Patents by Inventor Terence M. Thomas

Terence M. Thomas 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: 9633865
    Abstract: The invention is an aqueous composition useful for chemical mechanical polishing of a patterned semiconductor wafer containing a copper interconnect metal. The aqueous composition includes an oxidizer, an inhibitor for the copper interconnect metal, 0.001 to 15 weight percent of a water soluble modified cellulose, non-saccaride water soluble polymer, 0 to 15 complexing agent for the copper interconnect metal, 0 to 15 weight percent phosphorus compound, 0.05 to 20 weight percent of an acid compound that is capable of complexing copper ions, and water; and the solution has an acidic pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Thomas, Hongyu Wang
  • Patent number: 8563436
    Abstract: A method for chemical mechanical polishing of a semiconductor wafer containing a nonferrous metal is provided, comprising: providing a chemical mechanical polishing composition comprising 1 to 25 wt % of an oxidizer; 0.01 to 15 wt % of an inhibitor for the nonferrous metal; 0.005 to 5 wt % of a copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether(meth)acrylate and 1-vinylimidazole; and water; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing composition has an acidic pH; providing a chemical mechanical polishing pad; providing a semiconductor wafer containing the nonferrous metal; creating dynamic contact between the chemical mechanical polishing pad and the semiconductor wafer; and, dispensing the polishing solution at or near the interface between the chemical mechanical polishing pad and the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tirthankar Ghosh, Terence M. Thomas, Hongyu Wang, Scott A. Ibbitson
  • Patent number: 8540893
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing composition useful for chemical mechanical polishing of a patterned semiconductor wafer containing a nonferrous metal. The chemical mechanical polishing composition comprises an inhibitor for the nonferrous metal; a copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether (meth)acrylate and 1-vinylimidazole; and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tirthankar Ghosh, Terence M. Thomas, Hongyu Wang, Scott A. Ibbitson
  • Patent number: 7785487
    Abstract: The aqueous slurry is useful for chemical mechanical polishing semiconductor substrates having copper interconnects. The aqueous slurry includes by weight percent, 0.01 to 25 oxidizing agent, 0.1 to 50 abrasive particles, 0.001 to 3 polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 0.01 to 10 inhibitor for decreasing static etch of the copper interconnects, 0.001 to 5 phosphorus-containing compound for increasing removal rate of the copper interconnects, 0.001 to 10 complexing agent formed during polishing and balance water; and the aqueous slurry has a pH of at least 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Thomas, Qianqiu Ye
  • Publication number: 20100029079
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing composition useful for chemical mechanical polishing of a patterned semiconductor wafer containing a nonferrous metal. The chemical mechanical polishing composition comprises an inhibitor for the nonferrous metal; a copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether (meth)acrylate and 1-vinylimidazole; and water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Tirthankar Ghosh, Terence M. Thomas, Hongyu Wang
  • Publication number: 20090215265
    Abstract: The invention is an aqueous composition useful for chemical mechanical polishing of a patterned semiconductor wafer containing a copper interconnect metal. The aqueous composition includes an oxidizer, an inhibitor for the copper interconnect metal, 0.001 to 15 weight percent of a water soluble modified cellulose, non-saccaride water soluble polymer, 0 to 15 complexing agent for the copper interconnect metal, 0 to 15 weight percent phosphorus compound, 0.05 to 20 weight percent of an acid compound that is capable of complexing copper ions, and water; and the solution has an acidic pH.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Terence M. Thomas, Hongyu Wang
  • Publication number: 20090215266
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a method for polishing a patterned semiconductor wafer containing a copper interconnect metal with a polishing pad. The method includes the following: a) providing an aqueous polishing solution, the polishing solution containing an benzotriazole (BTA) inhibitor and a copper complexing compound and water; b) polishing the patterned wafer with the aqueous polishing solution and the polishing pad in a manner that dissolves copper into Cu+1 ions, the Cu+1 ions and BTA inhibitor having a concentration where [BTA]*[Cu+1]> than Ksp for Cu-BTA precipitate if the aqueous solution did not contain the complexing compound; and c) oxidizing at least some of the copper ions to prevent the polishing from precipitating the Cu-BTA precipitate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Terence M. Thomas, Hongyu Wang
  • Publication number: 20080276543
    Abstract: The aqueous slurry is useful for chemical mechanical polishing a semiconductor substrate having a tantalum-containing barrier layer and copper interconnects. The slurry includes by weight percent, 0 to 5 oxidizing agent, 0.1 to 25 silica particles, 0.001 to 3 polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 0.02 to 5 weight percent imine barrier removal agent selected from at least one of formamidine, formamidine salts, formamidine derivatives, guanidine, guanidine derivatives, guanidine salts and a mixture thereof, 0.02 to 5 weight percent carbonate, 0.01 to 10 inhibitor for decreasing static etch of the copper interconnects, 0.001 to 10 complexing agent and balance water; and the aqueous slurry having a pH of 9 to 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Terence M. Thomas, Qianqiu Ye
  • Patent number: 7387964
    Abstract: A cleaning solution for removing copper complex residues from the surface of polishing pads and wafer substrates includes an amine pH-adjusting agent, which can be a unidentate or bidentate amine compound or a quartnary ammonium hydroxide compound or an amine including an alcohol group. The cleaning solution also includes an amino acid complexing agent and an inhibitor. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning solution has a basic pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph K. So, Terence M. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080029126
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous composition useful for polishing copper on a semiconductor wafer at a down force pressure of at least less than 20.68 kPa, comprising by weight percent oxidizer, 0.001 to 5 inhibitor for a nonferrous metal, complexing agent for the nonferrous metal, 0.01 to 5 carboxylic acid polymer, 0.01 to 5 modified cellulose, 0.001 to 10 phosphorus-containing compound and 0.001 to 10 boehmite abrasive, wherein the boehmite increases the planarization rate of the copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Terence M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7270762
    Abstract: The polishing composition of this invention is useful for chemical-mechanical polishing of substrates containing noble metals such as platinum and comprises up to about 50% by weight of a adjuvant wherein said adjuvant is s elected from a group consisting of a metal-anion compound, a metal-cation compound or mixtures thereof; abrasive particles at about 0.5% to about 55% by weight of the polishing composition; and water-soluble organic additives up to about 10% by weight of the polishing composition. The abrasive particles are selected from the group consisting of alumina, ceria, silica, diamond, germania, zirconia, silicon carbide, boron nitride, boron carbide or mixtures thereof. The organic additives generally improve dispersion of the abrasive particles and also enhance metal removal rates and selectivity for metal removal by stabilizing the pH of the polishing composition and suppressing the dielectric removal rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongyu Wang, Terence M. Thomas, Qianqiu Ye, Heinz F. Reinhardt, Vikas Sachan
  • Patent number: 7253111
    Abstract: The polishing solution is useful for preferentially removing barrier materials in the presence of nonferrous interconnect metals with limited erosion of dielectrics. The polishing solution comprises 0 to 20 weight percent oxidizer, at least 0.001 weight percent inhibitor for reducing removal rate of the nonferrous interconnect metals, 10 ppb to 4 weight percent complexing agent, 0 to 50 weight percent abrasive and balance water; and the solution having a pH of less than 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holding, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhendong Liu, John Quanci, Robert E. Schmidt, Terence M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7132058
    Abstract: A tungsten CMP solution for planarizing semiconductor wafers includes a primary oxidizer having a sufficient oxidation potential for oxidizing tungsten metal to tungsten oxide; and the tungsten CMP solution has a static etch rate for removing the tungsten metal. A secondary oxidizer lowers the static etch rate of the tungsten CMP solution. The secondary oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of bromates and chlorates. Optionally the tungsten CMP contains 0 to 50 weight percent abrasive particles; and it contains a balance of water and incidental impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Thomas, Stephan De Nardi, Wade Godfrey
  • Patent number: 7084059
    Abstract: A system for dished metal redevelopment by providing a metal deposition solution at an interface between a moving semiconductor wafer and a moving polishing pad, which deposits metal onto dished metal in trenches in a layer of an interlayer dielectric; and by polishing the wafer with a relatively reduced polishing pressure to polish metal being deposited. A polishing fluid is disclosed for use in a CMP polishing system, the polishing fluid being a metal deposition solution for dished metal redevelopment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Thomas, Joseph K. So
  • Patent number: 7070485
    Abstract: A polishing composition to remove metal from a dielectric layer by, either single step CMP polishing, or two step CMP polishing, the composition including, an aqueous solution provided with a substance having molecules with respective silanols, and a concentration of ions that solublize the silanols to adsorb on a hydrated surface of the dielectric layer during said polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig D. Lack, Terence M. Thomas, Qianqiu Ye
  • Patent number: 6971945
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-step aqueous composition useful for polishing a tantalum barrier material and copper from a semiconductor wafer, comprising by weight percent 0.1 to 30 oxidizer, 0.01 to 3 inorganic salt or acid, 0.01 to 4 inhibitor, 0.1 to 30 abrasive, 0 to 15 complexing agent and balance water, wherein the aqueous composition has a pH between 1.5 to 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhendong Liu, John Quanci, Robert E. Schmidt, Terence M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6936541
    Abstract: A method for planarizing metal interconnects of a semiconductor wafer includes the steps of polishing the semiconductor wafer with a polishing solution and a polishing pad to planarize the metal interconnects. The polishing solution has by weight percent, 0.15 to 5 benzotriazole, 0 to 1 abrasive, 0 to 10 polymeric particles, 0 to 5 polymer-coated particles and balance water at a pH of less than 5 and a removal rate-pressure sensitivity (dr/dp) of at least 750 (?/min/psi). The polishing simultaneously accelerates removal of projecting metal from the metal interconnects with the polishing pad providing a first pressure that increases removal rate of the projecting metal; and it inhibits removal of recessed metal from the metal interconnects with the polishing pad providing a second pressure that decreases removal of the recessed metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Rohn and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinru Bian, Tirthankar Ghosh, Terence M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6699299
    Abstract: A composition is provided in the present invention for polishing a composite semiconductor structure containing a metal layer (such as tungsten, aluminum, or copper), a barrier layer (such as tantalum, tantalum nitride, titanium, or titanium nitride), and an insulating layer (such as SiO2). The composition comprises an aqueous medium, an oxidant, an organic polymer that attenuates removal of the oxide film. The composition may optionally comprise a complexing agent and/or a dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Sachan, Elizabeth A. (Kegerise) Langlois, Qianqiu (Christine) Ye, Keith G. Pierce, Craig D. Lack, Terence M. Thomas, Peter A. Burke, David Gettman, Sarah Lane
  • Publication number: 20040023492
    Abstract: A method for planarizing metal interconnects of a semiconductor wafer includes the steps of polishing the semiconductor wafer with a polishing solution and a polishing pad to planarize the metal interconnects. The polishing solution has by weight percent, 0.15 to 5 benzotriazole, 0 to 1 abrasive, 0 to 10 polymeric particles, 0 to 5 polymer-coated particles and balance water at a pH of less than 5 and a removal rate-pressure sensitivity (dr/dp) of at least 750 (Å/min/psi). The polishing simultaneously accelerates removal of projecting metal from the metal interconnects with the polishing pad providing a first pressure that increases removal rate of the projecting metal; and it inhibits removal of recessed metal from the metal interconnects with the polishing pad providing a second pressure that decreases removal of the recessed metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Jinru Bian, Tirthankar Ghosh, Terence M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6664188
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer adapted for planarization by polishing the wafer with a polishing pad and a polishing fluid, the wafer having a metal layer, and a resistant film formed selectively on low topography features of the metal layer to resist the polishing fluid while high topography features of the metal layer are removed by said polishing, which minimizes a time duration for attaining planarization of the wafer by said polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Terence M. Thomas