Lucent Technologies Inc.

At&t Bell Laboratories

Agere Systems Guardian Corp.

James Theodore Clemens

Sailesh Mansinh Merchant

Pradip Kumar Roy

Yiu-Huen Wong

Sundar Srinivasan Chetlur

Hem M Vaidya

Philip W Diodato

Shane Y Hong

An integrated circuit capacitor includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer adjacent the substrate and having a first trench therein, and a first metal plug extending upwardly into the first trench. An interconnection line overlies the first trench and contacts the first metal plug to define anchoring recesses on opposite sides of the first metal plug. A second dielectric layer is on the interconnection line and has a second trench therein. A second metal plug extends upwardly into the second trench. More particularly, the second metal plug includes a body portion extending upwardly into the second trench, and anchor portions connected to the body portion and engaging the anchoring recesses to anchor the second metal plug to the interconnection line. Because the second metal plug is anchored, a depth of the second trench can be greater without the metal plug becoming loose and separating from the underlying interconnection line.

Integrated circuit capacitor including anchored plugs

An apparatus and method for constructing a temperature insensitive memory cell. This temperature insensitive memory cell operates as a static random access memory (SRAM) cell if a particular capacitor and transistor configuration is used. The temperature insensitive memory cell apparatus includes at least one transistor having a current leakage, and at least one capacitor electrically connected to the transistor. The capacitor acts as a load element for the memory cell. The capacitor has a temperature dependent capacitor leakage that tracks the current leakage of transistor as said at least one transistor as the transistor varies with temperature.

Temperature insensitive capacitor load memory cell

A method for making an integrated circuit capacitor includes forming a first dielectric layer adjacent a substrate, forming a first opening in the first dielectric layer, filling the first opening with a conductive material to define a first metal plug, and forming a trench in the first dielectric layer adjacent the first metal plug. An interconnection line lines the first trench and contacts the first metal plug to define anchoring recesses on opposite sides of the first metal plug. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer on the interconnection line, forming a second opening in the second dielectric layer, and filling the second opening with a conductive metal to define a second metal plug having a body portion and anchor portions extending downward from the body portion for engaging the anchoring recesses to anchor the second metal plug. A second trench is formed in the second dielectric layer adjacent the second metal plug, and is aligned with the first trench. Because the second metal plug is anchored, a depth of the second trench can be greater without the metal plug becoming loose and separating from the underlying interconnection line. The electrodes and dielectric layers of the capacitor are formed so that they line the second trench.

Method for making integrated circuit capacitor including anchored plugs

An apparatus and method for constructing a capacitor loaded memory cell. This capacitor loaded memory cell operates as a static random access memory (SRAM) cell if a particular capacitor and transistor configuration is used. Normally, capacitors are not an obvious choice as a load device for a memory cell because the intrinsic nature of capacitors is one that blocks the flow of direct current, the invention takes into account the secondary effects such as leakage of a particular dielectric used in the construction of the capacitor to modify the current blocking nature of the capacitor.

Capacitor loaded memory cell

Disclosed is apparatus comprising an electrostatic cassette assembly for securing a semiconductor wafer during lithographic processing such as direct-write particle-beam lithography. The cassette assembly comprises a cassette body and an electrostatic chuck installable in, and removeable from, the cassette body. The electrostatic chuck comprises a charge plate having a thin dielectric layer on its upper surface, against which the wafer is flattened by Coulombic force. Charge storage means are included for maintaining an electrical potential difference between the wafer and the charge plate even in the absence of connection to a source of electrical energy external to the assembly.

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Watchung, NJ, United States of America

James Theodore Clemens