Abstract: A method for producing a reduced friction sliding surface on a machine element includes applying a coating comprising amorphous carbon to a surface of the machine element and locally heating the coating with a laser. The coating is heated to a temperature below an evaporation temperature of the coating to achieve a local volumetric increase in the coating and a local increase in a layer thickness of the coating. A surface structure of the coating includes a multiplicity of elevations resulting from a local phase transformation of the coating from amorphous carbon into graphite due to the locally heating.

Abstract: A method for producing a reduced friction sliding surface on a machine element includes applying a coating comprising amorphous carbon to a surface of the machine element and locally heating the coating with a laser. The coating is heated to a temperature below an evaporation temperature of the coating to achieve a local volumetric increase in the coating and a local increase in a layer thickness of the coating. A surface structure of the coating includes a multiplicity of elevations resulting from a local phase transformation of the coating from amorphous carbon into graphite due to the locally heating.

Abstract: A method for providing bitline contacts in a memory cell array includes a plurality of bitlines disposed in a first direction, the bitlines being covered by an isolating layer, a plurality of wordlines disposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction above the bitlines, and memory cells disposed at the points at which the bitlines and wordlines cross each other. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the isolating layer is removed from the bitlines at the portions that are not covered by the wordlines, whereas the areas between the bitlines remain unaffected. Alternatively, the isolating layer is removed from the whole cell array. Then, an electrical conductive material is provided on the exposed portions of the bitlines. The method is used to provide bitline contacts in a nitride read only memory (NROM™) chip.

Abstract: A method for providing bitline contacts in a memory cell array includes a plurality of bitlines disposed in a first direction, the bitlines being covered by an isolating layer, a plurality of wordlines disposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction above the bitlines, and memory cells disposed at the points at which the bitlines and wordlines cross each other. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the isolating layer is removed from the bitlines at the portions that are not covered by the wordlines, whereas the areas between the bitlines remain unaffected. Alternatively, the isolating layer is removed from the whole cell array. Then, an electrical conductive material is provided on the exposed portions of the bitlines. The method is used to provide bitline contacts in a nitride read only memory (NROM™) chip.

Abstract: A method for planarizing the surface of an isolating layer that is deposited on a semiconductor body is described. Zones where the isolating layer has a low level are covered with a block mask in order to be able to selectively etch zones of the isolating layer with a higher level.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor device having a first region with storage capacitors and a second region with at least one well surrounded by an insulation. The method creates both the storage capacitors and the insulation by forming trenches in the first region and at least one trench in the second region, and the trenches have a depth of at least 2 &mgr;m. The trenches in the first region are treated to provide first and second electrodes separated by a dielectric to form the capacitors and each trench in the second region provides an insulation which surrounds any wells in the second region.

Abstract: A method for planarizing the surface of an isolating layer that is deposited on a semiconductor body is described. Zones where the isolating layer has a low level are covered with a block mask in order to be able to selectively etch zones of the isolating layer with a higher level.

Abstract: An improved method of performing a dual damascene etch through a layer stack disposed above a substrate. The layer stack includes an underlying device layer and an insulating layer disposed above the underlying device layer. The method includes forming a trench in a top surface of the insulating layer such that the trench is positioned over the underlying device layer and separated therefrom by insulating material at a bottom of the trench. The method also includes, depositing flowable oxide over the top surface of the insulating layer and into the trench followed by planarizing the flowable oxide down to about a level of the top surface of the insulating layer. Further, the method includes, etching through the flowable oxide within the trench and through insulating material at the bottom of the trench down to the underlying device layer to form a via.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit interconnection for interconnecting at least two conductive regions within an integrated circuit, and method for producing the same. The interconnection includes a tungsten layer and a barrier layer to provide a low contact resistance within the interconnection and between the conductive regions and the interconnection. The interconnection also includes an aluminum layer for providing a low sheet resistance in the current path between the two conductive regions. Thus the invention combines the advantages of an all tungsten interconnection with those of a tungsten capsuled aluminum interconnection.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit interconnection for interconnecting at least two conductive regions within an integrated circuit, and method for producing the same. The interconnection includes a tungsten layer and a barrier layer to provide a low contact resistance within the interconnection and between the conductive regions and the interconnection. The interconnection also includes an aluminum layer for providing a low sheet resistance in the current path between the two conductive regions. Thus the invention combines the advantages of an all tungsten interconnection with those of a tungsten capsuled aluminum interconnection.

Abstract: A set of ruled devices and method for measuring an actual dimension of a specimen displayed as a magnified image by a magnification system such as a scanning electron microscope having a plurality of selected magnification factors. The magnified image includes dimensions that correspond to a predetermined selected magnification. A set of ruled devices is provided, whereby each ruled device includes indicia that corresponds to one of the magnification factors. A ruled device that corresponds to the predetermined selected magnification is selected. The dimension of the image is measured with the selected ruled device, whereby the indicia of the selected ruled device indicates the actual dimension of the specimen.