Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

National Taiwan University

Ting-Hao Hsu

Sheng-Chi Chin

Ching-Fang Yu

Hsin-Chang Lee

Kuan-Wen Lin

Chi-Lun Lu

ShinAn Ku

Anthony Yen

Jenn-Gwo Hwu

Chun-Hung Lin

Yu-Ching Lee

Ching-Wei Shen

Tzu-Ting Chou

Shih-Jui Huang

Shinn-Sheng Yu

Wen-Chuan Wang

Ching-Hsiang Chang

Chia-Ching Huang

Chih-cheng Chen

Chung-Hsuan Liu

Chia-Jen Chen

Shu-Hsien Wu

Yeh Lee-Chih

Mei-Chun Lin

Mark Chang

An extreme ultraviolet lithography method is disclosed. In an example, the EUVL method includes forming a resist layer on a substrate; performing a first exposure process to image a first pattern of a first sub-region of a first mask to the resist layer; performing a second exposure process to image a second pattern of a second sub-region of the first mask to the resist layer; and performing a third exposure process to image a third pattern of a first sub-region of a second mask to the resist layer. The second and third patterns are identical to the first pattern. The first, second and third exposure processes collectively form a latent image of the first pattern on the resist layer.

Lithography method with reduced impacts of mask defects

A method of inspecting an outer surface of a mask pod includes moving a stage holding a mask pod such that the stage stops at each location of a plurality of locations under an outer surface of the mask pod for a predefined amount of time. At each location of the plurality of locations, the method further includes directing a stream of air to the outer surface of the mask pod, capturing an image of scattered air from each location of the plurality of locations of the outer surface of the mask pod, and determining a number of particles in the scattered air as a sampled number of particles based on the captured image. The method also includes generating a map of particles on the outer surface of the mask pod based on the sampled number of particles at each of the plurality of locations.

High throughput and high position accurate method for particle inspection of mask pods

A method of scanning a substrate and determining scratches of the substrate includes transmitting a converging beam of light that comprises multiple wavelengths to the substrate. Each wavelength of the multiple wavelengths focuses at a different distance in a focus interval around and including a surface of the substrate. The method also includes receiving reflected light from the surface of the substrate and determining a height or depth of the surface of the substrate based on a wavelength of the reflected light a highest intensity.

Method of fast surface particle and scratch detection for EUV mask backside

In a method of inspecting an outer surface of a mask pod, a stream of air is directed at a first location of a plurality of locations on the outer surface. One or more particles are removed by the directed stream of air from the first location on the outer surface. Scattered air from the first location of the outer surface is extracted and a number of particles in the extracted scattered air is determined as a sampled number of particles at the first location. The mask pod is moved and the stream of air is directed at other locations of the plurality of locations to determine the sampled number of particles in extracted scattered air at the other locations. A map of the particles on the outer surface of the mask pod is generated based on the sampled number of particles at the plurality of locations.

A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over the substrate and covering first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth protrusion regions; forming first, second, and third gate conductors over the first, fourth, and fifth protrusion regions, respectively; performing a first implantation process to form a second source region and a second drain region in the fourth protrusion region; performing a second implantation process to form a first source region and a first drain region in the first protrusion region, and to form a third source region and a third drain region in the fifth protrusion region; forming a metal layer over the third protrusion region; patterning the metal layer to form an inner circular electrode and an outer ring electrode encircling the inner circular electrode; forming a word line; and forming a bit line.

Metal-insulator-semiconductor tunnel diode memory

A method of scanning a substrate and determining scratches of the substrate includes transmitting a converging beam of light that comprises multiple wavelengths to the substrate. Each wavelength of the multiple wavelengths focuses at a different distance in a focus interval around and including a surface of the substrate. The method also includes receiving reflected light from the surface of the substrate and determining a height or depth of the surface of the substrate based on a wavelength of the reflected light having a highest intensity.

A device includes a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on the substrate, and configured to receive an input signal. The second electrode is disposed on the substrate, and configured to output an output signal based on the input signal. When the input signal is configured to oscillate within a first range between a first voltage value and a second voltage value with a first frequency, the output signal is an inverted version of the input signal, and has the first frequency. When the input signal is configured to oscillate within a second range including the first voltage value without the second voltage value with the first frequency, the output signal has a second frequency which is approximately twice of the first frequency.

Semiconductor device and operation method thereof

A device is disclosed that includes an insulating layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a bottom electrode. The insulating layer is disposed on a first surface of a substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on a first surface of the insulating layer. The first electrode receives an input signal, and the second electrode outputs, in response to the input signal, an output signal. The bottom electrode is disposed on a second surface, opposite to the first surface, of the substrate and receives an operating voltage to modify a frequency of the output signal.

An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask is received. The EUV mask has an EUV pellicle disposed thereover. The EUV pellicle is coupled to the EUV mask at least in part via glue that is disposed on the EUV mask. The EUV pellicle is removed, thereby exposing the glue. A localized glue-removal process is performed by targeting a region of the EUV mask on which the glue is disposed. The localized glue-removal process is performed without affecting other regions of the EUV mask that do not have the glue disposed thereon. The localized glue-removal process may include injecting a cleaning chemical onto the glue and removing a waste chemical produced by the cleaning chemical and the glue. The localized glue-removal process may also include a plasma process that applies plasma to the glue. The localized glue-removal process may further include a laser process that shoots a focused laser beam at the glue.

System and method for localized EUV pellicle glue removal

A device is disclosed that includes a semiconductor substrate, a bottom electrode disposed on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer disposed on a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, of the semiconductor substrate, a current-to-voltage converter, a first electrode and a second electrode that are separate from each other and disposed on the insulating layer. The first electrode is configured to be applied with an input signal, and the second electrode is configured to output an output current signal that is associated with the input signal, the input signal is configured to have a voltage level that is variable, and the output current signal is configured to have a peak current value and a valley current value. The current-to-voltage converter is configured to receive the output current signal to generate an output voltage signal.

Pellicle-mask systems for advanced lithography, such as extreme ultraviolet lithography, are disclosed herein. An exemplary pellicle-mask system includes a mask having an integrated circuit (IC) pattern, a pellicle membrane, and a pellicle frame. The pellicle frame has a first surface attached to the pellicle membrane and a second surface opposite the first surface attached to the mask, such that the IC pattern of the mask is positioned within an enclosed space defined by the mask, the pellicle membrane, and the pellicle frame. A void is defined between the pellicle frame and the mask, where the void is defined by a portion of the second surface of the pellicle membrane not attached to the mask. The void is not in communication with the enclosed space and is not in communication with an exterior space of the pellicle-mask system.

Pellicle for advanced lithography

An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask having a pellicle disposed thereover is received. The EUV pellicle is coupled to the EUV mask at least in part via glue that is disposed on the EUV mask. The EUV pellicle is removed, thereby exposing the glue. A localized glue-removal process is performed by targeting a region of the EUV mask on which the glue is disposed. The localized glue-removal process is performed without affecting other regions of the EUV mask that do not have the glue disposed thereon. The localized glue-removal process may include injecting a cleaning chemical onto the glue and removing a waste chemical produced by the cleaning chemical and the glue. The localized glue-removal process may also include a plasma process that applies plasma to the glue. The localized glue-removal process may further include a laser process that shoots a focused laser beam at the glue.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for a semiconductor lithography process in accordance with some embodiments. The apparatus includes a pellicle membrane, a pellicle frame attached to the pellicle membrane. The pellicle frame has a surface that defines at least one groove. The apparatus further includes a substrate that is in contact with the surface of the pellicle frame such that the grove is positioned between the pellicle frame and the substrate.

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Hsinchu, Taiwan

Ting-Hao Hsu