Abstract:
A method includes performing an anneal on a wafer. The wafer includes a wafer-edge region, and an inner region encircled by the wafer-edge region. During the anneal, a first power applied on a portion of the wafer-edge region is at least lower than a second power for annealing the inner region.
Abstract:
An annealing method includes performing an activation annealing on a wafer with a peak temperature of greater than about 1200° C., wherein the activation annealing has a first duration; and performing a defect-recovery annealing on the wafer at a defect-recovery temperature lower than the peak temperature for a second duration. The second duration is longer than the first duration. The annealing method includes no additional annealing steps at temperatures greater than about 1200° C., and no room-temperature cooling step exists between the activation annealing and the defect-recovery annealing.
Abstract:
An annealing method includes performing an activation annealing on a wafer with a peak temperature of greater than about 1200° C., wherein the activation annealing has a first duration; and performing a defect-recovery annealing on the wafer at a defect-recovery temperature lower than the peak temperature for a second duration. The second duration is longer than the first duration. The annealing method includes no additional annealing steps at temperatures greater than about 1200° C., and no room-temperature cooling step exists between the activation annealing and the defect-recovery annealing.
Abstract:
A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate electrode layer over the gate dielectric layer; doping carbon and nitrogen into the gate electrode layer; and, after the step of doping carbon and nitrogen, patterning the gate dielectric layer and the gate electrode layer to form a gate dielectric and a gate electrode, respectively.
Abstract:
A system includes a driving device operating at first supply voltage Vdd1 and having a CMOS output. A driven devise operates at a second supply voltage Vdd2 lower than the first supply voltage Vdd1, and has a CMOS input with an NMOS pull-down transistor. A protection circuit includes a first resistor coupled to the CMOS output of the driving device and a gate of the NMOS pull-down transistor. A parasitic NPN bipolar junction transistor has a drain connected to the gate of the NMOS pull-down transistor sad a source coupled to a lower-voltage supply rail VSS. A second resistor connects a gate of the parasitic NPN bipolar junction transistor to Vss. The second resistor has a resistance sized for controlling a trigger voltage of the parasitic NPN bipolar junction transistor for protecting a gate oxide layer of the NMOS pull-down transistor from an electrostatic discharge.
Abstract:
Novel methods for reducing shear stress applied to solder bumps on a flip chip. The methods are particularly applicable to reducing temperature-induced shear stress on solder bumps located adjacent to an empty space on a flip chip during high-temperature testing of the chip. According to a first embodiment, the method includes providing an anchoring solder bump in each empty space on the flip chip. The anchoring solder bumps impart additional structural integrity to the flip chip and prevent shear-induced detachment of solder bumps from the flip chip, particularly those solder bumps located adjacent to each anchoring solder bump. According to a second embodiment, the method includes providing an anchoring solder bump in the empty space and then connecting the anchoring solder bump to an adjacent solder bump on the chip using a solder bridge.
Abstract:
An output buffer with pull-up and push-down circuits. The pull-up circuits includes an initial voltage circuit providing an initial voltage to the pull-up terminal of the pull-up driver driving the output of the output buffer. The pull-up circuit also includes a circuit loop insuring that the ability of the pull-up circuit to drive the output terminal to the source voltage does not diminish in the latter half of the pull-up circuit's operation. The push-down circuit also insures that the drive capability of the push-down circuit does not diminish over the latter half of the push-down circuit's operation.
Abstract:
A foam soap-providing machine with function of recycling soap-liquid, which comprises: a container containing a soap-liquid and having a soap-releasing portion; a shell-group including at least two detachable shell-bodies combinedly disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the soap-releasing portion; and a faucet mounted on the upper end of the soap-releasing portion and having a soap-feeding portion provided for flowing out the pressurized soap-liquid; wherein the soap-feeding portion has a joint end; wherein a foam-generating module used to generate a foam and a foam-recycling module used to recycle the extruded unused foam are comprised in the shell-group; thereby it can generate foam and recycle the remaining foam in the soap-releasing portion through a single motor. Accordingly, the present invention greatly saves the structural volume and prevents the soap-liquid from being dropped outside and wasted.
Abstract:
A foam soap-providing machine with function of recycling soap-liquid, which comprises: a container containing a soap-liquid and having a soap-releasing portion; a shell-group including at least two detachable shell-bodies combinedly disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the soap-releasing portion; and a faucet mounted on the upper end of the soap-releasing portion and having a soap-feeding portion provided for flowing out the pressurized soap-liquid; wherein the soap-feeding portion has a joint end; wherein a foam-generating module used to generate a foam and a foam-recycling module used to recycle the extruded unused foam are comprised in the shell-group; thereby it can generate foam and recycle the remaining foam in the soap-releasing portion through a single motor. Accordingly, the present invention greatly saves the structural volume and prevents the soap-liquid from being dropped outside and wasted.
Abstract:
A method includes performing an anneal on a wafer. The wafer includes a wafer-edge region, and an inner region encircled by the wafer-edge region. During the anneal, a first power applied on a portion of the wafer-edge region is at least lower than a second power for annealing the inner region.