Abstract: A contact process for a semiconductor device is described. A substrate having a doped region and a dielectric layer over the doped region is provided. A contact hole is formed through the dielectric layer and exposing the doped region. An insulating liner layer is formed a in the contact hole. A portion of the insulating liner layer at a bottom of the contact hole is etch-removed and over-etching is performed. A conductive epitaxial layer is formed from the doped region in the contact hole, and then the contact hole is filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: A contact process for a semiconductor device is described. A substrate having a doped region and a dielectric layer over the doped region is provided. A contact hole is formed through the dielectric layer and exposing the doped region. An insulating liner layer is formed a in the contact hole. A portion of the insulating liner layer at a bottom of the contact hole is etch-removed and over-etching is performed. A conductive epitaxial layer is formed from the doped region in the contact hole, and then the contact hole is filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: An inspection method for contact by die to database is provided. In the method, a plurality of raw images of contacts in a wafer is obtained, and a plurality of locations of the raw images is then recoded to obtain a graphic file. After that, the graphic file is aligned on a design database of the chip. An image extraction is then performed on the raw images to obtain a plurality of image contours of the contacts. Thereafter, a difference in critical dimension between the image contours of the contacts and corresponding contacts in the design database are measured in order to obtain the inspection result for contacts in the wafer.

Abstract: A die structure is described, including a device area and a contact test area. The device area has therein a device structure including a first contact plug. The contact test area has therein a contact test structure that includes a second contact plug and is different from the device structure. The contact test structure is also described, including a well, a heavily doped region in the well, and a contact plug, wherein the heavily doped region and the well are both of N-type or are both of P-type, and the contact plug is disposed over the heavily doped region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the detection of defects in semiconductors, semiconductor devices, or substrates are provided. Semiconductors, semiconductor devices or substrates having novel test patterns and or designs are also provided. The semiconductors, semiconductor devices or substrates have a plurality of line patterns, which, in response to a responsive stimulus such as electron beam irradiation, produces a response. The responsive stimulus may include an electron beam irradiation, and the image data can be collected and processed to produce an image or images that indicate the presence or absence of surface and/or internal defects.