract: A method for planarizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer is provided. In one aspect, the wafer is coated with a resist and the resist selectively removed forming an uncoated peripheral portion of the wafer. The partially coated wafer is then exposed to an etchant such as RIE to etch the dielectric material not covered by the resist and forming a profiled dielectric layer having a thinner peripheral dielectric portion and a remaining thicker original dielectric central portion. The profiled wafer is then planarized using CMP. The dielectric layer is typically SiO2, PSG, BSP, or BPSG. In another method and apparatus of the invention, a dielectric coated wafer is secured to a rotating turntable and a liquid etchant sprayed at the periphery of the wafer from a distribution conduit to etch and remove dielectric from a circumferential edge of the wafer forming a profiled dielectric layer as above which is then planarized by CMP.

Abstract: A method for planarizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer is provided. In one aspect, the wafer is coated with a resist and the resist selectively removed forming an uncoated peripheral portion of the wafer. The partially coated wafer is then exposed to an etchant such as RIE to etch the dielectric material not covered by the resist and forming a profiled dielectric layer having a thinner peripheral dielectric portion and a remaining thicker original dielectric central portion. The profiled wafer is then planarized using CMP. The dielectric layer is typically SiO.sub.2, PSG, BSP, or BPSG. In another method and apparatus of the invention, a dielectric coated wafer is secured to a rotating turntable and a liquid etchant sprayed at the periphery of the wafer from a distribution conduit to etch and remove dielectric from a circumferential edge of the wafer forming a profiled dielectric layer as above which is then planarized by CMP.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) conductor and the process of making the conductor. The conductor may be a monofilament conductor, a clad conductor or a coaxial conductor. A trench is formed in a dielectric layer. An outer material layer is deposited on the dielectric layer and in the trench, thick enough that the outer material layer merges together in a seam over the trench forming a void under the seam. The outer material layer is dielectric for the monofilament conductor, a cladding material for the clad conductor and conducting material for the coaxial conductor. The void is filled with a conductor for a monofilament or clad conductors. An inner dielectric liner layer is formed on the walls of the void and a core conductor is formed on the liner layer for the coaxial conductor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of doping and preventing silicide formation in selective areas of a polysilicon gate in MOS, PMOS, NMOS or CMOS manufacturing technologies. The process includes the steps of: depositing a non-conformal dopant containing layer on the top surface of the body and the top surface of the polysilicon gate; removing a portion of the non-conformal dopant containing layer to expose the top surface of the polysilicon gate; and heating to diffuse dopant from the dopant containing layer. Silicidation is then provided by depositing a metal layer and annealing the metal layer. As a first alternative method, the heating and removing step may be reversed. As a second alternative method, after removal of the non-conformal layer, a metal layer can be deposited followed by a combination anneal of the metal layer and non-conformal dopant containing layer.