Abstract: Methods of forming a contact structure, contact structures and apparatuses applied thereto are disclosed. The method of forming a contact structure forms a dielectric layer on a substrate. A metal contact with metal oxide thereon is formed in the dielectric layer. The solubility of the metal oxide is enhanced by using H2O with a temperature higher than about 10° C. or a chemical with a temperature higher than about 15° C.

Abstract: Methods of forming a contact structure, contact structures and apparatuses applied thereto are disclosed. The method of forming a contact structure forms a dielectric layer on a substrate. A metal contact with metal oxide thereon is formed in the dielectric layer. The solubility of the metal oxide is enhanced by using H2O with a temperature higher than about 10° C. or a chemical with a temperature higher than about 15° C.

Abstract: A method for passivating a target layer. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a target layer, where the target layer is susceptible to corrosion incident to contact with a corrosive material employed for further processing of the substrate. There is then treated, while employing a first plasma method employing a first plasma gas composition comprising an oxidizing gas, the target layer to form an oxidized target layer having an inhibited susceptibility to corrosion incident to contact with the corrosive material employed for further processing of the substrate. Finally, there is then processed further, while employing the corrosive material, the substrate. The method is useful when forming bond pads within microelectronic fabrications.

Abstract: A wafer is carried on a blade supported on robotic arms. A plurality of guide clamps both move the wafer into a desired position on the blade and clamp the wafer in place during transport by the arms. The clamps are reciprocally mounted on the blade and are connected with and driven by a rotatable hub carried on the blade and rotated by the movement of the arms. Both the blade and the clamps include beveled surfaces that guide the wafer into place. The operation of the clamps is controlled by a laser that detects when the wafer is out of place or tilted on the blade.

Abstract: A wafer is carried on a blade supported on robotic arms. A plurality of guide clamps both move the wafer into a desired position on the blade and clamp the wafer in place during transport by the arms. The clamps are reciprocally mounted on the blade and are connected with and driven by a rotatable hub carried on the blade and rotated by the movement of the arms. Both the blade and the clamps include beveled surfaces that guide the wafer into place. The operation of the clamps is controlled by a laser that detects when the wafer is out of place or tilted on the blade.

Abstract: A method for forming a patterned polysilicon layer within a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a substrate layer employed within a microelectronics fabrication. There is then formed upon the substrate layer a blanket polysilicon layer. There is then formed upon the blanket polysilicon layer a blanket organic polymer layer. There is then formed upon the blanket organic polymer layer a patterned photoresist layer, where the patterned photoresist layer has a high areal density region and a low areal density region. There is then etched through a first plasma etch method while employing the patterned photoresist layer as an etch mask layer the blanket organic polymer layer to form a patterned organic polymer layer while reaching the blanket polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A method for avoiding oxide peeling by removing polymer contaminants from the edge of a wafer is described. An interlevel dielectric sandwich layer is formed by depositing a first oxide layer overlying semiconductor device structures in and on a semiconductor substrate, coating a spin-on-glass layer overlying the first oxide layer and rinsing the spin-on-glass layer whereby an edge bead rinse hump is formed a first distance from the edge of the wafer, etching back the spin-on-glass layer wherein the wafer is held by a clamp a second distance from the edge of the wafer wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance and wherein the etching back of the spin-on-glass layer forms the polymer on the surface of the first oxide layer under the clamp at a third distance between the first and second distances, and depositing a second oxide layer overlying the etched back spin-on-glass layer and the polymer at the edge of the wafer to complete the interlevel dielectric sandwich layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for the removal of the surface layer of the residual photoresist mask pattern used for metal subtractive etching which uses the same reactor equipment but employs reactive fluorine-containing gases to form volatile compounds with the surface layer, so that subsequently a conventional oxygen plasma stripping process can be used for complete resist residue removal without requiring excessive temperature exposure of the integrated circuit devices.

Abstract: A device and a method of manufacture of a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate is provided. An N+ source layer is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the source layer. The dielectric layer is patterned and etched forming a dielectric layer pattern with openings therein, a silicon epitaxial layer in the openings in the dielectric layer pattern. An N+ drain layer is formed on the surface of the silicon epitaxial layer. A second dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the device including the N+ drain layer. A conductor layer is formed and patterned containing silicon over the second dielectric layer. An N+ implant mask with an N+ opening over a region of the epitaxial layer is formed (source) and ion implanting through that N+ opening into the N+ implant mask in that region. A code implant mask over the conductor layer is formed and ions are implanted through the code implant mask into the device.