Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first set of recesses is formed in the first dielectric layer. A metal layer is formed in the first set of recesses. A set of metal wirings is formed from the metal layer in the first set of recesses. A second set of recesses is formed in the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the set of metal wirings and in the second set of recesses. A third set of recesses is formed in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer is formed over the metal wirings and in the third set of recesses.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first interlayer dielectric layer disposed over a substrate, metal wirings, a second interlayer dielectric layer disposed over the first interlayer dielectric layer and the metal wirings, a first air gap and a second air gap. The metal wirings are embedded in the first interlayer dielectric layer, and arranged with a first space or a second space between the metal wirings. The second space has a greater length than the first space. The first air gap is formed by the second interlayer dielectric layer and formed in a first area sandwiched by adjacent two metal wirings arranged with the first space. The second air gap is formed by the second interlayer dielectric layer and formed in a second area sandwiched by adjacent two metal wirings arranged with the second space therebetween. No adjacent two metal wirings are arranged with a space smaller than the first space.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first dielectric layer is formed over a substrate, first recesses are formed in the first dielectric layer. Metal wirings extending is a first direction are formed in the first recesses. A mask layer is formed over the metal wirings and the first dielectric layer, which includes a first opening extending in the first direction and is located above a space between adjacent two metal wirings. A first groove corresponding to the first opening is formed between the adjacent two metal wirings by etching the first dielectric layer using the mask layer as an etching mask. A second dielectric layer is formed so that a first air gap is formed in the first groove. A width of the first opening in a perpendicular direction to the first direction is smaller than a space between the adjacent two metal wirings.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a gate strip in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer. The gate strip comprises a metal gate electrode over a high-k gate dielectric. An electrical transmission structure is formed over the gate strip and a conductive strip is formed over the electrical transmission structure. The conductive strip has a width greater than a width of the gate strip. A contact plug is formed above the conductive strip and surrounded by an additional ILD layer.

Abstract: An embodiment semiconductor device includes a first conductive feature in a dielectric layer and a second conductive feature over the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first conductive feature. The second conductive feature includes a dual damascene structure and further includes a top portion within both a line portion and a via portion of the second conductive feature and a bottom portion in the via portion of the second conductive feature. The bottom portion comprises a different conductive material than the top portion, and a thickness of the bottom portion is at least about twenty percent of a total thickness of the via portion of the second conductive feature.

Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first conductive feature over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the first conductive feature. The semiconductor device further includes a second conductive feature over the first conductive feature, and the second conductive feature extends into the first conductive feature. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and surrounding the second conductive feature. The semiconductor device also includes an etch stop layer between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The etch stop layer surrounds the first conductive feature, and a bottom surface of the second conductive feature is above the etch stop layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor integrated circuit line structures for improving a process window in the vicinity of dense-to-isolated pattern transition areas and a technique to implement the line structures in the layout process are described in this disclosure. The disclosed structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a material layer above the substrate. The material layer has a closely spaced dense line structure, an isolated line structure next to the dense line structure, and a dummy line shoulder structure formed in the vicinity of the dense line and the isolated line structures. One end of the dummy line shoulder structure connects to the isolated line structure and another end extends away from the isolated line structure in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the isolated line structure.

Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first conductive feature over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the first conductive feature. The semiconductor device further includes a second conductive feature over the first conductive feature, and the second conductive feature extends into the first conductive feature. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and surrounding the second conductive feature.

Abstract: A structure and a formation method of a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first conductive feature over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the first conductive feature. The semiconductor device further includes a second conductive feature over the first conductive feature, and the second conductive feature extends into the first conductive feature. In addition, the semiconductor device includes a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and surrounding the second conductive feature.

Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor structure includes forming a first set of electrodes having a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each electrode of the first set of electrodes has an L-shaped portion. The method further includes forming a second set of electrodes having a third electrode and a fourth electrode, wherein each electrode of the second set of electrodes has an L-shaped portion. The method further includes forming insulation layers between the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes. The method further includes forming a first L-shaped line plug connecting the first electrode to the third electrode, wherein an entirety of an outer surface of the first L-shaped line plug is recessed with respect to an outer surface of the L-shaped portion of the first electrode. The method further includes forming a second line plug connecting the second electrode to the fourth electrode.

Abstract: A method of generating a layout usable for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method includes generating a block layout layer usable in conjunction with a first conductive layout layer. The first conductive layout layer includes a fuse layout pattern, and the block layout layer includes a block layout pattern overlapping a portion of a fuse line portion of the fuse layout pattern. A second conductive layout layer is generated to replace the first conductive layout layer. The generating the second conductive layout layer includes performing an optical proximity correction (OPC) process on the first conductive layout layer except the portion of the fuse line portion of the fuse layout pattern corresponding to the block layout pattern.

Abstract: A capacitor structure includes first and second sets of electrodes and a plurality of line plugs. The first set of electrodes has a first electrode and a second electrode formed in a first metallization layer among a plurality of metallization layers, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are separated by an insulation material. The second set of electrodes has a third electrode and a fourth electrode formed in a second metallization layer among the plurality of metallization layers, wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are separated by the insulation material. The line plugs connect the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes.

Abstract: Semiconductor integrated circuit line structures for improving a process window in the vicinity of dense-to-isolated pattern transition areas and a technique to implement the line structures in the layout process are described in this disclosure. The disclosed structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a material layer above the substrate. The material layer has a closely spaced dense line structure, an isolated line structure next to the dense line structure, and a dummy line shoulder structure formed in the vicinity of the dense line and the isolated line structures. One end of the dummy line shoulder structure connects to the isolated line structure and another end extends away from the isolated line structure in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the isolated line structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a gate on a substrate with source/drain (S/D) regions adjacent to the gate. A first dielectric layer overlays the gate and the S/D regions, the first dielectric layer having first contact holes over the S/D regions with first contact plugs formed of a first material and the first contact plugs coupled to respective S/D regions. A second dielectric layer overlays the first dielectric layer and the first contact plugs. A second contact hole formed in the first and second dielectric layers is filled with a second contact plug formed of a second material. The second contact plug is coupled to the gate and interconnect structures formed in the second dielectric layer, the interconnect structures coupled to the first contact plugs. The second material is different from the first material, and the second material has an electrical resistance lower than that of the first material.

Abstract: Semiconductor integrated circuit line structures for improving a process window in the vicinity of dense-to-isolated pattern transition areas and a technique to implement the line structures in the layout process are described in this disclosure. The disclosed structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a material layer above the substrate. The material layer has a closely spaced dense line structure, an isolated line structure next to the dense line structure, and a dummy line shoulder structure formed in the vicinity of the dense line and the isolated line structures. One end of the dummy line shoulder structure connects to the isolated line structure and another end extends away from the isolated line structure in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the isolated line structure.

Abstract: A method for an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a metallization layer over the semiconductor substrate; forming a first dielectric layer between the semiconductor substrate and the metallization layer; forming a second dielectric layer between the semiconductor substrate and the metallization layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is over the first dielectric layer; and forming a contact plug with an upper portion substantially in the second dielectric layer and a lower portion substantially in the first dielectric layer. The contact plug is electrically connected to a metal line in the metallization layer. The contact plug is discontinuous at an interface between the upper portion and the lower portion.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a gate strip in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer. The gate strip comprises a metal gate electrode over a high-k gate dielectric. An electrical transmission structure is formed over the gate strip and a conductive strip is formed over the electrical transmission structure. The conductive strip has a width greater than a width of the gate strip. A contact plug is formed above the conductive strip and surrounded by an additional ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a gate on a substrate with source/drain (S/D) regions adjacent to the gate. A first dielectric layer overlays the gate and the S/D regions, the first dielectric layer having first contact holes over the S/D regions with first contact plugs formed of a first material and the first contact plugs coupled to respective S/D regions. A second dielectric layer overlays the first dielectric layer and the first contact plugs. A second contact hole formed in the first and second dielectric layers is filled with a second contact plug formed of a second material. The second contact plug is coupled to the gate and interconnect structures formed in the second dielectric layer, the interconnect structures coupled to the first contact plugs. The second material is different from the first material, and the second material has an electrical resistance lower than that of the first material.

Abstract: A capacitor structure includes first and second sets of electrodes and a plurality of line plugs. The first set of electrodes has a first electrode and a second electrode formed in a first metallization layer among a plurality of metallization layers, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are separated by an insulation material. The second set of electrodes has a third electrode and a fourth electrode formed in a second metallization layer among the plurality of metallization layers, wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are separated by the insulation material. The line plugs connect the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes.

Abstract: Semiconductor integrated circuit line structures for improving a process window in the vicinity of dense-to-isolated pattern transition areas and a technique to implement the line structures in the layout process are described in this disclosure. The disclosed structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a material layer above the substrate. The material layer has a closely spaced dense line structure, an isolated line structure next to the dense line structure, and a dummy line shoulder structure formed in the vicinity of the dense line and the isolated line structures. One end of the dummy line shoulder structure connects to the isolated line structure and another end extends away from the isolated line structure in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the isolated line structure.