Patents by Inventor Du Zhang
Du Zhang 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).
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Publication number: 20240135102Abstract: A method of this disclosure may include performing a named entity recognition on text information related to requirements for a wireframe by a first artificial intelligence (AI) model, so as to extract entities and relations of the entities from the text information. The method may further comprise inputting the extracted entities and relations to a second AI model to generate the wireframe, wherein the second AI model is trained so that a difference between resultant relations of the entities of the generated wireframe and the extracted relations of the entities from the first AI model is decreased.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Zhaoqi Wu, Yi Fang Chen, Zhi Wang, Yi Qun Zhang, Yan Du, Li Na Yuan
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Publication number: 20240128089Abstract: Embodiments of improved processes and methods that provide selective etching of silicon nitride are disclosed herein. More specifically, a cyclic, two-step dry etch process is provided to selectively etch silicon nitride layers formed on a substrate, while protecting oxide layers formed on the same substrate. The cyclic, two-step dry etch process sequentially exposes the substrate to: (1) a hydrogen plasma to modify exposed surfaces of the silicon nitride layer and the oxide layer to form a modified silicon nitride surface layer and a modified oxide surface layer, and (2) a halogen plasma to selectively etch silicon nitride by removing the modified silicon nitride surface layer without removing the modified oxide surface layer. The oxide layer is protected from etching during the removal step (i.e., step 2) by creating a crystallized water layer on the oxide layer during the surface modification step (i.e., step 1).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Yu-Hao Tsai, Mingmei Wang, Du Zhang
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Publication number: 20240112919Abstract: A method of processing a substrate that includes: flowing dioxygen (O2) and a hydrogen-containing gas into a plasma processing chamber that is configured to hold the substrate, the substrate including an organic layer and a patterned etch mask, the hydrogen-containing gas including dihydrogen (H2), a hydrocarbon, or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); generating an oxygen-rich plasma while flowing the gases; maintaining a temperature of the substrate in the plasma processing chamber between ?150° C. and ?50° C.; and while maintaining the temperature, exposing the substrate to the oxygen-rich plasma to form a recess in the organic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2022Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Du Zhang, Maju Tomura, Koki Mukaiyama, Tomohiko Niizeki, Yoshihide Kihara, Mingmei Wang
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Publication number: 20240112888Abstract: A method of processing a substrate that includes: flowing an etch gas, O2, and an adsorbate precursor into a plasma processing chamber that is configured to hold the substrate including a silicon-containing dielectric layer and a patterned mask layer, the etch gas including hydrogen and fluorine; generating a plasma in the plasma processing chamber while flowing the etch gas, O2, and the adsorbate precursor, the adsorbate precursor being oxidized to form an adsorbate; and patterning, with the plasma, the silicon-containing dielectric layer on the substrate, where the adsorbate forms a sidewall passivation layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Du Zhang, Yu-Hao Tsai, Masahiko Yokoi, Mingmei Wang, Yoshihide Kihara
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Publication number: 20240112887Abstract: A method of processing a substrate that includes: flowing dioxygen (O2) and an adsorbate precursor into a plasma processing chamber that is configured to hold the substrate including an organic layer and a patterned etch mask; sustaining an oxygen-rich plasma while flowing the O2 and the adsorbate precursor, oxygen species from the O2 and the adsorbate precursor reacting under the oxygen-rich plasma to form an adsorbate; and exposing the substrate to the oxygen-rich plasma to form a recess in the organic layer, where the adsorbate forms a sidewall passivation layer in the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Du Zhang, Yu-Hao Tsai, Masahiko Yokoi, Yoshihide Kihara, Mingmei Wang
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Publication number: 20240091561Abstract: A radiation therapy system is disclosed. The radiation therapy system includes a gantry, a first radiation source, and a second radiation source. The gantry is configured to have a cavity extending in a direction along a rotation axis, and the cavity is configured to house a target object. The first radiation source is mounted on the gantry, and configured to emit a treatment beam to a treatment area of the target object. The second radiation source is mounted on the gantry, and configured to emit an imaging beam to an imaging area of the target object. The treatment area partially overlaps the imaging area. A rotation plane of the first radiation source and a rotation plane of the second radiation source are distributed in a direction along the rotation axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: CAN LIAO, BO CAI, LING-QING MEI, ZHI-DU ZHANG, CHENG NI, WEI ZHANG
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Publication number: 20230374670Abstract: A method of processing a substrate that includes: loading the substrate in a plasma processing chamber, the substrate having a surface including an oxide, the oxide including an alkaline earth metal; flowing a process gas including CCl4 into the plasma processing chamber; in the plasma processing chamber, forming a fluorine-free plasma from the process gas by applying a source power to a source electrode of the plasma processing chamber; and exposing the substrate to the fluorine-free plasma to etch the oxide of the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2022Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Du Zhang, Christophe Vallee, Mingmei Wang
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Patent number: 11804380Abstract: A method of high-throughput dry etching of a film by proton-mediated catalyst formation. The method includes providing a substrate having a film thereon containing silicon-oxygen components, silicon-nitrogen components, or both, introducing an etching gas in the process chamber, plasma-exciting the etching gas, and exposing the film to the plasma-excited etching gas to etch the film. In one example, the etching gas contains at least three different gases that include a fluorine-containing gas, a hydrogen-containing gas, and a nitrogen-containing gas, plasma-exciting the etching gas. In another example, the etching gas contains at least four different gases that include a fluorine-containing gas, a hydrogen-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and a silicon-containing gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Du Zhang, Yu-Hao Tsai, Mingmei Wang
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Publication number: 20230307242Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes patterning a mask over a dielectric layer and etching openings in the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. The etching includes flowing an etchant, a polar or H-containing gas, and a phosphorus-halide gas. The method may further include forming contacts by filling the openings with a conductive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Yu-Hao Tsai, Du Zhang, Mingmei Wang, Takatoshi Orui, Motoi Takahashi, Masahiko Yokoi, Koki Tanaka, Yoshihide Kihara
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Patent number: 11538692Abstract: A method for processing a substrate includes performing a cyclic process including a plurality of cycles, where the cyclic process includes: forming, in a plasma processing chamber, a passivation layer over sidewalls of a recess in a carbon-containing layer, by exposing the substrate to a first gas including boron, silicon, or aluminum, the carbon-containing layer being disposed over a substrate, purging the plasma processing chamber with a second gas including a hydrogen-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, or molecular nitrogen, and exposing the substrate to a plasma generated from the second gas, where each cycle of the plurality of cycles extends the recess vertically into the carbon-containing layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yunho Kim, Du Zhang, Shihsheng Chang, Mingmei Wang, Andrew Metz
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Publication number: 20220375759Abstract: A method for processing a substrate includes performing a cyclic process including a plurality of cycles, where the cyclic process includes: forming, in a plasma processing chamber, a passivation layer over sidewalls of a recess in a carbon-containing layer, by exposing the substrate to a first gas including boron, silicon, or aluminum, the carbon-containing layer being disposed over a substrate, purging the plasma processing chamber with a second gas including a hydrogen-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, or molecular nitrogen, and exposing the substrate to a plasma generated from the second gas, where each cycle of the plurality of cycles extends the recess vertically into the carbon-containing layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2021Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Yunho Kim, Du Zhang, Shihsheng Chang, Mingmei Wang, Andrew Metz
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Publication number: 20220199418Abstract: A method for processing a substrate that includes: loading the substrate in a plasma processing chamber; performing a cyclic plasma etch process including a plurality of cycles, where each cycle of the plurality of cycles includes: generating a first plasma from a first gas mixture including a fluorosilane and oxygen; performing a deposition step by exposing the substrate to the first plasma to form a passivation film including silicon and fluorine; generating a second plasma from a second gas mixture including a noble gas; and performing an etch step by exposing the substrate to the second plasma.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Du Zhang, Hojin Kim, Shigeru Tahara, Kaoru Maekawa, Mingmei Wang, Jacques Faguet, Remi Dussart, Thomas Tillocher, Philippe Lefaucheux, Gaëlle Antoun
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Publication number: 20220199410Abstract: A method for etching high-aspect ratio recessed features in an amorphous carbon layer is presented. The method includes providing a substrate containing an amorphous carbon layer and a patterned mask layer, plasma-etching a recessed feature through less than an entire thickness of the amorphous carbon layer using the patterned mask, forming a passivation layer on a sidewall of the etched amorphous carbon layer in the recessed feature by exposing the substrate to a passivation gas in the absence of a plasma, and repeating the plasma-etching and forming the passivation layer at least once to extend the recessed feature in the amorphous carbon layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Du Zhang, Shihsheng Chang, Yunho Kim, Mingmei Wang, Andrew Metz
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Publication number: 20220157615Abstract: A method of high-throughput dry etching of a film by proton-mediated catalyst formation. The method includes providing a substrate having a film thereon containing silicon-oxygen components, silicon-nitrogen components, or both, introducing an etching gas in the process chamber, plasma-exciting the etching gas, and exposing the film to the plasma-excited etching gas to etch the film. In one example, the etching gas contains at least three different gases that include a fluorine-containing gas, a hydrogen-containing gas, and a nitrogen-containing gas, plasma-exciting the etching gas. In another example, the etching gas contains at least four different gases that include a fluorine-containing gas, a hydrogen-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and a silicon-containing gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Du Zhang, Yu-Hao Tsai, Mingmei Wang
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Patent number: 11189499Abstract: Methods for the atomic layer etch (ALE) of tungsten or other metal layers are disclosed that use in part sequential oxidation and reduction of tungsten/metal layers to achieve target etch parameters. For one embodiment, a metal layer is first oxidized to form a metal oxide layer and an underlying metal layer. The metal oxide layer is then reduced to form a surface metal layer and an underlying metal oxide layer. The surface metal layer is then removed to leave the underlying metal oxide layer and the underlying metal layer. Further, the oxidizing, reducing, and removing processes can be repeated to achieve a target etch depth. In addition, a target etch rate can also achieved for each process cycle of oxidizing, reducing, and removing.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Yu-Hao Tsai, Du Zhang, Mingmei Wang, Aelan Mosden, Matthew Flaugh
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Patent number: 11158517Abstract: A method for selective plasma etching of silicon oxide relative to silicon nitride. The method includes a) providing a substrate containing a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, b) exposing the substrate to a plasma-excited treatment gas containing 1) H2 and 2) HF, F2, or both HF and F2, to form a silicon oxide surface layer with reduced oxygen content on the silicon oxide film and form an ammonium salt layer on the silicon nitride film, c) exposing the substrate to a plasma-excited halogen-containing gas that reacts with and removes the silicon oxide surface layer from the silicon oxide film, and d) repeating steps b) and c) at least once to further selectively etch the silicon oxide film relative to the ammonium salt layer on the silicon nitride film. The ammonium salt layer may be removed when the desired etching has been achieved.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Du Zhang, Yu-Hao Tsai, Mingmei Wang
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Patent number: 11152217Abstract: A method for selective etching of silicon oxide relative to silicon nitride includes exposing a substrate to a first gas that forms a first layer on the silicon oxide film and a second layer on the silicon nitride film, where the first gas contains boron, aluminum, or both boron and aluminum, exposing the substrate to a nitrogen-containing gas that reacts with the first layer to form a first nitride layer on the silicon oxide film and reacts with the second layer to form a second nitride layer on the silicon nitride film, where a thickness of the second nitride layer is greater than a thickness of the first nitride layer. The method further includes exposing the substrate to an etching gas that etches the first nitride layer and silicon oxide film, where the second nitride layer protects the silicon nitride film from etching by the etching gas.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yu-Hao Tsai, Du Zhang, Mingmei Wang
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Publication number: 20210233775Abstract: A method of high-throughput dry etching of silicon oxide and silicon nitride materials by in-situ autocatalyst formation. The method includes providing a substrate having a film thereon in a process chamber, the film containing silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or both silicon oxide and silicon nitride, introducing an etching gas containing fluorine and hydrogen, and setting a gas pressure in the process chamber that is between about 1 mTorr and about 300 mTorr, and a substrate temperature that is below about ?30° C. The method further includes plasma-exciting the etching gas, and exposing the film to the plasma-excited etching gas, where the film is continuously etched during the exposing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Du Zhang, Manabu Iwata, Yu-Hao Tsai, Takahiro Yokoyama, Yanxiang Shi, Yoshihide Kihara, Wataru Sakamoto, Mingmei Wang
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Patent number: 11024508Abstract: A method for selective plasma etching of silicon oxide relative to silicon nitride is described. The method includes providing a substrate containing a silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, and selectively etching the silicon oxide film relative to the silicon nitride film by: a1) exposing the substrate to a plasma-excited passivation gas containing carbon, sulfur, or both carbon and sulfur, where the plasma-excited passivation gas does not contain fluorine or hydrogen, and b1) exposing the substrate to a plasma-excited etching gas containing a fluorine-containing gas. The method can further include, between a1) and b1), an additional step of a2) exposing the substrate to a plasma-excited additional passivation gas containing a fluorocarbon gas, hydrofluorocarbon gas, a hydrochlorocarbon gas, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon gas, or a hydrocarbon gas, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Du Zhang, Yu-Hao Tsai, Mingmei Wang
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Publication number: 20200402808Abstract: A method for selective etching of silicon oxide relative to silicon nitride includes exposing a substrate to a first gas that forms a first layer on the silicon oxide film and a second layer on the silicon nitride film, where the first gas contains boron, aluminum, or both boron and aluminum, exposing the substrate to a nitrogen-containing gas that reacts with the first layer to form a first nitride layer on the silicon oxide film and reacts with the second layer to form a second nitride layer on the silicon nitride film, where a thickness of the second nitride layer is greater than a thickness of the first nitride layer. The method further includes exposing the substrate to an etching gas that etches the first nitride layer and silicon oxide film, where the second nitride layer protects the silicon nitride film from etching by the etching gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Yu-Hao Tsai, Du Zhang, Mingmei Wang