Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Kyu-hong Lim

Chung-sam Jun

Sang-mun Chon

Sang-bong Choi

Pil-sik Hyun

Hyung-suk Cho

Byung-am Lee

Bong-su Kim

A method and device detect for the presence of defects, namely micro-scratches, in the surface of a wafer. Light is projected onto a medium at the surface of the wafer, at an angle at which light is not reflected by another layer that may be located under the medium. Light reflected by the surface of the wafer is converted into an electrical signal but any light scattered by the surface is excluded as much as possible from contributing to the formation of the signal. The electric signal corresponds to the intensity of the light reflected from the surface of the wafer. As the light is scanned across the wafer, the values of the electric signal are compared to yield a determination of whether defects are present in the medium. Because the light projected onto the surface of the wafer will be scattered by defects such as micro-scratches, the wafer can be successfully monitored for the existence of such micro-scratches. In particular, defects including micro-scratches formed in the medium can be detected regardless of the structure underlying the medium, such as a pattern layer.

Method of and device for detecting micro-scratches

Borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) films having impurity concentrations which remain stable over time are fabricated by removing moisture from a BPSG film and forming a shield film on the BPSG film to reduce reintroduction of moisture into the BPSG film. Moisture is removed from the BPSG film by annealing the BPSG film. The BPSG film may be used to test impurity concentrations in BPSG films of microelectronic devices. The BPSG films may also be used in the manufacture of microelectronic devices.

Methods of fabricating borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) films having

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Suwon, South Korea

Kyu-hong Lim