| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20110068411 | Block Contact Plugs for MOS Devices - An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack overlying the semiconductor substrate; a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a first contact plug having an inner edge contacting a sidewall of the gate spacer, and a top surface level with a top surface of the gate stack; and a second contact plug over and contacting the first contact plug. The second contact plug has a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the first contact plug. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20140017894 | Methods of Manufacturing Semiconductor Devices - Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a material layer is formed over a workpiece. The workpiece includes a first portion, a second portion, and a hard mask disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The material layer is patterned, and first spacers are formed on sidewalls of the patterned material layer. The patterned material layer is removed, and the second portion of the workpiece is patterned using the first spacers as an etch mask. The first spacers are removed, and second spacers are formed on sidewalls of the patterned second portion of the workpiece. The patterned second portion of the workpiece is removed, and the hard mask of the workpiece is patterned using the second spacers as an etch mask. The first portion of the workpiece is patterned using the hard mask as an etch mask. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140027908 | Integrated Circuit Interconnects and Methods of Making Same - A copper alloy layer is blanket deposited over a low k dielectric layer and in via openings within the low k dielectric layer. The blanket deposited layer is then anisotropically etch to form horizontal interconnects. The interconnects are annealed to form a metal oxide barrier lining. A second low k dielectric layer is then depositing over the horizontal interconnects. Air gaps can be formed between adjacent interconnects to lower parasitic capacitance therebetween. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140065816 | DIELECTRIC FORMATION - Among other things, one or more techniques for forming a low k dielectric around a metal line during an integrated circuit (IC) fabrication process are provided. In an embodiment, a metal line is formed prior to forming a surrounding low k dielectric layer around the metal line. In an embodiment, the metal line is formed by filling a trench space in a skeleton layer with metal. In this embodiment, the skeleton layer is removed to form a dielectric space in a different location than the trench space. The dielectric space is then filled with a low k dielectric material to form a surrounding low k dielectric layer around the metal line. In this manner, damage to the surrounding low k dielectric layer, that would otherwise occur if the surrounding low k dielectric layer was etched, for example, is mitigated. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140080306 | METHOD OF FORMING FINE PATTERNS - A method of forming a fine pattern comprises depositing a modifying layer on a substrate. A photoresist layer is deposited on the modifying layer, the photoresist layer having a first pattern. The modifying layer is etched according to the first pattern of the photoresist layer. A treatment is performed to the etched modifying layer to form a second pattern, the second pattern having a smaller line width roughness (LWR) and/or line edge roughness (LER) than the first pattern. The second pattern is then etched into the substrate. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140127901 | LOW-K DAMAGE FREE INTEGRATION SCHEME FOR COPPER INTERCONNECTS - A method includes forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate. A hard mask layer is formed on the sacrificial layer. The hard mask layer and the sacrificial layer are etched to form a first plurality of openings in the hard mask layer and the sacrificial layer. A low-k dielectric layer is deposited in the first plurality of openings. The hard mask layer and the sacrificial layer are thereafter removed leaving behind a plurality of low-k dielectric pillar structures having second plurality of openings therebetween. The second plurality of openings are then filled with a copper-containing layer. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140131312 | Lithography Process Using Directed Self Assembly - A method includes forming a patterned hard mask layer, with a trench formed in the patterned hard mask layer. A Bulk Co-Polymer (BCP) coating is dispensed in the trench, wherein the BCP coating includes Poly-Styrele (PS) and Poly Methyl Metha Crylate (PMMA). An annealing is performed on the BCP coating to form a plurality of PS strips and a plurality of PMMA strips allocated in an alternating layout. The PMMA strips are selectively etched, with the PS strips left in the trench. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140151888 | Air-Gap Formation in Interconnect Structures - A structure includes a substrate, and a first metal line and a second metal line over the substrate, with a space therebetween. A first air gap is on a sidewall of the first metal line and in the space, wherein an edge of the first metal line is exposed to the first air gap. A second air gap is on a sidewall of the second metal line and in the space, wherein an edge of the second metal line is exposed to the second air gap. A dielectric material is disposed in the space and between the first and the second air gaps. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140239501 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT INTERCONNECTS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - A dielectric layer is formed on a substrate and patterned to form an opening. The opening is filled and the dielectric layer is covered with a metal layer. The metal layer is thereafter planarized so that the metal layer is co-planar with the top of the dielectric layer. The metal layer is etched back a predetermined thickness from the top of the dielectric layer to expose the inside sidewalls thereof. A sidewall barrier layer is formed on the sidewalls of the dielectric layer. A copper-containing layer is formed over the metal layer, the dielectric layer, and the sidewall barrier layers. The copper-containing layer is etched to form interconnect features, wherein the etching stops at the sidewall barrier layers at approximately the juncture of the sidewall of the dielectric layer and the copper-containing layer and does not etch into the underlying metal layer. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140252620 | MATERIAL AND PROCESS FOR COPPER BARRIER LAYER - A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a first dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate. The first dielectric material layer is patterned to form a plurality of vias therein. A metal layer is formed on the first dielectric material layer, wherein the metal layer fills the plurality of vias. The metal layer is etched such that portions of the metal layer above the first dielectric material layer are patterned to form a plurality of metal features aligned with the plurality of vias respectively. A self-assembled monolayer film is formed on surfaces of the plurality of metal features. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140252628 | INTERCONNECT STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - A method for forming a semiconductor interconnect structure comprises forming a dielectric layer on a substrate and patterning the dielectric layer to form an opening therein. The opening is filled and the dielectric layer is covered with a metal layer having a first etch rate. The metal layer is thereafter planarized so that the metal layer is co-planar with the top of the dielectric layer. The metal layer is annealed to change the first etch rate into a second etch rate, the second etch rate being lower than the first etch rate. A copper-containing layer is formed over the annealed metal layer and the dielectric layer. The copper-containing layer has an etch rate greater than the second etch rate of the annealed metal layer. The copper-containing layer is etched to form interconnect features, wherein the etching stops at the top of the annealed metal layer and does not etch thereunder. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140252633 | METHOD OF FABRICATING AN AIR GAP USING A DAMASCENE PROCESS AND STRUCTURE OF SAME - The present disclosure provides a method for forming a semiconductor device. The method includes forming first conductive layer structures in a first dielectric layer on a substrate; forming a patterned photoresist layer having portions that are each disposed over a respective one of the first conductive layer structures; forming an energy removable film (ERF) on the sidewalls of each of the portions; forming a second dielectric layer over the ERFs, the portions of the patterned photoresist layer, and the first dielectric layer; removing the portions to leave behind a plurality of openings; filling a conductive material in the openings, the conductive material defining second conductive layer structures; forming a ceiling layer over the second conductive layer structures, the ERFs, and the second dielectric layer; and applying energy to the ERFs to partially remove the ERFs on the sidewalls of the portions thereby forming air gaps. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140335689 | Method of Fabricating a Semiconductor Interconnect Structure - A method for forming a semiconductor interconnect structure includes forming a dielectric layer on a substrate and patterning the dielectric layer to form an opening therein. A metal layer fills the opening and covers the dielectric layer. The metal layer is planarized so that it is co-planar with a top of the dielectric layer. A treating process is performed on the metal layer to convert a top surface thereof into a metal oxide layer. A copper-containing layer is then formed over the metal oxide layer and the dielectric layer. The copper-containing layer is etched to form interconnect features, wherein the etching stops at the metal oxide layer and does not etch into the underlying metal layer. A radiation exposure process is thereafter performed on the metal oxide layer to convert it into a non-oxidized metal layer. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140349481 | Air-Gap Formation in Interconnect Structures - A structure includes a substrate, and a first metal line and a second metal line over the substrate, with a space therebetween. A first air gap is on a sidewall of the first metal line and in the space, wherein an edge of the first metal line is exposed to the first air gap. A second air gap is on a sidewall of the second metal line and in the space, wherein an edge of the second metal line is exposed to the second air gap. A dielectric material is disposed in the space and between the first and the second air gaps. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20150087151 | Masking Process and Structures Formed Thereby - A method, e.g., of forming and using a mask, includes forming an inverse mask over a dielectric layer; forming a mask layer conformally over the inverse mask; removing horizontal portions of the mask layer; and after removing the horizontal portions, simultaneously etching the inverse mask and vertical portions of the mask layer. The etching the inverse mask is at a greater rate than the etching the vertical portions of the mask layer. The etching the inverse mask removes the inverse mask, and the etching the vertical portions of the mask layer forms a mask comprising rounded surfaces distal from the dielectric layer. Recesses are formed in the dielectric layer using the mask. Locations of the inverse mask correspond to fewer than all locations of the recesses. | 03-26-2015 |
