Abstract: A method of reliability testing of a semiconductor device is described. The embodiment, includes providing a capacitor including an insulating layer interposing two conductive layers. A plurality of voltages are provided to the capacitor including providing a first voltage and a second voltage greater than the first voltage. A leakage associated with the capacitor is measured while applying the second voltage. In an embodiment, the leakage measured while applying the second voltage indicates that a failure of the insulating layer of the capacitor has occurred. In an embodiment, the capacitor is an inter-digitated metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor. The reliability testing may be correlated to TDDB test results. The reliability testing may be performed at a wafer-level.

Abstract: As will be appreciated in more detail herein, the present disclosure provides for FinFET techniques whereby a FinFET channel region has a particular orientation with respect to the crystalline lattice of the semiconductor device to provide enhanced mobility, compared to conventional FinFETs. In particular, the present disclosure provides FinFETs with a channel region whose lattice includes silicon atoms arranged on (551) lattice plane. In this configuration, the sidewalls of the channel region are particularly smooth at the atomic level, which tends to promote higher carrier mobility and higher device performance than previously achievable.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a method of forming a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) metallization layer having an air gap disposed between adjacent metal interconnect features, which provides for an inter-level dielectric material with a low dielectric constant, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming a metal interconnect layer within a sacrificial dielectric layer overlying a substrate. The sacrificial dielectric layer is removed to form a recess extending between first and second features of the metal interconnect layer. A protective liner is formed onto the sidewalls and bottom surface of the recess, and then a re-distributed ILD layer is deposited within the recess in a manner that forms an air gap at a position between the first and second features of the metal interconnect layer. The air gap reduces the dielectric constant between the first and second features of the metal interconnect layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an active region and a trench isolation. The active region is formed in the semiconductor substrate. The trench isolation is disposed adjacent to the active region. The trench isolation includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion is located on the lower portion. The upper portion has a width gradually decreased from a junction between the upper portion and the lower portion toward a top of the trench isolation. In a method for fabricating the semiconductor device, at first, the semiconductor substrate is etched to form a trench in the semiconductor substrate. Then, an insulator fills the trench to form the trench isolation. Thereafter, the gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Then, the semiconductor substrate is etched to form a recess adjacent to the trench isolation. Thereafter, at least one doped epitaxial layer grows in the recess.

Abstract: As will be appreciated in more detail herein, the present disclosure provides for FinFET techniques whereby a FinFET channel region has a particular orientation with respect to the crystalline lattice of the semiconductor device to provide enhanced mobility, compared to conventional FinFETs. In particular, the present disclosure provides FinFETs with a channel region whose lattice includes silicon atoms arranged on (551) lattice plane. In this configuration, the sidewalls of the channel region are particularly smooth at the atomic level, which tends to promote higher carrier mobility and higher device performance than previously achievable.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an epi-layer, an etch stop layer, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, a silicide layer cap and a contact plug. The substrate has a first portion and a second portion neighboring to the first portion. The etch stop layer is disposed on the second portion. The ILD layer is disposed on the etch stop layer. The silicide cap is disposed on the epi-layer. The contact plug is disposed on the silicide cap and surrounded by the ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an epi-layer, an etch stop layer, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, a silicide layer cap and a contact plug. The substrate has a first portion and a second portion neighboring to the first portion. The etch stop layer is disposed on the second portion. The ILD layer is disposed on the etch stop layer. The silicide cap is disposed on the epi-layer. The contact plug is disposed on the silicide cap and surrounded by the ILD layer.

Abstract: A plurality of openings is formed in a dielectric layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of openings comprises a first opening extending to the semiconductor substrate, a second opening extending to a first depth that is substantially less than a thickness of the dielectric layer, and a third opening extending to a second depth that is substantially greater than the first depth. A multi-layer gate electrode is formed in the first opening. A thin resistor structure is formed in the second opening, and a connection structure is formed in the third opening, by filling the second and third openings substantially simultaneously with a resistor metal.

Abstract: An embodiment is an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The structure comprises a deep n well in a substrate, a first pickup device in the deep n well, a first signal device in the deep n well, a dissipation device in the substrate, a second signal device in the substrate, a first electrical path between the first pickup device and the dissipation device, and a second electrical path between the first signal device and the second signal device. The dissipation device is outside of the deep n well, and the second signal device is outside of the deep n well. A highest point of the first electrical path is lower than a highest point of the second electrical path.

Abstract: An embodiment is an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The structure comprises a deep n well in a substrate, a first pickup device in the deep n well, a first signal device in the deep n well, a dissipation device in the substrate, a second signal device in the substrate, a first electrical path between the first pickup device and the dissipation device, and a second electrical path between the first signal device and the second signal device. The dissipation device is outside of the deep n well, and the second signal device is outside of the deep n well. A highest point of the first electrical path is lower than a highest point of the second electrical path.

Abstract: A method of reliability testing of a semiconductor device is described. The embodiment, includes providing a capacitor including an insulating layer interposing two conductive layers. A plurality of voltages are provided to the capacitor including providing a first voltage and a second voltage greater than the first voltage. A leakage associated with the capacitor is measured while applying the second voltage. In an embodiment, the leakage measured while applying the second voltage indicates that a failure of the insulating layer of the capacitor has occurred. In an embodiment, the capacitor is an inter-digitated metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor. The reliability testing may be correlated to TDDB test results. The reliability testing may be performed at a wafer-level.

Abstract: A method of forming a dopant implant region in a MOS transistor device having a dopant profile having a target dopant concentration includes implanting a first concentration of dopants into a region of a substrate, where the first concentration of dopants is less than the target dopant concentration, and without annealing the substrate after the implanting step, performing at least one second implanting step to implant at least one second concentration of dopants into the region of the substrate to bring the dopant concentration in the region to the target dopant concentration.

Abstract: A spring-forming control system and its control method for a spring forming machine in which the spring-forming control system uses a host computer to provide graphical spring parameter setting, program modification, and dragline-method program modification graphical interfaces that are selectively switchable on a display monitor. After setting of spring processing parameters through the spring parameter setting interface, a trial production is done subject to a spring parameter auto-generation software built in the spring-forming control system, and then the production is started if the trial meets the requirements, or the spring processing parameters are modified through the spring parameter setting interface, program modification interface, or dragline-method program modification interface if the trial does not meet the requirements, and then a further trial production is performed till the shaped spring meets the requirements.

Abstract: A method of forming a dopant implant region in a MOS transistor device having a dopant profile having a target dopant concentration includes implanting a first concentration of dopants into a region of a substrate, where the first concentration of dopants is less than the target dopant concentration, and without annealing the substrate after the implanting step, performing at least one second implanting step to implant at least one second concentration of dopants into the region of the substrate to bring the dopant concentration in the region to the target dopant concentration.

Abstract: A spring-forming control system and its control method for a spring forming machine in which the spring-forming control system uses a host computer to provide graphical spring parameter setting, program modification, and dragline-method program modification graphical interfaces that are selectively switchable on a display monitor. After setting of spring processing parameters through the spring parameter setting interface, a trial production is done subject to a spring parameter auto-generation software built in the spring-forming control system, and then the production is started if the trial meets the requirements, or the spring processing parameters are modified through the spring parameter setting interface, program modification interface, or dragline-method program modification interface if the trial does not meet the requirements, and then a further trial production is performed till the shaped spring meets the requirements.

Abstract: An exercise machine that allows an exercise similar to push-ups to be performed safely and has a base, a lever, a pad, a leveling rod, and a resilient element. The base has at least one bracket. The lever is attached pivotally to the bracket and has a front end, a rear end and a handlebar attached to the front end. The pad is attached to the rear end of the lever. The leveling rod is connected pivotally to the bracket and the pad. The resilient element is connected to the pad and the base.

Abstract: A novel, low-temperature metal deposition method which is suitable for depositing a metal film on a substrate, such as in the fabrication of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors, is disclosed. The method includes depositing a metal film on a substrate using a deposition temperature of less than typically about 270 degrees C. The resulting metal film is characterized by enhanced thickness uniformity and reduced grain agglomeration which otherwise tends to reduce the operational integrity of a capacitor or other device of which the metal film is a part. Furthermore, the metal film is characterized by intrinsic breakdown voltage (Vbd) improvement.

Abstract: A novel, low-temperature metal deposition method which is suitable for depositing a metal film on a substrate, such as in the fabrication of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors, is disclosed. The method includes depositing a metal film on a substrate using a deposition temperature of less than typically about 270 degrees C. The resulting metal film is characterized by enhanced thickness uniformity and reduced grain agglomeration which otherwise tends to reduce the operational integrity of a capacitor or other device of which the metal film is a part. Furthermore, the metal film is characterized by intrinsic breakdown voltage (Vbd) improvement.

Abstract: A method for selectively anisotropically a semiconductor feature to form a tapered sidewall profile including providing a semiconductor wafer including an anisotropically etched feature formed in at least one dielectric insulating layer including a relatively larger width dimension portion overlying and encompassing at least one relatively smaller diameter dimension portion the smaller diameter dimension portion further including a bottom portion including an overlying liner; and, selectively anisotropically etching the anisotropically etched feature according to a reactive ion etching (RIE) process to form a tapered sidewall portion of the at least one relatively smaller diameter portion.

Abstract: A method for plasma treating an anisotropically etched semiconductor feature with improved removal of residual polymeric material including providing a semiconductor wafer having an anisotropically etched feature opening further including an edge portion defining a diameter of the anisotropically etched feature opening the anisotropically etched feature opening further comprising polymeric material disposed within the anisotropically etched feature opening; plasma treating the at least one opening with an oxygen containing plasma to substantially remove the polymeric material including removing a portion of the edge portion.