Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120264303 | CHEMICAL MECHANICAL POLISHING SLURRY, SYSTEM AND METHOD - A metal polishing slurry includes a chemical solution and abrasives characterized by a bimodal or other multimodal distribution of particle sizes or a prevalence of two or more particle sizes or ranges of particle sizes. A method and system for using the slurry in a CMP polishing operation, are also provided. | 10-18-2012 |
20120292639 | STRESSED SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING - A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The exemplary semiconductor device and method for fabricating the semiconductor device enhance carrier mobility. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a dielectric layer over the substrate. The method further includes forming a first trench within the dielectric layer, wherein the first trench extends through the dielectric layer and epitaxially (epi) growing a first active layer within the first trench and selectively curing with a radiation energy the dielectric layer adjacent to the first active layer. | 11-22-2012 |
20130020617 | Nickel Alloy Target Including a Secondary Metal - A target includes nickel and a secondary metal. The secondary metal has a volume percentage between about 1 percent and about 10 percent. The secondary metal has a density between about 5,000 kg/m | 01-24-2013 |
20130023188 | Apparatus for Wafer Grinding - A grinding wheel comprises an outer base with a first attached grain pad; and an inner frame with a second attached grain pad; and a spindle axis shared by the outer base and the inner frame, wherein at least one of the outer base and the inner frame can move independently along the shared spindle axis; and wherein the outer base, the inner frame, and the shared spindle axis all have a same center. A grinding system comprises an above said grinding wheel, and a wheel head attached to the shared spindle axis, capable of moving vertically, in addition to a motor driving the grinding wheel to spin; and a chuck table for fixing a wafer on top of the chuck table; wherein the grinding wheel overlaps a portion of the chuck table, each capable of spinning to the opposite direction of another. | 01-24-2013 |
20130102152 | SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes at least one inner retaining ring, and an outer retaining ring. The at least one inner retaining ring applies a first pressure to the polishing pad, and retains a substrate on the polishing pad. The outer retaining ring applies a second pressure to the polishing pad, and retains the at least one inner retaining ring on the polishing pad. Control of the first pressure is independent with respect to control of the second pressure. | 04-25-2013 |
20130153901 | BSI Image Sensor Chips and Methods for Forming the Same - A device includes semiconductor substrate having a front side and a backside. A polysilicon layer is disposed on the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The polysilicon layer includes a portion doped with a p-type impurity. A dielectric layer is disposed on the backside of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the polysilicon layer is between the semiconductor substrate and the polysilicon layer. | 06-20-2013 |
20130181258 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING - An image sensor includes a substrate having opposite first and second sides, a multilayer structure on the first side of the substrate, and a photo-sensitive element on the second side of the substrate. The photo-sensitive element is configured to receive light that is incident upon the first side and transmitted through the multilayer structure and the substrate. The multilayer structure includes first and second light transmitting layers. The first light transmitting layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the second light transmitting layer. The first light transmitting layer has a refractive index that is from 60% to 90% of a refractive index of the substrate. The second light transmitting layer has a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the first light transmitting layer and is from 40% to 70% of the refractive index of the substrate. | 07-18-2013 |
20130193538 | Methods and Apparatus for an Improved Reflectivity Optical Grid for Image Sensors - An improved reflectivity optical grid for image sensors. In an embodiment, a backside illuminated CIS device includes a semiconductor substrate having a pixel array area comprising a plurality of photosensors formed on a front side surface of the semiconductor substrate, each of the photosensors forming a pixel in the pixel array area; an optical grid material disposed over a backside surface of the semiconductor substrate, the optical grid material patterned to form an optical grid that bounds each of the pixels in the pixel array area and extending above the semiconductor substrate, the optical grid having sidewalls and a top portion; and a highly reflective coating formed over the optical grid, comprising a pure metal coating of a metal that is at least 99% pure, and a high-k dielectric coating over the pure metal coating that has a refractive index of greater than about 2.0. Methods are also disclosed. | 08-01-2013 |
20130210172 | WAFER THINNING APPARATUS HAVING FEEDBACK CONTROL AND METHOD OF USING - A wafer thinning apparatus includes a first metrology tool configured to measure an initial thickness of the wafer. The wafer thinning apparatus further includes a controller connected to the first metrology tool, and configured to determine a polishing time based on the initial thickness, a predetermined thickness and a material removal rate. The wafer thinning apparatus further includes a polishing tool connected to the controller configured to polish the wafer for a period of time equal to the polishing time. The wafer thinning apparatus includes a second metrology tool connected to the controller and the polishing tool, and configured to measure a polished thickness. The controller is configured to update the material removal rate based on the polished thickness, the predetermined thickness and the polishing time. | 08-15-2013 |
20130210321 | MODULAR GRINDING APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR WAFER THINNING - Methods of thinning a plurality of semiconductor wafers and apparatuses for carrying out the same are disclosed. A grinding module within a set of grinding modules receives and grinds a semiconductor wafer. A polishing module receives the semiconductor wafer from the grinding module and polishes the wafer. The polishing module is configured to polish the semiconductor wafer in less time than the grinding module is configured to grind the corresponding wafer. | 08-15-2013 |
20130220090 | WAFER EDGE TRIM BLADE WITH SLOTS - A wafer edge trim blade includes a round blade body and at least one slot formed inward from an outside edge of the round blade body. The at least one slot is configured to remove debris generated during wafer edge trimming using the wafer edge trim blade. | 08-29-2013 |
20130228886 | Method and Apparatus for Backside Illumination Sensor - Methods and apparatus for a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor device are disclosed. A BSI sensor device is formed on a substrate comprising a photosensitive diode. The substrate may be thinned at the backside, then a B doped Epi-Si(Ge) layer may be formed on the backside surface of the substrate. Additional layers may be formed on the B doped Epi-Si(Ge) layer, such as a metal shield layer, a dielectric layer, a micro-lens, and a color filter. | 09-05-2013 |
20130234202 | Image Sensor Isolation Region and Method of Forming the Same - Image sensors comprising an isolation region according to embodiments are disclosed, as well as methods of forming the image sensors with isolation region. An embodiment is a structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a photo element in the semiconductor substrate, and an isolation region in the semiconductor substrate. The isolation region is proximate the photo element and comprises a dielectric material and an epitaxial region. The epitaxial region is disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the dielectric material. | 09-12-2013 |
20130273686 | Image Sensor Manufacturing Methods - Semiconductor devices and back side illumination (BSI) sensor manufacturing methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a workpiece and forming an integrated circuit on a front side of the workpiece. A grid of a conductive material is formed on a back side of the workpiece using a damascene process. | 10-17-2013 |
20130273735 | Oxidation-Free Copper Metallization Process Using In-situ Baking - A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a substrate; forming a metal feature over the substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the metal feature; and forming an opening in the dielectric layer. At least a portion of the metal feature is exposed through the opening. An oxide layer is accordingly formed on an exposed portion of the metal feature. The method further includes, in a production tool having a vacuum environment, performing a plasma process to remove the oxide layer. Between the step of forming the opening and the oxide-removal process, no additional oxide-removal process is performed to the metal feature outside the production tool. The method further includes, in the production tool, forming a diffusion barrier layer in the opening, and forming a seed layer on the diffusion barrier layer | 10-17-2013 |
20130280849 | Image Sensor Isolation Region and Method of Forming the Same - Image sensors comprising an isolation region according to embodiments are disclosed, as well as methods of forming the image sensors with isolation region. An embodiment is a structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a photo element in the semiconductor substrate, and an isolation region in the semiconductor substrate. The isolation region is proximate the photo element and comprises a dielectric material and an epitaxial region. The epitaxial region is disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the dielectric material. | 10-24-2013 |
20130288582 | METHOD OF FORMING DIAMOND CONDITIONERS FOR CMP PROCESS - A method for making a conditioner disk used in a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process comprises applying a first layer of at least one binder over a substrate; disposing a plurality of diamond particles on the first layer of the at least one first binder at the plurality of locations; and fixing the plurality of diamond particles to the substrate by heating the substrate to a raised temperature and then cooling the substrate. The plurality of diamond particles disposed over the substrate are configured to provide a working diamond ratio higher than 50% when the conditioner disk is used in a CMP process. | 10-31-2013 |
20130320419 | CIS Image Sensors with Epitaxy Layers and Methods for Forming the Same - A method includes performing a first epitaxy to grow a first epitaxy layer of a first conductivity type, and performing a second epitaxy to grow a second epitaxy layer of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the first epitaxy layer. The first and the second epitaxy layers form a diode. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric over the first epitaxy layer, forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, and implanting a top portion of the first epitaxy layer and the second epitaxy layer to form a source/drain region adjacent to the gate dielectric. | 12-05-2013 |
20130320478 | System and Method for Processing a Backside Illuminated Photodiode - System and method for processing a semiconductor device surface to reduce dark current and white pixel anomalies. An embodiment comprises a method applied to a semiconductor or photodiode device surface adjacent to a photosensitive region, and opposite a side having circuit structures for the device. A doped layer may optionally be created at a depth of less than about 10 nanometers below the surface of the substrate and may be doped with a boron concentration between about 1 | 12-05-2013 |
20130320541 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE CONTACT STRUCTURES - Semiconductor contact structures extend through a dielectric material and provide contact to multiple different subjacent materials including a silicide material and a non-silicide material such as doped silicon. The contact structures includes a lower composite layer formed using a multi-step ionized metal plasma (IMP) deposition operation. A lower IMP film is formed at a high AC bias power followed by the formation of an upper IMP film at a lower AC bias power. The composite layer may be formed of titanium. A further layer is formed as a liner over the composite layer and the liner layer may advantageously be formed using CVD and may be TiN. A conductive plug material such as tungsten or copper fills the contact openings. | 12-05-2013 |
20130334581 | Device with MOS Device Including a Secondary Metal and PVD Tool with Target for Making Same - A device includes a substrate and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device. The MOS device includes a gate dielectric over the substrate, a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, a source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric, and a source/drain silicide over and contacting the source/drain region. The source/drain silicide comprises silicon, nickel, and a secondary metal. A ratio of a volume percentage of the secondary metal to a volume percentage of the silicon in the source/drain silicide is between about 0.005 and about 0.1. The secondary metal has a density between about 5,000 kg/m | 12-19-2013 |
20140024170 | Methods for Minimizing Edge Peeling in the Manufacturing of BSI Chips - A method includes forming top metal lines over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate is a portion of a wafer having a bevel. When the top metal lines are exposed, an etchant is supplied on the bevel, wherein regions of the wafer sprayed with the etchant has an inner defining line forming a first ring having a first diameter. A trimming step is performed to trim an edge portion of the wafer, wherein an edge of a remaining portion of the wafer has a second diameter substantially equal to or smaller than the first diameter. | 01-23-2014 |
20140209984 | Semiconductor Device With Multi Level Interconnects And Method Of Forming The Same - A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a substrate including a gate structure separating source and drain (S/D) features. The semiconductor device further includes a first dielectric layer formed over the substrate, the first dielectric layer including a first interconnect structure in electrical contact with the S/D features. The semiconductor device further includes an intermediate layer formed over the first dielectric layer, the intermediate layer having a top surface that is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the first interconnect structure. The semiconductor device further includes a second dielectric layer formed over the intermediate layer, the second dielectric layer including a second interconnect structure in electrical contact with the first interconnect structure and a third interconnect structure in electrical contact with the gate structure. | 07-31-2014 |
20140213152 | Wafer Edge Trimming Tool Using Abrasive Tape - A wafer edge trimming tool includes an abrasive tape and a holding module configured to hold the abrasive tape against portions of an edge of a rotating wafer during a wafer edge trimming process. | 07-31-2014 |
20140213153 | Wafer Polishing Tool Using Abrasive Tape - An embodiment wafer polishing tool includes an abrasive tape, a polish head holding the abrasive tape, and a rotation module. The rotation module is configured to rotate a wafer during a wafer polishing process, and the polish head is configured to apply pressure to the abrasive tape toward a first surface of the wafer during the wafer polishing process. | 07-31-2014 |
20150041851 | CIS Image Sensors with Epitaxy Layers and Methods for Forming the Same - A method includes performing a first epitaxy to grow a first epitaxy layer of a first conductivity type, and performing a second epitaxy to grow a second epitaxy layer of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the first epitaxy layer. The first and the second epitaxy layers form a diode. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric over the first epitaxy layer, forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric, and implanting a top portion of the first epitaxy layer and the second epitaxy layer to form a source/drain region adjacent to the gate dielectric. | 02-12-2015 |