Abstract: An apparatus, semiconductor device and method of manufacture are presented, wherein a hard mask layer and one or more etch stop layers are etched in an etching chamber. In an embodiment the semiconductor device is placed on a mounting platform at a first height and an etch process is performed, then the semiconductor device is moved to a second height within the chamber and a second etch process is performed, with the rotational speed of the semiconductor device reduced during movements in order to reduce the chance of cross contamination.

Abstract: The present disclosure is at least directed to utilizing air curtain devices to form air curtains to separate and isolate areas in which respective workpieces are stored from a transfer compartment within a workpiece processing apparatus. The transfer compartment of the workpiece processing apparatus includes a robot configured to transfer or transport ones of the workpieces to and from these respective storage areas through the transfer compartment and to and from a tool compartment. A tool is present in the tool compartment for processing and refining the respective workpieces. Clean dry air (CDA) may be circulated through the respective storage areas. The air curtains formed by the air curtain devices and the circulation of CDA through the respective storage areas reduces the likelihood of the generation of defects, damages, and degradation of the workpieces when present within the workpiece processing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus, semiconductor device and method of manufacture are presented, wherein a hard mask layer and one or more etch stop layers are etched in an etching chamber. In an embodiment the semiconductor device is placed on a mounting platform at a first height and an etch process is performed, then the semiconductor device is moved to a second height within the chamber and a second etch process is performed, with the rotational speed of the semiconductor device reduced during movements in order to reduce the chance of cross contamination.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wafer stage and a particle removing assembly. The wafer stage includes a cup adjacent to a wafer chuck. The particle removing assembly is configured to remove contaminant particles from the cup. In some embodiments, the particle removing assembly comprises a flexible ejecting member that includes one or more elongated tubes, a front tip, and a cleaning tip adapter configured to attach the front tip to each of the one or more elongated tubes. The front tip includes front openings and lateral openings from which pressurized cleaning material are introduced onto an unreachable area of the cup to remove the contaminant particles from the cup.

Abstract: An apparatus, semiconductor device and method of manufacture are presented, wherein a hard mask layer and one or more etch stop layers are etched in an etching chamber. In an embodiment the semiconductor device is placed on a mounting platform at a first height and an etch process is performed, then the semiconductor device is moved to a second height within the chamber and a second etch process is performed, with the rotational speed of the semiconductor device reduced during movements in order to reduce the chance of cross contamination.

Abstract: An apparatus, semiconductor device and method of manufacture are presented, wherein a hard mask layer and one or more etch stop layers are etched in an etching chamber. In an embodiment the semiconductor device is placed on a mounting platform at a first height and an etch process is performed, then the semiconductor device is moved to a second height within the chamber and a second etch process is performed, with the rotational speed of the semiconductor device reduced during movements in order to reduce the chance of cross contamination.

Abstract: An apparatus, semiconductor device and method of manufacture are presented, wherein a hard mask layer and one or more etch stop layers are etched in an etching chamber. In an embodiment the semiconductor device is placed on a mounting platform at a first height and an etch process is performed, then the semiconductor device is moved to a second height within the chamber and a second etch process is performed, with the rotational speed of the semiconductor device reduced during movements in order to reduce the chance of cross contamination.

Abstract: A system and method for a semiconductor wafer carrier is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a semiconductor wafer carrier wherein conductive dopants are implanted into the carrier in order to amplify the coulombic forces between an electrostatic chuck and the carrier to compensate for reduced forces that result from thinner semiconductor wafers. Another embodiment forms conductive layers and vias within the carrier instead of implanting conductive dopants.

Abstract: A system and method for a semiconductor wafer carrier is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a semiconductor wafer carrier wherein conductive dopants are implanted into the carrier in order to amplify the coulombic forces between an electrostatic chuck and the carrier to compensate for reduced forces that result from thinner semiconductor wafers. Another embodiment forms conductive layers and vias within the carrier instead of implanting conductive dopants.

Abstract: A system and method for a semiconductor wafer carrier is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a semiconductor wafer carrier wherein conductive dopants are implanted into the carrier in order to amplify the coulombic forces between an electrostatic chuck and the carrier to compensate for reduced forces that result from thinner semiconductor wafers. Another embodiment forms conductive layers and vias within the carrier instead of implanting conductive dopants.

Abstract: A system and method for a semiconductor wafer carrier is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a semiconductor wafer carrier wherein conductive dopants are implanted into the carrier in order to amplify the coulombic forces between an electrostatic chuck and the carrier to compensate for reduced forces that result from thinner semiconductor wafers. Another embodiment forms conductive layers and vias within the carrier instead of implanting conductive dopants.

Abstract: A system and method for a semiconductor wafer carrier is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a semiconductor wafer carrier wherein conductive dopants are implanted into the carrier in order to amplify the coulombic forces between an electrostatic chuck and the carrier to compensate for reduced forces that result from thinner semiconductor wafers. Another embodiment forms conductive layers and vias within the carrier instead of implanting conductive dopants.

Abstract: A system and a method for protecting semiconductor wafers is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a carrier with a central region and an exterior region. The exterior region preferably has a thickness that is greater than the central region, to form a cavity in the carrier. An adhesive is preferably placed into the cavity, and a semiconductor wafer is placed onto the adhesive. The edges of the semiconductor wafer are protected by the raised exterior region as well as the displaced adhesive that at least partially fills the area between the semiconductor wafer and the exterior region of the carrier.

Abstract: Structure and methods of forming stacked semiconductor chips are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor chip includes forming an opening for a through substrate via from a top surface of a first substrate. The sidewalls of the opening are lined with an insulating liner and the opened filled with a conductive fill material. The first substrate is etched from an opposite bottom surface to form a protrusion, the protrusion being covered with the insulating liner. A resist layer is deposited around the protrusion to expose a portion of the insulating liner. The exposed insulating liner is etched to form a sidewall spacer along the protrusion.

Abstract: Structure and methods of forming stacked semiconductor chips are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor chip includes forming an opening for a through substrate via from a top surface of a first substrate. The sidewalls of the opening are lined with an insulating liner and the opened filled with a conductive fill material. The first substrate is etched from an opposite bottom surface to form a protrusion, the protrusion being covered with the insulating liner. A resist layer is deposited around the protrusion to expose a portion of the insulating liner. The exposed insulating liner is etched to form a sidewall spacer along the protrusion.

Abstract: Structure and methods of forming stacked semiconductor chips are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor chip includes forming an opening for a through substrate via from a top surface of a first substrate. The sidewalls of the opening are lined with an insulating liner and the opened filled with a conductive fill material. The first substrate is etched from an opposite bottom surface to form a protrusion, the protrusion being covered with the insulating liner. A resist layer is deposited around the protrusion to expose a portion of the insulating liner. The exposed insulating liner is etched to form a sidewall spacer along the protrusion.

Abstract: A system and method for a semiconductor wafer carrier is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a semiconductor wafer carrier wherein conductive dopants are implanted into the carrier in order to amplify the coulombic forces between an electrostatic chuck and the carrier to compensate for reduced forces that result from thinner semiconductor wafers. Another embodiment forms conductive layers and vias within the carrier instead of implanting conductive dopants.

Abstract: A system and a method for protecting semiconductor wafers is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a carrier with a central region and an exterior region. The exterior region preferably has a thickness that is greater than the central region, to form a cavity in the carrier. An adhesive is preferably placed into the cavity, and a semiconductor wafer is placed onto the adhesive. The edges of the semiconductor wafer are protected by the raised exterior region as well as the displaced adhesive that at least partially fills the area between the semiconductor wafer and the exterior region of the carrier.

Abstract: Structure and methods of forming stacked semiconductor chips are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor chip includes forming an opening for a through substrate via from a top surface of a first substrate. The sidewalls of the opening are lined with an insulating liner and the opened filled with a conductive fill material. The first substrate is etched from an opposite bottom surface to form a protrusion, the protrusion being covered with the insulating liner. A resist layer is deposited around the protrusion to expose a portion of the insulating liner. The exposed insulating liner is etched to form a sidewall spacer along the protrusion.

Abstract: A feed-forward method and apparatus for controlling spacer width measures spacer width during processing then further processes the spacers in a spacer width adjustment operation to achieve a desired final spacer width. Silicon nitride spacers may be measured after plasma etching and the measured spacer width is automatically compared to the final desired spacer width and a time for further processing is calculated based on a correlation between processing time and spacer width loss. Using computer interface manufacturing, the measured spacer width data is provided to a computer that performs the calculation and provides the further processing time or a recipe to the tool used for the spacer width adjustment operation. The spacer width adjustment operation may be wet processing in an SPM solution that oxidizes the spacers and an HF clean operation may be used to remove the oxidized portion and yield spacer widths within acceptable specification limits.