Abstract: An ovonic phase-change semiconductor memory device having a reduced area of contact between electrodes of chalcogenide memories, and methods of forming the same. Such memory devices are formed by forming a tip protruding from a lower surface of a lower electrode element. An insulative material is applied over the lower electrode such that an upper surface of the tip is exposed. A chalcogenide material and an upper electrode are either formed atop the tip, or the tip is etched into the insulative material and the chalcogenide material and upper electrode are deposited within the recess. This allows the memory cells to be made smaller and allows the overall power requirements for the memory cell to be minimized.

Abstract: A die contacting substrate establishes ohmic contact with the die by means of raised portions on contact members. The raised portions are dimensioned so that a compression force applied to the die against the substrate results in a limited penetration of the contact member into the bondpads. The arrangement may be used for establishing electrical contact and with a burn-in oven and with a discrete die tester. This permits the die to be characterized prior to assembly, so that the die may then be transferred in an unpackaged form. A Z-axis anisotropic conductive interconnect material may be interposed between the die attachment surface and the die.

Abstract: A method of forming a circuitry isolation region within a semiconductive wafer comprises defining active area and isolation area over a semiconductive wafer. Semiconductive wafer material within the isolation area is wet etched using an etch chemistry which forms an isolation trench proximate the active area region having lowestmost corners within the trench which are rounded. Electrically insulating material is formed within the trench over the previously formed round corners. In accordance with another aspect, the semiconductive wafer material within the isolation area is etched using an etch chemistry which is substantially selective relative to semiconductive wafer material within the active area to form an isolation trench proximate the active area region. In accordance with still another aspect, a method of forming a circuitry isolation region within a semiconductive wafer comprises masking an active area region over a semiconductive wafer.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of hydrogen ion, organic anionic species and anionic species selected from the group consisting of OH−, CO3═, HS−, ClO3−, SO4═, S2O3═, polysulphide and peroxide in an aqueous sample solution, said method comprising subjecting said solution to near infrared radiation at a wavelength region of wave numbers selected from about 7,000 to 14,000 cm−1 through a solution path length of at least 3 mm to obtain spectral data for said solution; obtaining comparative spectral data for said anionic species at known concentrations in aqueous solutions; and correlating by multivariate calibration the relationships between said spectral data of said sample solution and said comparative spectral data to determine said concentration of said anionic species in said sample solution.

Abstract: A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, and a polishing head selectively supporting a semiconductor wafer and holding a face of the semiconductor wafer in contact with the platen subassembly to polish the wafer face; and a controller selectively adjusting one of a plurality of adjustable polishing parameters during polishing of the wafer.

Abstract: An exemplary implementation of the present invention includes a method for forming conductive lines fabricated in a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of forming a first layer of patterned conductive lines, having substantially vertical sidewalls, on a supporting material; of forming insulative spacers about the substantially vertical sidewalls; of forming trenches into the supporting material that align to the insulative spacers; and of forming a second layer of patterned conductive lines such that each line is at least partially embedded within a corresponding trench. Preferably, the conductive lines, formed by a double metal process, are recessed into a supporting material that has a substantially planar surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching a semiconductor die to a lead frame wherein the electric contact points of the semiconductor die are relocated to the periphery of the semiconductor die through a plurality of conductive traces. A plurality of leads extends from the lead frame over the conductive traces proximate the semiconductor die periphery and directly attaches to and makes electrical contact with the conductive traces in a LOC arrangement. Alternately, a connector may contact a portion of the conductive trace to make contact therewith.

Abstract: A contact structure incorporating an amorphous titanium nitride barrier layer formed via low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) utilizing tetrakis-dialkylamido-titanium, Ti(NMe2)4, as the precursor. The contact structure is fabricated by etching a contact opening through an dielectric layer down to a diffusion region to which electrical contact is to be made. Titanium metal is deposited over the surface of the wafer so that the exposed surface of the diffusion region is completely covered by a layer of the metal. At least a portion of the titanium metal layer is eventually converted to titanium silicide, thus providing an excellent conductive interface at the surface of the diffusion region. A titanium nitride barrier layer is then deposited using the LPCVD process, coating the walls and floor of the contact opening. Chemical vapor deposition of polycrystalline silicon or of a metal follows.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container capacitor structure and method of constructing it. An etch mask and etch are used to expose portions of an exterior surface of electrode (“bottom electrodes”) of the container capacitor structure. The etch provides a recess between proximal pairs of container capacitor structures, which recess is available for forming additional capacitance. Accordingly, a capacitor dielectric and a top electrode are formed on and adjacent to, respectively, both an interior surface and portions of the exterior surface of the first electrode. Advantageously, surface area common to both the first electrode and second electrodes is increased over using only the interior surface, which provides additional capacitance without a decrease in spacing for clearing portions of the capacitor dielectric and the second electrode away from a contact hole location.

Abstract: A compact, handheld portable electronic imaging system including both an electronic imaging camera and hard copy printer are separately housed with respect to each other and readily interfaceable with respect to each other for use either in combination or apart. In addition, a base unit provides a connection to a personal computer or network and provides power to recharge the batteries in the electronic imaging camera. Wireless transceiver interface means for transmitting electronic images between the electronic imaging camera and printer are provided so that when used apart, image defining electronic image information signals may be directed to the printer for the making of hard copies therefrom. A display viewfinder allows the user to see the scene in bright sun light and provides visual feedback and operation with a single user control which results in a simplified user interface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices using an improved chemical mechanical planarization process for the planarization of the surfaces of the wafer on which the semiconductor devices are formed. The improved chemical mechanical planarization process includes the formation of a flat planar surface from a deformable coating on the surface of the wafer filling in between the surface irregularities prior to the planarization of the surface through a chemical mechanical planarization process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices using an improved chemical mechanical planarization process for the planarization of the surfaces of the wafer on which the semiconductor devices are formed. The improved chemical mechanical planarization process includes the formation of a flat planar surface from a deformable coating on the surface of the wafer filling in between the surface irregularities prior to the planarization of the surface through a chemical mechanical planarization process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container capacitor structure and method of constructing it. An etch mask and etch are used to expose portions of an exterior surface of electrode (“bottom electrodes”) of the container capacitor structure. The etch provides a recess between proximal pairs of container capacitor structures, which recess is available for forming additional capacitance. Accordingly, a capacitor dielectric and a top electrode are formed on and adjacent to, respectively, both an interior surface and portions of the exterior surface of the first electrode. Advantageously, surface area common to both the first electrode and second electrodes is increased over using only the interior surface, which provides additional capacitance without a decrease in spacing for clearing portions of the capacitor dielectric and the second electrode away from a contact hole location.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer system is disclosed that includes a memory and a memory controller coupled to the memory. The memory controller includes an arbitration unit that may be programmed to operate according to a first arbitration mode or a second arbitration mode. The computer system also includes a first device and a second device coupled to the arbitration unit. According to a further embodiment, the first device is assigned a higher priority classification than the second device for accessing the memory while the arbitration unit is operating according to the first arbitration mode. In addition, the first device and the second device are assigned equal priority classifications for accessing the memory while the arbitration unit is operating according to the second arbitration mode.

Abstract: An ovonic phase-change semiconductor memory device having a reduced area of contact between electrodes of chalcogenide memories, and methods of forming the same. Such memory devices are formed by forming a tip protruding from a lower surface of a lower electrode element. An insulative material is applied over the lower electrode such that an upper surface of the tip is exposed. A chalcogenide material and an upper electrode are either formed atop the tip, or the tip is etched into the insulative material and the chalcogenide material and upper electrode are deposited within the recess. This allows the memory cells to be made smaller and allows the overall power requirements for the memory cell to be minimized.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes a semiconductor processing method of removing water from a material comprising silicon, oxygen and hydrogen, the method comprising maintaining the material at a temperature of at least about 100° C., more preferably at least 300° C., and at a pressure of greater than 1 atmosphere to drive water from the material. In another aspect, the invention includes a semiconductor processing method of forming SiO2 having a wet etch removal rate of less than about 700 Angstroms/minute comprising: a) forming a layer comprising Si(OH)x; b) maintaining the Si(OH)x at a temperature of at least about 300° C. and at a pressure of greater than 1 atmosphere to drive water from the Si(OH)x; and c) converting the Si(OH)x to SiO2, the SiO2 having a wet etch removal rate of less than about 700 Angstroms/minute under the conditions of a buffered oxide etch utilizing 20:1 H2O:HF, at about atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of about 30° C.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods of forming capacitors, methods of forming silicon nitride layers on silicon-comprising substrates, methods for densifying silicon nitride layers, methods for forming capacitors, and capacitors. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of densifying a silicon nitride layer comprising subjecting a silicon nitride layer to a nitrogen-comprising ambient atmosphere having at least about two atmospheres of pressure. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of forming a capacitor comprising: a) forming a first capacitor plate, the first capacitor plate comprising silicon and having a surface; b) forming a dielectric layer proximate the first capacitor plate, the dielectric layer comprising a silicon nitride layer and being formed by exposing the first capacitor plate surface to a nitrogen-comprising ambient atmosphere having at least about two atmospheres of pressure; and c) forming a second capacitor plate proximate the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming a contact opening to a region adjacent a field isolation mass includes, a) forming a field isolation mass within a semiconductor substrate by a trench and refill technique, and a substrate masking layer over the substrate adjacent the field isolation mass, the field isolation mass being capped with an etch stop cap, the field isolation mass having a sidewall covered by the masking layer; b) removing the substrate masking layer away from the isolation mass to expose at least a portion of the isolation mass sidewall; c) forming an etch stop cover over the exposed isolation mass sidewall; d) forming an insulating layer over the isolation mass and substrate area adjacent the isolation mass; and e) etching a contact opening through the insulating layer to adjacent the isolation mass selectively relative to the isolation mass etch stop cap and cover. A semiconductor structure is also described.

Abstract: A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, and a polishing head selectively supporting a semiconductor wafer and holding a face of the semiconductor wafer in contact with the platen subassembly to polish the wafer face; and a controller selectively adjusting one of a plurality of adjustable polishing parameters during polishing of the wafer.

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method of forming a trench isolation region includes forming a trench within a substrate. A silanol layer is formed to partially fill the trench and then converted, at least some of the silanol, to a compound including at least one of SiOn and RSiOn, where R includes an organic group. An electrically insulative material is formed over the converted silanol to fill the trench. In another aspect of the invention, a method of forming a trench isolation region includes forming a trench within a substrate. A first layer of at least one of Si(OH), and (CH3)ySi(OH)4-y is formed to partially fill the trench. At least some of the Si(OH), if present is converted to SiO2 and at least some of (CH3)ySi(OH)4-y if present is converted to (CH3),SiO2-x. Next, a layer of an electrically insulative material is formed to fill the trench.