Abstract: A surface processing method of a sample having a mask layer that does not contain carbon as a major component formed on a substance to be processed, the substance being a metal, semiconductor and insulator deposited on a silicon substrate, includes the steps of installing the sample on a sample board in a vacuum container, generating a plasma that consists of a mixture of halogen gas and adhesive gas inside the vacuum container, applying a radio frequency bias voltage having a frequency ranging from 200 kHz to 20 MHz on the sample board, and controlling a periodic on-off of the radio frequency bias voltage with an on-off control frequency ranging from 100 Hz to 10 kHz.

Abstract: In a process for forming a solder mask, a photoimageable ink is coated on a carrier film to form a photoimageable ink layer on the carrier film. The photoimageable ink layer is dried to form a photoimageable resist layer, thereby forming at least one photoimageable resist layer bearing film. The photoimageable resist layer bearing film is laminated on at least one side of a substrate so as to bring the upper surface of the photoimageable resist layer into contact with the substrate. The photoimageable resist layer is exposed to light imagewise through the carrier film. The carrier film is removed from the photoimageable resist layer to form an exposed resist layer. The exposed resist layer is developed to form a developed resist layer. The developed resist layer is cured to form a solder mask on the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for treating samples, and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes processing apparatus (a) for treating the samples (e.g. plasma etching apparatus), (b) for removing residual corrosive compounds formed by the sample treatment, (c) for wet-processing of the samples and (d) for dry-processing the samples. A plurality of wet-processing treatments of a sample can be performed. The wet-processing apparatus can include a plurality of wet-processing stations. The samples can either be passed in series through the plurality of wet-processing stations, or can be passed in parallel through the wet-processing stations.

Abstract: A technology for a semiconductor integrated circuitry allows each of the DRAM memory cells to be divided finely so as to be more highly integrated and operate faster. In a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor integrated circuit, at first, gate electrodes 7 are formed via a gate insulating film 6 on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate 1, and on side surfaces of each of the gate electrodes there is formed a first side wall spacer 14 composed of silicon nitride and a second side wall spacer 15 composed of silicon oxide. Then, in the selecting MISFET Qs in the DRAM memory cell area there are opened connecting holes 19 and 21 in a self-matching manner with respect to the first side wall spacers 14 and connecting portion is formed connecting a conductor 20 to a bit line BL.

Abstract: A plasma processing method for etching a sample having a gate oxide film which generates a plasma in a vacuum chamber using electromagnetic waves, applies an rf bias power to the sample, turns off the rf bias power before a charged voltage of the sample reaches a breakdown voltage of the gate oxide film, turns on the rf bias power after the charged voltage of the sample has substantially dropped and repeats the turning on and off of the rf bias power to process the sample. The off-time is set at least longer than the on-time, and the plasma is generated by continuously supplying power to enable generation of the plasma during the repeated turning on and off of the rf bias power.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for treating samples, and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes processing apparatus (a) for treating the samples (e.g., plasma etching apparatus), (b) for removing residual corrosive compounds formed by the sample treatment, (c) for wet-processing of the samples and (d) for dry-processing the samples. A plurality of wet-processing treatments of a sample can be performed. The wet-processing apparatus can include a plurality of wet-processing stations. The samples can either be passed in series through the plurality of wet-processing stations, or can be passed in parallel through the wet-processing stations.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a sample surface treating apparatus for processing a fine pattern by plasma etching, including a stage provided in a chamber, on which a sample to be subjected to a surface treatment is placed; etching gas supply source for continuously supplying an etching gas for plasma generation into the chamber; a plasma generator for generating a high-density plasma in the chamber; a bias power supply for applying a bias voltage of 100 kHz or higher to the stage independently of the plasma generation; and a pulse modulator for modulating the bias power supply at a frequency of 100 Hz to 10 kHz, wherein a surface treatment in which the minimum feature size is 1 ?m or smaller is performed on the sample placed on the stage.

Abstract: A technology for a semiconductor integrated circuitry allows each of the DRAM memory cells to be divided finely so as to be more highly integrated and operate faster. In a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor integrated circuit, at first, gate electrodes 7 are formed via a gate insulating film 6 on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate 1, and on side surfaces of each of the gate electrodes there is formed a first side wall spacer 14 composed of silicon nitride and a second side wall spacer 15 composed of silicon oxide. Then, in the selecting MISFET Qs in the DRAM memory cell area there are opened connecting holes 19 and 21 in a self-matching manner with respect to the first side wall spacers 14 and connecting portion is formed connecting a conductor 20 to a bit line BL.

Abstract: A fabrication method of a semiconductor integrated circuit device comprises, in an SAC process or HARC process, subjecting a semiconductor substrate to plasma etching to make contact holes in an oxide film made of a silicon oxide film formed on the semiconductor substrate. For improving the ease-in-etching property of the silicon oxide film and selectivity to a nitride film, a residence time of an etching gas within a chamber is so set as to be in a range where selectivity to an insulating film made of silicon nitride is improved by using etching conditions of a low pressure and a large flow rate of the etching gas of C5H8/O2/Ar.

Abstract: A plasma processing method for etching a sample having a gate oxide film which generates a plasma in a vacuum chamber using electromagnetic waves, applies an rf bias power to the sample, turns off the rf bias power before a charged voltage of the sample reaches a breakdown voltage of the gate oxide film, turns on the rf bias power after the charged voltage of the sample has substantially dropped and repeats the turning on and off of the rf bias power to process the sample. The off-time is set at least longer than the on-time, and the plasma is generated by continuously supplying power to enable generation of the plasma during the repeated turning on and off of the rf bias power.

Abstract: An SOG film 16 obtained by heat-treating a polysilazan type SOG film at high temperature of about 800° C. is used as a planarized insulating film to be formed on the gate electrode (9; see FIGS. 31 and 32) of a MISFET (Qs, Qn, Qp) A polysilazan SOG film (57) not subjected to such a heat treatment is used as interlayer insulating film arranged among upper wiring layers (54, 55, 56, 62, 63).

Abstract: A technology for a semiconductor integrated circuitry allows each of the DRAM memory cells to be divided finely so as to be more highly integrated and operate faster. In a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor integrated circuit, at first, gate electrodes 7 are formed via a gate insulating film 6 on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate 1, and on side surfaces of each of the gate electrodes there is formed a first side wall spacer 14 composed of silicon nitride and a second side wall spacer 15 composed of silicon oxide. Then, in the selecting MISFET Qs in the DRAM memory cell area there are opened connecting holes 19 and 21 in a self-matching manner with respect to the first side wall spacers 14 and connecting portion is formed connecting a conductor 20 to a bit line BL.

Abstract: An operational margin of a memory of a semiconductor integrated circuit device including an SRAM is improved. In order to set the Vth of driving MISFETs Qd, transfer MISFETs Qt and MISFETs for load resistance QL forming memory cells of an SRAM, relatively and intentionally higher than the Vth of predetermined MISFETs of SRAM peripheral circuits and logic circuits such as microprocessor, an impurity introduction step is introduced to set the Vth of the driving MISFETs Qd, transfer MISFETs Qt and MISFETs for load resistance, separately from an impurity introduction step for setting the Vth of the predetermined MISFETs.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device is provided which includes an active region, a shallow groove isolation adjacent to the active region, and a semiconductor element formed in the active region and having a gate. The sum of a width of the active region and a width of the shallow groove isolation constitutes a minimum pitch in the direction of a gate width of the gate, and the width of the active region is set larger than one-half of the minimum pitch.

Abstract: A technology for a semiconductor integrated circuitry allows each of the DRAM memory cells to be divided finely so as to be more highly integrated and operate faster. In a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor integrated circuit, at first, gate electrodes 7 are formed via a gate insulating film 6 on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate 1, and on side surfaces of each of the gate electrodes there is formed a first side wall spacer 14 composed of silicon nitride and a second side wall spacer 15 composed of silicon oxide. Then, in the selecting MISFET Qs in the DRAM memory cell area there are opened connecting holes 19 and 21 in a self-matching manner with respect to the first side wall spacers 14 and connecting portion is formed connecting a conductor 20 to a bit line BL.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of treating a surface of a sample. A sample is arranged on a stage provided in a chamber, an etching gas is continuously supplied into the chamber and a plasma is generated from the etching gas. An rf bias at a frequency of 100 kHz or higher is applied to the stage independently of the generation of the plasma, and the rf bias is modulated at a frequency of 100 Hz to 10 kHz. Thereby, a surface treatment in which a minimum feature size is 1 &mgr;m or smaller is performed on the sample.

Abstract: An operational margin of a memory of a semiconductor integrated circuit device including an SRAM is improved. In order to set the Vth of driving MISFETs Qd, transfer MISFETs Qt and MISFETs for load resistance QL forming memory cells of an SRAM, relatively and intentionally higher than the Vth of predetermined MISFETs of SRAM peripheral circuits and logic circuits such as microprocessor, an impurity introduction step is introduced to set the Vth of the driving MISFETs Qd, transfer MISFETs Qt and MISFETs for load resistance, separately from an impurity introduction step for setting the Vth of the predetermined MISFETs.

Abstract: A technology for a semiconductor integrated circuitry allows each of the DRAM memory cells to be divided finely so as to be more highly integrated and operate faster. In a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor integrated circuit, at first, gate electrodes 7 are formed via a gate insulating film 6 on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate 1, and on side surfaces of each of the gate electrodes there is formed a first side wall spacer 14 composed of silicon nitride and a second side wall spacer 15 composed of silicon oxide. Then, in the selecting MISFET Qs in the DRAM memory cell area there are opened connecting holes 19 and 21 in a self-matching manner with respect to the first side wall spacers 14 and connecting portion is formed connecting a conductor 20 to a bit line BL.

Abstract: Grooves are defined in a substrate having device isolation regions by dry etching using silicon nitride films and side wall spacers as masks. Thereafter, the side wall spacers lying on side walls of the silicon nitride films are removed and the substrate is subjected to thermal oxidation, whereby the surface of the substrate at a peripheral portion of each active region is subjected to so-called round processing so as to have a sectional shape having a convex rounded shape.

Abstract: To meet the requirements for ever smaller semiconductor devices, it is required to provide a sample surface processing method which is capable of processing a device of 1 micron or less, or more preferably 0.5 micron or less. It is also required to provide a surface processing method which allows a flat surface to be etched without irregularities occurring on the etched surface, and permits the multilayer film to be etched without underlying oxide film etched through.