Abstract: A tight contact layer is disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the tight contact layer being made of one material selected from the group consisting of refractory metal, alloy of refractory metal, nitride of refractory metal, and siliconized nitride of refractory metal. An oxide surface layer is disposed on the surface of the tight contact layer, the oxide surface layer being made of oxide of material constituting the tight contact layer. A first conductive layer is disposed on the surface of the oxide surface layer, the first conductive layer being made of a platinum group or alloy which contains a platinum group. When a conductive layer made of metal such as a platinum group is formed on a tight contact layer, coverage and morphology can be prevented from being degraded.

Abstract: A fuse structure (106) includes a patterned conductor disposed over a passivation layer (302), which is disposed over a substrate (110), such as, for example, an inter-layer dielectric layer of an integrated circuit. A second passivation layer (112) is formed over the integrated circuit including over the fuse structure (106), and then patterned to open a window (108) through the second passivation layer (112) at a location over the fuse structure (106), with the window (108) fully landed by the underlying passivation layer (302). In various aspects of the present invention, the fuse (106) may be programmed either before or after the photoresist layer used in the patterning of the second passivation layer (112) is removed.

Abstract: A fuse/anti-fuse structure is provided in which programming of the anti-fuse is caused by an electromigation induced hillock that is formed adjacent to the fuse element. The hillock ruptures a thin diffusion barrier located on the sidewalls of the fuse element and the conductive material within the fuse element diffuses into the adjacent dielectric material. The fuse element includes a conductive material located within a line opening which includes a first diffusion barrier having a first thickness located on sidewalls and a bottom wall of the line opening. The anti-fuse element includes the conductive material located within a combined via and line opening which includes the first diffusion barrier located on sidewalls and a bottom wall of the combined via and line opening and a second diffusion barrier having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness located on the first diffusion barrier.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a programming circuit that includes an active device on or in a substrate and a programmable electronic component on the substrate. The programmable electronic component includes at least one carbon nanotube having a segment with an adjusted diameter. The programmable electronic component has a value that depends upon the adjusted diameter. The programming circuit also includes interconnects that couple the active device to the programmable electronic component. The active device is configured to control a current transmitted to the programmable electronic component.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device which substantially prevents repair failure and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of first fuses formed apart from each other on a semiconductor substrate, and on which a protective layer is formed; a first insulating layer filled in between the first fuses and configured to expose the protective layer; a plurality of second fuses formed between the first fuses and on the first insulating layer; and a second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer, wherein the second insulating layer includes a fuse window configured to fully expose the second fuses and the protective layer formed on the first fuses.

Abstract: There are provided a fuse structure and a semiconductor device having the fuse structure. The fuse structure includes an insulating layer having a hole, a resistance-variable material layer disposed on inner wall of the hole, a reference power layer that covers the resistance-variable material layer, and a plurality of leads in the insulating layer. Each lead has a first portion which reaches the inner wall of the hole and contacts the resistance-variable material layer. Each lead is configured to allow an electrical connection to outside.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may be created using multiple metal layers and a layer including programmable vias that may be used to form various patterns of interconnections among segments of metal layers. The programmable vias may be formed of materials whose resistance is changeable between a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a lower-layer substrate, a fuse above the lower-layer substrate and blown by radiation with light, a silicon oxide film on the fuse and on an exposed portion of the surface of the lower-layer substrate, and a silicon nitride film on the silicon oxide film. The portion of the silicon oxide film on the surface of the lower-layer substrate is thicker than the fuse, and the silicon oxide film has an opening opposite the fuse.

Abstract: A capacitance trimming circuit of a semiconductor device may include a plurality of capacitor layers and/or a plurality of fuses. The plurality of capacitor layers may be vertically stacked. The plurality of fuses may be arranged to correspond to the plurality of capacitor layers, and/or the plurality of fuses may be configured to select corresponding ones of the plurality of capacitor layers for controlling a capacitance of the plurality of capacitor layers.

Abstract: By forming a copper/silicon/nitrogen alloy in a surface portion of a copper-containing region on the basis of a precursor layer, highly controllable and reliable process conditions may be established. The precursor layer may be formed on the basis of a liquid precursor solution, which may exhibit a substantially self-aligned and self-limiting deposition behavior.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a wiring formed in the insulating layer and an antifuse including first and second connecting portions coupled to the wiring. The anti fuse has a space provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and insulating the first connecting portion from the second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion may be coupled by a conductive material disposed in the space.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal antifuse is disposed between two metal interconnect layers in an integrated circuit. An insulating layer is disposed above a lower metal interconnect layer. The insulating layer includes a via formed therethrough containing a tungsten plug in electrical contact with the lower metal interconnect layer. An antifuse material layer comprising amorphous carbon is disposed above the upper surface of the tungsten plug. The antifuse material layer is disposed between adhesion-promoting layers. A layer of a barrier metal, consisting of either tantalum or tantalum nitride, is disposed over the antifuse layer to form an upper electrode of the antifuse. An oxide or tungsten hard mask provides high etch selectivity and the possibility to etch barrier metals without affecting the dielectric constant value and mechanical properties of the antifuse.

Abstract: A reversible fuse structure in an integrated circuit is obtained through the implementation of a fuse cell having a short thin line of phase change materials in contact with via and line structures capable of passing current through the line of phase change material (fuse cell). The current is passed through the fuse cell in order to change the material from a less resistive material to a more resistive material through heating the phase change material in the crystalline state to the melting point then quickly quenching the material into the amorphous state. The reversible programming is achieved by passing a lower current through the fuse cell to convert the high resistivity amorphous material to a lower resistivity crystalline material. Appropriate sense-circuitry is integrated to read the information stored in the fuses, wherein said sense circuitry is used to enable or disable circuitry.

Abstract: An eFuse begins with a single crystal silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure that has a single crystal silicon layer on a first insulator layer. The single crystal silicon layer is patterned into a strip. Before or after the patterning, the single crystal silicon layer is doped with one or more impurities. At least an upper portion of the single crystal silicon layer is then silicided to form a silicided strip. In one embodiment the entire single crystal silicon strip is silicided to create a silicide strip. Second insulator(s) is/are formed on the silicide strip, so as to isolate the silicided strip from surrounding structures. Before or after forming the second insulators, the method forms electrical contacts through the second insulators to ends of the silicided strip. By utilizing a single crystal silicon strip, any form of semiconductor, such as a diode, conductor, insulator, transistor, etc. can form the underlying portion of the fuse structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has lateral conductors or traces that are formed of nanotubes such as carbon. A sacrificial layer is formed overlying the substrate. A dielectric layer is formed overlying the sacrificial layer. A lateral opening is formed by removing a portion of the dielectric layer and the sacrificial layer which is located between two columns of metallic catalysts. The lateral opening includes a neck portion and a cavity portion which is used as a constrained space to grow a nanotube. A plasma is used to apply electric charge that forms an electric field which controls the direction of formation of the nanotubes. Nanotubes from each column of metallic catalyst are laterally grown and either abut or merge into one nanotube. Contact to the nanotube may be made from either the neck portion or the columns of metallic catalysts.

Abstract: A method for producing an electronic component, especially a memory chip, using a laser-induced correction to equalize an integrated circuit by means of at least one laser via in a layer at least partially covering the circuit. The component comprises a rewiring of the contact pads. The inventive method comprises the following steps: each laser via is closed by means of a separate covering layer which is to be applied locally; a rewiring extending between the local covering layers is created; the local covering layers are removed; and the laser-induced correction is carried out by means of the open laser vias.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating film supported by a semiconductor substrate, forming an aluminum layer supported by the first insulating film, etching the aluminum layer to form a bonding pad and fuse elements, depositing by plasma chemical vapor deposition a second insulating film covering the bonding pad and the fuse elements, the second insulating film having planar portions between the fuse elements and ridged portions opposite the fuse elements, depositing by plasma chemical vapor deposition a third insulating film covering the second insulating film, etching the third insulating film to form a first hole exposing a first region of the second insulating film, opposite the fuse elements, and a second hole exposing a second region of the second insulating film, opposite at least part of said bonding pad, and etching the second insulating film to form a third hole exposing at least part of the bonding pad.

Abstract: A metal layer structure is disclosed. The metal layer structure includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer on a surface of the substrate, and at least one first conductor and at least one second conductor on the first dielectric layer. The second conductor has at least one thin portion.

Abstract: A highly reliable semiconductor chip electrode structure allowing control of interface reaction of bonding sections even in the case of using two- or three-element solder used conventionally is disclosed. A solder alloy making layer for preventing dissolving and diffusion of tin into tin-based lead free solder is thinly formed on a UBM layer. The tin-based solder is supplied in solder paste or solder ball form. A combined solder alloy layer composed of a combination of intermetallic compounds, one of tin and the solder alloy making layer, and one of tin and the UBM layer, is formed by heating and melting.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a chalcogenide memory cell is described. The cross-sectional area of a chalcogenide memory element within the cell is controlled by the thickness of a bottom electrode and the width of a word line. The method allows the formation of ultra small chalcogenide memory cells.

Abstract: A semiconductor device which includes fuses for relieving defective areas in the semiconductor device is described. There is provided a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a circuit element, an insulating layer provided on the semiconductor substrate, a fuse element formed in the insulating layer, the fuse element including at least two fuse units connected in series, each of the fuse units having a resistor and a fuse connected in parallel, the fuse disposed above the resistor.

Abstract: A process for passivating polysilicon and a process for fabricating a polysilicon thin film transistor. A polysilicon layer is formed. Next, high-pressure annealing is performed using a fluorine-containing gas, a chlorine-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, a nitrogen-containing gas, or mixtures thereof to passivate the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a fuse that can be blown by the radiation of light formed above the substrate, and insulating films formed on the fuse and on the substrate. One of the insulating films includes a flat portion formed on the substrate and the surface thereof is higher than the surface of the fuse, and a protruded portion formed on the fuse continuously from the flat portion, and protruded from the surface of the flat portion.

Abstract: A fuse structure for a semiconductor device is provided. The fuse structure includes a fuse layer between the upper and bottom insulating layers. The fuse layer is connected to the other metal layers through via plugs. The fuse layer includes separate blocks and at least a connecting block and is coupled to at least a heat buffer block of a different layer. Because the heat buffer block is coupled to the blocks of the fuse layer, new fusing point and a new path for effectively dissipating the heat are provided and a longer and sinuous electric current path is obtained between the blocks through the heat buffer blocks. The heat buffer block and the blocks coupled to the heat buffer block can avoid large current flowing through the fuse structure and prevent overheating.

Abstract: A programmable interconnect structure and method of operating the same provides a programmable interconnection between electrical contacts. The interconnect includes material that has a reversibly programmable resistance. The material includes a molecular matrix with ionic complexes distributed through the molecular matrix. Application of an electrical field or electric current causes the molecular composite material to assume a desired resistivity (or conductivity) state. This state is retained by the molecular composite material to thus form a conductive or a non-conductive path between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: Programmable fuses for integrated circuits are provided. The fuses may be based on polysilicon or crystalline silicon fuse links coated with silicide or other conductive thin films. Fuses may be formed on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. A fuse may be blown by applying a programming current to the fuse link. The silicon or polysilicon in the fuses may be provided with a p-n junction. When a fuse is programmed, the silicide or other conductive film forms an open circuit. This forces current though the underlying p-n junction. Unlike conventional silicided polysilicon fuses, fuses with p-n junctions change their qualitative behavior when programmed. Unprogrammed fuses behave like resistors, while programmed fuses behave like diodes. The presence of the p-n junction allows sensing circuitry to determine in a highly accurate qualitative fashion whether a given fuse has been programmed.

Abstract: Process for producing a plurality of gate stacks approximately the same height and equidistant on a semiconductor substrate. The process includes providing a gate dielectric on the semiconductor substrate and applying and patterning at least a first layer and a second layer, above the first layer, to the gate dielectric to produce the gate stacks. An oblique implantation of an oxidation-inhibiting implantation species is carried out into two opposite, uncovered side faces of the second of the gate stacks, with respectively adjacent gate stacks serving to shadow the uncovered side faces of the first layer of the gate stacks. Oxidation to simultaneously form a first oxide layer on uncovered side faces of the first layer of the gate stacks and a second oxide layer on uncovered side faces of the second layer of the gate stacks is carried out, the thickness of the first oxide layer being greater than the thickness of the second oxide layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state image pickup device including a Si substrate, a conductive pattern such as transfer-accumulation electrodes and a buffer wiring formed above the Si substrate, an insulating film provided above the Si substrate in the state of covering the conductive pattern, and a shunt wiring composed of a metallic pattern formed above the insulating film in the state of being connected to the buffer wiring via a contact window formed in the insulating film. The portion of the shunt wiring in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the contact window contains at least one of silicon metal oxide or silicon metal nitride.