Abstract:
Methods of forming features having differing pitch spacing and critical dimensions are disclosed herein. One method includes forming an underlying layer of material above a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a masking layer above the underlying layer of material. The masking layer includes features positioned above a first region of the substrate and features positioned above a second region of the substrate. The features have different pitch spacing and critical dimensions. The method further includes performing at least one etching process on the underlying layer of material through the masking layer.
Abstract:
One device disclosed herein includes an active region defined in a semiconductor substrate, a layer of material positioned above the semiconductor substrate, first and second laterally spaced-apart source/drain trenches defined in the layer of material above the active region, first and second conductive source/drain contact structures positioned within the first and second laterally spaced-apart source/drain trenches, respectively, a gate trench formed at least partially in the layer of material between the first and second laterally spaced-apart source/drain trenches in the layer of material, wherein portions of the layer of material remain positioned between the first and second laterally spaced-apart source/drain trenches and the gate trench, a gate structure positioned within the gate trench, and a gate cap layer positioned above the gate structure.
Abstract:
One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart source/drain trenches and a gate trench in a layer of material above an active region, performing at least one process operation through the spaced-apart source/drain trenches to form doped source/drain regions, forming a gate structure within the gate trench, and forming a gate cap layer above the gate structure positioned within the gate trench.
Abstract:
One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart source/drain trenches and a gate trench in a layer of material above an active region, performing at least one process operation through the spaced-apart source/drain trenches to form doped source/drain regions, forming a gate structure within the gate trench, and forming a gate cap layer above the gate structure positioned within the gate trench.
Abstract:
A method includes providing a structure having a dielectric layer, a 1st hardmask layer, a 2nd hardmask layer and a 1st mandrel layer disposed respectively thereon. A 1st mandrel plug is disposed in the 1st mandrel layer. A 2nd mandrel layer is disposed over the 1st mandrel layer. The 1st and 2nd mandrel layers are etched to form a plurality 1st mandrels, wherein the 1st mandrel plug extends entirely through a single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrel plug is etched such that it is self-aligned with sidewalls of the single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrels are utilized to form mandrel metal lines in the dielectric layer. The 1st mandrel plug is utilized to form a self-aligned mandrel continuity cut in a single mandrel metal line formed by the single 1st mandrel.
Abstract:
A method includes providing a structure having a dielectric layer, a 1st hardmask layer, a 2nd hardmask layer and a 1st mandrel layer disposed respectively thereon. A 1st mandrel plug is disposed in the 1st mandrel layer. A 2nd mandrel layer is disposed over the 1st mandrel layer. The 1st and 2nd mandrel layers are etched to form a plurality 1st mandrels, wherein the 1st mandrel plug extends entirely through a single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrel plug is etched such that it is self-aligned with sidewalls of the single 1st mandrel. The 1st mandrels are utilized to form mandrel metal lines in the dielectric layer. The 1st mandrel plug is utilized to form a self-aligned mandrel continuity cut in a single mandrel metal line formed by the single 1st mandrel.
Abstract:
A method of optical proximity correction (OPC) in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) lithography includes providing a patterned layout design including first and second design polygons that correspond with the pre-pattern opening, wherein the first and second design polygons are separated by a separation distance, and correcting the patterned layout design using OPC by generating (1) a third polygon that has dimensions corresponding to a combination of the first and second design polygons and the separation distance and (2) and filled polygon within the third polygon, thereby generating an OPC-corrected patterned layout design. EUV photomasks may be manufactured from the OPC-corrected patterned layout design, and integrated circuits may be fabricated using such EUV photomasks.
Abstract:
Methods of forming features having differing pitch spacing and critical dimensions are disclosed herein. One method includes forming an underlying layer of material above a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a masking layer above the underlying layer of material. The masking layer includes features positioned above a first region of the substrate and features positioned above a second region of the substrate. The features have different pitch spacing and critical dimensions. The method further includes performing at least one etching process on the underlying layer of material through the masking layer.
Abstract:
A method of optical proximity correction (OPC) in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) lithography includes providing a patterned layout design including first and second design polygons that correspond with the pre-pattern opening, wherein the first and second design polygons are separated by a separation distance, and correcting the patterned layout design using OPC by generating (1) a third polygon that has dimensions corresponding to a combination of the first and second design polygons and the separation distance and (2) and filled polygon within the third polygon, thereby generating an OPC-corrected patterned layout design. EUV photomasks may be manufactured from the OPC-corrected patterned layout design, and integrated circuits may be fabricated using such EUV photomasks.
Abstract:
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a first plurality of fins in the first region of the substrate, a second plurality of fins in the second region of the substrate, and a space in the substrate between two adjacent fins in the second region that corresponds to a first isolation region to be formed in the second region, forming a fin removal masking layer above the first and second regions of the substrate, wherein the fin removal masking layer has an opening positioned above at least a portion of at least one of the first plurality of fins, while masking all of the second plurality of fins in the second region and the space for the first isolation region, and performing an etching process through the first opening to remove the portions of the at least one of the first plurality of fins.