Abstract: An image sensor and a fabricating method thereof are provided. A pixel area and a peripheral circuit area can have a step difference on a semiconductor substrate. A Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) circuit can be provided on the pixel area, and an interlayer dielectric layer can be provided on the pixel area and the peripheral circuit area. A photodiode can be provided on the interlayer dielectric layer of the pixel area such that the top of the photodiode, or an intrinsic layer of the photodiode, is about even with the top of the interlayer dielectric layer of the peripheral circuit area.

Abstract: A metal line of semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate including a lower line. A via hole is formed in the ILD layer, and a diffusion barrier layer is formed on the ILD layer where the via hole is formed. A copper seed layer and a copper plating layer are repeatedly formed and etched until the hole is completely filled.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device. According to an embodiment, a method includes forming a trench to form an isolation layer performing an annealing process to reduce an amount of a leakage current in an active layer, and performing a gap-fill process with respect to the trench. Another method in accordance with an embodiment includes performing a lithography process to form an active layer, in which a line critical dimension (CD) in the active layer is increased by about 3 nm to about 6 nm as compared with a line CD in a Process of Record (POR).

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device comprises: a floating gate pattern formed in a cell area of a semiconductor substrate; a dummy floating gate pattern extending from the floating gate pattern into an interface area around the cell area; and a control gate pattern intersecting the floating gate pattern at the cell area of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a trench and a contact hole filled with a copper line, a diffusion barrier layer formed in inner walls of the trench and the contact hole, and a seed-copper layer formed on and/or over the diffusion barrier layer. The surface roughness of the seed-copper layer can be reduced by performing a plasma process thereon.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method of forming a copper metal interconnection in a semiconductor device using a damascene process. In embodiments, the method may include forming a damascene pattern in an interlayer dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, burying a copper plating layer in the damascene pattern using an ECP method, forming a recess on the copper plating layer buried in the damascene pattern, and forming a barrier metal layer in the recess. Since the barrier metal layer may be locally formed on the copper metal interconnection, it may be possible to prevent the diffusion of the copper although the size of the pattern is small.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments relating to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that may prevent an increase of a dielectric effective constant of the IMD. In embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a substrate having a source/drain area, a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate, a first inter-metal dielectric layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and having a first damascene pattern, a first barrier layer formed on the damascene pattern, a first metal line formed on the first barrier layer, and a first metal capping layer formed in the first damascene pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a porous low-k dielectric layer. According to embodiments, a method may include forming an inter metal dielectric (IMD) layer on and/or over a semiconductor substrate, forming copper lines having a stepped structure in the IMD layer, forming a barrier insulating layer on and/or over upper surfaces of the copper lines and the IMD layer, exposing a portion of the upper surface of the IMD layer by photolithography and etching processes, and forming air cavities in the IMD layer using a wet etching process on and/or over the exposed portion of the upper surface of the IMD layer. According to embodiments, a value of the dielectric constant (k) of the IMD layer or the porous low-k dielectric layer may be close to that of a vacuum state.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device that may include a floating gate, an inter poly dielectric formed on and/or over both sides of the floating gate in a bit line direction and on and/or over both side of the floating gate in a word line direction, and a control gate formed on and/or over the IPD. According to embodiments, an IPD may be formed on and/or over a top and four sides of a floating gate. This may increase a coupling ratio of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments relating to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that may prevent an increase of a dielectric effective constant of the IMD. In embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a substrate having a source/drain area, a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate, a first inter-metal dielectric layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and having a first damascene pattern, a first barrier layer formed on the damascene pattern, a first metal line formed on the first barrier layer, and a first metal capping layer formed in the first damascene pattern.

Abstract: A method for monitoring current characteristics of a semiconductor device includes forming an isolation layer and a well area over a substrate, and then forming a P+ area and an N+ area spaced apart by the isolation layer to define active areas, and then forming a gate oxide layer over the substrate including the P+ area and the N+ area, and then forming a polysilicon layer over one of the N+ area and the P+ area, and then connecting a electronic measuring probe to one of the N+ area and the P+ area and connecting a power terminal to the polysilicon layer, and then measuring the current characteristics of the semiconductor device using the polysilicon layer as a power pad and one of the N+ area and the P+ area as a pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first active region formed having a first portion extending laterally and second portion extendedly vertically upward from a central portion of the first portion; a second active region formed spaced from the first active region, the second active region having a third portion extending laterally, fourth and fifth portions extending vertically downwardly at distal end portions of the third portion, and a sixth portion extending vertically downwardly at a central portion of the third portion; a first gate formed extending vertically and overlapping the first portion of the first active region and the third portion of the second active regions; a second gate formed extending vertically and overlapping the first portion of the first active region and the third portion of the second active regions; a third gate formed extending in a direction perpendicular to the first and second gates and overlapping of the fourth and fifth portions of the second active region; and a plur

Abstract: A method of forming an isolation layer in a semiconductor device is disclosed, by which breakdown voltage and PN junction leakage characteristics of the isolation layer are enhanced. Embodiments include depositing a pad nitride layer over a semiconductor substrate, reducing the thickness of the pad nitride layer by etching a portion of the pad nitride layer, forming a tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) oxide layer over the remaining pad nitride layer, forming a trench by selectively removing the tetraethyl orthosilicate oxide layer and the pad nitride layer over an isolation area of the semiconductor substrate, depositing an high density plasma oxide layer over the substrate to fill the trench, and forming an isolation layer by planarizing the high density plasma oxide layer and the tetraethyl orthosilicate oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments relating to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that may improve the yield rate of the semiconductor device. In embodiments, the method may include preparing a substrate including a plurality of conductive patterns, forming first and second insulating layers on the substrate, forming a plurality of via holes by selectively etching the first and second insulating layers, forming a plurality of trenches by selectively etching the second insulating layer in such a manner that the trenches are communicated with the trenches, and forming metal interconnections in the via holes and the trenches. The width ratio of the trench to the insulating layer positioned between adjacent trenches may be in a range of 0.45 to 0.55.

Abstract: A test element group for monitoring leakage current in a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The test element group for monitoring leakage current in a semiconductor device includes device isolation layers formed over a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate. A second conductivity type well may be formed over the first conductivity type semiconductor substrate. First conductivity type impurity regions may be formed in first active areas between the device isolation layers in the second conductivity type well. Monitoring contacts may be formed within the first active areas to monitor leakage current, using layout data such that a distance from each of the monitoring contacts to a border of each of the first active areas is set to have an allowable minimum value under a predetermined design rule.

Abstract: Provided is a monitoring pattern for a silicide that may include a plurality of poly pads, a plurality of N-well regions and P-well regions, active regions, and a poly gate line. The plurality of poly pads are disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The plurality of N-well regions and P-well regions are disposed in a single line between the poly pads. The active regions are disposed on the N-well and the P-well regions. The poly gate line electrically connects the active regions to the poly pads and has a configuration permitting it to pass through the active regions a plurality of times.

Abstract: An image sensor and a fabricating method thereof are provided. A pixel area and a peripheral circuit area can have a step difference on a semiconductor substrate. A Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) circuit can be provided on the pixel area, and an interlayer dielectric layer can be provided on the pixel area and the peripheral circuit area. A photodiode can be provided on the interlayer dielectric layer of the pixel area such that the top of the photodiode, or an intrinsic layer of the photodiode, is about even with the top of the interlayer dielectric layer of the peripheral circuit area.

Abstract: An image sensor including a second line formed at an upper part of a photodiode region as a transparent electrode for passing light. The second line is composed of a polymeric material having transparency and conductivity.

Abstract: A semiconductor and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The method includes: forming an insulation layer on a substrate; forming a trench by selectively etching the insulation layer; electroplating a copper layer in the trench and on the insulation layer under such conditions that a seam is formed at a top middle portion of the trench; and polishing the copper layer to form a copper metal line with the seam.

Abstract: An image sensor and method of manufacturing the same are provided. According to an embodiment, the image sensor comprises: a circuit including an interconnection on a substrate; a lower electrode on the interconnection; a separated intrinsic layer on the lower electrode; a second conductive type conduction layer on the separated intrinsic layer; and an upper electrode on the second conductive type conduction layer. The separated intrinsic layer can have an inwardly sloping sidewall to focus light incident the photodiode for the unit pixel.