Abstract: A through silicon via structure and a method of fabricating the through silicon via. The method includes: (a) forming a trench in a silicon substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on sidewalls of the trench, the silicon dioxide layer not filling the trench; (c) filling remaining space in the trench with polysilicon; after (c), (d) fabricating at least a portion of a CMOS device in the substrate; (e) removing the polysilicon from the trench, the dielectric layer remaining on the sidewalls of the trench; (f) re-filling the trench with an electrically conductive core; and after (f), (g) forming one or more wiring layers over the top surface of the substrate, a wire of a wiring level of the one or more wiring levels closest to the substrate contacting a top surface of the conductive core.

Abstract: A through silicon via structure and a method of fabricating the through silicon via. The method includes: (a) forming a trench in a silicon substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on sidewalls of the trench, the silicon dioxide layer not filling the trench; (c) filling remaining space in the trench with polysilicon; after (c), (d) fabricating at least a portion of a CMOS device in the substrate; (e) removing the polysilicon from the trench, the dielectric layer remaining on the sidewalls of the trench; (f) re-filling the trench with an electrically conductive core; and after (f), (g) forming one or more wiring layers over the top surface of the substrate, a wire of a wiring level of the one or more wiring levels closest to the substrate contacting a top surface of the conductive core.

Abstract: A through silicon via structure and a method of fabricating the through silicon via. The method includes: (a) forming a trench in a silicon substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on sidewalls of the trench, the silicon dioxide layer not filling the trench; (c) filling remaining space in the trench with polysilicon; after (c), (d) fabricating at least a portion of a CMOS device in the substrate; (e) removing the polysilicon from the trench, the dielectric layer remaining on the sidewalls of the trench; (f) re-filling the trench with an electrically conductive core; and after (f), (g) forming one or more wiring layers over the top surface of the substrate, a wire of a wiring level of the one or more wiring levels closest to the substrate contacting a top surface of the conductive core.

Abstract: A through silicon via structure and a method of fabricating the through silicon via. The method includes: (a) forming a trench in a silicon substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on sidewalls of the trench, the silicon dioxide layer not filling the trench; (c) filling remaining space in the trench with polysilicon; after (c), (d) fabricating at least a portion of a CMOS device in the substrate; (e) removing the polysilicon from the trench, the dielectric layer remaining on the sidewalls of the trench; (f) re-filling the trench with an electrically conductive core; and after (f), (g) forming one or more wiring layers over the top surface of the substrate, a wire of a wiring level of the one or more wiring levels closet to the substrate contacting a top surface of the conductive core.

Abstract: A through silicon via structure and a method of fabricating the through silicon via. The method includes: (a) forming a trench in a silicon substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on sidewalls of the trench, the silicon dioxide layer not filling the trench; (c) filling remaining space in the trench with polysilicon; after (c), (d) fabricating at least a portion of a CMOS device in the substrate; (e) removing the polysilicon from the trench, the dielectric layer remaining on the sidewalls of the trench; (f) re-filling the trench with an electrically conductive core; and after (f), (g) forming one or more wiring layers over the top surface of the substrate, a wire of a wiring level of the one or more wiring levels closet to the substrate contacting a top surface of the conductive core.

Abstract: Structures for aligning wafers and methods for operating the same. The structure includes (a) a first semiconductor wafer including a first capacitive coupling structure, and (b) a second semiconductor wafer including a second capacitive coupling structure. The first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via a common surface. If the first and second semiconductor wafers are moved with respect to each other by a first displacement distance of 1 nm in a first direction while the first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via the common surface, then a change of at least 10?18 F in capacitance of a first capacitor comprising the first and second capacitive coupling structures results. The first direction is essentially parallel to the common surface.

Abstract: A through substrate via includes an annular conductor layer at a periphery of a through substrate aperture, and a plug layer surrounded by the annular conductor layer. A method for fabricating the through substrate via includes forming a blind aperture within a substrate and successively forming and subsequently planarizing within the blind aperture a conformal conductor layer that does not fill the aperture and plug layer that does fill the aperture. The backside of the substrate may then be planarized to expose at least the planarized conformal conductor layer.

Abstract: A through substrate via includes an annular conductor layer at a periphery of a through substrate aperture, and a plug layer surrounded by the annular conductor layer. A method for fabricating the through substrate via includes forming a blind aperture within a substrate and successively forming and subsequently planarizing within the blind aperture a conformal conductor layer that does not fill the aperture and plug layer that does fill the aperture. The backside of the substrate may then be planarized to expose at least the planarized conformal conductor layer.

Abstract: A backside contact structure and method of fabricating the structure. The method includes: forming a dielectric isolation in a substrate, the substrate having a frontside and an opposing backside; forming a first dielectric layer on the frontside of the substrate; forming a trench in the first dielectric layer, the trench aligned over and within a perimeter of the dielectric isolation and extending to the dielectric isolation; extending the trench formed in the first dielectric layer through the dielectric isolation and into the substrate to a depth less than a thickness of the substrate; filling the trench and co-planarizing a top surface of the trench with a top surface of the first dielectric layer to form an electrically conductive through via; and thinning the substrate from a backside of the substrate to expose the through via.

Abstract: A through-wafer via structure and method for forming the same. The through-wafer via structure includes a wafer having an opening and a top wafer surface. The top wafer surface defines a first reference direction perpendicular to the top wafer surface. The through-wafer via structure further includes a through-wafer via in the opening. The through-wafer via has a shape of a rectangular plate. A height of the through-wafer via in the first reference direction essentially equals a thickness of the wafer in the first reference direction. A length of the through-wafer via in a second reference direction is at least ten times greater than a width of the through-wafer via in a third reference direction. The first, second, and third reference directions are perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A method of making a through wafer via. The method includes: forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench; oxidizing the polysilicon layer to convert the polysilicon layer to a silicon oxide layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the trench, the silicon oxide layer not filling the trench; filling remaining space in the trench with an electrical conductor; and thinning the substrate from a bottom surface of the substrate and removing the silicon oxide layer from the bottom of the trench. The method may further include forming a metal layer on the silicon oxide layer before filling the trench.

Abstract: A method of making a through wafer via. The method includes: forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench; oxidizing the polysilicon layer to convert the polysilicon layer to a silicon oxide layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the trench, the silicon oxide layer not filling the trench; filling remaining space in the trench with an electrical conductor; and thinning the substrate from a bottom surface of the substrate and removing the silicon oxide layer from the bottom of the trench. The method may further include forming a metal layer on the silicon oxide layer before filling the trench.

Abstract: A through silicon via structure and a method of fabricating the through silicon via. The method includes: (a) forming a trench in a silicon substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; (b) forming a silicon dioxide layer on sidewalls of the trench, the silicon dioxide layer not filling the trench; (c) filling remaining space in the trench with polysilicon; after (c), (d) fabricating at least a portion of a CMOS device in the substrate; (e) removing the polysilicon from the trench, the dielectric layer remaining on the sidewalls of the trench; (f) re-filling the trench with an electrically conductive core; and after (f), (g) forming one or more wiring layers over the top surface of the substrate, a wire of a wiring level of the one or more wiring levels closet to the substrate contacting a top surface of the conductive core.

Abstract: A through substrate via includes an annular conductor layer at a periphery of a through substrate aperture, and a plug layer surrounded by the annular conductor layer. A method for fabricating the through substrate via includes forming a blind aperture within a substrate and successively forming and subsequently planarizing within the blind aperture a conformal conductor layer that does not fill the aperture and plug layer that does fill the aperture. The backside of the substrate may then be planarized to expose at least the planarized conformal conductor layer.

Abstract: A backside contact structure and method of fabricating the structure. The method includes: forming a dielectric isolation in a substrate, the substrate having a frontside and an opposing backside; forming a first dielectric layer on the frontside of the substrate; forming a trench in the first dielectric layer, the trench aligned over and within a perimeter of the dielectric isolation and extending to the dielectric isolation; extending the trench formed in the first dielectric layer through the dielectric isolation and into the substrate to a depth less than a thickness of the substrate; filling the trench and co-planarizing a top surface of the trench with a top surface of the first dielectric layer to form an electrically conductive through via; and thinning the substrate from a backside of the substrate to expose the through via.

Abstract: A backside contact structure and method of fabricating the structure. The method includes: forming a dielectric isolation in a substrate, the substrate having a frontside and an opposing backside; forming a first dielectric layer on the frontside of the substrate; forming a trench in the first dielectric layer, the trench aligned over and within a perimeter Of the dielectric isolation and extending to the dielectric isolation; extending the trench formed in the first dielectric layer through the dielectric isolation and into the substrate to a depth less than a thickness of the substrate; filling the trench and co-planarizing a top surface of the trench with a top surface of the first dielectric layer to form an electrically conductive through via; and thinning the substrate from a backside of the substrate to expose the through via.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an integrated circuit module device. The device includes a first semiconductor chip having a first circuit layer and at least one first interconnection element disposed on a first chip surface. The at least one first interconnection element is electrically coupled to the first circuit layer. A second semiconductor chip includes a second circuit layer and at least one second interconnection element disposed on a second chip surface. The at least one second interconnection element is electrically coupled to the second circuit layer. The at least one first interconnection element is connected to the at least one second interconnection element to establish electrical continuity between the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer. The first surface is adjoined to the second surface. At least one ring delay circuit includes a first ring delay path partially disposed on the first circuit layer and a second ring delay path partially disposed on the second circuit layer.

Abstract: Methods of assembling an integrated circuit are provided. An interposer supported by an integrated handler is solder bumped onto one or more bond pads on a substrate. The integrated handler is removed from the interposer. A side of the interposer opposite that of the substrate is solder bumped to one or more bond pads on a chip.

Abstract: Structures for aligning wafers and methods for operating the same. The structure includes (a) a first semiconductor wafer including a first capacitive coupling structure, and (b) a second semiconductor wafer including a second capacitive coupling structure. The first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via a common surface. If the first and second semiconductor wafers are moved with respect to each other by a first displacement distance of 1 nm in a first direction while the first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via the common surface, then a change of at least 10?18 F in capacitance of a first capacitor comprising the first and second capacitive coupling structures results. The first direction is essentially parallel to the common surface.

Abstract: Structures for aligning wafers and methods for operating the same. The structure includes (a) a first semiconductor wafer including a first capacitive coupling structure, and (b) a second semiconductor wafer including a second capacitive coupling structure. The first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via a common surface. If the first and second semiconductor wafers are moved with respect to each other by a first displacement distance of 1 nm in a first direction while the first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via the common surface, then a change of at least 10?18 F in capacitance of a first capacitor comprising the first and second capacitive coupling structures results. The first direction is essentially parallel to the common surface.