Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A photoresist layer is formed over a material layer on a substrate. The photoresist layer has a composition including a solvent and a first photo-active compound dissolved in the solvent. The first photo-active compound is represented by the following formula (Al) or formula (A2): Zr12O8(OH)14(RCO2)18??Formula (A1); or Hf6O4(OH)6(RCO2)10??Formula (A2). R in the formula (A1) and R in the formula (A2) each include one of the following formulae (1) to (6): The photoresist layer is patterned. The material layer is etched using the photoresist layer as an etch mask.

Abstract: A device includes an active region, an isolation structure, a gate structure, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, a reading contact, and a sensing contact. The isolation structure laterally surrounds the active region. The gate structure is across the active region. The ILD layer laterally surrounds the gate structure. The reading contact is in contact with the isolation structure and is separated from the gate structure by a first portion of the ILD layer. The sensing contact is in contact with the isolation structure and is separated from the gate structure by a second portion of the ILD layer.

Abstract: A device includes a detector, a sensing pad, a ring structure, a control circuit, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The sensing pad is electrically connected to the detector. The ring structure is over the sensing pad and includes an upper conductive ring and a lower conductive ring between the upper conductive ring and the sensing pad. The first transistor interconnects the upper conductive ring and the control circuit. The second transistor interconnects the lower conductive ring and the control circuit.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor fin, an isolation structure, a gate structure, source/drain structures, a sensing contact, a sensing pad structure, and a reading contact. The semiconductor fin includes a channel region and source/drain regions on opposite sides of the channel region. The isolation structure laterally surrounds the semiconductor fin. The gate structure is over the channel region of the semiconductor fin. The source/drain structures are respectively over the source/drain regions of the semiconductor fin. The sensing contact is directly on the isolation structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The sensing pad structure is connected to the sensing contact. The reading contact is directly on the isolation structure and adjacent to the gate structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, selectively exposing the photoresist layer to an EUV radiation, and developing the selectively exposed photoresist layer. The photoresist layer has a composition including a solvent and a photo-active compound dissolved in the solvent and composed of a molecular cluster compound incorporating hexameric tin and two chloro ligands.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor fin, an isolation structure, a gate structure, source/drain structures, a sensing contact, a sensing pad structure, and a reading contact. The semiconductor fin includes a channel region and source/drain regions on opposite sides of the channel region. The isolation structure laterally surrounds the semiconductor fin. The gate structure is over the channel region of the semiconductor fin. The source/drain structures are respectively over the source/drain regions of the semiconductor fin. The sensing contact is directly on the isolation structure and adjacent to the gate structure. The sensing pad structure is connected to the sensing contact. The reading contact is directly on the isolation structure and adjacent to the gate structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication apparatus and a method of using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a holder configured to place a substrate and a radiation source configured to provide radiation to transfer a pattern onto the substrate. The apparatus also includes a plurality of sensing devices configured to provide a reference signal based on an intensity of the radiation when the substrate is not present. The apparatus further includes a controller, operatively coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, configured to adjust the intensity of the radiation based on the reference signal.

Abstract: A micro detector includes a substrate, a fin structure, a floating gate, a sensing gate, a reading gate and an antenna layer. The fin structure is located on the substrate. The floating gate is located on the substrate, and the floating gate is vertically and crossly arranged with the fin structure. The sensing gate is located at one side of the fin structure. The reading gate is located at the other side of the fin structure. The antenna layer is located on the sensing gate and is connected with the sensing gate. An induced charge is generated when the antenna layer is contacted with an external energy source, and the induced charge is stored in the floating gate.

Abstract: A method includes applying a first voltage to a source of a first transistor of a detector unit of a semiconductor detector in a test wafer and applying a second voltage to a gate of the first transistor and a drain of a second transistor of the detector unit. The first transistor is coupled to the second transistor in series, and the first voltage is higher than the second voltage. A pre-exposure reading operation is performed to the detector unit. Light of an exposure apparatus is illuminated to a gate of the second transistor after applying the first and second voltages. A post-exposure reading operation is performed to the detector unit. Data of the pre-exposure reading operation is compared with the post-exposure reading operation. An intensity of the light is adjusted based on the compared data of the pre-exposure reading operation and the post-exposure reading operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method that includes receiving an IC design layout, which has a plurality of main features and a plurality of space blocks. The IC method also includes calculating an optimized block dummy density ratio r0 to optimize a uniformity of pattern density (UPD), determining a target block dummy density ratio R, determining size, pitch and type of a non-printable dummy feature, generating a pattern for dummy features and adding the dummy features in the IC design layout.

Abstract: A micro detector includes a substrate, a fin structure, a floating gate, a sensing gate, a reading gate and an antenna layer. The fin structure is located on the substrate. The floating gate is located on the substrate, and the floating gate is vertically and crossly arranged with the fin structure. The sensing gate is located at one side of the fin structure. The reading gate is located at the other side of the fin structure. The antenna layer is located on the sensing gate and is connected with the sensing gate. An induced charge is generated when the antenna layer is contacted with an external energy source, and the induced charge is stored in the floating gate.

Abstract: Immersion lithography system and method using a sealed wafer bottom are described. One embodiment is an immersion lithography apparatus comprising a lens assembly comprising an imaging lens and a wafer stage for retaining a wafer beneath the lens assembly, the wafer stage comprising a seal ring disposed on a seal ring frame along a top edge of the wafer retained on the wafer stage, the seal ring for sealing a gap between an edge of the wafer and the wafer stage. The embodiment further includes a fluid tank for retaining immersion fluid, the fluid tank situated with respect to the wafer stage for enabling full immersion of the wafer retained on the wafer stage in the immersion fluid and a cover disposed over at least a portion of the fluid tank for providing a temperature-controlled, fluid-rich environment within the fluid tank.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method. First pattern densities (PDs) of a plurality of templates of an IC design layout are received. Then a high PD outlier template and a low PD outlier template from the plurality of templates are identified. The high PD outlier template is split into multiple subsets of template and each subset of template carries a portion of PD of the high PD outlier template. A PD uniformity (PDU) optimization is performed to the low PD outlier template and multiple individual exposure processes are applied by using respective subset of templates.

Abstract: A micro detector includes a substrate, a fin structure, a floating gate, a sensing gate, a reading gate and an antenna layer. The fin structure is located on the substrate. The floating gate is located on the substrate, and the floating gate is vertically and crossly arranged with the fin structure. The sensing gate is located at one side of the fin structure. The reading gate is located at the other side of the fin structure. The antenna layer is located on the sensing gate and is connected with the sensing gate. An induced charge is generated when the antenna layer is contacted with an external energy source, and the induced charge is stored in the floating gate.

Abstract: Immersion lithography system and method using a sealed wafer bottom are described. One embodiment is an immersion lithography apparatus comprising a lens assembly comprising an imaging lens and a wafer stage for retaining a wafer beneath the lens assembly, the wafer stage comprising a seal ring disposed on a seal ring frame along a top edge of the wafer retained on the wafer stage, the seal ring for sealing a gap between an edge of the wafer and the wafer stage. The embodiment further includes a fluid tank for retaining immersion fluid, the fluid tank situated with respect to the wafer stage for enabling full immersion of the wafer retained on the wafer stage in the immersion fluid and a cover disposed over at least a portion of the fluid tank for providing a temperature-controlled, fluid-rich environment within the fluid tank.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method. First pattern densities (PDs) of a plurality of templates of an IC design layout are received. Then a high PD outlier template and a low PD outlier template from the plurality of templates are identified. The high PD outlier template is split into multiple subsets of template and each subset of template carries a portion of PD of the high PD outlier template. A PD uniformity (PDU) optimization is performed to the low PD outlier template and multiple individual exposure processes are applied by using respective subset of templates.

Abstract: Immersion lithography system and method using a sealed wafer bottom are described. One embodiment is an immersion lithography apparatus comprising a lens assembly comprising an imaging lens and a wafer stage for retaining a wafer beneath the lens assembly, the wafer stage comprising a seal ring disposed on a seal ring frame along a top edge of the wafer retained on the wafer stage, the seal ring for sealing a gap between an edge of the wafer and the wafer stage. The embodiment further includes a fluid tank for retaining immersion fluid, the fluid tank situated with respect to the wafer stage for enabling full immersion of the wafer retained on the wafer stage in the immersion fluid and a cover disposed over at least a portion of the fluid tank for providing a temperature-controlled, fluid-rich environment within the fluid tank.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method that includes receiving an IC design layout, which has a plurality of main features and a plurality of space blocks. The IC method also includes calculating an optimized block dummy density ratio r0 to optimize a uniformity of pattern density (UPD), determining a target block dummy density ratio R, determining size, pitch and type of a non-printable dummy feature, generating a pattern for dummy features and adding the dummy features in the IC design layout.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method. First pattern densities (PDs) of a plurality of templates of an IC design layout are received. Then a high PD outlier template and a low PD outlier template from the plurality of templates are identified. The high PD outlier template is split into multiple subsets of template and each subset of template carries a portion of PD of the high PD outlier template. A PD uniformity (PDU) optimization is performed to the low PD outlier template and multiple individual exposure processes are applied by using respective subset of templates.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an IC method that includes receiving an IC design layout, which has a plurality of main features and a plurality of space blocks. The IC method also includes calculating an optimized block dummy density ratio r0 to optimize a uniformity of pattern density (UPD), determining a target block dummy density ratio R, determining size, pitch and type of a non-printable dummy feature, generating a pattern for dummy features and adding the dummy features in the IC design layout.