Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to patterning a material over a sense line contact are described. An example method includes forming a sense line contact pattern at an angle to a sense line direction over semiconductor structures on a substrate, wherein the angle to the sense line direction is formed along a path between a sense line contact in a first sense line column and a sense line contact in a second sense line column. The example method further includes removing a portion of a mask material corresponding to the sense line contact pattern to form sense line contacts.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a capacitor structure including a plurality of lower electrodes, a dielectric layer that covers surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an upper electrode on the dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a support structure that supports the plurality of lower electrodes. The support structure includes a first support region that covers sidewalls of one of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an opening that envelops the first support region when the semiconductor device is viewed in plan view.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a capacitor structure including a plurality of lower electrodes, a dielectric layer that covers surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an upper electrode on the dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes a support structure that supports the plurality of lower electrodes. The support structure includes a first support region that covers sidewalls of one of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an opening that envelops the first support region when the semiconductor device is viewed in plan view.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided including a semiconductor substrate and a first interlayer insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate. A contact pad is provided in the first interlayer insulating layer and a second insulating layer is provided on the first interlayer insulating layer. A contact hole is provided in the second interlayer insulating layer. The contact hole exposes the contact pad and a lower portion of the contact hole has a protrusion exposing the contact pad. The protrusion is provided on the second interlayer insulating layer. A contact spacer is provided on inside sidewalls of the contact hole and fills the protrusion. A contact plug is provided in the contact hole. Related methods are also provided herein.

Abstract: A fuse area of a semiconductor device capable of preventing moisture-absorption and a method for manufacturing the fuse area are provided. When forming a guard ring for preventing permeation of moisture through the sidewall of an exposed fuse opening portion, an etch stop layer is formed over a fuse line. A guard ring opening portion is formed using the etch stop layer. The guard ring opening portion is filled with a material for forming the uppermost wiring of multi-level interconnect wirings or the material of a passivation layer, thereby forming the guard ring concurrently with the uppermost interconnect wiring or the passivation layer. Accordingly, permeation of moisture through an interlayer insulating layer or the interface between interlayer insulating layers around the fuse opening portion can be efficiently prevented by a simple process.

Abstract: A contact structure having silicide layers, a semiconductor device employing the same, and methods of fabricating the contact structure and semiconductor device are provided. The contact structure includes a first conductive region and a second conductive region on a substrate. An insulating layer covers the first and second conductive regions. A first contact hole and a second contact hole are formed through the insulating layer and expose the first and second conductive regions, respectively. A first silicide layer having a first thickness is on the first conductive region exposed by the first contact hole. A second silicide layer having a second thickness different than the first thickness is on the second conductive region exposed by the second contact hole.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided including a semiconductor substrate and a first interlayer insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate. A contact pad is provided in the first interlayer insulating layer and a second insulating layer is provided on the first interlayer insulating layer. A contact hole is provided in the second interlayer insulating layer. The contact hole exposes the contact pad and a lower portion of the contact hole has a protrusion exposing the contact pad. The protrusion is provided on the second interlayer insulating layer. A contact spacer is provided on inside sidewalls of the contact hole and fills the protrusion. A contact plug is provided in the contact hole. Related methods are also provided herein.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes contact pads formed in a first interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, contact pad protecting patterns covering edges of a surface of the contact pads, and conductive lines positioned on a second interlayer insulating layer covering the contact pad protecting patterns and selectively connected to the contact pads.

Abstract: A contact structure having silicide layers, a semiconductor device employing the same, and methods of fabricating the contact structure and semiconductor device are provided. The contact structure includes a first conductive region and a second conductive region on a substrate. An insulating layer covers the first and second conductive regions. A first contact hole and a second contact hole are formed through the insulating layer and expose the first and second conductive regions, respectively. A first silicide layer having a first thickness is on the first conductive region exposed by the first contact hole. A second silicide layer having a second thickness different than the first thickness is on the second conductive region exposed by the second contact hole.

Abstract: A bonding pad structure in an integrated circuit (IC) and a method for manufacturing thereof comprises a plurality of dummy patterns deposited in sub-layers of the IC, each dummy pattern being connected via a metal link to a plurality of complementary top surface bonding pads, wherein the dummy patterns and the metal link are constructed during the same process steps used to construct the circuit elements included in the IC, without additional or special process steps. Such an imbedded and anchored bonding pad provides contact reliability for both conductive and non-conductive pads used for the interconnection of integrated circuits in a manner that resists layer separation or de-lamination under pulling stresses that are present on the bonding pads.

Abstract: A fuse area of a semiconductor device capable of preventing moisture-absorption and a method for manufacturing the fuse area are provided. When forming a guard ring for preventing permeation of moisture through the sidewall of an exposed fuse opening portion, an etch stop layer is formed over a fuse line. A guard ring opening portion is formed using the etch stop layer. The guard ring opening portion is filled with a material for forming the uppermost wiring of multi-level interconnect wirings or the material of a passivation layer, thereby forming the guard ring concurrently with the uppermost interconnect wiring or the passivation layer. Accordingly, permeation of moisture through an interlayer insulating layer or the interface between interlayer insulating layers around the fuse opening portion can be efficiently prevented by a simple process.

Abstract: A fuse area of a semiconductor device capable of preventing moisture-absorption and a method for manufacturing the fuse area are provided. When forming a guard ring for preventing permeation of moisture through the sidewall of an exposed fuse opening portion, an etch stop layer is formed over a fuse line. A guard ring opening portion is formed using the etch stop layer. The guard ring opening portion is filled with a material for forming the uppermost wiring of multi-level interconnect wirings or the material of a passivation layer, thereby forming the guard ring concurrently with the uppermost interconnect wiring or the passivation layer. Accordingly, permeation of moisture through an interlayer insulating layer or the interface between interlayer insulating layers around the fuse opening portion can be efficiently prevented by a simple process.

Abstract: A bonding pad structure in an integrated circuit (IC) and a method for manufacturing thereof comprises a plurality of dummy patterns deposited in sub-layers of the IC, each dummy pattern being connected via a metal link to a plurality of complementary top surface bonding pads, wherein the dummy patterns and the metal link are constructed during the same process steps used to construct the circuit elements included in the IC, without additional or special process steps. Such an imbedded and anchored bonding pad provides contact reliability for both conductive and non-conductive pads used for the interconnection of integrated circuits in a manner that resists layer separation or de-lamination under pulling stresses that are present on the bonding pads.

Abstract: A bonding pad structure in an integrated circuit (IC) and a method for manufacturing thereof comprises a plurality of dummy patterns deposited in sub-layers of the IC, each dummy pattern being connected via a metal link to a plurality of complementary top surface bonding pads, wherein the dummy patterns and the metal link are constructed during the same process steps used to construct the circuit elements included in the IC, without additional or special process steps. Such an imbedded and anchored bonding pad provides contact reliability for both conductive and non-conductive pads used for the interconnection of integrated circuits in a manner that resists layer separation or de-lamination under pulling stresses that are present on the bonding pads.

Abstract: A fuse area of a semiconductor device capable of preventing moisture-absorption and a method for manufacturing the fuse area are provided. When forming a guard ring for preventing permeation of moisture through the sidewall of an exposed fuse opening portion, an etch stop layer is formed over a fuse line. A guard ring opening portion is formed using the etch stop layer. The guard ring opening portion is filled with a material for forming the uppermost wiring of multi-level interconnect wirings or the material of a passivation layer, thereby forming the guard ring concurrently with the uppermost interconnect wiring or the passivation layer. Accordingly, permeation of moisture through an interlayer insulating layer or the interface between interlayer insulating layers around the fuse opening portion can be efficiently prevented by a simple process.

Abstract: A bonding pad structure in an integrated circuit (IC) and a method for manufacturing thereof comprises a plurality of dummy patterns deposited in sub-layers of the IC, each dummy pattern being connected via a metal link to a plurality of complementary top surface bonding pads, wherein the dummy patterns and the metal link are constructed during the same process steps used to construct the circuit elements included in the IC, without additional or special process steps. Such an imbedded and anchored bonding pad provides contact reliability for both conductive and non-conductive pads used for the interconnection of integrated circuits in a manner that resists layer separation or de-lamination under pulling stresses that are present on the bonding pads.

Abstract: A fuse area of a semiconductor device capable of preventing moisture-absorption and a method for manufacturing the fuse area are provided. When forming a guard ring for preventing permeation of moisture through the sidewall of an exposed fuse opening portion, an etch stop layer is formed over a fuse line. A guard ring opening portion is formed using the etch stop layer. The guard ring opening portion is filled with a material for forming the uppermost wiring of multi-level interconnect wirings or the material of a passivation layer, thereby forming the guard ring concurrently with the uppermost interconnect wiring or the passivation layer. Accordingly, permeation of moisture through an interlayer insulating layer or the interface between interlayer insulating layers around the fuse opening portion can be efficiently prevented by a simple process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air vent system for a door of an automobile to allow a passenger to avoid undesired exposure to air by completely blocking an air duct, the system constructed with a door duct installed at a door with an inlet that is to be tightly aligned to a duct of a crush pad when the door is closed and an outlet formed to a predetermined direction of the door and control apparatus installed in the front side of the door duct to control an air exhausting direction, the system comprising: a damper arranged in the center of the door duct for opening and closing the door duct at the time of rotations; a damper knob coupled with a rotary axis at an edge of the door duct to be rotated; and links connecting damper and damper knob which is rotated to allow the damper to open and close the door duct.

Abstract: A power source voltage tracking circuit, for providing a given voltage which is lower than power source voltage, containing a first node for applying a power source voltage, a second node and an output line, a load connected between the first node and the output line to precharge the output line with the given voltage, elements connected between said first node and said second node to charge the second node, and elements to discharges the output line charged with the given voltage in response to the charging voltage of the second node.