Patents by Inventor Xuefeng Liu

Xuefeng Liu 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: 10325004
    Abstract: Optimization of optical parametric models for structural analysis using optical critical dimension metrology is described. A method includes determining a first optical model fit for a parameter of a structure. The first optical model fit is based on a domain of quantities for a first model of the structure. A first near optical field response is determined for a first quantity of the domain of quantities and a second near optical field response is determined for a second, different quantity of the domain of quantities. The first and second near optical field responses are compared to locate a common region of high optical field intensity for the parameter of the structure. The first model of the structure is modified to provide a second, different model of the structure. A second, different optical model fit is determined for the parameter of the structure based on the second model of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thaddeus G. Dziura, Yung-Ho Chuang, Bin-Ming Benjamin Tsai, Xuefeng Liu, John J. Hench
  • Patent number: 10319852
    Abstract: A method is presented for forming an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) device. The method includes forming a FinFET (fin field effect transistor) device having a plurality of fins over a substrate and forming a via cap adjacent the FinFET device by forming a contact trench extending into a bottom spacer, depositing a conductive liner within the contact trench, filling the contact trench with an organic dielectric layer (ODL), etching portions of the conductive liner and a portion of the ODL, and removing the ODL. The method further includes depositing a high-k material within the contact trench and depositing a conducting material over the high-k material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang
  • Publication number: 20190152830
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermoforming method, a thermoforming mold, and a thermoforming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Wei Su, Bo Xu, Xuefeng Liu, Zaizhang Ye
  • Publication number: 20190152829
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a thermoforming method and a thermoforming device for a glass product. The method comprises the following steps of: providing a thermoforming mold, wherein the thermoforming mold comprises a lower mold and an upper mold arranged above the lower mold and matched therewith, and providing a mold opening component; a pressurizing process, wherein a glass sheet placed in the thermoforming mold and at a softening point temperature and above is hot-pressed to form a glass product; a cooling process, wherein the glass product placed in the thermoforming mold is cooled, and when the temperature of the glass product drops to a glass point transformation temperature and below, the upper mold is opened by the mold opening component so that the upper mold is separated from the lower mold; and taking the glass product out when the temperature of the glass product in the thermoforming mold drops to a room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Wei Su, Bo Xu, Xuefeng Liu, Shaolin He
  • Publication number: 20190131292
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method and resulting structures for vertical fin CMOS technology for electrostatic discharge protection. In a non-limiting embodiment, forming a first set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from a substrate, and forming a second set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from the substrate, the distance between the first set of fins and the second set of fins defines a length of a junction. Embodiments also include forming a first epitaxy layer on the substrate, and forming a second epitaxy layer atop a portion of the first epitaxy layer, wherein a PN junction is formed between the first epitaxy layer and the second epitaxy layer, wherein a length of the PN junction is defined by the first set of semiconductor fins and the second semiconductor fins. Embodiments include forming a first metal contact atop the first epitaxy layer, and forming a second metal contact atop the second epitaxy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Terence B. Hook, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang, Miaomiao Wang
  • Patent number: 10276558
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method and resulting structures for vertical fin CMOS technology for electrostatic discharge protection. In a non-limiting embodiment, forming a first set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from a substrate, and forming a second set of semiconductor fins vertically extending from the substrate, the distance between the first set of fins and the second set of fins defines a length of a junction. Embodiments also include forming a first epitaxy layer on the substrate, and forming a second epitaxy layer atop a portion of the first epitaxy layer, wherein a PN junction is formed between the first epitaxy layer and the second epitaxy layer, wherein a length of the PN junction is defined by the first set of semiconductor fins and the second semiconductor fins. Embodiments include forming a first metal contact atop the first epitaxy layer, and forming a second metal contact atop the second epitaxy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Terence B. Hook, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang, Miaomiao Wang
  • Publication number: 20190049851
    Abstract: An electron source is formed on a silicon substrate having opposing first and second surfaces. At least one field emitter is prepared on the second surface of the silicon substrate to enhance the emission of electrons. To prevent oxidation of the silicon, a thin, contiguous boron layer is disposed directly on the output surface of the field emitter using a process that minimizes oxidation and defects. The field emitter can take various shapes such as pyramids and rounded whiskers. One or several optional gate layers may be placed at or slightly lower than the height of the field emitter tip in order to achieve fast and accurate control of the emission current and high emission currents. The field emitter can be p-type doped and configured to operate in a reverse bias mode or the field emitter can be n-type doped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden
  • Patent number: 10197501
    Abstract: A focusing EBCCD includes a control device positioned between a photocathode and a CCD. The control device has a plurality of holes therein, wherein the plurality of holes are formed perpendicular to a surface of the photocathode, and wherein a pattern of the plurality of holes is aligned with a pattern of pixels in the CCD. Each hole is surrounded by at least one first electrode, which is formed on a surface of the control device facing the photocathode. The control device may include a plurality of ridges between the holes. The control device may be separated from the photocathode by approximately half a shorter dimension of a CCD pixel or less. A plurality of first electrodes may be provided, wherein each first electrode surrounds a given hole and is separated from the given hole by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden, David L. Brown
  • Patent number: 10133181
    Abstract: An electron source is formed on a silicon substrate having opposing first and second surfaces. At least one field emitter is prepared on the second surface of the silicon substrate to enhance the emission of electrons. To prevent oxidation of the silicon, a thin, contiguous boron layer is disposed directly on the output surface of the field emitter using a process that minimizes oxidation and defects. The field emitter can take various shapes such as pyramids and rounded whiskers. One or several optional gate layers may be placed at or slightly lower than the height of the field emitter tip in order to achieve fast and accurate control of the emission current and high emission currents. The field emitter can be p-type doped and configured to operate in a reverse bias mode or the field emitter can be n-type doped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Alex Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden
  • Publication number: 20180315835
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transport field effect transistors with uniform bottom spacer thickness, including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on a substrate, forming a protective liner layer on the plurality of vertical fins, forming a sacrificial liner on the protective liner layer, forming a spacer liner on a portion of the sacrificial liner, wherein at least a top surface of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins is exposed, converting the exposed portion of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins to a conversion cap, and removing the conversion cap from each of the vertical fins to expose an upper portion of each vertical fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Peng Xu, Yongan Xu
  • Publication number: 20180315834
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transport field effect transistors with uniform bottom spacer thickness, including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on a substrate, forming a protective liner layer on the plurality of vertical fins, forming a sacrificial liner on the protective liner layer, forming a spacer liner on a portion of the sacrificial liner, wherein at least a top surface of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins is exposed, converting the exposed portion of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins to a conversion cap, and removing the conversion cap from each of the vertical fins to expose an upper portion of each vertical fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Peng Xu, Yongan Xu
  • Publication number: 20180254218
    Abstract: Device and methods are provided for fabricating semiconductor devices in which metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor devices are integrally formed with vertical field effect transistor (FET) devices. For example, a semiconductor device includes first and second vertical FET devices, and a capacitor device, formed in different device regions of a substrate. A gate electrode of the first FET device and a first capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same first layer of conductive material. A gate electrode of the second FET device and a second capacitor electrode of the capacitor device are patterned from a same second layer of conductive material. A gate dielectric layer of the second FET device and a capacitor insulator layer of the capacitor device are formed from a same layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Heng Wu, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 10043744
    Abstract: Techniques relate to forming a gate metal via. A gate contact has a bottom part in a first layer. A cap layer is formed on the gate contact and first layer. The gate contact is formed on top of the gate. A second layer is formed on the cap layer. The second layer and cap layer are recessed to remove a portion of the cap layer from a top part and upper sidewall parts of the gate contact. A third layer is formed on the second layer, cap layer, and gate contact. The third layer is etched through to form a gate trench over the gate contact to be around the upper sidewall parts of the gate contact. The gate trench is an opening that stops on the cap layer. Gate metal via is formed on top of the gate contact and around upper sidewall parts of the gate contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor W. C. Chan, Xuefeng Liu, Yann A. M. Mignot, Yongan Xu
  • Patent number: 10041048
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods of culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells, with the methods comprising culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells in the presence of feeder cells and a calcium-containing medium while inhibiting the activity of Rho kinase (ROCK) in the feeder cell, the non-keratinocyte epithelial cells or both during culturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Richard Schlegel, Xuefeng Liu
  • Publication number: 20180211963
    Abstract: A method is presented for forming an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) device. The method includes forming a FinFET (fin field effect transistor) device having a plurality of fins over a substrate and forming a via cap adjacent the FinFET device by forming a contact trench extending into a bottom spacer, depositing a conductive liner within the contact trench, filling the contact trench with an organic dielectric layer (ODL), etching portions of the conductive liner and a portion of the ODL, and removing the ODL. The method further includes depositing a high-k material within the contact trench and depositing a conducting material over the high-k material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9991267
    Abstract: A method is presented for forming an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) device. The method includes forming a FinFET (fin field effect transistor) device having a plurality of fins over a substrate and forming a via cap adjacent the FinFET device by forming a contact trench extending into a bottom spacer, depositing a conductive liner within the contact trench, filling the contact trench with an organic dielectric layer (ODL), etching portions of the conductive liner and a portion of the ODL, and removing the ODL. The method further includes depositing a high-k material within the contact trench and depositing a conducting material over the high-k material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Huiming Bu, Xuefeng Liu, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9991365
    Abstract: A method of forming a vertical transport field effect transistors with uniform bottom spacer thickness, including, forming a plurality of vertical fins on a substrate, forming a protective liner layer on the plurality of vertical fins, forming a sacrificial liner on the protective liner layer, forming a spacer liner on a portion of the sacrificial liner, wherein at least a top surface of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins is exposed, converting the exposed portion of the sacrificial liner on each of the vertical fins to a conversion cap, and removing the conversion cap from each of the vertical fins to expose an upper portion of each vertical fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Xuefeng Liu, Peng Xu, Yongan Xu
  • Patent number: 9970863
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing broadband spectroscopic metrology with reduced sensitivity to focus errors are presented herein. Significant reductions in sensitivity to focus position error are achieved by imaging the measurement spot onto the detector such that the direction aligned with the plane of incidence on the wafer surface is oriented perpendicular to the direction of wavelength dispersion on the detector surface. This reduction in focus error sensitivity enables reduced focus accuracy and repeatability requirements, faster focus times, and reduced sensitivity to wavelength errors without compromising measurement accuracy. In a further aspect, the dimension of illumination field projected on the wafer plane in the direction perpendicular to the plane of incidence is adjusted to optimize the resulting measurement accuracy and speed based on the nature of target under measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Shankar Krishnan, Guorong V. Zhuang, David Y. Wang, Xuefeng Liu
  • Patent number: 9966230
    Abstract: A multi-column electron beam device includes an electron source comprising multiple field emitters fabricated on a surface of a silicon substrate. To prevent oxidation of the silicon, a thin, contiguous boron layer is disposed directly on the output surface of the field emitters. The field emitters can take various shapes including a pyramid, a cone, or a rounded whisker. Optional gate layers may be placed on the output surface near the field emitters. The field emitter may be p-type or n-type doped. Circuits may be incorporated into the wafer to control the emission current. A light source may be configured to illuminate the electron source and control the emission current. The multi-column electron beam device may be a multi-column electron beam lithography system configured to write a pattern on a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Chuang, Yinying Xiao-Li, Xuefeng Liu, John Fielden
  • Patent number: 9951315
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods of culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells, with the methods comprising culturing non-keratinocyte epithelial cells in the presence of feeder cells and a calcium-containing medium while inhibiting the activity of Rho kinase (ROCK) in the feeder cell, the non-keratinocyte epithelial cells or both during culturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Georgetown University
    Inventors: Richard Schlegel, Xuefeng Liu