Abstract: A method for manufacturing a chip arrangement is provided, the method including: forming a hole in a carrier including at least one chip, wherein forming a hole in the carrier includes: selectively removing carrier material, thereby forming a cavity in the carrier, forming passivation material over one or more cavity walls exposed by the selective removal of the carrier material; selectively removing a portion of the passivation material and further carrier material exposed by the selective removal of the passivation material, wherein a further portion of the passivation material remains over at least one cavity side wall; the method further including subsequently forming a layer over the further portion of passivation material remaining over the at least one cavity side wall.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods of forming copper-based conductive structures on integrated circuit devices by performing a copper deposition process to fill the trench or via with copper, which can be performed by fill, plating or electroless deposition. Copper clearing of copper overburden is performed using CMP to stop on an existing liner. Copper in the trenches or vias is recessed by controlled etch. An Nblok cap layer is deposited to cap the trenches or vias so that copper is not exposed to ILD. Nblok overburden and adjacent liner is then removed by CMP. Nblok cap layer is then deposited. The proposed approach is an alternative CMP integration scheme that will eliminate the exposure of copper to ILD during CMP, will prevent any dendrite formation, can be used for all metal layers in BEOL stack, and can be utilized for multiple layers, as necessary, whenever copper CMP is desired.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques for forming a low k dielectric around a metal line during an integrated circuit (IC) fabrication process are provided. In an embodiment, a metal line is formed prior to forming a surrounding low k dielectric layer around the metal line. In an embodiment, the metal line is formed by filling a trench space in a skeleton layer with metal. In this embodiment, the skeleton layer is removed to form a dielectric space in a different location than the trench space. The dielectric space is then filled with a low k dielectric material to form a surrounding low k dielectric layer around the metal line. In this manner, damage to the surrounding low k dielectric layer, that would otherwise occur if the surrounding low k dielectric layer was etched, for example, is mitigated.

Abstract: The embodiments of methods and structures disclosed herein provide mechanisms of forming and programming a metal-via fuse. The metal-via fuse and a programming transistor form a one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell. The metal-via fuse has a high resistance and can be programmed with a low programming voltage, which expands the programming window.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an image sensor includes at least one of: (1) Forming a gate on a semiconductor substrate; (2) Forming spacers on both side walls of the gate and forming a dummy pattern on an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate; and (3) Forming a metal pad for an electrical connection on an upper portion of the dummy pattern. The method may include at least one of: (1) Forming an interlayer dielectric layer covering the entire semiconductor substrate, (2) Etching portions of the interlayer dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate to form a super-contact hole; and (3) forming an insulation film on the entire surface of the interlayer dielectric layer. The method may include forming normal contact holes such that a portion of an upper portion of the gate and a partial region of the metal pad for an electrical connection are exposed and filling up the normal contact holes with a conductive material to form normal contacts.

Abstract: Methods and structures provide horizontal conductive lines of fine pitch and self-aligned contacts extending from them, where the contacts have at least one dimension with a more relaxed pitch. Buried hard mask materials permit self-alignment of the lines and contacts without a critical mask, such as for word-line electrode lines and word-line contacts in a memory device.

Abstract: A method is provided for use with an IC device including a stack including a plurality of conductive layers interleaved with a plurality of dielectric layers, for forming interlayer connectors extending from a connector surface to respective conductive layers. The method forms landing areas on the plurality of conductive layers in the stack. The landing areas are without overlying conductive layers in the stack. The method forms etch stop layers over corresponding landing areas. The etch stop layers have thicknesses that correlate with depths of the corresponding landing areas. The method fills over the landing areas and the etch stop layers with a dielectric fill material. Using a patterned etching process, the method forms a plurality of vias extending through the dielectric fill material and the etch stop layers to the landing areas in the plurality of conductive layers.

Abstract: Conductive lines are deposited on a substrate to produce traces for conducting electricity between electronic components. A patterned metal layer is formed on the substrate, and then a layer of material having a low thermal conductivity is coated over the patterned metal layer and the substrate. Vias are formed through the layer of material having the low thermal conductivity thereby exposing portions of the patterned metal layer. A film of conductive ink is then coated over the layer of material having the low thermal conductivity and into the vias to thereby coat the portions of the patterned metal layer, and then sintered. The film of conductive ink coated over the portion of the patterned metal layer does not absorb as much energy from the sintering as the film of conductive ink coated over the layer of material having the low thermal conductivity. The layer of material having the low thermal conductivity may be a polymer, such as polyimide.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for preventing removal of material comprising a metal gate during removal of a mask layer in a semiconductor structure. Upon exposure of the metal line during formation of a via opening the exposed portion of the metal line undergoes chemical modification to form a passivation layer. The passivation layer is subsequently covered by an etch selectivity layer, wherein the etch selectivity layer prevents removal of at least one of a portion of the metal line or the passivation layer during removal of a hard mask layer comprising the semiconductor structure. In an alternate approach, the metal line is formed with a capping layer which, following exposure by a via opening formed in the semiconductor structure, is chemically modified to form a layer having etch selectivity to acts as a protective layer during removal of a hard mask layer comprising the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a dual damascene opening includes the following steps. Firstly, a first hard mask layer with a trench pattern is formed over a material layer. Then, a dielectric layer is formed over the first hard mask layer and filled into an opening of the trench pattern. Then, a second hard mask layer with a via opening pattern is formed over the first hard mask layer and the dielectric layer. Then, a first etching process is performed, so that a via opening is at least formed in the dielectric layer. After the second hard mask layer is removed, a second etching process is performed. Consequently, a trench opening is formed in the material layer and the via opening is further extended into the material layer, wherein the via opening is located within the trench opening.

Abstract: A metal layer is deposited over a material layer. The metal layer includes an elemental metal that can be converted into a dielectric metal-containing compound by plasma oxidation or nitridation. A hard mask portion is formed over the metal layer. A plasma impermeable spacer is formed on at least one first sidewall of the hard mask portion, while at least one second sidewall of the hard mask portion is physically exposed. Plasma oxidation or nitridation is performed to convert physically exposed surfaces of the metal layer into the dielectric metal-containing compound. A sequence of a surface pull back of the hard mask portion, cavity etching, another surface pull back, and conversion of top surfaces into the dielectric metal-containing compound are repeated to form a hole pattern having a spacing that is not limited by lithographic minimum dimensions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing an interconnect structure in which a low-k dielectric layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate followed by formation of a copper or copper alloy layer over the low-k dielectric layer. The copper or copper alloy layer is patterned and etched to form a copper body having recesses, which are then filled with a low-k dielectric material. The method allows for formation of a damascene structures without encountering the various problems presented by non-planar features and by porus low-K dielectric damage.

Abstract: A method for forming an interconnect structure includes forming a recess in a dielectric layer of a substrate. An adhesion barrier layer is formed to line the recess. A first stress level is present across a first interface between the adhesion barrier layer and the dielectric layer. A stress-reducing barrier layer is formed over the adhesion barrier layer. The stress-reducing barrier layer reduces the first stress level to provide a second stress level, less than the first stress level, across a second interface between the adhesion barrier layer, the stress-reducing barrier layer, and the dielectric layer. The recess is filled with a fill layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture semiconductors are provided which relate to heterojunction bipolar transistors. The method includes forming two devices connected by metal wires on a same wiring level. The metal wire of a first of the two devices is formed by selectively forming a metal cap layer on copper wiring structures.

Abstract: Various semiconductor chips and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a first opening in an insulating layer applied to a side of a semiconductor chip. The first opening does not extend through to the side. A second opening is formed in the insulating layer that exposes a portion of the side.

Abstract: Electrical contacts may be formed by forming dielectric liners along sidewalls of a dielectric structure, forming sacrificial liners over and transverse to the dielectric liners along sidewalls of a sacrificial structure, selectively removing portions of the dielectric liners at intersections of the dielectric liners and sacrificial liners to form pores, and at least partially filling the pores with a conductive material. Nano-scale pores may be formed by similar methods. Bottom electrodes may be formed and electrical contacts may be structurally and electrically coupled to the bottom electrodes to form memory devices. Nano-scale electrical contacts may have a rectangular cross-section of a first width and a second width, each width less than about 20 nm. Memory devices may include bottom electrodes, electrical contacts having a cross-sectional area less than about 150 nm2 over and electrically coupled to the bottom electrodes, and a cell material over the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A through-hole electrode substrate related to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged with a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of through-holes, an insulating layer formed with an insulating material on the inner walls of the plurality of through-holes and on at least one surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of through-hole electrodes formed with a metal material inside the through-hole, and a plurality of gas discharge parts formed to contact with each of the plurality of through-hole electrodes which is exposed on at least one surface of the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of gas discharge parts externally discharges gas which is discharged from the inside of the plurality of through-hole electrodes.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming semiconductor constructions in which a semiconductor material sidewall is along an opening, a protective organic material is over at least one semiconductor material surface, and the semiconductor material sidewall and protective organic material are both exposed to an etch utilizing at least one fluorine-containing composition. The etch is selective for the semiconductor material relative to the organic material, and reduces sharpness of at least one projection along the semiconductor material sidewall. In some embodiments, the opening is a through wafer opening, and subsequent processing forms one or more materials within such through wafer opening to form a through wafer interconnect. In some embodiments, the opening extends to a sensor array, and the protective organic material is comprised by a microlens system over the sensor array. Subsequent processing may form a macrolens structure across the opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a first capacitance film formed on the lower electrode; forming an intermediate electrode in a first region on the first capacitance film, wherein the first capacitance is interposed between the intermediate electrode and the lower electrode; forming a second capacitance film on the intermediate electrode to be interposed between the first capacitance film and the second capacitance film; and forming an upper electrode, wherein at least a portion of the second capacitance film is interposed between the upper electrode and the intermediate electrode; the upper electrode extending to a second region outside the first region, and having at least the first capacitance film interposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode in the second region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; an inter layer dielectric disposed on the substrate; a TSV penetrating the substrate and the ILD. In addition, a plurality of shallow trench isolations (STI) is disposed in the substrate, and a shield ring is disposed in the ILD surrounding the TSV on the STI. During the process of forming the TSV, the contact ring can protect adjacent components from metal contamination.

Abstract: A microelectronic assembly tolerant to misplacement of microelectronic elements therein may include a molded structure containing a plurality of microelectronic elements. Each microelectronic element has elements contacts having first and second dimensions in respective first and second directions that are transverse to each other, where the first dimension is at least twice the second dimension. In addition, the assembly may include a conductive redistribution layer including conductive vias extending through a dielectric layer to the element contacts of the respective microelectronic elements, where the conductive vias have a third dimension in a third direction and a fourth dimension in a fourth direction, and where the fourth direction is transverse to the third and first directions and the fourth dimension is greater than the third dimension.

Abstract: A first semiconductor device comprising: a first conductivity type drift region formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second conductivity type body region formed at an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate on an upper surface side of the drift region; a first conductivity type first semiconductor region formed on a part of an upper surface of the body region; and a trench gate type insulated gate penetrating the first semiconductor region and the body region, and formed to a depth at which the insulated gate contacts the drift region. A part of the insulated gate on a drift region side relative to the body region is deeper at a center portion than at both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the insulated gate.

Abstract: A method for opening a conformal layer at the bottom of a contact via on a substrate is described. The method includes providing a substrate having a first layer with a via pattern formed therein and a second layer conformally deposited on the first layer and within the via pattern to establish a contact via pattern characterized by an initial mid-critical dimension (CD). The method further includes etching through the second layer at the bottom of the contact via pattern to extend the contact via pattern through the second layer and form a contact via while retaining at least part of the second layer on the top surface of the first layer, the corner at the entrance to the via pattern, and the sidewalls of the via pattern, wherein the etching is performed by irradiating the substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) according to a GCIB etching process.

Abstract: A method for etching features in a plurality of silicon based bilayers forming a stack on a wafer in a plasma processing chamber is provided. A main etch gas is flowed into the plasma processing chamber. The main etch gas is formed into a plasma, while providing a first pressure. A wafer temperature of less than 20° C. is maintained. The pressure is ramped to a second pressure less than the first pressure as the plasma etches through a plurality of the plurality of silicon based bilayers. The flow of the main etch gas is stopped after a first plurality of the plurality of bilayers is etched.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate having integrated circuitry includes forming through-substrate vias partially through the substrate from a first side of the substrate. At least one through-substrate structure is formed partially through the substrate from the first substrate side. The at least one through-substrate structure extends deeper into the substrate than do the through-substrate vias. Substrate material is removed from a second side of the substrate to expose the through-substrate vias and the at least one through-substrate structure on the second substrate side. Additional implementations are disclosed. Integrated circuit substrates are disclosed independent of method of manufacture.

Abstract: Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions. The constructions have an electrically conductive post extending through a semiconductor die. The post has an upper surface above a backside surface of the die, and has a sidewall surface extending between the backside surface and the upper surface. A photosensitive material is over the backside surface and along the sidewall surface. Electrically conductive material is directly against the upper surface of the post. The electrically conductive material is configured as a cap over the post. The cap has an edge that extends laterally outwardly beyond the post and encircles the post. An entirety of the edge is directly over the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A method for filling a metal is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided. The substrate includes a metal material layer, a dielectric layer covering the metal material layer and a hard mask layer covering the dielectric layer. The hard mask layer has at least one opening to expose the underlying dielectric layer. Second, a dry etching step is performed to etch the dielectric layer through the opening to remove part of the dielectric layer to expose the metal material layer and to form a recess and leave some residues in the recess. Then a cleaning step is performed to remove the residues and to selectively remove part of the hard mask to substantially enlarge the opening. Later, a metal fills the recess through the enlarged opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first porous layer that is formed over a substrate and includes a SiO2 skeleton; a second porous layer that is formed immediately above the first porous layer and includes a SiO2 skeleton; a via wiring that is provided in the first porous layer; and a trench wiring that is buried in the second porous layer. The first porous layer has a pore density x1 of 40% or below and the second porous layer has a pore density x2 of (x1+5) % or above.

Abstract: The invention relates to a layered micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic structure, comprising at least three alternating electrically conductive layers with insulating layers between the conductive layers. There is also provided a via in a first outer layer, said via comprising an insulated conductive connection made of wafer native material through the layer, an electrically conductive plug extending through the other layers and into said via in the first outer layer in order to provide conductivity through the layers, and an insulating enclosure surrounding said conductive plug in at least one selected layer of said other layers for insulating said plug from the material in said selected layer. It also relates to micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic device comprising a movable member provided above a cavity such that it is movable in at least one direction. The device has a layered structure according to the invention. Methods of making such a layered MEMS structure is also provided.

Abstract: A conductive pattern structure includes a first insulating interlayer on a substrate, metal wiring on the first insulating interlayer, a second insulating interlayer on the metal wiring, and first and second metal contacts extending through the second insulating interlayer. The first metal contacts contact the metal wiring in a cell region and the second metal contact contacts the metal wiring in a peripheral region. A third insulating interlayer is disposed on the second insulating interlayer. Conductive segments extend through the third insulating interlayer in the cell region and contact the first metal contacts. Another conductive segment extends through the third insulating interlayer in the peripheral region and contacts the second metal contact. The structure facilitates the forming of uniformly thick wiring in the cell region using an electroplating process.

Abstract: Circuits incorporating three-dimensional integration and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. One circuit includes a bottom layer and a plurality of upper layers. The bottom layer includes a bottom landing pad connected to functional components in the bottom layer. In addition, the upper layers are stacked above the bottom layer. Each of the upper layers includes a respective upper landing pad that is connected to respective functional components in the respective upper layer. The landing pads are coupled by a single conductive via and are aligned in a stack of the bottom layer and the upper layers such that each of the landing pads is offset from any of the landing pads in an adjacent layer in the stack by at least one pre-determined amount.

Abstract: A layered chip package includes a main body, and wiring including a plurality of wires disposed on a side surface of the main body. The main body includes a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked, and a plurality of electrodes that electrically connect the semiconductor chips to the wires. A method of manufacturing the layered chip package includes the steps of: fabricating a substructure that includes an array of a plurality of pre-separation main bodies and a plurality of holes for accommodating a plurality of preliminary wires, the holes being formed between two adjacent pre-separation main bodies; forming the preliminary wires in the plurality of holes by plating; and cutting the substructure so that the plurality of pre-separation main bodies are separated from each other and the preliminary wires are split into two sets of wires of two separate main bodies, whereby a plurality of layered chip packages are formed.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a wafer containing an interconnect structure. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of vias and interconnect lines. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive pad disposed over the interconnect structure. The first conductive pad is electrically coupled to the interconnect structure. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of second conductive pads disposed over the interconnect structure. The semiconductor device includes a passivation layer disposed over and at least partially sealing the first and second conductive pads. The semiconductor device includes a conductive terminal that is electrically coupled to the first conductive pad but is not electrically coupled to the second conductive pads.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by forming a first interconnect pattern in a first plurality of parallel route tracks, and forming a second interconnect pattern in a second plurality of parallel route tracks, in which the second plurality of route tracks are alternated with the first plurality of route tracks. The first interconnect pattern includes a first lead pattern and the second interconnect pattern includes a second lead pattern, such that the route track containing the first lead pattern is immediately adjacent to the route track containing the second lead pattern. Metal interconnect lines are formed in the first interconnect pattern and the second interconnect pattern. A stretch crossconnect is formed in a vertical connecting level, such as a via or contact level, which electrically connects only the first lead and the second lead. The stretch crossconnect is formed concurrently with other vertical interconnect elements.

Abstract: Methods for making a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of gate stacks on a substrate, forming an etch buffer layer on the substrate, forming a dielectric material layer on the etch buffer layer, forming a hard mask layer on the substrate, wherein the hard mask layer includes one opening, and etching the dielectric material layer to form a plurality of trenches using the hard mask layer and the etch buffer layer as an etch mask.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may be formed by a process of forming a first interconnect pattern in a plurality of parallel route tracks, and forming a second interconnect pattern in the plurality of parallel route tracks. The first interconnect pattern includes a first lead pattern which extends to a first point in an instance of the first plurality of parallel route tracks, and the second interconnect pattern includes a second lead pattern which extends to a second point in the same instance of the plurality of parallel route tracks, such that the second point is laterally separated from the first point by a distance one to one and one-half times a space between adjacent parallel lead patterns in the plurality of parallel route tracks. A metal interconnect formation process is performed which forms metal interconnect lines in an interconnect level defined by the first interconnect pattern and the second interconnect pattern.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure comprises a plurality of insulator layers (connected to each other) that form a laminated structure. Further included are via openings within each of the insulator layers, and conductive via material within the via openings. The conductive via material within corresponding via openings of adjacent insulator layers are electrically connected to form continuous electrical via paths through the insulator layers between the top surface and the bottom surface of the laminated structure. Within each of the continuous electrical via paths, the via openings are positioned relative to each other to form a diagonal structural path of the conductive via material through the laminated structure. The corresponding via openings of the adjacent insulator layers partially overlap each other. The diagonal structural paths are non-perpendicular to the top surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wiring structure and method of forming the structure with a conductive diffusion barrier layer having a thick upper portion and thin lower portion. The thicker upper portion is located at the junction between the wiring structure and the adjacent dielectric materials. The thicker upper portion: (1) minimizes metal ion diffusion and, thereby TDDB; (2) allows a wire width to dielectric space width ratio that is optimal for low TDDB to be achieved at the top of the wiring structure; and (3) provides a greater surface area for via landing. The thinner lower portion: (1) allows a different wire width to dielectric space width ratio to be maintained in the rest of the wiring structure in order to balance other competing factors; (2) allows a larger cross-section of wire to reduce current density and, thereby reduce EM; and (3) avoids an increase in wiring structure resistivity.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming conductive features thereof are disclosed. A semiconductor device includes an insulating material layer disposed over a workpiece. The insulating material layer includes a silicon-containing material comprising about 13% or greater of carbon (C). A conductive feature is disposed within the insulating material layer. The conductive feature includes a capping layer disposed on a top surface thereof.

Abstract: A 3D stacked multichip module comprises a stack of W IC die. Each die has a patterned conductor layer, including an electrical contact region with electrical conductors and, in some examples, device circuitry over a substrate. The electrical conductors of the stacked die are aligned. Electrical connectors extend into the stack to contact landing pads on the electrical conductors to create a 3D stacked multichip module. The electrical connectors may pass through vertical vias in the electrical contact regions. The landing pads may be arranged in a stair stepped arrangement. The stacked multichip module may be made using a set of N etch masks with 2N-1 being less than W and 2N being greater than or equal to W, with the etch masks alternatingly covering and exposing 2n-1 landing pads for each mask n=1, 2 . . . N.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backside illuminated image sensor including a light receiving element formed in a first substrate, an interlayer insulation layer formed on the first substrate including the light receiving element, a via hole formed through the interlayer insulation layer and the first substrate while being spaced apart from the light receiving element, a spacer formed on an inner sidewall of the via hole, an alignment key to fill the via hole, interconnection layers formed on the interlayer insulation layer in a multilayer structure in which a backside of a lowermost layer of the interconnection layers is connected to the alignment key, a passivation layer covering the interconnection layers, a pad locally formed on a backside of the first substrate and connected to a backside of the alignment key, and a color filter and a microlens formed on the backside of the first substrate corresponding to the light receiving element.

Abstract: A first photoresist layer is patterned with a first pattern that includes an opening in a region between areas of two adjacent via holes to be formed. The opening in the first photoresist is transferred into a template layer to form a line trench therein. The lateral dimension of the trench is reduced by depositing a contiguous spacer layer that does not fill the trench completely. An etch-resistant material layer is conformally deposited and fills the trench, and is subsequently recessed to form an etch-resistant material portion filling the trench. A second photoresist layer is applied and patterned with a second pattern, which includes an opening that includes areas of two via holes and an area therebetween. A composite pattern of an intersection of the second pattern and the complement of the pattern of the etch-resistant material portion is transferred through the template layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a multi-level stack having a multi-level contact is provided. The method includes forming a multi-level stack comprising a specified number, n, of conductive layers and at least n?1 insulating layers. A via formation layer is formed over the stack. A first via is etched in the via formation layer at a first edge of the stack. A first multi-level contact is formed in the first via. For a particular embodiment, a second via may be etched in the via formation layer at a second edge of the stack and a second multi-level contact may be formed in the second via.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor is provided comprising a substrate and a plurality of wiring layers and dielectric layers formed on the substrate, the wiring layers implementing a circuit. The dielectric layers separate adjacent ones of the plurality of wiring layers. A first passivation layer is formed on the plurality of wiring layers. A first contact pad is formed in the layer and connected to the contact pad. A through silicon via (TSV) is formed through the substrate, the plurality of wiring and dielectric layers, and the passivation layer. The TSV is electrically connected to the wire formed on the passivation layer. The TSV is electrically isolated from the wiring layers except for the connection provided by the metal wire formed on the passivation layer.

Abstract: A MOSFET is described incorporating a common metal process to make contact to the source, drain and the metal gate respectively which may be formed concurrently with the same metal or metals.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating integrated circuits having substrate contacts and integrated circuits having substrate contacts are provided. One method includes forming a first trench in a SOI substrate extending through a buried insulating layer to a silicon substrate. A metal silicide region is formed in the silicon substrate exposed by the first trench. A first stress-inducing layer is formed overlying the metal silicide region. A second stress-inducing layer is formed overlying the first stress-inducing layer. An ILD layer of dielectric material is formed overlying the second stress-inducing layer. A second trench is formed extending through the ILD layer and the first and second stress-inducing layers to the metal silicide region. The second trench is filled with a conductive material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A semiconductor device includes a contact hole formed over a semiconductor substrate so as to open an active region, a contact plug coupled to the active region in the contact hole and having a height lower than that of the contact hole, and a bit line that is coupled to the contact plug and has the same width as the contact plug. When forming a bit line of a cell region, a barrier metal layer is formed between a bit line contact plug and a bit line conductive layer, such that interfacial resistance is reduced, a thickness of the bit line conductive layer is increased, conductivity is improved, and the height of overall bit line is reduced, resulting in reduction in parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: Semiconductor-on-oxide structures and related methods of forming such structures are disclosed. In one case, a method includes: forming a first dielectric layer over a substrate; forming a first conductive layer over the first dielectric layer, the first conductive layer including one of a metal or a silicide; forming a second dielectric layer over the first conductive layer; bonding a donor wafer to the second dielectric layer, the donor wafer including a donor dielectric and a semiconductor layer; cleaving the donor wafer to remove a portion of the donor semiconductor layer; forming at least one semiconductor isolation region from an unremoved portion of the donor semiconductor layer; and forming a contact to the first conductive layer through donor dielectric and the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A interconnect structure includes a conductive layer formed in a dielectric layer. An adhesion layer is formed between the dielectric layer and a substrate. The adhesion layer has a carbon content ratio greater than a carbon content ratio of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a copper line comprises a lower portion of a copper pattern buried in an interlayer insulating film, an upper portion of the copper disposed over the upper portion of the lower copper pattern, and an upper barrier metal layer disposed over upper and side surfaces of the upper copper pattern. As a result, the copper pattern is protected by the barrier metal layers, providing a metal line with a stable structure.