Abstract: Hardmasks and fabrication methods are presented for producing ferroelectric capacitors in a semiconductor device, wherein a hardmask comprising aluminum oxide or strontium tantalum oxide is formed above an upper capacitor electrode material, and capacitor electrode and ferroelectric layers are etched to define a ferroelectric capacitor stack.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating an integrated circuit comprising patterning a dielectric layer to form a hole having a sidewall and a bottom. The hole can expose an underlying material of an electrically conducting material. The method also includes exposing the sidewall and the exposed underlying material to a plasma etch, depositing a barrier layer on the bottom and the sidewall of the hole after the plasma etch clean, forming a counter-sunk cone in the underlying material by etching through the barrier layer at the bottom of the hole into the conducting metal underneath, flash depositing a thin layer of the barrier material into the hole, and finally depositing a metal seed layer in the hole covering the sidewalls and the bottom of the hole including the cone at the bottom. The hole is finally filled by depositing a metal layer in the hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ferroelectric capacitor, a method of manufacture therefor, and a method of manufacturing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device. The ferroelectric capacitor (100), among other elements, includes a substantially planar ferroelectric dielectric layer (165) located over a first electrode layer (160), wherein the substantially planar ferroelectric dielectric layer (165) has an average surface roughness of less than about 4 nm. The ferroelectric capacitor (100) further includes a second electrode layer (170) located over the substantially planar ferroelectric dielectric layer (165).

Abstract: An integrated circuit copper interconnect structure is formed by forming a dielectric layer (90) over a semiconductor substrate (10). Trenches (110) and vias (120) are formed in the dielectric layer (90) and a barrier layer (130) is formed in the trenches (110) and vias (120) using material such as iridium, iridium oxide, ruthenium, ruthenium oxide, rhodium, rhodium oxide, rhenium, rhenium oxide, platinum, platinum oxide, palladium and palladium oxide. Copper (147) is then used to fill the remaining area in the trenches (110) and vias (120).

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of fabricating a haze free, phase pure, PZT layer, 3, where a lead rich PZT film, 102, is formed over a phase pure stoichiometric PZT film, 101.

Abstract: Hardmasks and fabrication methods are presented for producing ferroelectric capacitors in a semiconductor device, wherein a hardmask comprising aluminum oxide or strontium tantalum oxide is formed above an upper capacitor electrode material, and capacitor electrode and ferroelectric layers are etched to define a ferroelectric capacitor stack.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making the same are described in which a single high k or ferroelectric dielectric layer is used to form decoupling capacitors and analog capacitor segments. Analog capacitors are formed by coupling analog capacitor segments in series with one another, wherein the capacitor segments may be connected in reverse polarity relationship to provide symmetrical performance characteristics for the analog capacitors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for fabricating an integrated circuit capacitor (100). An electrode layer (102) is formed in the integrated circuit. An anti-reflective coating (108) is deposited over the electrode layer (102). An electrode top plate (104) is formed over the anti-reflective coating (108).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for fabricating an integrated circuit capacitor (100). An electrode layer (102) is formed in the integrated circuit. An anti-reflective coating (108) is deposited over the electrode layer (102). An electrode top plate (104) is formed over the anti-reflective coating (108).

Abstract: A bipolar transistor (100) and a method for forming the same. A base-link diffusion source layer (118) is formed over a portion of the collector region (102). The base-link diffusion source layer (118) comprises a material that is capable of being used as a dopant source and is capable of being etched selectively with respect to silicon. A barrier layer (119) is formed over the base-link diffusion source layer (118).A base electrode (114) is formed over at least one end portion of the barrier layer (119) and base-link diffusion source layer (118) and the exposed portions of the barrier layer (119) and underlying base-link diffusion source layer (118) are removed. An extrinsic base region (110) is diffused from the base electrode (114) and a base link-up region (112) is diffused from the base-link diffusion source layer (118). Processing may then continue to fore an intrinsic base region (108), emitter region (126), and emitter electrode (124).

Abstract: A bipolar transistor (100) and a method for forming the same. A base-link diffusion source layer (118) is formed over a portion of the collector region (102). The base-link diffusion source layer (118) comprises a material that is capable of being used as a dopant source and is capable of being etched selectively with respect to silicon. A barrier layer (119) is formed over the base-link diffusion source layer (118). A base electrode (114) is formed over at least one end portion of the barrier layer (119) and base-link diffusion source layer (118) and the exposed portions of the barrier layer (119) and underlying base-link diffusion source layer (118) are removed. An extrinsic base region (110) is diffused from the base electrode (114) and a base link-up region (112) is diffused from the base-link diffusion source layer (118). Processing may then continue to form an intrinsic base region (108), emitter region (126), and emitter electrode (124).

Abstract: A portable basketball system with a ballast-fillable base configured to house the component parts of the basketball system is disclosed. The basketball system includes a base, a backboard, a basketball goal, a pole, and means for affixing the backboard and goal to the pole. The base includes molded recesses for retaining the backboard, basketball goal, a plurality of pole sections, which are joined together to form the pole, and the means for affixing the backboard and goal to the pole, such as threaded fasteners. The backboard functions as a lid to retain the component parts within their respective recesses in the base. A handle is located on the exterior surface of the base for transporting the component parts of the basketball system, much like a suitcase.

Abstract: A basketball assemblage capable of assembly into a basketball system includes an inner pole section and an outer pole section which mate in a telescoping manner. The inner pole section contains a plurality of depressions which are releasably engageable by a latch secured to the outer pole section, thereby making the pole movable among a plurality of predetermined positions. The latch includes a pivot arm pivotally mounted for movement between a position engaging a selected depression to prevent telescoping pole movement, and a releasing position which allows movement. A safety lock pin is releasably engageable to prevent movement of the pivot arm. A slider positioned adjacent the inner pole section reduces binding. The pole also includes a sealed chamber for damping movement of the inner pole section to prevent the backboard from moving suddenly downward when the latch is released.