Abstract:
A bilayer porous low dielectric constant (low-k) interconnect structure and methods of fabricating the same are presented. A preferred embodiment having an effective dielectric constant of about 2.2 comprises a bottom deposited dielectric layer and a top deposited dielectric layer in direct contact with the former. The bottom layer and the top layer have same atomic compositions, but a higher dielectric constant value k. The bottom dielectric layer serves as an etch stop layer for the top dielectric layer, and the top dielectric layer can act as CMP stop layer. One embodiment of making the structure includes forming a bottom dielectric layer having a first porogen content and a top dielectric layer having a higher porogen content. A curing process leaves lower pore density in the bottom dielectric layer than that left in the top dielectric layer, which leads to higher dielectric value k in the bottom dielectric layer.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit device having at least a bond pad for semiconductor devices and method for fabricating the same are provided. A bond pad has a first passivation layer having a plurality of openings. A conductive layer which overlies the openings and portions of the first passivation layer, having a first portion overlying the first passivation layer and a second portion overlying the openings. A second passivation layer overlies the first passivation layer and covers edges of the conductive layer.
Abstract:
A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate comprising a first device region, forming a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device in the first device region, forming a stressed layer over the MOS device, and performing a post-treatment to modulate a stress of the stressed layer. The post-treatment is selected from the group consisting essentially of ultra-violet (UV) curing, laser curing, e-Beam curing, and combinations thereof.
Abstract:
A power source apparatus is disclosed in this invention, specifically a power source apparatus comprising a voltage amplitude control unit that employs an active power factor corrector to control the output DC voltage by applying positive or negative logic control voltage, incorporated with high frequency power source circuit and high frequency transformer, brightness of Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) or External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp (EEFL) are controllable and DC power is directly applied to DC load. Such method is accomplished by adjusting the amplitude of the supplying DC voltage for controlling the amplitude of the high frequency voltage of CCFL or EEFL, thus called Voltage Amplitude Method. Because of the characteristics of stable frequency, high resolution and linearity, VAM is broadly used in the control of luminance of discharge tubes, such as TFT-LCD TVs, LCD monitors and advertisement lamps. The impulse width controller of the present invention achieves the luminance control of CCFL or EEFL inside or outside the glow discharge zone.
Abstract:
An interconnect structure of an integrated circuit and a method for forming the same are provided. The interconnect structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a low-k dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, a conductor in the low-k dielectric layer, and a cap layer on the conductor. The cap layer has at least a top portion comprising a metal silicide/germanide.
Abstract:
A nonvolatile analog memory has a floating gate point. The nonvolatile analog memory includes a first current source, a second current source, and a current adjuster. The first current source generates a first current, and the second current source generates a second current. The current adjuster turns on or turns off a current path of the second current according to a reference current and the first current. Furthermore, when the current path of the second current is turned on, the first current is adjusted according to the second current, such that the first current is equal to the reference current.
Abstract:
A control apparatus for an induction motor is provided and includes a rotating-speed locked loop and a feed-forward magnetizing-axis angular position emulator. The rotating-speed locked loop emulates a speed control loop of the induction motor for producing an emulated torque current and an emulated rotor angular speed. The feed-forward magnetizing-axis angular position emulator receives the emulated torque current and the emulated rotor angular speed for producing a feed-forward estimated magnetizing-axis angular position, wherein according to the feed-forward estimated magnetizing-axis angular position, a first voltage controlling the induction motor is transformed from a synchronous reference coordinate system of the induction motor to a static reference coordinate system of the induction motor, and a two-phase current detected from the induction motor is transformed from the static reference coordinate system to the synchronous reference coordinate system. The state the stator angular frequency is at zero can be skipped through the apparatus.
Abstract:
Charge trapping memory cells are protected from over-erasing in response to an erase command. For example, in response to an erase command, one bias arrangement is applied to program charge trapping memory cells, and another bias arrangement is applied to erase the charge trapping memory cells, such that the charge trapping memory cells have a higher net electron charge, in the erased state than i.n the programmed state. In another example, an integrated circuit with an array of charge trapping memory cells has logic which responds to an erase command by applying similar bias arrangements to the charge trapping memory cells. In a further example, such an integrated circuit is manufactured.
Abstract:
A method for measuring intrinsic capacitance of a MOS device is provided. The MOS device includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal. First, provide a first input signal to the second terminal and ground the third terminal and fourth terminal. Then, charge the first terminal and measure a first current required for charging the first terminal. Afterward, provide a second input signal to the second terminal, ground the third terminal and the fourth terminal, and measure a second current required for charging the first terminal, wherein the first input signal and the second input signal have the same low level, but different high levels. Finally, determine intrinsic capacitance between the first terminal and the second terminal according to the first current, the second current and a high level difference between the first input signal and the second input signal.
Abstract:
A passivated metal structure and a method of forming the metal structure is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the patterned metal structure, such as conductive lines, are formed on a substrate. The copper lines are passivated by a polymer liner between the copper lines and a low k dielectric filling the spaces between the conductive lines. The polymer liner is preferably deposited on the sidewalls of the conductive lines by electro-grafting. The polymer liner may also be used in a damascene process according to a second embodiment.