Patents by Inventor David J. Conklin

David J. Conklin 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: 10242952
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark. A second etching forms the sub-lithographic structures in the semiconductor layer using the patterned hard mask and to form the registration mark in the semiconductor layer using the at least one selected mandrel and the patterned hard mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Publication number: 20180331047
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark. A second etching forms the sub-lithographic structures in the semiconductor layer using the patterned hard mask and to form the registration mark in the semiconductor layer using the at least one selected mandrel and the patterned hard mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Patent number: 10043760
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark such as an alignment mark or overlay mark during formation of sub-lithographic structures are provided. Methods may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected of the plurality of mandrels and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern of the sub-lithographic structure and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Publication number: 20180061773
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark such as an alignment mark or overlay mark during formation of sub-lithographic structures are provided. Methods may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected of the plurality of mandrels and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern of the sub-lithographic structure and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Patent number: 9859224
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark such as an alignment mark or overlay mark during formation of sub-lithographic structures are provided. Methods may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected of the plurality of mandrels and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern of the sub-lithographic structure and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Publication number: 20160358861
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark such as an alignment mark or overlay mark during formation of sub-lithographic structures are provided. Methods may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected of the plurality of mandrels and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern of the sub-lithographic structure and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Patent number: 9472506
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark such as an alignment mark or overlay mark during formation of sub-lithographic structures are provided. Methods may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected of the plurality of mandrels and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern of the sub-lithographic structure and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Publication number: 20160247766
    Abstract: Methods of forming a registration mark such as an alignment mark or overlay mark during formation of sub-lithographic structures are provided. Methods may include forming a plurality of mandrels over a hard mask over a semiconductor layer, each mandrel including a spacer adjacent thereto. At least one mandrel is selected of the plurality of mandrels and a mask is formed over the at least one selected mandrel. The plurality of mandrels are removed leaving the spacers, the mask preventing removal of the at least one selected mandrel. The mask is removed. A first etching patterns the sub-lithographic structures and the registration mark into the hard mask using the spacers as a pattern of the sub-lithographic structure and the at least one selected mandrel and adjacent spacer for the registration mark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: David J. Conklin, Allen H. Gabor, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Byeong Y. Kim, Fee Li Lie, Stuart A. Sieg