Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a flash memory device, an insulation layer pattern is formed on a substrate having cell and peripheral regions. Trenches formed in the substrate are converted into trench structures. A tunnel oxide layer is formed on the substrate. A space between the trench structures is filled with a first conductive layer. The trench structures are removed to form trench isolation structures and to convert the first conductive layer into a first conductive layer pattern. A dielectric layer is formed on the first conductive layer patterns and the trench isolation structures. An insulation layer is formed on the substrate in the peripheral region. A third conductive layer is formed on the second conductive layer, the insulation layer and the trench isolation layers. First and second gate structures are formed in the cell region and the peripheral region, respectively.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first transistor having a composite gate structure containing a lamination of a first polycrystalline silicon film, an interlayer insulating film, and a second polycrystalline silicon film; and a second transistor having a single gate structure containing a lamination of a third polycrystalline silicon film and a fourth polycrystalline silicon film, wherein the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness; the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have different impurity concentrations controlled independently of each other; the second polycrystalline silicon film and the fourth polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness, and the second polycrystalline silicon film, the fourth polycrystalline silicon film, and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same impurity concentration.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device having a substrate, an n type well, a p type well, a control gate, a composite dielectric layer, a source region and a drain region is provided. A trench is formed in the substrate. The n type well is formed in the substrate. The p type well is formed in the substrate above the n type well. The junction of p type well and the n type well is higher than the bottom of the trench. The control gate which protruding the surface of substrate is formed on the sidewalls of the trench. The composite dielectric layer is formed between the control gate and the substrate. The composite dielectric layer includes a charge-trapping layer. The source region and the drain region are formed in the substrate of the bottom of the trench respectively next to the sides of the control gate.

Abstract: A floating gate memory cell's channel region (104) is at least partially located in a fin-like protrusion (110P) of a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate's top surface may come down along at least two sides of the protrusion to a level below the top (110P-T) of the protrusion. The control gate's bottom surface may also comes down to a level below the top of the protrusion. The floating gate's bottom surface may comes down to a level below the top of the protrusion by at least 50% of the protrusion's height. The dielectric (120) separating the floating gate from the protrusion can be at least as thick at the top of the protrusion as at a level (L2) which is below the top of the protrusion by at least 50% of the protrusion's height. A very narrow fin or other narrow feature in memory and non-memory integrated circuits can be formed by providing a first layer (320) and then forming spacers (330) from a second layer without photolithography on sidewalls of features made from the first layer.

Abstract: A trench gate FET is formed as follows. A well region is formed in a silicon region. A plurality of active gate trenches and a termination trench are simultaneously formed in an active region and a termination region of the FET, respectively, such that the well region is divided into a plurality of active body regions and a termination body region. Using a mask, openings are formed over the termination body region and the active body region. Dopants are implanted into the active body regions and the termination body region through the openings thereby forming a first region in each active and termination body region. Exposed surfaces of all first regions are recessed so as to form a bowl-shaped recess having slanted walls and a bottom protruding through the first region such that remaining portions of the first region in each active body region form source regions that are self-aligned to the active gate trenches.

Abstract: Nano-wires, preferably of less than 20 nm diameter, can be formed with minimized risk of narrowing and breaking that results from silicon atom migration during an annealing process step. This is accomplished by masking portion of the active layer where silicon atomer would otherwise agglomerate with a material such as silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or other dielectric that eliminates or substantially reduces the silicon atom migration. Nano-wires, nanotubes, nano-rods, and other features can be formed and can optionally be incorporated into devices, such as by use as a channel region in a transistor device.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided on a substrate having a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. A first device isolation layer defines a cell active region in the cell array region and a second device isolation layer having first and second sidewalls defines a peripheral active region in the peripheral circuit region. A cell gate pattern that includes a plurality of conductive layers crosses over the cell active region, and a peripheral gate pattern that includes a plurality of conductive layers crosses over the peripheral active region. A lowermost layer of the peripheral gate pattern has first and second sidewalls that are aligned with respective of either the first and second sidewalls of the second device isolation layer or a vertical extension of the first and second sidewalls of the second device isolation layer. Further, the lowest layer of the cell gate pattern and the lowest layer of the peripheral gate pattern comprise different conductive layers.

Abstract: A method of forming a transistor includes: forming a gate oxide layer and a gate polysilicon layer on a silicon substrate; forming low-energy ion implantation regions in the silicon substrate and in alignment with both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer; forming gate spacers on both sidewalls of the gate polysilicon layer; forming amorphous layers on surfaces of the gate polysilicon layer and the silicon substrate by implanting impurities at a low implantation energy into the gate polysilicon layer and the silicon substrate; and forming high-energy ion implantation regions by implanting source/drain impurities at a high implantation energy into the silicon substrate including the gate polysilicon layer and the amorphous layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate having a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure region isolated by a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) film and an SOI structure in the region includes forming the LOCOS film so as to make a height from an uppermost surface of a semiconductor member to a top surface of the LOCOS film be higher than a height from the uppermost surface of the semiconductor member to a top surface of the SOI structure, forming a silicon germanium layer and a silicon layer on the SOI structure region on the semiconductor member by epitaxial growth and forming a polysilicon film on a surface of the LOCOS film, forming a recess for a support to support the silicon layer to be a part of the SOI structure, forming the support on the semiconductor member, exposing a side of the silicon germanium layer and the silicon layer underneath the support, forming a cavity by removing the silicon germanium layer having the side exposed, forming the SOI structure by embedding an insulating laye

Abstract: A method of fabricating an image TFT array of a direct X-ray image sensor includes forming a first transparent conductive layer on a substrate; forming a gate line including a gate electrode, a common line, and a common electrode jutting out from the common line; forming an insulation layer; forming a semiconducting island on the insulation layer in the transistor region; forming a first via hole for the common electrode; forming a data line and a source electrode and a drain electrode; forming a passivation layer and a second via hole penetrating the passivation layer for the source electrode; forming a second transparent conductive layer as a top electrode. The insulation layer is formed on the first transparent conductive layer to serve as a dielectric layer of a capacitor before the TFT structure formed and can be formed at a relatively high temperature.

Abstract: In a capacitor having a high dielectric constant, the capacitor includes a cylindrical lower electrode, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode. A metal oxide layer is formed on inner, top and outer surfaces of the lower electrode as the dielectric layer. A first sub-electrode is formed on a surface of the dielectric layer along the profile of the lower electrode and a second sub-electrode is continuously formed on the first sub-electrode corresponding to the top surface of the lower electrode, so an opening portion of the lower electrode is covered with the second sub-electrode. The first and second sub-electrodes include first and second metal nitride layers in which first and second stresses are applied, respectively. Directions of the first and second stresses are opposite to each other. Accordingly, cracking is minimized in the upper electrode with the high dielectric constant, thereby reducing current leakage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having one or more device regions. Each device region comprises at least a base semiconductor substrate layer and a semiconductor device layer with a buried insulator layer located therebetween, while the semiconductor device layer is supported by one or more vertical insulating pillars. The vertical insulating pillars each preferably has a ledge extending between the base semiconductor substrate layer and the semiconductor device layer. The SOI substrates of the present invention can be readily formed from a precursor substrate structure with a “floating” semiconductor device layer that is spaced apart from the base semiconductor substrate layer by an air gap and is supported by one or more vertical insulating pillars. The air gap is preferably formed by selective removal of a sacrificial layer located between the base semiconductor substrate layer and the semiconductor device layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabricating a composite structure having heat dissipation properties greater than a bulk single crystal silicon structure having the same dimensions. The structure includes a support substrate, a top layer and an oxide layer between the support substrate and the top layer.

Abstract: Application form of and demand for an IC chip formed with a silicon wafer are expected to increase, and further reduction in cost is required. An object of the invention is to provide a structure of an IC chip and a process capable of producing at a lower cost. A feature of the invention is to use a metal film and a reactant having the metal film as a separation layer. An etching rate of the metal film or the reactant having metal is high, and a physical means in addition to a chemical means of etching the metal film or the reactant having metal can be used in the invention. Thus, the IDF chip can be manufactured more simply and easily in a short time.

Abstract: A technique capable of stably releasing chips from a dicing tape, includes grinding a back surface of a semiconductor wafer, while adhering a pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a circuit forming surface of the semiconductor wafer formed with an integrated circuit, to achieve a predetermined thickness and forcibly oxidizing the back surface of the semiconductor wafer. Then, the pressure sensitive adhesive tape adhered to the circuit forming surface of the semiconductor wafer is released, and a dicing tape is adhered to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer. Further, the semiconductor wafer is divided by dicing it into individual chips, and then the back surface of the chip is pressed by way of the dicing tape, thereby releasing the chips from the dicing tape.

Abstract: A linear pulse laser beam to be applied to an illumination surface is so formed as to have, at the focus, an energy profile in the width direction which satisfies inequalities 0.5L1?L2?L1 and 0.5L1?L3?L1 where assuming that a maximum energy is 1, L1 is a beam width of two points having an energy of 0.95 and L1+L2+L3 is a beam width of two points having an energy of 0.70, L2 and L3 occupying two peripheral portions of the beam width. According to another aspect of the invention, a compound-eye-like fly-eye lens for expanding a pulse laser beam in a sectional manner is provided upstream of a cylindrical lens for converging the laser beam into a linear beam.

Abstract: A method for forming an underlayer composed of a GaN-based compound semiconductor is provided. In this method, at the time of epitaxial growth of an underlayer on the surface of a sapphire substrate, no gap is generated between the underlayer and the surface of the sapphire substrate. The method for forming an underlayer composed of a GaN-based compound semiconductor includes the steps of forming strip seed layers composed of a GaN-based compound semiconductor on the surface of a sapphire substrate, forming a crystal growth promoting layer composed of a GaN-based compound semiconductor on the top surfaces and both the side surfaces of the seed layers, and on the exposed surfaces of the sapphire substrate, and epitaxially growing an underlayer composed of a GaN-based compound semiconductor from the parts of the crystal growth promoting layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a thin film transistor in which, in order to control the concentration of metal catalysts remaining on a polycrystalline silicon layer when an amorphous silicon layer formed on an insulating substrate is crystallized into the polycrystalline silicon layer by a super grain silicon (SGS) crystallization method, the substrate is annealed so that a very small amount of metal catalyst is adsorbed or diffused into a capping layer, and then a crystallization process is carried out, thereby minimizing the concentration of the metal catalysts remaining on the polycrystalline silicon layer, as well as forming a thick metal catalyst layer.

Abstract: A spin addition method for catalyst elements is simple and very important technique, because the minimum amount of a catalyst element necessary for crystallization can be easily added by controlling the catalyst element concentration within a catalyst element solution, but there is a problem in that uniformity in the amount of added catalyst element within a substrate is poor. The non-uniformity in the amount of added catalyst element within the substrate is thought to influence fluctuation in crystallinity of a crystalline semiconductor film that has undergone thermal crystallization, and exert a bad influence on the electrical characteristics of TFTs finally structured by the crystalline semiconductor film. The present invention solves this problem with the aforementioned conventional technique.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a layer of elastically unstrained crystalline material intended for electronics, optics, or optronics applications, wherein the method is carried out using a structure that includes a first crystalline layer which is elastically strained under tension (or respectively in compression) and a second crystalline layer which is elastically strained in compression (or respectively under tension), with the second layer being adjacent to the first layer.

Abstract: A method of determining wafer curvature in real-time is presented. The method includes establishing a first temperature profile for a hotplate surface, where the hotplate surface is divided into a plurality of temperature control zones. The method further includes positioning a wafer at a first height above the hotplate surface and determining a second temperature profile for the hotplate surface. The wafer curvature is then determined by using the second temperature profile. Also, a dynamic model of a processing system is presented and wafer curvature can be incorporated into the dynamic model.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a plurality of evacuable treatment chambers connected to one another via an evacuable common chamber, and the common chamber is provided with means for transporting a substrate between each treatment chamber. More specifically, a substrate processing apparatus includes a plurality of evacuable treatment chambers, at least one of said treatment chambers having a film formation function through a vapor phase reaction therein, at least one of said treatment chambers having an annealing function with light irradiation and at least one of said treatment chambers having a heating function therein. The apparatus also has a common chamber through which said plurality of evacuable treatment chambers are connected to one another, and a transportation means provided in said common chamber for transporting a substrate between each treatment chamber.

Abstract: When a via-hole 26 and an interconnection trench 32 are formed in an interconnection films 16, 18 by using as a mask a hard mask 20 covering the region except via-hole forming region, and a hard mask 22 covering the region except an interconnection trench forming region, the hard mask 20 is isotropically etched to expose the upper surface of the inter-layer insulating film 18 at a periphery of the via-hole forming region and leave the hard mask 20 in the interconnection trench forming region except the periphery, and then the hard mask 20 and the insulating films 18, 16 are anisotropically etched, whereby the via-hole 26 having increased-width portion 34 at the upper part, and the interconnection trench 32 connected to the via-hole 26 at the increased-width portions 26 are formed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (10) includes a semiconductor substrate (11) that has a top surface (32) for forming a dielectric region (14) with a trench (40) and one or more adjacent cavities (16). A conductive material such as copper is disposed within the trench to produce an inductor (50). A top surface (49) of the inductor is substantially coplanar with an interconnect surface (31) of the semiconductor substrate, which facilitates connecting to the inductor with standard integrated circuit metallization (57).

Abstract: The present invention provides a solder deposition method that includes the step of forming a dam around an electrode on a substrate, the step of applying a solder precipitating composition to the substrate, and the step of depositing solder on the surface of the electrode while heating the solder precipitating composition applied. This solder deposition method is suitable for forming large bumps at fine pitches. In particular, it is capable of depositing solder in a desired height precisely and easily, and yet preventing occurrence of voids.

Abstract: A chip mounting substrate for bonding a semiconductor chip to a substrate, comprises a solder layer on the substrate, the solder layer being connectable to a semiconductor chip, wherein the solder layer comprises a layer including ?-phase crystal grains of an Au—Sn alloy at a surface of the solder layer. The solder layer comprising a layer including ?-phase crystal grains of an Au—Sn alloy is formed at a surface of the solder layer. On mounting a semiconductor chip on the substrate, the substrate and the solder layer are heated and an image of the solder layer is shot to perform an image evaluation to detect the timing of mounting the semiconductor chip on the solder layer of the substrate and a position of the chip.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating ball grid array packages includes providing a substrate, providing a ball film that includes a plurality of metal balls movably contained within respective slots of a thin film, coupling the metal balls to the substrate, and removing the thin film from the metal balls.

Abstract: A bonding technique suitable for bonding a non-metal body, such as a silicon MEMS sensor, to a metal surface, such a steel mechanical component is rapid enough to be compatible with typical manufacturing processes, and avoids any detrimental change in material properties of the metal surface arising from the bonding process. The bonding technique has many possible applications, including bonding of MEMS strain sensors to metal mechanical components. The inventive bonding technique uses inductive heating of a heat-activated bonding agent disposed between metal and non-metal objects to quickly and effectively bond the two without changing their material properties. Representative tests of silicon to steel bonding using this technique have demonstrated excellent bond strength without changing the steel's material properties.

Abstract: Provided is a metal interconnection structure of a semiconductor device, including a first metal film pattern disposed on an upper part of an insulation film of a semiconductor substrate; an intermetallic dielectric film having a metal contact plug in which a barrier layer, a metal film for contact plug and a second metal film are sequentially disposed, on the first metal film pattern; and a second metal film pattern disposed on the metal contact plug and intermetallic dielectric film and connected to the metal contact plug.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming metal wirings for high voltage elements. According to the present invention, after a copper film is formed, a wet etch process using an interlayer insulating film as an etch mask is performed to pattern the copper film. It is thus possible to form copper wirings for high voltage elements the width of which is very wide. Furthermore, a wet etch process using a chemical aqueous solution is performed instead of a copper polishing process. The cost for forming a metal wiring can be thus saved. Moreover, by controlling a wet etch time, the space between metal wirings, which is narrower than a width of the metal wiring, can be secured sufficiently.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a metallization structure comprises depositing a first metal layer; depositing a first pattern-defining layer over said first metal layer, a first opening in said first pattern-defining layer exposes said first metal layer; depositing a second metal layer over said first metal layer exposed by said first opening; depositing a second pattern-defining layer over said second metal layer, a second opening in said second pattern-defining layer exposes said second metal layer; depositing a third metal layer over said second metal layer exposed by said second opening; removing said second pattern-defining layer; removing said first pattern-defining layer; and removing said first metal layer not under said second metal layer.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, a liner is deposited over a conductive region of a wafer and a stencil layer is deposited over the liner. The stencil layer and the liner are etched to form a stencil pattern for a conductive layer. A second liner is deposited over exposed surfaces of the stencil pattern, and the exposed horizontal surfaces of the second liner are removed by sputtering. A low-k dielectric layer is then deposited over the wafer, and the wafer is planarized down to the stencil pattern by chemical-mechanical polishing. The stencil pattern is removed with a wet etch to form an aperture in the wafer exposing the liner and remaining portions of the second liner. Metal is deposited in the aperture, and the surface of the wafer is replanarized by chemical-mechanical polishing to produce a planar surface for additional metallization layers that may be deposited.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a dielectric layer having a opening form therein having a cross-sectional area of less than 1 ?m2 and a PVD aluminum base conductor filled in the opening.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an inductor in a semiconductor device, the method including forming an etching-prevention film, a first interlayer insulating film, and a first hard mask film over a silicon semiconductor substrate in this sequence; selectively etching the first hard mask film to form a hole; forming a second interlayer insulating film over the first hard mask film; forming a second hard mask film over the second interlayer insulating film; forming a photoresist pattern having a trench forming opening over the second hard mask film; removing a part of the second hard mask film and a part of the second interlayer insulating film by using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask, to form a first trench in the second interlayer insulating film; removing the photoresist pattern and polymers produced in the first trench by ashing and cleaning process; etching the second interlayer insulating film by using the second hard mask film as an etching mask until the first hard mask film is expose

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of forming a metal wiring in a semiconductor device. Other example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of forming a metal wiring in a semiconductor device without a generation of a bridge between adjacent metal wirings. In a method of forming a metal wiring in a semiconductor device, at least one metal layer and at least one barrier layer may be sequentially formed on a substrate. A metal blocking layer may be formed on the at least one barrier metal layer. A hard mask layer may be formed on the metal blocking layer. A hard mask pattern may be formed on the metal blocking layer by etching the hard mask layer without an exposure of the at least one barrier metal layer. A metal blocking layer pattern may be formed on the at least one barrier metal layer by etching the metal blocking layer using the hard mask pattern as an etching mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip having an exposed metal terminating pad thereover, and a separate substrate having a corresponding exposed metal bump thereover are provided. A conducting polymer plug is formed over the exposed metal terminating pad. A conforming interface layer is formed over the conducting polymer plug. The conducting polymer plug of the semiconductor chip is aligned with the corresponding metal bump. The conforming interface layer over the conducting polymer plug is mated with the corresponding metal bump. The conforming interface layer is thermally decomposed, adhering and permanently attaching the conducting polymer plug with the corresponding metal bump. Methods of forming and patterning a nickel carbonyl layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fabrication method of a packaging substrate includes the steps of: forming a recess by etching a predetermined area of a lower surface of a substrate; depositing a seed layer on an upper surface of the substrate; in the recess, etching predetermined area(s) of the lower surface of the substrate and forming at least one via hole that reaches the seed layer; and plating the inside of the via hole by using the seed layer, and forming electrode(s) for electrically coupling the upper and lower parts of the substrate. First and second pads coupled to the electrode(s) may be formed on the upper and lower parts of the substrate, respectively. Thus, using the second pads as bonding materials, the packaging process becomes easier, which resultantly simplifies the fabrication process of the packaging substrate and the packaging process.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a surface of a silicon wafer includes subjecting the surface of the silicon wafer to a hydrogen (H2) gas plasma containing at least one inert gas while biasing the hydrogen plasma with a RF bias power to direct the hydrogen (H2) plasma to clean the surface of the silicon wafer.

Abstract: In a method for forming a wiring of a semiconductor device using an atomic layer deposition, an insulating interlayer is formed on a substrate. Tantalum amine derivatives represented by a chemical formula Ta(NR1)(NR2R3)3 in which R1, R2 and R3 represent H or C1-C6 alkyl group are introduced onto the insulating interlayer. A portion of the tantalum amine derivatives is chemisorbed on the insulating interlayer. The rest of tantalum amine derivatives non-chemisorbed on the insulating interlayer is removed from the insulating interlayer. A reacting gas is introduced onto the insulating interlayer. A ligand in the tantalum amine derivatives chemisorbed on the insulating interlayer is removed from the tantalum amine derivatives by a chemical reaction between the reacting gas and the ligand to form a solid material including tantalum nitride. The solid material is accumulated on the insulating interlayer through repeating the above processes to form a wiring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining enlarged Cu grains in small trenches. More specifically it related to a method for creating enlarged copper grains or inducing super secondary grain growth in electrochemically deposited copper in narrow trenches and/or vias to be used in semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: forming a first insulating film on a substrate that is provided with a structure; forming a second insulating film on the first insulating film; polishing at least the second insulating film; forming a third insulating film on the polished second insulating film; and etching a remaining film including at least the second insulating film or the third insulating film so that an exposed surface of the second insulating film and the third insulating film is parallel with a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: In a polishing method of a GaN substrate according to this invention, first, while supplying a polishing solution 27 containing abrasives 23 and a lubricant 25, onto a platen 101, the GaN substrate is polished using the platen 101 and the polishing solution 27 (first polishing step). Then the GaN substrate is polished using the platen 101 in which abrasives 29 are buried, while supplying a lubricant 31 onto the platen 101 in which the abrasives 29 are buried (second polishing step).

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices use metal CMP slurry compositions having relatively low chemical etch rate and relatively high mechanical polishing rate characteristics. The relatively high mechanical polishing rate characteristics are achieved using relatively high concentrations of mechanical abrasive (e.g., ?8 wt %) in combination with sufficient quantities of a wetting agent to inhibit micro-scratching of underlying surfaces (e.g., insulating layers, conductive vias, . . . ) being polished. The slurry compositions also include a highly stable metal-propylenediaminetetraacetate (M-PDTA) complex, which may operate to inhibit metal-oxide re-adhesion on the metal surface being polished and/or inhibit oxidation of the metal surface by chelating with the surface.

Abstract: This invention includes a chemical mechanical polishing method including providing a substrate having an organic material to be polished by chemical mechanical polishing. In one implementation, the organic material is chemical mechanically polished using a polishing pad downforce on the substrate of less than or equal to 1.75 psi, using an aqueous slurry comprising abrasive particles comprising an individual particle size of less than or equal to 100 nanometers and at a particle concentration of less than or equal to 20% by weight, and at least one of an acid or a surfactant effective to achieve a removal rate of the organic material of at least 500 Angstroms per minute. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method is disclosed for use in the fabrication of a semiconductor device having dense and sparse regions. The method uses an abrasive stop layer formed on the dense and sparse regions to control polishing of a material layer formed on the abrasive stop layer by a rigid, fixed abrasive polishing pad.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method, in one embodiment, includes forming semiconductor features (405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445) over a substrate (310), and then forming a layer of material (510) over the semiconductor features (405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445). This method further includes selectively etching portions of the layer of material (510) based upon a density or size of the semiconductor features (405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445) located thereunder, and then polishing remaining portions of the layer of material (510).

Abstract: There is disclosed a chemical mechanical polishing method of an organic film comprising forming the organic film above a semiconductor substrate, contacting the organic film formed above the semiconductor substrate with a polishing pad attached to a turntable, and dropping a slurry onto the polishing pad to polish the organic film, the slurry being selected from the group consisting of a first slurry and a second slurry, the first slurry comprising a resin particle having a functional group selected from the group consisting of an anionic functional group, a cationic functional group, an amphoteric functional group and a nonionic functional group, and having a primary particle diameter ranging from 0.05 to 5 ?m, the first slurry having a pH ranging from 2 to 8, and the second slurry comprising a resin particle having a primary particle diameter ranging from 0.05 to 5 ?m, and a surfactant having a hydrophilic moiety.

Abstract: Disclosed are radiation-resistant zone plates for use in laser-produced plasma (LPP) devices, and methods of manufacturing such zone plates. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing a zone plate provides for forming a masking layer over a supporting membrane, and creating openings through the masking layer in a diffractive grating pattern. Such a method also provides depositing radiation absorbent material in the openings in the masking layer and on the supporting membrane, and then stripping the remaining portions of the masking layer. Then, portions of the supporting membrane not covered by the absorbent material are removed, wherein the remaining portions of the supporting membrane covered by the absorbent material form separate grates. Also in such methods, cross-members are coupled to the grates for holding positions of the grates with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method is disclosed by means of which contact holes (K1), (K2) and (K3), leading to integrated components can be produced with just one structuring mask, whereby contact holes (K1) and (K3) lead to contact regions (25e, 45e) in the substrate (5) and contact holes (K2) lead to contact regions (35c, 50c) located on layer stacks (35, 50). An auxiliary layer is used for the etching of contact holes (K1), (K2), (K3), which covers a part of the contact holes and thus serves as a selection mask. The auxiliary layer can be structured with a low-resolution lithography in comparison with the mask, such that only one single high-resolution lithography is necessary for the formation of all contact holes (K1), (K2), (K3). The method is particularly suitable for the simultaneous production of contact holes for transistors in the cell field and the logic field of a DRAM.

Abstract: A method for forming a dual damascene structure in a semiconductor device manufacturing process where via plugs which may include a thickness portion of a plug filling material overlying the process surface is formed by diffusing an acid into a plug filling material layer followed by reacting the acid with the plug filling material layer to form a soluble portion which is then removed using a solvent. A remaining portion of the plug filling material is cured and a BARC layer may be formed over the process surface prior to patterning trenches in an overlying resist layer and forming a dual damascene structure.