Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosed technology relate to techniques for hotspot root cause determination. Feature values for a plurality of design/process-related features for each of the layout regions of interest on a layout design are determined. Population ratios for feature value ranges for each of the plurality of design/process-related features are determined based on a number of layout regions of interest having feature values within each of the feature value ranges. Hotspot feature repeater values are determined. Based on the population ratios and the hotspot feature repeater values, a root cause analysis can be performed to determine one or more design/process-related features that are most likely causes for each of a plurality of hotspot layout regions. The information of the one or more design/process-related features can be used to identity other hotspot regions and adjust the layout design or to adjust a manufacturing process.

Abstract: An optical inspection is performed to detect potential defects within integrated circuit devices and a first electron-based inspection of less than all of the potential defects is performed to identify primary actual defects. A process window of manufacturing parameter settings used to manufacture the integrated circuit devices is identified and the integrated circuit devices manufactured using the manufacturing parameter settings inside the process window have less than a threshold number of the primary actual defects. To identify additional actual defects a second electron-based inspection is performed that is limited to selected ones of the potential defects in the integrated circuit devices that were manufactured using the manufacturing parameter settings inside the process window but were uninspected in the first electron-based inspection.

Abstract: An optical inspection is performed to detect potential defects within integrated circuit devices and a first electron-based inspection of less than all of the potential defects is performed to identify primary actual defects. A process window of manufacturing parameter settings used to manufacture the integrated circuit devices is identified and the integrated circuit devices manufactured using the manufacturing parameter settings inside the process window have less than a threshold number of the primary actual defects. To identify additional actual defects a second electron-based inspection is performed that is limited to selected ones of the potential defects in the integrated circuit devices that were manufactured using the manufacturing parameter settings inside the process window but were uninspected in the first electron-based inspection.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to defect inspection methods of semiconductor wafers during the manufacturing process. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a defect inspection system is provided. The defect inspection system includes a first inspection system, pattern simulator software, and a second inspection system. The first inspection system is capable of determining a plurality of defect locations on an article. The pattern simulator software is capable of generating a set of simulated pattern features from the plurality of defect locations. The second inspection system is capable of providing a higher graphical resolution of defects than the first inspection at the defect locations corresponding to the set of simulated pattern features.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating an interconnect structure. A first interconnect and a second interconnect extend in a first direction in a interlayer dielectric layer and are spaced apart from each other. A third interconnect is arranged in the interlayer dielectric layer to connect the first interconnect with the second interconnect. The first interconnect and the second interconnect have a first width, and the third interconnect has a second width that is less than the first width.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating an interconnect structure. A first interconnect and a second interconnect extend in a first direction in a interlayer dielectric layer and are spaced apart from each other. A third interconnect is arranged in the interlayer dielectric layer to connect the first interconnect with the second interconnect. The first interconnect and the second interconnect have a first width, and the third interconnect has a second width that is less than the first width.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating an interconnect structure. A first interconnect and a second interconnect extend in a first direction in a interlayer dielectric layer and are spaced apart from each other. A third interconnect is arranged in the interlayer dielectric layer to connect the first interconnect with the second interconnect. The first interconnect and the second interconnect have a first width, and the third interconnect has a second width that is less than the first width.

Abstract: Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating an interconnect structure. A first interconnect and a second interconnect extend in a first direction in a interlayer dielectric layer and are spaced apart from each other. A third interconnect is arranged in the interlayer dielectric layer to connect the first interconnect with the second interconnect. The first interconnect and the second interconnect have a first width, and the third interconnect has a second width that is less than the first width.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first device, and a second device. Each of the first and second devices includes a gate extending in a first direction, source/drain regions respectively formed on opposite first and second sides of the gate, dielectric spacers formed respectively on outer sidewalls of the gate on the first side and the second side, and conductive spacers serving contacts to the source/drain regions and formed respectively on outer sidewalls of the respective gate spacers. A second direction from the source/drain region on the first side to the source/drain region on the second side crosses the first direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a MOSFET and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the MOSFET comprises: an SOI wafer comprising a semiconductor substrate, a buried insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor layer on the buried insulating layer; a gate stack on the semiconductor layer; a source region and a drain region in the semiconductor layer on both sides of the gate stack; and a channel region in the semiconductor layer and located between the source region and the drain region, wherein the MOSFET further comprises a back gate which is located in the semiconductor substrate and has a first doped region as a lower portion of the back gate and a second doped region as an upper portion of the back gate, and the second doped region of the back gate is self-aligned with the gate stack. The MOSFET can adjust a threshold voltage by changing doping type and doping concentration of the back gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, wherein an example method may include: forming a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer sequentially on a substrate; patterning the second semiconductor layer and the first semiconductor layer to form a fin; forming an isolation layer on the substrate, wherein the isolation layer exposes a portion of the first semiconductor layer; forming a sacrificial gate stack crossing over the fin on the isolation layer; selectively etching the second semiconductor layer with the sacrificial gate stack as a mask, to expose the first semiconductor layer; selectively etching the first semiconductor layer, to form a void beneath the second semiconductor layer; filling the void with a dielectric material; forming a third semiconductor layer on the substrate, to form source/drain regions; and forming a gate stack to replace the sacrificial gate stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a fin field effect transistor, comprising: providing an SOI substrate comprising a substrate layer (100), a BOX layer (120) and an SOI layer (130); forming a basic fin structure from an SOI layer; forming source/drain regions (110) on both sides of the basic fin structure; forming a fin structure between the source/drain regions (110) from a basic fin structure; and forming a gate stack across the fin structure. The method of manufacturing a fin field effect transistor provided in the present invention can integrate a high-k gate dielectric layer, a metal gate, and stressed source/drain regions into the fin field effect transistor to enhance the performance of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first device, and a second device. Each of the first and second devices includes a gate extending in a first direction, source/drain regions respectively formed on opposite first and second sides of the gate, dielectric spacers formed respectively on outer sidewalls of the gate on the first side and the second side, and conductive spacers serving contacts to the source/drain regions and formed respectively on outer sidewalls of the respective gate spacers. A second direction from the source/drain region on the first side to the source/drain region on the second side crosses the first direction.

Abstract: A quasi-nanowire transistor and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, the quasi-nanowire transistor comprising: providing an SOI substrate comprising a substrate layer (100), a BOX layer (120) and an SOI layer (130); forming a basic fin structure on the SOI layer, the basic fin structure comprising at least one silicon/silicon-germanium stack; forming source/drain regions (110) on both sides of the basic fin structure; forming a quasi-nanowire fin from a basic fin structure and an SOI layer thereunder; and forming a gate stack across the quasi-nanowire fin. The method can effectively control gate length characteristics. A semiconductor structure formed by the above method is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure and a method for fabricating the same. A method for fabricating semiconductor device structure includes forming gate lines on a semiconductor substrate; forming gate sidewall spacers surrounding the gate lines; forming respective source/drain regions in the semiconductor substrate and on either side of the respective gate lines; forming conductive sidewall spacers surrounding the gate sidewall spacers; and cutting off the gate lines, the gate sidewall spacers and the conductive sidewall spacers at predetermined positions, in which the cut gate lines are electrically isolated gates, and the cut conductive sidewall spacers are electrically isolated lower contacts. The method is applicable to the manufacture of contacts in integrated circuits.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a MOSFET, including: forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region for the MOSFET; performing etching with the STI as a mask, to expose a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and to protrude a portion of the STI with respect to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, resulting in a protruding portion; forming a first spacer on sidewalls of the protruding portion; forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; forming a second spacer surrounding the gate stack; forming openings in the semiconductor substrate with the STI, the gate stack, the first spacer and the second spacer as a mask; epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer with a bottom surface and sidewalls of each of the openings as a growth seed layer; and performing ion implantation into the semiconductor layer to form source and drain regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided, comprising a substrate (130), a support structure (131), a base region (100), a gate stack, a spacer (240), and a source/drain region, wherein the gate stack is located above the base region (100), and the base region (100) is supported above the substrate (130) by the support structure (131), wherein the support structure (131) has a sigma-shaped lateral cross-section; an isolation structure (123) is formed below edges on both sides of the base region (100), wherein a portion of the isolation structure (123) is connected to the substrate (130); a cavity (112) is formed between the isolation structure (123) and the support structure (131); and a source/drain region is formed on both sides of the base region (100) and the isolation structure (123). Accordingly, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: A MOSFET structure and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method comprises: a. providing a substrate (100); b. forming a silicon germanium channel layer (101), a dummy gate structure (200) and a sacrificial spacer (102); c. removing the silicon germanium channel layer and portions of the substrate which are not covered by the dummy gate structure (200) and located under both sides of the dummy gate structure 200, so as to form vacancies (201); d. selectively epitaxially growing a first semiconductor layer (300) on the semiconductor structure to fill bottom and sidewalls of the vacancies (201); and e. removing the sacrificial spacer (102) and filling a second semiconductor layer (400) in the vacancies which are not filled by the first semiconductor layer (300). In the semiconductor structure of the present disclosure, carrier mobility in the channel can be increased, negative effects induced by the short channel effects can be suppressed, and device performance can be enhanced.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an asymmetric FinFET is provided in the invention, comprising: a. providing a substrate (101); b. forming a fin (102) on the substrate (101), wherein the width of the fin (102) is defined as a second channel thickness; c. forming a shallow trench isolation; d. forming a sacrificial gate stack on the top surface and sidewalls of the channel which is in the middle of the fin, and forming source/drain regions in both ends of the fin; e. depositing an interlayer dielectric layer to cover the sacrificial gate stack and the source/drain regions, planarizing the interlayer dielectric layer to expose sacrificial gate stack; f. removing the sacrificial gate stack to expose the channel; g. forming an etch-stop layer (106) on top of the channel; h. covering a photoresist film (400) on a portion of the semiconductor structure near the source region; i.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a contact sacrificial pattern on a substrate to cover source and drain regions and expose a gate region; forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the substrate to cover the contact sacrificial pattern and expose the gate region; forming a gate stack structure in the exposed gate region; removing the contact sacrificial pattern to form the source/drain contact trench; and forming a source/drain contact in the source/drain contact trench. By means of a contact sacrificial layer process, the method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention effectively reduces the distance between the gate spacer and the contact region and increases the area of the contact region, thus effectively reducing the parasitic resistance of the device.