Abstract: A multilayer ceramic substrate having a thin film structure containing capacitor connected thereto is provided as an interposer capacitor, the capacitor employing platinum as the bottom electrode of the capacitor. In a preferred capacitor, a dielectric material such as barium titanate is used as the dielectric material between the capacitor electrodes. The fabrication of the interposer capacitor requires an in-situ or post deposition high temperature anneal and the use of such dielectrics requires heating of the capacitor structure in a non-reducing atmosphere. A layer of a high temperature, thin film diffusion barrier such as TaSiN on the lower platinum electrode between the electrode and underlying multilayer ceramic substrate prevents or minimizes oxidization of the metallization of the multilayer ceramic substrate to which the thin film structure is connected during the fabrication process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of accessing and repairing electrical opens in conducting metal lines on a semiconductor chip or other substrate using laser plating techniques. What has been described is a maskless means of repairing discontinuities in a conductor disposed on the surface of a substrate wherein the surface is locally irradiated to form a reversible carbonaceous layer thereon. This reversible carbonaceous layer acts as a base for electrodeless deposition of a metal to form a bridge across the discontinuity by laser-enhanced exchange plating or other suitable methods. Further, a means of accessing and repairing a discontinuity buried by a cover layer of an insulating or passivating material is described, wherein access to the discontinuity is provided by ablating away the cover layer using a pulsed excimer laser at a first power level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of accessing and repairing electrical opens in conducting metal lines on a semiconductor chip or other substrate using a thin conductive layer formed within the surface of a substrate and laser plating techniques. What has been described is a maskless means of repairing discontinuities in a conductor disposed on the surface of a substrate wherein the surface is locally irradiated to form a reversible carbonaceous layer thereon. This reversible carbonaceous layer acts as a base for electrodeless deposition of a metal to form a bridge across the discontinuity by laser-enhanced exchange plating or other suitable methods. Further, a means of accessing and repairing a discontinuity buried by a cover layer of an insulating or passivating material is described, wherein access to the discontinuity is provided by ablating away the cover layer using a pulsed excimer laser at a first power level.

Abstract: An etching/deposition system comprising a hollow cathode electron source in combination with a magnetron sputter deposition plasma device within a containment chamber, said hollow cathode being disposed to inject electrons into the magnetic field of the magnetron plasma device adjacent to the magnetron cathode surface to which a deposition source is affixed. Said system further includes means for initiating and maintaining a discharge plasma within the hollow cathode and for initiating and maintaining the magnetron plasma. The improvement of the invention comprises a workpiece to be coated, located in said chamber, spaced from said magnetron cathode surface which may be biased to attract particles emitted by said deposition source.

Abstract: A long life high current density hollow cathode electron beam source for use in various E-beam apparatus which uses an ionizable gas within the hollow cathode. Bombardment of an electron emissive surface within the hollow cathode by energetic gas ions causes electrons to be emitted by secondary emission rather than thermionic emission effects. Once initialized by an external ionization voltage the device is essentially self sustaining and operates near room temperature, rather than at thermionic emission temperatures, and with reduced voltages.

Abstract: A plasma sputter etching/deposition system comprising an electron-emitting hollow cathode arc-source combined with a conventional plasma sputter etching/deposition system such as a magnetron. The electrons emitted are coupled into the intrinsic high energy, e.g., magnetic field and are accelerated by the plasma potential and cause a significant increase plasma density. The resultant combination allows much greater sputtering/deposition efficiency than was possible with previous devices. According to a further aspect of the invention, switched operation is possible, whereby etching may vary from isotropic to anisotropic. A side discharge hollow cathode structure is also described for enhancing certain sputtering/deposition processes, wherein electrons may be emitted from one or more openings at the side of a hollow cathode chamber to achieve more uniform electron emission in a large process chamber.