The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 2015
Filed:
Jan. 18, 2013
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsin-Chu, TW;
Matt Yeh, Hsinchun, TW;
Shun Wu Lin, Taichung, TW;
Chi-Chun Chen, Kaohsiung, TW;
Ryan Chia-Jen Chen, Chiayi, TW;
Yi-Hsing Chen, Changhua, TW;
Chien-Hao Chen, Chuangwei Township, TW;
Donald Y. Chao, Hsinchu, TW;
Kuo-Bin Huang, Jhubei, TW;
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsin-Chu, TW;
Abstract
Provided are methods of patterning metal gate structures including a high-k gate dielectric. In an embodiment, a soluble hard mask layer may be used to provide a masking element to pattern a metal gate. The soluble hard mask layer may be removed from the substrate by water or a photoresist developer. In an embodiment, a hard mask including a high-k dielectric is formed. In a further embodiment, a protection layer is formed underlying a photoresist pattern. The protection layer may protect one or more layers formed on the substrate from a photoresist stripping process.