Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110124134 | END-CUT FIRST APPROACH FOR CRITICAL DIMENSION CONTROL - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming at least one material layer over a substrate; performing an end-cut patterning process to form an end-cut pattern overlying the at least one material layer; transferring the end-cut pattern to the at least one material layer; performing a line-cut patterning process after the end-cut patterning process to form a line-cut pattern overlying the at least one material layer; and transferring the line-cut pattern to the at least one material layer. | 05-26-2011 |
20110212403 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED DIPOLE LITHOGRAPHY - Provided is a lithography system that includes a source for providing energy, an imaging system configured to direct the energy onto a substrate to form an image thereon, and a diffractive optical element (DOE) incorporated with the imaging system, the DOE having a first dipole located in a first direction and a second dipole located in the first direction or a second direction perpendicular the first direction. The first dipole includes a first energy-transmitting region spaced a first distance from a center of the DOE. The second dipole includes a second energy-transmitting region spaced a second distance from the center of the DOE. The first distance is greater than the second distance. | 09-01-2011 |
20120074400 | MULTIPLE EDGE ENABLED PATTERNING - Provided is an alignment mark having a plurality of sub-resolution elements. The sub-resolution elements each have a dimension that is less than a minimum resolution that can be detected by an alignment signal used in an alignment process. Also provided is a semiconductor wafer having first, second, and third patterns formed thereon. The first and second patterns extend in a first direction, and the third pattern extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second pattern is separated from the first pattern by a first distance measured in the second direction. The third pattern is separated from the first pattern by a second distance measured in the first direction. The third pattern is separated from the second pattern by a third distance measured in the first direction. The first distance is approximately equal to the third distance. The second distance is less than twice the first distance. | 03-29-2012 |
20130155381 | METHODS FOR SMALL TRENCH PATTERNING USING CHEMICAL AMPLIFIED PHOTORESIST COMPOSITIONS - A method for forming a pattern on a substrate is described. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a photosensitive layer over the substrate, exposing the photosensitive layer to a first exposure energy through a first mask, exposing the photosensitive layer to a second exposure energy through a second mask, baking the photosensitive layer, and developing the exposed photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer includes a polymer that turns soluble to a developer solution, at least one photo-acid generator (PAG), and at least one photo-base generator (PBG). A portion of the layer exposed to the second exposure energy overlaps with a portion exposed to the first exposure energy. | 06-20-2013 |
20130175629 | DEVICE AND METHODS FOR FORMING PARTIALLY SELF-ALIGNED TRENCHES - A semiconductor device and methods for small trench patterning are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of gate structures and sidewall spacers, an etch stop layer disposed over the sidewall spacers, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer disposed on a bottom portion of the etch stop layer, an etch buffer layer disposed on an upper portion of the etch stop layer, and a plurality of metal plugs between the gate structures. An upper portion of the metal plugs is adjacent to the etch buffer layer and a lower portion of the metal plugs is adjacent to the ILD layer. | 07-11-2013 |
20130175637 | DEVICE AND METHODS FOR SMALL TRENCH PATTERNING - A semiconductor device and methods for small trench patterning are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of gate structures and sidewall spacers, and an etch buffer layer disposed over the sidewall spacers. The etch buffer layer includes an overhang component disposed on the upper portion of the sidewall spacers with an edge that extends laterally. The width between the edges of adjacent overhang components is narrower than the width between adjacent sidewall spacers. | 07-11-2013 |
20130295755 | METHODS FOR FORMING TRENCHES - Methods for making a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of gate stacks on a substrate, forming an etch buffer layer on the substrate, forming a dielectric material layer on the etch buffer layer, forming a hard mask layer on the substrate, wherein the hard mask layer includes one opening, and etching the dielectric material layer to form a plurality of trenches using the hard mask layer and the etch buffer layer as an etch mask. | 11-07-2013 |
20130323898 | METHOD OF LITHOGRAPHY PROCESS WITH AN UNDER ISOLATION MATERIAL LAYER - A method of forming a integrated circuit pattern. The method includes forming gate stacks on a substrate, two adjacent gate stacks of the gate stacks being spaced away by a dimension G; forming a nitrogen-containing layer on the gate stacks and the substrate; forming a dielectric material layer on the nitrogen-containing layer, the dielectric material layer having a thickness T substantially less than G/2; coating a photoresist layer on the dielectric material layer; and patterning the photoresist layer by a lithography process. | 12-05-2013 |
20140035054 | Device and Methods for Small Trench Patterning - A semiconductor device and methods for small trench patterning are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of gate structures and sidewall spacers, and an etch buffer layer disposed over the sidewall spacers. The etch buffer layer includes an overhang component disposed on the upper portion of the sidewall spacers with an edge that extends laterally. The width between the edges of adjacent overhang components is narrower than the width between adjacent sidewall spacers. | 02-06-2014 |
20140106479 | End-Cut First Approach For Critical Dimension Control - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming at least one material layer over a substrate; performing an end-cut patterning process to form an end-cut pattern overlying the at least one material layer; transferring the end-cut pattern to the at least one material layer; performing a line-cut patterning process after the end-cut patterning process to form a line-cut pattern overlying the at least one material layer; and transferring the line-cut pattern to the at least one material layer. | 04-17-2014 |
20140199827 | Device and Methods for Small Trench Patterning - A semiconductor device and methods for small trench patterning are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of gate structures and sidewall spacers, and an etch buffer layer disposed over the sidewall spacers. The etch buffer layer includes an overhang component disposed on the upper portion of the sidewall spacers with an edge that extends laterally. The width between the edges of adjacent overhang components is narrower than the width between adjacent sidewall spacers. | 07-17-2014 |
20140252559 | Multiple Edge Enabled Patterning - Provided is an alignment mark having a plurality of sub-resolution elements. The sub-resolution elements each have a dimension that is less than a minimum resolution that can be detected by an alignment signal used in an alignment process. Also provided is a semiconductor wafer having first, second, and third patterns formed thereon. The first and second patterns extend in a first direction, and the third pattern extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second pattern is separated from the first pattern by a first distance measured in the second direction. The third pattern is separated from the first pattern by a second distance measured in the first direction. The third pattern is separated from the second pattern by a third distance measured in the first direction. The first distance is approximately equal to the third distance. The second distance is less than twice the first distance. | 09-11-2014 |