Having High Dielectric Constant Insulator (e.g., Ta2o5, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/240)
  • Patent number: 7268035
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor constructions comprising dielectric materials which contain cerium oxide and titanium oxide. The dielectric materials can contain a homogeneous distribution of cerium oxide and titanium oxide, and/or can contain a laminate of cerium oxide and titanium oxide. The dielectric materials can be incorporated into any suitable semiconductor devices, including, for example, capacitor devices, transistor devices, and flash memory devices. The invention also includes methods of utilizing atomic layer deposition to form laminates of cerium oxide and titanium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7268047
    Abstract: A gate insulating film on a silicon substrate of includes a SiO2 film and a high-k film. The high-k film contains a transition metal, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. The concentration of silicon in the high-k film is higher than the concentrations of the transition metal and aluminum in the vicinity of the interface with the SiO2 film and the vicinity of the interface with the gate electrode. Furthermore, it is preferable that the concentration of silicon is the highest at least in one of the vicinity of the interface with the SiO2 film or the vicinity of the interface with the gate electrode, gradually decreases with distance from these interfaces, and becomes the lowest in a central part of the high-k film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tsunetoshi Arikado, Takaaki Kawahara, Kazuyoshi Torii, Hiroshi Kitajima, Seiichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7259059
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a capacitor of a semiconductor device, which can improve a leakage current characteristic in applying HfxAlyOz as a dielectric film. In such a method, HfxAlyOz thin films are deposited on a storage electrode to form an HfxAlyOz dielectric film and a plate electrode is formed on the dielectric film. The HfxAlyOz dielectric film consists of laminated HfxAlyOz thin films which are different in compositions of Hf and Al such that the lower HfxAlyOz thin film adjoining the storage electrode has a larger composition ratio of Al than that of Hf and the upper HfxAlyOz thin film has a larger composition ratio of Hf than that of Al, and the upper HfxAlyOz thin film is subjected to heat treatment under an oxygen atmosphere after its deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Deok Sin Kil, Ki Seon Park, Jae Sung Roh, Hyun Chul Sohn
  • Patent number: 7259058
    Abstract: A ruthenium electrode with a low amount of oxygen contamination and high thermal stability is formed by a chemical vapor deposition method. In the chemical vapor deposition method using an organoruthenium compound as a precursor, the introduction of an oxidation gas is limited to when the precursor is supplying, and the reaction is allowed to occur at a low oxygen partial pressure. Consequently, it is possible to form a ruthenium film with a low amount of oxygen contamination. Further, after formation of the ruthenium film, annealing at not less than the formation temperature is performed, thereby forming a ruthenium film with high thermal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Techonology Corp.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimamoto, Masahiko Hiratani, Yuichi Matsui, Satoshi Yamamoto, Toshihide Nabatame, Toshio Ando, Hiroshi Sakuma, Shinpei Iijima
  • Patent number: 7256088
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention includes capacitors made up of a lower electrode, a capacitive insulation film made from metal oxide material, provided on one surface of a semiconductor substrate. An ozone TEOS film is provided on these capacitors, and a protective film for covering the upper surfaces of the capacitors is then provided on this ozone TEOS film. An interlay insulation film that is thicker than the ozone TEOS film is provided on the protective film for covering the upper surfaces of the capacitors. In this way, the present invention prevents degradation in film quality of the capacitive insulation film due to mutual reaction etc. As a result, it becomes possible to provide a capacitor using an insulating film made of a metal oxide as a capacitive insulation film, having a protective film for sufficiently preventing diffusion of H2, a semiconductor device having high reliability, and a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor device, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7256089
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of fabricating on chip decoupling capacitors which help prevent L di/dt voltage droop on the power grid for high surge current conditions is disclosed. The inclusion of a hybrid metal/metal nitride top electrode/barrier provides for a low cost and higher performance option to strapping decoupling capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Scott List, Bruce A. Block, Ruitao Zhang
  • Patent number: 7253076
    Abstract: Capacitors having increased capacitance include an enhanced-surface-area (rough-surfaced) electrically conductive layer or other layers that are compatible with the high-dielectric constant materials. In one approach, an enhanced-surface-area electrically conductive layer for such capacitors is formed by processing a ruthenium oxide layer at high temperature at or above 500° C. and low pressure 75 torr or below, most desirably 5 torr or below, to produce a roughened ruthenium layer having a textured surface with a mean feature size of at least about 100 Angstroms. The initial ruthenium oxide layer may be provided by chemical vapor deposition techniques or sputtering techniques or the like. The layer may be formed over an underlying electrically conductive layer. The processing may be performed in an inert ambient or in a reducing ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishnu K. Agarwal, Garo Derderian, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Weimin M. Li, Mark Visokay, Cem Basceri, Sam Yang
  • Patent number: 7253075
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a plurality of capacitors. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitor arranged on a substrate and including first upper and lower electrode layers between which a first capacitor insulation film is interposed, and a second capacitor arranged on the substrate and including second upper and lower electrode layers between which a second capacitor insulation film is interposed, the second upper and lower electrode layers having a same structure as that of the first upper and lower electrode layers, and the second capacitor having a per-unit-area capacity different from that of the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Hieda
  • Patent number: 7253052
    Abstract: Described are integrated circuit electrodes and method for fabricating an electrode, which include, in an embodiment forming a silicon, first portion of the electrode in a lower region of a substrate opening. The method may further include forming a second portion of the electrode in the opening and overlying the first portion, the insulative layer encompassing a sidewall of the second portion. The method may further include forming a third portion of the electrode overlying the second portion and overlying at least a portion of the insulative layer, wherein the first portion and the second portion are different materials. In an embodiment, the second portion is a diffusion barrier layer and the third portion is an oxidation resistant layer. In an embodiment, the method includes encompassing a lower sidewall of the third portion with the insulative layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre C. Fazan, Viju K. Mathews
  • Patent number: 7250334
    Abstract: A method (10) of forming a MIM (metal insulator metal) capacitor is disclosed whereby adverse affects associated with copper diffusion are mitigated even as the capacitor is scaled down. A sidewall spacer (156) is formed against an edge (137) of a layer of bottom electrode/copper diffusion barrier material (136), an edge (151) of a layer of capacitor dielectric material (150) and at least some of an edge (153) of a layer of top electrode material. The sidewall spacer (156) is dielectric or non-conductive and mitigates “shorting” currents that can develop between the plates as a result of copper diffusion. Bottom electrode diffusion barrier material (136) mitigates copper diffusion and/or copper drift, thereby reducing the likelihood of premature device failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Darius L. Crenshaw, Byron L. Williams, Alwin Tsao, Hisashi Shichijo, Satyavolu S. Papa Rao, Kenneth D. Brennan, Steven A. Lytle
  • Patent number: 7247503
    Abstract: A method for forming an epitaxial layer in a capacitor over interconnect structure, includes selecting a laser having a suitable wavelength for absorption at a seeding layer/annealing layer interface of the capacitor over interconnect structure, and directing laser energy from the selected laser at the capacitor over interconnect structure. The laser energy anneals a feature of the capacitor over interconnect structure to form an epitaxial layer. The annealing is accomplished at a temperature below about 450° C. The selected laser can be an excimer laser using a pulse extender. The capacitor over interconnect structure can be a ferroelectric capacitor formed over a conventional CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng C. Lai, Ruichen Liu
  • Patent number: 7244647
    Abstract: An embedded capacitor structure in a circuit board and a method for fabricating the same are proposed. The circuit board is formed with a first circuit layer on at least one surface thereof, wherein the first circuit layer has at least one first electrode plate for the capacitor structure. Then, a dielectric layer is formed on the first circuit layer and made flush with the first circuit layer. The dielectric layer has a relatively low dielectric constant and good fluidity to effectively fill the spaces between patterned traces of the first circuit later. A capacitive material is deposited on the dielectric layer and the first circuit layer. Finally, a second circuit layer is formed on the capacitive material and has at least one second electrode plate corresponding to the first electrode plate, together with the capacitive material disposed in-between, to form the capacitor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Phoenix Precision Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ruei-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 7244648
    Abstract: The invention encompasses a method of forming a silicon nitride layer. A substrate is provided which comprises a first mass and a second mass. The first mass comprises silicon and the second mass comprises silicon oxide. A sacrificial layer is formed over the first mass. While the sacrificial layer is over the first mass, a nitrogen-containing material is formed across the second mass. After the nitrogen-containing material is formed, the sacrificial layer is removed. Subsequently, a silicon nitride layer is formed to extend across the first and second masses, with the silicon nitride layer being over the nitrogen-containing material. Also, a conductivity-enhancing dopant is provided within the first mass. The invention also pertains to methods of forming capacitor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Er-Xuan Ping, Zhiping Yin
  • Patent number: 7241661
    Abstract: A method of forming a coupling dielectric in a memory cell includes forming an oxide on a substrate, forming Ta2O5 on the oxide, oxidizing the Ta2O5 with rapid thermal process (RTP) at a temperature above the crystallization temperature for Ta2O5, forming a cell nitride on the oxidized Ta2O5, and forming a wetgate oxide on the cell nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sukesh Sandhu, Dan Gealy, Gurtej Singh Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7241656
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a ferroelectric capacitor which includes a ferroelectric film on the substrate, and a stress application layer which applies tensile or compressive stress to the ferroelectric film of the ferroelectric capacitor by applying stress to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Cross, Mineharu Tsukada, Yoshimasa Horii, Alexei Gruverman, Angus Kingon
  • Patent number: 7238567
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for integrating low Schottky barrier metal source/drain includes providing a substrate, forming an epitaxial SiGe layer outwardly from the substrate, forming an epitaxial Si layer outwardly from the SiGe layer, and forming a metal source and a metal drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Weize Xiong
  • Patent number: 7238566
    Abstract: A method of forming a one-transistor memory cell includes the steps of: forming a dielectric layer over a substrate having a pass-gate formed thereon; forming an opening in the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the substrate at least adjacent to the pass-gate; forming a capacitor dielectric layer on sidewalls of the opening in the dielectric layer and on the exposed portion of the substrate; and forming an electrode layer over the capacitor dielectric layer. A one-transistor memory cell is also disclosed. The one-transistor memory cell has a substrate having a pass-gate formed thereover. A dielectric layer is formed over the pass-gate and the substrate and has an opening exposing a portion of the substrate adjacent to the pass-gate. A capacitor dielectric layer is formed on sidewalls of the opening and on the exposed portion of the substrate. An electrode layer is formed on the capacitor dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Min-Hsiung Chiang
  • Patent number: 7238628
    Abstract: High density oxide films are deposited by a pulsed-DC, biased, reactive sputtering process from a titanium containing target to form high quality titanium containing oxide films. A method of forming a titanium based layer or film according to the present invention includes depositing a layer of titanium containing oxide by pulsed-DC, biased reactive sputtering process on a substrate. In some embodiments, the layer is TiO2. In some embodiments, the layer is a sub-oxide of Titanium. In some embodiments, the layer is TixOy wherein x is between about 1 and about 4 and y is between about 1 and about 7. In some embodiments, the layer can be doped with one or more rare-earth ions. Such layers are useful in energy and charge storage, and energy conversion technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Symmorphix, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Demaray, Hong Mei Zhang, Mukundan Narasimhan, Vassiliki Milonopoulou
  • Patent number: 7235453
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an MIM capacitor is provided, by which higher capacitance can be secured per unit volume or area by forming a dual-stack type capacitor to increase an effective area of the capacitor. The method includes patterning a first metal layer, forming a planarized second insulating layer having a trench exposing a portion of the patterned first metal layer, forming a second metal layer within the trench, forming a first dielectric layer on the second metal layer, forming first via holes exposing the patterned first metal layer, forming first plugs filling the trench and first via holes, forming a third metal layer thereover, forming a second dielectric layer on the third metal layer, forming a patterned fourth metal layer on the second dielectric layer, patterning the second dielectric layer and the third metal layer, forming a planarized third insulating layer having second via holes therein, and forming a patterned fifth metal layer on the third insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Dongbu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung Pil Kim
  • Patent number: 7235502
    Abstract: A gate dielectric structure (201) fabrication process includes forming a transitional dielectric film (205) overlying a silicon oxide film (204). A high dielectric constant film (206) is then formed overlying an upper surface of the transitional dielectric film (205). The composition of the transitional dielectric film (205) at the silicon oxide film (204) interface primarily comprises silicon and oxygen. The high K dielectric (206) and the composition of the transitional dielectric film (205) near the upper surface primarily comprise a metal element and oxygen. Forming the transitional dielectric film (205) may include forming a plurality of transitional dielectric layers (207) where the composition of each successive transitional dielectric layer (207) has a higher concentration of the metal element and a lower concentration of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sriram S. Kalpat, Voon-Yew Thean, Hsing H. Tseng, Olubunmi O. Adetutu
  • Patent number: 7235407
    Abstract: A multi-layer PrxCa1-xMnO3 (PCMO) thin film capacitor and associated deposition method are provided for forming a bipolar switching thin film. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode; depositing a nanocrystalline PCMO layer; depositing a polycrystalline PCMO layer; forming a multi-layer PCMO film with bipolar switching properties; and, forming top electrode overlying the PCMO film. If the polycrystalline layers are deposited overlying the nanocrystalline layers, a high resistance can be written with narrow pulse width, negative voltage pulses. The PCMO film can be reset to a low resistance using a narrow pulse width, positive amplitude pulse. Likewise, if the nanocrystalline layers are deposited overlying the polycrystalline layers, a high resistance can be written with narrow pulse width, positive voltage pulses, and reset to a low resistance using a narrow pulse width, negative amplitude pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tingkai Li, Lawrence J. Charneski, Wei-Wei Zhuang, David R. Evans, Sheng Teng Hsu
  • Patent number: 7235440
    Abstract: Ultra-thin oxide layers are formed utilizing low pressure processing to achieve self-limiting oxidation of substrates and provide ultra-thin oxide. The substrates to be processed can contain an initial dielectric layer such as an oxide layer, an oxynitride layer, a nitride layer, a high-k layer, or alternatively can lack an initial dielectric layer. The processing can be carried out using a batch type process chamber or, alternatively, using a single-wafer process chamber. One embodiment of the invention provides self-limiting oxidation of Si-substrates that results in SiO2 layers with a thickness of about 15 A, where the thickness of the SiO2 layers varies less than about 1 A over the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David L O'Meara, Cory Wajda, Anthony Dip, Michael Toeller, Toshihara Furukawa, Kristen Scheer, Alessandro Callegari, Fred Buehrer, Sufi Zafar, Evgeni Gousev, Anthony Chou, Paul Higgins
  • Patent number: 7232721
    Abstract: Systems, devices, structures, and methods are described that inhibit dielectric degradation at high temperatures. An enhanced capacitor is discussed. The enhanced capacitor includes a first electrode, a dielectric that includes ditantalum pentaoxide, and a second electrode having a compound. The compound includes a first substance and a second substance. The second electrode includes a trace amount of the first substance. The morphology of the semiconductor structure remains stable when the trace amount of the first substance is oxidized during crystallization of the dielectric. In one embodiment, the crystalline structure of the dielectric describes substantially a (001) lattice plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Vishnu K. Agarwal, Dan Gealy
  • Patent number: 7232693
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate formed with a MOSFET is prepared, and a first interlayer insulating film is deposited on the semiconductor substrate. A ferroelectric capacitor is formed on the first interlayer insulating film. Next, a second interlayer insulating film is formed on a first structure provided with the semiconductor substrate, the first interlayer insulating film and the ferroelectric capacitor so as to embed the ferroelectric capacitor therein. Openings for electrically connecting the MOSFET and the ferroelectric capacitor and an external circuit of a ferroelectric memory are formed in the second interlayer insulating film to form a second structure. A metal wiring is formed on the second interlayer insulating film to form a third structure. Next, the third structure is heat-treated in an atmosphere from over 350° C. to under 450° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kinya Ashikaga
  • Patent number: 7220639
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for fabricating a MIM capacitor in a semiconductor die includes a step of depositing a first interconnect metal layer. The method further includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer comprising AlNX (aluminum nitride) on the first interconnect layer. The method further includes depositing a layer of MIM capacitor metal on the high-k dielectric layer. The method further includes etching the layer of MIM capacitor metal to form an upper electrode of the MIM capacitor. According to this exemplary embodiment, the first interconnect metal layer, the high-k dielectric layer, and the layer of MIM capacitor metal can be deposited in a PVD process chamber. The method further includes etching the high-k dielectric layer to form a MIM capacitor dielectric segment and etching the first interconnect metal layer to form a lower electrode of the MIM capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Hadi Abdul-Ridha, David Howard
  • Patent number: 7220600
    Abstract: Methods (100) are provided for fabricating a ferroelectric capacitor structure including methods (128) for etching and cleaning patterned ferroelectric capacitor structures in a semiconductor device. The methods comprise etching (140, 200) portions of an upper electrode, etching (141, 201) ferroelectric material, and etching (142, 202) a lower electrode to define a patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure, and etching (143, 206) a portion of a lower electrode diffusion barrier structure. The methods further comprise ashing (144, 203) the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a first ashing process, performing (145, 204) a wet clean process after the first ashing process, and ashing (146, 205) the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a second ashing process directly after the wet clean process at a high temperature in an oxidizing ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott R. Summerfelt, Lindsey H. Hall, Kezhakkedath R. Udayakumar, Theodore S. Moise, IV
  • Patent number: 7217669
    Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric film composed of metal oxide under an atmosphere of activated vapor containing oxygen. In the method of forming the dielectric film, a metal oxide film is formed on a semiconductor substrate using a metal organic precursor and O2 gas while the semiconductor substrate is exposed under activated vapor atmosphere containing oxygen, and then, the metal oxide film is annealed while the semiconductor substrate is exposed under activated vapor containing oxygen. The annealing may take place in situ with the formation of the metal oxide film, at the same or substantially the same temperature as the metal oxide forming, and/or at least one of a different pressure, oxygen concentration, or oxygen flow rate as the metal oxide forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-mei Choi, Sung-tae Kim, Young-wook Park, Young-sun Kim, Ki-chul Kim, In-sung Park
  • Patent number: 7217617
    Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor having a capacitor dielectric layer comprising ABO3, where “A” is selected from the group consisting of Group IIA and Group IVB metal elements and mixtures thereof, where “B” is selected from the group consisting of Group IVA elements and mixtures thereof, includes feeding a plurality of precursors comprising A, B and O to a chamber having a substrate positioned therein under conditions effective to chemical vapor deposit an ABO3-comprising dielectric layer over the substrate. During the feeding, pressure within the chamber is varied effective to produce different concentrations of B at different elevations in the deposited layer and where higher comparative pressure produces greater concentration of B. The ABO3-comprising dielectric layer is incorporated into a capacitor, with the ABO3-comprising dielectric layer comprising a capacitor dielectric layer of the capacitor and having a dielectric constant k of at least 20 in the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Cem Basceri
  • Patent number: 7217630
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming hafnium-containing materials, such as, for example, hafnium oxide. In one aspect, a semiconductor substrate is provided, and first reaction conditions are utilized to form hafnium-containing seed material in a desired crystalline phase and orientation over the substrate. Subsequently, second reaction conditions are utilized to grow second hafnium-containing material over the seed material. The second hafnium-containing material is in a crystalline phase and/or orientation different from the crystalline phase and orientation of the hafnium-containing seed material. The second hafnium-containing material can be, for example, in an amorphous phase. The seed material is then utilized to induce a desired crystalline phase and orientation in the second hafnium-containing material. The invention also includes capacitor constructions utilizing hafnium-containing materials, and circuit assemblies comprising the capacitor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, F. Daniel Gealy, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7214582
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor circuit formed therein and associated fabrication methods are provided. A multiplicity of depressions with a respective dielectric layer and a capacitor electrode are formed for realizing buried capacitors in a carrier substrate and an actual semiconductor component layer being insulated from the carrier substrate by an insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Franz Hofmann, Volker Lehmann, Lothar Risoh, Wolfgang Rösner, Michael Specht
  • Patent number: 7214602
    Abstract: A method of forming a conductive structure is disclosed. The method includes forming an interconnect in a substrate, and forming a layer of iridium on the interconnect. The layer of iridium has a thickness of less than six hundred angstroms. The method further includes annealing the layer of iridium, forming a dielectric layer on the layer of iridium, and forming a conductive layer on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene P. Marsh
  • Patent number: 7205164
    Abstract: Methods for patterning a magnetic cell junction and a topography used for and/or resulting from such methods are provided. In particular, a method is provided which includes etching portions of a topography adjacent to a patterned photoresist layer to a level within a cap film of the topography, removing etch residues from the topography and subsequently etching the remaining portions of the cap film to expose an uppermost magnetic layer. Another method is provided which includes patterning a dielectric mask layer above a patterned upper portion of a magnetic cell junction and ion milling a lower portion of the magnetic cell junction in alignment with the mask layer. An exemplary topography which may result and/or may be used for such methods includes a stack of layers having a dual layer cap film arranged above at least two magnetic layers spaced apart by a tunneling layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Magnetic Systems
    Inventors: Sam Geha, Benjamin C. E. Schwarz, Chang Ju Choi, Biju Parameshwaran, Eugene Y. Chen, Helen L. Chung, Kamel Ounadjela, Witold Kula
  • Patent number: 7205192
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof provides a plug structure composed of a diffusion barrier layer formed at the bottom and on the sides of a contact hole and an oxidation barrier layer formed on the diffusion barrier layer that fills up the inside of the contact hole. This invention prevents contact resistance of a bottom electrode and a plug from increasing as well as implementing high-speed operation and improving the reliability of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Soon-Yong Kweon
  • Patent number: 7205238
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a CMR layer in a CMOS device using CMP to pattern the CMR layer includes preparing a silicon substrate, including fabrication of a bottom electrode in the silicon substrate; depositing a layer of SiNx on the substrate; patterning and etching the SiNx layer to form a damascene trench over the bottom electrode; depositing a layer CMR material over the SiNx and in the damascene trench; removing the CMR material overlying the SiNx layer by CMP, leaving the CMR material in the damascene trench; and completing the CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Pan, David R. Evans, Allen Burmaster
  • Patent number: 7202126
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor provided above the semiconductor substrate, the capacitor comprises a lower electrode containing metal, a first dielectric film provided above the lower electrode and containing tantalum oxide or niobium oxide, a top surface of the first dielectric film including a projecting portion, an upper electrode provided above the projecting portion of the first dielectric film and containing metal, a second dielectric film provided between the lower electrode and the first dielectric film and having a lower permittivity than the first dielectric film, and a third dielectric film provided between the projecting portion of the first dielectric film and the upper electrode and having a lower permittivity than the first dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Käisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masahiro Kiyotoshi
  • Patent number: 7199003
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a capacitor of a semiconductor device and an apparatus therefor, dielectric layers are deposited using only a source gas without a reactant gas and a curing process is performed a single time. As a result, process simplification, yield improvement, and equipment simplification are achieved. In a stand-alone memory or an embedded memory, the step coverage is enhanced and oxidation of a storage node contact plug is prevented. Also, in an analog capacitor, an RF capacitor, or a high-voltage capacitor, which uses thicker dielectric layers than the stand-alone capacitor or the embedded capacitor, the manufacturing process is greatly simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-kuk Jeong, Myong-geun Yoon, Seok-jun Won, Dae-jin Kwon
  • Patent number: 7199004
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a capacitor of a semiconductor device which can secure a desired leakage current characteristic while securing a desired charging capacitance. The inventive method of forming a capacitor of a semiconductor device comprises steps of: forming a bottom electrode on a semiconductor substrate with a storage node contact so that the bottom electrode is connected with the storage node contact; plasma-nitrifying the bottom electrode to form a first nitrification film on the surface of the bottom electrode; forming a LaTbO dielectric film on the bottom electrode including the first nitrification film; plasma-nitrifying the LaTbO dielectric film to form a second nitrification film on the surface of the LaTbO dielectric film; and forming a top electrode on the LaTbO dielectric film including the second nitrification film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Kee Jeung Lee
  • Patent number: 7199002
    Abstract: A process for the fabrication of a ferroelectric capacitor comprising depositing a layer of Ti 5 over an insulating layer 3 of Al2O3, and oxidising the Ti layer to form a TiO2 layer 7. Subsequently, a layer of PZT 9 is formed over the TiO2 layer 7. The PZT layer 9 is subjected to an annealing step in which, due to the presence of the TiO2 layer 7 it crystallises to form a layer 11 with a high degree of (111)-texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Karl Hornik, Rainer Bruchhaus, Nicolas Nagel
  • Patent number: 7195928
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming a ferroelectric thin film that is uniform and good in crystallinity. The method includes applying a liquid to a surface of a substrate. The liquid includes ultra-fine particle powder comprising at least one element constituting the ferroelectric thin film to a surface of a substrate. The liquid applied to the surface of substrate is then baked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Fujimori
  • Patent number: 7195974
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ferroelectric film capacitor includes forming a platinum film used as an electrode material over a whole surface of a silicon substrate, batch-etching the platinum film to form opposite electrodes that serve as a pair of capacitor electrodes, and embedding a ferroelectric film corresponding to a dielectric film of the capacitor into a portion interposed between the pair of opposite electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahisa Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7195971
    Abstract: A decoupling capacitor is provided for a semiconductor device and may include a first low dielectric insulator layer and a low resistance conductor formed into at least two interdigitized patterns on the surface of the first low dielectric insulator in a single interconnect plane. A high dielectric constant material may be provided between the two patterns. A circuit for testing a plurality of these capacitors is also provided which includes a charge monitoring circuit, a coupling circuit and a control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, John A. Bracchitta, William J. Cote, Tak H. Ning, Wilbur D. Pricer
  • Patent number: 7192828
    Abstract: A stabilized capacitor using non-oxide electrodes and high dielectric constant oxide dielectric materials and methods of making such capacitors and their incorporation into DRAM cells is provided. A preferred method includes providing a non-oxide electrode, oxidizing an upper surface of the non-oxide electrode, depositing a high dielectric constant oxide dielectric material on the oxidized surface of the non-oxide electrode, and depositing an upper layer electrode on the high dielectric constant oxide dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sam Yang
  • Patent number: 7192827
    Abstract: The invention includes a method of forming a capacitor structure. A first electrical node is formed, and a layer of metallic aluminum is formed over the first electrical node. Subsequently, an entirety of the metallic aluminum within the layer is transformed into one or more of AlN, AlON, and AlO, with the transformed layer being a dielectric material over the first electrical node. A second electrical node is then formed over the dielectric material. The first electrical node, second electrical node and dielectric material together define at least a portion of the capacitor structure. The invention also pertains to a capacitor structure which includes a first electrical node, a second electrical node, and a dielectric material between the first and second electrical nodes. The dielectric material consists essentially of aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Kie Y. Ahn, Jerome Michael Eldridge
  • Patent number: 7189612
    Abstract: A capacitor upper electrode and a wiring are electrically connected to each other by using a plug and a conductive layer formed below a capacitive element without using a plug that directly connects the capacitor upper electrode to the wiring provided thereon via an interlayer insulating film therebetween. Alternatively, the capacitor upper electrode is covered by a conductive hydrogen barrier film, and the capacitor upper electrode and the wiring are electrically connected to each other via both a plug connecting the wiring and the conductive hydrogen barrier film to each other and the conductive hydrogen barrier film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takumi Mikawa
  • Patent number: 7190016
    Abstract: Structures including a capacitor dielectric material disposed on the surface of an electrode suitable for use in forming capacitors are disclosed. Methods of forming such structures are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: John P. Cahalen, Maria Anna Rzeznik, John E. Schemenaur, Rajan Hariharan
  • Patent number: 7186613
    Abstract: Low dielectric materials and films comprising same have been identified for improved performance when used as interlevel dielectrics in integrated circuits as well as methods for making same. These materials are characterized as having a dielectric constant (?) a dielectric constant of about 3.7 or less; a normalized wall elastic modulus (E0?), derived in part from the dielectric constant of the material, of about 15 GPa or greater; and a metal impurity level of about 500 ppm or less. Low dielectric materials are also disclosed having a dielectric constant of less than about 1.95 and a normalized wall elastic modulus (E0?), derived in part from the dielectric constant of the material, of greater than about 26 GPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Air Products And Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: John Francis Kirner, James Edward MacDougall, Brian Keith Peterson, Scott Jeffrey Weigel, Thomas Alan Deis, Martin Devenney, C. Eric Ramberg, Konstantinos Chondroudis, Keith Cendak
  • Patent number: 7186573
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James William Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 7186604
    Abstract: After forming a silicon oxide film 9 on the surface of a region A of a semiconductor substrate 1, a high dielectric constant insulating film 10, a silicon film, a silicon oxide film 14 are successively deposited over the semiconductor substrate 1, and they are patterned to leave the silicon oxide film 14 in regions for forming gate electrodes. Then, after fabricating silicon films 13n and 13p by using the patterned silicon oxide film 14 as a mask, when removing the silicon oxide film 14, etching is performed under the condition where the etching selectivity of the silicon oxide film 14 to the high dielectric constant insulating film 10 becomes large, thereby leaving the high dielectric constant insulating film 10 also to portions below the end of the gate electrodes (13n, 13p). Thus, it is possible to ensure the voltage withstanding thereof and improve the characteristics of MISFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakai, Satoshi Yamamoto, Atsushi Hiraiwa, Ryoichi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7183186
    Abstract: After pulsing the second purging gas, a zirconium-containing precursor is pulsed into reaction chamber 220, at block 430. In an embodiment, the zirconium-containing precursor is ZTB. In other embodiments, a zirconium-containing precursor includes but is not limited to ZrCl4 and ZrI4. The ZTB precursor is pulsed into reaction chamber 220 through the gas-distribution fixture 240 on substrate 210. Mass-flow controller 258 regulates the flow of the ZTB from gas source 253. In an embodiment, the substrate temperature is maintained at about 200° C. The ZTB aggressively reacts at the current surface of substrate 210.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Micro Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Y. Ahn, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7179704
    Abstract: Methods of forming a capacitor of a semiconductor device can include forming a lower electrode of a capacitor on a semiconductor substrate and forming a dielectric material layer of Ba(Ti1-xSnx)O3 (BTS) or Ba(Ti1-xZrx)O3 (BTZ) on the lower electrode. An amorphous layer can be formed on the dielectric material layer. An upper electrode of the capacitor can be formed on the amorphous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-hwan Lee, Jae-dong Byun, Sung-tae Kim, Young-sun Kim, Dal-won Lee, Song-won Ko