Patents by Inventor Diego Feijóo

Diego Feijóo 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: 9230794
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cleaned, dried, and hydrophilized the following steps in the order stated: a) treating the semiconductor wafer with a liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride, the semiconductor wafer rotating about its center axis at least occasionally, and b) drying the semiconductor wafer by rotation of the semiconductor wafer about its center axis at a rotational speed of 1000 to 5000 revolutions per minute in an ozone-containing atmosphere, the liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride flowing away from the semiconductor wafer on account of the centrifugal force generated by the rotation, and the surface of the semiconductor wafer being hydrophilized by ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Guenter Schwab, Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo
  • Patent number: 8685270
    Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor wafer sliced from a single crystal includes rounding an edge using a grinding disk containing abrasives with an average grain size of 20.0-60.0 ?m. A first simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed wherein the semiconductor wafers are processed between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 5.0-20.0 ?m, wherein the semiconductor wafer is placed in a cutout in one of a plurality of carriers rotatable by a rolling apparatus such that the semiconductor wafer lies in a freely movable manner in the carrier and the wafer is movable on a cycloidal trajectory. A second simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed including processing the semiconductor wafers between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 0.5-15.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Juergen Schwandner, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Michael Kerstan, Georg Pietsch, Guenter Schwab
  • Patent number: 8580046
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Guenter Schwab, Diego Feijoo, Thomas Buschhardt, Hans-Joachim Luthe, Franz Sollinger
  • Patent number: 8372213
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Guenter Schwab, Diego Feijoo, Thomas Buschhardt, Hans-Joachim Luthe, Franz Sollinger
  • Publication number: 20120248068
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the fluidic inline-treatment of flat substrates with at least one process module. In particular, the invention relates to such a treatment during the gentle and controlled transport of the substrates, wherein the treatment can also just relate to the transport of the substrates. According to the invention, a process module 1 is provided which comprises a treatment chamber 2 having at least one treatment surface 7A being substantially horizontally arranged in a treatment plane 5 and being designed for the formation of a lower fluid cushion 6A, wherein two openings in the form of entry 3 and exit 4 for the linear feed-through of the substrates 22 in the same plane are assigned to the treatment surface 7A, and at least one feed device with at least one catch 10 for the controlled feed 9 of the substrates 22 within the treatment chamber 2. Furthermore, the invention provides a method using the apparatus according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicants: SILTRONIC AG, RENA GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Schienle, Mario Schwab, Rahim Hamid, Lothar Hermann, Günter Schwab, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijóo, Konrad Kaltenbach, Franz Sollinger
  • Patent number: 8070882
    Abstract: A method for the wet-chemical treatment of a semiconductor wafer involves: a) rotating a semiconductor wafer; b) applying a cleaning liquid comprising gas bubbles having a diameter of 100 ?m or less to the rotating wafer such that a liquid film forms on the wafer; c) exposing the rotating semiconductor wafer to a gas atmosphere containing a reactive gas; and d) removing the liquid film from the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Guenter Schwab, Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Teruo Haibara, Yoshihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 7988876
    Abstract: To reduce and homogenize the thickness of a semiconductor layer which lies on the surface of an electrically insulating material, the surface of the semiconductor layer is exposed to the action of an etchant whose redox potential is adjusted as a function of the material and the desired final thickness of the semiconductor layer, so that the material erosion per unit time on the surface of the semiconductor layer due to the etchant becomes less as the thickness of the semiconductor layer decreases, and is only from 0 to 10% of the thickness per second when the desired thickness is reached. The method is carried out without the action of light or the application of an external electrical voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Diego Feijoo, Oliver Riemenschneider, Reinhold Wahlich
  • Patent number: 7938911
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cleaned using a cleaning solution containing an alkaline ammonium component in an initial composition, wherein the semiconductor wafer is brought into contact with the cleaning solution in an individual-wafer treatment, and in the course of cleaning hydrogen fluoride is added as further component to the cleaning solution, and the cleaning solution has at the end of cleaning, a composition that differs from the initial composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Guenter Schwab
  • Publication number: 20110097975
    Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor wafer sliced from a single crystal includes rounding an edge using a grinding disk containing abrasives with an average grain size of 20.0-60.0 ?m. A first simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed wherein the semiconductor wafers are processed between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 5.0-20.0 ?m, wherein the semiconductor wafer is placed in a cutout in one of a plurality of carriers rotatable by a rolling apparatus such that the semiconductor wafer lies in a freely movable manner in the carrier and the wafer is movable on a cycloidal trajectory. A second simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed including processing the semiconductor wafers between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 0.5-15.0 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Juergen SCHWANDNER, Thomas BUSCHHARDT, Diego FEIJOO, Michael KERSTAN, Georg PIETSCH, Guenter SCHWAB
  • Patent number: 7829467
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cut from a crystal and subjected to a series of processing steps in which material is removed from a front side and a rear side of the semiconductor wafers, comprising the following processing steps: a mechanical processing step, an etching step in which the semiconductor wafers are oxidized and material is removed from the front side of the wafers with the aid of a gaseous etchant containing hydrofluoric acid at a temperature of 20 to 70° C., and a polishing step in which the front side of the semiconductor wafer is polished, the processing steps in which the front side of the semiconductor wafer is polished causing material removal which does not amount to more than 5 ?m in total.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Stadler, Günter Schwab, Diego Feijóo, Karlheinz Langsdorf
  • Patent number: 7799692
    Abstract: Treatment of a semiconductor wafer employs: a) position-dependent measuring of a parameter characterizing the semiconductor wafer to determine a position-dependent value of the parameter over an entire surface of the semiconductor wafer, b) oxidizing the entire surface of the semiconductor wafer under the action of an oxidizing agent with simultaneous exposure of the entire surface, the oxidation rate and thus the thickness of the resulting oxide layer dependent on the light intensity at the surface of the semiconductor wafer, and c) removing of the oxide layer, the light intensity in step b) predefined in a position-dependent manner such that differences in the position-dependent values of the parameter measured are reduced by the position-dependent oxidation rate resulting in step b) and subsequent removal of the oxide layer in step c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Brian Murphy, Diego Feijóo, Reinhold Wahlich
  • Publication number: 20100139706
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Guenter Schwab, Diego Feijoo, Thomas Buschhardt, Hans-Joachim Luthe, Franz Sollinger
  • Publication number: 20090145457
    Abstract: A method for the wet-chemical treatment of a semiconductor wafer involves: a) rotating a semiconductor wafer; b) applying a cleaning liquid comprising gas bubbles having a diameter of 100 ?m or less to the rotating wafer such that a liquid film forms on the wafer; c) exposing the rotating semiconductor wafer to a gas atmosphere containing a reactive gas; and d) removing the liquid film from the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Guenter Schwab, Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Teruo Haibara, Yoshihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 7538008
    Abstract: A layer structure comprising a smoothed interlayer and an overlying layer applied on the interlayer, wherein the interlayer is treated with a gaseous etchant containing hydrogen fluoride, a material removal being obtained thereby and the interlayer being smoothed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Diego Feijoo, Guenter Schwab, Thomas Buschhardt
  • Publication number: 20090071507
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cleaned by forming a first liquid film on a surface of the semiconductor wafer to be cleaned, the first liquid film containing hydrogen fluoride and ozone; replacing the first liquid film with a second aqueous liquid film which contains hydrogen fluoride and ozone, the concentration of hydrogen fluoride in the second liquid film being lower than in the first liquid film; and removing the second liquid film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Thomas Buschhardt, Clemens Zapilko, Diego Feijoo, Guenter Schwab
  • Publication number: 20090007940
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cleaned using a cleaning solution containing an alkaline ammonium component in an initial composition, wherein the semiconductor wafer is brought into contact with the cleaning solution in an individual-wafer treatment, and in the course of cleaning hydrogen fluoride is added as further component to the cleaning solution, and the cleaning solution has at the end of cleaning, a composition that differs from the initial composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo, Guenter Schwab
  • Publication number: 20080308122
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cleaned, dried, and hydrophilized the following steps in the order stated: a) treating the semiconductor wafer with a liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride, the semiconductor wafer rotating about its center axis at least occasionally, and b) drying the semiconductor wafer by rotation of the semiconductor wafer about its center axis at a rotational speed of 1000 to 5000 revolutions per minute in an ozone-containing atmosphere, the liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride flowing away from the semiconductor wafer on account of the centrifugal force generated by the rotation, and the surface of the semiconductor wafer being hydrophilized by ozone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Guenter Schwab, Clemens Zapilko, Thomas Buschhardt, Diego Feijoo
  • Publication number: 20080188084
    Abstract: To reduce and homogenize the thickness of a semiconductor layer which lies on the surface of an electrically insulating material, the surface of the semiconductor layer is exposed to the action of an etchant whose redox potential is adjusted as a function of the material and the desired final thickness of the semiconductor layer, so that the material erosion per unit time on the surface of the semiconductor layer due to the etchant becomes less as the thickness of the semiconductor layer decreases, and is only from 0 to 10% of the thickness per second when the desired thickness is reached. The method is carried out without the action of light or the application of an external electrical voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Diego Feijoo, Oliver Riemenschneider, Reinhold Wahlich
  • Publication number: 20070267142
    Abstract: Treatment of a semiconductor wafer employs: a) position-dependent measuring of a parameter characterizing the semiconductor wafer to determine a position-dependent value of the parameter over an entire surface of the semiconductor wafer, b) oxidizing the entire surface of the semiconductor wafer under the action of an oxidizing agent with simultaneous exposure of the entire surface, the oxidation rate and thus the thickness of the resulting oxide layer dependent on the light intensity at the surface of the semiconductor wafer, and c) removing of the oxide layer, the light intensity in step b) predefined in a position-dependent manner such that differences in the position-dependent values of the parameter measured are reduced by the position-dependent oxidation rate resulting in step b) and subsequent removal of the oxide layer in step c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Brian Murphy, Diego Feijoo, Reinhold Wahlich
  • Publication number: 20070259531
    Abstract: Semiconductor wafers are cut from a crystal and subjected to a series of processing steps in which material is removed from a front side and a rear side of the semiconductor wafers, comprising the following processing steps: a mechanical processing step, an etching step in which the semiconductor wafers are oxidized and material is removed from the front side of the wafers with the aid of a gaseous etchant containing hydrofluoric acid at a temperature of 20 to 70° C., and a polishing step in which the front side of the semiconductor wafer is polished, the processing steps in which the front side of the semiconductor wafer is polished causing material removal which does not amount to more than 5 ?m in total.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: SILTRONIC AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Stadler, Gunter Schwab, Diego Feijoo, Karlheinz Langsdorf