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: 6797609
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naofumi Ohashi, Kenichi Takeda, Tatsuyuki Saito, Hizuru Yamaguchii, Nobuo Owada
  • Publication number: 20040180534
    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: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naohumi Ohashi, Tatsuyuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20040173906
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, upon 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, 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: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Junji Noguchi, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada
  • Publication number: 20040152336
    Abstract: Disclosed here is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which can prevent films from delamination and improve the reliability of the semiconductor. A first insulating film comprising a silicon carbide film, silicon carbide nitride film, or silicon oxide nitride film is formed as a barrier insulating film of the wiring, and then a second insulating film comprising a fluorine containing silicon oxide film is formed on the first insulating film by a high density plasma CVD method as a low permittivity insulating film. And, when forming the second insulating film, the semiconductor substrate is heated up to a predetermined deposition temperature using a heat-up plasma generated by a gas containing no oxygen such as an argon plasma. When the substrate reaches the predetermined deposition temperature, the insulating film deposition gas is introduced into the deposition chamber to deposit the second insulating film on the first insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Noriko Miura, Kazutoshi Ohmori, Kiyohiko Sato, Junji Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Tamaru
  • Publication number: 20040152256
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which has reliable buried interconnects (wirings) and a reliable MIM capacitor. An interconnect and a capacitor bottom electrode are formed inside a hole made in six insulation films. Then a barrier insulation film is formed on the uppermost film (of the above six insulation films) including the interconnect and the top face of the bottom electrode. After two insulation films are formed above the barrier insulation film, a hole is made in the two insulation films and a capacitor top electrode is buried in that hole. The barrier insulation film also functions as a capacity insulation film for the capacitor. Then, after three other insulation films are formed on the upper film (of the above two insulation films) including the top face of the top electrode, a hole is made in the barrier insulation film, the two insulation films, and the three other insulation films, and another interconnect is buried in that hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Toshinori Imai, Tsuyoshi Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20040152298
    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: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Naofumi Ohashi, Junji Noguchi, Toshinori Imai, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada, Kenji Hinode, Yoshio Homma, Seiichi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20040147127
    Abstract: The copper interconnect formed by the use of a damascene technique is improved in dielectric breakdown strength (reliability). During post-CMP cleaning, alkali cleaning, a deoxidizing process due to hydrogen annealing or the like, and acid cleaning are carried out in this order. After the post-CMP cleaning and before forming an insulation film for a cap film, hydrogen plasma and ammonia plasma processes are carried out on the semiconductor substrate. In this way, a copper-based buried interconnect is formed in an interlayer insulation film structured of an insulation material having a low dielectric constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Shoji Asaka, Nobuhiro Konishi, Naohumi Ohashi, Hiroyuki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6764950
    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: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naohumi Ohashi, Tatsuyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 6756679
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naofumi Ohashi, Kenichi Takeda, Tatsuyuki Saito, Hizuru Yamaguchii, Nobuo Owada
  • Patent number: 6734104
    Abstract: Over a plug, a stopper insulating film made of an organic film is formed, followed by successive formation of an insulating film and a hard mask. In the presence of a patterned resist film, the hard mask is dry etched, whereby an interconnection groove pattern is transferred thereto. By ashing with oxygen plasma, the resist film is removed to form the interconnection-groove-pattern-transferred hard mask. At this time, the organic film constituting the stopper insulating film has been covered with the insulating film. Then, the insulating film, stopper insulating film and hard mask are removed to form the groove pattern of interconnection. Hydrogen annealing may be conducted after formation of the plug, or the stopper insulating film may be formed over the plug via an adhesion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kazusato Hara, Keisuke Funatsu, Toshinori Imai, Junji Noguchi, Naohumi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6730594
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a buried wiring structure of copper, a conductive barrier film 17a of buried second layer wirings L2 is protected against oxidation upon forming an insulative film 15b for a wiring cap with an SiON film formed by a plasma CVD method using a gas mixture, for example, of a trimethoxysilane gas and a nitrogen oxidized gas, whereby the dielectric breakdown strength between wirings of copper as the main conductor layer of the semiconductor device can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi Tokyo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naohide Hamada
  • Patent number: 6731007
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, upon 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, 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: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Junji Noguchi, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada
  • Patent number: 6730590
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit wherein an interlayer insulating film is formed over a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor device formed thereover; and an interconnection embedded in an interconnection groove in the interlayer insulating film is formed by the deposition of a metal film such as copper and polishing by the CMP method, another interlayer insulating film over the interconnection and interlayer insulating film is formed to have a blocking film, a planarizing film and an insulating film. As the planarizing film, a film having fluidity such as SOG is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Naofumi Ohashi, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Junji Noguchi, Nobuo Owada
  • Patent number: 6723631
    Abstract: The copper interconnect formed by the use of a damascene technique is improved in dielectric breakdown strength (reliability). During post-CMP cleaning, alkali cleaning, a deoxidizing process due to hydrogen annealing or the like, and acid cleaning are carried out in this order. After the post-CMP cleaning and before forming an insulation film for a cap film, hydrogen plasma and ammonia plasma processes are carried out on the semiconductor substrate. In this way, a copper-based buried interconnect is formed in an interlayer insulation film structured of an insulation material having a low dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Shoji Asaka, Nobuhiro Konishi, Naohumi Ohashi, Hiroyuki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6716749
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Naofumi Ohashi, Kenichi Takeda, Tatsuyuki Saito, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada
  • Publication number: 20030183940
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed thereover, interconnects formed over the first insulating film and having copper as a main component, a second insulating film formed over the upper surface and side surfaces of each of the interconnects and over the first insulating film and having a function of suppressing or preventing copper diffusion, and a third insulating film formed over the second insulating film and having a dielectric constant lower than that of the second insulating film; and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. This invention makes it possible to improve dielectric breakdown strength between copper interconnects and reduce capacitance between the copper interconnects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Junji Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20030153187
    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: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Naofumi Ohashi, Junji Noguchi, Toshinori Imai, Hizuru Yamaguchi, Nobuo Owada, Kenji Hinode, Yoshio Homma, Seiichi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20030114000
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device which comprises (a) depositing a first insulating film over a wafer, (b) forming an interconnect opening in the first insulating film, (c) forming, in the interconnect opening, an interconnect having a conductor film comprised mainly of copper, (d) forming a taper at a corner of said conductor film on the opening side of the interconnect opening, and (e) depositing a second insulating film over the first insulating film and interconnect. The present invention makes it possible to improve dielectric breakdown strength between interconnects each having a main conductor film comprised mainly of copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20030109129
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has first interlayer insulating film having a wiring trench; a wiring portion having a first barrier metal layer formed over side walls and bottom surface of the wiring trench, a first conductor layer formed over the first barrier metal layer to embed the wiring trench, and a capping barrier metal film formed over the first conductor layer; second interlayer insulating film formed over the first interlayer insulating film and having a connecting hole; and a connecting portion having a second barrier metal layer formed over side walls and bottom surface of the connecting hole, and a second conductor layer formed over the second barrier metal layer to embed the connecting hole; wherein, at a joint between the connecting portion and wiring portion, at least one of the second barrier metal layer and capping barrier metal film on the bottom surface of the connecting hole is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Naofumi Ohashi, Toshinori Imai, Junji Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Tamaru
  • Publication number: 20030089928
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device comprising a first interlayer insulating film formed over a semiconductor substrate and having a wiring trench; a wiring portion which has a first barrier metal layer formed over the side walls and bottom surface of said wiring trench, a first conductor layer formed over said first barrier metal layer so as to embed said wiring trench with said first conductor layer, and a capping barrier metal film formed over the surface of said first conductor layer; a second interlayer insulating film formed over said first interlayer insulating film and having a connecting hole; and a connecting portion which has a second barrier metal layer formed over the side walls and bottom surface of said connecting hole, and a second conductor layer formed over said second barrier metal layer so as to embed said connecting hole with said second conductor layer; wherein at a joint between said connecting portion and said wiring portion, at least either one of said second barrier metal layer or sai
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Saito, Naofumi Ohashi, Toshinori Imai, Junji Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Tamaru