Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of forming an isolation layer in a semiconductor device and comprises the steps of forming a tunnel insulating layer and conductive layer patterns on an active area of a semiconductor substrate, the width of an upper portion of the conductive layer patterns being narrower than that of a lower portion; forming a trench between the conductive layer patterns on the semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating layer to fill a portion of the trench with the insulating layer; and performing an etching process to remove an overhang of the insulating layer formed at an upper edge of the conductive layer patterns. Here, the step of forming the insulating layer and the step of performing the etching process are repeatedly performed until a space between the conductive layer patterns and the trench are filled with the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a floating gate semiconductor device such as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory is provided. The device includes a silicon substrate having an electrically isolated active area. A gate oxide, as well as other components of a FET (e.g., source, drain) are formed in the active area. A self aligned floating gate is formed by depositing a conductive layer (e.g., polysilicon) into the recess and over the gate oxide. The conductive layer is then chemically mechanically planarized to an endpoint of the isolation layer so that all of the conductive layer except material in the recess and on the gate oxide is removed. Following formation of the floating gate an insulating layer is formed on the floating gate and a control gate is formed on the insulating layer.

Abstract: In the present invention, in the exposure to light of a memory cell array or the like of a semiconductor memory or the like, when a group of unit openings for etching the STI trench regions in which the unit openings for etching the STI trench regions each having a rectangular shape are arranged in rows and columns are transferred by the exposure onto a negative resist film, multiple exposure is appropriately used which includes a first exposure step using a first optical mask having a group of first linear openings extending in a column direction and a second exposure step using a second optical mask having a group of second linear openings extending in a row direction.

Abstract: Provided is a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitor, in which trenches (3) are formed in a charge accumulation region (6) of a p-type silicon substrate (1) to reduce a contact area between the p-type silicon substrate (1) and a lightly doped n-type well region (2), thereby reducing a leak current from the lightly doped n-type well region (2) to the p-type silicon substrate (1).

Abstract: In-situ semiconductor process that can fill high aspect ratio (typically at least 6:1, for example 7:1 or higher), narrow width (typically sub 0.13 micron, for example 0.1 micron or less) gaps with significantly reduced incidence of voids or weak spots is provided. This deposition part of the process may involve the use of any suitable high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP CVD) chemistry. Prior to etch back, the feature gap is plugged with an etch selectivity layer. The etch back part of the process involves multiple steps including a sputter etch to reduce the top hat formations followed by a reactive plasma etch to open the gap. This method improves gapfill, reduces the use of high cost fluorine-based etching and produces interim gaps with better sidewall profiles and aspect ratios.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a suspended membrane in a single-crystal semiconductor substrate, including the steps of: forming in the substrate an insulating ring delimiting an active area, removing material from the active area, successively forming in the active area a first and a second layers, the second layer being a single-crystal semiconductor layer, etching a portion of the internal periphery of said ring down to a depth greater than the thickness of the second layer, removing the first layer so that the second layer formed a suspended membrane anchored in the insulating ring.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, first and second well regions, and a well isolation region isolating the first and second well regions. The first and second well regions each may include an active region, a device isolation groove that defines the active region, and a device isolation insulating film that fills the device isolation groove. The first and second well regions may include first and second well layers, respectively. The well isolation region may include a well isolation groove, a well isolation insulating film that fills the well isolation groove, and a diffusion stopper layer disposed under a bottom of the well isolation groove. The first and second well layers have first and second bottoms respectively, which are deeper in depth than a bottom of the device isolation groove and shallower in depth than the bottom of the well isolation groove.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a process of forming a STI trench in a substrate, a process of forming a thermal oxide film on a sidewall and a bottom surface of the STI trench, a process of performing a plasma treatment on a surface of the thermal oxide film that is located at a bottom portion of the STI trench, and a process of forming an insulating film in the STI trench using a CVD method.

Abstract: By forming metallization structures on the basis of an imprint technique, in which via openings and trenches may be commonly formed, a significant reduction of process complexity may be achieved due to the omission of at least one further alignment process as required in conventional process techniques. Furthermore, the flexibility and efficiency of imprint lithography may be increased by providing appropriately designed imprint molds in order to provide via openings and trenches exhibiting an increased fill capability, thereby also improving the performance of the finally obtained metallization structures with respect to reliability, resistance against electromigration and the like.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having strain material is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a first cell including a first gate between a first drain and a first source. The semiconductor device also includes a second cell adjacent to the first cell. The second cell includes a second gate between a second drain and a second source. The semiconductor device further includes a shallow trench isolation area between the first source and the second source. A first amount of strain material over the first source and over the second source is greater than a second amount of strain material over the first drain and over the second drain.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes flash memory cells, and peripheral circuitry including low voltage transistors (LVT) and high voltage transistors (HVT). The integrated circuit includes a tunnel barrier layer comprising SiON, SiN or other high-k material. The tunnel barrier layer may comprise a part of the gate dielectric of the HVTs. The tunnel barrier layer may constitute the entire gate dielectric of the HVTs. The corresponding tunnel barrier layer may be formed between or upon shallow trench isolation (STIs). Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency of a driver chip IC may be increased.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes unlined and sealed trenches and methods for forming the unlined and sealed trenches. More particularly, a superjunction semiconductor device includes unlined, and sealed trenches. The trench has sidewalls formed of the semiconductor material. The trench is sealed with a sealing material such that the trench is air-tight. First and second regions are separated by the trench. The first region may include a superjunction Schottky diode or MOSFET. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of regions are separated by a plurality of unlined and sealed trenches.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are Lateral Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor (LDMOS) device and trench isolation related devices, methods, and techniques.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device, the method including preparing a substrate having a cell array region and a contact region, forming a thin film structure on the substrate, including forming sacrificial film patterns isolated horizontally by a lower isolation region, the lower isolation region traversing the cell array region and the contact region, and forming sacrificial films sequentially stacked on the sacrificial film patterns, and forming an opening that penetrates the thin film structure to expose the lower isolation region of the cell array region, the opening being restrictively formed in the cell array region.

Abstract: A method includes forming a transistor device on a first side of a semiconductor-on-insulator structure. The semiconductor-on-insulator structure includes a substrate, a dielectric layer, and a buried layer between the substrate and the dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a conductive plug through the semiconductor-on-insulator structure. The conductive plug is in electrical connection with the transistor device. The method further includes forming a field plate on a second side of the semiconductor-on-insulator structure, where the field plate is in electrical connection with the conductive plug. The transistor device could have a breakdown voltage of at least 600V, and the field plate could extend along at least 40% of a length of the transistor device.

Abstract: Methods of forming an electrically conductive path under a barrier oxide layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and an integrated circuit including the path are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an electrically conductive path below a barrier oxide layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, the method comprising: forming a first barrier oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming the electrically conductive path within the first barrier oxide layer; and forming a second barrier oxide layer on the first barrier oxide layer. The electrically conductive path allows reduction of SRAM area by forming a wiring path underneath the barrier oxide layer on the SOI substrate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of forming a local buried layer (32) in a silicon substrate (10), comprising forming a plurality of trenches (12, 22) in the substrate, including a first trench (22) having a width preventing sealing of the first trench in a silicon migration anneal step and at least one further trench (12) connected to the first trench; exposing the substrate (10) to said anneal step, thereby converting the at least one further trench (12) by means of silicon migration into at least one tunnel (16) accessible via the first trench (22); and forming the local buried layer (32) by filling the at least one tunnel (16) with a material (26, 28, 46) via the first trench (22). Preferably, the method is used to form a semiconductor device having a local buried layer (32) comprising a doped epitaxial silicon plug (26), said plug and the first trench (22) being filled with a material (28) having a higher conductivity than the doped epitaxial silicon (26).

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an isolation feature disposed on the substrate, and an active area disposed adjacent the isolation feature. The isolation feature may be a shallow trench isolation feature. The STI feature has a first width at the top of the feature and a second width at the bottom of the feature. The first width is less than the second width. Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device is also provided. A method includes forming shallow trench isolation features and then growing an epitaxial layer adjacent the STI features to form an active region.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. A method comprises forming a layer of a first semiconductor material overlying the bulk substrate and forming a layer of a second semiconductor material overlying the layer of the first semiconductor material. The method further comprises creating a fin pattern mask on the layer of the second semiconductor material and anisotropically etching the layer of the second semiconductor material and the layer of the first semiconductor material using the fin pattern mask as an etch mask. The anisotropic etching results in a fin formed from the second semiconductor material and an exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin. The method further comprises forming an isolation layer in the exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin.

Abstract: Electrically erasable programmable “read-only” memory (EEPROM) cells in an integrated circuit, and formed by a single polysilicon level. The EEPROM cell consists of a coupling capacitor and a combined read transistor and tunneling capacitor. The capacitance of the coupling capacitor is much larger than that of the tunneling capacitor. In one embodiment, field oxide isolation structures isolate the devices from one another; a lightly-doped region at the source of the read transistor improves breakdown voltage performance. In another embodiment, trench isolation structures and a buried oxide layer surround the well regions at which the coupling capacitor and combined read transistor and tunneling capacitor are formed.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating P-I-N diodes, structures for P-I-N diodes and design structure for P-I-N diodes. A method includes: forming a trench in a silicon substrate; forming a doped region in the substrate abutting the trench; growing an intrinsic epitaxial silicon layer on surfaces of the trench; depositing a doped polysilicon layer to fill remaining space in the trench, performing a chemical mechanical polish so top surfaces of the intrinsic epitaxial silicon layer and the doped polysilicon layer are coplanar; forming a dielectric isolation layer in the substrate; forming a dielectric layer on top of the isolation layer; and forming a first metal contact to the doped polysilicon layer through the dielectric layer and a second contact to the doped region the dielectric and through the isolation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed that stably ensures an area of a storage node contact connected to a junction region in an active region of the semiconductor device and is thus able to improve the electrical properties of the semiconductor device and enhance a yield, and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region including a gate, a storage node contact region, and an isolation region that defines the active region. A passing gate and an isolation structure surrounding the passing gate are formed in the isolation region. A silicon epitaxial layer is selectively formed over an upper portion of the passing gate to expand the storage node contact region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: forming a first layer on a sidewall of a trench formed on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, filling up the trench with a protective film, etching back the protective film by a dry etching method so that a height of a surface of the protective film is lower than an opening of the trench and removing the first layer exposed by the etching-back.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a nanotube region using a thin epitaxial layer formed on the sidewall of a trench in the semiconductor body. The thin epitaxial layer has uniform doping concentration. In another embodiment, a first thin epitaxial layer of the same conductivity type as the semiconductor body is formed on the sidewall of a trench in the semiconductor body and a second thin epitaxial layer of the opposite conductivity type is formed on the first epitaxial layer. The first and second epitaxial layers have uniform doping concentration. The thickness and doping concentrations of the first and second epitaxial layers and the semiconductor body are selected to achieve charge balance. In one embodiment, the semiconductor body is a lightly doped P-type substrate. A vertical trench MOSFET, an IGBT, a Schottky diode and a P-N junction diode can be formed using the same N-Epi/P-Epi nanotube structure.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a programmable element, may include a semiconductor substrate, source/drain layers formed apart from each other in the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating film including a charge-trapping film containing Hf and formed on a portion between the source/drain layers of the semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film with a program voltage applied to the gate electrode.

Abstract: An efficient method is disclosed for increasing the breakdown voltage of an integrated circuit device that is isolated by a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process. The method comprises forming a portion of a field oxide in an integrated circuit so that the field oxide has a gradual profile. The gradual profile of the field oxide reduces impact ionization in the field oxide by creating a reduced value of electric field for a given value of applied voltage. The reduction in impact ionization increases the breakdown voltage of the integrated circuit. The gradual profile is formed by using an increased thickness of pad oxide and a reduced thickness of silicon nitride during a field oxide oxidation process.

Abstract: Memory cell structures, including PSOIs, NANDs, NORs, FinFETs, etc., and methods of fabrication have been described that include a method of epitaxial silicon growth. The method includes providing a silicon layer on a substrate. A dielectric layer is provided on the silicon layer. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer to expose the silicon layer, the trench having trench walls in the <100> direction. The method includes epitaxially growing silicon between trench walls formed in the dielectric layer.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a flash memory, a substrate with isolation structures formed therein and a dielectric layer and a floating gate formed thereon between isolation structures is provided. A mask layer is formed on the substrate, covering the isolation structures in a periphery region and the isolation structure in a cell region adjacent to the periphery region. The isolation structures in the cell region not covered by the mask layer are partially removed. Therefore, a first height difference is between surfaces of the isolation structures in the periphery region and a surface of the dielectric layer, and between a surface of the isolation structure in the cell region adjacent to the periphery region and the surface of the dielectric layer. A second height difference smaller than the first height difference is between surfaces of other isolation structures in the cell region and the surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Various systems and methods related to semiconductor devices having a plurality of layers and having a first conductive trace on a first layer electrically connected to a second conductive trace on a second layer and electrically isolated from a third electrical trace on the second layer are provided. A semiconductor structure can include first, second and third layers. The first conducting layer may be etched to form a first trench for the first conductive trace. A layer of material on the second layer in the first trench can define a patch area, wherein the patch area is disposed in a location where the first trench crosses over the third electrical trace. A second trench may be etched in an area defined by the first trench and the patch area to remove material in the second layer exposed by the first trench, leaving material of the layer under the patch area.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a flash memory, a substrate with isolation structures formed therein and a dielectric layer and a floating gate formed thereon between isolation structures is provided. A mask layer is formed on the substrate, covering the isolation structures in a periphery region and the isolation structure in a cell region adjacent to the periphery region. The isolation structures in the cell region not covered by the mask layer are partially removed. Therefore, a first height difference is between surfaces of the isolation structures in the periphery region and a surface of the dielectric layer, and between a surface of the isolation structure in the cell region adjacent to the periphery region and the surface of the dielectric layer. A second height difference smaller than the first height difference is between surfaces of other isolation structures in the cell region and the surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: System and method for reducing contact resistance and improving barrier properties is provided. An embodiment comprises a dielectric layer and contacts extending through the dielectric layer to connect to conductive regions. A contact barrier layer is formed between the conductive regions and the contacts by electroless plating the conductive regions after openings have been formed through the dielectric layer for the contact. The contact barrier layer is then treated to fill the grain boundary of the contact barrier layer, thereby improving the contact resistance. In another embodiment, the contact barrier layer is formed on the conductive regions by electroless plating prior to the formation of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a back side, forming a first circuit and a second circuit at the front side of the semiconductor substrate, bonding the front side of the semiconductor substrate to a carrier substrate, thinning the semiconductor substrate from the back side, and forming an trench from the back side to the front side of the semiconductor substrate to isolate the first circuit from the second circuit.

Abstract: A method of forming contacts for semiconductor devices, the method including depositing an inter-level dielectric (ILD) over a plurality of gate stacks, in which the divots within the inter-level dielectric layer are defined by the spaces between the gate stacks, filling the divots with an initial fill material, depositing a masking material on the dielectric over the gate stacks, and selectively etching the fill material to form contact vias. The fill material may be a self-assembly material such as a multi-block copolymer in which the blocks self organize vertically within the divots, so that a selective etch of the block material will remove the vertically organized blocks from the divot, but leave at least one block over the gate regions. In another embodiment, the fill material may be a metal, and the masking material may be a parylene based polymer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device whereby the process is simplified and high performance can be obtained in both a trench-gate transistor and a planar transistor that has a thin gate insulating film when the two transistors are formed on the same semiconductor substrate. In a state in which the gate insulating film (11s) in a peripheral circuit region PE is covered by a protective film (12), a gate trench (18) is formed in a memory cell region M, after which a gate insulating film (19) that is thicker than the gate insulating film (11s) is formed on an inner wall of the gate trench (18) in a state in which the gate insulating film (11s) of the peripheral circuit region PE is still covered by the protective film (12).

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a thicker gate dielectric layer (gate-insulation film 16 of, e.g., 40 nm) for a high voltage PMOS transistor (Tr1) that is formed simultaneously in a first thermal oxidation process together with the formation of LOCOS isolation structures (3) for element seaaration of low voltage PMOS and NMOS transistors (Tr3, Tr4), and has a thinner gate dielectric layer (gate-insulation film 25 of, e.g., 7 nm) for a high voltage NMOS transistor (Tr2) that is formed simultaneously in a second thermal oxidation process together with the formation of gate dielectric layers (gate-insulation films 33, 42) of low voltage PMOS and NMOS transistors (Tr3, Tr4).

Abstract: A semiconductor memory including a plurality of cell units arranged in a row direction, each of the cell units includes: a semiconductor region; a first buried insulating film provided on the semiconductor region; a second buried insulating film provided on the first buried insulating film, which has higher dielectric constant than the first buried insulating film; a semiconductor layer provided on the second buried insulating film; and a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged in a column direction, each of the memory cell transistors having a source region, a drain region and a channel region defined in the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of device isolation layers disposed in a semiconductor substrate, the device isolation layers extending in a word line direction and spaced apart from each other; a plurality of floating gate devices extending in a bit line direction perpendicular to the device isolation layer and spaced apart from each other; a source region and a drain region disposed at sides of the floating gate device; an insulation layer disposed on the floating gate device and the source region, and a polysilicon line extending in the word line direction and connected to the drain region.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for fabricating a transistor by using a SOI wafer. A gate insulation layer and a first gate conductive layer on a silicon-on-insulator substrate of a substrate to form a first gate conductive pattern, a gate insulation layer pattern, and a silicon layer pattern. A device isolation insulation layer exposing the top surface of the first gate conductive layer pattern may be formed. A second gate conductive layer may be formed. A mask pattern may be formed. Then, a gate may be formed by etching. After forming a source and drain conductive layer on the silicon layer pattern, the mask pattern may be removed. A salicide layer may be selectively contacting the gate and the source and drain conductive layer may be formed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method can include forming a hard mask film including lower and upper hard mask films on a substrate in which an active region and an isolation region are defined and patterning the hard mask film to provide a hard mask pattern partially exposing the active region and the isolation region. An etchant can be applied to the active and isolation regions using the hard mask pattern as an etching mask to form a trench in the active region of the substrate while avoiding substantially etching the isolation region exposed to the etchant and a gate can be formed on the trench.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an image sensor and a method of manufacturing an image sensor. According to embodiments, an image sensor may include a first substrate, a photodiode, and an ion implantation isolation layer. According to embodiments, circuitry including a metal interconnection may be disposed over the first substrate. A photodiode may be provided in a crystalline semiconductor layer bonded to the first substrate, and electrically connected to the metal interconnection. The ion implantation isolation layer may be provided in the photodiode.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a multilayer structure is provided as well as the structure itself. In accordance with one embodiment, the process includes growing a growth layer on a silicon substrate by epitaxial growth, forming at least one pattern from the growth layer, depositing an oxide layer on the silicon substrate, transferring a silicon active layer onto the oxide layer, forming a cavity in the silicon active layer oxide layer above the pattern, and growing a III-V material in the cavity.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes a first layer and a recrystallized layer on the first layer. The first layer has a first intrinsic stress and the recrystallized layer has a second intrinsic stress. A transistor is formed in the recrystallized layer. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, and a charge carrier channel between the source and drain regions. The second intrinsic stress is aligned substantially parallel to the charge carrier channel.

Abstract: A “tabbed” MOS device provides radiation hardness while supporting reduced gate width requirements. The “tabbed” MOS device also utilizes a body tie ring, which reduces field threshold leakage. In one implementation the “tabbed” MOS device is designed such that a width of the tab is based on at least a channel length of the MOS device such that a radiation-induced parasitic conduction path between the source and drain region of the device has a resistance that is higher than the device channel resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor structure for producing a handle wafer contact in trench insulated SOI discs which may be used as a deep contact (7, 6, 30?) to the handle wafer (1) of a thick SOI disc as well as for a trench insulation (40). Therein, the same method steps are used for both structures which are used as deep contact to the handle wafer of the thick SOI disc as well as trench insulation.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate; a dummy pattern extending in one direction on the semiconductor substrate; a junction region electrically connecting the dummy pattern to the semiconductor substrate; and a voltage applying unit that is configured to apply a bias voltage to the dummy pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure formed on a substrate and process for preventing oxidation induced stress in a determined portion of the substrate. The structure includes an n-FET device and a p-FET device, and a shallow trench isolation having at least one overhang is selectively configured to prevent oxidation induced stress in a determined portion of the substrate. The at least one overhang is selectively configured to prevent oxidation induced stress in at least one of a direction parallel to and a direction transverse to a direction of a current flow. For the n-FET device, the at least one overhang is selectively arranged in directions of and transverse to a current flow, and for the p-FET device, the at least one overhang is arranged transverse to the current flow to prevent performance degradation from compressive stresses.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that controls the influence of a thickness of a stopper film even if there is a change in the thickness of the stopper film by measuring the thickness prior to etching to a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a first isolation region in the semiconductor substrate; after the step of forming the first isolation region, forming a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device at a surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the step of forming the MOS device comprises forming a source/drain region; and after the step of forming the MOS device, forming a second isolation region in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an isolation structure is disclosed that protects the isolation structure during etching of a dichlorosilane (DCS) nitride layer. The method involves the formation of a bis-(t-butylamino)silane-based nitride liner layer within the isolation trench, which exhibits a five-fold greater resistance to nitride etching solutions as compared with DCS nitride, thereby allowing protection against damage from unintended over-etching. The bis-(t-butylamino)silane-based nitride layer also exerts a greater tensile strain on moat regions that results in heightened carrier mobility of active regions, thereby increasing the performance of NMOS transistors embedded therein.

Abstract: A method of forming a method a conductive wire. The method includes forming a dielectric hardmask layer on a dielectric layer; forming an electrically conductive hardmask layer on the dielectric hardmask layer; forming a trench extending through the conductive and dielectric hardmask layers into the dielectric layer; depositing a liner/seed layer on the conductive hardmask layer and the sidewalls and bottom of the trench; filling the trench with a fill material; removing the liner/seed layer from the top surface of the conductive hardmask layer; removing the fill material from the trench; electroplating a metal layer onto exposed surfaces of the conductive hardmask layer and liner/seed layer; and removing the metal layer and the conductive hardmask layer from the dielectric hardmask layer so the metal layer and edges of the liner/seed layer are coplanar with the top surface of the dielectric hardmask layer.