公开(公告)号：US06455332B1

公开(公告)日：2002-09-24

申请号：US09564406

申请日：2000-05-01

申请人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Michael Templeton

发明人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Michael Templeton

IPC分类号： H01L2100

CPC分类号： H01L22/34

摘要： A method of making and using a reference wafer and a metrology system to calibrate tools in a photolithographic system. The reference wafer includes a silicon substrate, a dielectric or insulating layer disposed above the silicon substrate and a pattern disposed above the insulating layer. The pattern is coupled to the silicon substrate and the silicon substrate acts as a ground for the pattern. As a result, charge buildup on the pattern is mitigated since excess charge is dissipated into the silicon substrate.

摘要翻译： 制造和使用参考晶片和计量系统来校准光刻系统中的工具的方法。 参考晶片包括硅衬底，设置在硅衬底上方的电介质层或绝缘层以及设置在绝缘层之上的图案。 该图案耦合到硅衬底，并且硅衬底用作图案的接地。 结果，由于过量的电荷消散到硅衬底中，因此减轻了图案上的电荷积累。

公开(公告)号：US06448097B1

公开(公告)日：2002-09-10

申请号：US09911236

申请日：2001-07-23

申请人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Ramkumar Subramanian

发明人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Ramkumar Subramanian

IPC分类号： H01L3126

CPC分类号： G01N21/64 ,  G01N2021/6417 ,  H01L22/26

摘要： A system and method is provided for determining and controlling development of a semiconductor substrate employing fluorescence spectroscopy. One aspect of the invention relates to a system and method employing fluorescence spectroscopy to facilitate control of a chemical trim etch process during development of a photoresist material layer. The chemical trim etch process comprises applying a trim compound or material to a patterned photoresist. The trim compound or material is diffusable into the sides and top of the patterned resist. The diffused regions of the resist are soluble in a developer, which facilitates creating smaller features in the patterned photoresist. The fluorescence spectroscopy system can be employed to measure isolated and dense gratings or CDs and use the evolution of the CD to determine when to terminate the chemical trim process.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种使用荧光光谱法确定和控制半导体衬底的开发的系统和方法。 本发明的一个方面涉及使用荧光光谱学来促进在光致抗蚀剂材料层的显影期间控制化学修剪蚀刻工艺的系统和方法。 化学修剪蚀刻工艺包括将修剪化合物或材料施加到图案化的光致抗蚀剂上。 修整组合物或材料可扩散到图案化抗蚀剂的侧面和顶部。 抗蚀剂的扩散区域可溶于显影剂，这有助于在图案化的光致抗蚀剂中产生更小的特征。 荧光光谱系统可用于测量孤立和致密的光栅或CD，并使用CD的演变来确定何时终止化学修饰过程。

公开(公告)号：US06444381B1

公开(公告)日：2002-09-03

申请号：US09729295

申请日：2000-12-04

申请人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Ramkumar Subramanian ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Khoi A. Phan ,  Bryan K. Choo ,  Sanjay K. Yedur

发明人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Ramkumar Subramanian ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Khoi A. Phan ,  Bryan K. Choo ,  Sanjay K. Yedur

IPC分类号： G03F900

CPC分类号： G03F1/74 ,  Y10S430/143

摘要： One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing carbon contamination on a mask involving placing a mask plate having carbon-containing contaminants thereon in a processing chamber; simultaneously contacting the mask plate with oxygen and exposing the mask plate with a flood exposure of electron beams wherein the carbon-containing contaminants are converted to a by-product; and removing the by-product from the processing chamber.

摘要翻译： 本发明的一个方面涉及一种用于减少掩模上的碳污染的方法，其涉及将具有含碳污染物的掩模板放置在处理室中; 同时使掩模板与氧气接触，并将电子束的暴露暴露于掩模板，其中含碳污染物转化为副产物; 并从处理室中除去副产物。

公开(公告)号：US06441349B1

公开(公告)日：2002-08-27

申请号：US09558643

申请日：2000-04-26

申请人： Bharath Rangarajan ,  Bhanwar Singh ,  Sanjay K. Yedur

发明人： Bharath Rangarajan ,  Bhanwar Singh ,  Sanjay K. Yedur

IPC分类号： H05B368

CPC分类号： H01L21/67103

摘要： A system and method for facilitating uniform heating temperature of a material is provided. The material may be a photoresist, a top or bottom anti-reflective coating, a low K dielectric material, SOG or other spin-on material. The system can include at least one heating element and a heat transfer fluid, the heating element heating the heat transfer fluid, which in turn heats the material. The transfer fluid more evenly distributes the heat from the heating element, which can have hot and cold spots at the material.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于促进材料的均匀加热温度的系统和方法。 该材料可以是光致抗蚀剂，顶部或底部抗反射涂层，低K电介质材料，SOG或其它旋涂材料。 该系统可以包括至少一个加热元件和传热流体，该加热元件加热该传热流体，该热传导流体依次加热该材料。 传输流体更均匀地分配来自加热元件的热​​量，其可以在材料上具有热点和冷点。

公开(公告)号：US06423650B1

公开(公告)日：2002-07-23

申请号：US09371715

申请日：1999-08-09

申请人： Marina V. Plat ,  Christopher F. Lyons ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bhanwar Singh

发明人： Marina V. Plat ,  Christopher F. Lyons ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bhanwar Singh

IPC分类号： H01L2131

摘要： In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of processing a semiconductor substrate, involving the steps of providing the semiconductor substrate having an upper surface; roughening the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate so that the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate has an Rtm of about 10 Å or more; and depositing an ultra-thin photoresist on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the ultra-thin photoresist having a thickness of about 2,000 Å or less.

公开(公告)号：US06335152B1

公开(公告)日：2002-01-01

申请号：US09564408

申请日：2000-05-01

申请人： Ramkumar Subramanian ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bhanwar Singh

发明人： Ramkumar Subramanian ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bhanwar Singh

IPC分类号： G03F738

CPC分类号： G03F7/38

摘要： In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of processing an irradiated photoresist involving the steps of placing a substrate having the irradiated photoresist thereon at a first temperature in a rapid thermal anneal furnace; heating the substrate having the irradiated photoresist thereon to a second temperature within about 0.1 seconds to about 10 seconds; cooling the substrate having the irradiated photoresist thereon to a third temperature in a rapid thermal annealing furnace within about 0.1 seconds to about 10 seconds; and developing the irradiated photoresist, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature and the third temperature. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system of processing a photoresist, containing a source of actinic radiation and a mask for selectively irradiating a photoresist; a rapid thermal annealing furnace for rapidly heating and rapidly cooling a selectively irradiated photoresist, wherein the rapid heating and rapid cooling are independently conducted within about 0.1 seconds to about 10 seconds; and a developer for developing a rapid thermal annealing furnace heated and selectively irradiated photoresist into a patterned photoresist.

摘要翻译： 在一个实施方案中，本发明涉及一种处理被照射的光致抗蚀剂的方法，包括以下步骤：在快速热退火炉中将具有照射光致抗蚀剂的基底在第一温度下放置; 将其上具有照射的光致抗蚀剂的基板加热至约0.1秒至约10秒的第二温度; 将快速热退火炉中具有照射光致抗蚀剂的基板冷却至约0.1秒至约10秒的第三温度; 并且显影所述被照射的光致抗蚀剂，其中所述第二温度高于所述第一温度和所述第三温度。 在另一个实施方案中，本发明涉及一种处理含有光化辐射源的光致抗蚀剂的系统和用于选择性地照射光致抗蚀剂的掩模; 快速热退火炉，用于快速加热和快速冷却选择性照射的光致抗蚀剂，其中快速加热和快速冷却在约0.1秒至约10秒内独立进行; 以及用于将快速热退火炉加热并选择性地照射光致抗蚀剂的显影剂加工成图案化的光致抗蚀剂。

公开(公告)号：US06322009B1

公开(公告)日：2001-11-27

申请号：US09429992

申请日：1999-10-29

申请人： Ramkumar Subramanian ,  Khoi A. Phan ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Bhanwar Singh

发明人： Ramkumar Subramanian ,  Khoi A. Phan ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Bhanwar Singh

IPC分类号： B05B900

CPC分类号： H01L21/6708 ,  H01L21/67051

摘要： A combination nozzle for applying a developer material and a washing solution material at different time intervals to a photoresist material layer disposed on a wafer is provided. The combination nozzle includes a number of developer nozzle tips connected to a developer supply line and a number of washing solution nozzle tips connected to a washing solution supply line. The developer supply line and the washing solution supply line ensure that the developer material and the washing solution material are always substantially isolated from one another. Furthermore, the developer nozzle tips and the washing solution nozzle tips are arranged so that developer material and washing solution material do not come into contact with one another. The volume of the material and the volume flow of the material can be controlled by electronically controlled valves.

摘要翻译： 提供了用于将显影剂材料和洗涤液材料以不同的时间间隔施加到设置在晶片上的光致抗蚀剂材料层的组合喷嘴。 组合喷嘴包括连接到显影剂供应管线的多个显影剂喷嘴尖端和连接到洗涤溶液供应管线的多个洗涤溶液喷嘴尖端。 显影剂供应管线和洗涤溶液供应管线确保显影剂材料和洗涤液材料总是基本上彼此隔离。 此外，显影剂喷嘴尖端和洗涤溶液喷嘴尖端被布置成使得显影剂材料和洗涤液材料彼此不接触。 材料的体积和材料的体积流量可以通过电子控制阀来控制。

公开(公告)号：US06245493B1

公开(公告)日：2001-06-12

申请号：US09205738

申请日：1998-12-04

申请人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Sanjay K. Yedur ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Christopher F. Lyons

发明人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Sanjay K. Yedur ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Christopher F. Lyons

IPC分类号： G03F700

CPC分类号： H01L21/0276 ,  G03F7/091 ,  G03F7/16 ,  H01L21/3105

摘要： A method for creating a roughened surface on a material exposed to light during a photolithographic process is provided. The roughened surface is created on a surface of the material via a plasma etch process. The roughened surface diffuses light incident to the material such that the diffused light causes insubstantial damage to a photoresist subsequently formed on the material.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种在光刻过程中在暴露于光的材料上产生粗糙表面的方法。 通过等离子体蚀刻工艺在材料的表面上形成粗糙表面。 粗糙表面扩散入射到材料的光，使得漫射的光对随后在材料上形成的光致抗蚀剂造成非实质的损坏。

公开(公告)号：US06238830B1

公开(公告)日：2001-05-29

申请号：US09429994

申请日：1999-10-29

申请人： Bharath Rangarajan ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bhanwar Singh

发明人： Bharath Rangarajan ,  Michael K. Templeton ,  Bhanwar Singh

IPC分类号： G03F900

CPC分类号： G03F7/70875 ,  G01Q30/10 ,  G01Q80/00 ,  H01J2237/31759 ,  Y10S977/855

摘要： A system for monitoring and regulating a photoresist temperature in a maskless lithography pattern transfer process is disclosed. The system includes a photoresist layer overlying a substrate and a material associated with the photoresist layer, wherein the material exhibits a transformation over variations in temperature. The system also includes a detection system for detecting the transformation in the material and a processor operatively coupled to the detection system. The processor receives information associated with the detected transformation and uses the information to control a tool being used for the pattern transfer, thereby reducing variations in temperature in the resist during pattern transfer. In addition, a method of monitoring and regulating a photoresist temperature in a maskless lithography pattern transfer process is disclosed. The method includes associating a material having a characteristic which varies over variations in temperature with a photoresist layer which overlies a substrate and detecting the characteristic during the pattern transfer process. Once detected a temperature of a portion of the photoresist layer is determined using the detected characteristic and an operation of a writing tool which performs the pattern transfer process in response to the photoresist layer temperature is controlled in response thereto.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于在无掩模光刻图案转印工艺中监测和调节光刻胶温度的系统。 该系统包括覆盖衬底的光致抗蚀剂层和与光致抗蚀剂层相关联的材料，其中材料表现出与温度变化的转变。 该系统还包括用于检测材料中的变换的检测系统和可操作地耦合到检测系统的处理器。 处理器接收与检测到的变换相关联的信息，并使用该信息来控制用于图案转印的工具，由此减少图案转印期间抗蚀剂的温度变化。 此外，公开了一种在无掩模光刻图案转印工艺中监测和调节光刻胶温度的方法。 该方法包括将具有随温度变化变化的特性的材料与覆盖在衬底上的光致抗蚀剂层相关联，并且在图案转移过程期间检测特性。 一旦检测到，使用检测到的特性确定光刻胶层的一部分的温度，并响应于光致抗蚀剂层温度来控制执行图案转印处理的写入工具的操作。

公开(公告)号：US06221777B1

公开(公告)日：2001-04-24

申请号：US09329154

申请日：1999-06-09

申请人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Ursula Q. Quinto

发明人： Bhanwar Singh ,  Bharath Rangarajan ,  Ursula Q. Quinto

IPC分类号： H01L2100

CPC分类号： H01L27/11521 ,  H01L21/76802 ,  H01L21/76816

摘要： A reverse lithographic process is provided for more densely packing semiconductors onto a semiconductor wafer. A semiconductor wafer having a dielectric covered semiconductor device has a photoresist deposited which is patterned with vias in closely packed rows and columns. The resist is developed and trimmed to form via photoresist structures. A non-photosensitive polymer is deposited over the via photoresist structures and, when hardened, is subject to planarizing to expose the via photoresist structures. The via photoresist structures are removed and leave a reverse image patterned polymer. The photoresist is removed leaving the reverse image patterned polymer, which is then used to etch the dielectric to form vias to the semiconductor device.

摘要翻译： 提供反向光刻工艺用于在半导体晶片上更密集地堆叠半导体。 具有电介质覆盖的半导体器件的半导体晶片具有沉积的光致抗蚀剂，其以紧密堆积的行和列形成通孔。 抗蚀剂被显影和修整以通过光致抗蚀剂结构形成。 非光敏聚合物沉积在通孔光致抗蚀剂结构上，并且当硬化时，进行平面化以暴露通孔光致抗蚀剂结构。 去除通孔光致抗蚀剂结构并留下反向图案图案化的聚合物。 除去光致抗蚀剂留下反向图案图案化的聚合物，然后将其用于蚀刻电介质以形成到半导体器件的通孔。