Abstract: A method includes transferring a wafer to a position over a wafer chuck; lifting a lifting pin through the wafer chuck to a first position to support the wafer; holding the wafer on the lifting pin using a negative pressure source in gaseous communication with an inner gas passage of the lifting pin; introducing a gas to a region between the wafer and the wafer chuck through an outer gas passage of the lifting pin, wherein in a top view of the lifting pin, the inner gas passage has a circular profile, while the outer gas passage has a ring-shape profile; and lowering the lifting to dispose the wafer over the wafer chuck.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a location of a particle on a bottom surface of an electrostatic chuck; moving a platform to a position under the bottom surface of the electrostatic chuck and right under the particle; and rotating the platform about a center of the platform to remove the particle from the bottom surface of the electrostatic chuck.

Abstract: A photolithography method includes dispensing a first liquid toward a target layer through a nozzle at a first distance from the target layer; moving the nozzle such that the nozzle is at a second distance from the target layer, wherein the second distance is different from the first distance; dispensing a second liquid toward the target layer through the nozzle at the second distance from the target layer; and patterning the target layer after dispensing the first liquid and the second liquid.

Abstract: An electronic package is provided and uses a plurality of bonding wires as a shielding structure. The bonding wires are stitch bonded onto a carrier carrying electronic components, such that the problem of the shielding structure peeling off or falling off from the carrier can be avoided due to the fact that the bonding wires are not affected by temperature, humidity and other environmental factors.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a fluid in a semiconductor manufacturing process includes providing a substrate, positioning a nozzle above the substrate, and determining a cross-sectional shape of the nozzle. The method also includes configuring the nozzle to have the determined cross-sectional shape and applying the fluid to the substrate through the nozzle with the determined cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A reticle enclosure includes a base including a first surface, a cover including a second surface and disposed on the base, wherein the base and the cover form an internal space therebetween that includes a reticle, and a layer of electrostatic discharge material disposed on the first surface, wherein the electrostatic discharge material reduces electrostatic charges on the reticle.

Abstract: The method includes receiving a semiconductor device having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is a top surface including a conductive material exposed thereon; and the second surface is an embedded surface including the conductive material and a dielectric material. The method also includes selecting a first polishing slurry to achieve a first polishing rate of the conductive material in the first polishing slurry and a second polishing rate of the dielectric material in the first polishing slurry. The method further includes selecting a second polishing slurry to achieve a third polishing rate of the conductive material in the second polishing slurry and a fourth polishing rate of the dielectric material in the second polishing slurry. The method additionally includes polishing the first surface with the first polishing slurry until the second surface is exposed; and polishing the second surface with the second polishing slurry.

Abstract: A method is described. The method includes obtaining a relationship between a thickness of a contamination layer formed on a mask and an amount of compensation energy to remove the contamination layer, obtaining a first thickness of a first contamination layer formed on the mask from a thickness measuring device, and applying first compensation energy calculated from the relationship to a light directed to the mask.

Abstract: A method of detecting phase loss of a three-phase AC power source includes steps of: acquiring any two line voltages of the AC power source with a first cycle period, acquiring a first digital signal and a second digital signal, performing an exclusive OR operation between the first digital signal and the second digital signal to generate a level signal, accumulating a high-level time count value, or accumulating a low-level time count value, resetting the low-level time count value when the high-level time count value is accumulated, or resetting the high-level time count value when the low-level time count value is accumulated, and determining that the AC power source occurs a phase-loss abnormality when the high-level time count value is greater than or equal to ? of the first cycle period or the low-level time count value is greater than or equal to ? of the first cycle period.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing hydrogen permeation of a mask is provided when generating extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. The apparatus includes a mask stage configured to hold the mask, a hydrogen dispensing nozzle configured to eject hydrogen below the mask, and a trajectory correcting assembly. The trajectory correcting assembly includes a correcting nozzle and a gas flow detector. The correcting nozzle is configured to dispense at least one flow adjusting gas to adjust a trajectory of the hydrogen away from the mask to reduce hydrogen permeation at an edge of the mask. The gas flow detector is configured to measure a variation of an airflow of the hydrogen adjusted by the at least one flow adjusting gas.

Abstract: A method includes transferring a wafer to a position over a wafer chuck; ejecting a first gas from a purging device above the wafer to clean a top surface of the wafer; after ejecting the first gas, lifting a lifting pin through the wafer chuck to receive the wafer; and after the wafer is received by the lifting pin, ejecting a second gas from first openings in a sidewall of the lifting pin to a region between a bottom surface of the wafer and a top surface of the wafer chuck.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus that can enhance the slurry oxidizability for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The method can include securing a substrate onto a carrier of a polishing system. The method can further include dispensing, via a feeder of the polishing system, a first slurry towards a polishing pad of the polishing system. The method can further include forming a second slurry by enhancing an oxidizability of the first slurry, and performing a polishing process, with the second slurry, on the substrate.

Abstract: A method including steps as follows is provided. A primary droplet and a satellite droplet are shot toward an excitation zone. The satellite droplet is deflected away from the excitation zone. A laser beam is emitted toward the excitation zone to excite the primary droplet to generate an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light. The EUV light is directed onto a reticle using a first optical reflector, such that the EUV light is imparted with a pattern of the reticle. The EUV light with the pattern is directed onto a wafer using a second optical reflector.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a surface of a reticle includes retrieving a reticle from a reticle library and transferring the reticle to a first exposure device. The surface of the reticle is cleaned in the first exposure device by irradiating the surface of the reticle with an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation for a predetermined irradiation time. After the cleaning, the reticle is transferred to a second exposure device for lithography operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing hydrogen permeation of a mask is provided when generating extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. The apparatus includes a mask stage configured to hold the mask, a hydrogen dispensing nozzle configured to eject hydrogen below the mask, and a trajectory correcting assembly. The trajectory correcting assembly includes a correcting nozzle and a gas flow detector. The correcting nozzle is configured to dispense at least one flow adjusting gas to adjust a trajectory of the hydrogen away from the mask to reduce hydrogen permeation at an edge of the mask. The gas flow detector is configured to measure a variation of an airflow of the hydrogen adjusted by the at least one flow adjusting gas.

Abstract: A method includes holding a mask using an electrostatic chuck. The mask includes a substrate having a first bump and a second bump separated from the first bump and a patterned layer. The first bump and the second bump face the electrostatic chuck. The substrate is between the patterned layer and the electrostatic chuck. The first bump and the second bump are spaced apart from the patterned layer. The first bump and the second bump are ring strips in a top view, and the first bump has a rectangular cross section and the second bump has a triangular cross section. The method further includes generating extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation using an EUV light source; and directing the EUV radiation toward the mask, such that the EUV radiation is reflected by the mask.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing hydrogen permeation of a mask is provided when generating extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. The apparatus includes a mask stage configured to hold the mask, a hydrogen dispensing nozzle configured to eject hydrogen below the mask, and a trajectory correcting assembly. The trajectory correcting assembly includes a correcting nozzle and a gas flow detector. The correcting nozzle is configured to dispense at least one flow adjusting gas to adjust a trajectory of the hydrogen away from the mask to reduce hydrogen permeation at an edge of the mask. The gas flow detector is configured to measure a variation of an airflow of the hydrogen adjusted by the at least one flow adjusting gas.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor device, an encapsulating material, and a redistribution structure. The semiconductor device includes a chamfer disposed on one of a plurality of side surfaces of the semiconductor device. The encapsulating material encapsulates the semiconductor device. The redistribution structure is disposed over the encapsulating material and electrically connected to the semiconductor device.

Abstract: An electronic package is provided and uses a plurality of bonding wires as a shielding structure. The bonding wires are stitch bonded onto a carrier carrying electronic components, such that the problem of the shielding structure peeling off or falling off from the carrier can be avoided due to the fact that the bonding wires are not affected by temperature, humidity and other environmental factors.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry composition includes an oxidant including oxygen, and an abrasive particle having a core structure encapsulated by a shell structure. The core structure includes a first compound and the shell structure includes a second compound different from the first compound, where a diameter of the core structure is greater than a thickness of the shell structure, and where the first compound is configured to react with the oxidant to form a reactive oxygen species.