Patents by Inventor Thomas McCarroll Shaw

Thomas McCarroll Shaw 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: 10755404
    Abstract: Techniques that facilitate integrated circuit defect detection using pattern images are provided. In one example, a system generates an equalized pattern image of a pattern image associated with a module under test based on an adaptive contrast equalization technique. The system also identifies a first set of features of the equalized pattern image based on a feature point detection technique and aligns the equalized pattern image with a reference pattern image based on the first set of features and a second set of features of the reference pattern image. Furthermore, the system compares a first set of light intensities of the equalized pattern image to a second set of light intensities of the reference pattern image to identify one or more regions of the module under test that satisfy a defined criterion associated with a defect for the module under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chung-Ching Lin, Thomas McCarroll Shaw, Peilin Song, Franco Stellari, Thomas Anthony Wassick
  • Publication number: 20190180430
    Abstract: Techniques that facilitate integrated circuit defect detection using pattern images are provided. In one example, a system generates an equalized pattern image of a pattern image associated with a module under test based on an adaptive contrast equalization technique. The system also identifies a first set of features of the equalized pattern image based on a feature point detection technique and aligns the equalized pattern image with a reference pattern image based on the first set of features and a second set of features of the reference pattern image. Furthermore, the system compares a first set of light intensities of the equalized pattern image to a second set of light intensities of the reference pattern image to identify one or more regions of the module under test that satisfy a defined criterion associated with a defect for the module under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Chung-Ching Lin, Thomas McCarroll Shaw, Peilin Song, Franco Stellari, Thomas Anthony Wassick
  • Patent number: 7745863
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20090304951
    Abstract: A method for forming a ultralow dielectric constant layer with controlled biaxial stress is described incorporating the steps of forming a layer containing Si, C, O and H by one of PECVD and spin-on coating and curing the film in an environment containing very low concentrations of oxygen and water each less than 10 ppm. A material is also described by using the method with a dielectric constant of not more than 2.8. The invention overcomes the problem of forming films with low biaxial stress less than 46 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christos Dimitrios Dimitrakopoulos, Stephen McConnell Gates, Alfred Grill, Michael Wayne Lane, Eric Gerhard Liniger, Xiao Hu Liu, Son Van Nguyen, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20090098728
    Abstract: The disclosed method forms a via between metallization layers in a semiconductor structure by patterning an insulator layer overlying a first metallization layer to include a via opening. The method lines the via opening with TaN and Ta liners and then sputter etches the via opening deeper through the TaN and Ta liners into the first metallization layer. After sputter etching, the method then lines the via opening with second TaN and Ta liners. Next, the method deposits a conductor into the via opening, thereby connecting the first and second metallization layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Stephan Grunow, Thomas McCarroll Shaw, Andrew H. Simon, Chih-Chao Yang, Tiblor Bolom, James Werking
  • Publication number: 20080286494
    Abstract: A method for forming a ultralow dielectric constant layer with controlled biaxial stress is described incorporating the steps of forming a layer containing Si, C, O and H by one of PECVD and spin-on coating and curing the film in an environment containing very low concentrations of oxygen and water each less than 10 ppm. A material is also described by using the method with a dielectric constant of not more than 2.8. The invention overcomes the problem of forming films with low biaxial stress less than 46 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christos Dimitrios Dimitrakopoulos, Stephen McConnell Gates, Alfred Grill, Michael Wayne Lane, Eric Gerhard Liniger, Xiao Hu Liu, Son Van Nguyen, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20080258194
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James William Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 7402857
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 7357977
    Abstract: A method for forming a ultralow dielectric constant layer with controlled biaxial stress is described incorporating the steps of forming a layer containing Si, C, O and H by one of PECVD and spin-on coating and curing the film in an environment containing very low concentrations of oxygen and water each less than 10 ppm. A material is also described by using the method with a dielectric constant of not more than 2.8. The invention overcomes the problem of forming films with low biaxial stress less than 46 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christos Dimitrios Dimitrakopoulos, Stephen McConnell Gates, Alfred Grill, Michael Wayne Lane, Eric Gerhard Liniger, Xiao Hu Liu, Son Van Nguyen, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 7217969
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James William Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 7186573
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James William Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 6773982
    Abstract: An integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which comprises at least a ferroelectric material, a pair of electrodes in contact with opposite surfaces of the ferroelectric material, where the electrodes do not decompose at deposition or annealing, and an oxygen source layer in contact with at least one of said electrodes, said oxygen source layer being a metal oxide which at least partially decomposes during deposition and/or subsequent processing is provided as well as a method of fabricating the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Thomas Black, Cyril Cabral, Jr., Alfred Grill, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20030155598
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James William Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20030085447
    Abstract: An IC including a resistor which is coupled to a metal wiring level through metal contacts, said resistor including a discrete metal-insulator-metal stack, wherein said metal contacts are in contact to one of said metals of said film stack. In the above IC design, current flows laterally through either the top metal electrode, the bottom metal electrode, or both, and any unused electrode is disconnected from the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Richard Duncombe, Daniel Charles Edelstein, Robert Benjamin Laibowitz, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Tak Hung Ning, Robert Rosenberg, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 6555859
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James William Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 6503641
    Abstract: An electrical conductor for use in an electronic structure is disclosed which includes a conductor body that is formed of an alloy including between about 0.001 atomic % and about 2 atomic % of an element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, In, Sn and Hf; and a liner abutting the conductor body which is formed of an alloy that includes Ta, W, Ti, Nb and V. The invention further discloses a liner for use in a semiconductor interconnect that is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Ti, Hf, In, Sn, Zr and alloys thereof, TiCu3, Ta1−XTix, Ta1−X, Hfx, Ta1−X, Inxy, Ta1−XSnx, Ta1−XZrx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cyril Cabral, Jr., Roy Arthur Carruthers, James McKell Edwin Harper, Chao-Kun Hu, Kim Yang Lee, Ismail Cevdet Noyan, Robert Rosenberg, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20020074581
    Abstract: An integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which comprises at least a ferroelectric material, a pair of electrodes in contact with opposite surfaces of the ferroelectric material, where the electrodes do not decompose at deposition or annealing, and an oxygen source layer in contact with at least one of said electrodes, said oxygen source layer being a metal oxide which at least partially decomposes during deposition and/or subsequent processing is provided as well as a method of fabricating the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Thomas Black, Cyril Cabral, Alfred Grill, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20020076574
    Abstract: An electrical conductor for use in an electronic structure is disclosed which includes a conductor body that is formed of an alloy including between about 0.001 atomic % and about 2 atomic % of an element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, In, Sn and Hf; and a liner abutting the conductor body which is formed of an alloy that includes Ta, W, Ti, Nb and V. The invention further discloses a liner for use in a semiconductor interconnect that is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Ti, Hf, In, Sn, Zr and alloys thereof, TiCu3, Ta1−XTix, Ta1−XHfx, Ta1−XInxy, Ta1−XSnx, Ta1−XZrx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cyril Cabral, Roy Arthur Carruthers, James McKell Edwin Harper, Chao-Kun Hu, Kim Yang Lee, Ismail Cevdet Noyan, Robert Rosenberg, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Patent number: 6388285
    Abstract: An integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which comprises at least a ferroelectric material, a pair of electrodes in contact with opposite surfaces of the ferroelectric material, where the electrodes do not decompose at deposition or annealing, and an oxygen source layer in contact with at least one of said electrodes, said oxygen source layer being a metal oxide which at least partially decomposes during deposition and/or subsequent processing is provided as well as a method of fabricating the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Thomas Black, Cyril Cabral, Jr., Alfred Grill, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw
  • Publication number: 20020028549
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated ferroelectric/CMOS structure which effectively separates incompatible high temperature deposition and annealing processes is provided. The method of the present invention includes separately forming a CMOS structure and a ferroelectric delivery wafer. These separate structures are then brought into contact with each and the ferroelectric film of the delivery wafer is bonded to the upper conductive electrode layer of the CMOS structure by using a low temperature anneal step. A portion of the delivery wafer is then removed providing an integrated FE/CMOS structure wherein the ferroelectric capacitor is formed on top of the CMOS structure. The capacitor is in contact with the transistor of the CMOS structure through all the wiring levels of the CMOS structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James William Adkisson, Charles Thomas Black, Alfred Grill, Randy William Mann, Deborah Ann Neumayer, Wilbur David Pricer, Katherine Lynn Saenger, Thomas McCarroll Shaw