Abstract: A structure and method for making copper interconnections in an integrated circuit are described. The structure is a damascene copper connector whose upper surface is coplanar with the upper surface of the insulating layer in which it is embedded. Out-diffusion of copper from the connector is prevented by two barrier layers. One is located at the interface between the connector and the insulating layer while the second barrier is an insulating layer which covers the upper surface of the connector. The damascene process involves filling a trench in the surface of the insulator with copper and then removing the excess by chem.-mech. polishing. Since photoresist is never in direct contact with the copper the problem of copper oxidation during resist ashing has been effectively eliminated.

Abstract: The microtip housing cavity in a cold cathode display was formed by selecting for the dielectric layer surrounding it a material whose etch rate (for the same etchant) was 3 to 20 times faster than the etch rate of the gate layer. Specifically, a gaseous etchant that included CHF.sub.3, CH.sub.4, CO, or CO and C.sub.4 F.sub.8 was used to form the cavity in a layer consisting of silicon oxide containing between about 3 and 10 weight % boron and between about 3 and 10 weight % phosphorus, deposited by chemical vapor deposition at pressures somewhat less than atmospheric (commonly referred to as SABPSG or sub-atmospheric boro-phosphosilicate glass). The gate layer consisted of phosphorus-doped polysilicon. Using this combination, once the gate opening had been etched, etching of the cavity proceeded very rapidly with little increase in the width of the gate opening. Thus the cavity was formed in a single mask, single etchant process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure and a method of manufacturing a resistor in a semiconductor device and especially for a resistor in an ink jet print head. The method begins by providing a substrate 10 having a field oxide region 20 surrounding an active area. The field oxide region 20 has an ink well region 52. Also a transistor is provided in the active area. The transistor comprises a source 12, drain 14 and gate electrode 16 18 19. A dielectric layer 24 is formed over the field oxide region 20 and the transistor 12 14 16 18. The dielectric layer 24 has contact openings over the source 12 and drain 14. A resistive layer 26 27 is formed over the dielectric layer 24 and contacting the source 12 and drain 14. The resistive layer 26 27 is preferably comprised of two layers of: a Titanium layer 26 under a titanium nitride 27 or a titanium layer 26 under a tungsten nitride layer 27. A first metal layer 28 is formed over the resistive layer.

Abstract: An improved method of gap filling and planarization in the dielectric layer by combining an anti-reflective coating with a CMP etch stop is described. Semiconductor device structures are provided in and on a semiconductor substrate. A conducting layer is deposited overlying the surfaces of the semiconductor device structures. A hard mask is deposited overlying the conducting layer wherein the hard mask acts as an anti-reflective coating. The conducting layer and the hard mask are patterned to form conducting lines wherein a gap is formed between the conducting lines. A first dielectric layer is deposited over the surfaces of the conducting lines wherein the gap remains between the conducting lines. A second dielectric layer is deposited overlying the first dielectric layer wherein the gap is filled by the second dielectric layer. The first and second dielectric layers are planarized wherein the hard mask acts as an etch stop or a polish stop.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a MOSFET device, in which a source and drain region has been formed, prior to the formation of an ion implanted channel region, has been developed. The early creation of source and drain region allows a high temperature anneal to be performed, removing damage resulting from the source and drain ion implantation procedures, however without redistribution of channel dopants. The method features creating an opening in an insulator layer, after the source and drain formation, and then forming the channel region in the semiconductor substrate, directly underlying the opening in the insulator layer. A polysilicon gate structure is next formed in the opening, resulting in self-alignment to the underlying channel region.

Abstract: A method for forming a stacked container capacitor for use within integrated circuits. Formed successively upon a semiconductor substrate is a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and a patterned mask layer. Within an isotropic etch process, the first dielectric layer etches slower than the second dielectric layer. By means of an anisotropic etch process employing the patterned mask layer as a mask, an aperture is etched at least partially through the first dielectric layer. By means of an isotropic etch process employing the patterned mask layer as a mask, the second dielectric layer is etched to yield a ledge formed above the first dielectric layer and below the patterned masking layer. The patterned mask layer is then removed. Formed then into the anisotropically and isotropically etched aperture is a first polysilicon layer, a third dielectric layer and a second polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a residue free patterned polysilicon layer upon a high step height patterned substrate layer. First, there is provided a semiconductor substrate having formed thereon a high step height patterned substrate layer. Formed upon the high step height patterned substrate layer is a polysilicon layer, and formed upon the polysilicon layer is a patterned photoresist layer. The patterned photoresist layer exposes portions of the polysilicon layer at a lower step level of the high step height patterned substrate layer. The polysilicon layer is then patterned through the patterned photoresist layer as an etch mask employing an anisotropic first etch process to yield a patterned polysilicon layer upon the surface of the high step height patterned substrate layer and polysilicon residues at the lower step level of the high step height patterned substrate layer.

Abstract: An improved method for removing a photoresist mask from an etched aluminum pattern after etching the pattern in a chlorine containing plasma has been created. The method is a two step process, in which a first stripping step is in a plasma containing O.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O and a second stripping step is in a plasma containing O.sub.2.

Abstract: A structure and method for making copper interconnections in an integrated circuit are described. The structure is a damascene copper connector whose upper surface is coplanar with the upper surface of the insulating layer in which it is embedded. Out-diffusion of copper from the connector is prevented by two barrier layers. One is located at the interface between the connector and the insulating layer ,while the second barrier is an insulating layer which covers the upper surface of the connector. The damascene process involves filling a trench in the surface of the insulator with copper and then removing the excess by chem.-mech. polishing. Since photoresist is never in direct contact with the copper the problem of copper oxidation during resist ashing has been effectively eliminated.

Abstract: A new method of forming improved buried contact junctions is described. A layer of polysilicon overlying gate silicon oxide is provided over the surface of a semiconductor substrate and etched away to provide an opening to the substrate where a planned buried contact junction will be formed. A second doped polysilicon layer and a tungsten silicide layer are deposited and patterned to provide gate electrodes and a contact overlying the planned buried contact junction and providing an opening to the substrate where a planned source/drain region will be formed adjoining the planned buried contact junction and wherein a portion of the polysilicon layer not at the polysilicon contact remains as residue. The residue is etched away whereby a trench is etched into the substrate at the junction of the planned source/drain region and the planned buried contact junction.

Abstract: A method for making low sheet resistance sub-quarter-micrometer gate electrode lengths on field effect transistors has been achieved. The method involves patterning gate electrodes on a silicon substrate from a conductively doped polysilicon layer having a silicon nitride layer on the surface. After forming the FET lightly doped drains (LDD), the sidewall spacers, and the heavily doped source/drain contact regions with titanium contacts, an insulating layer is chemically/mechanically polished back to the silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride on the gate electrode layer to form a planar self-aligning mask. A pre-amorphizing implantation is carried out, and a titanium silicide is selectively formed on the gate electrodes resulting in small grain sizes and much reduced sheet resistance. The self-aligned mask prevents ion implant damage to the shallow source/drain regions adjacent to the FET gate electrodes.

Abstract: A new method for forming planarized high quality oxide shallow trench isolation is described. A nitride layer overlying a pad oxide layer is provided over the surface of a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of isolation trenches is etched through the nitride and pad oxide layers into the semiconductor substrate wherein there is at least one first wide nitride region between two of the isolation trenches and at least one second narrow nitride region between another two of the isolation trenches. A high density plasma (HDP) oxide layer is deposited over the nitride layer filling the isolation trenches wherein the HDP oxide deposits more thickly in the first region over the wide nitride layer and deposits more thinly in the second region over the narrow nitride layer and wherein the difference in step heights of the HDP oxide between the first region and a region overlying an isolation trench is a first height.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure and a method of manufacturing a resistor in a semiconductor device and especially for a resistor in an ink jet print head. The method begins by providing a substrate 10 having a field oxide region 20 surrounding an active area. The field oxide region 20 has an ink well region 52. Also a transistor is provided in the active area. The transistor comprises a source 12, drain 14 and gate electrode 16 18 19. A dielectric layer 24 is formed over the field oxide region 20 and the transistor 12 14 16 18. The dielectric layer 24 has contact openings over the source 12 and drain 14. A resistive layer 26 27 is formed over the dielectric layer 24 and contacting the source 12 and drain 14. The resistive layer 26 27 is preferably comprised of two layers of: a Titanium layer 26 under a titanium nitride 27 or a titanium layer 26 under a tungsten nitride layer 27. A first metal layer 28 is formed over the resistive layer.

Abstract: An improved antifuse design has been achieved by providing a structure comprising pair of alternating layers of silicon nitride and amorphous silicon sandwiched between two dual damascene connectors. Said structure provides the advantage, over the prior art, that all electrically active surfaces of the fuse structure are planar, so no potential failure spots resulting from surface unevenness can be formed. A process for manufacturing said fuse structure is also provided and involves fewer masking steps than related structures of the prior art.

Abstract: A microloading quantification apparatus is comprising a supporting substrate, a first bonding pad deposited upon the supporting substrate, a second bonding pad deposited upon the supporting substrate, and an etched conductive pattern deposited upon the supporting substrate and operably connected to the first bonding pad and the second bonding pad. Methods for the formation and application of the microloading quantification apparatus to quantify the variation of the microloading effect as a result of modifications of the set of parameters of integrated circuit processing particularly those of the plasma dry etch are described.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an improved connection between active device regions in silicon, to an overlying metallization level, has been developed. The method produces contacts with superior and improved barrier integrity, which permits silicon device exposure to extended thermal process times and/or higher temperature processes without metal penetration into the silicon contact junction regions. The critical element is the addition of a conformal CVD tungsten layer in the multilayer barrier structure.

Abstract: A new method of forming improved buried contact junctions is described. A layer of polysilicon overlying gate silicon oxide is provided over the surface of a semiconductor substrate and etched away to provide an opening to the substrate where a planned buried contact junction will be formed. A second doped polysilicon layer and a tungsten silicide layer are deposited and patterned to provide gate electrodes and a contact overlying the planned buried contact junction and providing an opening to the substrate where a planned source/drain region will be formed adjoining the planned buried contact junction and wherein a portion of the polysilicon layer not at the polysilicon contact remains as residue. The residue is etched away whereby a trench is etched into the substrate at the junction of the planned source/drain region and the planned buried contact junction.

Abstract: A method for forming a stacked container capacitor for use within integrated circuits. Formed successively upon a semiconductor substrate is a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and a patterned mask layer. Within an isotropic etch process, the first dielectric layer etches slower than the second dielectric layer. By means of an anisotropic etch process employing the patterned mask layer as a mask, an aperture is etched at least partially through the first dielectric layer. By means of an isotropic etch process employing the patterned mask layer as a mask, the second dielectric layer is etched to yield a ledge formed above the first dielectric layer and below the patterned masking layer. The patterned mask layer is then removed. Formed then into the anisotropically and isotropically etched aperture is a first polysilicon layer, a third dielectric layer and a second polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A method for producing an interconnect on a semiconductor device has silicon containing conductive surfaces and dielectric surfaces. The process includes forming separate regions of a blanket first refractory metal silicide on the silicon containing conductive surfaces, the first refractory metal silicide being composed of a first refractory metal and silicon from the surfaces, forming a blanket second refractory metal layer over the device, forming a blanket .alpha.-Si layer over the second refractory metal layer, forming a mask over the device to pattern an interconnect between the separate regions, then etching away the unwanted portions of the refractory metal layers and the .alpha.-Si layer, performing a rapid thermal annealing process on the device forming a low resistance refractory metal silicide between the .alpha.-Si layer and the second refractory metal layer, and then etching away the unwanted portions of the refractory metal layers that are not covered by the refractory metal silicide.

Abstract: A method for forming a residue free patterned conductor layer upon a high step height integrated circuit substrate. First, there is provided a semiconductor substrate having formed thereon a high step height patterned integrated circuit layer. Formed upon the high step height patterned integrated circuit layer is a blanket conductor layer, and formed upon the blanket conductor layer is a patterned photoresist layer. The portions of the blanket conductor layer exposed through the patterned photoresist layer are etched through an anisotropic etch process to leave remaining a patterned conductor layer upon the surface of the high step height patterned integrated circuit layer and conductor layer residues at a lower step level of the high step height patterned integrated circuit layer. The patterned photoresist layer is then reflowed to cover exposed edges of the patterned conductor layer.