Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor in which a change in electrical characteristics is suppressed or whose reliability is improved. In a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor film in which a channel formation region is formed, an insulating film which suppresses entry of water and contains at least nitrogen and an insulating film which suppresses entry of nitrogen released form the insulating film are provided over the oxide semiconductor film. As water entering the oxide semiconductor film, water contained in the air, water in a film provided over the insulating film which suppresses entry of water, or the like can be given. Further, as the insulating film which suppresses entry of water, a nitride insulating film can be used, and the amount of hydrogen molecules released by heating from the nitride insulating film is smaller than 5.0×1021 molecules/cm3.

Abstract: To provide a pulse signal output circuit and a shift register which have lower power consumption, are not easily changed over time, and have a longer lifetime. A pulse signal output circuit includes a first input signal generation circuit; a second input signal generation circuit; an output circuit which includes a first transistor and a second transistor and outputs a pulse signal in response to a signal output from the first and second input signal generation circuits; a monitor circuit which obtains the threshold voltages of the first and second transistors; and a power supply output circuit which generates a power supply potential raised by a potential higher than or equal to a potential which is equal to or substantially equal to the threshold voltage and supplies the power supply potential to the first and second input signal generation circuits. A shift register includes the pulse signal output circuit.

Abstract: A light-emitting device that is less influenced by variations in threshold voltage of a transistor is provided. Further, a light-emitting device in which variations in luminance due to variations in threshold voltage of a transistor can be reduced is provided. Further, influences due to variations in threshold voltage of a transistor are corrected in a short time. A light-emitting element, a transistor functioning as a switch supplying current to the light-emitting element, and a circuit in which threshold voltage of the transistor is obtained and voltage between a gate and a source (gate voltage) of the transistor is corrected in accordance with the obtained threshold voltage are included. An n-channel transistor in which threshold voltage changes in a positive direction and the amount of the change is small is used. When the threshold voltage of the transistor is obtained, the gate voltage of the transistor is adjusted as appropriate.

Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device the yield of which can be prevented from decreasing due to electrostatic discharge damage is provided. A semiconductor device is provided which includes a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer, an oxide insulating layer over the gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer being above and in contact with the oxide insulating layer and overlapping with the gate electrode layer, and a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer. The gate insulating layer includes a silicon film containing nitrogen. The oxide insulating layer contains one or more metal elements selected from the constituent elements of the oxide semiconductor layer. The thickness of the gate insulating layer is larger than that of the oxide insulating layer.

Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor device the yield of which can be prevented from decreasing due to electrostatic discharge damage is provided. A semiconductor device is provided which includes a gate electrode layer, a first gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer, a second gate insulating layer being over the first gate insulating layer and having a smaller thickness than the first gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer over the second gate insulating layer, and a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer. The first gate insulating layer contains nitrogen and has a spin density of 1×1017 spins/cm3 or less corresponding to a signal that appears at a g-factor of 2.003 in electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The second gate insulating layer contains nitrogen and has a lower hydrogen concentration than the first gate insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an oxide semiconductor film, a method for evaluating a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, a transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor film and has favorable switching characteristics, and an oxide semiconductor film which is applicable to a transistor and enables the transistor to have favorable switching characteristics are provided. A PL spectrum of an oxide semiconductor film obtained by low-temperature PL spectroscopy has a first curve whose local maximum value is found in a range of 1.6 eV or more and 1.8 eV or less and a second curve whose local maximum value is found in a range of 1.7 eV or more and 2.4 eV or less. A value obtained by dividing the area of the second curve by the sum of the area of the first curve and the area of the second curve is 0.1 or more and less than 1.

Abstract: Electric characteristics of a semiconductor device using an oxide semiconductor are improved. Further, a highly reliable semiconductor device in which a variation in electric characteristics with time or a variation in electric characteristics due to a gate BT stress test with light irradiation is small is manufactured. A transistor includes a gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film overlapping with part of the gate electrode with a gate insulating film therebetween, and a pair of electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. The gate insulating film is an insulating film whose film density is higher than or equal to 2.26 g/cm3 and lower than or equal to 2.63 g/cm3 and whose spin density of a signal with a g value of 2.001 is 2×1015 spins/cm3 or less in electron spin resonance.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, the amount of oxygen vacancies is reduced. Moreover, electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor are improved. The semiconductor device includes a transistor including a gate electrode over a substrate, a gate insulating film covering the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film overlapping with the gate electrode with the gate insulating film provided therebetween, and a pair of electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor film; and over the transistor, a first insulating film covering the gate insulating film, the oxide semiconductor film, and the pair of electrodes; and a second insulating film covering the first insulating film. An etching rate of the first insulating film is lower than or equal to 10 nm/min and lower than an etching rate of the second insulating film when etching is performed at 25° C. with 0.5 weight % of hydrofluoric acid.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device including a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film and a protective film over the transistor, an oxide insulating film containing oxygen in excess of the stoichiometric composition is formed as the protective film under the following conditions: a substrate placed in a treatment chamber evacuated to a vacuum level is held at a temperature higher than or equal to 180° C. and lower than or equal to 260° C.; a source gas is introduced into the treatment chamber so that the pressure in the treatment chamber is set to be higher than or equal to 100 Pa and lower than or equal to 250 Pa; and a high-frequency power higher than or equal to 0.17 W/cm2 and lower than or equal to 0.5 W/cm2 is supplied to an electrode provided in the treatment chamber.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor and including a more excellent gate insulating film is provided. A highly reliable and electrically stable semiconductor device having a small number of changes in the film structure, the process conditions, the manufacturing apparatus, or the like from a mass production technology that has been put into practical use is provided. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film formed over the gate electrode, and an oxide semiconductor film formed over the gate insulating film. The gate insulating film includes a silicon nitride oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film formed over the silicon nitride oxide film, and a metal oxide film formed over the silicon oxynitride film. The oxide semiconductor film is formed over and in contact with the metal oxide film.