Abstract: An interconnect structure and method of forming the same in which a diffusion barrier/etch stop layer is deposited over a conductive layer. An organic low k dielectric material is deposited over the diffusin barrier/etch stop layer to form a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is etched to form a slot via in the first dielectric layer. An inorganic low k dielectric material is deposited within the slot via and over the first dielectric layer to form a second dielectric layer over the slot via and the first dielectric layer. The re-filled via is simultaneously etched with the second dielectric layer in which a trench is formed. The trench extends in a direction that is normal to the length of the slot via. The entire width of the trench is directly over the via. The re-opened via and the trench are filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnect structure in which an organic low k dielectric material is deposited over a conductive layer to form a first dielectric layer. An etch stop layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer and the first dielectric layer are etched to form a slot via in the first dielectric layer. The slot via is longer than the width of a subsequently formed trench. An inorganic low k dielectric material is deposited within the slot via and over the etch stop layer to form a second dielectric layer over the slot via and the etch stop layer. The re-filled slot via is simultaneously etched with the second dielectric layer in which a trench is formed. The entire width of the trench is directly over the via. The re-opened via and the trench are filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and method of forming the same in which a bottom anti-reflective coating/etch stop layer is deposited over a conductive layer. An organic low k dielectric material is deposited over the BARC/etch stop layer to form a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is etched to form a via in the first dielectric layer. An inorganic low k dielectric material is deposited within the via and over the first dielectric layer to form a second dielectric layer over the via and the first dielectric layer. The re-filled via is simultaneously etched with the second dielectric layer in which a trench is formed. A portion of the trench is directly over the via. The re-opened via and the trench are filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: A gas phase planarization process for semiconductor wafers. The present invention comprises a system and method of dry planarization for a semiconductor wafer. For instance, the present invention includes a system adapted to effectively remove all, or a portion of, a layer of dielectric material of a semiconductor wafer through the application of dry abrasion and dry chemistry. As such, a present invention system flattens out height differences of the dielectric material, since high areas of topography are removed faster than low areas. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a dry abrasive polishing pad to abrade the desired surface of the semiconductor wafer within a vacuum planarization chamber. As a result of abrading the surface, the abrasive polishing pad breaks the chemical bonds of a thin layer of the dielectric surface material.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and method of forming the same in which a barrier diffusion layer/etch stop layer is deposited over a conductive layer. An inorganic low k dielectric material is deposited over the barrier diffusion layer/etch stop layer to form a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is etched to form a via in the first dielectric layer. An organic low k dielectric material is deposited within the via and over the first dielectric layer to form a second dielectric layer over the via and the first dielectric layer. The re-filled via is simultaneously etched with the second dielectric layer in which a trench is formed. A portion of the trench is directly over the via. The re-opened via and the trench are filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and method of forming the same in which a bottom anti-reflective coating/etch stop layer is deposited over a conductive layer. An inorganic low k dielectric material is deposited over the BARC/etch stop layer to form a first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is etched to form a slot via in the first dielectric layer. An organic low k dielectric material is deposited within the slot via and over the first dielectric layer to form a second dielectric layer over the slot via and the first dielectric layer. The re-filled via is simultaneously etched with the second dielectric layer in which a trench is formed. The trench extends in a direction that is normal to the length of the slot via. The entire width of the trench is directly over the via. The re-opened via and the trench are filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnect structure in which an inorganic low k dielectric material is deposited over a conductive layer to form a first dielectric layer. An etch stop layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. The etch stop layer and the first dielectric layer are etched to form a slot via in the first dielectric layer. The slot via is longer than the width of a subsequently formed trench. An organic low k dielectric material is deposited within the slot via and over the etch stop layer to form a second dielectric layer over the slot via and the etch stop layer. The re-filled slot via is simultaneously etched with the second dielectric layer in which a trench is formed. The entire width of the trench is directly over the via. The re-opened via and the trench are filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for intelligently filling a gate layer with dummy fill patterns to produce a target pattern density. A gate layout defining gate areas on the gate layer is provided along with a diffusion layout defining active diffusion areas over a semiconductor substrate. For the gate layout, a pattern density is determined. Then, the areas not occupied by the gate areas and the diffusion areas are determined. Additionally, a range of pattern densities is provided in a set of predefined fill patterns with each predefined fill pattern having a plurality of dummy fill patterns and being associated with a pattern density within the provided range of pattern densities. Among the set of predefined fill patterns, a predefined fill pattern is selected for producing the target pattern density. Then, the gate layer is filled by placing the dummy fill patterns of the selected predefined fill pattern in the areas not occupied by the gate areas and the diffusion areas.

Abstract: A method for producing a glue layer for an integrated circuit which uses tungsten plugs in accordance with the present invention includes: (A) providing a substrate which has a surface, a center, an edge, and a direction normal to the surface; and (B) sputter depositing a glue layer over the surface of the substrate such that an edge thickness of the glue layer measured in the direction normal to the surface at the edge of the substrate is at least 105% of a center thickness of the glue layer measured in the direction normal to the surface at the center of the substrate.

Abstract: A gas phase planarization process for semiconductor wafers. The present invention comprises a system and method of dry planarization for a semiconductor wafer. For instance, the present invention includes a system adapted to effectively remove all, or a portion of, a layer of dielectric material of a semiconductor wafer through the application of dry abrasion and dry chemistry. As such, a present invention system flattens out height differences of the dielectric material, since high areas of topography are removed faster than low areas.

Abstract: A capacitor and a method of making the capacitor is provided. The capacitor includes a metallization line with a high dielectric constant layer defined over the metallization line. A thin metallization film is defined over the high dielectric constant layer, such that the thin metallization film defines a top plate of the capacitor, the high dielectric constant layer defines a dielectric for the capacitor, and the metallization line defines a bottom plate for the capacitor. The metallization line is defined from a metallization level and the thin metallization film is defined before a next metallization level above the metallization level is defined.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing faceting of a photoresist layer during an etch process. The method includes depositing a metallization layer on a semiconductor substrate, and forming a photoresist layer over at least a portion of the metallization layer. The method also includes treating the photoresist layer with a first plasma so as to harden the photoresist layer against a metal etching plasma. The method further includes exposing the metallization layer and the photoresist layer to the metal etching plasma. The metal etching plasma etches the metallization layer at a substantially faster rate than the treated photoresist layer so that faceting on the photoresist layer is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A gas phase planarization process for semiconductor wafers. The present invention comprises a system and method of dry planarization for a semiconductor wafer. For instance, the present invention includes a system adapted to effectively remove all, or a portion of, a layer of dielectric material of a semiconductor wafer through the application of dry abrasion and dry chemistry. As such, a present invention system flattens out height differences of the dielectric material, since high areas of topography are removed faster than low areas. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a dry abrasive polishing pad to abrade the desired surface of the semiconductor wafer within a vacuum planarization chamber. As a result of abrading the surface, the abrasive polishing pad breaks the chemical bonds of a thin layer of the dielectric surface material.

Abstract: A method for producing a glue layer for an integrated circuit which uses tungsten plugs in accordance with the present invention includes: (A) providing a substrate which has a surface, a center, an edge, and a direction normal to the surface; and (B) sputter depositing a glue layer over the surface of the substrate such that an edge thickness of the glue layer measured in the direction normal to the surface at the edge of the substrate is at least 105% of a center thickness of the glue layer measured in the direction normal to the surface at the center of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of commonizing the pattern density of topography for different layers of semiconductor wafers to improve the Chemical Mechanical Polishing process used during wafer processing is disclosed. In order to achieve a predetermined pattern density of topography on the surface of a wafer, dummy raised lines are inserted as necessary into gaps between active conductive traces on a trace layer. In some embodiments, the predetermined pattern density is in the range of approximately 40% to 80%. In some applications, both the active conductive traces and the dummy raised lines are formed from a metallic material that is deposited in one single step with an insulating layer deposited over both the active conductive traces and the dummy raised lines prior to the Chemical Mechanical Polishing process. In other applications, the dummy raised lines are formed from the insulating layer.

Abstract: A sharp transition or step is first formed on the surface of a semiconductor material. A layer of interconnect metal is deposited by conformal CVD and substantially the same thickness of the metal as deposited is removed by anisotropic etching, leaving a narrow line of the interconnect metal at the step portion to serve as an interconnect line. Interconnect lines of 0.5 micron or below can be achieved since the process is not limited by photostepper resolution.

Abstract: A method of improving the planarity of spin-on-glass layers in semiconductor wafer processing is disclosed. Gaps in between active conductive traces in a trace layer that exceed a predetermined distance are provided with dummy lines having a specific geometry in order to improve the planarity achieved in subsequently applied spin-on glass layers. In some embodiments, the predetermined distance is greater than approximately 1 micrometer, as for example in the range of approximately 3 to 6 micrometers. In some applications, both the active conductive traces and the dummy lines are formed from a metallic material that is deposited in one single step with a passivation layer being deposited over both the conductive traces and the raised lines prior to application of the spin-on glass layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a glue layer for an integrated circuit which uses tungsten plugs in accordance with the present invention includes: (A) providing a substrate which has a surface, a center, an edge, and a direction normal to the surface; and (B) sputter depositing a glue layer over the surface of the substrate such that an edge thickness of the glue layer measured in the direction normal to the surface at the edge of the substrate is at least 105% of a center thickness of the glue layer measured in the direction normal to the surface at the center of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a shallow trench structure in a semiconductor substrate. The method includes: (a) forming a mask over a semiconductor substrate, the mask being provided with an aperture extending therethrough which exposes a region of the semiconductor substrate, the aperture having substantially vertical sidewalls; (b) depositing a blanket of silicon over the mask and within the aperture; (c) anisotropically etching the deposited silicon to form temporary spacers having curved profiles at the sidewalls of the aperture, the temporary spacers transferring the curved profiles to a mouth of a shallow trench being etched at the region of the semiconductor substrate as the temporary spacers are etched away; (d) whereby a shallow trench structure is formed where the mouth has a curved profile.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit on a silicon substrate in such a manner as to avoid the requirement of over-etching the polysilicon usually necessary to prevent shorting of adjacent devices by poly filaments caused by deep polysilicon pockets in notch areas created in the field oxide during its growth. The notches are prevented by forming the nitride mask with sloped rather than perpendicular side walls. The sloped side walls present less resistance to the growing oxide than does the usual perpendicular wall and thus does not dig into the growing oxide to form the notches. The edge of the resultant field oxide is therefore smoother, permitting easier and more complete removal of the polysilicon without the need for over-etching.