Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first substrate including an element, a first plug penetrating through the first substrate, made of a conductive material, and electrically connected with the element, a second substrate provided above the first substrate, and electrically connected with the element via the first plug, and a second plug penetrating through the first substrate, made of a non-dielectric material, and being not electrically connected with the second substrate.

Abstract: In a memory cell of a DRAM, that is, a semiconductor memory, a bit line connected to a bit line plug and a local interconnect are provided on a first interlayer insulating film. A connection conductor film of TiAlN is provided on the top and side faces of an upper barrier metal and side faces of a Pt film and a BST film. No contact is formed above the Pt film used for forming an upper electrode, and the upper electrode is connected to an upper interconnect (namely, a Cu interconnect) through the connection conductor film, a dummy lower electrode, a dummy cell plug and the local interconnect. Since the Pt film is not exposed to a reducing atmosphere, the characteristic degradation of a capacitor insulating film can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having an insulated gate type field effect transistor. A gate insulating film, a gate electrode layer having a predetermined area and facing the semiconductor substrate with the gate insulating film being interposed therebetween, an interlayer insulating film, and a wiring layer connected to the gate electrode layer, are formed on a semiconductor substrate in the order recited. A conductive material layer and a resist layer are formed on the wiring layer. The resist layer is patterned to form a resist mask forming a wiring pattern having an antenna ratio of about ten times or more of the predetermined area of the gate electrode layer. At least the conductive material layer is plasma-etched by using the resist mask as an etching mask, and thereafter, the resist mask is removed and the wiring layer is plasma-etched.

Abstract: A method is provided for eliminating uneven heating of substrate active areas during laser thermal annealing (LTA) due to variations in gate electrode density. Embodiments include adding dummy structures, formed simultaneously with the gate electrodes, to “fill in” the spaces between isolated gate electrodes, such that the spacing between the gate electrodes and the dummy structures is the same as the spacing between the densest array of device structures on the substrate surface. Since the surface features (i.e., the gate electrodes and the dummy structures) appear substantially uniform to the LTA laser, the laser radiation is uniformly absorbed by the substrate, and the substrate surface is evenly heated.

Abstract: At least a p-type and n-type semiconductor device deposited upon a semiconductor wafer containing metal or metal alloy gates. More particularly, a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device is formed on a semiconductor wafer having n-type and p-type metal gates.

Abstract: A method for forming a damascene structure to improve a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process while reducing the capacitance in an integrated circuit including forming a shallow dummy damascene adjacent active damascenes and removing the dummy damascene in a CMP process while forming the adjacent active damascenes.

Abstract: A parasitic capacitance-preventing dummy solder bump structure on a substrate has at least one conductive layer formed on the substrate, a dielectric layer employed to cover the conductive layer, an under bump metallurgy layer (UBM layer) formed on the dielectric layer, and a solder bump formed on the UBM layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of forming a dummy film and a dummy gate pattern at a predetermined gate-forming region on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first side wall insulating film on a side wall of the dummy gate pattern, forming an interlayer insulating film on a portion of the semiconductor substrate around the dummy gate pattern bearing the first side wall insulating film, forming a groove by removing the dummy gate pattern, removing a portion of dummy film exposed through the groove while leaving a portion of the first side wall insulating film as well as a portion of the dummy film disposed below the portion of the first side wall insulating film, forming a gate insulating film at least on a bottom surface of the groove, and forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating film formed in the groove.

Abstract: A dummy structure pattern for fabricating a substantially planar surface within an inactive region of a semiconductor topography is provided. In particular, a semiconductor topography is provided which includes an inactive region comprising a sacrificial annular dummy structure configured to surround an area larger than a square of a minimum critical dimension of a device arranged within an active region of the semiconductor topography. In a preferred embodiment, the area is exclusively designated for a formation of an isolation structure within the semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor topography. As such, a semiconductor topography is provided which includes a separate isolation structure arranged within a spacing of a contiguous isolation structure, which is arranged in a grid pattern within a portion of a semiconductor substrate. Moreover, a semiconductor device is provided which includes an inactive region with a plurality of similarly sized and uniformly arranged annular diffusion regions.

Abstract: A device adapted to protect integrated circuits from reverse engineering comprising a part looking like a via connecting two metal layers, but in fact attached only to one metal layer and spaced from the other. Having such “trick” via would force a reverse engineer to think there is a connection where there is none. A method for fabricating such device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated by a method that includes forming a conductive pattern on a semiconductor substrate, covering the conductive pattern with a dielectric layer, and planarizing the dielectric layer by chemical-mechanical polishing. To avoid global height differences, a dummy pattern is added to the conductive pattern if a predetermined condition is satisfied. The condition is based on the calculated density of the conductive pattern in a region including the region in which the dummy pattern is to be added. The calculated density may be adjusted according to the type of equipment used to deposit the dielectric layer, and the dummy pattern dimensions may be adjusted according to the calculated density. Such calculations avoid the need for human judgment and lead to more uniform planarization.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating an MDL (Merged DRAM Logic) semiconductor device, in which silicide is formed on a logic region and a memory region selectively for enhancing device reliability. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a substrate having a first region and a second region adjoining the first region, (b) forming a first gate forming material layer in the first region, (c) forming a second gate forming material layer in the first region having the first gate forming material layer formed therein and the second region, (d) selectively patterning the second gate forming material layer to form second gates in the second region and a boundary dummy pattern layer at a boundary area of the first and second regions, and (e) selectively patterning the first gate forming material layer to form first gates in the first region.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip is formed by dividing a semiconductor wafer by use of the laser dicing technique. The semiconductor chip has a laser dicing region on the side surface thereof. A dummy wiring layer is formed along the laser dicing region on the surface layer of the laser dicing region. A laser beam is applied to the dummy wiring layer to divide the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A dummy gate crossing an active area having ends in contact with an isolation area is formed. A low area lower than a dummy gate is formed in the isolation area. Side walls are formed in the active area except the dummy gate. A semiconductor film having the same height as that of the dummy gate is formed in the low area. An oxide film is formed on the semiconductor film. The dummy gate is removed by the oxide film as a mask. The oxide film is removed by the semiconductor film as a stopper.

Abstract: A method for improving CMP polishing uniformity and reducing or preventing cracking in a semiconductor wafer process surface by reducing stress concentrations adjacent to dummy features including providing a semiconductor wafer process surface including active features and dummy features formed adjacently to the active features to improve a CMP polishing uniformity said dummy features each shaped to define an enclosed area in said semiconductor wafer process surface plane comprising at least 5 corner portions; and, performing a CMP process on said semiconductor wafer process surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to metallization line layouts that minimize focus offset sensitivity by a substantial elimination of thin isolated metallization line segments that are inadequately patterned during formation of a mask. The present invention also relates to a metallization line layout that staggers unavoidable exposures. Embodiments of these metallization line layouts include enhanced terminal ends of isolated metallization lines, filled inter-metallization line spaces, and additional “dummy” metal shapes in open areas. The present invention also relates to a method of forming a metallization layer such that a substantially deposited, planarized interlayer dielectric layer can be formed without etchback or chemical-mechanical polishing.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus and method for decreasing diffusive damage effects to a primary structure (406, 506) within a semiconductor device (400, 500). The device typically comprises a first interconnect (402, 502), and a second interconnect (404, 504). The primary structure is disposed between the first and second interconnects to electrically intercouple them. An active diffusion volume (410, 514) is determined, within which the primary structure is located. A buffer structure (408, 508) is disposed upon the first interconnect in proximity to the primary structure and adapted to buffer the primary via structure from diffusive voiding occurring at a contact point between the primary structure and the first interconnect.

Abstract: Metallic reservoirs in the form of passive or dummy vias are used on interconnects as a source or sink for electromigration material, slowing the build up of electromigration-induced mechanical stress. The passive or dummy vias are disposed in a vertical direction from the interconnect (perpendicular to the plane of the interconnect) to so that the reservoirs do not occupy additional space in the interconnect layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device which reduces a noise superimposed upon a signal carried on an interconnection or cross-talk. Dummy interconnections are formed in the same layers respectively as interconnections formed in a plurality of layers. The dummy interconnections are connected through dummy plugs. At least the dummy interconnections and the dummy plugs are fixed at a ground potential and barrier layers are formed between the same layers and at least one of the conductive interconnections, the conductive dummy interconnections and the conductive dummy plug.

Abstract: A wiring pattern has been enlarged by mutually different values, thereby forming two enlarged wiring patterns are formed. Then, regions where the two enlarged wiring patterns overlap each other are removed, thereby forming a dummy pattern. Alternatively, a simple-figure pattern made of simple figures is formed and a dummy pattern is formed using the simple-figure pattern. A gap that is not wider than a predetermined value is located in a final wiring pattern made of the wiring pattern and the dummy pattern is defined as an air gap region. Thus, an interconnection structure incorporating air gaps between wiring patterns is formed.

Abstract: An electronic memory having a source (118) and a drain (120) comprising on a substrate (100) a floating gate (260) and a control gate (264).

Abstract: Patterns to be included in a multi-layer wiring structure of a semiconductor device are designed layer by layer. Functional patterns 92 necessary for implementing functions of the semiconductor device are formed first. A plurality of types of dummy patterns 96 and 98 having different sizes are then designed in free regions not occupied by the functional patterns. While the dummy patterns are being designed, the largest possible number of free regions 94 are extracted followed by as many smaller free regions 97 as possible. The dummy patterns 98 are laid out in the extracted free regions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a memory array that includes a plurality of substantially parallel word lines, a plurality of substantially parallel bit lines, wherein each of the plurality of the word lines is substantially perpendicular to each of the plurality of the bit lines, a first dummy word line disposed at a periphery of the memory array, wherein the first dummy word line is substantially parallel to the plurality of word lines and overlaps at least two non-adjacent bit lines.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device is fabricated by forming at least one isolation region in an area of a semiconductor substrate, such as a monolithic semiconductor substrate or a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The at least one isolation region defines at least one active region. A plurality of dummy conductive regions is distributed in the area of the semiconductor substrate, with the dummy conductive regions being constrained to overlie the at least one isolation region. The dummy conductive regions may be formed from a conductive layer that is also used to form, for example, a gate electrode, a capacitor electrode or a wiring pattern. The dummy conductive regions may be formed on an insulation layer, e.g., a gate insulation layer or an interlayer dielectric layer. Preferably, the dummy conductive regions are noncontiguous. In one embodiment, a lattice-shaped isolation region is formed including an array of node regions linked by interconnecting regions and defining an array of dummy active regions.

Abstract: A sacrificial semiconductor feature for preventing corrosion that can result during chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) is disclosed. A semiconductor device of the invention is fabricated at least in part by performing CMP. The device includes a desired semiconductor feature and a sacrificial semiconductor feature. The desired semiconductor feature may have an unbalanced geometric pattern that includes a metallic line ending in at least one tip. The at least one tip is susceptible to corrosion resulting from performing CMP. The sacrificial semiconductor feature is preferably located off the metallic line of the desired semiconductor feature. The sacrificial semiconductor feature attracts charge induced during CMP that is otherwise attracted by the at least one tip of the desired semiconductor feature. The presence of the sacrificial semiconductor feature thus substantially prevents corrosion of the desired semiconductor feature, including its tip(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a methods for forming transistor of semiconductor device, and more particularly to a improved method for forming transistor of semiconductor device wherein a thermal oxide film formed on an edge portion of gate electrode by a thermal oxidation process on a gate electrode to reduce parasitic capacitance generated from overlapping between a drain region and a gate electrode region.

Abstract: A gate insulating film is provided on a channel region. A gate electrode includes a lower part and an upper part. The lower part has a lower surface and sides, and the upper part has a lower surface. The lower surface of the lower part contacts the gate insulating film. The upper part is longer than the lower part in a lengthwise direction of a gate electrode. The first insulating film is interposed between the lower surface of the upper part of the gate electrode and a semiconductor substrate. The first insulating film surrounds at least the sides of the lower part of the gate electrode, which face drain and source regions, and having parts interposed between the lower surface of the upper part of the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate and made thicker than the other parts.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device using fill shape patterns incorporated into wiring levels to increase the planarity of the wiring levels, the fill shapes are aligned from one wiring level to another wiring level to provide lines of sight to lower wiring levels for visual inspection. Also, in accordance with the invention, selected aligned fill shapes are interconnected with vias to form conductive stacks for contacting lower wiring level conductive wires from upper wiring levels in order to perform electrical test probing/diagnostics.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a resonator, and in particular, a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), and a resonator embodying the method are disclosed. An FBAR is fabricated on a substrate by introducing a mass loading top electrode layer. For a substrate having multiple resonators, the top mass loading electrode layer is introduced for only selected resonator to provide resonators having different resonance frequencies on the same substrate.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises: a conducting layer including: a channel region; a source region and a drain region sandwiching the channel region; and a body region connected to the channel region and being adjacent to the source region and the drain region; a gate electrode formed above the channel region interposing a gate insulation film therebetween; a dummy electrode formed on the body region near the interface between at least the drain region and the body region, and electrically insulated with the gate electrode; and a body contact region formed in the body region except a region where the dummy electrode is formed. The gate electrode and the dummy electrode are electrically insulated with each other, whereby the semiconductor device having body contacts can have a gate capacitance much decreased. Accordingly, deterioration of the speed performance of the transistors can be suppressed.

Abstract: Selective placement of polishing dummy feature patterns, rather than indiscriminate placement of polishing dummy feature patterns, is used. Both low frequency (hundreds of microns and larger) and high frequency (10 microns and less) of topography changes are examined. The polishing dummy feature patterns can be specifically tailored to a semiconductor device and polishing conditions used in forming the semiconductor device. When designing an integrated circuit, polishing effects for the active features can be predicted. After polishing dummy feature pattern(s) are placed into the layout, the planarity can be examined on a local level (a portion but not all of the device) and a more global level (all of the device, devices corresponding to a reticle field, or even an entire wafer).

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for making the same provides a metal gate on a silicon substrate. The gate includes a high dielectric constant on the substrate, and a physical vapor deposited (PVD) layer of amorphous silicon on the high k gate dielectric. The metal is then formed on the PVD amorphous silicon layer. Additional dopants are implanted into the PVD amorphous silicon layer. An annealing process forms silicide in the gate, with a layer of silicon remaining unreacted. The work function of the metal gate is substantially the same as a polysilicon gate due to the presence of the PVD amorphous silicon layer, while the additional doping of the PVD amorphous silicon layer lowers the resistivity of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A transistor (30) and method for forming a transistor using an edge blocking material (24) is disclosed herein. The edge blocking material (24) may be located adjacent a gate (22) or disposable gate or may be part of a disposable gate. During an angled pocket implant, the edge blocking material (24) blocks some dopant from entering the semiconductor body (10) and the dopant (18) placed under the edge blocking material is located at a given distance below the surface of the semiconductor body (10).

Abstract: A semiconductor device formed of a first dummy interconnect, an interlayer insulating film and a second dummy interconnect which are formed on a semiconductor chip in this order and a plurality of dummy via holes formed in the interlayer insulating film between the first dummy interconnect and the second dummy interconnect; wherein at least one of the first dummy interconnect and the second dummy interconnect is connected with at least two of the dummy via holes.

Abstract: Circuit elements (e.g. transistor gates) formed over a semiconductor substrate are protected by adjacent dummy structures during mechanical or chemical mechanical polishing of an overlying dielectric.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a stress reducing laminate. Grooves are formed on the surface of a material layer selected from a multilayer structure of the semiconductor device, for example, a conductive layer. The cross sections of the grooves are semicircular or semi-elliptic. The stress applied to the conductive layer having the grooves is divided into a vertical component and a horizontal component with respect to the surface of the conductive layer. Accordingly, the stress applied vertically to the conductive layer is reduced, making it is possible to prevent the conductive layer from cracking due to stress and to reduce the stress transmitted to material layers under the conductive layer.

Abstract: A method is shown which replaces single vias with redundant vias on candidate signals on a semiconductor integrated circuit chip. Where limited space prevents such replacement on more than one signal wire, the method assigns priority to the via through which more current must flow to charge or discharge capacitance. This prioritization reduces the magnitude of delay anomalies arising from vias containing process related resistance defects.

Abstract: A wiring pattern has been enlarged by mutually different values, thereby forming two enlarged wiring patterns are formed. Then, regions where the two enlarged wiring patterns overlap each other are removed, thereby forming a dummy pattern. Alternatively, a simple-figure pattern made of simple figures is formed and a dummy pattern is formed using the simple-figure pattern. A gap that is not wider than a predetermined value is located in a final wiring pattern made of the wiring pattern and the dummy pattern is defined as an air gap region. Thus, an interconnection structure incorporating air gaps between wiring patterns is formed.

Abstract: A method of improving adhesion of a surface including the following steps. A structure having an upper surface is provided. A composite anchor layer is formed over the upper surface of the structure. The composite anchor layer including at least an upper anchor sub-layer and a lower anchor sub-layer. The upper anchor sub-layer is patterned to form a dense pattern of upper sub-anchors. The lower anchor sub-layer is then patterned using the upper sub-anchors as masks to form lower sub-anchors. The respective upper sub-anchors and lower sub-anchors form a dense pattern of anchors whereby the dense pattern of anchors over the upper surface improve the adhesion of the surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which is capable of reducing or preventing damage of wirings formed over a semiconductor substrate. The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes forming a wiring on the surface of a semiconductor substrate with a predetermined circuit formed thereon, forming a resin layer whose surface is substantially flat on the wiring, and processing the back of the semiconductor substrate after the formation of the resin layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first transistor 38a having a first gate electrode 22; a second transistor 38b having a second gate electrode 34 which is different from the first gate electrode; an insulation film 28 formed between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode; and an interconnection electrode 44 buried in a concavity 42 formed in the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode and the insulation film and electrically interconnecting the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. The interconnection electrode is buried in the concavity formed in the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode and the insulation film, and the interconnection electrodes electrically interconnects the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode, whereby the semiconductor device can have high integration and can be reliable.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a planar integrated circuit interconnect and process of fabrication. The planar integrated circuit comprises a substrate having a first line wire formed in the substrate, a dielectric layer formed on the substrate, a second line wire formed in the dielectric layer, a contact via formed within the dielectric layer extending through the dielectric layer from the second line wire to the first line wire, and a dummy via which extends into the dielectric layer and is filled with a low dielectric material.

Abstract: The present invention is a level of an integrated circuit. The level of integrated circuit has a first area having a plurality of features having a first density and the level of the integrated circuit has a second area adjacent to the first area wherein the second area has a plurality of dummy features having a density substantially similar to the first density.

Abstract: A method for making a layout for an interconnect layer of a semiconductor device to facilitate uniformity of planarization during manufacture of the semiconductor device includes determining an active interconnect feature density for each of a plurality of layout regions of the interconnect layout. The method further includes adding dummy fill features to each layout region to obtain a desired density of active interconnect features and dummy fill features to facilitate uniformity of planarization during manufacturing of the semiconductor device. By adding dummy fill features to obtain a desired density of active interconnect features and dummy fill features, dummy fill features are not unnecessarily added, and each layout region has a uniform density.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated by a method that includes forming a conductive pattern on a semiconductor substrate, covering the conductive pattern with a dielectric layer, and planarizing the dielectric layer by chemical-mechanical polishing. To avoid global height differences, a dummy pattern is added to the conductive pattern if a predetermined condition is satisfied. The condition is based on the calculated density of the conductive pattern in a region including the region in which the dummy pattern is to be added. The calculated density may be adjusted according to the type of equipment used to deposit the dielectric layer, and the dummy pattern dimensions may be adjusted according to the calculated density. Such calculations avoid the need for human judgment and lead to more uniform planarization.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of a semiconductor device which prevents the occurrence of a defective die and an erroneous alignment otherwise invoked by a difference in polishing level between an edge and a central portion of a wafer. The method comprises steps of forming a group of dummy patterns around an alignment key of edges of a wafer, wherein the wafer is obtained by forming the capacitor on the cell region, and the dummy pattern has the same elevation as the capacitor formed on the cell region; disposing an interlayer insulating film on a resulting structure obtained after the forming process; and performing a chemical-mechanical polishing on the interlayer insulating film. Further, the process of forming the group of dummy patterns may be performed while forming the capacitor on the cell region.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises:

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for making the same provides a metal gate on a silicon substrate. The gate includes a high dielectric constant on the substrate, and a chemical vapor deposited layer of amorphous silicon on the high k gate dielectric. The metal is then deposited on the CVD amorphous silicon layer. An annealing process forms silicide in the gate, with a layer of silicon remaining unreacted. The work function of the metal gate is substantially the same as a polysilicon gate due to the presence of the CVD amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A sub-0.1 &mgr;m MOSFET device having minimum poly depletion, salicided source and drain junctions and very low sheet resistance poly-gates is provided utilizing a damascene-gate process wherein the source and drain implantation activation annealing and silicidation occurs in the presence of a dummy gate region which is thereafter removed and replaced with a polysilicon gate region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method for making the same provides a metal gate on a silicon substrate. The gate includes a high dielectric constant on the substrate, and a chemical vapor deposited layer of amorphous silicon on the high k gate dielectric. A barrier is then deposited on the CVD amorphous silicon layer. A metal is then formed on the barrier. The work function of the metal gate is substantially the same as a polysilicon gate due to the presence of the CVD amorphous silicon layer. The work function is preserved by the barrier during subsequent high temperature processing, due to the barrier which prevents interaction between the CVD amorphous silicon layer and the metal, which could otherwise form silicide and change the work function.