Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Kuan-Wei Huang

Yu-Yu Chen

Chia-Ying Lee

Ming-Chung Liang

Jyu-Horng Shieh

Yi-Nien Su

Cheng-Li Fan

Chang-Wen Chen

Yu-Hsin Chan

Po-Hsiang Huang

Jr-Hung Li

Ting-Kui Chang

Cai-Ling Wu

Jay Chiu

Chia-Nan Lin

Ching-Yu Chang

Li-Min Chen

Jiing-Feng Yang

Chia-Wei Wu

Meng-Shu Lin

Wei-Hao Lin

In one example aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method. The method includes receiving a workpiece having a conductive feature over a semiconductor substrate, forming a sacrificial material layer over the conductive feature, removing first portions of the sacrificial material layer to form line trenches and to expose a top surface of the conductive feature in one of the line trenches; forming line features in the line trenches, removing second portions of the sacrificial material layer to form gaps between the line features, and forming dielectric features in the gaps, the dielectric features enclosing an air gap.

Devices with reduced capacitances

A patterning process that can be utilized in order to help form conductive lines within a dielectric layer of a metallization layer is provided. In an embodiment a first interfacial layer is patterned a first time, the first interfacial layer being located over a first hard mask layer over a dielectric layer, the patterning the first interfacial layer the first time forming a first opening, which is filled with a first dielectric material. The first interfacial layer is patterned a second time, the patterning the first interfacial layer the second time forming second openings in the first interfacial layer, at least one of the second openings exposing the first dielectric material. The first dielectric material is removed, and the dielectric layer is patterned a second time after the removing the first dielectric material using the first interfacial layer as a mask, the patterning the dielectric layer extending the second openings.

Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture

A method for reducing wiggling in a line includes forming a first patterning layer over a metal feature and depositing a first mask layer over the first patterning layer. The first mask layer is patterned to form a first set of one or more openings therein and then thinned. The pattern of the first mask layer is transferred to the first patterning layer to form a second set of one or more openings therein. The first patterning layer is etched to widen the second set of one or more openings. The first patterning layer may be comprised of silicon or an oxide material. The openings in the first patterning layer may be widened while a mask layer is over the first patterning layer.

Etching to reduce line wiggling

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes depositing a first hard mask layer and a first dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a patterned layer over the first dielectric layer, forming a second hard mask layer over the patterned layer, patterning the second hard mask layer to remove first horizontal portions of the second hard mask layer and leave second portions of the second hard mask layer along sidewalls of the patterned layer, etching a trench in the first dielectric layer using the second portions of the second hard mask layer and the patterned layer as an etching mask, depositing a first gap-filling material in the trench and patterning the first hard mask layer using the first gap-filling material, the patterned layer, and the second portions of the second hard mask layer as a mask.

Semiconductor device and method

An integrated circuit structure and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of conductive features within a dielectric layer overlying a substrate, a barrier layer disposed between each of the plurality of the conductive features and the dielectric layer, a protection layer between sidewalls of the barrier layer and the dielectric layer and a void disposed within the dielectric layer at a position between two adjacent conductive features of the plurality of the conductive features.

Integrated circuit and method for manufacturing the same

A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form an opening. A first conductive feature underlying the dielectric layer is exposed to the opening. A sacrificial spacer layer is deposited to extend into the opening. The sacrificial spacer layer is patterned. A bottom portion of the sacrificial spacer layer at a bottom of the opening is removed to reveal the first conductive feature, and a vertical portion of the sacrificial spacer layer in the opening and on sidewalls of the dielectric layer is left to form a ring. A second conductive feature is formed in the opening. The second conductive feature is encircled by the ring, and is over and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature. At least a portion of the ring is removed to form an air spacer.

Air spacer surrounding conductive features and method forming same

A method includes patterning a mandrel layer over a target layer to form first mandrels and second mandrels, the first mandrels having a larger width than the second mandrels. A spacer layer is formed over the first mandrels and the second mandrels, and altered so that a thickness of the spacer layer over the first mandrels is greater than a thickness of the spacer layer over the second mandrels. Spacers are formed from the spacer layer which have a greater width adjacent the first mandrels than the spacers which are adjacent the second mandrels. The spacers are used to etch a target layer.

Self-aligned double patterning

A semiconductor structure and method of forming the same are provided. The method includes: forming a plurality of mandrel patterns over a dielectric layer; forming a first spacer and a second spacer on sidewalls of the plurality of mandrel patterns, wherein a first width of the first spacer is larger than a second width of the second spacer; removing the plurality of mandrel patterns; patterning the dielectric layer using the first spacer and the second spacer as a patterning mask; and forming conductive lines laterally aside the dielectric layer.

Semiconductor structure and methods of forming the same

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of performing an etch process. The method is performed by forming a first plurality of openings defined by first sidewalls of a mask disposed over a substrate. A cut layer is between two of the first plurality of openings. A spacer is formed onto the first sidewalls of the mask and a second plurality of openings are formed. The second plurality of openings are defined by second sidewalls of the mask and are separated by the spacer. The substrate is etched according to the mask and the spacer.

Cut first self-aligned litho-etch patterning

The present disclosure relates to a method of performing a semiconductor fabrication process. The method may be performed by forming a spacer material over an underlying layer. The spacer material has sidewalls defining a first trench. A cut material is formed over the spacer material and within the first trench. The cut material separates the trench into a pair of trench segments having ends separated by the cut material. The underlying layer is patterned according to the spacer material and the cut material.

Growing community of inventors

Taoyuan, Taiwan

Kuan-Wei Huang