Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Chun-Hung Chao

Chun-Li Chou

Nai-Chia Chen

Yu-Li Cheng

Yen-Chiu Kuo

Kuo-Bin Huang

Neng-Jye Yang

Jao Sheng Huang

Chia-Wei Wu

Hsiao-Chieh Chou

Hao Yang

The present disclosure is at least directed to utilizing air curtain devices to form air curtains to separate and isolate areas in which respective workpieces are stored from a transfer compartment within a workpiece processing apparatus. The transfer compartment of the workpiece processing apparatus includes a robot configured to transfer or transport ones of the workpieces to and from these respective storage areas through the transfer compartment and to and from a tool compartment. A tool is present in the tool compartment for processing and refining the respective workpieces. Clean dry air (CDA) may be circulated through the respective storage areas. The air curtains formed by the air curtain devices and the circulation of CDA through the respective storage areas reduces the likelihood of the generation of defects, damages, and degradation of the workpieces when present within the workpiece processing apparatus.

Air curtain device and workpiece processing tool

A semiconductor device and method of manufacture comprise placing an etch stop layer of a material such as aluminum oxide over a conductive element, placing a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, and placing a hardmask of a material such as titanium nitride over the dielectric layer. Openings are formed to the etch stop layer, the hardmask material is selectively removed, and the openings are then the material of the etch stop layer is then selectively removed to extend the openings through the etch stop layer.

Semiconductor device and method

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive feature in a first dielectric layer, forming one or more dielectric layers over the first dielectric layer, and forming a via opening in the one or more dielectric layers, a bottom of the via opening exposing the conductive feature. The method further includes cleaning the via opening using a chemical mixture, and rinsing the via opening using basic-ion doped water after cleaning the via opening.

Chemical clean of semiconductor device

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Chun-Hung Chao