Patents by Inventor An-Hsuan Lee
An-Hsuan Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20250218792Abstract: The method includes receiving a semiconductor structure including a first surface, the first surface including a uniform material composition of ruthenium (Ru), selecting a first polishing slurry including a first abrasive component of titanium oxide and a first amine-based alkaline component of ammonium hydroxide, selecting a second polishing slurry including a second abrasive component of silicon oxide, a second amine-based alkaline component of hydroxyamine, and a non-amine alkaline component, polishing the first surface with the first polishing slurry until a second surface is exposed, the second surface including a conductive material and a dielectric material, and polishing the second surface with the second polishing slurry.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2025Publication date: July 3, 2025Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Chen-Hao Wu, Chun-Hung Liao, Huang-Lin Chao, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai
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Patent number: 12269141Abstract: A method disclosed herein includes forming a polishing pad configured for a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process and polishing a workpiece using the polishing pad and a CMP slurry. Forming the polishing pad includes forming an interpenetrating polymer network having a first phase and a second phase embedded in the first phase, removing the second phase from the interpenetrating polymer network, thereby forming a porous top pad that includes a network of pores embedded in the first phase, and adhering the porous top pad to a sub pad, thereby forming the polishing pad. The second phase is different from the first phase in composition, and the interpenetrating polymer network has a substantially periodic pattern. Surface roughness of the porous top pad is consistent during the polishing of the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Ming-Shiuan She, Chen-Hao Wu, Chun-Hung Liao, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai
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Patent number: 12261055Abstract: The method includes receiving a semiconductor device having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is a top surface including a conductive material exposed thereon; and the second surface is an embedded surface including the conductive material and a dielectric material. The method also includes selecting a first polishing slurry to achieve a first polishing rate of the conductive material in the first polishing slurry and a second polishing rate of the dielectric material in the first polishing slurry. The method further includes selecting a second polishing slurry to achieve a third polishing rate of the conductive material in the second polishing slurry and a fourth polishing rate of the dielectric material in the second polishing slurry. The method additionally includes polishing the first surface with the first polishing slurry until the second surface is exposed; and polishing the second surface with the second polishing slurry.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2022Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: TAIWAN SSEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Chun-Hung Liao, Chen-Hao Wu, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20250014943Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip with polish stop layers and a method of fabricating the IC chip are disclosed. The method includes forming a first IC chip having a device region and a peripheral region. Forming the first IC chip includes forming a device layer on a substrate, forming an interconnect structure on the device layer, depositing a first dielectric layer on a first portion of the interconnect structure in the peripheral region, depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer and on a second portion of the interconnect structure in the device region, and performing a polishing process on the second dielectric layer to substantially coplanarize a top surface of the second dielectric layer with a top surface of the first dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a bonding process on the second dielectric layer to bond a second IC chip to the first IC chip.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: January 9, 2025Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zheng Yong LIANG, Wei-Ting YEH, I-Han HUANG, Chen-Hao WU, An-Hsuan LEE, Huang-Lin CHAO, Yu-Yun PENG, Keng-Chu LIN
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Patent number: 12176217Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor. The method includes: forming a metal oxide layer over a gate structure over a substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the metal oxide layer; forming a metal layer over the metal oxide layer; and performing a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) operation to remove a portion of the dielectric layer and a portion of the metal layer, the CMP operation stopping at the metal oxide layer, wherein a slurry used in the CMP operation includes a ceria compound. The present disclosure also provides a method for planarizing a metal-dielectric surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, Chung-Wei Hsu, Tsung-Ling Tsai, Chen-Hao Wu, An-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20240327677Abstract: A CMP slurry composition and a method of polishing a metal layer are provided. In some embodiments, the CMP slurry composition includes about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal oxide, and about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a chelator. The chelator includes a thiol compound or a thiolether compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2024Publication date: October 3, 2024Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, An-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Chen-Hao Wu, Huang-Lin Chao
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Patent number: 12024651Abstract: A CMP slurry composition and a method of polishing a metal layer are provided. In some embodiments, the CMP slurry composition includes about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal oxide, and about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a chelator. The chelator includes a thiol compound or a thiolether compound.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2022Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, An-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Chen-Hao Wu, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20240112928Abstract: A trimming method is provided. The trimming method includes the following steps. A first wafer including a substrate and a device layer over a first side of the substrate is provided. The first wafer is bonded to a second wafer with the first side of the substrate facing toward the second wafer. An edge trimming process is performed to remove a trimmed portion of the substrate from a second side opposite to the first side vertically downward toward the first side in a first direction along a perimeter of the substrate, wherein the edge trimming process results in the substrate having a flange pattern laterally protruding from the device layer and laterally surrounding an untrimmed portion of the substrate along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Chen-Hao Wu, Chun-Hung Liao, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20230356356Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus that can enhance the slurry oxidizability for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The method can include securing a substrate onto a carrier of a polishing system. The method can further include dispensing, via a feeder of the polishing system, a first slurry towards a polishing pad of the polishing system. The method can further include forming a second slurry by enhancing an oxidizability of the first slurry, and performing a polishing process, with the second slurry, on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, Chen-Hao Wu, An-Hsuan Lee, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20230347471Abstract: A method disclosed herein includes forming a polishing pad configured for a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process and polishing a workpiece using the polishing pad and a CMP slurry. Forming the polishing pad includes forming an interpenetrating polymer network having a first phase and a second phase embedded in the first phase, removing the second phase from the interpenetrating polymer network, thereby forming a porous top pad that includes a network of pores embedded in the first phase, and adhering the porous top pad to a sub pad, thereby forming the polishing pad. The second phase is different from the first phase in composition, and the interpenetrating polymer network has a substantially periodic pattern. Surface roughness of the porous top pad is consistent during the polishing of the workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Ming-Shiuan She, Chen-Hao Wu, Chun-Hung Liao, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai
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Publication number: 20230290641Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor. The method includes: forming a metal oxide layer over a gate structure over a substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the metal oxide layer; forming a metal layer over the metal oxide layer; and performing a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) operation to remove a portion of the dielectric layer and a portion of the metal layer, the CMP operation stopping at the metal oxide layer, wherein a slurry used in the CMP operation includes a ceria compound. The present disclosure also provides a method for planarizing a metal-dielectric surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: CHUN-HUNG LIAO, CHUNG-WEI HSU, TSUNG-LING TSAI, CHEN-HAO WU, AN-HSUAN LEE, SHEN-NAN LEE, TENG-CHUN TSAI, HUANG-LIN CHAO
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Patent number: 11752592Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus that can enhance the slurry oxidizability for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The method can include securing a substrate onto a carrier of a polishing system. The method can further include dispensing, via a feeder of the polishing system, a first slurry towards a polishing pad of the polishing system. The method can further include forming a second slurry by enhancing an oxidizability of the first slurry, and performing a polishing process, with the second slurry, on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, Chen-Hao Wu, An-Hsuan Lee, Huang-Lin Chao
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Patent number: 11697183Abstract: A method of forming a CMP pad includes providing a solution of a block copolymer (BCP), where the BCP includes a first segment and a second segment connected to the first segment, the second segment being different from the first segment in composition. The method further includes processing the BCP to form a polymer network having a first phase and a second phase embedded in the first phase, where the first phase includes the first segment and the second phase includes the second segment, and subsequently removing the second phase from the polymer network, thereby forming a polymer film that includes a network of pores embedded in the first phase. Thereafter, the method proceeds to combining the CMP top pad and a CMP sub-pad to form a CMP pad, where the CMP top pad is configured to engage with a workpiece during a CMP process.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Ming-Shiuan She, Chen-Hao Wu, Chun-Hung Liao, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai
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Patent number: 11688607Abstract: The present disclosure provides a slurry. The slurry includes an abrasive including a ceria compound; a removal rate regulator to adjust removal rates of the slurry to metal and to dielectric material; and a buffering agent to adjust a pH value of the slurry, wherein the slurry comprises a dielectric material removal rate higher than a metal oxide removal rate.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, Chung-Wei Hsu, Tsung-Ling Tsai, Chen-Hao Wu, An-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20230058800Abstract: The method includes receiving a semiconductor device having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is a top surface including a conductive material exposed thereon; and the second surface is an embedded surface including the conductive material and a dielectric material. The method also includes selecting a first polishing slurry to achieve a first polishing rate of the conductive material in the first polishing slurry and a second polishing rate of the dielectric material in the first polishing slurry. The method further includes selecting a second polishing slurry to achieve a third polishing rate of the conductive material in the second polishing slurry and a fourth polishing rate of the dielectric material in the second polishing slurry. The method additionally includes polishing the first surface with the first polishing slurry until the second surface is exposed; and polishing the second surface with the second polishing slurry.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Chun-Hung Liao, Chen-Hao Wu, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20230021172Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus that can enhance the slurry oxidizability for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The method can include securing a substrate onto a carrier of a polishing system. The method can further include dispensing, via a feeder of the polishing system, a first slurry towards a polishing pad of the polishing system. The method can further include forming a second slurry by enhancing an oxidizability of the first slurry, and performing a polishing process, with the second slurry, on the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Hung LIAO, Chen-Hao Wu, An-Hsuan Lee, Huang-Lin Chao
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Patent number: 11525072Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry composition includes an oxidant including oxygen, and an abrasive particle having a core structure encapsulated by a shell structure. The core structure includes a first compound and the shell structure includes a second compound different from the first compound, where a diameter of the core structure is greater than a thickness of the shell structure, and where the first compound is configured to react with the oxidant to form a reactive oxygen species.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Nan Lee, Chen-Hao Wu, Chun-Hung Liao, Teng-Chun Tsai, Huang-Lin Chao
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Patent number: 11495471Abstract: A semiconductor substrate has an exposed surface having a compositionally uniform metal, and an embedded surface having the metal and an oxide. The exposed surface is polished using a first slurry including a first abrasive and a first amine-based alkaline until the embedded surface is exposed. The embedded surface is polished using a second slurry including a second abrasive and a second amine-based alkaline. The second abrasive is different from the first abrasive. The second amine-based alkaline is different from the first amine-based alkaline. The metal and the oxide each has a first and a second removal rate in the first slurry, respectively, and a third and fourth removal rate in the second slurry, respectively. A ratio of the first removal rate to the second removal rate is greater than 30:1, and a ratio of the third removal rate to the fourth removal rate is about 1:0.5 to about 1:2.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Inventors: An-Hsuan Lee, Chun-Hung Liao, Chen-Hao Wu, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Huang-Lin Chao
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Publication number: 20220195246Abstract: A CMP slurry composition and a method of polishing a metal layer are provided. In some embodiments, the CMP slurry composition includes about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal oxide, and about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a chelator. The chelator includes a thiol compound or a thiolether compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, An-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Chen-Hao Wu, Huang-Lin Chao
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Patent number: 11267987Abstract: A CMP slurry composition and a method of polishing a metal layer are provided. In some embodiments, the CMP slurry composition includes about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a metal oxide, and about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a chelator. The chelator includes a thiol compound or a thiolether compound.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chun-Hung Liao, An-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Nan Lee, Teng-Chun Tsai, Chen-Hao Wu, Huang-Lin Chao