Abstract: A quantum cascade laser manufacturing method includes: a step of pressing a mother stamper against a resin film having flexibility to make a resin stamper 201 having a second groove pattern P2; a step of making a wafer with an active layer formed on a semiconductor substrate; a step of forming a resist film 304 on a surface on the active layer side of the wafer; a step of pressing the resin stamper against the resist film 304 by air pressure to form a third groove pattern P3 on the resist film 304; and a step of etching the wafer with the resist film 304 serving as a mask to form a diffraction grating on a surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A silicon carbide substrate having a main face is prepared. By applying thermal oxidation to the main face of the silicon carbide substrate at a first temperature, an oxide film is formed on the main face. After the oxide film is formed, heat treatment is applied to the silicon carbide substrate at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. An opening exposing a portion of the main face is formed at the oxide film. A Schottky electrode is formed on the main face exposed by the opening.

Abstract: A trench Schottky diode and its manufacturing method are provided. The trench Schottky diode includes a semiconductor substrate having therein a plurality of trenches, a gate oxide layer, a polysilicon structure, a guard ring and an electrode. At first, the trenches are formed in the semiconductor substrate by an etching step. Then, the gate oxide layer and the polysilicon structure are formed in the trenches and protrude above a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The guard ring is formed to cover a portion of the resultant structure. At last, the electrode is formed above the guard ring and the other portion not covered by the guard ring. The protruding gate oxide layer and the protruding polysilicon structure can avoid cracks occurring in the trench structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a gate electrode including a leg part and a canopy part. A barrier layer is formed on a bottom face of the leg part of the gate electrode. In addition, on the lower surface of the barrier layer, a Schottky metal layer with an electrode width wider than the electrode width of the barrier layer is formed to have a Schottky junction with a semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A diode is described with a III-N material structure, an electrically conductive channel in the III-N material structure, two terminals, wherein a first terminal is an anode adjacent to the III-N material structure and a second terminal is a cathode in ohmic contact with the electrically conductive channel, and a dielectric layer over at least a portion of the anode. The anode comprises a first metal layer adjacent to the III-N material structure, a second metal layer, and an intermediary electrically conductive structure between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The intermediary electrically conductive structure reduces a shift in an on-voltage or reduces a shift in reverse bias current of the diode resulting from the inclusion of the dielectric layer. The diode can be a high voltage device and can have low reverse bias currents.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a phase change memory material on a substrate, in which the substrate is contacted with precursors for a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, at temperature below 350° C., with the contacting being carried out via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition. Various tellurium, germanium and germanium-tellurium precursors are described, which are useful for forming GST phase change memory films on substrates.

Abstract: A transistor includes a substrate. A first electrically conductive material layer is positioned on the substrate. A second electrically conductive material layer is in contact with and positioned on the first electrically conductive material layer. The second electrically conductive material layer includes a reentrant profile. The second electrically conductive material layer also overhangs the first electrically conductive material layer.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a phase change memory material on a substrate, in which the substrate is contacted with precursors for a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, at temperature below 350° C., with the contacting being carried out via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition. Various tellurium, germanium and germanium-tellurium precursors are described, which are useful for forming GST phase change memory films on substrates.

Abstract: Fabrication methods of a high frequency (sub-micron gate length) operation of AlInGaN/InGaN/GaN MOS-DHFET, and the HFET device resulting from the fabrication methods, are generally disclosed. The method of forming the HFET device generally includes a novel double-recess etching and a pulsed deposition of an ultra-thin, high-quality silicon dioxide layer as the active gate-insulator. The methods of the present invention can be utilized to form any suitable field effect transistor (FET), and are particular suited for forming high electron mobility transistors (HEMT).

Abstract: A thin film transistor for a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an array substrate and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The thin film transistor comprises a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a channel region between the source electrode and drain electrode. A source extension region is connected with the source electrode, a drain extension region is connected with the drain electrode, and the source extension region is disposed opposite to the drain extension region to form a channel extension region therebetween.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a phase change memory material on a substrate, in which the substrate is contacted with precursors for a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, at temperature below 350° C. with the contacting being carried out via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition. Various tellurium, germanium and germanium-tellurium precursors are described, which are useful for forming GST phase change memory films on substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for fabricating devices with low resistance structures involving a lift-off process. A radiation blocking layer is introduced between two resist layers in order to prevent intermixing of the photoresists. Cavities suitable for the formation of low resistance T-gates or L-gates can be obtained by a first exposure, developing, selective etching of blocking layer and a second exposure and developing. In another embodiment, a low resistance gate structure with pillars to enhance mechanical stability or strength is provided.

Abstract: A smooth electrode is provided. The smooth electrode includes at least one metal layer having thickness greater than about 1 micron; wherein an average surface roughness of the smooth electrode is less than about 10 nm.

Abstract: A field effect transistor includes a GaN epitaxial substrate, a gate electrode formed on an electron channel layer of the substrate, and source and drain electrodes arranged spaced apart by a prescribed distance on opposite sides of the gate electrode. The source and drain electrodes are in ohmic contact with the substrate. At an upper portion of the gate electrode, a field plate is formed protruding like a visor to the side of drain electrode. Between the electron channel layer of the epitaxial substrate and the field plate, a dielectric film is formed. The dielectric film is partially removed at a region immediately below the field plate, to be flush with a terminal end surface of the field plate. The dielectric film extends from a lower end of the removed portion to the drain electrode, to be overlapped on the drain electrode.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a field effect transistor includes: forming an insulating film provided on a semiconductor layer, the insulating film having an opening via which a surface of the semiconductor layer is exposed and including silicon oxide; forming a Schottky electrode on the insulating film and in the opening, the Schottky electrode having an overhang portion and having a first contact layer that is provided in a region contacting the insulating film and contains oxygen, and a second contact layer that is provided on the first contact layer and contains a smaller content of oxygen than that of the first contact layer; and removing the insulating film by a solution including hydrofluoric acid.

Abstract: Methods of forming features and structures thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a feature includes forming a first material over a workpiece, forming a first pattern for a lower portion of the feature in the first material, and filling the first pattern with a sacrificial material. A second material is formed over the first material and the sacrificial material, and a second pattern for an upper portion of the feature is formed in the second material. The sacrificial material is removed. The first pattern and the second pattern are filled with a third material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal-semiconductor contact in semiconductor Components is disclosed. There is a relatively high risk of contamination in the course of metal depositions in prior-art methods. In the disclosed method, the actual metal -semiconductor or Schottky contact is produced only after the application of a protective layer system, as a result of which it is possible to use any metals, particularly platinum, without the risk of contamination.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a T-gate is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a photoresist layer on a substrate; patterning the photoresist layer formed on the substrate and forming a first opening; forming a first insulating layer on the photoresist layer and the substrate; removing the first insulating layer and forming a second opening to expose the substrate; forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer; removing the second insulating layer and forming a third opening to expose the substrate; forming a metal layer on the second insulating layer on which the photoresist layer and the third opening are formed; and removing the metal layer formed on the photoresist layer. Accordingly, a uniform and elaborate opening defining the length of a gate may be formed by deposition of the insulating layer and a blanket dry etching process, and thus a more elaborate micro T-gate electrode may be fabricated.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has: a semiconductor substrate having a pair of current input/output regions via which current flows; an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate and having a gate electrode opening; and a mushroom gate electrode structure formed on the semiconductor substrate via the gate electrode opening, the mushroom gate electrode structure having a stem and a head formed on the stem, the stem having a limited size on the semiconductor substrate along a current direction and having a forward taper shape upwardly and monotonically increasing the size along the current direction, the head having a size expanded stepwise along the current direction, and the stem contacting the semiconductor substrate in the gate electrode opening and riding the insulating film near at a position of at least one of opposite ends of the stem along the current direction.

Abstract: A method of fabricating short-gate-length electrodes for integrated III-V compound semiconductor devices, particularly for integrated HBT/HEMT devices on a common substrate is disclosed. The method is based on dual-resist processes, wherein a first thin photo-resist layer is utilized for defining the gate dimension, while a second thicker photo-resist layer is used to obtain a better coverage on the surface for facilitating gate metal lift-off. The dual-resist method not only reduces the final gate length, but also mitigates the gate recess undercuts, as compared with those fabricated by the conventional single-resist processes. Furthermore, the dual-resist method of the present invention is also beneficial for the fabrication of multi-gate device with good gate-length uniformity.

Abstract: Memory cells are described along with methods for manufacturing. A memory cell as described herein includes a bottom electrode comprising a base portion and a pillar portion on the base portion, the pillar portion having a width less than that of the base portion. A dielectric surrounds the bottom electrode and has a top surface. A memory element is overlying the bottom electrode and includes a recess portion extending from the top surface of the dielectric to contact the pillar portion of the bottom electrode, wherein the recess portion of the memory element has a width substantially equal to the width of the pillar portion of the bottom electrode. A top electrode is on the memory element.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has: a semiconductor substrate having a pair of current input/output regions via which current flows; an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate and having a gate electrode opening; and a mushroom gate electrode structure formed on the semiconductor substrate via the gate electrode opening, the mushroom gate electrode structure having a stem and a head formed on the stem, the stem having a limited size on the semiconductor substrate along a current direction and having a forward taper shape upwardly and monotonically increasing the size along the current direction, the head having a size expanded stepwise along the current direction, and the stem contacting the semiconductor substrate in the gate electrode opening and riding the insulating film near at a position of at least one of opposite ends of the stem along the current direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method wherein a recess is disposed in a surface portion of a semiconductor structure and a dielectric film is disposed on and in contract with the semiconductor. The dielectric film has an aperture therein. Portions of the dielectric film are disposed adjacent to the aperture and overhang underlying portions of the recess. An electric contact has first portions thereof disposed on said adjacent portions of the dielectric film, second portions disposed on said underlying portions of the recess, with portions of the dielectric film being disposed between said first portion of the electric contact and the second portions of the electric contact, and third portions of the electric contact being disposed on and in contact with a bottom portion of the recess in the semiconductor structure. The electric contact is formed by atomic layer deposition of an electrically conductive material over the dielectric film and through the aperture in such dielectric film.

Abstract: A method for forming a transistor device having a field plate. The method includes forming a structure having a source, a drain, and a Tee gate. A photo-resist layer is formed on the structure with an opening therein only the one of two distal ends of the Tee gate. A metal is deposited over the photo-resist layer with portions of the metal being disposed on the photo-resist layer and with other portions of the metal passing through the opening onto the exposed portions of the dielectric layer and with distal end of the top of the Tee gate preventing such metal from being deposited onto portions of the dielectric layer disposed under it. The photo-resist layer is removed along with the portions of the metal deposited thereon while leaving portions of the metal from regions of the dielectric layer exposed by the opening to form the field gate.

Abstract: A method for patterning a semiconductor device can include forming a conductive layer over a semiconductor substrate; alternatively forming positive photoresists and negative photoresists over the conductive layer; forming a plurality of first conductive lines by selectively removing a portion of the conductive layer using the positive photoresist and the negative photoresist as masks; forming an oxide film over the semiconductor substrate including the first conductive lines and the conductive layer; performing a planarization process over the oxide film using the uppermost surface of the first conductive line as a target; removing the plurality of first conductive lines using the oxide film as a mask; forming a plurality if trenches in the semiconductor substrate and removing a portion of the oxide film to expose the uppermost surface of the conductive layer; and then forming a plurality of second conductive lines by removing the exposed conductive layer using the oxide film as a mask.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a tiered structure includes forming a gate on a semiconductor substrate. Formation of the gate includes depositing a gate foot using a gate foot mask having an opening through it to define the gate foot over the substrate. After forming the gate foot, the gate foot mask is stripped and a passivation layer is formed over the gate foot and the substrate. A gate head mask is formed over the gate foot with the gate head mask exposing a portion of the passivation layer on a top portion of the gate foot. The portion of the passivation layer on the top portion of the gate foot is removed to expose the top portion of the gate foot. A gate head is formed on the top portion of the gate foot using the gate head mask. A lift-off process is performed, removing the gate head mask.

Abstract: In a method of forming a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate (100), a photoresist layer (102) is deposited on the semiconductor substrate; a window (106) is formed in the photoresist layer (102) by electron beam lithography; a conformal layer (108) is deposited on the photoresist layer (102) and in the window (106); and substantially all of the conformal layer (108) is selectively removed from the photoresist layer (102) and a bottom portion of the window to form dielectric sidewalls (110) in the window (106).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transistor in which gate resistance is lowered and short channel effects are controlled by forming a trench-type gate. The threshold voltage can also be more tightly controlled.

Abstract: A Schottky diode includes a first nitride semiconductor layer formed on a substrate and a second nitride semiconductor layer selectively formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and having a different conductivity type from that of the first nitride semiconductor layer. A Schottky electrode is selectively formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer to come into contact with the top surface of the second nitride semiconductor layer, and an ohmic electrode is formed thereon so as to be spaced apart from the Schottky electrode.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first rectangular mesa from a layer of semiconducting material and forming a first dielectric layer around the first mesa. The method further includes forming a first rectangular mask over a first portion of the first mesa leaving an exposed second portion of the first mesa and etching the exposed second portion of the first mesa to produce a reversed T-shaped fin from the first mesa.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a silicided gate in a semiconductor device. In accordance with the method, a gate (213) is provided which comprises a first portion (214) and a second portion (213). The first portion of the gate has a width w1 and the second portion of the gate has a width w2 as taken along a plane perpendicular to the length of the gate, wherein w2>w1. A layer is silicide (231) is then formed on the second portion.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a T-gate is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a photoresist layer on a substrate; patterning the photoresist layer formed on the substrate and forming a first opening; forming a first insulating layer on the photoresist layer and the substrate; removing the first insulating layer and forming a second opening to expose the substrate; forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer; removing the second insulating layer and forming a third opening to expose the substrate; forming a metal layer on the second insulating layer on which the photoresist layer and the third opening are formed; and removing the metal layer formed on the photoresist layer. Accordingly, a uniform and elaborate opening defining the length of a gate may be formed by deposition of the insulating layer and a blanket dry etching process, and thus a more elaborate micro T-gate electrode may be fabricated.

Abstract: Methods of forming field effect transistors include forming a first electrically insulating layer comprising mostly carbon on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and patterning the first electrically insulating layer to define an opening therein. A trench is formed in the substrate by etching the surface of the substrate using the patterned first electrically insulating layer as an etching mask. The trench is filled with a gate electrode. The first electrically insulating layer is patterned in an ambient containing oxygen. This oxygen-containing ambient supports further oxidation of trench-based isolation regions within the substrate when they are exposed by openings within the first electrically insulating layer.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method for fabricating a tiered structure is provided, which includes forming a source and a drain on a substrate with a gate formed therebetween. Formation of the gate includes depositing a gate foot using a gate foot mask having an opening through it to define the gate foot over the substrate. After forming the gate foot, the gate foot mask is stripped. A gate head mask is formed over the gate foot with the gate head mask exposing a top portion of the gate foot. A gate head is formed on the top portion of the gate foot using the gate head mask. A lift-off process is performed, removing the gate head mask.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a gate electrode in which a fine gate electrode can effectively be manufactured by thickening a resist opening for gate electrodes formed by ordinary electron beam lithography so as to reduce opening dimensions. The method of manufacturing a gate electrode of the present invention includes a step of forming a laminated resist including at least an electron beam resist layer as a lowermost layer on a surface where a gate electrode is to be formed; a step of forming an opening in layer(s) other than the lowermost layer; a step of forming a gate electrode opening on the lowermost layer exposed from the opening; a step of reducing the gate electrode opening selectively; and a step of forming a gate electrode in the gate electrode opening.

Abstract: A field effect transistor having a T- or ?-shaped fine gate electrode of which a head portion is wider than a foot portion, and a method for manufacturing the field effect transistor, are provided. A void is formed between the head portion of the gate electrode and a semiconductor substrate using an insulating layer having a multi-layer structure with different etch rates. Since parasitic capacitance between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate is reduced by the void, the head portion of the gate electrode can be made large so that gate resistance can be reduced. In addition, since the height of the gate electrode can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the insulating layer, device performance as well as process uniformity and repeatability can be improved.

Abstract: In a method of forming a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate (100), a photoresist layer (102) is deposited on the semiconductor substrate; a window (106) is formed in the photoresist layer (102) by electron beam lithography; a conformal layer (108) is deposited on the photoresist layer (102) and in the window (106); and substantially all of the conformal layer (108) is selectively removed from the photoresist layer (102) and a bottom portion of the window to form dielectric sidewalls (110) in the window (106).

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method wherein a recess is disposed in a surface portion of a semiconductor structure and a dielectric film is disposed on and in contract with the semiconductor. The dielectric film has an aperture therein. Portions of the dielectric film are disposed adjacent to the aperture and overhang underlying portions of the recess. An electric contact has first portions thereof disposed on said adjacent portions of the dielectric film, second portions disposed on said underlying portions of the recess, with portions of the dielectric film being disposed between said first portion of the electric contact and the second portions of the electric contact, and third portions of the electric contact being disposed on and in contact with a bottom portion of the recess in the semiconductor structure. The electric contact is formed by atomic layer deposition of an electrically conductive material over the dielectric film and through the aperture in such dielectric film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gate dielectric having a flat nitrogen profile, a method of manufacture therefor, and a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including the flat nitrogen profile. In one embodiment, the method of manufacturing the gate dielectric includes forming a gate dielectric layer (410) on a substrate (310), and subjecting the gate dielectric layer (410) to a nitrogen containing plasma process (510), wherein the nitrogen containing plasma process (510) has a ratio of helium to nitrogen of 3:1 or greater.

Abstract: After cleaning a surface of a silicon substrate (1), impurities and natural oxide film existing on the silicon substrate (1) are removed by soaking the silicon substrate (1) in a 0.5%-by-volume HF aqueous solution for 5 minutes. The silicon substrate (1) is rinsed (cleaned) with ultrapure water for five minutes. Then, the silicon substrate (1) is soaked for 30 minutes in azeotropic nitric acid heated to an azeotropic temperature of 120.7° C. In this way, an extremely thin chemical oxide film (5) is formed on the surface of the silicon substrate (1). Subsequently, a metal film (6) (aluminum-silicon alloy film) is deposited, followed by heating in a hydrogen-containing gas at 200° C. for 20 minutes. Through the heat processing in the hydrogen-containing gas, hydrogen reacts with interface states and defect states in the chemical oxide film (5), causing disappearance of the interface states and defect states. As a result, the quality of the film can be improved.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a T-type gate including the steps of: forming a first photoresist layer, a blocking layer and a second photoresist layer to a predetermined thickness on a substrate, respectively; forming a body pattern of a T-type gate on the second photoresist layer and the blocking layer; exposing a predetermined portion of the second photoresist layer to form a head pattern of the T-type gate, and performing a heat treatment process to generate cross linking at a predetermined region of the second photoresist layer except for the head pattern of the T-type gate; performing an exposure process on an entire surface of the resultant structure, and then removing the exposed portion; and forming a metal layer of a predetermined thickness on an entire surface of the resultant structure, and then removing the first photoresist layer, the blocking layer, the predetermined region of the second photoresist layer in which the cross linking are generated, and the metal layer, whereby it is possible

Abstract: An imaging device formed as a CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit includes a buried contact line between the floating diffusion region and the gate of a source follower output transistor. The self-aligned buried contact in the CMOS imager decreases leakage from the diffusion region into the substrate which may occur with other techniques for interconnecting the diffusion region with the source follower transistor gate. Additionally, the self-aligned buried contact is optimally formed between the floating diffusion region and the source follower transistor gate which allows the source follower transistor to be placed closer to the floating diffusion region, thereby allowing a greater photo detection region in the same sized imager circuit.

Abstract: This invention provides a semiconductor device manufacturing method including forming a T type gate electrode having a wide region in an upper portion, the method including steps of: forming rectangular gate polysilicon; forming a nitride film covering the polysilicon; forming an oxide film thick on the nitride film; etching back the oxide film to expose the nitride film; etching the exposed nitride film, exposing the gate polysilicon, and forming a space; forming undoped polysilicon burying the space; etching back the undoped polysilicon to form a wide portion in the upper portion of the gate polysilicon; and etching the oxide film and the nitride film; siliciding the wide undoped silicon to form titanium suicide (or cobalt silicide). This manufacturing method makes it possible to easily form the T type gate electrode with good yield.

Abstract: Alternate methods of forming low resistance “hatted” polysilicon gate elements are provided that increase the effective area in the polysilicon gate for silicide grain growth during silicide formation. The expanded top portion helps to prevent silicide agglomeration in the silicide regions, thereby maintaining or reducing electrode resistance, improving high-frequency performance, and reducing gate delay in sub micron FET ULSI devices, without increasing the underlying active channel length.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device includes forming a resist pattern having a multi-layered structure by performing a plurality of development steps, the resist pattern including a first opening corresponding to a fine gate section of a gate electrode and a second opening placed on the first opening, the second opening corresponding to an over-gate section which is wider than the fine gate section and having a cross section protruding over an undercut in an underlying layer, wherein every angle of the second opening at the tip of the over-gate section is more than 90 degrees; and forming the gate electrode provided with the fine gate section and the over-gate section by depositing electrode materials on the resist pattern.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure includes forming sequentially a pad layer and a first photoresist layer over a substrate. A cross-linked surface layer is formed on the surface of the first photoresist layer, followed by rounding the profile of the first photoresist layer, and removing the exposed pad layer to expose the substrate. A second photoresist layer is formed over the first photoresist layer, wherein a portion of the first photoresist layer and the exposed substrate are exposed by the second photoresist layer. Thereafter, a conductive layer is formed, wherein the conductive layer formed on the second photoresist layer is separated from the conductive layer formed on the first photoresist layer and the exposed substrate. The first and the second photoresist layers are removed while the conductive layer on the second photoresist layer is concurrently being striped. The remaining conductive layer serves as a gate structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor transistor device comprises the steps as follows. Provide a semiconductor substrate with a gate dielectric layer thereover and a lower gate electrode structure formed over the gate dielectric layer with the lower gate electrode structure having a lower gate top. Form a planarizing layer over the gate dielectric layer leaving the gate top of the lower gate electrode structure exposed. Form an upper gate structure over the lower gate electrode structure to form a T-shaped gate electrode with an exposed lower surface of the upper gate surface and exposed vertical sidewalls of the gate electrode. Remove the planarizing layer. Form source/drain extensions in the substrate protected from the short channel effect. Form sidewall spacers adjacent to the exposed lower surface of the upper gate and the exposed vertical sidewalls of the T-shaped gate electrode. Form source/drain regions in the substrate.

Abstract: All the electrode films corresponding to respective metal materials are laminated on a substrate beforehand, a first electrode film located farthest from the substrate is formed with a first metal pattern suitable for the first electrode film, and then the first electrode film is etched away so as to expose a second electrode film located lower than the first electrode film. Therefore, the second electrode film suitable for a metal material of a second metal pattern can selectively be plated, whereby the second metal pattern can be formed while optimizing the combination of its metal material and electrode film. Also, the second electrode film for the later step does not attach to the previously formed first metal pattern.

Abstract: An imaging device formed as a CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit includes a buried contact line between the floating diffusion region and the gate of a source follower output transistor. The self-aligned buried contact in the CMOS imager decreases leakage from the diffusion region into the substrate which may occur with other techniques for interconnecting the diffusion region with the source follower transistor gate. Additionally, the self-aligned buried contact is optimally formed between the floating diffusion region and the source follower transistor gate which allows the source follower transistor to be placed closer to the floating diffusion region, thereby allowing a greater photo detection region in the same sized imager circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a low dielectric constant film includes depositing a silicon oxide based film, preferably by reaction of an organosilicon compound and an oxidizing gas at a low RF power level from about 10 W to about 500 W, exposing the silicon oxide based film to water or a hydrophobic-imparting surfactant such as hexamethyldisilazane, and curing the silicon oxide based film at an elevated temperature. Dissociation of the oxidizing gas can be increased in a separate microwave chamber to assist in controlling the carbon content of the deposited film. The moisture resistance of the silicon oxide based films is enhanced.