Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulse-plasma etching method and apparatus for preparing a depression structure with reduced bowing. The pulse-plasma etching apparatus comprises a container, an upper electrode plate, a lower electrode plate, a gas source, a first ultrahigh RF power supply, a bias RF power supply, and a pulsing module. When the pulsing module supplies an ultrahigh-frequency voltage between the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate, an ultrahigh-frequency voltage is switched to the off state, and a large amount of electrons pass through the plasma and reach the substrate to neutralize the positive ions during the duration of the off state (Toff).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a deep trench capacitor includes the steps as follows. Firstly, a substrate having a trench therein is provided. Then, a bottom electrode is formed in the substrate around the trench. Later, a capacitor dielectric layer is formed to surround an inner sidewall of the trench. After that, a first conductive layer is form to fill up the trench. Subsequently, a material layer is formed on the substrate. Later, a hole is formed in the material layer, wherein the hole is directly above the trench. Finally, a second conductive layer is form to fill in the hole.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a memory device, including: providing a plurality of gate structures formed on a substrate, wherein the gate structures comprise a cap layer disposed on the top of the gate structure, and each two adjacent gate structures are separated by a gap; blanketly forming a polysilicon layer on the substrate to fill the gap; performing a planarization process to the polysilicon layer, obtaining a polysilicon plug; and performing an oxidation process after the planarization process, converting a part of the polysilicon plug and a residual polysilicon layer over the gate structure to silicon oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma etching method and apparatus for preparing high-aspect-ratio structures. The method includes the steps of placing the substrate into a plasma etching apparatus, wherein the plasma etching apparatus includes an upper electrode plate and a lower electrode plate; continuously supplying an upper source RF power and a DC power to the upper electrode plate; and discontinuously supplying a bias RF power to the lower electrode plate. When the bias RF power is switched to the off state, a large amount of secondary electrons pass through the bulk plasma and reach the substrate to neutralize the positive ions during the duration time of the off state (Toff).

Abstract: A method for performing pulse-etching in a semiconductor device includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate, wherein a metal layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and a hard mask layer is blanketed over the metal layer; introducing the semiconductor substrate into a processing container; introducing, into the processing container, etching gases in which a deposition-type gas composed of at least two of C, H, and F is added to etching gas selected from the group consisting of Cl2 gas, BCl3 gas, HBr gas, and the combination thereof; applying a pulse-modulated high-frequency voltage between a pair of electrodes that are provided in the processing container so as to be opposed to each other and to hold the semiconductor substrate, such that the high-frequency voltage is turned on and off to establish a duty ratio; generating a plasma between the pair of electrodes; and etching the semiconductor substrate using the plasma.

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

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: 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 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 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 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 wafer cleaning method includes: (1) providing a wafer cleaning apparatus comprising a sponge for scrubbing a surface of a semiconductor wafer to be cleaned; (2) implementing a pre-conditioning flow to pre-condition the sponge using a dummy wafer; and (3) performing a regular cleaning flow to scrub the surface of the semiconductor wafer to be cleaned using the pre-conditioned sponge. The dummy wafer has a plurality of upward protruding features on a surface of the dummy wafer for removing residual fibers or unwanted substances from the sponge.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.