Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd (corporation)

Tezzaron Semiconductor, Inc.

Sangki Hong

Simon Yew-Meng Chooi

Subhash Gupta

Mei-Sheng Zhou

Robert Patti

Ramasamy Chockalingam

Chockalingam Ramasamy

Mei Sheng Zhou

A method for stacking integrated circuit substrates and the substrates used therein are disclosed. In the method, an integrated circuit substrate having top and bottom surfaces is provided. The substrate is divided vertically into a plurality of layers including an integrated circuit layer having integrated circuit elements constructed therein and a buffer layer adjacent to the bottom surface. An alignment fiducial mark extending from the top surface of the wafer into the substrate to a depth below that of the circuit layer is constructed. The vias are arranged in a pattern that provides a fiducial mark when viewed from the bottom surface of the substrate. The pattern can be chosen such that it is recognized by a commercial stepper/scanner/contact mask aligner when viewed from said backside of said wafer. After the substrate is thinned, the alignment fiducial mark is then used to position a mask used in subsequent processing.

Fiducial scheme adapted for stacked integrated circuits

A basic building block for wafer scale stacked integrated circuits is disclosed. The building block includes an integrated circuit device having an integrated circuit substrate having a circuit layer sandwiched between a buffer layer and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side being in contact with the circuit layer. The top surface of the dielectric layer includes a plurality of pads. Each pad extends above the top surface by a predetermined distance. The pads have dimensions that reduce irregularities in the top surface of the pads. In addition, the pads are arranged in a manner to promote planarization of the surface of the wafer via CMP.

Method for bonding wafers to produce stacked integrated circuits

A method for forming dual-damascene type conducting interconnects with non-metallic barriers that protect said interconnects from fluorine out-diffusion from surrounding low-k, fluorinated dielectric materials. One embodiment of the method is particularly suited for forming such interconnects in microelectronics fabrications of the sub 0.15 micron generation.

Non-metallic barrier formations for copper damascene type interconnects

Non metallic barrier formations for copper damascene type interconnects

Improved processes for fabricating wire bond pads on pure copper damascene are disclosed by this invention. The invention relates to various methods of fabrication used for semiconductor integrated circuit devices, and more specifically to the formation of Al&mdash;Cu alloy top pad metal layers are described, which improve adhesion among the wire bond, top Al&mdash;Cu and the underlying copper pad metallurgy. This invention describes processes wherein a special Al&mdash;Cu bond layer or region is placed on top of the underlying copper pad metal. This Al&mdash;Cu bond pad on pure copper (with barrier layer in-between) provides for improved wire bond adhesion to the bond pad and prevents peeling during wire bond adhesion tests.

Aluminum and copper bimetallic bond pad scheme for copper damascene interconnects

A method of forming amorphous silicon spacers followed by the forming of metal nitride over the spacers in a copper damascene structure -single, dual, or multi-structure- is disclosed in order to prevent the formation of fluorides in copper. In a first embodiment, the interconnection between the copper damascene and an underlying copper metal layer is made by forming an opening from the dual damascene structure to the underlying copper layer after the formation of the metal nitride layer over the amorphous silicon spacers formed on the inside walls of the dual damascene structure. In the second embodiment, the interconnection between the dual damascene structure and the underlying copper line is made from the dual damascene structure by etching into the underlying copper layer after the forming of the amorphous silicon spacers and before the forming of the metal nitride layer. In the third embodiment, the ternary metal silicon nitride spacer is formed by etching after having first formed the amorphous silicon layer and the nitride layer, in that order, and then etching the passivation/barrier layer at the bottom of the damascene structure into the underlying copper layer. In all three embodiments, metal nitride reacts with amorphous silicon to form a ternary metal silicon nitride having an excellent property of adhering to copper while at the same time for forming an excellent barrier to diffusion of copper.

Composite silicon-metal nitride barrier to prevent formation of metal fluorides in copper damascene

A new method of forming metal interconnect levels containing damascene interconnects and via plugs in the manufacture of an integrated circuit device has been achieved. The method creates a reversed dual damascene structure. A first dielectric layer is provided overlying a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is patterned to form trenches for planned damascene interconnects. Insulating spacers may optionally be formed on the trench sidewalls. A conductive barrier layer is deposited overlying the dielectric layer and lining the trenches. A metal layer, preferably comprising copper, is deposited overlying the conductive barrier layer and filling the trenches. The metal layer and the conductive barrier layer are polished down to thereby form the damascene interconnects. A passivation layer may optionally be deposited. The damascene interconnects are patterned to form via plugs overlying the damascene interconnects. The patterning comprises partially etching down the damascene interconnects using a via mask overlying and protecting portions of the damascene interconnects. A trench mask also overlies and protects the first dielectric layer from metal contamination during the etching down.

Reversed damascene process for multiple level metal interconnects

Non-metallic barrier formation for copper damascene type interconnects

A method for removing unreacted nickel or cobalt after silicidation using carbon monoxide dry stripping is described. Shallow trench isolation regions are formed in a semiconductor substrate surrounding and electrically isolating an active area from other active areas. A gate electrode and associated source and drain regions are formed in the active area wherein dielectric spacers are formed on sidewalls of the gate electrode. A nickel or cobalt layer is deposited over the gate electrode and associated source and drain regions, shallow trench isolation regions, and dielectric spacers. The semiconductor substrate is annealed whereby the nickel or cobalt layer overlying the gate electrode and said source and drain regions is transformed into a nickel or cobalt silicide layer and wherein the nickel or cobalt layer overlying the dielectric spacers and the shallow trench isolation regions is unreacted. The unreacted nickel or cobalt layer is exposed to a plasma containing carbon monoxide gas wherein the carbon monoxide gas reacts with the unreacted nickel or cobalt thereby removing the unreacted nickel or cobalt from the substrate to complete salicidation of the integrated circuit device.

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Singapore, Singapore

Sangki Hong