Abstract:
A method of forming a copper filled semiconductor feature having improved bulk properties including providing a semiconductor process wafer having a process surface including an opening for forming a semiconductor feature; depositing at least one metal dopant containing layer over the opening to form a thermally diffusive relationship to a subsequently deposited copper layer; depositing said copper layer to substantially fill the opening; and, thermally treating the semiconductor process wafer for a time period sufficient to distribute at least a portion of the metal dopants to collect along at least a portion of the periphery of said copper layer including a portion of said copper layer grain boundaries.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a magnetoresistive structure having a non-planar form. Embodiments of the present MR structure includes those having at least one inflection between a first portion of the MR structure that is somewhat vertical relative to a substrate and a second portion of the MR structure that is somewhat horizontal relative to the substrate. Such a structure can be used for memory device, for example an MRAM memory device, wherein the memory density is increased compared to devices having prior planar MR structures without reducing the surface area of the MR structures.
Abstract:
A method of forming an epitaxial layer of uniform thickness is provided to improve surface flatness. A substrate is first provided and a Si base layer is then formed on the substrate by epitaxy. A Si—Ge layer containing 5 to 10% germanium is formed on the Si base layer by epitaxy to normalize the overall thickness of the Si base layer and the Si—Ge layer containing 5 to 10% germanium.
Abstract:
A strained-channel transistor structure with lattice-mismatched zone and fabrication method thereof. The transistor structure includes a substrate having a strained channel region, comprising a first semiconductor material with a first natural lattice constant, in a surface, a gate dielectric layer overlying the strained channel region, a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer, and a source region and drain region oppositely adjacent to the strained channel region, with one or both of the source region and drain region comprising a lattice-mismatched zone comprising a second semiconductor material with a second natural lattice constant different from the first natural lattice constant.
Abstract:
A strained-channel transistor structure with lattice-mismatched zone and fabrication method thereof. The transistor structure includes a substrate having a strained channel region, comprising a first semiconductor material with a first natural lattice constant, in a surface, a gate dielectric layer overlying the strained channel region, a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer, and a source region and drain region oppositely adjacent to the strained channel region, with one or both of the source region and drain region comprising a lattice-mismatched zone comprising a second semiconductor material with a second natural lattice constant different from the first natural lattice constant.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a high-density array of crown capacitors with increased capacitance while reducing process damage to the bottom electrodes is achieved. The process is particularly useful for crown capacitors for future DRAM circuits with minimum feature sizes of 0.18 micrometer or less. A conformal conducting layer is deposited over trenches in an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer, and is polished back to form capacitor bottom electrodes. A novel photoresist mask and etching are then used to pattern the ILD layer to provide a protective interlevel dielectric structure between capacitors. The protective structures prevent damage to the bottom electrodes during subsequent processing. The etching also exposes portions of the outer surface of bottom electrodes for increased capacitance (>50%). In a first embodiment the ILD structure is formed between pairs of adjacent bottom electrodes, and in a second embodiment the ILD structure is formed between four adjacent bottom electrodes.
Abstract:
A semiconductor device (100), including a dielectric pedestal (220) located above and integral to a substrate (110) and having first sidewalls (230), a channel region (210) located above the dielectric pedestal (220) and having second sidewalls (240), and source and drain regions (410) opposing the channel region (210) and each substantially spanning one of the second sidewalls (240). An integrated circuit (800) incorporating the semiconductor device (100) is also disclosed, as well as a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device (100).
Abstract:
The present invention proposes a smart automatic recording system and method for monitoring wafer fragmentation, which system comprises a plurality of photographing devices, a multiple-image transmitter, a multiple-image receiver, and a PC. The photographing devices are used to monitor the circumstances when wafers are polished. The photographed images are then transferred to the multiple-image receiver by the multiple-image transmitter. After the multiple-image receiver receives the image signals, it merges the images captured at the same time into the same image frame. Next, the multiple-image receiver transfers the image signal to the input terminal of an image-capturing card in the PC. The PC also receives the wafer-entry and wafer-exit signals and the signal of wafer fragmentation transferred from the port of the polishing apparatus. The present invention can be exploited to facilitate judgement, diagnosis, genuine factor verification, or engineering improvement and management for associated technicians.
Abstract:
A method of forming a DRAM capacitor structure featuring increased surface area, has been developed. The method features a polysilicon top plate structure located overlying an array comprised of individual polysilicon storage node structures. Each polysilicon storage node structure is comprised with tall, vertical features, and additional surface area is obtained via removal of butted insulator layer from a first group of surfaces of the storage node structures. Insulator layer remains butted to a second group of storage node structure surfaces to prevent collapse of the tall, vertical features of the storage node structures during subsequent processing sequences.