公开(公告)号：US11520240B2

公开(公告)日：2022-12-06

申请号：US17314410

申请日：2021-05-07

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nikolay A. Mirin ,  Robert Dembi ,  Richard T. Housley ,  Xiaosong Zhang ,  Jonathan D. Harms ,  Stephen J. Kramer

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  H01L21/68 ,  G01R33/07 ,  H01L23/544

Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US10811355B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-20

申请号：US16200902

申请日：2018-11-27

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： William R. Brown ,  Jenna L. Russon ,  Tim H. Bossart ,  Brian R. Watson ,  Nikolay A. Mirin ,  David A. Kewley

IPC: H01L23/528 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/033 ,  H01L21/3213 ,  H01L49/02 ,  H01L27/108 ,  G01R31/26 ,  H01L21/66 ,  G01R1/073 ,  H01L27/02 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  G06F30/39

Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.

公开(公告)号：US11251096B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-15

申请号：US16122106

申请日：2018-09-05

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nikolay A. Mirin ,  Robert Dembi ,  Richard T. Housley ,  Xiaosong Zhang ,  Jonathan D. Harms ,  Stephen J. Kramer

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  H01L21/68 ,  H01L21/66 ,  H01L23/544 ,  H01L21/302

Abstract: A method for measuring overlay between an interest level and a reference level of a wafer includes applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting at least one residual magnetic field emitted from at least one registration marker of a first set of registration markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining a location of the at least one registration marker of the first set registration markers, determining a location of at least one registration marker of a second set of registration markers, and responsive to the respective determined locations of the at least one registration marker of the first set of registration markers and the at least one registration marker of the second set of registration markers, calculating a positional offset between an interest level of the wafer and a reference level of the wafer. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US09911693B2

公开(公告)日：2018-03-06

申请号：US14838768

申请日：2015-08-28

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： William R. Brown ,  Jenna L. Russon ,  Tim H. Bossart ,  Brian R. Watson ,  Nikolay A. Mirin ,  David A. Kewley

IPC: H01L23/528 ,  H01L27/108 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L27/11582

CPC classification number: H01L23/528 ,  H01L21/0337 ,  H01L21/32139 ,  H01L21/76838 ,  H01L21/76895 ,  H01L23/5283 ,  H01L27/10882 ,  H01L27/10885 ,  H01L27/10888 ,  H01L27/10891 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L28/00

Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on the each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.

公开(公告)号：US20220108927A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-07

申请号：US17644414

申请日：2021-12-15

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nikolay A. Mirin ,  Robert Dembi ,  Richard T. Housley ,  Xiaosong Zhang ,  Jonathan D. Harms ,  Stephen J. Kramer

IPC: H01L21/66 ,  H01L23/544 ,  H01L21/302 ,  H01L21/68

Abstract: A method for measuring overlay between an interest level and a reference level of a wafer includes applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting at least one residual magnetic field emitted from at least one registration marker of a first set of registration markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining a location of the at least one registration marker of the first set registration markers, determining a location of at least one registration marker of a second set of registration markers, and responsive to the respective determined locations of the at least one registration marker of the first set of registration markers and the at least one registration marker of the second set of registration markers, calculating a positional offset between an interest level of the wafer and a reference level of the wafer. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11009798B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-18

申请号：US16122062

申请日：2018-09-05

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nikolay A. Mirin ,  Robert Dembi ,  Richard T. Housley ,  Xiaosong Zhang ,  Jonathan D. Harms ,  Stephen J. Kramer

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  H01L21/68 ,  G01R33/07 ,  H01L23/544

Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20200073257A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-05

申请号：US16122062

申请日：2018-09-05

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nikolay A. Mirin ,  Robert Dembi ,  Richard T. Housley ,  Xiaosong Zhang ,  Jonathan D. Harms ,  Stephen J. Kramer

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  H01L21/68 ,  H01L23/544 ,  G01R33/07

Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20190103350A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-04

申请号：US16200902

申请日：2018-11-27

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： William R. Brown ,  Jenna L. Russon ,  Tim H. Bossart ,  Brian R. Watson ,  Nikolay A. Mirin ,  David A. Kewley

IPC: H01L23/528 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L21/3213 ,  H01L21/033 ,  H01L49/02 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/108

Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.

公开(公告)号：US12230546B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-18

申请号：US17644414

申请日：2021-12-15

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nikolay A. Mirin ,  Robert Dembi ,  Richard T. Housley ,  Xiaosong Zhang ,  Jonathan D. Harms ,  Stephen J. Kramer

IPC: H01L21/66 ,  G03F7/00 ,  H01L21/302 ,  H01L21/68 ,  H01L23/544

Abstract: A method for measuring overlay between an interest level and a reference level of a wafer includes applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting at least one residual magnetic field emitted from at least one registration marker of a first set of registration markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining a location of the at least one registration marker of the first set registration markers, determining a location of at least one registration marker of a second set of registration markers, and responsive to the respective determined locations of the at least one registration marker of the first set of registration markers and the at least one registration marker of the second set of registration markers, calculating a positional offset between an interest level of the wafer and a reference level of the wafer. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20210263429A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-26

申请号：US17314410

申请日：2021-05-07

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Nikolay A. Mirin ,  Robert Dembi ,  Richard T. Housley ,  Xiaosong Zhang ,  Jonathan D. Harms ,  Stephen J. Kramer

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  H01L21/68 ,  G01R33/07 ,  H01L23/544

Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.