Abstract: A memory and method of manufacture employing word line scaling. A layered stack, including a charge trapping component and a core polysilicon layer, is formed on a core section and a peripheral section of a substrate. A portion of the layered stack, including the core polysilicon layer is then removed from the peripheral section. A peripheral polysilicon layer, which is thicker than the core polysilicon layer of the layered stack, is next formed on the layered stack and the peripheral section. The layered stack is then isolated from the peripheral polysilicon layer by removing a portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer from the core section, and polysilicon lines are patterned in the isolated layered stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reticle 100 for use in a lithographic process. The reticle, in one embodiment, includes a patterned layer 110 located over a reticle substrate. The reticle 100 may further include a test pattern 130 located over the reticle substrate, wherein a portion of the test pattern 130 is within a step-distance of a portion of the patterned layer. In this embodiment, a variance in the test pattern is indicative of a variance in the patterned layer.

Abstract: A memory and method of manufacture employing word line scaling. A layered stack, including a charge trapping component and a core polysilicon layer, is formed on a core section and a peripheral section of a substrate. A portion of the layered stack, including the core polysilicon layer is then removed from the peripheral section. A peripheral polysilicon layer, which is thicker than the core polysilicon layer of the layered stack, is next formed on the layered stack and the peripheral section. The layered stack is then isolated from the peripheral polysilicon layer by removing a portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer from the core section, and polysilicon lines are patterned in the isolated layered stack.

Abstract: A memory and method of manufacture employing word line scaling. A layered stack, including a charge trapping component and a core polysilicon layer, is formed on a core section and a peripheral section of a substrate. A portion of the layered stack, including the core polysilicon layer is then removed from the peripheral section. A peripheral polysilicon layer, which is thicker than the core polysilicon layer of the layered stack, is next formed on the layered stack and the peripheral section. The layered stack is then isolated from the peripheral polysilicon layer by removing a portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer from the core section, and polysilicon lines are patterned in the isolated layered stack.

Abstract: A memory and method of manufacture employing word line scaling. A layered stack, including a charge trapping component and a core polysilicon layer, is formed on a core section and a peripheral section of a substrate. A portion of the layered stack, including the core polysilicon layer is then removed from the peripheral section. A peripheral polysilicon layer, which is thicker than the core polysilicon layer of the layered stack, is next formed on the layered stack and the peripheral section. The layered stack is then isolated from the peripheral polysilicon layer by removing a portion of the peripheral polysilicon layer from the core section, and polysilicon lines are patterned in the isolated layered stack.

Abstract: In accordance with the present teachings, methods of making dual doped polysilicon gates are provided. The method can include providing a semiconductor structure including a plurality of polysilicon gates having a first critical dimension disposed over a dielectric layer and planarizing the plurality of polysilicon gates with a spin-on material to form a plurality of planarized polysilicon gates. The method can further include doping an exposed first region with p-type dopants to form a plurality of p-doped planarized polysilicon gates and doping an exposed second region with n-type dopants to form a plurality of n-doped planarized polysilicon gates. The method can also include removing the spin-on material to form a plurality of p-doped polysilicon gates and a plurality of n-doped polysilicon gates, wherein critical dimension of each of the plurality of n-doped polysilicon gates and the plurality of p-doped polysilicon gates are substantially similar to the first critical dimension.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming a gate stack layer. The gate stack has an insulating layer on a substrate, a metal-containing layer on the insulating layer, a metal nitride barrier layer on the metal-containing layer, and a silicon-containing layer on the metal nitride barrier layer. The method also comprises patterning the gate stack layer. Pattering includes a plasma etch of the metal nitride barrier layer. The plasma etch has a chloride-containing feed gas and a physical etch component. The physical etch component includes a high-mass species having a molecular weight of greater than about 71 gm/mol.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer. The method includes depositing spin-on-glass material over the semiconductor wafer (step 208), modifying a top surface of the spin-on glass material to form a SiO2 layer (step 210), applying a vapor prime (step 212), forming a photoresist layer over the spin-on-glass material (step 214), patterning the photoresist layer (step 214), and then etching the semiconductor wafer (step 216). Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a dual damascene back-end layer on a semiconductor wafer. The method includes depositing spin-on-glass material over the dielectric layer and within the via holes (step 208), modifying a top surface of the spin-on glass material to form a SiO2 layer (step 210), applying a vapor prime (step 212), forming a photoresist layer over said spin-on-glass material (step 214), patterning the photoresist layer (step 214), and etching trench spaces (step 216).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a microelectronics device. In one aspect, the method comprises depositing a protective layer (510) over a spacer material (415) located over gate electrodes (250) and a doped region (255) located between the gate electrodes (250), removing a portion of the spacer material (415) and the protective layer (510) located over the gate electrodes (250). A remaining portion of the spacer material (415) remains over the top surface of the gate electrodes (250) and over the doped region (255), and a portion of the protective layer (510) remains over the doped region (255). The method further comprises removing the remaining portion of the spacer material (415) to form spacer sidewalls on the gate electrodes (250), expose the top surface of the gate electrodes (250), and leave a remnant of the spacer material (415) over the doped region (255).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a microelectronics device. In one aspect, the method comprises depositing a protective layer (510) over a spacer material (415) located over gate electrodes (250) and a doped region (255) located between the gate electrodes (250), removing a portion of the spacer material (415) and the protective layer (510) located over the gate electrodes (250). A remaining portion of the spacer material (415) remains over the top surface of the gate electrodes (250) and over the doped region (255), and a portion of the protective layer (510) remains over the doped region (255). The method further comprises removing the remaining portion of the spacer material (415) to form spacer sidewalls on the gate electrodes (250), expose the top surface of the gate electrodes (250), and leave a remnant of the spacer material (415) over the doped region (255).

Abstract: Damascene methods for forming copper conductors (30, 130) are disclosed. According to the disclosed method, a dual cap layer (18, 20; 122, 124) is formed over an organosilicate glass insulating layer (16; 116, 120) prior to the etching of a via or trench toward an underlying conductor (12; 112). The dual cap layer includes a layer of silicon carbide (18; 124) and a layer of silicon nitride (20; 122). The silicon carbide layer (18; 124) and silicon nitride layer (20; 122) can be deposited in either order relative to one another. The silicon carbide layer (18; 124) maintains the critical dimension of the via or trench as it is etched through the insulating layer (16; 116, 120), while the silicon nitride layer (20; 122) inhibits the failure mechanism of resist poisoning. The method is applicable to single damascene processes, but may also be used in dual damascene copper processes.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer. The method includes depositing spin-on-glass material over the semiconductor wafer (step 208), modifying a top surface of the spin-on glass material to form a SiO2 layer (step 210), applying a vapor prime (step 212), forming a photoresist layer over the spin-on-glass material (step 214), patterning the photoresist layer (step 214), and then etching the semiconductor wafer (step 216). Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a dual damascene back-end layer on a semiconductor wafer. The method includes depositing spin-on-glass material over the dielectric layer and within the via holes (step 208), modifying a top surface of the spin-on glass material to form a SiO2 layer (step 210), applying a vapor prime (step 212), forming a photoresist layer over said spin-on-glass material (step 214), patterning the photoresist layer (step 214), and etching trench spaces (step 216).

Abstract: The present invention provides a reticle 100 for use in a lithographic process. The reticle, in one embodiment, includes a patterned layer 110 located over a reticle substrate. The reticle 100 may further include a test pattern 130 located over the reticle substrate, wherein a portion of the test pattern 130 is within a step-distance of a portion of the patterned layer. In this embodiment, a variance in the test pattern is indicative of a variance in the patterned layer.

Abstract: Plasma treating a low-k dielectric layer (104) using an oxidation reaction (e.g., O2) to improve patterning. Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130, 132). The plasma treatment is performed to either pretreat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130, 132), during a rework of the pattern (130, 132), or between via and trench patterning to reduce resist poisoning.

Abstract: Treating a low-k dielectric layer (104) using a highly oxidizing wet solution (e.g., H2SO4) to improve patterning. Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130,132). The wet treatment is performed to either pre-treat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130,132) or during a rework of the pattern (130,132) to reduce resist poisoning.

Abstract: Treating a low-k dielectric layer (104) using a highly oxidizing wet solution (e.g., H2SO4) to improve patterning. Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130,132). The wet treatment is performed to either pre-treat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130,132) or during a rework of the pattern (130,132) to reduce resist poisoning.

Abstract: Plasma treating a low-k dielectric layer (104) using an oxidation reaction (e.g., O2) to improve patterning. Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130, 132). The plasma treatment is performed to either pretreat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130, 132), during a rework of the pattern (130, 132), or between via and trench patterning to reduce resist poisoning.

Abstract: Treating a low-k dielectric layer (104) using a highly oxidizing wet solution (e.g., H2O2) to improve patterning. Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130,132). The wet treatment is performed to either pre-treat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130,132) or during a rework of the pattern (130,132) to reduce resist poisoning.