Patents by Inventor Ming-Tan LEE

Ming-Tan LEE 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: 11977333
    Abstract: A single layer process is utilized to reduce swing effect interference and reflection during imaging of a photoresist. An anti-reflective additive is added to a photoresist, wherein the anti-reflective additive has a dye portion and a reactive portion. Upon dispensing the reactive portion will react with underlying structures to form an anti-reflective coating between the underlying structure and a remainder of the photoresist. During imaging, the anti-reflective coating will either absorb the energy, preventing it from being reflected, or else modify the optical path of reflection, thereby helping to reduce interference caused by the reflected energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Hsing-Chieh Lee, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Patent number: 11960211
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an energy source, a support platform for holding a wafer, an optical path extending from the energy source to the support platform, and a photomask aligned such that a patterned major surface of the photomask is parallel to the force of gravity, where the optical path passes through the photomask, where the patterned major surface of the photomask is perpendicular to a topmost surface of the support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Ting-Yang Yu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20240079235
    Abstract: A single layer process is utilized to reduce swing effect interference and reflection during imaging of a photoresist. An anti-reflective additive is added to a photoresist, wherein the anti-reflective additive has a dye portion and a reactive portion. Upon dispensing the reactive portion will react with underlying structures to form an anti -reflective coating between the underlying structure and a remainder of the photoresist. During imaging, the anti-reflective coating will either absorb the energy, preventing it from being reflected, or else modify the optical path of reflection, thereby helping to reduce interference caused by the reflected energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Hsing-Chieh Lee, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20240071887
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a first die, a second die and a redistribution layer structure. The first die and the second die are disposed laterally. The redistribution layer structure is disposed over and electrically connected to the first die and the second die, wherein the redistribution layer structure includes a plurality of vias and a plurality of lines stacked alternately and electrically connected to each other and embedded by a plurality of polymer layers, and wherein from a top view, first vias of the plurality of vias overlapping with the first die or the second die have an elliptical-like shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zi-Jheng Liu, Ting-Yang Yu, Ming-Tan Lee, Hung-Jui Kuo
  • Publication number: 20240061339
    Abstract: A photoresist apparatus and a method are provided. The photoresist apparatus includes a pre-baking apparatus. The pre-baking apparatus includes: a hot-plate, a first cover over the hot-plate, a second cover over the first cover, a first heating element extending along a topmost surface of the first cover, and a second heating element extending along a topmost surface of the second cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, De-Yuan Lu, Chen-Hua Yu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Patent number: 11842896
    Abstract: A single layer process is utilized to reduce swing effect interference and reflection during imaging of a photoresist. An anti-reflective additive is added to a photoresist, wherein the anti-reflective additive has a dye portion and a reactive portion. Upon dispensing the reactive portion will react with underlying structures to form an anti-reflective coating between the underlying structure and a remainder of the photoresist. During imaging, the anti-reflective coating will either absorb the energy, preventing it from being reflected, or else modify the optical path of reflection, thereby helping to reduce interference caused by the reflected energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Hsing-Chieh Lee, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Patent number: 11841618
    Abstract: A photoresist apparatus and a method are provided. The photoresist apparatus includes a pre-baking apparatus. The pre-baking apparatus includes: a hot-plate, a first cover over the hot-plate, a second cover over the first cover, a first heating element extending along a topmost surface of the first cover, and a second heating element extending along a topmost surface of the second cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, De-Yuan Lu, Chen-Hua Yu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Patent number: 11823969
    Abstract: A package includes a device die, an encapsulant encapsulating the device die therein, a first plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, a second plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, and redistribution lines over and electrically coupling to the first plurality of through-vias. The first plurality of through-vias include an array. The second plurality of through-vias are outside of the first array, and the second plurality of through-vias are larger than the first plurality of through-vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Tai-Min Chang, Hui-Jung Tsai, De-Yuan Lu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20230369153
    Abstract: A package includes a device die, an encapsulant encapsulating the device die therein, a first plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, a second plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, and redistribution lines over and electrically coupling to the first plurality of through-vias. The first plurality of through-vias include an array. The second plurality of through-vias are outside of the first array, and the second plurality of through-vias are larger than the first plurality of through-vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Tai-Min Chang, Hui-Jung Tsai, De-Yuan Lu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Patent number: 11670541
    Abstract: A first photoresist material is formed. The first photoresist material is exposed through a phase shift mask. The first photoresist material is developed to form a first photoresist layer, wherein the first photoresist layer comprises a plurality of first photoresist patterns and a plurality of first openings between the plurality of first photoresist patterns. A first conductive material is formed in the plurality of first openings. A second photoresist layer is formed over the first conductive material, wherein the second photoresist layer comprises at least one second opening. A second conductive material is formed in the at least one second opening. The first photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer are removed, to form a plurality of first conductive patterns and at least one second conductive pattern. A dielectric layer is formed, wherein the at least one second conductive pattern is disposed in the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Wang, Hung-Jui Kuo, Jaw-Jung Shin, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20230109913
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an energy source, a support platform for holding a wafer, an optical path extending from the energy source to the support platform, and a photomask aligned such that a patterned major surface of the photomask is parallel to the force of gravity, where the optical path passes through the photomask, where the patterned major surface of the photomask is perpendicular to a topmost surface of the support platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Ting-Yang Yu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20230064162
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed herein including creating a photoresist mixture that includes a surfactant, and a base solvent; one or more boiling point modifying solvents having a boiling point higher in temperature than the base solvent; and one or more hydrophilicity modifying solvents that are more hydrophilic than the base solvent; depositing the photoresist mixture onto a substrate comprising a plurality of UBMLs using a wet film process; performing a pre-bake process to cure the photoresist; and patterning the photoresist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Hsing-Chieh Lee, Hung-Jui Kuo, Ming-Tan Lee, Ting Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 11587818
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a wafer includes a chuck, at least one O-ring disposed on the chuck, a vacuum system connected to the chuck, such that the vacuum system comprises a plurality of vacuum holes through the chuck connected to one or more vacuum pumps, and a controller configured to control the height of the at least one O-ring relative to the top surface of the chuck. The controller is connected to pressure sensors capable of detecting a vacuum. The at least one O-ring may include a plurality of O-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chen-Hua Yu, Ming-Tan Lee, Hung-Jui Kuo
  • Publication number: 20230011701
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an energy source, a support platform for holding a wafer, an optical path extending from the energy source to the support platform, and a photomask aligned such that a patterned major surface of the photomask is parallel to the force of gravity, where the optical path passes through the photomask, where the patterned major surface of the photomask is perpendicular to a topmost surface of the support platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Ting-Yang Yu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Patent number: 11515224
    Abstract: A package includes a device die, an encapsulant encapsulating the device die therein, a first plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, a second plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, and redistribution lines over and electrically coupling to the first plurality of through-vias. The first plurality of through-vias include an array. The second plurality of through-vias are outside of the first array, and the second plurality of through-vias are larger than the first plurality of through-vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Tai-Min Chang, Hui-Jung Tsai, De-Yuan Lu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20220367177
    Abstract: A single layer process is utilized to reduce swing effect interference and reflection during imaging of a photoresist. An anti-reflective additive is added to a photoresist, wherein the anti-reflective additive has a dye portion and a reactive portion. Upon dispensing the reactive portion will react with underlying structures to form an anti-reflective coating between the underlying structure and a remainder of the photoresist. During imaging, the anti-reflective coating will either absorb the energy, preventing it from being reflected, or else modify the optical path of reflection, thereby helping to reduce interference caused by the reflected energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Hsing-Chieh Lee, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20220359260
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a wafer includes a chuck, at least one O-ring disposed on the chuck, a vacuum system connected to the chuck, such that the vacuum system comprises a plurality of vacuum holes through the chuck connected to one or more vacuum pumps, and a controller configured to control the height of the at least one O-ring relative to the top surface of the chuck. The controller is connected to pressure sensors capable of detecting a vacuum. The at least one O-ring may include a plurality of O-rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Chen-Hua Yu, Ming-Tan Lee, Hung-Jui Kuo
  • Publication number: 20220336307
    Abstract: A package includes a device die, an encapsulant encapsulating the device die therein, a first plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, a second plurality of through-vias penetrating through the encapsulant, and redistribution lines over and electrically coupling to the first plurality of through-vias. The first plurality of through-vias include an array. The second plurality of through-vias are outside of the first array, and the second plurality of through-vias are larger than the first plurality of through-vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, Tai-Min Chang, Hui-Jung Tsai, De-Yuan Lu, Ming-Tan Lee
  • Publication number: 20220269184
    Abstract: The current disclosure describes techniques for managing vertical alignment or overlay in semiconductor manufacturing using machine learning. Alignments of interconnection features in a fan-out WLP process are evaluated and managed through the disclosed techniques. Big data and machine learning are used to train a classification that correlates the overlay error source factors with overlay metrology categories. The overlay error source factors include tool signals. The trained classification includes a base classification and a Meta classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Tzu-Cheng LIN, Chien Rhone WANG, Kewei ZUO, Ming-Tan LEE, Zi-Jheng LIU
  • Publication number: 20220121120
    Abstract: A photoresist apparatus and a method are provided. The photoresist apparatus includes a pre-baking apparatus. The pre-baking apparatus includes: a hot-plate, a first cover over the hot-plate, a second cover over the first cover, a first heating element extending along a topmost surface of the first cover, and a second heating element extending along a topmost surface of the second cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Hung-Jui Kuo, De-Yuan Lu, Chen-Hua Yu, Ming-Tan Lee