Abstract: A method of forming a trench in a semiconductor device formed of a substrate and a first layer formed over the substrate includes forming an initial trench that passes through the first layer to the substrate, the initial trench having a diameter that decreases from a first diameter to a second diameter, the second diameter being measured at a distance closer to the substrate than the first diameter; exposing the trench to a dopant via an orthogonal ion implant to form doped regions sidewalls of the trench; and etching the trench to remove at least some of the doped regions.

Abstract: Sensors are located on first and second regions of a heat sink, with a portion of the heat sink interposed between the first and second region sensors. The heat sink is connected to a component by an attachment that conducts heat from the component to the heat sink, and a third sensor is located on the component or the attachment with a portion of the attachment disposed between the third sensor and the first and second heat sink region sensors. Temperature readings from the sensors are compared to identify a failing one of the heat sink, the attachment portion, and the component with respect to heat conduction, which includes identifying the interposed heat sink portion as failing in response to a divergence between temperature inputs from the first and second heat sink region sensors. Rate-of-rise temperature readings may also be observed and compared, including to historical values.

Abstract: Where an attachment means connects a heat sink to a system component, heat is thereby conducted to the heat sink from the component, a temperature sensor is located on the heat sink and another on the component or the attachment means, a portion of the attachment means is disposed between the sensors. Temperature readings from the sensors are compared to identify a failing one of the heat sink, the attachment means portion, and the component, with respect to heat conduction. Corrective action may be identified, and self-power means may also be provided to supply operative power. A wireless output circuit may be provided. Multiple heat sink sensors may be provided in any element. Rate-of-rise temperature readings may be observed and compared, including to historical values.

Abstract: A photoresist having both positive and negative tone components resulting in a lower “k” factor than the single tone photoresist is disclosed. The hybrid resist may either have the negative tone resist or the positive tone resist as the major portion, while the other tone is a relatively minor portion. For examples, a positive tone resist may include a minor portion of a negative tone cross-linker or a negative tone resist may include positively acting functional groups. The hybrid resist of the present invention allows for wider exposure dosage windows, therefore increasing the yield or performance and line density.

Abstract: A photoresist composition is disclosed having both negative tone and positive tone responses, giving rise to spaces being formed in the areas of diffraction which are exposed to intermediate amounts of radiation energy. This resist material may be used to print doughnut shapes or may be subjected to a second masking step, to print lines. Additionally, larger and smaller features may be obtained using a gray-scale filter in the reticle, to create larger areas of intermediate exposure areas.

Abstract: Deactivated aromatic amines are useful to improve shelf life and performance of acid-catalyzed photoresist compositions without adverse interaction with radiation-sensitive acid generator components in said resist. The compositions are especially useful in photolithography processes used in forming integrated circuits and other miniaturized components.

Abstract: A high-performance radiation sensitive silicon-containing negative-tone resist is provided along with a method of using the silicon-containing resist in multilayer, including bilayer, imaging for manufacturing semiconductor devices. The negative-tone silicon-containing resist is based on an acid catalyzed high-contrast crosslinking of aqueous base soluble silicon-containing phenolic polymers through reaction of a carbocation of the crosslinking agent with the hydroxyl site of the phenolic group in the silicon-containing polymers. A chemically amplified silicon-containing negative-tone resist composition comprising said silicon-containing polymer resin; at least one crosslinking agent; one acid generator; and a solvent is provided. The silicon-containing resist composition has high silicon content and provide excellent resolution and a means of patterning high aspect ratio resist patterns.

Abstract: The invention provides novel cross-linked polymers and positive chemically-amplified photoresist compositions that comprise a photoactive component and such crosslinked polymers. Resists of the invention can exhibit enhanced lithographic results relative to comparable compositions where the polymers are not crosslinked.

Abstract: Novel silsesquioxane polymers are formed by methods which avoid the use of BBr3. The novel silsesquioxane polymers are especially useful in negative photoresist compositions and photolithographic processes. Alternatively, improved silsesquioxane polymer-containing negative photoresist compositions are obtained by using a polymer component containing a blend of silsesquioxane polymer and non-silsesquioxane polymer. The photoresist compositions provide improved dissolution characteristics enabling the use of 0.26N TMAH developer. The photoresist compositions also provide improved thermal characteristics enabling use of higher processing temperatures. The photoresist compositions are especially useful in a multilayer photolithographic processes and are capable of producing high resolution.

Abstract: A photoresist composition is disclosed having both negative tone and positive tone responses, giving rise to spaces being formed in the areas of diffraction which are exposed to intermediate amounts of radiation energy. This resist material may be used to print doughnut shapes or may be subjected to a second masking step, to print lines. Additionally, larger and smaller features may be obtained using a gray-scale filter in the reticle, to create larger areas of intermediate exposure areas.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high-performance irradiation sensitive resists and to a polymer resin composition useful for making the same. In accordance to the present invention, the polymer resin comprises a dual blocked polymer resins. Specifically, the dual blocked polymer resin comprises at least two different acid labile protecting groups which block some, but not all, of the polar functional groups of the polymer resin. a chemically amplified resist system comprising said dual blocked polymer resin; at least one acid generator; and a solvent is also provided herein.

Abstract: Photoresist compositions are provided comprising 1) a resin binder having photoacid-labile groups, 2) an acid generator and 3) a photospeed control agent. Photoresists of the invention exhibit good photospeed and can provide highly resolved relief images of small dimensions, including lines of sub-micron and sub-half micron dimensions with at least essentially vertical side walls. Methods are also provided that include control of photospeed of a photoresist composition of the invention.

Abstract: A photoresist having both positive and negative tone components resulting in a lower “k” factor than the single tone photoresist is disclosed. The hybrid resist may either have the negative tone resist or the positive tone resist as the major portion, while the other tone is a relatively minor portion. For examples, a positive tone resist may include a minor portion of a negative tone cross-linker or a negative tone resist may include positively acting functional groups. The hybrid resist of the present invention allows for wider exposure dosage windows, therefore increasing the yield or performance and line is density.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high-performance irradiation sensitive positive-tone resist and to a method of formulating the same. In one aspect, the polymer resin composition of the present invention comprises a blend of at least two miscible aqueous base soluble polymer resins, wherein one of said aqueous base soluble polymer resins of said blend is partially protected with a high activation energy protecting group and the other aqueous base soluble polymer resin of said blend is partially protected with a low activation energy protecting group. A chemically amplified resist system comprising said polymer resin composition; at least one acid generator; and a solvent is also provided herein.

Abstract: Acid-catalyzed positive photoresist compositions having generally improved performance (especially photoresist compositions having improved contrast (solubility differential), shrinkage and processing kinetics on radiation exposure) are obtained by use of polymers containing pendant polar-functionalized aromatic groups and acid-labile light crosslinking. The photoresist compositions also may contain a photosensitive acid-generating component as well as a solvent and possibly other auxiliary components. The polymers may contain other functional groups or components designed to impart alkaline-solubility, to provide alkaline-solubility protection in the absence of generated acid, etc. The photoresist compositions can be used to create patterned photoresist structures and further to make conductive, semiconductive or insulative structures by photolithography.

Abstract: Improved resolution of lithographic patterns can be obtained using a double exposure process where a resist layer is subjected to a patternwise first exposure followed by a blanket second exposure. The resist composition preferably contains a chemically amplified resist which undergoes significant shrinkage on exposure to radiation, a chemically amplified resist which contains a photo-bleachable component, or a chemically amplified resist which contains a chemical-bleachable component.

Abstract: A radiation sensitive resist composition exhibiting high resolution and enhanced etch resistance comprising a silicon containing polymeric additive, a non-silicon containing base polymer, a photoacid generator and a base is provided. A method of forming a patterned resist film is also provided. A resist film having an upper surface region enriched with silicon is also disclosed.

Abstract: A photo resist composition contains at least one photoacid generator (PAG), wherein at least two photoacids are produced upon exposure of the photo resist to actinic energy and wherein the photo resist is capable of producing a hybrid response. The function of providing generation of two photoacids in a hybrid resist is to optimize the use of hybrid resist by varying the hybrid space width. The at least two photoacids may differ in their effectiveness at catalyzing at least one mechanism of the hybrid response. In particular, one photoacid may be a weaker acid and another may be a stronger acid, wherein there exists a difference of at least four orders of magnitude between the acid dissociation constant (Ka) of the weaker acid and the stronger acid.

Abstract: A photoresist having both positive and negative tone components resulting in a lower “k” factor than the single tone photoresist is disclosed. The hybrid resist may either have the negative tone resist or the positive tone resist as the major portion, while the other tone is a relatively minor portion. For examples, a positive tone resist may include a minor portion of a negative tone cross-linker or a negative tone resist may include positively acting functional groups. The hybrid resist of the present invention allows for wider exposure dosage windows, therefore increasing the yield or performance and line density.

Abstract: A high-performance radiation sensitive silicon-containing negative-tone resist is provided along with a method of using the silicon-containing resist in multilayer, including bilayer, imaging for manufacturing semiconductor devices. The negative-tone silicon-containing resist is based on an acid catalyzed high-contrast crosslinking of aqueous base soluble silicon-containing phenolic polymers through reaction of a carbocation of the crosslinking agent with the hydroxyl site of the phenolic group in the silicon-containing polymers. A chemically amplified silicon-containing negative-tone resist composition comprising said silicon-containing polymer resin; at least one crosslinking agent; one acid generator; and a solvent is provided. The silicon-containing resist composition has high silicon content and provide excellent resolution and a means of patterning high aspect ratio resist patterns.