Abstract:
Method for dual damascene metallization of semiconductor workpieces which uses a process for creating an etch stop in an insulator thereby eliminating the need for deposition of an etch stop layer. Electron beam exposure is used to cure the insulator, or material having a low dielectric constant. Application of the electron beam to the low dielectric constant material converts the topmost layer of the low dielectric constant material to an etch stop layer, while rapid thermal heating cures the remainder of the low dielectric constant material. Creation of an etch stop layer in the low dielectric constant material can also be achieved by curing the low dielectric constant material using ion implantation.
Abstract:
Methods and structures are disclosed for advanced interconnects in sub-micron and sub-half-micron integrated circuit devices fabricated using a single damascene process. a dielectric etch-stop layer (e.g., silicon nitride) is deposited subsequent to rather than prior to CMP processing of the previous metallization layer (e.g., the conductive plug). This scheme effectively eliminates the effect of CMP-induced erosion on the etch-stop layer and therefore allows an extremely thin etch stop to be used. Moreover, a high etch-selectivity can be obtained for the trench etch, and all etch-stop material is removed from beneath the interconnect metal, thereby reducing parasitic effects. A patterned dielectric layer is used as a metal cap in place of the standard blanket silicon nitride layer, thus preventing the formation of blisters and bubbles associated with trapped moisture and gasses, and reducing interconnect capacitance.
Abstract:
A technique for fabricating a dual damascene interconnect structure using a low dielectric constant material as a dielectric layer or layers. A low dielectric constant (low-.epsilon.) dielectric material is used to form an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer between metallization layers and in which via and trench openings are formed in the low-.epsilon. ILD. The dual damascene technique allows for both the via and trench openings to be filled at the same time.
Abstract:
A method of utilizing electroless copper deposition to form interconnects on a semiconductor wafer. Once a via or a trench is formed in a dielectric layer, a titanium nitride (TiN) or tantalum (Ta) barrier layer is blanket deposited. Then, a contact displacement technique is used to form a thin activation seed layer of copper on the barrier layer. An electroless deposition technique is then used to auto-catalytically deposit copper on the activated barrier layer. The electroless copper deposition continues until the via/trench is filled. Subsequently, the surface is polished by an application of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove excess copper and barrier material from the surface, so that the only copper and barrier material remaining are in the via/trench openings. Then an overlying silicon nitride (SiN) layer is formed above the exposed copper in order to form a dielectric barrier layer. The copper interconnect is fully encapsulated from the adjacent material by the TiN (or Ta) and the SiN layers.
Abstract:
An electroless deposition apparatus and a method of electroless deposition that uses a single process chamber for performing multiple processes by moving through the process chamber a variety of fluids one at a time in a sequential order.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for improving quality of a call over network (CON) are provided. Call quality may be improved via buffer length modulation based upon the call scenario type. Scenario detection may be based upon who speaks, and the duration of the speaking, as well as contextual analysis. Further, the call over network quality may further be improved by deploying modules over the network. The modules are intermediary vehicles between each communicator and backend servers. The modules intercept audio packets from the communicator to detect packet loss, and perform recovery of lost packets, thereby accelerating real-time audio conversations.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for improving quality of a call over network (CON) are provided. Call quality may be improved via buffer length modulation based upon the call scenario type. Scenario detection may be based upon who speaks, and the duration of the speaking, as well as contextual analysis. Further, the call over network quality may further be improved by deploying modules over the network. The modules are intermediary vehicles between each communicator and backend servers. The modules intercept audio packets from the communicator to detect packet loss, and perform recovery of lost packets, thereby accelerating real-time audio conversations.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for improving quality of a call over network (CON) are provided. Call quality may be improved via pathway testing to determine data path quality. This may be utilized to inform buffering lengths, and also may be utilized to choose the data pathway utilized for transmitting the data. Pathway testing may employ collecting microphone data on one device, transmitting it across the various pathways, and then comparing the quality at the endpoint compared to the initial data.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for a call over network (CON) with a visualized summary are provided. In some embodiments, after the call concludes, a visualized summary of the call can be generated. The summary includes any of the recording of the call, transcriptions, scenario information, speaker information and the duration each speaker was talking, etc. Scenario may be generated by comparing the call speaking pattern to known templates of call types. Additionally, participant features employed in the call may be summarized in chronological relation to the calls progression in a visual format.
Abstract:
A photoluminescent or electroluminescent system and method of making a non-luminescent nanostructured material into such a luminescent system is presented. The method of preparing the luminescent system, generally, comprises the steps of modifying the surface of a nanostructured material to create isolated regions to act as luminescent centers and to create a charge imbalance on the surface; applying more than one polar molecule to the charged surface of the nanostructured material; and orienting the polar molecules to compensate for the charge imbalance on the surface of the nanostructured material. The compensation of the surface charge imbalance by the polar molecules allows the isolated regions to exhibit luminescence.