Patents by Inventor Daniel A. Delibac

Daniel A. Delibac 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).

  • Patent number: 9576863
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) chips. In the method, wafers are received and the backside roughness levels of these wafers are determined. Based on the backside roughness levels, the wafers are sorted into different groups. Chips having the same design are manufactured on wafers from all of the different groups. However, during manufacturing, process(es) is/are performed differently on wafers from one or more of the different groups to minimize systematic variations in a specific parameter (e.g., wire width) in the resulting chips. Specifically, because systematic variations may occur when the exact same processes are used to form IC chips on wafers with different backside roughness levels, the method disclosed herein selectively adjusts one or more of those processes when performed on wafers from one or more of the different groups to ensure that the specific parameter is approximately equal in the resulting integrated IC chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Kyle Babinski, Daniel A. Delibac, David A. DeMuynck, Shawn R. Goddard, Matthew D. Moon, Melissa J. Roma, Craig E. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20160181166
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) chips. In the method, wafers are received and the backside roughness levels of these wafers are determined. Based on the backside roughness levels, the wafers are sorted into different groups. Chips having the same design are manufactured on wafers from all of the different groups. However, during manufacturing, process(es) is/are performed differently on wafers from one or more of the different groups to minimize systematic variations in a specific parameter (e.g., wire width) in the resulting chips. Specifically, because systematic variations may occur when the exact same processes are used to form IC chips on wafers with different backside roughness levels, the method disclosed herein selectively adjusts one or more of those processes when performed on wafers from one or more of the different groups to ensure that the specific parameter is approximately equal in the resulting integrated IC chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Kyle Babinski, Daniel A. Delibac, David A. DeMuynck, Shawn R. Goddard, Matthew D. Moon, Melissa J. Roma, Craig E. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9330988
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) chips. In the method, wafers are received and the backside roughness levels of these wafers are determined. Based on the backside roughness levels, the wafers are sorted into different groups. Chips having the same design are manufactured on wafers from all of the different groups. However, during manufacturing, process(es) is/are performed differently on wafers from one or more of the different groups to minimize systematic variations in a specific parameter (e.g., wire width) in the resulting chips. Specifically, because systematic variations may occur when the exact same processes are used to form IC chips on wafers with different backside roughness levels, the method disclosed herein selectively adjusts one or more of those processes when performed on wafers from one or more of the different groups to ensure that the specific parameter is approximately equal in the resulting integrated IC chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Kyle Babinski, Daniel A. Delibac, David A. DeMuynck, Shawn R. Goddard, Matthew D. Moon, Melissa J. Roma, Craig E. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9087839
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor structures with metal lines and methods of manufacture which reduce or eliminate extrusion formation. The method includes forming a metal wiring comprising a layered structure of metal materials with an upper constraining layer. The method further includes forming a film on the metal wiring which prevents metal extrusion during an annealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Matthew D. Moon, Anthony C. Speranza, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 9006703
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to method for reducing lateral extrusion formed in semiconductor structures and semiconductor structures formed thereof. Various embodiments include a method for reducing lateral extrusion formed in semiconductor structures. The method can include removing a portion of a first lateral extrusion in an aluminum layer of the semiconductor structure, and determining a post-removal thickness of a dielectric layer positioned adjacent the aluminum layer. The post-removal thickness may be determined subsequent to the removing of the portion of the first lateral extrusion. The method can also include determining a difference between the post-removal thickness of the dielectric layer and a pre-removal thickness of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Brian M. Czabaj, Daniel A. Delibac, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Matthew D. Moon, David C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150035117
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to method for reducing lateral extrusion formed in semiconductor structures and semiconductor structures formed thereof. Various embodiments include a method for reducing lateral extrusion formed in semiconductor structures. The method can include removing a portion of a first lateral extrusion in an aluminum layer of the semiconductor structure, and determining a post-removal thickness of a dielectric layer positioned adjacent the aluminum layer. The post-removal thickness may be determined subsequent to the removing of the portion of the first lateral extrusion. The method can also include determining a difference between the post-removal thickness of the dielectric layer and a pre-removal thickness of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Brian M. Czabaj, Daniel A. Delibac, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Matthew D. Moon, David C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140291802
    Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor structures with metal lines and methods of manufacture which reduce or eliminate extrusion formation. The method includes forming a metal wiring comprising a layered structure of metal materials with an upper constraining layer. The method further includes forming a film on the metal wiring which prevents metal extrusion during an annealing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shawn A. Adderly, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Matthew D. Moon, Anthony C. Speranza, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 8084864
    Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Chapple-Sokol, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, William J. Murphy, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Daniel S. Vanslette
  • Publication number: 20110221064
    Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Chapple-Sokol, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, William J. Murphy, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Daniel S. Vanslette
  • Patent number: 8003536
    Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Chapple-Sokol, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, William J. Murphy, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Daniel S. Vanslette
  • Publication number: 20100237503
    Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Chapple-Sokol, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, William J. Murphy, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Daniel S. Vanslette
  • Publication number: 20090230555
    Abstract: An underlying interconnect level containing underlying W vias embedded in a dielectric material layer are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A metallic layer stack comprising, from bottom to top, a low-oxygen-reactivity metal layer, a bottom transition metal layer, a bottom transition metal nitride layer, an aluminum-copper layer, an optional top transition metal layer, and a top transition metal nitride layer. The metallic layer stack is lithographically patterned to form at least one aluminum-based metal line, which constitutes a metal interconnect structure. The low-oxygen-reactivity metal layer enhances electromigration resistance of the at least one aluminum-based metal line since formation of compound between the bottom transition metal layer and the dielectric material layer is prevented by the low-oxygen-reactivity metal layer, which does not interact with the dielectric material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Chapple-Sokol, Daniel A. Delibac, Zhong-Xiang He, Tom C. Lee, William J. Murphy, Timothy D. Sullivan, David C. Thomas, Daniel S. Vanslette