Abstract: The method for manufacturing a memory device is provided. The method includes: implanting a first impurity into the substrate adjacent to the gate conductor structure to form a source region on a first side of the gate conductor structure and a drain region on a second side of the gate conductor structure; implanting a second impurity into the substrate to form a halo implantation region disposed adjacent to the source region, wherein the halo implantation region has a doping concentration which does not degrade a data retention time of the memory device; and performing an annealing process to the drain region, forming a diffusion region under the drain region, wherein the process temperature of the annealing process is controlled to ensure that the diffusion region has a doping concentration substantially equal to a threshold concentration which maintains an electrical connection between the drain and the deep trench capacitor.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a test key structure for monitoring gate conductor to deep trench misalignment and a testing method thereof.

Abstract: A CMP apparatus includes an enclosure; a platen disposed within the enclosure, and a carrier for holding and rotating a wafer. The platen consists of a central, circular-shaped segment and a peripheral, annular-shaped segment with a gap formed therebetween. A first polishing pad is mounted on the central, circular-shaped segment. A second polishing pad is mounted on the peripheral, annular-shaped segment. In polishing, the carrier rotates between the first and second polishing pads, such that an annular edge region of the wafer is in direct contact with the second polishing pad.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a layout design for an existing integrated circuit, in which, an integrated circuit die is polished with a tilt angle to form an inclined polished surface and one or more images of the inclined polished surface are obtained. The images may be overlapped directly, or the image or the images may be utilized to provide information to obtain a layout design comprising at least one repeating unit structure of the layout structure.

Abstract: A trench MOS structure is provided. The trench MOS structure includes a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a trench, a gate isolation, a trench gate, a guard ring and a reinforcement structure within the guard ring. The substrate has a first conductivity type, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The epitaxial layer has the first conductivity type and is disposed on the first side. The trench is disposed in the epitaxial layer. The gate isolation covers the inner wall of the trench. The trench gate is disposed in the trench and has the first conductivity type. The guard ring has a second conductivity type and is disposed within the epitaxial layer. The reinforcement structure has an electrically insulating material and is disposed within the guard ring.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system includes a wafer polishing unit comprising a waste liquid sink for receiving a used slurry and a waste slurry drain piping for draining the used slurry; and a post-CMP cleaning unit coupled to the wafer polishing unit such that a used base chemical such as tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) produced from the post-CMP cleaning unit flows toward the wafer polishing unit to frequently wash at least the waste slurry drain piping in a real time fashion on a wafer by wafer basis.

Abstract: A trench MOS structure is disclosed. The trench MOS structure includes a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a doping well, a doping region and a trench gate. The substrate has a first conductivity type, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The epitaxial layer has the first conductivity type and is disposed on the first side. The doping well has a second conductivity type and is disposed on the epitaxial layer. The doping region has the first conductivity type and is disposed on the doping well. The trench gate is partially disposed in the doping region. The trench gate has a bottle shaped profile with a top section smaller than a bottom section, both are partially disposed in the doping well. The bottom section of two adjacent trench gates results in a higher electrical field around the trench MOS structures.

Abstract: A method for repairing a semiconductor structure having a current-leakage issue includes finding a semiconductor structure having a current-leakage issue through application of a test voltage from an electric test device and applying an electric power stress to the semiconductor structure to melt a stringer or a bridge between two conductive elements or to allow the stringer or the bridge to be oxidized.

Abstract: A bump structure including a base portion, an inlaid wire segment, and a protruding tail segment is provided. The base portion is bonded on a bonding site. The inlaid wire segment is pressed into a top surface of the base portion. The protruding tail segment extends from the inlaid wire segment. The methods for forming the bump structure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a wafer is disclosed in the present invention. This method is particularly suitable for cleaning the metal layer on the wafer. First, a wafer having a metal layer is loaded into a cleaning chamber, wherein a plurality of particles are inlaid in a surface of the metal layer. Later, a first clean stage is performed to rinse the wafer by jetted liquid introduced with megasonic energy. After the first clean stage, a second clean stage is performed to scrub the wafer. Finally, the wafer is dried.

Abstract: A method for storing wafers is disclosed. A plurality of wafers are placed into the wafer cassette box. The wafer cassette box is hermetically sealed and pumped down to vacuum for the wafer storage. Alternatively, the wafers carried by a holder conveyed on a wafer conveyor are placed into a pump-down chamber enclosing a section of the wafer conveyor. The pump-down chamber is hermetic sealed and pumped down to vacuum for the wafer storage on the wafer conveyor.

Abstract: A method of forming gate conductor structures. A substrate having thereon a gate electrode layer is provided. A multi-layer hard mask is formed overlying the gate electrode layer. The multi-layer hard mask comprises a first hard mask, a second hard mask, and a third hard mask. A photoresist pattern is formed on the multi-layer hard mask. A first etching process is performed to etch the third hard mask, using the photoresist pattern as a first etch resist, thereby forming a patterned third hard mask. A second etching process is performed to etch the second hard mask and the first hard mask, using the patterned third hard mask as a second etch resist, thereby forming a patterned first hard mask. A third etching process is performed to etch a layer of the gate electrode layer, using the patterned first hard mask as a third etch resist.

Abstract: A method for decapsulating an integrated circuit package without the need of using a mask during the decapsulation process is disclosed. First, a package is provided. The package includes at least a circuit element and a molding compound enclosing the circuit. Second, a caustic solution is simultaneously provided. The caustic solution is capable of etching the molding compound and intermittently contacts a pre-selected area of the molding compound to etch the molding compound. As a consequence, the caustic solution removes the molding compound in the pre-selected area so the circuit element in the package is substantially exposed.

Abstract: A MOS test structure is disclosed. A scribe line region is disposed on a substrate which has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. An epitaxial layer is disposed on the first side, the doping well is disposed on the epitaxial layer and the doping region is disposed on the doping well. A trench gate of a first depth is disposed in the doping region, in the doping well and in the scribe line region. A conductive material fills the test via which has a second depth and an isolation covering the inner wall of the test via and is disposed in the doping region, in the doping well, in the epitaxial layer and in the scribe line region, to electrically connect to the epitaxial layer so that the test via is capable of testing the epitaxial layer and the substrate together.

Abstract: A method for decapsulating an integrated circuit package in the absence of a mask is disclosed. First, a package is provided. The package includes at least a circuit element and a molding compound enclosing the circuit. Second, a caustic solution is simultaneously provided and drained. The caustic solution is capable of etching the molding compound while in continuous contact with the molding compound to etch the molding compound. As a consequence, the molding compound is removed so that the circuit element in the package is substantially exposed.

Abstract: A post-CMP wafer cleaning apparatus includes a chamber; a plurality of rollers adapted to hold and rotate a wafer within the chamber; at least one brush adapted to scrub a surface of the wafer to be cleaned; and a liquid spraying device adapted to spray a liquid on the wafer, the liquid spraying device comprising two spray bars jointed together via a joint member.

Abstract: A cuboidal protuberant structure is provided. The cuboidal protuberant structure includes a substrate and a protrusion disposed on the substrate. The protrusion has a vertical side wall with a rounded corner, a protuberant width and a protuberant length. At least one of the protuberant width and the protuberant length is not greater than 33 nm.

Abstract: A CMP slurry mix and delivery system includes at least one container for holding a polishing agent; a pump connected to the container for pumping the polishing agent to a point of use; and a slurry dispersion unit installed between the pump and the point of use, wherein slurry dispersion unit provides megasonic energy that is capable of dispersing the polishing agent flowing through the slurry dispersion unit.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system includes a wafer polishing unit producing a used slurry; a slurry treatment system for receiving and treating the used slurry to thereby produce an extracted basic solution; and a post-CMP cleaning unit utilizing the extracted basic solution to wash a polished wafer surface. The post-CMP cleaning unit includes a plurality of rollers for supporting and rotating a wafer, a brush for scrubbing the wafer, and a spray bar disposed in proximity to the brush for spraying the extracted basic solution onto the polished wafer surface.

Abstract: A method of etching trenches in a semiconductor substrate. A patterned hard mask is formed over a semiconductor substrate. Using the patterned hard mask as an etching mask, a plasma etching process is then carried out to etch trenches into the semiconductor substrate not covered by the patterned hard mask, wherein the plasma etching process employs a fluorocarbon-free plasma etching chemistry and is performed under a plasma pulse output mode.