An electronic fuse (e-fuse) module may be formed in an integrated circuit device. The e-fuse module may include a pair of metal e-fuse terminals (e.g., copper terminals) and an e-fuse element formed directly on the metal e-fuse terminals to define a conductive path between the pair of metal e-fuse terminals through the e-fuse element. The metal e-fuse terminals may be formed in a metal interconnect layer, along with various interconnect elements of the integrated circuit device. The e-fuse element may be formed by depositing and patterning a diffusion barrier layer over the metal e-fuse terminals and interconnect elements formed in the metal interconnect layer. The e-fuse element may be formed from a material that provides a barrier against metal diffusion (e.g., copper diffusion) from each of the metal e-fuse terminals and interconnect elements. For example, the e-fuse element may be formed from titanium tungsten (TiW) or titanium tungsten nitride (TiW.sub.2N).

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for opening a source line in a memory device. An erase gate line (EGL) and the source line are formed elongated in parallel. The source line underlies the EGL and is separated from the EGL by a dielectric layer. A first etch is performed to form a first opening through the EGL and stops on the dielectric layer. A second etch is performed to thin the dielectric layer at the first opening, wherein the first and second etches are performed with a common mask in place. A silicide process is performed to form a silicide layer on the source line at the first opening, wherein the silicide process comprises a third etch with a second mask in place and extends the first opening through the dielectric layer. A via is formed extending through the EGL to the silicide layer.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to techniques and apparatus for adjusting capacitance in one or more metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors in an effort to reduce capacitance variation between semiconductor devices and improve yield during fabrication. One example method for fabricating a semiconductor device generally includes measuring a capacitance value of a MIM capacitor of the semiconductor device, determining the measured capacitance value of the MIM capacitor is above a target capacitance value for the MIM capacitor, and selectively rupturing a set of connections in the MIM capacitor based on the measured capacitance value. Selectively rupturing the set of connections in the MIM capacitor may reduce the capacitance value of the MIM capacitor to a value approximately that of the target capacitance value.

Interconnect structures including super vias are formed during back-end-of-line processing using sacrificial placeholders to protect the bottom portions of the super vias while upper portions of the super vias are formed. The sacrificial placeholders are removed and replaced by metal conductors that fill the bottom and upper portions of the super vias.

An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and a metallization structure over the semiconductor substrate. The metallization structure includes: a dielectric layer having a surface; a conductive routing structure; and an electronic circuit. Over the surface of the dielectric layer, a material is configured to set or adjust the electronic circuit.

A method of making a semiconductor device includes operations directed toward electrically connecting a component to a first fuse, wherein the first fuse is on a first conductive level a first distance from the component; identifying a conductive element for omission between the first fuse and a second fuse; and electrically connecting the component to the second fuse, wherein the second fuse is on a second conductive level a second distance from the component, the second distance is greater than the first distance, and the electrically connecting the component to the second fuse comprises electrically connecting the component to the second fuse without forming the identified conductive element.

An electronic circuit device includes a plurality of logic circuit elements which output an output signal by performing a preset operation on an input signal. Transistors constituting the logic circuit elements each have a gate electrode provided on a substrate, an insulating layer electrically insulating the gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a semiconductor layer. Input signal wiring, to which the input signal is applied, is connected to the gate electrode and provided inside the insulating layer on the substrate. Output signal wiring, from which the output signal is taken out, is connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode and provided inside the insulating layer on the substrate. An electronic circuit performing a preset processing is constituted with the plurality of logic circuit elements.

One or more systems, devices and/or methods provided herein relate to a circuit device having a modular or selectively designed interconnect structure with a plurality of conformal features. In the semiconductor realm, such achievements can allow for fabrication of a device with sub 18 nanometer (nm) or lesser pitch between adjacent and/or parallel lines of the interconnect structure. A device can comprise a semiconductor device having an interconnect structure having a first set of parallel lines and a second set of parallel lines, where the lines of the first set can be arranged in a transverse direction to the lines of the second set. The lines of the first set can be disposed orthogonally to the lines of the second set. The first second sets of lines can comprise first and second rounded jogs that are conformal to one another and which connect the first set of lines to the second set of lines.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of metal lines on substrate, forming a sacrificial dielectric material layer between the metal lines, forming a hardmask over at least one of the metal lines, etching at least one of the metal lines that is not covered by the hardmask, treating the sacrificial dielectric material layer to soften the layer. The method also includes removing the treated sacrificial dielectric material layer.

Provided is a monolithic stacked integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a first layer over a substrate and a second layer over the first layer. The first layer includes first circuit elements where a first portion of the first circuit elements has a defect. The second layer includes second circuit elements. The IC further includes interconnect elements coupling the first portion to a second portion of the second circuit elements for mitigating the defect.