April 13, 2023

The Impact of Metal Gate Recess Profile on Transistor Resistance and Capacitance

Introduction In logic devices such as FinFETs (field-effect transistors), metal gate parasitic capacitance can negatively impact electrical performance. One way to reduce this parasitic capacitance is to optimize the metal […]
September 22, 2022

Pathfinding by process window modeling: Advanced DRAM capacitor patterning process window evaluation using virtual fabrication

With continuous device scaling, process windows have become narrower and narrower due to smaller feature sizes and greater process step variability [1]. A key task during the R&D stage of […]
August 18, 2022

How does Line Edge Roughness (LER) affect Semiconductor Performance at Advanced Nodes ?

Introduction BEOL metal line RC delay has become a dominant factor that limits chip performance at advanced nodes [1]. Smaller metal line pitches require a narrower line CD and line-to-line […]
February 11, 2022

Accelerating Semiconductor Process Development Using Virtual Design of Experiments

Design of Experiments (DOE) is a powerful concept in semiconductor engineering research and development.   DOEs are sets of experiments used to explore the sensitivity of experimental variables and their effect […]
December 3, 2021

The Effect of Pattern Loading on BEOL Yield and Reliability during Chemical Mechanical Planarization

CMP (Chemical mechanical planarization) is required during semiconductor processing of many memory and logic devices.  CMP is used to create planar surfaces and achieve uniform layer thickness during semiconductor manufacturing, […]
November 16, 2021

Understanding Electrical Line Resistance at Advanced Semiconductor Nodes

When evaluating shrinking metal linewidths in advanced semiconductor devices, bulk resistivity is not the sole materials property for deriving electrical resistance. At smaller line dimensions, local resistivity is dominated by […]
October 27, 2021

Using Process Modeling to Enhance Device Uniformity during Self-Aligned Quadruple Patterning

Despite the growing interest in EUV lithography, self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) still holds many technical advantages in pattern consistency, simplicity, and cost.  This is particularly true for very simple and […]
September 14, 2021

Evaluating the Impact of STI Recess Profile Control on Advanced FinFET Device Performance Using Virtual Fabrication

Profile variation is one of the most important problems during semiconductor device manufacturing and scaling.  These variations can degrade both chip yield and device performance.   Virtual fabrication can be used […]
June 16, 2021

Using a Virtual DOE to Predict Process Windows and Device Performance of Advanced FinFET Technology

Introduction With continuing FinFET device process scaling, micro loading control becomes increasingly important due to its significant impact on yield and device performance [1-2]. Micro-loading occurs when the local etch […]
May 27, 2021

Using Virtual Process Libraries to Improve Semiconductor Manufacturing

People think that semiconductor process simulation libraries should be developed using a perfect theoretical background that is strongly supported by empirical data. This might be true in academic research, where […]