Patents by Inventor Wen-Yu Ku

Wen-Yu Ku 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: 20190259636
    Abstract: A method includes rotating a wafer, dispensing a liquid from a center of the wafer to an edge of the wafer to control a temperature of the wafer, and etching an etch layer of the wafer with an etchant during or after dispensing the liquid. The liquid is dispensed through a nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manish Kumar SINGH, Bo-Wei CHOU, Jui-Ming SHIH, Wen-Yu KU, Ping-Jung HUANG, Pi-Chun YU
  • Publication number: 20190139770
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a semiconductor wafer into a chamber; generating a plasma within the chamber to accelerate particles toward the semiconductor wafer; generating a magnetic field above the semiconductor wafer by an electromagnetic structure contained within the chamber, wherein the electromagnetic structure comprises a plurality of electromagnetic elements; and adjusting the magnetic field, wherein the adjusting of the magnetic field includes moving positions of each of the plurality of electromagnetic elements independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Chien-An Lai, Joseph Wu, Wen-Yu Ku
  • Patent number: 10283384
    Abstract: A method for etching an etch layer formed on a front side of a wafer and a wafer etching apparatus are provided. The wafer etching apparatus includes a first flow channel, a temperature-regulating module, and a second flow channel. The first flow channel is configured to carry a preheated/precooled liquid for controlling a temperature of a wafer. The temperature-regulating module is coupled to the first flow channel. The temperature-regulating module is configured to control a temperature of the liquid in the first flow channel. The second flow channel is configured to carry an etchant for etching an etch layer formed on a front side of the wafer. The method includes: controlling the temperature of the wafer by using the preheated/precooled liquid; and etching the etch layer with the etchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manish Kumar Singh, Bo-Wei Chou, Jui-Ming Shih, Wen-Yu Ku, Ping-Jung Huang, Pi-Chun Yu
  • Publication number: 20190103277
    Abstract: Embodiment described herein provide a thermal treatment process following a high-pressure anneal process to keep hydrogen at an interface between a channel region and a gate dielectric layer in a field effect transistor while removing hydrogen from the bulk portion of the gate dielectric layer. The thermal treatment process can reduce the amount of threshold voltage shift caused by a high-pressure anneal. The high-pressure anneal and the thermal treatment process may be performed any time after formation of the gate dielectric layer, thus, causing no disruption to the existing process flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongfa LUAN, Huicheng CHANG, Cheng-Po CHAU, Wen-Yu KU, Yi-Fan CHEN, Chun-Yen PENG
  • Patent number: 10170313
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving doping and/or deposition uniformity using a tunable electromagnetic field generation device are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a chamber configured to contain a semiconductor wafer, a plasma generator, and a gas inlet, and an exhaust gas outlet. The gas inlet permits a controlled flow of a gas into the chamber through a wall of the chamber and the exhaust gas outlet permits exhausting of gas from the chamber. The system further includes a wafer support structure configured to support the semiconductor wafer during a doping or deposition process and an electromagnetic structure positioned within the chamber and at least partially surrounding an upper surface of the wafer support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-An Lai, Joseph Wu, Wen-Yu Ku
  • Publication number: 20170316942
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving doping and/or deposition uniformity using a tunable electromagnetic field generation device are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a chamber configured to contain a semiconductor wafer, a plasma generator, and a gas inlet, and an exhaust gas outlet. The gas inlet permits a controlled flow of a gas into the chamber through a wall of the chamber and the exhaust gas outlet permits exhausting of gas from the chamber. The system further includes a wafer support structure configured to support the semiconductor wafer during a doping or deposition process and an electromagnetic structure positioned within the chamber and at least partially surrounding an upper surface of the wafer support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Chien-An Lai, Joseph Wu, Wen-Yu Ku
  • Patent number: 9776216
    Abstract: A dispensing method is disclosed that includes the following steps: a cleaning sleeve is provided to surround a spray member. A first fluid is previously dispensed from a first fluid outlet of the spray member. A second fluid is sprayed from a second fluid outlet of the cleaning sleeve to clean the spray member. The cleaning sleeve is opened or slid away from the spray member, such that the first fluid outlet of the spray member is exposed to a substrate. The first fluid is dispensed from the first fluid outlet of the spray member to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weibo Yu, Kuo-Sheng Chuang, Wen-Yu Ku, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20160314994
    Abstract: A method for etching an etch layer formed on a front side of a wafer and a wafer etching apparatus are provided. The wafer etching apparatus includes a first flow channel, a temperature-regulating module, and a second flow channel. The first flow channel is configured to carry a preheated/precooled liquid for controlling a temperature of a wafer. The temperature-regulating module is coupled to the first flow channel. The temperature-regulating module is configured to control a temperature of the liquid in the first flow channel. The second flow channel is configured to carry an etchant for etching an etch layer formed on a front side of the wafer. The method includes: controlling the temperature of the wafer by using the preheated/precooled liquid; and etching the etch layer with the etchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Manish Kumar SINGH, Bo-Wei CHOU, Jui-Ming SHIH, Wen-Yu KU, Ping-Jung HUANG, Pi-Chun YU
  • Patent number: 9053907
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plasma flood gun for neutralizing a positive charge buildup on a semiconductor wafer during a process of ion implantation using an ion beam. The plasma flood gun comprises more than two arc chambers, wherein each arc chamber is configured to generate and release electrons into the ion beam in a respective zone adjacent to the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Lin Chang, Chih-Hong Hwang, Wen-Yu Ku, Chi-Ming Yang, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20150147826
    Abstract: An integrated system operation method is disclosed that includes the following steps: the film of a substrate is measured by a metrology apparatus to obtain a film information. The substrate is moved from the metrology apparatus to a process apparatus adjacent to the transfer apparatus. The film information is sent to the process apparatus. A film treatment is applied to the substrate in accordance with the film information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weibo Yu, Wen-Yu Ku, Kuo-Sheng Chuang, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20150144161
    Abstract: A dispensing method is disclosed that includes the following steps: a cleaning sleeve is provided to surround a spray member. A first fluid is previously dispensed from a first fluid outlet of the spray member. A second fluid is sprayed from a second fluid outlet of the cleaning sleeve to clean the spray member. The cleaning sleeve is opened or slid away from the spray member, such that the first fluid outlet of the spray member is exposed to a substrate. The first fluid is dispensed from the first fluid outlet of the spray member to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weibo YU, Kuo-Sheng CHUANG, Wen-Yu KU, Chin-Hsiang LIN
  • Patent number: 8664622
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an ionization chamber for providing ions during a process of ion implantation, and an electron beam source device inside the ionization chamber. The electron beam source device comprises a field emission array having a plurality of emitters for generating electrons in vacuum under an electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hong Hwang, Chun-Lin Chang, Chi-Ming Yang, Chin-Hsiang Lin, Wen-Yu Ku
  • Publication number: 20130270454
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an ionization chamber for providing ions during a process of ion implantation, and an electron beam source device inside the ionization chamber. The electron beam source device comprises a field emission array having a plurality of emitters for generating electrons in vacuum under an electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hong HWANG, Chun-Lin CHANG, Chi-Ming YANG, Chin-Hsiang LIN, Wen-Yu KU
  • Publication number: 20130264498
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plasma flood gun for neutralizing a positive charge buildup on a semiconductor wafer during a process of ion implantation using an ion beam. The plasma flood gun comprises more than two arc chambers, wherein each arc chamber is configured to generate and release electrons into the ion beam in a respective zone adjacent to the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Lin CHANG, Chih-Hing HWANG, Wen-Yu KU, Chi-Ming YANG, Chin-Hsiang LIN
  • Publication number: 20080041758
    Abstract: A wafer carrier. The wafer carrier includes a container and a plate, wherein the container has an inner wall and the plate is disposed in the vicinity of the inner wall of an upper portion of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Yen-Fei Lin, Hui-Wen Chou, Wen-Yu Ku, Pu-Fang Chen, Tung-Li Lee, Jih-Hwa Wang
  • Patent number: 6444551
    Abstract: A method of driving-in antimony into a wafer, including the following steps. A wafer is loaded into an annealing furnace/tool. The wafer having an area of implanted antimony ions. The wafer is annealed a first time at a first temperature in the presence of only a first nitrogen gas flow rate. The wafer is ramped-down from the first temperature to a second temperature in the presence of only an oxygen gas flow rate. The wafer is maintained in the presence of the of oxygen gas flow rate at the second temperature. The wafer is ramped-up from the second temperature to a third temperature in the presence of only the oxygen gas flow rate. The wafer is annealed a second time at the third temperature in the presence of only a second nitrogen gas flow rate to drive-in the antimony ions within the area of implanted antimony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wen-Yu Ku, Fang-Cheng Lu, Ting-Pang Li, Cheng-Chung Wang