摘要:
A method of unblinding an alignment mark comprising the following steps. A substrate having a cell area and an alignment mark within an alignment area is provided. An STI trench is formed into the substrate within the cell area. A silicon oxide layer is formed over the substrate, filling the STI trench and the alignment mark. The silicon oxide layer is planarized to form a planarized STI within the STI trench and leaving silicon oxide within the alignment mark to form a blinded alignment mark. A wet chemical etchant is applied within the alignment mark area over the blinded alignment mark to at least partially remove the silicon oxide within the alignment mark. The remaining silicon oxide is removed from within the blinded alignment mark to unblind the alignment mark. A drop etcher apparatus is also disclosed.
摘要:
A method of unblinding an alignment mark comprising the following steps. A substrate having a cell area and an alignment mark within an alignment area is provided. An STI trench is formed into the substrate within the cell area. A silicon oxide layer is formed over the substrate, filling the STI trench and the alignment mark. The silicon oxide layer is planarized to form a planarized STI within the STI trench and leaving silicon oxide within the alignment mark to form a blinded alignment mark. A wet chemical etchant is applied within the alignment mark area over the blinded alignment mark to at least partially remove the silicon oxide within the alignment mark. The remaining silicon oxide is removed from within the blinded alignment mark to unblind the alignment mark. A drop etcher apparatus is also disclosed.
摘要:
A method and system for monitoring the quality of a slurry utilized in a chemical mechanical polishing operation. A slurry is generally delivered through a tubular path during a chemical mechanical polishing operation. A laser light is generally transmitted from a laser light source, such that the laser light comes into contact with the slurry during the chemical mechanical polishing operation. The laser light can then be detected, after the laser light comes into contact with the slurry to thereby monitor the quality of the slurry utilized during the chemical mechanical polishing operation. The laser light that comes into contact with the slurry can be also be utilized to monitor a mixing ratio associated with the slurry.
摘要:
A method and system for monitoring the quality of a slurry utilized in a chemical mechanical polishing operation. A slurry is generally delivered through a tubular path during a chemical mechanical polishing operation. A laser light is generally transmitted from a laser light source, such that the laser light comes into contact with the slurry during the chemical mechanical polishing operation. The laser light can then be detected, after the laser light comes into contact with the slurry to thereby monitor the quality of the slurry utilized during the chemical mechanical polishing operation. The laser light that comes into contact with the slurry can be also be utilized to monitor a mixing ratio associated with the slurry.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for locally etching a substrate area the method including providing a substrate comprising a process surface; depositing a material layer over the process surface; and, applying a wet etchant to cover a targeted etching portion of the process surface while excluding an adjacent surrounding area to selectively etch the material layer overlying the targeted etching portion.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for locally etching a substrate area the method including providing a substrate comprising a process surface; depositing a material layer over the process surface; and, applying a wet etchant to cover a targeted etching portion of the process surface while excluding an adjacent surrounding area to selectively etch the material layer overlying the targeted etching portion.
摘要:
A method and system for delivering a mixed slurry for use chemical mechanical polishing operation. A first slurry may be mixed with a second slurry to provide a mixed slurry thereof. A flow rate and a mixing ratio associated with the mixed slurry can be controlled to provide an accurate flow rate control and adjustable mixing ratio thereof. The first slurry and the second slurry may be mixed in-line utilizing an in-line mixing mechanism to provide a mixed slurry thereof. Alternatively, the first and second slurries may be pre-mixed utilizing a pre-mixing mechanism to provide a mixed slurry there.
摘要:
A wafer based APC method for controlling an oxide (Cu, or TaN) polish step is described and combines a feed forward model that compensates for incoming wafer variations with a feed backward model which compensates for CMP variations. The method is geared toward minimizing Rs 3σ variations. A Rs target value is inputted with metrology data from previous processes that affects the width and thickness of the copper layer. A copper thickness target and polish time for the first wafer is determined. Post CMP measurement data of the first wafer is used to modify the polish rate with a disturbance factor and an updated polish time is computed for subsequent wafers. The CMP recipe for each wafer is adjusted with metrology data and post CMP measurements. The APC method is successful in controlling copper Rs variations for the 90 nm technology node and is independent of copper pattern density.
摘要:
System and method for reducing damage to a semiconductor substrate when using cleaning fluids at elevated pressures to clean the semiconductor substrates. A preferred embodiment comprises applying the cleaning fluid at a first pressure for a first time period, wherein the first pressure is relatively low, and then increasing the pressure of the cleaning fluid to a pressure level that can effectively clean the semiconductor substrate and maintaining the pressure level for a second time period. The application of the cleaning fluid at the relatively low initial pressure acts as a temporary filler and creates a buffer of the cleaning fluid on the semiconductor substrate and helps to dampen the impact of the subsequent high pressure application of the cleaning fluid on the semiconductor substrate.
摘要:
The invention relates to disks for conditioning pads used in the chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor wafers, and a method of fabricating the pads. In one embodiment, the conditioning pad includes multiple, pyramid-shaped, truncated protrusions which are cut or shaped in the surface of a typically stainless steel substrate. Each of the truncated protrusions includes a plateau in the top thereof. A seed layer, typically titanium nitride (TiN), is provided on the surface of the protrusions, and a contact layer such as diamond-like carbon (DLC) or other suitable film is provided over the seed layer. In another embodiment, each of the protrusions is pyramid-shaped and includes a pointed apex at the top thereof.