Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that selectively apply strain to multiple regions of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device having one or more regions is provided (102). A strain inducing liner is formed over the semiconductor device (104). A selection mechanism, such as a layer of photoresist or UV reflective coating is applied to the semiconductor device to select a region (106). The selected region is treated with a stress altering treatment that alters a type and/or magnitude of stress produced by the selected region (108).

Abstract: A silicon carbide (SiC) film for use in backend processing of integrated circuit manufacturing, is generated by including hydrogen in the reaction gas mixture. This SiC containing film is suitable for integration into etch stop layers, dielectric cap layers and hardmask layers in interconnects of integrated circuits.

Abstract: A silicon carbide (SiC) film for use in backend processing of integrated circuit manufacturing, is generated by including hydrogen in the reaction gas mixture. This SiC containing film is suitable for integration into etch stop layers, dielectric cap layers and hard mask layers in interconnects of integrated circuits.

Abstract: The invention provides, one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method includes forming a carbide layer over a gate electrode and depositing a pre-metal dielectric layer over the carbide layer. The method provides a significant reduction in NBTI drift.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of fabricating a microelectronics device 200. This embodiment comprises forming a liner 310 over a substrate 210 and a gate structure 230, subjecting the liner 310 to an electron beam 405 and depositing a pre-metal dielectric layer 415 over the liner 310.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated with energy based process(es) that alter etch rates for dielectric layers within damascene processes. A first interconnect layer is formed over a semiconductor body. A first dielectric layer is formed over the first interconnect layer. An etch rate of the first dielectric layer is altered. A second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. An etch rate of the second dielectric layer is then altered. A trench etch is performed to form a trench cavity within the second dielectric layer. A via etch is performed to form a via cavity within the first dielectric layer. The cavities are filled with conductive material and then planarized to remove excess fill material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for improving the hardness and/or modulus of elasticity of a dielectric layer and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The process for improving the hardness and/or modulus of elasticity of a dielectric layer, among other steps, includes providing a dielectric layer having a hardness and a modulus of elasticity, and subjecting the dielectric layer to an energy beam, thereby causing the hardness or modulus of elasticity to increase in value.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interconnect structure, a method of manufacture therefore, and an integrated circuit including the same. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interconnect structure includes a conductive feature (150) located in or over a dielectric layer (140), and a silicon oxycarbonitride layer (160) located over the conductive feature (150).

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for increasing the hermeticity of a hermetic layer, a method for manufacturing an interconnect structure, and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The process for increasing the hermeticity of the hermetic layer, without limitation, includes providing a hermetic layer over a substrate (160), the hermetic layer having a initial hermeticity, and subjecting the hermetic layer to an energy beam, thereby causing the initial hermeticity to improve (170).

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of removing contaminants from a low-k film. The method involves forming a sacrificial layer over the contaminated film. The contaminants combine with the sacrificial layer and are removed by etching away the sacrificial layer. An effective material for the sacrificial layer is, for example, a silicon carbide. The method can be used to prevent the occurrence of pattern defects in chemically amplified photoresists formed over low-k films.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates semiconductor fabrication by providing methods of fabrication that selectively apply strain to multiple regions of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device having one or more regions is provided (102). A strain inducing liner is formed over the semiconductor device (104). A selection mechanism, such as a layer of photoresist or UV reflective coating is applied to the semiconductor device to select a region (106). The selected region is treated with a stress altering treatment that alters a type and/or magnitude of stress produced by the selected region (108).

Abstract: Methods (102) are presented for protecting copper structures (26) from corrosion in the fabrication of semiconductor devices (2), wherein a thin semiconductor or copper-semiconductor alloy corrosion protection layer (30) is formed on an exposed surface (26a) of a copper structure (26) prior to performance of metrology operations (206), so as to inhibit corrosion of the copper structure (26). All or a portion of the corrosion protection layer (30) is then removed (214) in forming an opening in an overlying dielectric (44) in a subsequent interconnect layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer. The method includes depositing spin-on-glass material over the semiconductor wafer (step 208), modifying a top surface of the spin-on glass material to form a SiO2 layer (step 210), applying a vapor prime (step 212), forming a photoresist layer over the spin-on-glass material (step 214), patterning the photoresist layer (step 214), and then etching the semiconductor wafer (step 216). Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing a dual damascene back-end layer on a semiconductor wafer. The method includes depositing spin-on-glass material over the dielectric layer and within the via holes (step 208), modifying a top surface of the spin-on glass material to form a SiO2 layer (step 210), applying a vapor prime (step 212), forming a photoresist layer over said spin-on-glass material (step 214), patterning the photoresist layer (step 214), and etching trench spaces (step 216).

Abstract: The present invention provides an insulating layer 100 for an integrated circuit 110 comprising a porous silicon-based dielectric layer 120 located over a substrate 130. The insulating layer comprises a densified layer 140 comprising an uppermost portion 142 of the porous silicon-based dielectric layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for fabricating a semiconductor device (100). An interconnect structure (110) is formed on the semiconductor device (100) and a cap (112) is deposited over the interconnect structure (110). The interconnect structure (110) is annealed with the overlying cap (112) in place. The cap (112) is then removed after the interconnect structure (110) is annealed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for fabricating a semiconductor device (100). An interconnect structure (110) is formed on the semiconductor device (100) and a cap (112) is deposited over the interconnect structure (110). The interconnect structure (110) is annealed with the overlying cap (112) in place. The cap (112) is then removed after the interconnect structure (110) is annealed.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, process of treating a target semiconductor surface. The process includes exposing a test surface to a plasma protocol (110), and measuring chemical changes in discrete locations of the test surface (120). The process further includes preparing a target surface by exposing the target surface to the plasma protocol (140) when a uniformity of the chemical changes are within a performance criterion of the plasma protocol (130). Other embodiments advantageously incorporate this process into methods for making semiconductor devices and integrated circuits.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a metal layer 14 of a back-end module 6 where the height of the interconnects 17 is greater than the height of the dielectric regions 20. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer 4 where the height of the interconnects 17 is greater than the height of the dielectric regions 20.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a metal layer 14 of a back-end module 6 where the height of the interconnects 17 is greater than the height of the dielectric regions 20. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer 4 where the height of the interconnects 17 is greater than the height of the dielectric regions 20.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a metal layer 14 of a back-end module 6 where the height of the interconnects 17 is greater than the height of the dielectric regions 20. Another embodiment of the invention is a method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer 4 where the height of the interconnects 17 is greater than the height of the dielectric regions 20.