Patents by Inventor Ching Yu

Ching Yu 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).

  • Publication number: 20230375924
    Abstract: A photoresist layer is formed over a wafer. The photoresist layer includes a metallic photoresist material and one or more additives. An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process is performed using the photoresist layer. The one or more additives include: a solvent having a boiling point greater than about 150 degrees Celsius, a photo acid generator, a photo base generator, a quencher, a photo de-composed base, a thermal acid generator, or a photo sensitivity cross-linker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: An-Ren Zi, Joy Cheng, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 11822251
    Abstract: Methods and materials for making a semiconductor device are described. The method includes forming a photoresist over a substrate. The photoresist includes an acid-labile group (ALG) connected to a polar unit. The method also includes exposing the photoresist to a radiation beam, baking the photoresist and performing a developing process to the photoresist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: An-Ren Zi, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 11822238
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for lithography patterning in accordance with some embodiments. The method includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, wherein the photoresist layer includes a metal-containing chemical; performing an exposing process to the photoresist layer; and performing a first developing process to the photoresist layer using a first developer, thereby forming a patterned resist layer, wherein the first developer includes a first solvent and a chemical additive to remove metal residuals generated from the metal-containing chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: An-Ren Zi, Joy Cheng, Ching-Yu Chang, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 11822237
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, including combining a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor state to form a photoresist material, and depositing the photoresist material over the substrate. A protective layer is formed over the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation through the protective layer to form a latent pattern in the photoresist layer. The protective layer is removed, and the latent pattern is developed by applying a developer to the selectively exposed photoresist layer to form a pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Hui Weng, Chen-Yu Liu, Chih-Cheng Liu, Yi-Chen Kuo, Jia-Lin Wei, Yen-Yu Chen, Jr-Hung Li, Yahru Cheng, Chi-Ming Yang, Tze-Liang Lee, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 11825352
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus circuitry, and storage media are described for mobile-terminated packet transmissions. In one embodiment, an apparatus of a control plane device configured to operate within an evolved packet network core identifies a first service flow event trigger associated with a first packet data unit (PDU) session and processes a path reselection for a first PDU session in response to the first service flow event trigger, wherein the path reselection determines a new gateway for the first PDU session resulting from the path reselection. Transmission of a change notification to an application server controller associated with the first PDU session is initiated in response to the path reselection. Transmission of a routing update to the new gateway in response to the path reselection is also initiated. In various embodiments, the trigger may be a mobility event, a load balancing event, or operations in association with an application server controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Yu Liao, Mohammad Mamunur Rashid, S. M. Iftekharul Alam, Rath Vannithamby
  • Publication number: 20230367218
    Abstract: In a method, a resist material is dispensed through a tube of a nozzle of a resist pump system on a wafer. The tube extends from a top to a bottom of the nozzle and has upper, lower, and middle segments. When not dispensing, the resist material is retracted from the lower and the middle segments, and maintained in the upper segment of the tube. When retracting, a first solvent is flown through a tip of the nozzle at the bottom of the nozzle to fill the lower segment of the tube with the first solvent and to produce a gap in the middle segment of the tube between the resist material and the first solvent. The middle segment includes resist material residues on an inner surface wall of the tube and vapor of the first solvent. The vapor of the first solvent prevents the resist material residues from drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ya-Ching CHANG, Chen-Yu LIU, Ching-Yu CHANG, Chin-Hsiang LIN
  • Publication number: 20230367216
    Abstract: A method according to the present disclosure includes providing a substrate, depositing an underlayer over the substrate, depositing a photoresist layer over the underlayer, exposing a portion of the photoresist layer and a portion of the underlayer to a radiation source according to a pattern, baking the photoresist layer and underlayer, and developing the exposed portion of the photoresist layer to transfer the pattern to the photoresist layer. The underlayer includes a polymer backbone, a polarity switchable group, a cross-linkable group bonded to the polymer backbone, and photoacid generator. The polarity switchable group includes a first end group bonded to the polymer backbone, a second end group including fluorine, and an acid labile group bonded between the first end group and the second end group. The exposing decomposes the photoacid generator to generate an acidity moiety that detaches the second end group from the polymer backbone during the baking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Chien-Chih Chen, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20230369048
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor device includes forming a multilayer photoresist structure including a metal-containing photoresist over a substrate. The multilayer photoresist structure includes two or more metal-containing photoresist layers having different physical parameters. The metal-containing photoresist is a reaction product of a first precursor and a second precursor, and each layer of the multilayer photoresist structure is formed using different photoresist layer formation parameters. The different photoresist layer formation parameters are one or more selected from the group consisting of the first precursor, an amount of the first precursor, the second precursor, an amount of the second precursor, a length of time each photoresist layer formation operation, and heating conditions of the photoresist layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Jia-Lin WEI, Ming-Hui Weng, Chih-Cheng Liu, Yi-Chen Kuo, Yen-Yu Chen, Yahru Cheng, Jr-Hung Li, Ching-Yu Chang, Tze-Liang Lee, Chi-Ming Yang
  • Publication number: 20230359124
    Abstract: A method includes forming a bottom layer over a semiconductor substrate, where the bottom layer includes a polymer bonded to a first cross-linker and a second cross-linker, the first cross-linker being configured to be activated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the second cross-linker being configured to be activated by heat at a first temperature. The method then proceeds to exposing the bottom layer to a UV source to activate the first cross-linker, resulting in an exposed bottom layer, where the exposing activates the first cross-linker. The method further includes baking the exposed bottom layer, where the baking activates the second cross-linker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jing Hong Huang, Chien-Wei Wang, Shang-Wern Chang, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20230350295
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, exposing the photoresist layer to radiation to form a pattern therein, and selectively removing portions of the photoresist layer that are not exposed to the radiation to form a patterned photoresist layer. The photoresist layer comprises a fluorine-containing polymer, a crosslinker and a photoactive compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Li-Po YANG, Wei-Han LAI, Ching-Yu CHANG
  • Publication number: 20230350302
    Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate. The photoresist layer includes a polymer, a photoacid initiator and a crosslinker containing at least two crosslinking sites. The photoresist layer is then cured to crosslink the polymer, thereby forming a crosslinked polymer. Next, the photoresist layer is exposed to a radiation. An acid produced from exposure of the photoacid generator de-crosslinks the crosslinked polymer in exposed portions of the photoresist layer. The exposed portions of the photoresist layer are subsequently removed to form a patterned photoresist layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yu-Chung SU, Lilin CHANG, Jia-Lin WEI, Ching-Yu CHANG
  • Patent number: 11804374
    Abstract: Strain relief trenches may be formed in a substrate prior to growth of an epitaxial layer on the substrate. The trenches may reduce the stresses and strains on the epitaxial layer that occur during the epitaxial growth process due to differences in material properties (e.g., lattice mismatches, differences in thermal expansion coefficients, and/or the like) between the epitaxial layer material and the substrate material. The stress and strain relief provided by the trenches may reduce or eliminate cracks and/or other types of defects in the epitaxial layer and the substrate, may reduce and/or eliminate bowing and warping of the substrate, may reduce breakage of the substrate, and/or the like. This may increase the center-to-edge quality of the epitaxial layer, may permit epitaxial layers to be grown on larger substrates, and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Chuan Lo, Pravanshu Mohanta, Jiang-He Xie, Ching Yu Chen, Ming-Tsung Chen, Chia-Ling Yeh
  • Publication number: 20230343582
    Abstract: A composition, comprising: a carbon backbone polymer; a first crosslinker; and a second crosslinker. The first crosslinker partially crosslinks the carbon backbone polymer at a temperature ranging from 100° C. to 170° C., and the second crosslinker crosslinks the carbon backbone polymer at a temperature ranging from 180 20 C. to 300° C. The first crosslinker is one or more selected from the group consisting of A-(OR)x, A-(NR)x, where A is a monomer, oligomer, or a second polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 100 to 20,000, R is an alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, cycloalkylepoxy group, or C3-C15 heterocyclic group, OR is an alkyloxy group, cycloalkyloxy group, carbonate group, alkylcarbonate group, alkyl carboxylate group, tosylate group, or mesylate group, NR is an alkylamide group or an alkylamino group, and x ranges from 2 to 1000. The second crosslinker is different from the first crosslinker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Jing Hong HUANG, Ching-Yu CHANG, Wei-Han LAI
  • Publication number: 20230341780
    Abstract: A photoresist composition includes a photoactive compound and a polymer. The polymer has a polymer backbone including one or more groups selected from: The polymer backbone includes at least one group selected from B, C-1, or C-2, wherein ALG is an acid labile group, and X is a linking group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Tzu-Yang LIN, Ching-Yu CHANG, Chin-Hsiang LIN
  • Publication number: 20230341773
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, exposing the photoresist layer to an EUV radiation, and developing the exposed photoresist layer. The photoresist layer has a composition including a solvent mixture and a metal-containing component dissolved in the solvent mixture. The solvent mixture includes a first solvent comprising primary alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: An-Ren ZI, Ching-Yu CHANG
  • Patent number: 11796918
    Abstract: A method includes providing a layered structure on a substrate, the layered structure including a bottom layer formed over the substrate, a hard mask layer formed over the bottom layer, a material layer formed over the hard mask layer, and a photoresist layer formed over the material layer, exposing the photoresist layer to a radiation source, developing the photoresist layer, where the developing removes portions of the photoresist layer and the material layer in a single step without substantially removing portions of the hard mask layer, and etching the hard mask layer using the photoresist layer as an etch mask. The material layer may include acidic moieties and/or acid-generating molecules. The material layer may also include photo-sensitive moieties and crosslinking agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: An-Ren Zi, Wei-Han Lai, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 11797745
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive pattern disposed within a first region from a top view perspective and extending along a first direction, a first phase shift circuit disposed within the first region, a first transmission circuit disposed within a second region from the top view perspective, and a first gate conductor extending from the first region to the second region along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first phase shift circuit and the first transmission circuit are electrically connected with the first conductive pattern through the first gate conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Peng, Ching-Yu Huang, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
  • Publication number: 20230333477
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate and applying a base composition to the photoresist layer, the base composition includes non-organic base, organic base, thermal base generator, or photobase generator. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to form latent pattern. The latent pattern is developed by applying developer composition to selectively exposed photoresist layer to form pattern in photoresist layer. The base composition is applied to photoresist layer during one or more operations selected from group consisting of applying base composition to substrate as underlayer before photoresist layer is formed and the composition is subsequently absorbed by photoresist layer, a pre-exposure baking operation, after photoresist layer is selectively exposed and before developing latent pattern, and after developing latent pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Ching-Yu CHANG, An-Ren ZI, Chin-Hsiang LIN
  • Publication number: 20230324806
    Abstract: A photoresist layer is coated over a wafer. The photoresist layer includes a metal-containing material. An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process is performed to the photoresist layer to form a patterned photoresist. The wafer is cleaned with a cleaning fluid to remove the metal-containing material. The cleaning fluid includes a solvent having Hansen solubility parameters of delta D in a range between 13 and 25, delta P in a range between 3 and 25, and delta H in a range between 4 and 30. The solvent contains an acid with an acid dissociation constant less than 4 or a base with an acid dissociation constant greater than 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: An-Ren Zi, Joy Cheng, Ching-Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20230324796
    Abstract: Method of forming pattern in photoresist layer includes forming photoresist layer over substrate, selectively exposing photoresist layer to actinic radiation forming latent pattern. Latent pattern is developed by applying developer to form pattern. Photoresist layer includes photoresist composition including polymer: A1, A2, L are direct bond, C4-C30 aromatic, C4-C30 alkyl, C4-C30 cycloalkyl, C4-C30 hydroxylalkyl, C4-C30 alkoxy, C4-C30 alkoxyl alkyl, C4-C30 acetyl, C4-C30 acetylalkyl, C4-C30 alkyl carboxyl, C4-C30 cycloalkyl carboxyl, C4-C30 hydrocarbon ring, C4-C30 heterocyclic, —COO—, A1 and A2 are not both direct bonds, and are unsubstituted or substituted with a halogen, carbonyl, or hydroxyl; A3 is C6-C14 aromatic, wherein A3 is unsubstituted or substituted with halogen, carbonyl, or hydroxyl; R1 is acid labile group; Ra, Rb are H or C1-C3 alkyl; Rf is direct bond or C1-C5 fluorocarbon; PAG is photoacid generator; 0<x/(x+y+z)<1, 0<y/(x+y+z)<1, and 0<z/(x+y+z)<1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Li-Po YANG, Wei-Han LAI, Ching-Yu CHANG