Patents by Inventor Yi-Ming Dai

Yi-Ming Dai 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: 11920237
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multifunction chamber having a multifunctional shutter disk. The shutter disk includes a lamp device, a DC/RF power device, and a gas line on one surface of the shutter disk. With this configuration, simplifying the chamber type is possible as the various specific, dedicated chambers such as a degas chamber, a pre-clean chamber, a CVD/PVD chamber are not required. By using the multifunctional shutter disk, the degassing function and the pre-cleaning function are provided within a single chamber. Accordingly, a separate degas chamber and a pre-clean chamber are no longer required and the overall transfer time between chambers is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Hao Cheng, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20230386942
    Abstract: A deposition system is provided capable of measuring at least one of the film characteristics (e.g., thickness, resistance, and composition) in the deposition system. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate process chamber. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate pedestal in the substrate process chamber, the substrate pedestal configured to support a substrate, and a target enclosing the substrate process chamber. A shutter disk including an in-situ measuring device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Wen-Hao CHENG, Yen-Yu CHEN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Patent number: 11823964
    Abstract: A deposition system is provided capable of measuring at least one of the film characteristics (e.g., thickness, resistance, and composition) in the deposition system. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate process chamber. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate pedestal in the substrate process chamber, the substrate pedestal configured to support a substrate, and a target enclosing the substrate process chamber. A shutter disk including an in-situ measuring device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Hao Cheng, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20230352350
    Abstract: A deposition system provides a feature that may reduce costs of the sputtering process by increasing a target change interval. The deposition system provides an array of magnet members which generate a magnetic field and redirect the magnetic field based on target thickness measurement data. To adjust or redirect the magnetic field, at least one of the magnet members in the array tilts to focus on an area of the target where more target material remains than other areas. As a result, more ion, e.g., argon ion bombardment occurs on the area, creating more uniform erosion on the target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Wen-Hao CHENG, Hsuan-Chih CHU, Yen-Yu CHEN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Publication number: 20230332322
    Abstract: The treatment system provides a feature that may reduce cost of the electrochemical plating process by reusing the virgin makeup solution in the spent electrochemical plating bath. The treatment system provides a rotating filter shaft which receives the spent electrochemical plating bath and captures the additives and by-products created by the additives during the electrochemical plating process. To capture the additives and the by-products, the rotating filter shaft includes one or more types of membranes. Materials such as semi-permeable membrane are used to capture the used additives and by-products in the spent electrochemical plating bath. The treatment system may be equipped with an electrochemical sensor to monitor a level of additives in the filtered electrochemical plating bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Zong-Kun LIN, Hsuan-Chih CHU, Chien-Hsun PAN, Yen-Yu CHEN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Publication number: 20230275048
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes forming an interconnect structure electrically connected to a semiconductor device; forming a tantalum-based barrier layer over the interconnect structure; oxidizing the tantalum-based barrier layer to form a tantalum oxide over the tantalum-based barrier layer; and forming a metal layer over the tantalum oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Hao CHENG, Yen-Yu CHEN, Chih-Wei LIN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Patent number: 11742231
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flexible workpiece pedestal capable of tilting a workpiece support surface. The workpiece pedestal further includes a heater mounted on the workpiece support surface. The heater includes a plurality of heating sources such as heating coils. The plurality of heating sources in the heater allows heating the workpiece at different temperatures for different zones of the workpiece. For example, the workpiece can have a central zone heated by a first heating coil, a first outer ring zone that is outside of the central zone heated by a second heating coil, a second outer ring zone that is outside of the first outer ring zone heated by a third heating coil. By using the tunable heating feature and the tilting feature of the workpiece pedestal, the present disclosure can reduce or eliminate the shadowing effect problem of the related workpiece pedestal in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsuan-Chih Chu, Wen-Hao Cheng, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Patent number: 11732379
    Abstract: The treatment system provides a feature that may reduce cost of the electrochemical plating process by reusing the virgin makeup solution in the spent electrochemical plating bath. The treatment system provides a rotating filter shaft which receives the spent electrochemical plating bath and captures the additives and by-products created by the additives during the electrochemical plating process. To capture the additives and the by-products, the rotating filter shaft includes one or more types of membranes. Materials such as semi-permeable membrane are used to capture the used additives and by-products in the spent electrochemical plating bath. The treatment system may be equipped with an electrochemical sensor to monitor a level of additives in the filtered electrochemical plating bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zong-Kun Lin, Hsuan-Chih Chu, Chien-Hsun Pan, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Patent number: 11728226
    Abstract: A deposition system provides a feature that may reduce costs of the sputtering process by increasing a target change interval. The deposition system provides an array of magnet members which generate a magnetic field and redirect the magnetic field based on target thickness measurement data. To adjust or redirect the magnetic field, at least one of the magnet members in the array tilts to focus on an area of the target where more target material remains than other areas. As a result, more ion, e.g., argon ion bombardment occurs on the area, creating more uniform erosion on the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Hao Cheng, Hsuan-Chih Chu, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Patent number: 11682639
    Abstract: A device includes an interconnect structure, a barrier multi-layer structure, an oxide layer, a pad metal layer, and a passivation layer. The barrier multi-layer structure is over the interconnect structure, the barrier multi-layer structure includes a first metal nitride layer and a second metal nitride layer over the first metal nitride layer. The oxide layer is over the barrier multi-layer structure, in which the oxide layer is an oxide of the second metal nitride layer of the barrier multi-layer structure. The pad metal layer is over the oxide layer. The passivation layer is in contact with the barrier multi-layer structure, the oxide layer, and the pad metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Hao Cheng, Yen-Yu Chen, Chih-Wei Lin, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20220356578
    Abstract: A thin film deposition system deposits a thin film on a substrate in a thin film deposition chamber. The thin film deposition system deposits the thin film by flowing a fluid into the thin film deposition chamber. The thin film deposition system includes a byproducts sensor that senses byproducts of the fluid in an exhaust fluid. The thin film deposition system adjusts the flow rate of the fluid based on the byproducts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Wen-Hao CHENG, Yi-Ming DAI, Yen-Yu CHEN, Hsuan-Chih CHU
  • Publication number: 20220356562
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multifunction chamber having a multifunctional shutter disk. The shutter disk includes a lamp device, a DC/RF power device, and a gas line on one surface of the shutter disk. With this configuration, simplifying the chamber type is possible as the various specific, dedicated chambers such as a degas chamber, a pre-clean chamber, a CVD/PVD chamber are not required. By using the multifunctional shutter disk, the degassing function and the pre-cleaning function are provided within a single chamber. Accordingly, a separate degas chamber and a pre-clean chamber are no longer required and the overall transfer time between chambers is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Wen-Hao Cheng, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20220359232
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flexible workpiece pedestal capable of tilting a workpiece support surface. The workpiece pedestal further includes a heater mounted on the workpiece support surface. The heater includes a plurality of heating sources such as heating coils. The plurality of heating sources in the heater allows heating the workpiece at different temperatures for different zones of the workpiece. For example, the workpiece can have a central zone heated by a first heating coil, a first outer ring zone that is outside of the central zone heated by a second heating coil, a second outer ring zone that is outside of the first outer ring zone heated by a third heating coil. By using the tunable heating feature and the tilting feature of the workpiece pedestal, the present disclosure can reduce or eliminate the shadowing effect problem of the related workpiece pedestal in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Hsuan-Chih Chu, Wen-Hao Cheng, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Patent number: 11492700
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multifunction chamber having a multifunctional shutter disk. The shutter disk includes a lamp device, a DC/RF power device, and a gas line on one surface of the shutter disk. With this configuration, simplifying the chamber type is possible as the various specific, dedicated chambers such as a degas chamber, a pre-clean chamber, a CVD/PVD chamber are not required. By using the multifunctional shutter disk, the degassing function and the pre-cleaning function are provided within a single chamber. Accordingly, a separate degas chamber and a pre-clean chamber are no longer required and the overall transfer time between chambers is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Wen-Hao Cheng, Yen-Yu Chen, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Publication number: 20220336297
    Abstract: A deposition system is provided capable of measuring at least one of the film characteristics (e.g., thickness, resistance, and composition) in the deposition system. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate process chamber. The deposition system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a substrate pedestal in the substrate process chamber, the substrate pedestal configured to support a substrate, and a target enclosing the substrate process chamber. A shutter disk including an in-situ measuring device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Wen-Hao CHENG, Yen-Yu CHEN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Publication number: 20220319895
    Abstract: A scanner includes a light source configured to apply a light to a backside of a wafer. The light is reflected from the backside of the wafer. A first mirror is configured to receive the light from the backside of the wafer and reflect the light. A sensor is configured to receive the light from the first mirror and generate an output signal indicative of a backside topography of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Mu LIN, Chi-Hung Liao, Yi-Ming Dai, Yueh Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 11387123
    Abstract: A method for fault detection in a fabrication facility is provided. The method includes moving a wafer carrier along a predetermined path multiple times using a transportation apparatus. The method also includes collecting data associated with an environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using a metrology tool on the predetermined path in a previous movement of the transportation apparatus. The method further includes measuring the environmental condition within the wafer carrier or around the wafer carrier using the metrology tool during the movement of the wafer carrier. In addition, the method includes issuing a warning when the measured environmental condition is outside a range of acceptable values. The range of acceptable values is derived from the data collected in the previous movement of the transportation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Powen Huang, Yao-Yuan Shang, Kuo-Shu Tseng, Yen-Yu Chen, Chun-Chih Lin, Yi-Ming Dai
  • Patent number: 11367644
    Abstract: A scanner includes a light source configured to apply a light to a backside of a wafer. The light is reflected from the backside of the wafer. A first mirror is configured to receive the light from the backside of the wafer and reflect the light. A sensor is configured to receive the light from the first mirror and generate an output signal indicative of a backside topography of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Mu Lin, Chi-Hung Liao, Yi-Ming Dai, Yueh Lin Yang
  • Publication number: 20220051952
    Abstract: A deposition system provides a feature that may reduce costs of the sputtering process by increasing a target change interval. The deposition system provides an array of magnet members which generate a magnetic field and redirect the magnetic field based on target thickness measurement data. To adjust or redirect the magnetic field, at least one of the magnet members in the array tilts to focus on an area of the target where more target material remains than other areas. As a result, more ion, e.g., argon ion bombardment occurs on the area, creating more uniform erosion on the target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Wen-Hao CHENG, Hsuan-Chih CHU, Yen-Yu CHEN, Yi-Ming DAI
  • Publication number: 20210388524
    Abstract: The treatment system provides a feature that may reduce cost of the electrochemical plating process by reusing the virgin makeup solution in the spent electrochemical plating bath. The treatment system provides a rotating filter shaft which receives the spent electrochemical plating bath and captures the additives and by-products created by the additives during the electrochemical plating process. To capture the additives and the by-products, the rotating filter shaft includes one or more types of membranes. Materials such as semi-permeable membrane are used to capture the used additives and by-products in the spent electrochemical plating bath. The treatment system may be equipped with an electrochemical sensor to monitor a level of additives in the filtered electrochemical plating bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Zong-Kun LIN, Hsuan-Chih CHU, Chien-Hsun PAN, Yen-Yu CHEN, Yi-Ming DAI