Applied Materials, Inc.

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd (Corporation)

Marvin De-Dui Liao

Chyi Chern

Mei Yin Chang

Michal Danek

Karl Anthony Littau

David C Smith

Ivo Johannes Raaijmakers

Roderick Craig Mosely

Eric Andrew Englhardt

Chit Hwei Ng

Daniel Yen

Alan F Morrison

Wei Hua Cheng

Jennifer Meng Tseng

Yeh-Jen Kao

Ling Chen

Jia Zhen Zheng

Wei Chih Chen

Wei Lu

Dale R Dubois

Yih-Shung Lin

Kho Liep Chok

Dale DuBois

Michael Danek

There is a need for adjustable capacitors for use in LC or RC matching networks in micro-circuits. This has been achieved by forming a set of individual capacitors that share a common bottom electrode. The areas of the top electrodes of these individual capacitors are chosen to be in an integral ratio to one another so that they can be combined to produce any capacitance within a range of unit values. For example, if four capacitors whose areas are in the ratio of 5:2:1:1, are provided, then any capacitance in a range of from 1 to 9 can be generated, depending on how the top electrodes are connected. Such connections can be hard-wired within the final wiring level to provide a factory adjustable capacitor or they can be connected through field programmable devices to produce a field programmable capacitor. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.

Adjustable 3D capacitor

The construction of a film on a wafer, which is placed in a processing chamber, may be carried out through the following steps. A layer of material is deposited on the wafer. Next, the layer of material is annealed. Once the annealing is completed, the material may be oxidized. Alternatively, the material may be exposed to a silicon gas once the annealing is completed. The deposition, annealing, and either oxidation or silicon gas exposure may all be carried out in the same chamber, without need for removing the wafer from the chamber until all three steps are completed. A semiconductor wafer processing chamber for carrying out such an in-situ construction may include a processing chamber, a showerhead, a wafer support and a rf signal means. The showerhead supplies gases into the processing chamber, while the wafer support supports a wafer in the processing chamber. The rf signal means is coupled to the showerhead and the wafer support for providing a first rf signal to the showerhead and a second rf signal to the wafer support.

Method for constructing a film on a semiconductor wafer

Construction of a film on a semiconductor wafer

A layer of material is formed on a substrate in a partially formed integrated circuit on a wafer. The substrate undergoes a plasma annealing, during which the substrate is bombarded with ions. The plasma annealing may be performed by exposing the substrate to plasma that is generated from a nitrogen containing gas which is infused with energy. After the substrate is plasma annealed, a layer of a refractory metal nitride is deposited on the substrate. The layer of refractory metal nitride is then bombarded with a first set of ions. The bombardment of the refractory metal by the first set of ions may be achieved by performing a plasma annealing. The refractory metal nitride may be further bombarded by a second set of ions.

Plasma annealing of substrates to improve adhesion

The construction of a film on a wafer, which is placed in a processing chamber, may be carried out through the following steps. A layer of material is formed on the wafer, while the wafer is in the processing chamber. Next, the layer of material is oxidized, while the wafer is in the processing chamber. A semiconductor wafer processing chamber for carrying out such a construction in-situ may include a processing chamber, a showerhead, a wafer support and a rf signal means. The showerhead supplies gases into the processing chamber, while the wafer support supports a wafer in the processing chamber. The rf signal means is coupled to the showerhead and the wafer support for providing a first rf signal to the showerhead and a second rf signal to the wafer support.

Apparatus for constructing an oxidized film on a semiconductor wafer

A method for forming a dielectric layer within a microelectronics fabrication. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a polysilicon resistor. There is then formed over the polysilicon resistor a first dielectric layer formed of a silicon nitride dielectric material deposited employing a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method other than a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) method. Finally, there is then formed over the first dielectric layer a second dielectric layer deposited employing a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDP-CVD) method, where first dielectric layer attenuates a decrease in resistance of the polysilicon resistor incident to forming the second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer.

Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) silicon nitride barrier

A method for improving the characteristics of deposited thin films by improved control and stabilization of wafer surface temperatures. Further, the invention provides the ability to rapidly change the temperature of the wafer surface without the need to change the temperature of the chamber. The wafer is heated to an operating temperature by conventional means. A gas with high thermal conductivity, such as helium or hydrogen, is passed over the wafer to cool its surface to a desired temperature for the process to be performed. The flow rate is then adjusted to stabilize the temperature of the wafer and reduce surface temperature variations. Processing gases are then introduced into the chamber, and deposition onto the wafer commences. The maintenance of correct wafer surface temperature results in improved step coverage and conformality of the deposited film. Post-deposition steps such as plasma annealing may be performed using a gas compatible with the process at a flow rate which results in a temperature desirable for the post-deposition process.

Wafer surface temperature control for deposition of thin films

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Marvin De-Dui Liao