Abstract:
A method and apparatus are described for performing both electroplating of a metal layer and CMP planarization of the layer on a substrate. The apparatus includes a table (10) supporting a polishing pad (20); the table and pad have a plurality of holes (210, 220) forming channels for dispensing an electroplating solution onto the pad. Electroplating anodes (201, 202, 203) are disposed in the channels and in contact with the electroplating solution. A carrier (12) holds the substrate (1) substantially parallel to the top surface of the pad (20) and applies variable mechanical force on the substrate against the pad, so that the spacing between substrate and pad may be less during electroplating than during electroetching.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an integrated plating and planarization apparatus having a counter electrode with a variable diameter. SOLUTION: The apparatus for plating and planarizing a metal on a substrate is provided with a plurality of distribution segments each of which has at least one hole for distributing an electroplating solution onto the substrate. The distribution segments form a circular counter electrode and is movable with respect to each other during an electroplating process so that the counter electrode may have a variable diameter. Thus, the electroplating solution is distributed onto the annular part of the substrate having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the counter electrode. Therefore, the counter electrode can allow the local delivery of the plating solution onto the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO
Abstract:
A Top Oxide Method is used to form an oxide layer over an array of vertical transistors as in a trench dynamic random access memory (DRAM) array with vertically stacked access metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). The Top Oxide is formed by first forming the vertical devices with the pad nitride (16) remaining in place. Once the devices have been formed and the gate polysilicon (18) has been planarized down to the surface of the pad nitride, the pad nitride is stripped away leaving the tops of the gate polysilicon plugs extending above the active silicon surface. This pattern of polysilicon plugs defines the pattern over which the Top Oxide is deposited. The deposited Top Oxide (21) fills the regions between and on top of the polysilicon plugs. The Top Oxide is than planarized back to the tops of the polysilicon plugs so contacts can be made between the passing interconnects and the gates of the vertical devices. The Top Oxide layer serves to separate the passing interconnects from the active silicon thereby reducing capacitive coupling between the two levels and providing a robust etch-stop layer for the reactive ion etch (RIE) patterning of the subsequent interconnect level.
Abstract:
A method for polishing a dielectric layer containing silicon (16) provides a fluorine-based compound (34) during a polishing process. The dielectric layer is polished in the presence of the fluorine based compound to accelerate a polishing rate of the dielectric layer.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid filtering system and a method for being used during semiconductor processing.SOLUTION: A fluid filtering system filters ions and particles from fluid by a dual medium filter 18b when the fluid is supplied to a semiconductor wafer processing apparatus such as a semiconductor wafer cleaning apparatus. The fluid filtering system is characterized in that the dual medium filter 18b has a housing 44 equipped with an inlet 46 and an outlet 48, the inlet 46 is joined with a fluid supply source and the outlet 48 is joined with a semiconductor wafer manufacturing apparatus and the housing 44 includes an ion exchange medium 35 and a particle filtering medium 37. The ion exchange medium 35 removes ions from the fluid and the particle filtering medium 37 removes particles from the fluid.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To check cracks within a final passivation laver 13 of an integrated circuit by reducing the stresses within a peripheral dielectric which are due to acute corner of a circuit pattern. SOLUTION: Stresses generally induced inside a dielectric is reduced by formings 15 and 17, at lower corner 14" of a circuit pattern 11 before adhering an outer layer (that is, a passivation layer) 13. When patterning it by metallic RIE process, this kind of rounding of the corner is achieved by a two-step metallic etching process, including the first step of creating a vertical sidewall and the second step of tapering the lower part of the vertical sidewall or creating a tapered spacer 15 along the under section of the vertical sidewall. When patterning it by a die machine process, this kind of rounding of the corner is achieved by a two-step trench etching process, including a first step of creating a vertical sidewall and a second step of creating a tapered side wall along the under section of the vertical sidewall. COPYRIGHT: (C)1999,JPO
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method, apparatus and computer program for performing simulation of influence of a manufacturing process to electrical performance in the integrated circuit during design stage. SOLUTION: Methods, apparatus and computer program provide a fast and accurate model for simulating the effects of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) steps during fabrication of an integrated circuit by generating a design of an integrated circuit, using a simplified model while generating the design of the integrated circuit, predicting at least one physical characteristic of the integrated circuit which results from a processing step to be used during manufacture of the integrated circuit, wherein the simplified model is derived from simulations performed prior to the design generation activities using a comprehensive simulation program used to model the physical characteristic; predicting performance of the integrated circuit using the predicted physical characteristic; and adjusting the design of the integrated circuit in dependence on the performance prediction. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chemical mechanical polishing method using fixed abrasive by which the thicknesses of oxide layers, particularly, siliceous oxide layers can be reduced quickly and effectively. SOLUTION: This chemical mechanical polishing method is characterized preferably by at least one step of simultaneously using a fixed-abrasive polishing member and an aqueous liquid medium containing an abrasive. When the first oxide layer to be polished has topographic variation, a topography reducing step using the fixed abrasive and an aqueous liquid medium containing a polyelectrolyte may be performed as part of the polishing method, including the reduction of the topography variation (height difference) extended to the oxide layer provided on a substrate before performing this thickness reducing method.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce contact resistance by containing a contact material layer and a dopant layer obtained from amorphous silicon in a contact material in contact with an epitaxial single-crystal silicon substrate and setting the concentration within a specific thickness range from the substrate to a specific, average dopant concentration. SOLUTION: A region, with a thickness of approximately 500 Å of a contact material in contact with an epitaxial single-crystal silicon substrate, is obtained from amorphous silicon with an average dopant concentration of at least 1020 dopant atom per cm3. A part with approximately 500 Å of a contact point includes the layer of a material, obtained from the non-doped amorphous silicon which is arranged alternately with the doping layer. Such a doping layer is separated by a layer obtained from the non-doped amorphous silicon, thus reducing the contact resistance.