Modifying Pattern Or Conductivity Of Conductive Members, E.g., Formation Of Alloys, Reduction Of Contact Resistances (epo) Patents (Class 257/E21.591)
  • Patent number: 11935816
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device, a semiconductor assembly and method of manufacturing the semiconductor assembly. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a conductive feature in the substrate, an isolation liner between the substrate and the conductive feature, and a main component in the substrate. The conductive feature includes first to third blocks. The first block has a uniform first critical dimension, wherein the main component is disposed around the first block. The second block has a uniform second critical dimension greater than the first critical dimension. The third block is interposed between the first block and the second block and has varying third critical dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shing-Yih Shih, Jheng-Ting Jhong
  • Patent number: 11804376
    Abstract: A substrate processing method for area selective deposition includes providing a substrate containing a first film, a second film, and a third film, forming a first blocking layer on the first film, forming a second blocking layer on the second film, where the second blocking layer is different from the first blocking layer, and selectively forming a material film on the third film. In one example, the first film contains a metal film, second film contains a metal-containing liner that surrounds the metal film, and the third film includes a dielectric film that surrounds the metal-containing liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kandabara N. Tapily
  • Patent number: 11610833
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device, a semiconductor assembly and method of manufacturing the semiconductor assembly. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a conductive feature in the substrate, an isolation liner between the substrate and the conductive feature, and a main component in the substrate. The conductive feature includes first to third blocks. The first block has a uniform first critical dimension, wherein the main component is disposed around the first block. The second block has a uniform second critical dimension greater than the first critical dimension. The third block is interposed between the first block and the second block and has varying third critical dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shing-Yih Shih, Jheng-Ting Jhong
  • Patent number: 11569362
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain region, a source/drain silicide layer formed on the source/drain region, and a first contact disposed over the source/drain silicide layer. The first contact includes a first metal layer, an upper surface of the first metal layer is at least covered by a silicide layer, and the silicide layer includes a same metal element as the first metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Hsu, Pei-Yu Chou, Chih-Pin Tsao, Kuang-Yuan Hsu, Jyh-Huei Chen
  • Patent number: 11335788
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a transistor including a source contact, a drain contact, and a channel region including an oxide semiconductor material as the channel material. At least one of the drain contact or the source contact includes a conductive material, such as ruthenium, to reduce the Schottky effects at the interface with the channel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi, Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 11114382
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments for an MOL interconnect structure having low metal-to-metal interface resistance interconnect structure including one or more contacts of one or more devices formed on a substrate. A dielectric layer is formed on one or more devices. One or more trenches are formed in the dielectric layer. The MOL interconnect structure also includes a barrier layer formed on one or more portions of the dielectric layer, along with a metallization layer, wherein the metallization layer forms a metal-to-metal interface with the one or more contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alex Joseph Varghese, Richard A. Conti, Su Chen Fan
  • Patent number: 10879115
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first metal into a first trench in a dielectric layer, performing a thermal treatment to the first metal such that an average grain size of the first metal is increased, and performing a first chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process to the first metal after the performing the thermal treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Han Lee, Shih-Kang Fu, Meng-Pei Lu, Shau-Lin Shue
  • Patent number: 10727111
    Abstract: A method includes: forming a first conductive structure in a first dielectric layer; forming a conductive protection structure that is coupled to at least part of the first conductive structure; forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; forming a via hole extending through at least part of the second dielectric layer to expose a portion of the conductive protection structure; cleaning the via hole; and refilling the via hole with a conductive material to form a via structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufaturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Chih Yu, Chien-Mao Chen
  • Patent number: 10049924
    Abstract: Metallic layers can be selectively deposited on surfaces of a substrate relative to a second surface of the substrate. In preferred embodiments, the metallic layers are selectively deposited on copper instead of insulating or dielectric materials. In preferred embodiments, a first precursor forms a layer or adsorbed species on the first surface and is subsequently reacted or converted to form a metallic layer. Preferably the deposition temperature is selected such that a selectivity of above about 90% is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ASM INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Suvi P. Haukka, Antti Niskanen, Marko Tuominen
  • Patent number: 9941017
    Abstract: An antifuse one-time programmable (OTP) semiconductor memory comprises a PN junction diode formed in an active area of a semiconductor substrate proximate metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor wherein MOS gate conductor and MOS channel region are of the same conductivity type. A vertical bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is present in each cell, comprising said PN junction diode and a semiconductor layer below said PN junction diode. In a programmed cell, BJT emitter, base and collector are connected to the bit line, word line and common collector terminal, respectively. In an unprogrammed cell, BJT is an open-base BJT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Donghyuk Ju
  • Patent number: 9536830
    Abstract: An interconnect structure and method of making the same. A preferred interconnect structure has a first interconnect including a first dual damascene via and narrow line and a second interconnect at the same level as the first including a second dual damascene via and wider line. The first and second interconnects may have different aspect ratio and may have different line heights while being co-planar with each other. The second line of the second interconnect may abut or partially surround the first line of the first interconnect. The first interconnect includes a refractory metal material as the main conductor, whereas the second interconnect includes a lower resistivity material as its main conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Junjing Bao, Griselda Bonilla, Samuel S. Choi, Ronald G. Filippi, Naftali E. Lustig, Andrew H. Simon
  • Patent number: 9425093
    Abstract: A Cu wiring forming method of forming Cu wiring that is to be arranged in contact with tungsten wiring, by filling Cu into a recess formed in a substrate, includes: removing a tungsten oxide formed on a surface of the tungsten wiring; forming a nitriding preventing film at least on the surface of the tungsten wiring in the recess; forming a barrier film that prevents diffusion of Cu, on a surface in the recess from above the nitriding preventing film; forming a liner film on the barrier film; and filling a Cu film on the liner film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ishizaka, Takashi Sakuma, Osamu Yokoyama, Kai-Hung Yu
  • Patent number: 8999835
    Abstract: A method of fabricating ESD suppression device includes forming conductive pillars dispersed in a dielectric material. The gaps formed between each pillar in the device behave like spark gaps when a high voltage ESD pulse occurs. When the voltage of the pulse reaches the “trigger voltage” these gaps spark over, creating a very low resistance path. In normal operation, the leakage current and the capacitance is very low, due to the physical gaps between the conductive pillars. The proposed method for fabricating an ESD suppression device includes micromachining techniques to be on-chip with device ICs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: mCube Inc.
    Inventor: Xiao (Charles) Yang
  • Patent number: 8999787
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of insulating layers formed alternately with each other, at least one channel layer passing through the plurality of conductive layers and the plurality of insulating layers, and at least one first charge blocking layer surrounding the at least one channel layer, wherein a plurality of first regions, interposed between the at least one channel layer and the plurality of conductive layers, and a plurality of second regions, interposed between the at least one channel layer and the plurality of insulating layers, are alternately defined on the at least one first charge blocking layer, and each of the plurality of first regions has a greater thickness than each of the plurality of second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Hong Lee, Seung Ho Pyi, Seok Min Jeon
  • Patent number: 8946903
    Abstract: Some embodiments include electrical interconnects. The interconnects may contain laminate structures having a graphene region sandwiched between non-graphene regions. In some embodiments the graphene and non-graphene regions may be nested within one another. In some embodiments an electrically insulative material may be over an upper surface of the laminate structure, and an opening may extend through the insulative material to a portion of the laminate structure. Electrically conductive material may be within the opening and in electrical contact with at least one of the non-graphene regions of the laminate structure. Some embodiments include methods of forming electrical interconnects in which non-graphene material and graphene are alternately formed within a trench to form nested non-graphene and graphene regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8937365
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device including fuse elements for performing laser trimming processing, a dummy fuse formed of a first polycrystalline Si film is formed between the fuse elements formed of a second polycrystalline Si film, and a nitride film is formed on the dummy fuse. In this manner, the step difference of an interlayer film caused by the presence and absence of the fuse element formed of the polycrystalline Si film is eliminated, to thereby prevent SOG films having moisture-absorption characteristics on an inner surface of a fuse opening region and on an internal element side from connecting to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Yukimasa Minami
  • Patent number: 8937012
    Abstract: Provided is a production method for a semiconductor device comprising a metal silicide layer. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the production method for a semiconductor device comprises the steps of: forming an insulating layer on a substrate, on which a polysilicon pattern has been formed, in such a way that the polysilicon pattern is exposed; forming a silicon seed layer on the exposed polysilicon pattern that has been selectively exposed with respect to the insulating layer; forming a metal layer on the substrate on which the silicon seed layer has been formed; and forming a metal silicide layer by carrying out a heat treatment on the substrate on which the metal layer has been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eugene Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hai Won Kim, Sang Ho Woo, Sung Kil Cho, Gil Sun Jang
  • Patent number: 8815740
    Abstract: A method for forming a pattern according to an embodiment, includes forming above a first film film patterns of a second film; forming film patterns of the first film by etching the first film using the film patterns of the second film as a mask; converting the film patterns of the second film into film patterns whose width are narrower than the film patterns of the first film by performing a slimming process; forming film patterns of a third film on both sidewalls of the film patterns of the first film and the film patterns of the second film after the slimming process; and etching the first film using the film patterns of the third film as a mask after the film patterns of the second film being removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazunori Horiguchi, Takashi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8669177
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an insulation film formed above a semiconductor substrate, a conductor containing Cu formed in the insulation film, and a layer film formed between the insulation film and the conductor and formed of a first metal film containing Ti and a second metal film different from the first metal film, a layer containing Ti and Si is formed on the surface of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Kouno, Shinichi Akiyama, Hirofumi Watatani, Tamotsu Owada
  • Patent number: 8610289
    Abstract: A semiconductor component including a first layer (10) of a semiconductor material as a substrate, a second layer (12) running on said first layer (10), and at least two intermediate layers (14, 16) made of the materials of the first and second layers running between the first and second layer, where the first intermediate layer (16) facing the second layer (12) may contain a eutectic mixture (18) made of the materials of the first and second layers. The invention is also directed to an electroconductive contact (15, 15a, 15b) forming an electroconductive connection to the first layer and originating at or running through the second layer, as well as to a method for producing the metal-semiconductor contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schott Solar AG
    Inventors: Bernd Wildpanner, Hilmar Von Campe, Werner Buss
  • Publication number: 20130307115
    Abstract: A method and structure of a non-intrinsic anti-fuse structure. The anti-fuse structure has a first electrode, a second electrode, a first dielectric, and second dielectric. The first and second dielectrics have an interface which couples electrodes. The length along the interface which couples the electrodes is called the predetermined length. When the anti-fuse is programmed a conductive link forms along the interface to connect the first and second electrodes. The anti-fuse structure can be single-level or dual-level. The predetermined length can be less than spacing between adjacent electrodes when a dual-level structure is used. The anti-fuse structures have the advantage that they can be programmed at lower voltages than intrinsic structures and no extra steps are needed to integrate the anti-fuses with active structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald G. Filippi, Naftali Lustig, Ping-Chuan Wang, Lijuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8471356
    Abstract: Voltage programmable anti-fuse structures and methods are provided that include at least one conductive material island atop a dielectric surface that is located between two adjacent conductive features. In one embodiment, the anti-fuse structure includes a dielectric material having at least two adjacent conductive features embedded therein. At least one conductive material island is located on an upper surface of the dielectric material that is located between the at least two adjacent conductive features. A dielectric capping layer is located on exposed surfaces of the dielectric material, the at least one conductive material island and the at least two adjacent conductive features. When the anti-fuse structure is in a programmed state, a dielectric breakdown path is present in the dielectric material that is located beneath the at least one conductive material island which conducts electrical current to electrically couple the two adjacent conductive features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Louis L. Hsu, William R. Tonti, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Publication number: 20130134558
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a device includes forming a silicide layer on a substrate, forming a conductive layer over exposed portions of the substrate and the silicide layer, patterning and removing exposed portions of the conductive layer and the silicide layer with a first process, and patterning and removing exposed portions of the conductive layer with a second process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert K. Speck, Kenneth B. Tull, Marjorie L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130069169
    Abstract: The function of logic cells may be changed by altering their metal routing. Logic cells altered in this manner may be used to correct, substitute, or otherwise alter the operation of logic blocks or scan paths without completely re-working an integrated circuit. The process may be referred to as an engineering change order (ECO) process. According to an exemplary process a buffer may be reconfigured to operate as a NAND gate, a NOR gate, or an INVERTER, for example, and may be configured to operate in a circuit in need of such a logic function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-Il Kwon, Hoijin Lee, Hyejoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20130065387
    Abstract: A method of fabricating ESD suppression device includes forming conductive pillars dispersed in a dielectric material. The gaps formed between each pillar in the device behave like spark gaps when a high voltage ESD pulse occurs. When the voltage of the pulse reaches the “trigger voltage” these gaps spark over, creating a very low resistance path. In normal operation, the leakage current and the capacitance is very low, due to the physical gaps between the conductive pillars. The proposed method for fabricating an ESD suppression device includes micromachining techniques to be on-chip with device ICs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: MCube Inc.
    Inventor: Xiao (Charles) Yang
  • Patent number: 8329514
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for forming an antifuse that includes first and second conductive regions having spaced-apart curved portions, with a first dielectric region therebetween, forming in combination with the curved portions a curved breakdown region adapted to switch from a substantially non-conductive initial state to a substantially conductive final state in response to a predetermined programming voltage. A sense voltage less than the programming voltage is used to determine the state of the antifuse as either OFF (high impedance) or ON (low impedance). A shallow trench isolation (STI) region is desirably provided adjacent the breakdown region to inhibit heat loss from the breakdown region during programming. Lower programming voltages and currents are observed compared to antifuses using substantially planar dielectric regions. In a further embodiment, a resistive region is inserted in one lead of the antifuse with either planar or curved breakdown regions to improve post-programming sense reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Won Gi Min, Geoffrey W. Perkins, Kyle D. Zukowski, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8298905
    Abstract: A method for forming a functional element includes a first step of forming an insulating layer composed of an insulator phase of a transition metal oxide serving as a metal-to-insulator transition material, the transition metal oxide being mainly composed of vanadium dioxide, and a second step of causing part of the insulating layer to transition to a metallic phase, in which the insulator phase differs from the metallic phase in terms of electrical resistivity and/or light transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Ito
  • Patent number: 8288276
    Abstract: Interconnect structures having improved electromigration resistance are provided that include a metallic interfacial layer (or metal alloy layer) that is present at the bottom of a via opening. The via opening is located within a second dielectric material that is located atop a first dielectric material that includes a first conductive material embedded therein. The metallic interfacial layer (or metal alloy layer) that is present at the bottom of the via opening is located between the underlying first conductive material embedded within the first dielectric and the second conductive material that is embedded within the second dielectric material. Methods of fabricating the improved electromigration resistance interconnect structures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Veeraraghavan S. Basker, William Tonti, Keith Kwong Hon Wong
  • Publication number: 20120248568
    Abstract: A method for controlling the electrical conduction between two electrically conductive portions may include placing of an at least partially ionic crystal between the two electrically conductive portions. The crystal may include at least one surface region coupled to the two electrically conductive portions. The surface region is insulating under the application of an electrical field to the surface region, and electrically conductive in the absence of the electrical field. An application or not of an electrical field to the at least one surface region reduces or establishes the electrical conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Serge Blonkowski
  • Publication number: 20120187970
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic device is disclosed. A design description of the electronic device is generated using one or more computer aided design tools. Physical device data are generated that represent a physical description of the electronic device, which includes data determining connection points for connecting the electronic device to one or more external circuits. A physical embodiment of the electronic device is produced in accordance with the physical device data. Physical test member data is determined that represents conductors and contact points of a test member for testing the electronic device. The test member is produced in accordance with the test member data. The electronic device is tested with the test member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: J. Lynn Saunders, Alan R. Loudermilk
  • Patent number: 8164098
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an organic transistor having a low drive voltage. It is also another object of the present invention to provide an organic transistor, in which light emission can be obtained, which can be manufactured simply and easily. According to an organic light-emitting transistor, a composite layer containing an organic compound having a hole-transporting property and a metal oxide is used as part of the electrode that injects holes among source and drain electrodes, and a composite layer containing an organic compound having an electron-transporting property and an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal is used as part of the electrode that injects electrons, where either composite layer has a structure of being in contact with an organic semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Furukawa, Ryota Imahayashi
  • Patent number: 8159814
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a semiconductor device that includes a transistor device having a first, a second, and a third node; and an interconnect structure having at least one wire and the wire having a first and a second end with the first end of the wire being connected to one of the first, the second, and the third node of the transistor device. The wire is conductive and adapted to provide an operating current in a first direction during a normal operating mode, and adapted to provide a repairing current in a second direction opposite to the first direction during a repair mode of the semiconductor device. In one embodiment the transistor device is a bipolar transistor with the first, second, and third nodes being an emitter, a base, and a collector of the bipolar transistor. The wire is connected to one of the emitter and the collector. Method of operating the semiconductor device and current supplying circuit for the semiconductor device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Chuan Wang, Zhijian Yang, Fernando J. Guarin, J. Edwin Hostetter, Kai D Feng
  • Publication number: 20120012977
    Abstract: An antifuse is provided having a unitary monocrystalline semiconductor body including first and second semiconductor regions each having the same first conductivity type, and a third semiconductor region between the first and second semiconductor regions which has a second conductivity type opposite from the first conductivity type. An anode and a cathode can be electrically connected with the first semiconductor region. A conductive region including a metal, a conductive compound of a metal or an alloy of a metal can contact the first semiconductor region and extend between the cathode and the anode. The antifuse can further include a contact electrically connected with the second semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yan Zun Li, Chandrasekharan Kothandaraman, Dan Moy, Norman W. Robson, John M. Safran
  • Publication number: 20110312175
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for forming an antifuse that includes first and second conductive regions having spaced-apart curved portions, with a first dielectric region therebetween, forming in combination with the curved portions a curved breakdown region adapted to switch from a substantially non-conductive initial state to a substantially conductive final state in response to a predetermined programming voltage. A sense voltage less than the programming voltage is used to determine the state of the antifuse as either OFF (high impedance) or ON (low impedance). A shallow trench isolation (STI) region is desirably provided adjacent the breakdown region to inhibit heat loss from the breakdown region during programming. Lower programming voltages and currents are observed compared to antifuses using substantially planar dielectric regions. In a further embodiment, a resistive region is inserted in one lead of the antifuse with either planar or curved breakdown regions to improve post-programming sense reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Won Gi Min, Geoffrey W. Perkins, Kyle D. Zukowski, Jiang-Kai Zuo
  • Patent number: 8076778
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and related method for fabricating the same include providing a stacked structure including an insulating base layer and lower and upper barrier layers with a conductive layer in between, etching the stacked structure to provide a plurality of conductive columns that each extend from the lower barrier layer, each of the conductive columns having an overlying upper barrier layer cap formed from the etched upper barrier layer, wherein the lower barrier layer is partially etched to provide a land region between each of the conductive lines, forming a liner layer over the etched stacked structure exposing the land region, and etching the liner layer and removing the exposed land region to form a plurality of conductive lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo Liang Wei, Hsu Sheng Yu, Hong-Ji Lee
  • Publication number: 20110254121
    Abstract: Voltage programmable anti-fuse structures and methods are provided that include at least one conductive material island atop a dielectric surface that is located between two adjacent conductive features. In one embodiment, the anti-fuse structure includes a dielectric material having at least two adjacent conductive features embedded therein. At least one conductive material island is located on an upper surface of the dielectric material that is located between the at least two adjacent conductive features. A dielectric capping layer is located on exposed surfaces of the dielectric material, the at least one conductive material island and the at least two adjacent conductive features. When the anti-fuse structure is in a programmed state, a dielectric breakdown path is present in the dielectric material that is located beneath the at least one conductive material island which conducts electrical current to electrically couple the two adjacent conductive features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Louis L. Hsu, William R. Tonti, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Publication number: 20110217836
    Abstract: Programmable via devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a programmable via device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kuan-Neng Chen, Lia Krusin-Elbaum, Dennis M. Newns, Sampath Purushothaman
  • Patent number: 8008186
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate; a wiring formed in predetermined pattern above the semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film lying right under the wiring, and a second insulating film lying in a peripheral portion other than a portion right under the wiring, in which a surface layer of the first insulating film lying in a boundary surface between the first insulating film and the second insulating film is chemically modified to reinforce the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazumichi Tsumura, Masaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8003527
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming an interlayer dielectric film above a semiconductor substrate; forming a first wiring trench with a first width and a second wiring trench with a second width that is larger than the first width inr the interlayer dielectric film; forming a first seed layer that includes a first additional element in the first wiring trench and the second wiring trench; forming a first copper layer over the first seed layer; removing the first copper layer and the first seed layer in the second wiring trench while leaving the first copper layer and the first seed layer in the first wiring trench; forming a second seed layer in the second wiring trench after removing the first copper layer and the first seed layer in the second wiring trench; and forming a second copper layer over the second seed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Michie Sunayama, Noriyoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8003453
    Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, e.g., a field effect transistor (FET), that includes at least one one-dimensional nanostructure that is typically a carbon-based nanomaterial, as the device channel, and a metal carbide contact that is self-aligned with the gate region of the device is described. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a CMOS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Phaedon Avouris, Roy A. Carruthers, Jia Chen, Christopher G. M. M. Detavernier, Christian Lavoie, Hon-Sum Philip Wong
  • Patent number: 8003536
    Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Chapple-Sokol, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, William J. Murphy, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Daniel S. Vanslette
  • Patent number: 7977766
    Abstract: Trench anti-fuse structures, design structures embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a programmable integrated circuit. The anti-fuse structure includes a trench having a plurality of sidewalls that extend into a substrate, a doped region in the semiconductor material of the substrate proximate to the sidewalls of the trench, a conductive plug in the trench, and a dielectric layer on the sidewalls of the trench. The dielectric layer is disposed between the conductive plug and the doped region. The dielectric layer is configured so that a programming voltage applied between the doped region and the conductive plug causes a breakdown of the dielectric layer within a region of the trench. The trench sidewalls are arranged with a cross-sectional geometrical shape that is independent of position between a bottom wall of the deep trench and a top surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, Jr., Kangguo Cheng, Jack A. Mandelman, William R. Tonti
  • Patent number: 7977791
    Abstract: An interconnect structure with improved reliability is provided. The interconnect structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate; a metallic wiring in the dielectric layer; a pre-layer over the metallic wiring, wherein the pre-layer contains boron; and a metal cap over the pre-layer, wherein the metal cap contains tungsten, and wherein the pre-layer and the metal cap are formed of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Chang, Yung-Cheng Lu, Syun-Ming Jang
  • Patent number: 7964491
    Abstract: A method of forming metal wirings of a nonvolatile memory device include forming a first insulating layer over a semiconductor substrate including a first junction area and a second junction area, forming first and second contact holes through which the first and second junction areas are respectively exposed in the first insulating layer, forming first and second contact plugs within the first and second contact holes, etching a part of the second contact plug, thus forming a recess, forming a second insulating layer to fill the recess, forming a third insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate including the first and second insulating layers, forming a first trench through which the first contact plug is exposed a second trench through which the second contact plug is exposed by etching the third insulating layer, and forming first and second metal wirings within the first and second trenches, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Chul Shin, Tae Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 7964506
    Abstract: A two-step semiconductor electroplating process deposits copper onto wafers coated with a semi-noble metal in manner that is uniform across the wafer and free of voids after a post electrofill anneal. A seed-layer plating bath nucleates copper uniformly and conformably at a high density in a very thin film using a unique pulsed waveform. The wafer is then annealed before a second bath fills the features. The seed-layer anneal improves adhesion and stability of the semi-noble to copper interface, and the resulting copper interconnect stays void-free after a post electrofill anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Ponnuswamy, John Sukamto, Jonathan Reid, Steve Mayer
  • Patent number: 7888254
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same of the present invention in which the semiconductor device is provided with a fuse structure or an electrode pad structure, suppress the copper blowing-out from a copper containing metal film. The semiconductor device comprises a silicon substrate, SiO2 film provided on the silicon substrate, copper films embedded in the SiO2 film, TiN films covering an upper face of a boundary region between an upper face of copper films and the copper films, and the SiO2 film, and SiON films covering an upper face of the TiN films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Takewaki, Mari Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110034021
    Abstract: Through silicon vias (TSVs) in silicon chips are both programmable and non-programmable. The programmable TSVs may employ metal/insulator/metal structures to switch from an open to shorted condition with programming carried out by complementary circuitry on two adjacent chips in a multi-story chip stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Di Feng, Louis Lu-Chen Hsu, Ping-Chuan Wang, Zhijian Yang
  • Publication number: 20110031582
    Abstract: A method forms an anti-fuse structure comprises a plurality of parallel conductive fins positioned on a substrate, each of the fins has a first end and a second end. A second electrical conductor is electrically connected to the second end of the fins. An insulator covers the first end of the fins and a first electrical conductor is positioned on the insulator. The first electrical conductor is electrically insulated from the first end of the fins by the insulator. The insulator is formed to a thickness sufficient to break down on the application of a predetermined voltage between the second electrical conductor and the first electrical conductor and thereby form an uninterrupted electrical connection between the second electrical conductor and the first electrical conductor through the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger A. Booth, JR., Kangguo Cheng, Chandrasekharan Kothandaraman
  • Publication number: 20100301485
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a plurality of stacked substrates. Each of the substrates includes a semiconductor substrate, a columnar conductor, and a ring-shaped insulator. The columnar conductor extends along a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate. The ring-shaped insulator includes an inorganic insulating layer mainly composed of a glass. The inorganic insulating layer fills a ring-shaped groove that is provided in the semiconductor substrate to surround the columnar conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Napra Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenobu SEKINE, Yurina SEKINE, Yoshiharu KUWANA, Ryuji KIMURA
  • Patent number: 7843062
    Abstract: An interconnect and method of making the interconnect. The method includes forming a dielectric layer on a substrate, the dielectric layer having a top surface and a bottom surface; forming a first wire and a second wire in the dielectric layer, the first wire separated from the second wire by a region of the dielectric layer; and forming metallic nanoparticles in or on the top surface of the dielectric layer between the first and second wires, the metallic nanoparticles capable of electrically connecting the first wire and the second wire only while the nanoparticles are heated to a temperature greater than room temperature and a voltage is applied between the first and second wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fen Chen, Cathryn Jeanne Christiansen, Michael Anthony Shinosky, Timothy Dooling Sullivan