Globalfoundries Inc.

Globalfoundries U.S. Inc.

Kla Corporation

Xintuo Dai

Dongyue Yang

Huang Liu

Minghao Tang

Md Motasim Bellah

Pavan Kumar Chinthamanipeta Sripadarao

Haigou Huang

Dongsuk Park

Cheuk Wun Wong

Jinping Liu

Guoxiang Ning

Sanggil Bae

Jiong Li

Guillaume Bouche

Xusheng Kevin Wu

Cung D Tran

Ravi Prakash Srivastava

Rui Chen

Mahender Kumar

Chin Teong Lim

Haifeng Sheng

Bradley Morgenfeld

Huaxiang Li

Christian J Ayala

Kripa Nidhan Chauhan

Lars W Liebmann

Fee Li Lie

Shreesh Narasimha

Andy C Wei

Brian Joseph Greene

Stuart A Sieg

Jin Ping Liu

Keith Howard Tabakman

Daniel J Jaeger

Daniel James Dechene

Huy Cao

Bharat V Krishnan

Lei L Zhuang

Chang Ho Maeng

Ahmed Hassan

Kenneth Andrew Bates

Shyam Pal

Mert Karakoy

Anthony Ozzello

Ja-Hyung Han

SangWoo Lim

Binbin Yan

Guanchen He

Xueli Hao

Two pairs of alignment targets (one aligned, one misaligned by a bias distance) are formed on different masks to produce a first pair of conjugated interference patterns. Other pairs of alignment targets are also formed on the masks to produce a second pair of conjugated interference patterns that are inverted the first. Misalignment of the dark and light regions of first interference patterns and the second interference patterns in both pairs of conjugated interference patterns is determined when patterns formed using the masks are overlaid. A magnification factor (of the interference pattern misalignment to the target misalignment) is calculated as a ratio of the difference of misalignment of the relatively dark and relatively light regions in the pairs of interference patterns, over twice the bias distance. The interference pattern misalignment is divided by the magnification factor to produce a self-referenced and self-calibrated target misalignment amount, which is then output.

Self-referencing and self-calibrating interference pattern overlay measurement

Two pairs of alignment targets (one aligned, one misaligned by a bias distance) are formed on different masks to produce a first pair of conjugated interference patterns. Other pairs of alignment targets are also formed on the masks to produce a second pair of conjugated interference patterns that are inverted the first. Misalignment of the dark and light regions of the first interference patterns and the second interference patterns in both pairs of conjugated interference patterns is determined when patterns formed using the masks are overlaid. A magnification factor (of the interference pattern misalignment to the target misalignment) is calculated as a ratio of the difference of misalignment of the relatively dark and relatively light regions in the pairs of interference patterns, over twice the bias distance. The interference pattern misalignment is divided by the magnification factor to produce a self-referenced and self-calibrated target misalignment amount, which is then output.

In an exemplary method, a first layer is formed on a substrate. First overlay marks are formed in a first zone of the first layer. A non-transparent layer is formed on top of the first layer. At least a portion of the non-transparent layer is removed from an area above the first zone of the first layer. This provides optical access to the first overlay marks. A second layer is formed on top of the non-transparent layer. Second overlay marks are formed in a second zone of the second layer. Position information is obtained from each of the first overlay marks and the second overlay marks.

Structure and method to improve overlay performance in semiconductor devices

Structures for detecting and correcting an overlay inaccuracy and methods of detecting and correcting an overlay inaccuracy. An overlay target includes a first plurality of features arranged along a first longitudinal axis in a first line-space pattern having a first line width, and a second plurality of features arranged along a second longitudinal axis in a second line-space pattern having a second line width that is less than the first line width. The second longitudinal axis is aligned substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

Overlay control with corrections for lens aberrations

Embodiments of the disclosure provides an apparatus for aligning layers of an integrated circuit (IC), the apparatus including: an insulator layer positioned above a semiconductor substrate; a first diffraction grating within a first region of the insulator layer, the first diffraction grating including a first grating material within the first region of the insulator layer; and a second diffraction grating within a second region of the insulator layer, the second grating including a second grating material within the second region of the insulator layer, wherein the second grating material is different from the first grating material, and wherein an optical contrast between the first and second grating materials is greater than an optical contrast between the second grating material and the insulator layer.

Apparatus and method for aligning integrated circuit layers using multiple grating materials

The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to overlay structures and methods of manufacture. The method includes locating a first plurality of offset dummy features in a first layer; locating a second plurality of offset dummy features in a second layer; measuring a distance between the first plurality of offset dummy features and the second plurality of offset dummy features; and determining that the first layer or the second layer is shifted with respect to one another based on the measurement.

Overlay structures

A method includes forming at least one fin above a semiconductor substrate. An isolation structure is formed adjacent the fin. A liner layer is formed above the isolation structure adjacent an interface between the fin and the isolation structure. The liner layer includes a material different than the isolation structure. A sacrificial gate structure is formed above a portion of the fin and includes a sacrificial gate insulation layer and a sacrificial gate structure. The sacrificial gate structure is removed. The sacrificial gate insulation layer is removed selectively to the liner layer. A replacement gate structure is formed above a portion of the fin in a cavity defined by removing the sacrificial gate structure.

Preventing bridge formation between replacement gate and source/drain region through STI structure

Methods of MOL S/D contact patterning of RMG devices without gouging of the Rx area or replacement of the dielectric are provided. Embodiments include forming a SOG layer around a RMG structure, the RMG structure having a contact etch stop layer and a gate cap layer; forming a lithography stack over the SOG and gate cap layers; patterning first and second TS openings through the lithography stack down to the SOG layer; removing a portion of the SOG layer through the first and second TS openings, the removing selective to the contact etch stop layer; converting the SOG layer to a SiOlayer; forming a metal layer over the SiOlayer; and planarizing the metal and SiOlayers down to the gate cap layer.

Siloxane and organic-based MOL contact patterning

A method includes forming a placeholder gate structure embedded in a dielectric layer. The placeholder gate structure includes a sacrificial material. A first hard mask layer is formed above the dielectric layer. The first hard mask layer and the sacrificial material are the same material. A second hard mask layer is formed above the first hard mask layer. The second hard mask layer is patterned to define an opening therein exposing a portion of the first hard mask layer and being disposed above a portion of the placeholder gate structure. The exposed portion of the first hard mask layer and the portion of the sacrificial material of the placeholder gate structure disposed below the opening are removed to define a gate cut cavity and divide the placeholder gate structure into first and second segments. A dielectric material is formed in the gate cut cavity.

Methods for performing a gate cut last scheme for FinFET semiconductor devices

Methods for forming a gate structure of a circuit structure are provide. The methods for forming the gate structure may include: forming a first gate pattern in a gate mask layer, the forming including a first etching of rounded corner portions of the first gate pattern; forming a second gate pattern in the gate mask layer, the second gate pattern at least partially overlapping the first gate pattern, the forming including a second etching of rounded corner portions of the second gate pattern; and, etching the gate mask layer using the first gate pattern and second gate pattern to form the gate structure.

Methods for gate formation in circuit structures

A method includes providing a semiconductor structure having a substrate including a longitudinally extending plurality of fins formed thereon. A target layout pattern is determined, which overlays active areas devices disposed on the fins. The target layout pattern includes a first group of sections overlaying devices having more fins than adjacent devices and a second group of sections overlaying devices having less fins than adjacent devices. A first extended exposure pattern is patterned into the structure, and includes extensions that extend sections of the first group toward adjacent sections of the first group. A second extended exposure pattern is patterned into the structure, and includes extensions that extend sections of the second group toward adjacent sections of the second group. Portions of the first and second extended exposure patterns are combined to form a final pattern overlaying the same active areas as the target pattern.

Methods to control fin tip placement

Methodologies for patterning and implantation are provided Embodiments include forming fins; forming an SiN over the fins; forming an a-Si layer over the SiN; forming and patterning a first patterning layer over the a-Si layer; etching through the a-Si layer using the first patterning layer as a mask; removing the first patterning layer; implanting ions in exposed groups of fins; forming and patterning a second patterning layer to expose a first group of fins and a portion of the a-Si layer on opposite sides of the first group of fins; implanting ions in a first region of the first group of fins; forming a third patterning layer over the first region of the first group of fins and exposing a second region of the first group of fins; and implanting ions in the second region of the first group of fins.

Threshold voltage and well implantation method for semiconductor devices

A method of introducing self-aligned dopants in semiconductor fins and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include providing semiconductor fins on first and second portions of a substrate; forming a BSG layer on side surfaces of the semiconductor fins on the first portion of the substrate; forming a first SiN layer on the BSG layer; forming a high quality oxide layer over an upper surface of the substrate, the first SiN layer and side surfaces of the semiconductor fins on the second portion of the substrate; forming a PSG layer over the high quality oxide layer on the second portion of the substrate and side surfaces of the semiconductor fins on the second portion of the substrate; and forming a second SiN layer over the high quality oxide layer and the PSG layer.

Introducing self-aligned dopants in semiconductor fins

Growing community of inventors

Rexford, NY, United States of America

Xintuo Dai