Patents Examined by Asok K. Sarkar
  • Patent number: 11646195
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method for fabricating the semiconductor device including providing a substrate in a reaction chamber, forming an untreated silicon nitride film on the substrate, and forming a treated silicon nitride film on the untreated silicon nitride film. Forming the untreated silicon nitride film includes the steps of: (a) supplying a first silicon precursor into the reaction chamber, thereby allowing chemical species from the first silicon precursor to be adsorbed on the substrate, and (b) supplying a first nitrogen precursor into the reaction chamber, thereby nitriding the chemical species to deposit resultant silicon nitride. The step (a) and the step (b) are sequentially and repeatedly performed to form the untreated silicon nitride film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-En Lin, Wei-Zeng Wu, Wei-Lun Zeng, Wen-Chieh Wu
  • Patent number: 11647665
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible display device includes forming a graphene adhesive layer on a carrier substrate, forming a flexible substrate on the graphene adhesive layer, forming a first barrier layer on the flexible substrate, forming a display element part on the first barrier layer, forming a protective film on the display element part, separating the flexible substrate from the carrier substrate, removing a remaining portion of the graphene adhesive layer from a surface of the flexible substrate, and forming a second barrier layer on the surface of the flexible substrate, after removing the remaining portion of the graphene adhesive layer from the surface of the flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Heekyun Shin, Taewook Kang, Seungjun Moon, Woojin Cho, Jeongmin Park
  • Patent number: 11637012
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a thick crack-free dielectric film on a wafer for device fabrication is disclosed herein. A stress-release pattern is fabricated in an oxide layer of the wafer, which surrounds a number of device regions. The stress-release pattern comprises a plurality of recessions, which are spaced periodically along at least one direction. The plurality of recessions interrupt the continuous film during the dielectric film deposition, to prevent cracks from forming in the dielectric film and propagating into the device regions. Such that, a thick crack-free dielectric film can be achieved in the device regions, which are formed by patterning the dielectric layer. Furthermore, conditions of the dielectric film deposition process can be tuned to ensure quality of the deposited dielectric film. Still further, a plurality of deposition runs may be performed to deposit the thick crack-free dielectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kaiyi Wu, Andrew Wing-On Poon
  • Patent number: 11631583
    Abstract: Methods of depositing a film using a plasma enhanced process are described. The method comprises providing continuous power from a power source connected to a microwave plasma source in a process chamber and a dummy load, the continuous power split into pulses having a first time and a second time defining a duty cycle of a pulse. The continuous power is directed to the microwave plasma source during the first time, and the continuous power is directed to the dummy load during the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Moghadam, Hari Ponnekanti, Dmitry A. Dzilno
  • Patent number: 11626281
    Abstract: A method of depositing nitride films is disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a PEALD process for depositing nitride films which utilizes separate reaction and nitridation plasmas. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved growth per cycle (GPC) relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved film quality relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hanhong Chen, Philip A. Kraus, Joseph AuBuchon
  • Patent number: 11626316
    Abstract: Methods and systems for filling a recess on a surface of a substrate with carbon-containing material are disclosed. Exemplary methods include forming a first carbon layer within the recess, etching a portion of the first carbon layer within the recess, and forming a second carbon layer within the recess. Structures formed using the method or system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Mitsuya Utsuno, Yan Zhang, Yoshio Susa, Atsuki Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 11615957
    Abstract: A method of forming a boron-based film mainly containing boron on a substrate includes forming, on the substrate, an adhesion layer containing an element contained in a surface of the substrate and nitrogen, and subsequently, forming the boron-based film on the adhesion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ueda, Jinwang Li, Masahiro Oka, Yoshimasa Watanabe, Yuuki Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Ikuta
  • Patent number: 11610776
    Abstract: Methods of forming an oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate are provided. The method includes forming a first oxide containing portion of the oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate at a first growth rate by exposing the substrate to a first gas mixture having a first oxygen percentage at a first temperature. A second oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a second growth rate by exposing the substrate to a second gas mixture having a second oxygen percentage at a second temperature. A third oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a third growth rate by exposing the substrate to a third gas mixture having a third oxygen percentage at a third temperature. The first growth rate is slower than each subsequent growth rate and each growth rate subsequent to the second growth rate is within 50% of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Olsen, Tobin Kaufman-Osborn
  • Patent number: 11605536
    Abstract: A method of nitridation includes cyclically performing the following steps in situ within a processing chamber at a temperature less than about 400° C.: treating an unreactive surface of a substrate in the processing chamber to convert the unreactive surface to a reactive surface by exposing the unreactive surface to an energy flux, and nitridating the reactive surface using a nitrogen-based gas to convert the reactive surface to a nitride layer including a subsequent unreactive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jianping Zhao, Peter Ventzek, Toshihiko Iwao
  • Patent number: 11600486
    Abstract: Embodiments of the semiconductor processing methods to form low-? films on semiconductor substrates are described. The processing methods may include flowing deposition precursors into a substrate processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The deposition precursors may include a silicon-containing precursor that has at least one vinyl group. The methods may further include generating a deposition plasma in the substrate processing region from the deposition precursors. A silicon-and-carbon-containing material, characterized by a dielectric constant (? value) less than or about 3.0, may be deposited on the substrate from plasma effluents of the deposition plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Xie, Ruitong Xiong, Sure K. Ngo, Kang Sub Yim, Yijun Liu, Li-Qun Xia
  • Patent number: 11594409
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of forming a silicon-and-carbon-containing material may include flowing a silicon-and-carbon-containing precursor into a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be housed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a plasma within the processing region of the silicon-and-carbon-containing precursor. The plasma may be formed at a frequency above 15 MHz. The methods may include depositing a silicon-and-carbon-containing material on the substrate. The silicon-and-carbon-containing material as-deposited may be characterized by a dielectric constant below or about 3.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaunak Mukherjee, Kang Sub Yim, Deenesh Padhi, Abhijit A. Kangude, Rahul Rajeev, Shubham Chowdhuri
  • Patent number: 11588012
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a preliminary lower electrode layer on a substrate, the preliminary lower electrode layer including a niobium oxide; converting at least a portion of the preliminary lower electrode layer to a first lower electrode layer comprising a niobium nitride by performing a nitridation process on the preliminary lower electrode layer; forming a dielectric layer on the first lower electrode layer; and forming an upper electrode on the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-goo Kang, Sang-yeol Kang, Youn-soo Kim, Jin-su Lee, Hyung-suk Jung, Kyu-ho Cho
  • Patent number: 11578409
    Abstract: PECVD methods for depositing a film at a low deposition rate comprising intermittent activation of the plasma are disclosed. The flowable film can be deposited using at least a polysilane precursor and a plasma gas. The deposition rate of the disclosed processes may be less than 500 ?/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Shishi Jiang, Pramit Manna, Abhijit Basu Mallick
  • Patent number: 11574808
    Abstract: A plasma processing method that is executed by a plasma processing apparatus including a processing container containing a target substrate, a plurality of plasma sources, and a gas supply apparatus for supplying gas includes: supplying the gas from the gas supply apparatus into the processing container; individually controlling intensity of power introduced from each of the plurality of plasma sources into the processing container; and generating plasma of the gas by the intensity of the power introduced from each of the plurality of plasma sources and depositing a desired film on a second surface of the target substrate that is an opposite surface of a first surface of the target substrate so as to apply desired film stress to a film on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Norifumi Kohama, Soudai Emori, Nathan Ip
  • Patent number: 11572622
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods to clean a substrate processing chamber are described. The methods may include depositing a dielectric film on a first substrate in a substrate processing chamber, where the dielectric film may include a silicon-carbon-oxide. The first substrate having the dielectric film may be removed from the substrate processing chamber, and the dielectric film may be deposited on at least one more substrate in the substrate processing chamber. The at least one more substrate may be removed from the substrate processing chamber after the dielectric film is deposited on the substrate. Etch plasma effluents may flow into the substrate processing chamber after the removal of a last substrate having the dielectric film. The etch plasma effluents may include greater than or about 500 sccm of NF3 plasma effluents, and greater than or about 1000 sccm of O2 plasma effluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Xie, Ruitong Xiong, Kang Sub Yim, Yijun Liu, Li-Qun Xia, Sure K. Ngo
  • Patent number: 11551912
    Abstract: A method including: a plasma contact step including supplying treatment gas including a reactant gas into a chamber, activating a reactant component included in the treatment gas by generating plasma from the reactant component by applying high-frequency power, and bringing the treatment gas including the reactant component activated into contact with the surface of the substrate, in which in the plasma contact step, a first plasma generation condition in which stable plasma is generated by applying high-frequency power of a first power level while supplying treatment gas of a first concentration is changed to a second plasma generation condition in which a desired thin film is obtained by performing at least one of increasing the high-frequency power to a second power level and gradually decreasing the treatment gas to a second concentration, and of gradually increasing the high-frequency power to the second power level, and abnormal electrical discharge is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Takashi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11551926
    Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises treating a base structure with a first precursor to adsorb the first precursor to a surface of the base structure and form a first material. The first precursor comprises a hydrazine-based compound including Si—N—Si bonds. The first material is treated with a second precursor to covert the first material into a second material. The second precursor comprises a Si-centered radical. The second material is treaded with a third precursor to covert the second material into a third material comprising Si and N. The third precursor comprises an N-centered radical. An ALD system and a method of forming a seal material through ALD are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Farrell M. Good, Robert K. Grubbs
  • Patent number: 11545354
    Abstract: Exemplary processing methods may include flowing a first deposition precursor into a substrate processing region to form a first portion of an initial compound layer. The first deposition precursor may include an aldehyde reactive group. The methods may include removing a first deposition effluent including the first deposition precursor from the substrate processing region. The methods may include flowing a second deposition precursor into the substrate processing region. The second deposition precursor may include an amine reactive group, and the amine reactive group may react with the aldehyde reactive group to form a second portion of the initial compound layer. The methods may include removing a second deposition effluent including the second deposition precursor from the substrate processing region. The methods may include annealing the initial compound layer to form an annealed carbon-containing material on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Applied Materials, Inc., National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Bhaskar Bhuyan, Zeqing Shen, Bo Qi, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Xinke Wang, Mark Saly
  • Patent number: 11545355
    Abstract: A method for processing a substrate includes: (a) exposing a substrate with a pattern formed on a surface thereof to a first reactive species in a chamber, thereby adsorbing the first reactive species onto the surface of the substrate; (b) exposing the substrate to plasma formed by a second reactive species in the chamber, thereby forming a film on the surface of the substrate; and (c) repeating a processing including (a) and (b) two or more times while changing a residence amount of the first reactive species at a time of starting (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kae Kumagai, Toru Hisamatsu, Masanobu Honda
  • Patent number: 11538677
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include flowing a silicon-containing precursor, a nitrogen-containing precursor, and diatomic hydrogen into a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be housed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may also include forming a plasma of the silicon-containing precursor, the nitrogen-containing precursor, and the diatomic hydrogen. The plasma may be formed at a frequency above 15 MHz. The methods may also include depositing a silicon nitride material on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuanxi Yang, Hang Yu, Yu Yang, Chuan Ying Wang, Allison Yau, Xinhai Han, Sanjay G. Kamath, Deenesh Padhi