Abstract: A method of forming a layout of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. First line patterns extend along a first direction in a first area and a second area, but the first line patterns extend along a second direction in a boundary area. Second line patterns extend along a third direction in the first area and the second area, but the second line patterns extend along a fourth direction in the boundary area, so that minimum distances between overlapping areas of the first line patterns and the second line patterns in the boundary area are larger than minimum distances between overlapping areas of the first line patterns and the second line patterns in the first area and the second area. A trimming process is performed to shade the first line patterns and the second line patterns in the boundary area and the second area.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a fin structure extending along a first direction. The fin structure protrudes from a top surface of a trench isolation region and has a first height. A plurality of gate lines including a first gate line and a second gate line extend along a second direction and striding across the fin structure. The first gate line has a discontinuity directly above a gate cut region. The second gate line is disposed in proximity to a dummy fin region, and does not overlap with the dummy fin region. The fin structure has a second height within the dummy fin region, and the second height is smaller than the first height.

Abstract: A method of pattern data preparation includes the following steps. A desired pattern to be formed on a surface of a layer is inputted. A first set of beam shots are determined, and a first calculated pattern on the surface is calculated from the first set of beam shots. The first calculated pattern is rotated, so that a boundary of the desired pattern corresponding to a non-smooth boundary of the first calculated pattern is parallel to a boundary constituted by beam shots. A second set of beam shots are determined to revise the non-smooth boundary of the first calculated pattern, thereby calculating a second calculated pattern being close to the desired pattern on the surface. The present invention also provides a method of forming a pattern in a layer.

Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photomask includes a mask substrate, a reflection layer and a light-absorbing pattern layer. The reflection layer is disposed on the mask substrate, wherein the reflection layer has a concave pattern. The light-absorbing pattern layer is in the reflection layer, to fill the concave pattern. The light-absorbing pattern layer is exposed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor structure including a substrate including a plurality of capacitor lower electrodes, the capacitor lower electrodes are arranged in a diamond array along a first direction and a second direction respectively, the first direction and the second direction are not perpendicular to each other. A supporting structure layer contacts at least parts of the capacitor lower electrodes, wherein the supporting structure layer includes a plurality of triangular openings, and the three corners of each triangular opening are overlapped with three adjacent capacitor lower electrodes respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) structure, the method including: firstly, a substrate is provided, a cell region and a peripheral region are defined on the substrate, a plurality of buried word lines is then formed in the cell region of the substrate, next, a shallow trench isolation structure is formed in the peripheral region adjacent to the cell region, wherein a concave top surface is formed on the shallow trench isolation structure, afterwards, a first dummy bit line gate is formed within the shallow trench isolation structure of the peripheral area, and a second dummy bit line gate is formed in the cell region and adjacent to the first dummy bit line gate, wherein a top surface of the first dummy bit line gate is lower than a top surface of the second dummy bit line gate.

Abstract: A method of forming an overlay mark structure includes the following steps. An insulation layer is formed on a substrate. A first overlay mark is formed in the insulation layer. A metal layer is formed on the substrate. The metal layer covers the insulation layer and the first overlay mark. The metal layer on the first overlay mark is removed. A top surface of the first overlay mark is lower than a top surface of the insulation layer after the step of removing the metal layer on the first overlay mark. A second overlay mark is formed on the metal layer. In the method of forming the overlay mark structure, the first overlay mark may not be covered by the metal layer for avoiding influences on related measurements, and the second overlay mark may be formed on the metal layer for avoiding related defects generated by the height difference.

Abstract: A method of forming an overlay mark structure includes the following steps. An insulation layer is formed on a substrate. A first overlay mark is formed in the insulation layer. A metal layer is formed on the substrate. The metal layer covers the insulation layer and the first overlay mark. The metal layer on the first overlay mark is removed. A top surface of the first overlay mark is lower than a top surface of the insulation layer after the step of removing the metal layer on the first overlay mark. A second overlay mark is formed on the metal layer. In the method of forming the overlay mark structure, the first overlay mark may not be covered by the metal layer for avoiding influences on related measurements, and the second overlay mark may be formed on the metal layer for avoiding related defects generated by the height difference.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure, an isolation structure, and a source/drain region. The semiconductor substrate includes a fin. The gate structure is disposed on the fin and is disposed straddling the fin. The isolation structure covers a sidewall and a top surface of the fin. The source/drain region is disposed in the fin and extends beyond the top surface of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure, an isolation structure, and a source/drain region. The semiconductor substrate includes a fin. The gate structure is disposed on the fin and is disposed straddling the fin. The isolation structure covers a sidewall and a top surface of the fin. The source/drain region is disposed in the fin and extends beyond the top surface of the fin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a shallow trench isolation structure, a plurality of gate electrodes, and a gate isolation structure. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of fin structures, and each of the fin structures is elongated in a first direction. The shallow trench isolation structure is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the fin structures. The gate electrodes are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and the shallow trench isolation structure. Each of the gate electrodes is elongated in a second direction and disposed straddling at least one of the fin structures. The gate isolation structure is disposed between two adjacent gate electrodes in the second direction. A total height of the gate isolation structure is greater than a height of the shallow trench isolation structure formed on the semiconductor substrate and located between the fin structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure, and a spacer. The semiconductor substrate includes at least one fin structure. The isolation structure is partly disposed in the fin structure and partly disposed above the fin structure. The fin structure includes a first fin and a second fin elongated in the same direction. A part of the isolation structure is disposed between the first fin and the second fin in the direction where the first fin and the second fin are elongated. The spacer is disposed on sidewalls of the isolation structure on the fin structure. The isolation structure in the present invention is partly disposed in the fin structure and partly disposed above the fin structure. The negative influence of a gate structure formed on the isolation structure and sinking into the isolation structure on the isolation performance of the isolation structure may be avoided accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic random access memory structure, comprising a substrate defining a cell region and a peripheral region on the substrate, a shallow trench isolation structure located in the peripheral region adjacent to the cell region, wherein the shallow trench isolation structure has a concave top surface, a first dummy bit line gate located within the shallow trench isolation structure of the peripheral area, and a second dummy bit line gate located in the cell region and adjacent to the first dummy bit line gate, wherein a top surface of the first dummy bit line gate is lower than a top surface of the second dummy bit line gate.

Abstract: A method for forming a patterned structure includes following steps. First lines elongated in a first direction and second lines elongated in a second direction in a layout pattern are decomposed into two masks. A first mask includes first line patterns and a first block pattern. A second mask includes second line patterns and a second block pattern. Two photolithography processes with the first mask and the second mask are performed for forming a patterned structure including first line structures and second line structures. Each first line structure is elongated in the first direction. The first line structures are defined by a region where the first line patterns and the second block pattern overlap with one another. Each second line structure is elongated in the second direction. The second line structures are defined by a region where the second line patterns and the first block pattern overlap with one another.

Abstract: A method of patterning a semiconductor device includes following steps. First of all, a substrate is provided, and a first target pattern is formed in the substrate. Next, a second target pattern is formed on the substrate, across the first target pattern. Then, a third pattern is formed on a hard mask layer formed on the substrate, by using an electron beam apparatus, wherein two opposite edges of the third pattern are formed under an asymmetry control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic random access memory structure, comprising a substrate defining a cell region and a peripheral region on the substrate, a shallow trench isolation structure located in the peripheral region adjacent to the cell region, wherein the shallow trench isolation structure has a concave top surface, a first dummy bit line gate located within the shallow trench isolation structure of the peripheral area, and a second dummy bit line gate located in the cell region and adjacent to the first dummy bit line gate, wherein a top surface of the first dummy bit line gate is lower than a top surface of the second dummy bit line gate.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A semiconductor substrate including at least one fin structure is provided. A gate material layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the fin structure is covered by the gate material layer. A trench is formed partly in the gate material layer and partly in the fin structure. An isolation structure is formed partly in the trench and partly outside the trench. At least one gate structure is formed straddling the fin structure by patterning the gate material layer after the step of forming the isolation structure. A top surface of the isolation structure is higher than a top surface of the gate structure in a vertical direction for enhancing the isolation performance of the isolation structure. A sidewall spacer is formed on sidewalls of the isolation structure, and there is no gate structure formed on the isolation structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a semiconductor structure, including the following steps: first, a substrate is provided, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) is formed on the substrate, a first dummy gate is formed in the ILD, wherein the first dummy gate includes a dummy gate electrode and two spacers disposed on two sides of the dummy gate electrode respectively. Next, two contact holes are formed in the ILD at two sides of the first dummy gate respectively. Afterwards, the dummy gate electrode is removed, so as to form a gate recess in the ILD, a first material layer is filled in the gate recess and a second material layer is filled in the two contact holes respectively, and an anneal process is performed on the first material layer and the second material layer, to bend the two spacers into two inward curving spacers.

Abstract: A method for monitoring fin removal includes providing a substrate having a first region with first fins extending along a first direction and a second region with second fins extending along a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction; forming a material layer on the substrate to cover the first fins and the second fins; identically patterning the first fins and the second fins using a first pattern and a second pattern respectively for simultaneously removing parts of the first and second fins, thereby forming first fin features in the first region and second fin features in the second region, wherein the first pattern has a first dimension along the second direction, the second pattern has a second dimension along the second direction, and the second dimension is equal to the first dimension; and monitoring the first fin features using the second fin features.

Abstract: A method of pattern transfer is provided, comprising: providing a target layer; forming a first pattern above the target layer; forming a second pattern (such as spacer loops) above the target layer and above the first pattern, wherein one closed end of the second pattern partially overlaps with the first pattern; and transferring the second pattern to the target layer, wherein the first pattern stops transferring pattern of the closed end of the second pattern to the target layer.