Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Chen-Chung Lai

Han-Wei Yang

Kang-Min Kuo

Bor-Zen Tien

Yen-Ming Peng

Ying-Chieh Liao

Yi-Ruei Lin

Gwo-Chyuan Kuoh

Chin-Chia Chang

Che-Chia Hsu

Song-Bor Lee

Gwo-Chyuan Kuo

Some embodiments relate to a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a layer disposed over a substrate. A conductive body extends through the layer. A plurality of bar or pillar structures are spaced apart from one another and laterally surround the conductive body. The plurality of bar or pillar structures are generally concentric around the conductive body.

Systems and methods to enhance passivation integrity

A semiconductor device structure and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes forming a dielectric layer over a substrate and forming a first structure through the dielectric layer such that a first portion of the dielectric layer is disposed in between the first structure. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure further includes forming a first via hole and a second via hole through the first portion of the dielectric layer and forming a trench connecting the first via hole and the second via hole in the dielectric layer. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure further includes forming a conductive feature in the first via hole, the second via hole, and the trench. In addition, the first structure and the dielectric layer are made of different materials from each other.

Interconnect arrangement with stress-reducing structure and method of fabricating the same

A semiconductor device with the metal fuse is provided. The metal fuse connects an electronic component (e.g., a transistor) and a existing dummy feature which is grounded. The protection of the metal fuse can be designed to start at the beginning of the metallization formation processes. The grounded dummy feature provides a path for the plasma charging to the ground during the entire back end of the line process. The metal fuse is a process level protection as opposed to the diode, which is a circuit level protection. As a process level protection, the metal fuse protects subsequently-formed circuitry. In addition, no additional active area is required for the metal fuse in the chip other than internal dummy patterns that are already implemented.

Semiconductor device with self-protecting fuse and method of fabricating the same

A semiconductor device structure and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a gate structure embedded in a first dielectric layer over a substrate and a second dielectric layer formed over the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor device structure includes a conductive feature formed in the second dielectric layer over the gate structure and a first structure formed at least two sides of the conductive feature in the second dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is made of a compressive material and the first structure is made of a tensile material or wherein the first dielectric layer is made of a compressive material and the first structure is made of a tensile material.

A semiconductor device is disclosed in some embodiments. The device includes a substrate, and a layer disposed over the substrate. The layer includes an opening extending through the layer. A plurality of bar or pillar structures or a tapered region are arranged in a peripheral portion of the opening and laterally surround a central portion of the opening. A metal body extends through the central portion of the opening.

A method of forming a chip package portion having a reduced loading effect between various metal lines during a leveling process comprises forming a first layer, a passivation layer over the first layer, a second layer over the passivation layer, and a third layer over the second layer. The method also comprises forming a patterned opening having multiple depths by removing portions of the first layer, the passivation layer, the second layer, and the third layer by way of one or more removal processes that remove portions of the first layer, the passivation layer, the second layer, and the third layer in accordance with one or more patterned photoresist depositions. The method further comprises depositing a material into the patterned opening, and leveling the material deposited into the patterned opening.

Method of chip packaging

A semiconductor device structure and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate and an interconnection structure formed over the substrate. The interconnection structure includes a first dielectric layer and a first stress-reducing structure formed in the first dielectric layer. The interconnection structure further includes a first conductive feature formed in the first dielectric layer, and the first conductive feature is surrounded by the first stress-reducing structure.

The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having one or more back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) selectivity stress films that apply a stress that improves the performance of semiconductor devices underlying the BEOL selectivity stress films, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated chip has a semiconductor substrate with one or more semiconductor devices having a first device type. A stress transfer element is located within a back-end-of-the-line stack at a position over the one or more semiconductor devices. A selectivity stress film is located over the stress transfer element. The selectivity stress film induces a stress upon the stress transfer element, wherein the stress has a compressive or tensile state depending on the first device type of the one or more semiconductor devices. The stress acts upon the one or more semiconductor devices to improve their performance.

BEOL selectivity stress film

A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a gate structure over a substrate and forming source and drain regions adjacent to the gate structure. The method also includes forming a first ILD layer surrounding the gate structure over the source and drain regions and forming a contact modulation structure over the gate structure. The method also includes etching the first ILD layer and the contact modulation structure to form a first contact trench over the source and drain regions and a second contact trench over the gate structure. The method further includes forming a first contact in the first contact trench and a second contact in the second contact trench. In addition, the first ILD layer has a first etching rate and the contact modulation structure has a second etching rate that is less than the first etching rate.

Semiconductor structure and method for forming the same

A semiconductor device having enhanced passivation integrity is disclosed. The device includes a substrate, a first layer, and a metal layer. The first layer is formed over the substrate. The first layer includes a via opening and a tapered portion proximate to the via opening. The metal layer is formed over the via opening and the tapered portion of the first layer. The metal layer is substantially free from gaps and voids.

A semiconductor device with the metal fuse and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The metal fuse connects an electronic component (e.g., a transistor) and a existing dummy feature which is grounded. The protection of the metal fuse can be designed to start at the beginning of the metallization formation processes. The grounded dummy feature provides a path for the plasma charging to the ground during the entire back end of the line process. The metal fuse is a process level protection as opposed to the diode, which is a circuit level protection. As a process level protection, the metal fuse protects subsequently-formed circuitry. In addition, no additional active area is required for the metal fuse in the chip other than internal dummy patterns that are already implemented.

An integrated circuit includes a number of lateral diffusion measurement structures arranged on a silicon substrate. A lateral diffusion measurement structure includes a p-type region and an n-type region which cooperatively span a predetermined initial distance between opposing outer edges of the lateral diffusion measurement structure. The p-type and n-type regions meet at a p-n junction expected to be positioned at a target junction location after dopant diffusion has occurred.

Smart measurement techniques to enhance inline process control stability

Embodiments of a semiconductor device structure and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a first layer formed over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a stress-reducing structure formed in the first layer, and a portion of the first layer is surrounded by the stress-reducing structure. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive feature formed in the portion of the first layer surrounded by the stress-reducing structure.

Growing community of inventors

Guanxi, China

Chen-Chung Lai