Patents by Inventor Nancy Fung

Nancy Fung 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).

  • Publication number: 20230377890
    Abstract: A method for etching a hardmask layer includes forming a photoresist layer comprising an organometallic material on a hardmask layer comprising a metal-containing material, exposing the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation through a mask having a selected pattern, removing un-irradiated areas of the photoresist layer to pattern the photoresist layer, forming a passivation layer comprising a carbon-containing material selectively on a top surface of the patterned photoresist layer, and etching the hardmask layer exposed by the patterned photoresist layer having the passivation layer formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Larry GAO, Nancy FUNG
  • Patent number: 11776811
    Abstract: A method for etching a hardmask layer includes forming a photoresist layer comprising an organometallic material on a hardmask layer comprising a metal-containing material, exposing the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation through a mask having a selected pattern, removing un-irradiated areas of the photoresist layer to pattern the photoresist layer, forming a passivation layer comprising a carbon-containing material selectively on a top surface of the patterned photoresist layer, and etching the hardmask layer exposed by the patterned photoresist layer having the passivation layer formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Gao, Nancy Fung
  • Patent number: 11658043
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate is provided. The method includes modifying a surface of a metal-containing layer formed over a substrate positioned in a processing region of a processing chamber by exposing the surface of the metal-containing layer to plasma effluents of a chlorine-containing gas precursor and an oxygen-containing gas precursor to form a modified surface of the metal-containing layer. The method further includes directing plasma effluents of an inert gas precursor towards the modified surface of the metal-containing layer. The plasma effluents of the inert gas precursor are directed by applying a bias voltage to a substrate support holding the substrate. The method further includes anisotropically etching the modified surface of the metal-containing layer with the plasma effluents of the inert gas precursor to form a first recess having a first sidewall in the metal-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Shaw, Priyadarshi Panda, Nancy Fung, Yongchang Dong, Somaye Rasouli, Gene Lee
  • Patent number: 11658042
    Abstract: A method for patterning a material layer on a substrate includes forming a hard mask layer on a material layer disposed on a substrate, the material layer comprising a plurality of first layers and a plurality of second layers alternately formed over the substrate, performing a first etch process to form features in the material layer through the hard mask layer by supplying a first etching gas, and performing a second etch process to smooth sidewalls of the features formed in the material layer by suppling a second etching gas. The first etching gas is supplied continuously and the second etching gas is pulsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Fung, Gabriela Alva
  • Patent number: 11638374
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to provide a patterned substrate are described. A plurality of patterned and spaced first lines and carbon material lines and formed on the substrate surface by selectively depositing and etching films extending in a first direction and films extending in a second direction that crosses the first direction to pattern the underlying structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tejinder Singh, Takehito Koshizawa, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Pramit Manna, Nancy Fung, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Ho-yung David Hwang, Samuel E. Gottheim
  • Publication number: 20230072732
    Abstract: A system and method for patterning a material layer on a substrate includes forming a hard mask layer on a material layer disposed on a substrate, and etching the material layer through the hard mask layer by simultaneously supplying an etching gas mixture and an oxygen containing gas. The etching gas mixture is supplied continuously and the oxygen containing gas is pulsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Nancy FUNG, Gabriela ALVA
  • Publication number: 20230002878
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for forming metal-oxides in the photoresist to improve profile control. The method includes infiltrating a metal oxide in a photoresist layer by pressurizing a methyl-containing material in a processing environment proximate a film stack. The film stack includes the photoresist layer, the photoresist layer being disposed on top of and in contact with an underlayer. The underlayer disposed on top of a substrate. The method includes etching the film stack including the photoresist layer implanted with the metal oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Nancy FUNG, Mark J. SALY
  • Patent number: 11527414
    Abstract: A method for patterning a material layer on a substrate includes forming a hard mask layer on a material layer disposed on a substrate, and etching the material layer through the hard mask layer by simultaneously supplying an etching gas mixture and an oxygen containing gas. The etching gas mixture is supplied continuously and the oxygen containing gas is pulsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Nancy Fung, Gabriela Alva
  • Publication number: 20220367186
    Abstract: Methods and film stacks for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography are described. The film stack comprises a substrate with a hard mask, bottom layer, middle layer and photoresist. Etching of the photoresist is highly selective to the middle layer and a modification of the middle layer allows for a highly selective etch relative to the bottom layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Fung, Chi-I Lang, Ho-yung David Hwang
  • Patent number: 11437238
    Abstract: Methods and film stacks for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography are described. The film stack comprises a substrate with a hard mask, bottom layer, middle layer and photoresist. Etching of the photoresist is highly selective to the middle layer and a modification of the middle layer allows for a highly selective etch relative to the bottom layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Fung, Chi-I Lang, Ho-yung David Hwang
  • Publication number: 20220238531
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to provide a patterned substrate are described. A plurality of patterned and spaced first lines and carbon material lines and formed on the substrate surface by selectively depositing and etching films extending in a first direction and films extending in a second direction that crosses the first direction to pattern the underlying structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tejinder Singh, Takehito Koshizawa, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Pramit Manna, Nancy Fung, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Ho-Yung David Hwang, Samuel E. Gottheim
  • Patent number: 11335690
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to provide a patterned substrate are described. A plurality of patterned and spaced first lines and carbon material lines and formed on the substrate surface by selectively depositing and etching films extending in a first direction and films extending in a second direction that crosses the first direction to pattern the underlying structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tejinder Singh, Takehito Koshizawa, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Pramit Manna, Nancy Fung, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Ho-yung David Hwang, Samuel E. Gottheim
  • Publication number: 20220068661
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate is provided. The method includes modifying a surface of a metal-containing layer formed over a substrate positioned in a processing region of a processing chamber by exposing the surface of the metal-containing layer to plasma effluents of a chlorine-containing gas precursor and an oxygen-containing gas precursor to form a modified surface of the metal-containing layer. The method further includes directing plasma effluents of an inert gas precursor towards the modified surface of the metal-containing layer. The plasma effluents of the inert gas precursor are directed by applying a bias voltage to a substrate support holding the substrate. The method further includes anisotropically etching the modified surface of the metal-containing layer with the plasma effluents of the inert gas precursor to form a first recess having a first sidewall in the metal-containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan SHAW, Priyadarshi PANDA, Nancy FUNG, Yongchang DONG, Somaye RASOULI, Gene LEE
  • Publication number: 20220059365
    Abstract: A method for patterning a material layer on a substrate includes forming a hard mask layer on a material layer disposed on a substrate, the material layer comprising a plurality of first layers and a plurality of second layers alternately formed over the substrate, performing a first etch process to form features in the material layer through the hard mask layer by supplying a first etching gas, and performing a second etch process to smooth sidewalls of the features formed in the material layer by suppling a second etching gas. The first etching gas is supplied continuously and the second etching gas is pulsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Nancy FUNG, Gabriela ALVA
  • Publication number: 20220059366
    Abstract: A method for patterning a material layer on a substrate includes forming a hard mask layer on a material layer disposed on a substrate, and etching the material layer through the hard mask layer by simultaneously supplying an etching gas mixture and an oxygen containing gas. The etching gas mixture is supplied continuously and the oxygen containing gas is pulsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Nancy FUNG, Gabriela ALVA
  • Publication number: 20220005688
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed within include a method for etching a hardmask layer includes forming a photoresist layer comprising an organometallic material on a hardmask layer comprising a metal-containing material, exposing the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation through a mask having a selected pattern, removing un-irradiated areas of the photoresist layer to pattern the photoresist layer, forming a passivation layer comprising a carbon-containing material selectively on a top surface of the patterned photoresist layer, including selectively depositing passivation material over a top surface of a patterned photoresist layer trimming undesired portions of the passivation material, and etching the hardmask layer exposed by the patterned photoresist layer having the passivation layer formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: NANCY FUNG, LARRY GAO
  • Publication number: 20210358751
    Abstract: A method for etching a hardmask layer includes forming a photoresist layer comprising an organometallic material on a hardmask layer comprising a metal-containing material, exposing the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation through a mask having a selected pattern, removing un-irradiated areas of the photoresist layer to pattern the photoresist layer, forming a passivation layer comprising a carbon-containing material selectively on a top surface of the patterned photoresist layer, and etching the hardmask layer exposed by the patterned photoresist layer having the passivation layer formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Larry GAO, Nancy FUNG
  • Publication number: 20210134807
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to provide a patterned substrate are described. A plurality of patterned and spaced first lines and carbon material lines and formed on the substrate surface by selectively depositing and etching films extending in a first direction and films extending in a second direction that crosses the first direction to pattern the underlying structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tejinder Singh, Takehito Koshizawa, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Pramit Manna, Nancy Fung, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Ho-yung David Hwang, Samuel E. Gottheim
  • Patent number: 10954129
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure is described. The method comprises forming at least one mandrel on a substrate, the at least one mandrel comprising a diamond-like carbon and having a top and two opposing sidewalls, the diamond-like carbon comprising at least 40% sp3 hybridized carbon atoms. The mandrel may be used in Self-Aligned Multiple Patterning (SAMP) processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Takehito Koshizawa, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Pramit Manna, Chi Lu, Chi-I Lang, Nancy Fung, Abhijit Basu Mallick
  • Patent number: 10910381
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to provide a patterned substrate are described. A plurality of patterned and spaced first lines and carbon material lines and formed on the substrate surface by selectively depositing and etching films extending in a first direction and films extending in a second direction that crosses the first direction to pattern the underlying structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tejinder Singh, Takehito Koshizawa, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Pramit Manna, Nancy Fung, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Ho-yung David Hwang, Samuel E. Gottheim