Abstract: A method of forming through silicon vias (TSVs) includes forming a primary via hole in a semiconductor substrate, depositing low-k dielectric material in the primary via hole, forming a secondary via hole by etching the low-k dielectric in the primary via hole, in such a manner that a via insulating layer and an inter metal dielectric layer of the low-k dielectric layer are simultaneously formed. The via insulating layer is formed of the low-k dielectric material on sidewalls and a bottom surface of the substrate which delimit the primary via hole and the inter metal dielectric layer is formed on an upper surface of the substrate. Then a metal layer is formed on the substrate including in the secondary via hole, and the metal layer is selectively removed from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming a light guide layer with improved transmission reliability in a semiconductor substrate, the method including forming a trench in the semiconductor substrate, forming a cladding layer and a preliminary light guide layer in the trench such that only one of opposite side end portions of the preliminary light guide layer is in contact with an inner sidewall of the trench, and performing a thermal treatment on the substrate to change the preliminary light guide layer into the light guide layer.

Abstract: For forming a semiconductor device, a via structure is formed through at least one dielectric layer and at least a portion of a substrate. In addition, a protective buffer layer is formed onto the via structure. Furthermore, a conductive structure for an integrated circuit is formed over the substrate after forming the via structure and the protective buffer layer, with the conductive structure not being formed over the via structure. Thus, deterioration of the conductive and via structures is minimized.

Abstract: A photoelectric integrated circuit device may include a substrate including an electronic device region and an on die optical input/output device region, the substrate having a trench in the on die optical input/output device region; a lower clad layer provided in the trench, the lower clad layer having an upper surface lower than a surface of the substrate; a core provided on the lower clad layer; an insulating pattern provided on the core; an optical detection pattern provided on the insulating pattern, the optical detection pattern having at least a portion provided in the trench; and at least one transistor provided on the substrate of the electronic device region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure and a conductive structure. The via structure has a surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion. The conductive structure is formed over at least part of the planar portion and not over at least part of the protrusion portion of the via structure. For example, the conductive structure is formed only onto the planar portion and not onto any of the protrusion portion for forming high quality connection between the conductive structure and the via structure.

Abstract: For forming a semiconductor device, a via structure is formed through at least one dielectric layer and at least a portion of a substrate. In addition, a protective buffer layer is formed onto the via structure. Furthermore, a conductive structure for an integrated circuit is formed over the substrate after forming the via structure and the protective buffer layer, with the conductive structure not being formed over the via structure. Thus, deterioration of the conductive and via structures is minimized.

Abstract: The methods include forming a semiconductor substrate pattern by etching a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor pattern has a first via hole that exposes side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern, and the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole have an impurity layer pattern. The methods further include treating upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern, the treated upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern being hydrophobic; removing the impurity layer pattern from the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; forming a first insulating layer pattern on the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; and filling a first conductive layer pattern into the first via hole and over the first insulating layer pattern.

Abstract: For forming a semiconductor device, a via structure is formed through at least one dielectric layer and at least a portion of a substrate. In addition, a protective buffer layer is formed onto the via structure. Furthermore, a conductive structure for an integrated circuit is formed over the substrate after forming the via structure and the protective buffer layer, with the conductive structure not being formed over the via structure. Thus, deterioration of the conductive and via structures is minimized.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a fuse, in which a insulating layer surrounding the fuse or metal wiring is prevented from being damaged due to the cut of a fuse, which can occur when a repair process is performed. The semiconductor device includes a conductive line formed on a semiconductor layer, a protective layer formed on the conductive line, one or more fuses that are electrically connected to the conductive line, and a fuse protective layer formed on the one or more fuses, and spaced apart from the protective layer.

Abstract: A contact structure includes a lower conductive pattern disposed on a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate. The lower conductive layer has a concave region at a predetermined region of a top surface thereof. An embedding conductive layer fills the concave region. The top surface of the embedding conductive layer is placed at least as high as the height of the flat top surface of the lower conductive pattern. A mold layer is disposed to cover the semiconductor substrate, the lower conductive pattern and the embedding conductive layer. An upper conductive pattern is arranged in an intaglio pattern. The intaglio pattern is disposed in the mold layer to expose a predetermined region of the embedding conductive layer.

Abstract: A via structure may include a first conductive pattern, a buffer pattern, and a second conductive pattern. The first conductive pattern may be on an inner wall of a first substrate and the inner wall may define a via hole passing at least partially through the first substrate. The buffer pattern may be on the first conductive pattern and the buffer pattern may partially fill the via hole. The second conductive pattern may be on a top surface of the buffer pattern in the via hole.

Abstract: Provided are a metal interconnect of a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the metal interconnect. The metal interconnect includes a metal line having a first end and a second end disposed on an opposite side to the first end, a via electrically connected to the metal line, and a non-active segment extending from the first end and including a void. Tensile stress is decreased to prevent a void from occurring under the via. Accordingly, line breakage due to electromigration is substantially prevented, thus improving electrical characteristics of the device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device can include an insulation layer on that is on a substrate on which a plurality of lower conductive structures are formed, where the insulation layer has an opening. A barrier layer is on a sidewall and a bottom of the opening of the insulation layer, where the barrier layer includes a first barrier layer in which a constituent of a first deoxidizing material is richer than a metal material in the first barrier layer and a second barrier layer in which a metal material in the second barrier layer is richer than a constituent of a second deoxidizing material. An interconnection is in the opening of which the sidewall and the bottom are covered with the barrier layer, the interconnection is electrically connected to the lower conductive structure.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate is loaded to a process chamber having, unit process sections in which unit processes are performed, respectively. The unit processes are performed on the substrate independently from one another at the unit process sections under a respective process pressure. The substrate sequentially undergoes the unit processes at the respective unit process section of the process chamber. Cleaning processes are individually performed to the unit process sections, respectively, when the substrate is transferred from each of the unit process sections and no substrate is positioned at the unit process sections. Accordingly, the process defects of the process units may be sufficiently prevented and the operation period of the manufacturing apparatus is sufficiently elongated.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive layer on an insulating layer having a plurality of trenches on a semiconductor substrate, such that the conductive layer fills in the plurality of trenches formed in the insulating layer, and calculating a target eddy current value to measure an end point using parameters of a pattern density and a depth of the trenches. The method further includes planarizing the conductive layer and measuring eddy current values on the conductive layer using an eddy current monitoring system, and stopping the planarization when the measured eddy current value reaches the target eddy current value to form a planarized conductive layer having a target height on the insulating layer.

Abstract: There are provided methods of fabricating a semiconductor device using a sacrificial layer. The methods provide an approach to maintaining thickness distribution of the interlayer insulating layers below a sacrificial layer uniform on an overall surface of a semiconductor substrate during performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process in a damascene process. To this end, the method includes forming a pad layer, a pad interlayer insulating layer, an etch stop layer pattern, a planarized interlayer insulating layer and a sacrificial layer sequentially on a semiconductor substrate. At least one trench is formed in the sacrificial layer and the planarized interlayer insulating layer. A via contact hole is formed in the etch stop layer pattern, the pad interlayer insulating layer, and the pad layer to be disposed below the trench. A diffusion barrier layer and a conductive layer are sequentially formed to fill the trench and the via contact hole.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive layer on an insulating layer having a plurality of trenches on a semiconductor substrate, such that the conductive layer fills in the plurality of trenches formed in the insulating layer, and calculating a target eddy current value to measure an end point using parameters of a pattern density and a depth of the trenches. The method further includes planarizing the conductive layer and measuring eddy current values on the conductive layer using an eddy current monitoring system, and stopping the planarization when the measured eddy current value reaches the target eddy current value to form a planarized conductive layer having a target height on the insulating layer.

Abstract: A contact structure includes a lower conductive pattern disposed on a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate. The lower conductive layer has a concave region at a predetermined region of a top surface thereof. An embedding conductive layer fills the concave region. The top surface of the embedding conductive layer is placed at least as high as the height of the flat top surface of the lower conductive pattern. A mold layer is disposed to cover the semiconductor substrate, the lower conductive pattern and the embedding conductive layer. An upper conductive pattern is arranged in an intaglio pattern. The intaglio pattern is disposed in the mold layer to expose a predetermined region of the embedding conductive layer.

Abstract: A contact structure includes a lower conductive pattern disposed on a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate. The lower conductive layer has a concave region at a predetermined region of a top surface thereof. An embedding conductive layer fills the concave region. The top surface of the embedding conductive layer is placed at least as high as the height of the flat top surface of the lower conductive pattern. A mold layer is disposed to cover the semiconductor substrate, the lower conductive pattern and the embedding conductive layer. An upper conductive pattern is arranged in an intaglio pattern. The intaglio pattern is disposed in the mold layer to expose a predetermined region of the embedding conductive layer.

Abstract: There are provided methods of fabricating a semiconductor device using a sacrificial layer. The methods provide an approach to maintaining thickness distribution of the interlayer insulating layers below a sacrificial layer uniform on an overall surface of a semiconductor substrate during performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process in a damascene process. To this end, the method includes forming a pad layer, a pad interlayer insulating layer, an etch stop layer pattern, a planarized interlayer insulating layer and a sacrificial layer sequentially on a semiconductor substrate. At least one trench is formed in the sacrificial layer and the planarized interlayer insulating layer. A via contact hole is formed in the etch stop layer pattern, the pad interlayer insulating layer, and the pad layer to be disposed below the trench. A diffusion barrier layer and a conductive layer are sequentially formed to fill the trench and the via contact hole.