Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Ho-Yung David Hwang

Wen-Zhan Zhou

Chung-Yi Yu

Chi-Ming Chen

Heng-Jen Lee

Chia-Shiung Tsai

Cheng-Han Wu

Shih-Che Wang

Yu-Chen Huang

Tzung-Chen Wu

Hsu-Yuan Liu

Po-Chun Liu

Chih-Ming Ke

Hung-Ta Lin

Chin-Cheng Chang

Alexander Kalnitsky

Yen-Liang Chen

Kai-Hsiung Chen

Chen-Ming Wang

Kai-Hsiung Cheng

A controller includes a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store information related to a target temperature of a wafer, a target temperature of a heating element, a temperature of the wafer, and a temperature of the heating element. The controller further includes a processor connected to the non-transitory computer readable medium, the processor configured to generate at least one heating signal during a baking process to adjust a duration of an entirety of the baking process in response to the temperature of the wafer and the temperature of the heating element.

Adaptive baking method

A method of supplying a chemical solution to a photolithography system. The chemical solution is pumped from a variable-volume buffer tank. The pumped chemical solution is dispensed in a spin-coater. The variable-volume buffer tank is refilled by emptying a storage container filled with the chemical solution into the variable-volume buffer tank.

System and method for supplying and dispensing bubble-free photolithography chemical solutions

A method includes supporting a wafer on a heating element, wherein the heating element is located in a baking chamber. The method further includes heating the wafer for a first duration using the heating element. The method further includes measuring a temperature of the heating element and a temperature of the wafer during the first duration to obtain temperature information. The method further includes adjusting an amount of heat provided by the heating element during the first duration, wherein the adjusting of the amount of heat includes decreasing the amount of heat provided by the heating element as a rate of change of the temperature information versus time increases.

A photolithography system includes a variable-volume buffer tank, a dispensing system connected to the buffer tank, and a valve configured to release gas from a head space of the buffer tank while blocking the release of liquid from the head space. A storage container has an opening at the bottom and drains to the buffer tank through that opening. The buffer tank has a storage capacity sufficient to receive the full contents of the storage container. The system supplies chemical solutions to the dispensing system while keeping the chemical solutions from contact with air and other gases.

A method for controlling semiconductor production through use of a Focus Exposure Matrix (FEM) model includes taking measurements of characteristics of a two-dimensional mark formed onto a substrate, the two-dimensional mark including two different patterns along two different cut-lines, and comparing the measurements with a FEM model to determine focus and exposure conditions used to form the two-dimensional mark. The FEM model was created using measurements taken of corresponding two-dimensional marks formed onto a substrate under varying focus and exposure conditions.

Two-dimensional marks

An adaptive baking system includes a baking chamber configured to receive a wafer, and a heating element configured to support the wafer. The adaptive baking system further includes a controller configured to receive temperature information related to the heating element and the wafer, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust an amount of heat provided by the heating element during a baking process in response to the temperature information.

Adaptive baking system and method of using the same

A method for controlling semiconductor production through use of a hybrid Focus Exposure Matrix (FEM) model includes taking measurements of a set of structures formed onto a substrate. The method further includes using a FEM model to determine focus and exposure conditions used to form the structure The model was created through use of measurements of structures formed on a substrate under varying focus and exposure conditions, the measurements being taken using both an optical measurement tool and a scanning electron microscope.

Hybrid focus-exposure matrix

Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a silicon substrate having opposite first and second sides. At least one of the first and second sides includes a silicon () surface. The method includes forming a high coefficient-of-thermal-expansion (CTE) layer on the first side of the silicon substrate. The high CTE layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of silicon. The method includes forming a buffer layer over the second side of the silicon substrate. The buffer layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of silicon. The method includes forming a III-V family layer over the buffer layer. The III-V family layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of the buffer layer.

Reducing wafer distortion through a high CTE layer

Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes: receiving a silicon wafer that contains oxygen; forming a zone in the silicon wafer, the zone being substantially depleted of oxygen; causing a nucleation process to take place in the silicon wafer to form oxygen nuclei in a region of the silicon wafer outside the zone; and growing the oxygen nuclei into defects. Also provided is an apparatus that includes a silicon wafer. The silicon wafer includes: a first portion that is substantially free of oxygen, the first portion being disposed near a surface of the silicon wafer; and a second portion that contains oxygen; wherein the second portion is at least partially surrounded by the first portion.

Silicon wafer strength enhancement

A circuit structure includes a substrate, a nucleation layer of undoped aluminum nitride, a graded buffer layer comprising aluminum, gallium, nitrogen, one of silicon and oxygen, and a p-type conductivity dopant, a ungraded buffer layer comprising gallium, nitrogen, one of silicon and oxygen, and a p-type conductivity dopant without aluminum, and a bulk layer of undoped gallium nitride over the ungraded buffer layer. The various dopants in the graded buffer layer and the ungraded buffer layer increases resistivity and results in layers having an intrinsically balanced conductivity.

Substrate breakdown voltage improvement for group III-nitride on a silicon substrate

A circuit structure includes a substrate and a patterned dielectric layer over the substrate. The patterned dielectric layer includes a plurality of vias; and a number of group-III group-V (III-V) compound semiconductor layer. The III-V compound semiconductor layers include a first layer in the vias, a second layer over the first layer and the dielectric layer, and a bulk layer over the second layer.

III-nitride growth method on silicon substrate

Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a silicon substrate having opposite first and second sides. At least one of the first and second sides includes a silicon (111) surface. The method includes forming a high coefficient-of-thermal-expansion (CTE) layer on the first side of the silicon substrate. The high CTE layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of silicon. The method includes forming a buffer layer over the second side of the silicon substrate. The buffer layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of silicon. The method includes forming a III-V family layer over the buffer layer. The III-V family layer has a CTE greater than the CTE of the buffer layer.

A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first dielectric layer disposed over the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a buffer layer disposed over the substrate and between first and second walls of a trench of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor device further includes an insulator layer disposed over the buffer layer and between the first and second wall of the trench of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor device also includes a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer and the insulator layer. Further, the semiconductor device includes a fin structure disposed over the insulator layer and between first and second walls of a trench of the second dielectric layer.

FinFET device and method of manufacturing same

Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a first layer on a first side of a first silicon wafer. The first silicon wafer has a second side opposite the first side. The first layer has a coefficient-of-thermal-expansion (CTE) that is lower than that of silicon. The method includes bonding the first wafer to a second silicon wafer in a manner so that the first layer is disposed in between the first and second silicon wafers. The method includes removing a portion of the first silicon wafer from the second side. The method includes forming a second layer over the second side of the first silicon wafer. The second layer has a CTE higher than that of silicon.

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Hsinchu, Taiwan

Ho-Yung David Hwang