Patents Examined by Jiong-Ping Lu
  • Patent number: 11955341
    Abstract: Described herein is an etching solution and the method of using the etching solution comprising water, phosphoric acid solution (aqueous), an organosilicon compound as disclosed herein, and a hydroxyl group-containing water-miscible solvent. Such compositions are useful for the selective removal of silicon nitride over silicon oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Versum Materials US, LLC
    Inventors: Jhih Kuei Ge, Yi-Chia Lee, Wen Dar Liu
  • Patent number: 11948804
    Abstract: A substrate processing method includes preparing a phosphoric acid processing liquid, etching a substrate and increasing a concentration of the precipitation inhibitor. The phosphoric acid processing liquid is prepared by supplying a precipitation inhibitor into a phosphoric acid aqueous solution. The substrate having a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film is etched by immersing the substrate in a processing tub. The concentration of the precipitation inhibitor is increased by additionally supplying the precipitation inhibitor into the phosphoric acid processing liquid when a number of substrates etched has reached a first threshold value or when a silicon concentration in the phosphoric acid processing liquid has reached a second threshold value. The etching of the substrate comprises etching a new substrate by immersing the new substrate in the processing tub in which the phosphoric acid processing liquid with the increased concentration of the precipitation inhibitor is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Takumi Honda
  • Patent number: 11945726
    Abstract: A method for forming a porous silicon material can include forming a mixture of silicon, carbon, and an etchant element, solidifying the mixture, removing the etchant element to form pores within the silicon material. The porous silicon material can include a distribution of pores with an average pore diameter between about 10 nm and 500 nm, wherein the silicon particle comprises a silicon carbon composite comprising 1-5% carbon by mass, 1-5% oxygen by mass, and 90-98% silicon by mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ionobell, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Ionescu, Chueh Liu
  • Patent number: 11942328
    Abstract: A method for forming a Bragg reflector includes after forming first trenches in the stack, which are intended to form structures of the distributed Bragg reflector, forming a sacrificial interlayer at least in the first trenches, depositing a second masking layer at least inside the first trenches, forming second trenches intended to form sidewalls of the laser, removing the second masking layer from inside the first trenches, removing said sacrificial interlayer so as to remove, by lift-off, residues of the second masking layer that remain inside the first trenches, and filling said first trenches with at least one metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Maryse Fournier, Vincent Reboud, Jean-Marc Fedeli
  • Patent number: 11929254
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a hard mask over a target layer. Depositing the hard mask includes depositing a first hard mask layer having a first density and depositing a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer, the second hard mask layer having a second density greater than the first density. The method further includes forming a plurality of mandrels over the hard mask; depositing a spacer layer over and along sidewalls of the plurality of mandrels; patterning the spacer layer to provide a plurality of spacers on the sidewalls of the plurality of mandrels; after patterning the spacer layer, removing the plurality of mandrels; transferring a patterning the plurality of spacers to the hard mask; and patterning the target layer using the hard mask as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Ming Lung, ChunYao Wang
  • Patent number: 11926903
    Abstract: Methods for etching alkali metal compounds are disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure expose an alkali metal compound to an alcohol to form a volatile metal alkoxide. Some embodiments of the disclosure expose an alkali metal compound to a ?-diketone to form a volatile alkali metal ?-diketonate compound. Some embodiments of the disclosure are performed in-situ after a deposition process. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide methods which selectively etch alkali metal compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Deepak, Tapash Chakraborty, Prerna Sonthalia Goradia, Visweswaren Sivaramakrishnan, Nilesh Chimanrao Bagul, Bahubali S. Upadhye
  • Patent number: 11926892
    Abstract: Methods for etching a semiconductor structure and for conditioning a processing reactor in which a single semiconductor structure is treated are disclosed. An engineered polycrystalline silicon surface layer is deposited on a susceptor which supports the semiconductor structure. The polycrystalline silicon surface layer may be engineered by controlling the temperature at which the layer is deposited, by grooving the polycrystalline silicon surface layer or by controlling the thickness of the polycrystalline silicon surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 11921428
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a substrate processing method is disclosed. The method can include treating a substrate with a first liquid. The substrate has a structural body formed on a major surface of the substrate. The method can include forming a support member supporting the structural body by bringing a second liquid into contact with the substrate wetted by the first liquid, and changing at least a portion of the second liquid into a solid by carrying out at least one of causing the second liquid to react, reducing a quantity of a solvent included in the second liquid, and causing at least a portion of a substance dissolved in the second liquid to be separated. The method can include removing the support member by changing at least a part of the support member from a solid phase to a gaseous phase, without passing through a liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Uozumi, Shinsuke Kimura, Yoshihiro Ogawa, Hiroyasu Iimori, Tatsuhiko Koide, Hideaki Hirabayashi, Yuji Nagashima
  • Patent number: 11920073
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an etching composition. The etching composition includes: a component A: oxidizing agent 1-30 wt %; a component B: inorganic acid 0.5-20 wt %; a component C: organic acid 0-15 wt %; a component D: chelating agent 0.01-15 wt %; a component E: ionic compound and/or other inorganic acids except the inorganic acid in the component B 0-0.1 wt %; and deionized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PHICHEM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaoyi Gao, Hangjian Hu
  • Patent number: 11915940
    Abstract: A method of cyclic etching, comprising: (A) depositing, prior to cyclically etching a substrate through a mask opening, a pre-etch protection layer conformally over the mask, sidewalls of the mask defining the mask opening; and an exposed portion of the substrate exposed through the mask opening, the pre-etch protection layer deposited to a first thickness; and (B) cyclically etching the substrate by: (i) depositing a protection layer in the opening of the mask, the protection layer deposited to a second thickness that is less than half of the first thickness; (ii) etching through a portion of the protection layer disposed on the substrate and etching the substrate; and (iii) repeating (i) and (ii) until an end point is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi Gang Wang, Jiao Yang, Alfredo Granados, Jon C. Farr, Heng Wang, Rui Zhe Ren
  • Patent number: 11908693
    Abstract: A method for preparing a semiconductor device structure includes forming a target layer over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a plurality of first mask patterns over the target layer. The method also includes forming a lining layer conformally covering the first mask patterns and the target layer. A first opening is formed over the lining layer and between the first mask patterns. The method further includes filling the first opening with a second mask pattern, and performing an etching process on the lining layer and the target layer using the first mask patterns and the second mask pattern as a mask such that a plurality of second openings are formed in the target layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ping Hsu
  • Patent number: 11898081
    Abstract: A ruthenium-etching solution for carrying out an etching process on ruthenium. The etching solution includes orthoperiodic acid and ammonia, in which a pH is 8 or higher and 10 or lower. A method for manufacturing the ruthenium-etching solution, a method for processing an object to be processed including carrying out an etching process on an object to be processed including ruthenium using the ruthenium-etching solution, and a method for manufacturing a ruthenium-containing wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO OHKA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Ohhashi, Yukihisa Wada
  • Patent number: 11891326
    Abstract: A method for processing glass is provide. The method includes the steps of providing a glass element and removing glass material from the glass element by etching with an alkaline etching medium in an organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Andreas Ortner, Fabian Wagner, Markus Heiss-Chouquet, Michael Drisch, Vanessa Glässer, Annika Hörberg, Marisa Boles-Rehbogen
  • Patent number: 11892775
    Abstract: A storage container storing a treatment liquid for manufacturing a semiconductor is provided, wherein the occurrence of defects on the semiconductor, such as particles, is suppressed and a fine resist pattern or a fine semiconductor element is manufactured. The storage container includes a storage portion that stores the treatment liquid, wherein the treatment liquid includes one kind or two or more kinds of metal atoms selected from Cu, Fe, and Zn, and a total content of particulate metal that is a metal component derived from the metal atoms and that is a nonionic metal component present in the treatment liquid as a solid without being dissolved is 0.01 to 100 mass ppt with respect to a total mass of the treatment liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimizu, Tetsuya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11881408
    Abstract: Elements of photonic devices with high aspect ratio patterns are fabricated. A stabilizing catalyst that forms a stable metal-semiconductor alloy allows to etch a substrate in vertical direction even at very low oxidant concentration without external bias or magnetic field. A metal layer on the substrate reacts with the oxidant contained in air and catalyzes the semiconductor etching by the etchant. Air in continuous flow at the metal layer allows to maintain constant the oxidant concentration in proximity of the metal layer. The process can continue for a long time in order to form very high aspect ratio structures in the order of 10,000:1. Once the etched semiconductor structure is formed, the continuous air flow supports the reactant species diffusing through the etched semiconductor structure to maintain a uniform etching rate. The continuous air flow supports the diffusion of reaction by-products to avoid poisoning of the etching reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institut
    Inventors: Lucia Romano, Konstantins Jefimovs, Matias Kagias, Joan Vila Comamala, Marco Stampanoni
  • Patent number: 11866831
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a new wet atomic layer etch (ALE) process for etching copper. More specifically, the present disclosure provides various embodiments of methods that utilize new etch chemistries for etching copper in a wet ALE process. By utilizing the new etch chemistries disclosed herein within a wet ALE process, the present disclosure provides a highly selective etch of copper with monolayer precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Netzband, Paul Abel, Jacques Faguet, Arkalgud Sitaram
  • Patent number: 11862473
    Abstract: Removing a stimuli responsive polymer (SRP) from a substrate includes controlled degradation. In certain embodiments of the methods described herein, removing SRPs includes exposure to two reactants that react to form an acid or base that can trigger the degradation of the SRP. The exposure occurs sequentially to provide more precise top down control. In some embodiments, the methods involve diffusing a compound, or a reactant that reacts to form a compound, only to a top portion of the SRP. The top portion is then degraded and removed, leaving film the remaining SRP intact. The exposure and removal cycles are repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Sirard, Gregory Blachut, Diane Hymes
  • Patent number: 11862472
    Abstract: Methods for polishing dielectric layers using an auto-stop slurry in forming semiconductor devices, such as three-dimensional (3D) memory devices, are provided. The methods include forming a stack structure in a staircase region and a core array region, the stack structure including a staircase structure in the staircase region; forming a dielectric layer over the staircase region and a peripheral region outside the stack structure; and polishing the dielectric layer using an auto-stop slurry containing a ceria-based abrasive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaohong Zhou
  • Patent number: 11842923
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor processing approach wherein a wafer twist is employed to increase etch rate, at select locations, along a hole or space end arc. By doing so, a finished hole may more closely resemble the shape of the incoming hole end. In some embodiments, a method may include providing an elongated contact hole formed in a semiconductor device, and etching the elongated contact hole while rotating the semiconductor device, wherein the etching is performed by an ion beam delivered at a non-zero angle relative to a plane defined by the semiconductor device. The elongated contact hole may be defined by a set of sidewalls opposite one another, and a first end and a second end connected to the set of sidewalls, wherein etching the elongated contact hole causes the elongated contact hole to change from an oval shape to a rectangular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen F. R. Gilchrist, Shurong Liang
  • Patent number: 11837467
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of processing a semiconductor substrate includes positioning a semiconductor substrate in a plasma chamber of a plasma tool. The semiconductor substrate includes a film stack that includes silicon layers and germanium-containing layers in an alternating stacked arrangement, with at least two silicon layers and at least two germanium-containing layers. The method includes exposing, in a first plasma step executed in the plasma chamber, the film stack to a first plasma. The first plasma is generated from first gases that include nitrogen gas, hydrogen gas, and fluorine gas. The method includes exposing, in a second plasma step executed in the plasma chamber, the film stack to a second plasma. The second plasma is generated from second gases comprising fluorine gas and oxygen gas. The second plasma selectively etches the silicon layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Toyko Electron Limited
    Inventors: Pingshan Luan, Christopher Catano, Aelan Mosden