Patents Examined by Christopher Remavege
  • Patent number: 12782803
    Abstract: Method for the particle beam-induced etching of a lithography mask, more particularly a non-transmissive EUV lithography mask, having the steps of: a) providing the lithography mask in a process atmosphere, b) beaming a focused particle beam onto a target position on the lithography mask, c) supplying at least one first gaseous component to the target position in the process atmosphere, where the first gaseous component can be converted by activation into a reactive form, where the reactive form reacts with a material of the lithography mask to form a volatile compound, and d) supplying at least one second gaseous component to the target position in the process atmosphere, where the second gaseous component under predetermined process conditions with exposure to the particle beam forms a deposit comprising a compound of silicon with oxygen, nitrogen and/or carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Fan Tu, Horst Schneider, Markus Bauer, Petra Spies, Maximilian Rumler, Christian Felix Hermanns
  • Patent number: 12785706
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of the present invention includes: attaching a first glass sheet (11) to a first surface (10p) of a cell main body (10) to cover a gas generating portion (20) and an injection port (16); injecting a raw material solution (34a) of a metal gas into the injection port (16) to introduce the raw material solution (34a) into the gas generating portion (20) with the first glass sheet (11) being positioned below the gas generating portion (20) in a vertical direction; and evaporating a solvent contained in the raw material solution (34a) to deposit a solid raw material (34b) of the metal gas in the gas generating portion (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: KYOTO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Hirai, Shun Kiyose
  • Patent number: 12770842
    Abstract: Plasma applications are disclosed that operate with argon and other molecular gases at atmospheric pressure, and at low temperatures, and with high concentrations of reactive species. The plasma apparatus and the enclosure that contains the plasma apparatus and the substrate are substantially free of particles, so that the substrate does not become contaminated with particles during processing. The plasma is developed through capacitive discharge without streamers or micro-arcs. The techniques can be employed to remove organic materials from a substrate, thereby cleaning the substrate; to activate the surfaces of materials, thereby enhancing bonding between the material and a second material; to etch thin films of materials from a substrate; and to deposit thin films and coatings onto a substrate; all of which processes are carried out without contaminating the surface of the substrate with substantial numbers of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2026
    Assignee: Surfx Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Scott Williams, Robert F. Hicks
  • Patent number: 12772766
    Abstract: A method may include providing a stress the substrate having a main surface, and forming a patterned stress compensation layer on the main surface, wherein the patterned stress compensation layer is formed by exposing the main surface to a processing beam while a movement of the ion beam with respect to the main surface takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Morgan Evans
  • Patent number: 12752317
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus, method, and dry chamber are provided for cleaning a wafer carrier that holds wafers as part of a semiconductor fabrication process. The cleaning apparatus includes a wet chamber that receives the wafer carrier to be washed and a reservoir in fluid communication with the wet chamber. The reservoir stores a cleaning liquid that is introduced to the wafer carrier within the wet chamber during a washing operation, and a dry chamber is spaced apart from the wet chamber. The dry chamber receives the wafer carrier after the wafer carrier is washed in the wet chamber and holds the wafer carrier during a drying operation. A transport system transports the wafer carrier between the wet chamber and the dry chamber during a cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2026
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Eason Chen, Yi-Fam Shiu, Sung-Chun Yang, Hsu-Shui Liu, Yang-Ann Chu, Jiun-Rong Pai
  • Patent number: 12742138
    Abstract: A cleaning liquid for cleaning a substrate having a first metal atom-containing layer that contains ruthenium and a second metal atom-containing layer that contains a metal atom other than ruthenium, both of the layers contacting each other, and at least one of the first metal atom-containing layer and the second metal atom-containing layer is exposed on a surface. The cleaning liquid includes at least one of a compound represented by General Formula (a1), a hydrate of the compound, and a salt of the compound, and at least one amine other than the hydrazine compound and a quaternary hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2026
    Assignee: TOKYO OHKA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Wada, Kohei Serizawa, Choitsu Go, Kazumasa Wakiya
  • Patent number: 12735784
    Abstract: A method of repairing a mask includes providing a mask including a mother member, a plurality of first openings, and an over-processed opening adjacent to one of the plurality of first openings and having a size different from a size of each of the plurality of first openings, each of the plurality of first openings and the over-processed opening defined on the mother member, forming a supplement portion in at least a portion of the over-processed opening by irradiating a first laser beam to an area surrounding the over-processed opening of the mother member, and forming a plurality of second openings spaced apart from each other on the mother member by irradiating a second laser beam to the supplement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeongkuk Kim, Youngmin Moon, Seungyong Song, Eunbee Jo
  • Patent number: 12734638
    Abstract: A method for chemical mechanical polishing includes rotating a polishing pad about an axis of rotation, positioning a substrate against the polishing pad, dispensing a polishing liquid onto the polishing pad, and oscillating the substrate laterally across the polishing pad. The polishing pad has a polishing-rate adjustment groove that is concentric with the axis of rotation, and a coolant, a dilutant, or both, is dispensed into the polishing-rate adjustment groove such that a polishing rate is reduced in an annular zone of the polishing pad that is positioned radially inward of the polishing-rate adjustment groove. The annular zone surrounds a central zone of the polishing pad in which a polishing rate is not substantially affected by the coolant, dilutant, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhize Zhu, Brian J. Brown, Christopher Heung-Gyun Lee, Huyen Tran, Huanbo Zhang, Eric Lau, Ekaterina A. Mikhaylichenko
  • Patent number: 12721062
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of forming a silicon-containing material may include providing a silicon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be housed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber and include one or more features. The methods may include generating plasma effluents of the silicon-containing precursor in the processing region. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing material on a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion of the feature. Methods include soaking the deposited silicon-containing material with a second silicon-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tianyang Li, Hang Yu, Rui Cheng, Deenesh Padhi, Woongsik Nam
  • Patent number: 12719031
    Abstract: A method for atomic layer etching copper or copper alloy over a substrate in a plasma processing chamber comprising a plurality of cycles is provided. Each cycle of the plurality of cycles comprises a copper modification phase and an activation phase. The copper modification phase comprises flowing a modification gas into the plasma processing chamber, transforming the modification gas into a modification plasma, and exposing the copper or copper alloy to the modification plasma, wherein at least a part of the copper or copper alloy is modified. The activation phase comprises flowing an activation gas into the plasma processing chamber, wherein the activation gas, comprises a hydrogen containing gas, transforming the activation gas into an activation plasma, and exposing the modified copper or copper alloy to the activation plasma, wherein at least a volatile copper or copper alloy complex is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Wenbing Yang, Ran Lin, Samantha SiamHwa Tan, Mohand Brouri, Yang Pan
  • Patent number: 12709699
    Abstract: A polishing liquid containing: abrasive grains containing a hydroxide of a tetravalent metal element; a monovalent acid component having no carboxy group; and a non-ionic polymer, in which a pH is 4.5 or less. A polishing method including a step of polishing a surface to be polished by using this polishing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: Resonac Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Iikura, Masako Aoki
  • Patent number: 12707911
    Abstract: A method for patterning a boron-containing hard mask includes patterning an oxide hard mask formed on a boron-containing hard mask, and patterning the boron-containing hard mask using the patterned oxide hard mask, wherein the oxide hard mask comprises silicon oxide (SiO2), the boron-containing hard mask is doped with one or more metal elements, and the patterning of the boron-containing hard mask comprises etching the boron-containing hard mask through openings of the patterned oxide hard mask using an etching gas mixture comprising chlorine (Cl2), hydrogen bromide (HBr), and oxygen (O2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Han Wang, Chao Li, Yu Yang, Gene Lee
  • Patent number: 12699331
    Abstract: A structure and method for providing alignment aids that are co-fabricated with the optical emission output from a laser pedestal are described. In embodiments, the alignment aids are formed using processes and masking layers that produce a ridge waveguide laser structure. The use of same masking processes for the laser and the alignment aids provides lithographic level precision in the positioning of the alignment aids in relation to the optical output from the laser device. Optoelectrical die formed with the alignment aids may be used with complementary interposer structures to enable alignment of optical output from lasers formed on the optoelectrical die with optical devices on the interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Inventor: Suresh Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 12698454
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a treatment liquid, having excellent filterability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 12695059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronization of radio frequency (RF) pulsing schemes and of sensor data collection are described. One of the methods includes receiving, by an RF generator, a first set of one or more variable levels and one or more duty cycles of an RF signal. The method further includes receiving, by the RF generator from a pulse controller, a synchronization signal having a plurality of pulses. The method also includes generating, during a clock cycle of a clock signal, multiple instances of a first plurality of states of the RF signal in synchronization with the plurality of pulses of the synchronization signal. Each of the first plurality of states of the RF signal has a corresponding one of the one or more variable levels of the first set and a corresponding one of the one or more duty cycles of the first set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: John Stephen Drewery, Ying Wu, Alexander Miller Paterson, Luc Albarede
  • Patent number: 12696743
    Abstract: An etching liquid is supplied to a principal surface of a substrate that has the principal surface on which a processing object layer having a plurality of crystal grains is exposed (first etching step). A polymer-containing liquid containing a polymer is supplied to the principal surface of the substrate after the first etching step, and a polymer layer at least portion of which is embedded in a crystal grain boundary which is a boundary of the crystal grains is formed (polymer layer forming step). The processing object layer is etched by supplying an etching liquid to the principal surface of the substrate after the polymer layer forming step (second etching step).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kana Tahara, Masaki Inaba
  • Patent number: 12679999
    Abstract: The present invention relates to: a slurry composition for final polishing of a silicon wafer, which reduces haze and the number of defects in the surface of an object to be polished and has excellent performance; and a final polishing method using same, the slurry composition comprising 1-20 wt % of colloidal silica as abrasive particles, 0.03-0.5 wt % of a surfactant, 0.1-10 wt % of a pH adjuster, 0.02-2 wt % of a water-soluble thickener, 0.05-0.2 wt % of a chelating agent, and 0.1-1 wt % of an organic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: YCCHEM CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jun Han Kim, Seung Hun Lee, Seung Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 12674234
    Abstract: In a cleaning process for removing parasitic depositions on surfaces of a process chamber of a CVD reactor, a susceptor of the CVD reactor is heated by a heating device, and the susceptor is regulated to a specified temperature or is heated with a constant heat output. Concurrently, an etching gas is supplied to the heated process chamber. The thermal response of at least one object is monitored, in which the thermal response is the temperature of the wide face of a process chamber cover, the wide face facing away from the process chamber. The parasitic depositions influence the emissivity of the surface of the process chamber cover, the emissivity influencing the temperature distribution in the process chamber. The supply of etching gas is terminated when the temperature reaches a comparison value, the temperature changing in response to changes in the surface emissivity during the cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: AIXTRON SE
    Inventors: Utz Herwig Hahn, Martin Eickelkamp, Dirk Fahle
  • Patent number: 12673294
    Abstract: Systems and methods for removing impurities from exhaust gases produced by semiconductor processing tools, e.g., such as a wet bench, utilize cooled scrubbing fluids and non-random structured packing materials to achieve and enhance removal of acid or alkaline components in the exhaust gas along with an enhanced removal of volatile organic components in the exhaust gas. Removal efficiencies of the acid or alkaline components of greater than 90% and removal efficiencies of the volatile organic components of greater than 70% are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Tsao
  • Patent number: 12672499
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes a first process of supplying an etching liquid to a peripheral portion of a substrate while rotating the substrate having a metal polycrystalline film formed on a front surface thereof; a second process of supplying a rinse liquid to a portion of the substrate closer to a center side of the substrate than a supply position of the etching liquid in the first process while rotating the substrate; a third process of supplying the etching liquid to the peripheral portion of the substrate while rotating the substrate; a fourth process of supplying the rinse liquid to a portion of the substrate closer to the center side of the substrate than a supply position of the etching liquid in the third process while rotating the substrate; and a fifth process of drying the substrate after the fourth process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Akira Fujita, Kyosei Goto, Hiroki Aso, Daisuke Saiki