Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Sheng-Tai Peng

Cheng-Ping Chen

Shih-Chung Chen

Tsung-Lung Lai

Ren-Dou Lee

Hung-Lin Chen

Chien-Wei Chang

Tai-Kun Kao

Tzi-Yi Shieh

Ching-Heng Yen

Po-Tang Tseng

Rong-Long Hung

Cheng-Yi Huang

Fang-Chi Chien

Ya-Jen Sheuh

Yu-Feng Han

Yi-Shao Lin

Chen-shih Chung

A polishing pad conditioning apparatus includes a base, a fiber, and a polymer protruding from a surface of the base and encompassing the fiber.

Polishing pad conditioning apparatus

An assembly present in an ion source for supporting an arc chamber upon a base plate includes a first arc support plate, a first screw, and a second screw. The first screw passes through a smooth through-hole in an arm of the first arc support plate and extends into a bore in the base plate. The second (or adjustable) screw passes through a threaded through-hole in an arm of the first arc support plate and engages an upper surface of the base plate itself, and can be used to change the altitude and angle of the first arc support plate relative to the base plate. This adjustment ability improves the beam quality of the ion source.

Adjustable support for arc chamber of ion source

In an embodiment, a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system includes: a monolithic platen within a platen housing, wherein the monolithic platen is formed of a single piece of material, wherein the monolithic platen includes: a first portion within a first opening, and a second portion within a second opening, wherein the first portion has a different diameter than the second portion; and a polishing fluid delivery module above the monolithic platen, wherein the polishing fluid delivery module is configured to deliver slurry to the monolithic platen during performance of CMP.

Monolithic platen

Described herein are multi-layered windows for use in chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) systems and CMP processes. The multi-layered windows of the present disclosure include a transparent structural layer and a hydrophilic surfactant applied to at least a portion of at least one surface of the transparent structural layer. Such multi-layered windows may be in the polishing pad, the platen, or both.

Multi-layered windows for use in chemical-mechanical planarization systems

The present disclosure provides a chemical mechanical polishing system having a unitary platen. The platen includes one or more recesses within the platen to house various components for the polishing/planarization process. In one embodiment, the platen includes a first recess and a second recess. The first recess is located under the second recess. An end point detector is placed in the first recess and a detector cover may be placed in the second recess. A sealing mean is provided in a space between the end point detector and the detector cover to prevent any external or foreign materials from coming in contact with the end point detector. A fastener used for fastening the detector cover to the platen also provides addition protection to prevent foreign materials from coming in contact with components received in the recesses.

Single bodied platen housing a detection module for CMP systems

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) tool. The CMP tool includes a carrier and a malleable membrane coupled to the carrier and having a lower surface facing away from the carrier. The lower surface of the malleable membrane includes a first malleable material within a central region of the lower surface and a second malleable material within a peripheral region of the lower surface, which surrounds the central region. The first malleable material provides the central region of the lower surface with a first stiffness and the second malleable material provides the peripheral region of the lower surface with a second stiffness that is different than the first stiffness.

Chemical mechanical planarization membrane

In some embodiments, the present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming a CMP membrane. The method is performed by providing a malleable material within a cavity within a membrane mold. The cavity has a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region. The malleable material within the cavity is cured to form a membrane. Curing the malleable material is performed by heating the malleable material within the central region of the membrane mold to a first temperature and heating the malleable material within the peripheral region of the membrane mold to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature.

A stopper includes a head portion sized and configured to be coupled to an upper platen of a chemical-mechanical planarization system and a stopper leg sized and configured to direct a flow of liquid slurry applied to an upper planar surface of the upper platen substantially away from a lower surface of the upper platen.

Growing community of inventors

Miaoli County, Taiwan

Sheng-Tai Peng