Abstract: An improved multilevel interconnect structure is provided. The interconnect structure includes several levels of conductors, wherein conductors on one level are staggered with respect to conductors on another level. Accordingly, a space between conductors on one level is directly above or directly below a conductor within another level. The staggered interconnect lines are advantageously used in densely spaced regions to reduce the interlevel and intralevel capacitance. Furthermore, an interlevel and an intralevel dielectric structure includes optimally placed low K dielectrics which exist in critical spaced areas to minimize capacitive coupling and propagation delay problems. The low K dielectric, according to one embodiment, includes a capping dielectric which is used to prevent corrosion on adjacent metallic conductors, and serves as an etch stop when conductors are patterned.

Abstract: An improved multilevel interconnect structure is provided. The interconnect structure includes several levels of conductors, wherein conductors on one level are staggered with respect to conductors on another level. In densely spaced interconnect areas, interposed conductors are drawn to dissimilar elevational levels to lessen the capacitive coupling between the interconnects. By staggering every other interconnect line in the densely patterned areas, the interconnects are capable of carrying a larger amount of current with minimal capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: An interlevel interconnect is formed in a window opened through an isolation layer and through an etch barrier to expose an electrode surface and an adjacent isolation barrier. The interlevel interconnect may be disposed on substantially all of a portion of the underlying electrode such as an insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) source/drain region surface. The etch barrier provides controlled etching to allow for overlap of the interlevel interconnect onto the isolation barrier without increased parasitic capacitance relative to conventional contact misalignments. Furthermore, allaying concerns of overlapping allows for increased utilization of source/drain region surface area by the interlevel interconnect. Furthermore, the etch barrier allows the interlevel interconnect to strap electrodes of a plurality of circuit devices while exhibiting nominal if any substrate to interlevel interconnect leakage currents.

Abstract: A semiconductor process for forming an interlevel contact. A semiconductor wafer is provided with a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer formed on the substrate, and a dielectric layer formed on the conductive layer. A border layer, preferably comprised of polysilicon or silicon nitride is formed on the dielectric layer. Portions of the border layer are then selectively removed to expose an upper surface of a spacer region of the dielectric layer, the selective removal of the border layer resulting in a border layer having an annular sidewall extending upward from the dielectric layer and encircling the spacer region. A spacer structure is then formed on the annular sidewall, preferably, the spacer structure is formed by chemically vapor depositing a spacer material and anisotropically etching the spacer material to just clear in the planar regions with minimum overetch.

Abstract: Two patterned metal layers are interconnected by forming a through-hole in one or more insulating layers, employing an etch process minimizing the formation of polymeric residue, thereby maintaining an appropriate etch rate to penetrate the insulating material. A variety of fluorocarbon gas chemistries may be used, such as CF.sub.4, CH.sub.3, CHF.sub.3 and NF.sub.3. The through-hole is then filled with a conductive material, such as tungsten, to form a conductive via.

Abstract: A interconnect structure is provided having a conductor with enhanced thickness. The conductor includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion geometry is sufficient to increase the current-carrying capacity beyond that provided by the upper portion. The lower portion is formed by filling a trench within an upper dielectric region, and the upper portion is formed by selectively removing a conductive material from the upper dielectric surface except for regions directly above the lower portion. The upper and lower portions thereby form a conductor of enhanced cross-section which can be produced by modifying a via-etch mask, rather than having to reconfigure and/or move interconnect features formed by a metal mask.

Abstract: A subfield conductive layer is provided, wherein a conductive layer is implanted beneath and laterally adjacent a field dielectric. The subfield conductive layer is placed within the silicon substrate after the field dielectric is formed. The conductive layer represents a buried interconnect which resides between isolated devices. The buried interconnect, however, is formed using high energy ion implant through a field dielectric formed either by LOCOS or shallow trench isolation techniques. The buried interconnect, or conductive layer, resides and electrically connects source and drain regions of two isolated devices.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a semiconductor device with trench isolation regions includes forming at least one trench in a substrate to define one or more isolation regions. At least a portion of the trench is filled with a flowable oxide-generating material which is then formed into an oxide layer. An optional dielectric layer can be deposited over the oxide layer. A portion of the oxide layer and/or the optional dielectric layer is removed to generate a substantially planer surface.

Abstract: During a semiconductor substrate ion implant process thermal energy is supplied to raise the temperature of the semiconductor wafer. The increased temperature of the semiconductor wafer during implantation acts to anneal the implanted impurities or dopants in the wafer, reducing impurity diffusion and reducing the number of fabrication process steps. An ion implant device includes an end station that is adapted for application and control of thermal energy to the end station for raising the temperature of a semiconductor substrate wafer during implantation. The adapted end station includes a heating element for heating the semiconductor substrate wafer, a thermocouple for sensing the temperature of the semiconductor substrate wafer, and a controller for monitoring the sensed temperature and controlling the thermal energy applied to the semiconductor substrate wafer by the heating element.

Abstract: Various processes are provided for producing a p-channel and/or n-channel transistor. The present processes are thereby applicable to NMOS, PMOS or CMOS integrated circuits, any of which derive a benefit from having an asymmetrical LDD structure. The asymmetrical structure can be produced on a p-channel or n-channel transistor in various ways. According, the present process employs various techniques to form an asymmetrical transistor. The various techniques employ processing steps which vary depending upon the LDD result desired. First, the LDD implant can be performed only in the drain-side of the channel, or in the drain-side as well as the source-side. Second, the gate conductor sidewall surface adjacent the drain can be made thicker than the sidewall surface adjacent the source.

Abstract: An IGFET with a gate electrode and insulative spacers in a trench is disclosed. The IGFET includes a trench with opposing sidewalls and a bottom surface in a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulator on the bottom surface, a gate electrode on the gate insulator, and insulative spacers between the gate electrode and the sidewalls.

Abstract: A local interconnect (LI) structure is formed by forming a silicide layer in selected regions of a semiconductor structure then depositing an essentially uniform layer of transition or refractory metal overlying the semiconductor structure. The metal local interconnect is deposited without forming in intermediate insulating layer between the silicide and metal layers to define contact openings or vias. In some embodiments, titanium a suitable metal for formation of the local interconnect. Suitable selected regions for silicide layer formation include, for example, silicided source/drain (S/D) regions and silicided gate contact regions. The silicided regions form uniform structures for electrical coupling to underlying doped regions that are parts of one or more semiconductor devices. In integrated circuits in which an etchstop layer is desired for the patterning of the metal film, a first optional insulating layer is deposited prior to deposition of the metal film.

Abstract: A interconnect structure is provided having a conductor with enhanced thickness. The conductor includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion geometry is sufficient to increase the current-carrying capacity beyond that provided by the upper portion. The lower portion is formed by filling a trench within an upper dielectric region, and the upper portion is formed by selectively removing a conductive material from the upper dielectric surface except for regions directly above the lower portion. The upper and lower portions thereby form a conductor of enhanced cross-section which can be produced by modifying a via-etch mask, rather than having to reconfigure and/or move interconnect features formed by a metal mask.

Abstract: A fabrication process is provided that produces an air gap dielectric in which a multi-level interconnect structure is formed upon a temporary supporting material. The temporary material is subsequently dissolved away leaving behind an intralevel and an interlevel dielectric comprised of air. In one embodiment of the invention, a first interconnect level is formed on a barrier layer. A temporary support material is then formed over the first interconnect level and a second level of interconnect is formed on the temporary support material. Prior to formation of the second interconnect level, a plurality of pillar openings are formed in the temporary material and filled with a conductive material. In addition to providing a contact between the first and second level of interconnects, the pillars provide mechanical support for the second interconnect level. The temporary material is dissolved in a solution that attacks the temporary material but leaves the interconnect material and pillar material intact.

Abstract: HSQ is employed for gap filling patterned metal layers. The surface of the deposited HSQ gap fill layer is modified to decrease its plasma etching rate. Embodiments include modifying the HSQ surface by exposure to a plasma, such as a nitrogen-containing plasma, e.g., a plasma containing ammonia or hydrogen/nitrogen, to form a nitrided surface region. Reduction of the plasma etching rate of HSQ enables formation of reliable low resistance borderless vias.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit with a transistor formed within an active area defined by side-walls of a shallow trench isolation region, and method of fabrication thereof, is described. A gate electrode is formed over a portion of the active area and LDD regions formed that are self-aligned to both the gate electrode and the trench side-walls. A dielectric spacer is formed adjacent the gate electrode and extending to the trench side-walls. In this manner, the spacers essentially cover the LDD regions. Source and drain regions are formed that are adjacent the trench side-walls wherein the spacer serves to protect at least a portion of the LDD regions to maintain a spacing of the S/D regions from the gate electrode edge. In this manner an advantageously lowered E.sub.M provided by LDD regions is maintained. In some embodiments of the present invention, S/D regions are formed by implantation through the trench side-walls.

Abstract: HSQ is employed for gap filling patterned metal layers. The surface of the deposited HSQ gap fill layer is modified to decrease its plasma etching rate. Embodiments include modifying the HSQ surface by exposure to a plasma, such as a nitrogen-containing plasma, e.g., a plasma containing ammonia or hydrogen/nitrogen, to form a nitrided surface region. Reduction of the plasma etching rate of HSQ enables formation of reliable low resistance borderless vias.

Abstract: A method for implanting a dopant into a thin gate electrode layer includes forming a displacement layer on the gate electrode layer to form a combined displacement/gate electrode layer, and implanting the dopant into the combined layer. The implanted dopant profile may substantially reside entirely within the gate electrode layer, or may substantially reside partially within the gate electrode layer and partially within the displacement layer. If the displacement layer is ultimately removed, at least some portion of the implanted dopant remains within the gate electrode layer. The gate electrode layer may be implanted before or after patterning and etching the gate electrode layer to define gate electrodes. Moreover, two different selective implants may be used to define separate regions of differing dopant concentration, such as P-type polysilicon and N-type polysilicon regions.

Abstract: An asymmetrical IGFET including a lightly and heavily doped drain regions and an ultra-heavily doped source region is disclosed. Preferably, the lightly doped drain region and ultra-heavily doped source region provide channel junctions.

Abstract: A method for isolating semiconductor devices comprising providing a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a first pair of source/drain regions on either side of a first channel region and a second pair of source/drain regions on either side of a second channel region. One of the first pair of source/drain regions is proximal to one of the second pair of source/drain regions. First and second laterally displaced MOS transistors are formed partially within the semiconductor substrate. An isolation trench is formed through the proximal source/drain regions and the trench is filled with a trench dielectric material such that the proximal source/drain regions are electrically isolated whereby the first transistor is electrically isolated from the second transistor.