Patents by Inventor Junji Noguchi

Junji Noguchi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7642652
    Abstract: A barrier layer and a copper film are successively formed on a silicon oxide film including a groove for wiring in the silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, both formed on a semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, the barrier layer and the copper film are removed from outside of the groove for wiring, thereby forming a wiring. Tungsten is selectively or preferentially grown on the wiring to selectively form a tungsten film on the wiring. After the formation of the copper film, a treatment with hydrogen may be performed. After the formation of the wiring, the semiconductor substrate may be cleaned with a cleaning solution capable of removing a foreign matter or a contaminant metal. After the formation of the wiring, a treatment with hydrogen is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Naohumi Ohashi, Toshinori Imai, Junji Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Tamaru
  • Publication number: 20090256261
    Abstract: The reliability of wirings, each of which includes a main conductive film containing copper as a primary component, is improved. On an insulating film including the upper surface of a wiring serving as a lower layer wiring, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbonitride film having excellent barrier properties to copper is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbide film having excellent adhesiveness to a low dielectric constant material film is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a low dielectric constant material as an interlayer insulating film is formed; and thereafter a wiring as an upper layer wiring is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Takayuki Oshima, Noriko Miura, Kensuke Ishikawa, Tomio Iwasaki, Kiyomi Katsuyama, Tatsuyuki Saito, Tsuyoshi Tamaru, Hizuru Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20090142919
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, capacitance between copper interconnections is decreased and the insulation breakdown is improved simultaneously, and a countermeasure is taken for misalignment via by a manufacturing method including the steps of forming an interconnection containing copper as a main ingredient in an insulative film above a substrate, forming insulative films and a barrier insulative film for a reservoir pattern, forming an insulative film capable of suppressing or preventing copper from diffusing on the upper surface and on the lateral surface of the interconnection and above the insulative film and the insulative film, forming insulative films of low dielectric constant, in which the insulative film is formed such that the deposition rate above the opposing lateral surfaces of the interconnections is larger than the deposition rate therebelow to form an air gap between the adjacent interconnections and, finally, planarizing the insulative film by interlayer CMP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Takashi Matsumoto, Takayuki Oshima, Toshihiko Onozuka
  • Publication number: 20090106718
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device which enables a timing optimization without giving additions to a manufacturing process and increasing cost and TAT. Existence of a timing constraint violation is determined, and when a timing constraint violation is detected, to dissolve the violation, a void formation inhibition zone is set up in a part or all of a spacing (inter-wiring spacing) between an optimization-target wiring which needs a further delay time of a signal and clock and an adjacent wiring adjacent to the optimization-target wiring having a spacing within a specified wiring spacing, and an insulating film is formed in a spacing (inter-wiring spacing) between the optimization-target wiring and the adjacent wiring in the void formation inhibition zone, and voids are formed in a spacing (inter-wiring spacing) between the optimization-target wiring and the adjacent wiring outside the void formation inhibition zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Takashi MATSUMOTO, Junji Noguchi, Takayuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 7510970
    Abstract: In order to provide an anticorrosive technique for metal wirings formed by a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method, a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the invention comprises the steps of: forming a metal layer of Cu (or a Cu alloy containing Cu as a main component) over the major face of a wafer and then planarizing the metal layer by a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method to form metal wirings; anticorroding the planarized major face of the wafer to form a hydrophobic protective film over the surfaces of the metal wirings; immersing the anticorroded major face of the wafer or keeping the same in a wet state so that it may not become dry; and post-cleaning the major face, kept in the wet state, of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Naofumi Ohashi, Junji Noguchi, Toshinori Imai, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada, Kenji Hinode, Yoshio Homma, Seiichi Kondo
  • Patent number: 7501347
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, capacitance between copper interconnections is decreased and the insulation breakdown is improved simultaneously, and a countermeasure is taken for misalignment via by a manufacturing method including the steps of forming an interconnection containing copper as a main ingredient in an insulative film above a substrate, forming insulative films and a barrier insulative film for a reservoir pattern, forming an insulative film capable of suppressing or preventing copper from diffusing on the upper surface and on the lateral surface of the interconnection and above the insulative film and the insulative film, forming insulative films of low dielectric constant, in which the insulative film is formed such that the deposition rate above the opposing lateral surfaces of the interconnections is larger than the deposition rate therebelow to form an air gap between the adjacent interconnections and, finally, planarizing the insulative film by interlayer CMP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Takashi Matsumoto, Takayuki Oshima, Toshihiko Onozuka
  • Publication number: 20080233736
    Abstract: In order to provide an anticorrosive technique for metal wirings formed by a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method, a process for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the invention comprises the steps of: forming a metal layer of Cu (or a Cu alloy containing Cu as a main component) over the major face of a wafer and then planarizing the metal layer by a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method to form metal wirings; anticorroding the planarized major face of the wafer to form a hydrophobic protective film over the surfaces of the metal wirings; immersing the anticorroded major face of the wafer or keeping the same in a wet state so that it may not become dry; and post-cleaning the major face, kept in the wet state, of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Naofumi Ohashi, Junji Noguchi, Toshinori Imai, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada, Kenji Hinode, Yoshio Homma, Seiichi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20080230916
    Abstract: A semiconductor IC device includes a buried interconnection in interconnection layers over a semiconductor substrate, in which electrical connection of interconnections are provided over and under an interconnection layer of an embedded interconnection from among the interconnection layers such that a first connecting conductor portion within a connecting hole extending from an upper interconnection toward the interconnection layer of a predetermined buried interconnection and a second connecting conductor portion within the connecting hole extending from a lower interconnection toward the interconnection layer of the predetermined buried interconnection are electrically connected via a connecting conductor portion for relay in the connecting groove of the interconnection layer of a predetermined buried interconnection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Junji Noguchi, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada
  • Patent number: 7419916
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing the defect the in shape of via holes cased when an alumina mask is used for the dry etching of an interlayer insulator composed of an SiOC film in the dual damascene process in which via holes are formed prior to forming wiring trenches. That is, after forming an alumina mask on an interlayer insulator composed of a low-k SiOC film via a cap insulator, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using a photoresist film as a mask to form via holes. Next, after removing the photoresist film, the inside of the via holes are cleaned by using dilute hydrofluoric acid solution to remove alumina residue. Thereafter, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using the alumina mask as a mask to form wiring trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Hideo Aoki, Shoji Hotta, Takayuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 7387957
    Abstract: In a fabrication process of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, upon effecting connection of an interconnection made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and another interconnection made of Cu or Cu alloy, a barrier conductor film or plug is disposed at the joint portion between these interconnections. Among the interconnection layers formed, the uppermost one is made of a wiring material such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, while the lower one is made of Cu or Cu alloy. The lowest interconnection is made of a conductive material other than Cu or Cu alloy. For example, the conductive material which permits minute processing and has both low resistance and high EM resistance such as tungsten is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Junji Noguchi, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada
  • Publication number: 20080138979
    Abstract: After formation of Cu interconnections 46a to 46e each to be embedded in an interconnection groove 40 of a silicon oxide film 39 by CMP and then washing, the surface of each of the silicon oxide film 39 and Cu interconnections 46a to 46e is treated with a reducing plasma (ammonia plasma). Then, without vacuum break, a cap film (silicon nitride film) is formed continuously. This process makes it possible to improve the dielectric breakdown resistance (reliability) of a copper interconnection formed by the damascene method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Junji NOGUCHI, Naofumi Ohashi, Kenichi Takeda, Tatsuyuki Saito, Hizuru Yamaguchii, Nobuo Owada
  • Publication number: 20080132059
    Abstract: Cu interconnections embedded in an interconnection slot of a silicon oxide film are formed by polishing using CMP to improve the insulation breakdown resistance of a copper interconnection formed using the Damascene method, and after a post-CMP cleaning step, the surface of the silicon oxide film and Cu interconnections is treated by a reducing plasma (ammonia plasma). Subsequently, a continuous cap film (silicon nitride film) is formed without vacuum break.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naohumi Ohashi, Tatsuyuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20080042282
    Abstract: A barrier layer and a copper film are successively formed on a silicon oxide film including a groove for wiring in the silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, both formed on a semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, the barrier layer and the copper film are removed from outside of the groove for wiring, thereby forming a wiring. Tungsten is selectively or preferentially grown on the wiring to selectively form a tungsten film on the wiring. After the formation of the copper film, a treatment with hydrogen may be performed. After the formation of the wiring, the semiconductor substrate may be cleaned with a cleaning solution capable of removing a foreign matter or a contaminant metal. After the formation of the wiring, a treatment with hydrogen is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki SAITO, Naohumi Ohashi, Toshinori Imai, Junji Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Tamaru
  • Patent number: 7323781
    Abstract: The reliability of wirings, each of which includes a main conductive film containing copper as a primary component, is improved. On an insulating film including the upper surface of a wiring serving as a lower layer wiring, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbonitride film having excellent barrier properties to copper is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbide film having excellent adhesiveness to a low dielectric constant material film is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a low dielectric constant material as an interlayer insulating film is formed; and thereafter a wiring as an upper layer wiring is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Takayuki Oshima, Noriko Miura, Kensuke Ishikawa, Tomio Iwaskai, Kiyomi Katsuyama, Tatsuyuki Saito, Tsuyoshi Tamaru, Hizuru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7321171
    Abstract: A barrier layer and a copper film are successively formed on a silicon oxide film including a groove for wiring in the silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, both formed on a semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, the barrier layer and the copper film are removed from outside of the groove for wiring, thereby forming a wiring. Tungsten is selectively or preferentially grown on the wiring to selectively form a tungsten film on the wiring. After the formation of the copper film, a treatment with hydrogen may be performed. After the formation of the wiring, the semiconductor substrate may be cleaned with a cleaning solution capable of removing a foreign matter or a contaminant metal. After the formation of the wiring, a treatment with hydrogen is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Naohumi Ohashi, Toshinori Imai, Junji Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Tamaru
  • Patent number: 7232757
    Abstract: Cu interconnections embedded in an interconnection slot of a silicon oxide film are formed by polishing using CMP to improve the insulation breakdown resistance of a copper interconnection formed using the Damascene method, and after a post-CMP cleaning step, the surface of the silicon oxide film and Cu interconnections is treated by a reducing plasma (ammonia plasma). Subsequently, a continuous cap film (silicon nitride film) is formed without vacuum break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naohumi Ohashi, Tatsuyuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20070004189
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing the defect the in shape of via holes cased when an alumina mask is used for the dry etching of an interlayer insulator composed of an SiOC film in the dual damascene process in which via holes are formed prior to forming wiring trenches. That is, after forming an alumina mask on an interlayer insulator composed of a low-k SiOC film via a cap insulator, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using a photoresist film as a mask to form via holes. Next, after removing the photoresist film, the inside of the via holes are cleaned by using dilute hydrofluoric acid solution to remove alumina residue. Thereafter, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using the alumina mask as a mask to form wiring trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Hideo Aoki, Shoji Hotta, Takayuki Oshima
  • Publication number: 20060281298
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device, capacitance between copper interconnections is decreased and the insulation breakdown is improved simultaneously, and a countermeasure is taken for misalignment via by a manufacturing method including the steps of forming an interconnection containing copper as a main ingredient in an insulative film above a substrate, forming insulative films and a barrier insulative film for a reservoir pattern, forming an insulative film capable of suppressing or preventing copper from diffusing on the upper surface and on the lateral surface of the interconnection and above the insulative film and the insulative film, forming insulative films of low dielectric constant, in which the insulative film is formed such that the deposition rate above the opposing lateral surfaces of the interconnections is larger than the deposition rate therebelow to form an air gap between the adjacent interconnections and, finally, planarizing the insulative film by interlayer CMP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Takashi Matsumoto, Takayuki Oshima, Toshihiko Onozuka
  • Publication number: 20060226555
    Abstract: The reliability of wirings, each of which includes a main conductive film containing copper as a primary component, is improved. On an insulating film including the upper surface of a wiring serving as a lower layer wiring, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbonitride film having excellent barrier properties to copper is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a silicon carbide film having excellent adhesiveness to a low dielectric constant material film is formed; on the insulating film, an insulating film formed of a low dielectric constant material as an interlayer insulating film is formed; and thereafter a wiring as an upper layer wiring is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Takayuki Oshima, Noriko Miura, Kensuke Ishikawa, Tomio Iwasaki, Kiyomi Katsuyama, Tatsuyuki Saito, Tsuyoshi Tamaru, Hizuru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7109127
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing the defect the in shape of via holes cased when an alumina mask is used for the dry etching of an interlayer insulator composed of an SiOC film in the dual damascene process in which via holes are formed prior to forming wiring trenches. That is, after forming an alumina mask on an interlayer insulator composed of a low-k SiOC film via a cap insulator, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using a photoresist film as a mask to form via holes. Next, after removing the photoresist film, the inside of the via holes are cleaned by using dilute hydrofluoric acid solution to remove alumina residue. Thereafter, the cap insulator and the interlayer insulator are dry-etched with using the alumina mask as a mask to form wiring trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Hideo Aoki, Shoji Hotta, Takayuki Oshima