Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Henry Lo

Jean Wang

Yu-Liang Lin

Francis Ko

Chih-Wei Lai

Ping Chuang

Kewei Zuo

Chun-Hsien Lin

Ching-Ya Wang

Ping-Hsu Chen

Chen-Hua Douglas Yu

Ai-Sen Liu

Mei-Sheng Zhou

Joshua Tseng

Shang-Ting Tsai

Amy Wang

Syun-Ming Jang Jang

Chung-Long Chang

Sunny Wu

Tzu-Yu Wang

Chi-Chun Hsieh

Yu-Huei Chen

Chao-Jung Chang

Li-Jui Chen

Hai-Ching Chen

Mei Sheng Zhou

Cheng-Lin Huang

Weng-Jin Wu

Hung-Jung Tu

Chien Rhone Wang

Chia-Ming Yang

Simon Wang

Jia-Ren Chen

Jung Cheng Ko

Chien-Ming Sung

Chun Hsien Lin

Gorge Huang

Tony Lu

Gnesh Yeh

Candy Liang

Sunny Su

Huxley Lee

Anthony Liu

Mei Shang Zhou

Shih Che Wang

Chun-Hsien Lim

Harold C H Hsiung

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for a near non-adaptive virtual metrology for wafer processing control. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for processing control comprises diagnosing a chamber of a processing tool that processes a wafer to identify a key chamber parameter, and controlling the chamber based on the key chamber parameter if the key chamber parameter can be controlled, or compensating a prediction model by changing to a secondary prediction model if the key chamber parameter cannot be sufficiently controlled.

Near non-adaptive virtual metrology and chamber control

A semiconductor manufacturing line includes an inert environment selected from the group consisting essentially of an inert airtight wafer holder, an inert wafer transport channel, an inert production tool, an inert clean room, and combinations thereof.

Preventing contamination in integrated circuit manufacturing lines

A first embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising clustering processing tools of a processing stage into a tool cluster based on processing data and forming a prediction model for processing a semiconductor wafer based on the tool cluster. A second embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising providing cluster routes between first stage tool clusters and second stage tool clusters, assigning a comparative optimization ranking to each cluster route, and scheduling processing of wafers. The comparative optimization ranking identifies comparatively which cluster routes provide for high wafer processing uniformity. Further, wafers that require high wafer processing uniformity are scheduled to be processed along one cluster route that has a high comparative optimization ranking that identifies the one cluster route to have a highest wafer processing uniformity, and wafers that do not require high wafer processing uniformity are scheduled to be processed along another cluster route.

Clustering for prediction models in process control and for optimal dispatching

A method to enable wafer result prediction includes collecting manufacturing data from various semiconductor manufacturing tools and metrology tools; choosing key parameters using an autokey method based on the manufacturing data; building a virtual metrology based on the key parameters; and predicting wafer results using the virtual metrology.

Automatic virtual metrology for semiconductor wafer result prediction

A system and method for controlling resistivity uniformity in a Copper trench structure by controlling the CMP process is provided. A preferred embodiment comprises a system and a method in which a plurality of CMP process recipes may be created comprising at least a slurry arm position. A set of metrological data for at least one layer of the semiconductor substrate may be estimated, and an optimum CMP process recipe may be selected based on the set of metrological data. The optimum CMP process recipe may be implemented on the semiconductor substrate.

Method and system for controlling copper chemical mechanical polish uniformity

A system, method, and computer readable medium for extracting a key process parameter correlative to a selected device parameter are provided. In an embodiment, the key process parameter is determined using a gene map analysis. The gene map analysis includes grouping highly correlative process parameter and determining the correlation of a group to the selected device parameter. In an embodiment, the groups having greatest correlation to the selected device parameter are displayed in a correlation matrix and/or a gene map.

System for extraction of key process parameters from fault detection classification to enable wafer prediction

A method and apparatus involve providing a substrate having a dielectric layer formed thereon, forming a photoresist mask over the dielectric layer, the photoresist mask defining an opening, etching the dielectric layer through the at least one opening in the photoresist mask, treating a portion of the photoresist mask with an etching species, and removing the treated photoresist mask with a supercritical fluid. The etching, treating, and removing can be performed in one chamber.

[object Object]

Integrated circuits with multi-dimensional pad structures are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit device with multi-dimensional pad structures comprises an integrated circuit (IC) stack structure comprising a plurality of device layers, wherein one of the devices comprise a first pad exposed by an edge surface thereof.

Integrated circuit devices with multi-dimensional pad structures

A method is disclosed for controlling the sheet resistance of copper trenches formed on semiconductor wafers. The method includes forming a plurality of copper-filled trenches on a wafer, measuring the sheet resistance of each of the plurality of copper-filled trenches, and comparing the measured sheet resistance values to a predetermined sheet resistance value. Photolithography steps performed on subsequent wafers are adjusted according to a difference between the measured sheet resistance values and the predetermined value. In one embodiment, this adjustment takes the form of adjusting a photolithographic extension exposure energy to thereby adjust the cross-section of the resulting trenches.

System and method for enhanced control of copper trench sheet resistance uniformity

A method for improving within-wafer uniformity is provided. The method includes forming an electrical component by a first process step and a second process step, wherein the electrical component has a target electrical parameter. The method includes providing a first plurality of production tools for performing the first process step; providing a second plurality of production tools for performing the second process step; providing a wafer; performing the first process step on the wafer using one of the first plurality of production tools; and selecting a first route including a first production tool from the second plurality of production tools. A within-wafer uniformity of the target electrical parameter on the wafer manufactured by the first route is greater than a second route including a second production tool in the second plurality of production tools.

Auto routing for optimal uniformity control

A method of monitoring uniformity of a wafer is provided. A wafer parameter is selected. Manufacturing data is collected. The manufacturing data includes measurements of the selected wafer parameter. An average offset profile of the wafer parameter for a first and second wafer is determined using the manufacturing data. The first and second wafer are associated with a product type and were processed by a processing tool. An offset profile for a third wafer is predicted for a wafer using the average offset profile. The third wafer is associated with the product type and was processed by the processing tool.

Prediction of uniformity of a wafer

A method of forming a metal feature in a low-k dielectric layer is provided. The method includes forming an opening in a low-k dielectric layer, forming a metal layer having a substantially planar surface over the low-k dielectric layer using spin-on method, and stress free polishing the metal layer. Preferably, the metal layer comprises copper or copper alloys. The metal layer preferably includes a first sub layer having a substantially non-planar surface and a second sub layer having a substantially planar surface on the first sub layer.

Method to implement stress free polishing

A method for treating an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer to improve a mechanical strength and/or repair plasma etching damage including providing a low-K silicon oxide containing dielectric insulating layer; and carrying out a super critical fluid treatment of the low-K dielectric insulating layer including supercritical COand a solvent including a silicon bond forming substituent having a bonding energy greater than a Si&#x2014;H to replace at least a portion of the Si&#x2014;H bonds with the silicon bond forming substituent.

Method for improving low-K dielectrics by supercritical fluid treatments

An organic layer, such as a porous low-K dielectric in an IC, contains pores open at its surface. To close the pores, the organic layer is contacted by a supercritical fluid that is a solvent for the layer. After a small amount of the surface and the wall of the open pores is solvated, a phase transition of the solvated organic material is effected at the surface to cover it with a dense, smooth, non-porous film that seals the open pores.

Surface modification of a porous organic material through the use of a supercritical fluid

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Hsinchu, Taiwan

Henry Lo