Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090063074 | Mask Haze Early Detection - Detecting haze formation on a mask by obtaining an optical property of the mask and determining progress of the haze formation based on the obtained optical property. | 03-05-2009 |
20100219175 | ROTATABLE PLATE AND HEATING/COOLING ELEMENT IN PROXIMITY THERETO - An apparatus for selectively heating/cooling one or more substrates and establishing an approximately uniform temperature in the one or more substrates during a heating or cooling event is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a rotatable hot/cold plate onto which the one or more substrates are placed and a heating/cooling element disposed in close proximity to the rotatable hot/cold plate for selectively elevating/lowering the temperature of the one or more substrates. | 09-02-2010 |
20100285399 | WAFER EDGE EXPOSURE UNIT - A wafer edge exposure unit comprises a chuck for supporting a wafer. The chuck is rotatable about a central axis. A plurality of light sources are positioned or movably positionable with a common radial distance from the axis of the rotatable chuck, each light source configured to direct exposure light on a respective edge portion of the wafer simultaneously. | 11-11-2010 |
20110024924 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE OF STACKING SCATTEROMETRY-BASED OVERLAY OR CD MARKS FOR MARK FOOTPRINT REDUCTION - The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of material layers formed on the semiconductor substrate, each of the material layers including a circuit pattern therein; and a plurality of diffraction-based periodic marks formed in the plurality of material layers and stacked in a same region. One of the diffraction-based periodic marks is different from at least one other of the diffraction-based periodic marks in pitch. | 02-03-2011 |
20110076843 | LITHOGRAPHY PATTERNING METHOD - A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. The method is a lithography patterning method that can include providing a substrate; forming a protective layer over the substrate; forming a conductive layer over the protective layer; forming a resist layer over the conductive layer; and exposing and developing the resist layer. | 03-31-2011 |
20120045192 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING IMMERSION SCANNER OVERLAY PERFORMANCE - System and method for improving immersion scanner overlay performance are described. One embodiment is a method of improving overlay performance of an photolithography immersion scanner comprising a wafer table having lens cooling water (“LCW”) disposed in a water channel therein, the wafer table having an input for receiving the LCW into the water channel and an output for expelling the LCW from the water channel. The method comprises providing a water tank at at least one of the wafer table input and the wafer table output; monitoring a pressure of water in the water tank; and maintaining the pressure of the water in the water tank at a predetermined level. | 02-23-2012 |
20120168751 | Integrated Circuit Test Units with Integrated Physical and Electrical Test Regions - A device includes a test unit in a die. The test unit includes a physical test region including an active region, and a plurality of conductive lines over the active region and parallel to each other. The plurality of conductive lines has substantially a uniform spacing, wherein no contact plugs are directly over and connected to the plurality of conductive lines. The test unit further includes an electrical test region including a transistor having a gate formed of a same material, and at a same level, as the plurality of conductive lines; and contact plugs connected to a source, a drain, and the gate of the transistor. The test unit further includes an alignment mark adjacent the physical test region and the electrical test region. | 07-05-2012 |
20130032712 | OVERLAY ALIGNMENT MARK AND METHOD OF DETECTING OVERLAY ALIGNMENT ERROR USING THE MARK - A method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate having a first layer and a second layer above the first layer. The first layer haw a plurality of first patterns, vias or contacts. The second layer has second patterns corresponding to the first patterns, vias or contacts. The second patterns have a plurality of in-plane offsets relative to the corresponding first patterns, vias or contacts. A scanning electron microscope is used to measure line edge roughness (LER) values of the second patterns. An overlay error is calculated between the first and second layers based on the measured LER values. | 02-07-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100062611 | Method and Apparatus for Thinning a Substrate - Provided is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a backside, where active or passive devices are formed in the front side, rotating the semiconductor substrate, and etching the backside of the semiconductor substrate by introducing a first etchant while the substrate is rotated, the first etchant including an R—COOH. | 03-11-2010 |
20100248414 | METHOD OF WAFER BONDING - Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side, a back side, and a first edge portion, forming a material layer over a portion of the front side of the device substrate, trimming the first edge portion, removing the material layer, bonding the front side of the device substrate to a carrier substrate, thinning the device substrate from the back side, and trimming a second edge portion of the thinned device substrate. | 09-30-2010 |
20100248446 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF HOLDING A DEVICE - Provided is an apparatus and a method of holding a device. The apparatus includes a wafer chuck having first and second holes that extend therethrough, and a pressure control structure that can independently and selectively vary a fluid pressure in each of the first and second holes between pressures above and below an ambient pressure. The method includes providing a wafer chuck having first and second holes that extend therethrough, and independently and selectively varying a fluid pressure in each of the first and second holes between pressures above and below an ambient pressure. | 09-30-2010 |
20110233621 | Wafer Level Packaging Bond - The present disclosure provides a method of bonding a plurality of substrates. In an embodiment, a first substrate includes a first bonding layer. The second substrate includes a second bonding layer. The first bonding layer includes silicon; the second bonding layer includes aluminum. The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded forming a bond region having an interface between the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer. A device having a bonding region between substrates is also provided. The bonding region includes an interface between a layer including silicon and a layer including aluminum. | 09-29-2011 |
20120025389 | Hermetic Wafer Level Packaging - Provided is a wafer level packaging. The packaging includes a first semiconductor wafer having a transistor device and a first bonding layer that includes a first material. The packaging includes a second semiconductor wafer having a second bonding layer that includes a second material different from the first material, one of the first and second materials being aluminum-based, and the other thereof being titanium-based. Wherein a portion of the second wafer is diffusively bonded to the first wafer through the first and second bonding layers. | 02-02-2012 |
20120080761 | SEMICONDUCTOR HAVING A HIGH ASPECT RATIO VIA - A semiconductor device includes a substrate wafer, a dielectric layer overlying the substrate wafer, a patterned conductor layer in the dielectric layer, and a first barrier layer overlying the conductor layer. A silicon top wafer is bonded to the dielectric layer. A via is formed through the top wafer and a portion of the dielectric layer to the first barrier layer. A sidewall dielectric layer is formed along inner walls of the via, adjacent the top wafer to a distance below an upper surface of the top wafer, forming a sidewall dielectric layer shoulder. A sidewall barrier layer is formed inward of the sidewall dielectric layer, lining the via from the first barrier layer to the upper surface of the top wafer. A conductive layer fills the via and a top barrier layer is formed on the conductive layer, the sidewall barrier layer, and the top wafer. | 04-05-2012 |
20120235300 | SEMICONDUCTOR HAVING A HIGH ASPECT RATIO VIA - The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a via structure and method of manufacturing same. In an example, a via structure includes a via having via sidewall surfaces defined by a semiconductor substrate. The via sidewall surfaces have a first portion and a second portion. A conductive layer is disposed in the via on the first portion of the via sidewall surfaces, and a dielectric layer is disposed on the second portion of the via sidewall surfaces. The dielectric layer is disposed between the second portion of the via sidewall surfaces and the conductive layer. In an example, the dielectric layer is an oxide layer. | 09-20-2012 |
20120238091 | SEMICONDUCTOR HAVING A HIGH ASPECT RATIO VIA - The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a via structure and method of manufacturing same. In an example, a method for forming a via structure includes forming a via in a semiconductor substrate, wherein via sidewalls of the via are defined by the semiconductor substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the via sidewalls; removing the dielectric layer from a portion of the via sidewalls; and forming a conductive layer to fill the via, wherein the conductive layer is disposed over the dielectric layer and the portion of the via sidewalls. In an example, the dielectric layer is an oxide layer. | 09-20-2012 |
20140138853 | WAFER LEVEL PACKAGING BOND - A device is described in one embodiment that includes a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device disposed on a first substrate and a semiconductor device disposed on a second substrate. A bond electrically connects the MEMS device and the semiconductor device. The bond includes an interface between a first bonding layer including silicon on the first substrate and a second bonding layer including aluminum on the second substrate. The physical interface between the aluminum and silicon (e.g., amorphous silicon) can provide an electrical connection. | 05-22-2014 |
20140154841 | Hermetic Wafer Level Packaging - Provided is a wafer level packaging. The packaging includes a first semiconductor wafer having a transistor device and a first bonding layer that includes a first material. The packaging includes a second semiconductor wafer having a second bonding layer that includes a second material different from the first material, one of the first and second materials being aluminum-based, and the other thereof being titanium-based. Wherein a portion of the second wafer is diffusively bonded to the first wafer through the first and second bonding layers. | 06-05-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120148870 | SELF-REMOVAL ANTI-STICTION COATING FOR BONDING PROCESS - A bond free of an anti-stiction layer and bonding method is disclosed. An exemplary method includes forming a first bonding layer; forming an interlayer over the first bonding layer; forming an anti-stiction layer over the interlayer; and forming a liquid from the first bonding layer and interlayer, such that the anti-stiction layer floats over the first bonding layer. A second bonding layer can be bonded to the first bonding layer while the anti-stiction layer floats over the first bonding layer, such that a bond between the first and second bonding layers is free of the anti-stiction layer. | 06-14-2012 |
20120149152 | METHOD TO PREVENT METAL PAD DAMAGE IN WAFER LEVEL PACKAGE - The present disclosure provide a method of manufacturing a microelectronic device. The method includes forming a bonding pad on a first substrate; forming wiring pads on the first substrate; forming a protection material layer on the first substrate, on sidewalls and top surfaces of the wiring pads, and on sidewalls of the bonding pad, such that a top surface of the bonding pad is at least partially exposed; bonding the first substrate to a second substrate through the bonding pad; opening the second substrate to expose the wiring pads; and removing the protection material layer. | 06-14-2012 |
20120244677 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY REMOVING ANTI-STICTION COATING - The present disclosure provides various methods for removing an anti-stiction layer. An exemplary method includes forming an anti-stiction layer over a substrate, including over a first substrate region of a first material and a second substrate region of a second material, wherein the second material is different than the first material; and selectively removing the anti-stiction layer from the second substrate region of the second material without using a mask. | 09-27-2012 |
20130037891 | MEMS DEVICE AND METHOD OF FORMATION THEREOF - The present disclosure provides a method including providing a first substrate; and forming a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device on a first surface of the first substrate. A bond pad is formed on at least one bonding site on the first surface of the first substrate. The bonding site is recessed from the first surface. Thus, a top surface of the bond pad may lie below the plane of the top surface of the substrate. A device with recessed connective element(s) (e.g., bond pad) is also described. In further embodiments, a protective layer is formed on the recessed connective element during dicing of a substrate. | 02-14-2013 |
20130099355 | MEMS Structures and Methods for Forming the Same - A method includes forming a MEMS device, forming a bond layer adjacent the MEMS device, and forming a protection layer over the bond layer. The steps of forming the bond layer and the protection layer include in-situ deposition of the bond layer and the protection layer | 04-25-2013 |
20130203199 | Methods of Bonding Caps for MEMS Devices - A method includes bonding a first bond layer to a second bond layer through eutectic bonding. The step of bonding includes heating the first bond layer and the second bond layer to a temperature higher than a eutectic temperature of the first bond layer and the second bond layer, and performing a pumping cycle. The pumping cycle includes applying a first force to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. After the step of applying the first force, a second force lower than the first force is applied to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. After the step of applying the second force, a third force higher than the second force is applied to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. | 08-08-2013 |
20130284885 | Method and Apparatus for Image Sensor Packaging - Methods and apparatus for packaging a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor or a sensor device with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a sensor device may be bonded together face-to-face with an ASIC without using a carrier wafer, where corresponding bond pads of the sensor are aligned with bond pads of the ASIC and bonded together, in a one-to-one fashion. A column of pixels of the sensor may share a bond bad connected by a shared inter-metal line. The bond pads may be of different sizes and configured in different rows to be disjoint from each other. Additional dummy pads may be added to increase the bonding between the sensor and the ASIC. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285180 | Apparatus for Vertically Integrated Backside Illuminated Image Sensors - A backside illuminated image sensor comprises a photodiode and a first transistor located in a first chip, wherein the first transistor is electrically coupled to the photodiode. The backside illuminated image sensor further comprises a second transistor formed in a second chip and a plurality of logic circuits formed in a third chip, wherein the second chip is stacked on the first chip and the third chip is stacked on the second chip. The logic circuit, the second transistor and the first transistor are coupled to each other through a plurality of boding pads and through vias. | 10-31-2013 |
20130320556 | Three Dimensional Integrated Circuit Structures and Hybrid Bonding Methods for Semiconductor Wafers - Three dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) structures and hybrid bonding methods for semiconductor wafers are disclosed. A 3DIC structure includes a first semiconductor device having first conductive pads disposed within a first insulating material on a top surface thereof, the first conductive pads having a first recess on a top surface thereof. The 3DIC structure includes a second semiconductor device having second conductive pads disposed within a second insulating material on a top surface thereof coupled to the first semiconductor device, the second conductive pads having a second recess on a top surface thereof. A sealing layer is disposed between the first conductive pads and the second conductive pads in the first recess and the second recess. The sealing layer bonds the first conductive pads to the second conductive pads. The first insulating material is bonded to the second insulating material. | 12-05-2013 |
20130334638 | Apparatus and Method for Backside Illuminated Image Sensors - A backside illuminated image sensor comprises a photodiode and a first transistor located in a first substrate, wherein the first transistor is electrically coupled to the photodiode. The backside illuminated image sensor further comprises a plurality of logic circuits formed in a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is stacked on the first substrate and the logic circuit are coupled to the first transistor through a plurality of bonding pads. | 12-19-2013 |
20140011324 | Hybrid Bonding Systems and Methods for Semiconductor Wafers - Hybrid bonding systems and methods for semiconductor wafers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hybrid bonding system for semiconductor wafers includes a chamber and a plurality of sub-chambers disposed within the chamber. A robotics handler is disposed within the chamber that is adapted to move a plurality of semiconductor wafers within the chamber between the plurality of sub-chambers. The plurality of sub-chambers includes a first sub-chamber adapted to remove a protection layer from the plurality of semiconductor wafers, and a second sub-chamber adapted to activate top surfaces of the plurality of semiconductor wafers prior to hybrid bonding the plurality of semiconductor wafers together. The plurality of sub-chambers also includes a third sub-chamber adapted to align the plurality of semiconductor wafers and hybrid bond the plurality of semiconductor wafers together. | 01-09-2014 |
20140020818 | Systems and Methods of Separating Bonded Wafers - Systems and methods of separating bonded wafers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for separating bonded wafers includes a support for the bonded wafers and means for applying a sheer force to the bonded wafers. The system also includes means for applying a vacuum to the bonded wafers. | 01-23-2014 |
20140051336 | GRINDING WHEEL FOR WAFER EDGE TRIMMING - A grinding wheel for wafer edge trimming includes a head having an open side and an abrasive end bonded around an edge of the open side of the head. The abrasive end is arranged to have multiple simultaneous contacts around a wafer edge during the wafer edge trimming. | 02-20-2014 |
20140054779 | Semiconductor Having a High Aspect Ratio Via - The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a via structure and method of manufacturing same. In an example, a via structure includes a via having via sidewall surfaces defined by a semiconductor substrate. The via sidewall surfaces have a first portion and a second portion. A conductive layer is disposed in the via on the first portion of the via sidewall surfaces, and a dielectric layer is disposed on the second portion of the via sidewall surfaces. The dielectric layer is disposed between the second portion of the via sidewall surfaces and the conductive layer. In an example, the dielectric layer is an oxide layer. | 02-27-2014 |
20140091438 | MULTIPLE METAL LAYER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND LOW TEMPERATURE STACKING METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A semiconductor device including a conductive element and an interface surface fabricated atop the conductive element, and a method for fabricating such a device are described. An exemplary device includes a substrate having a conductive element and a metal layer fabricated atop the conductive element. An oxide layer is fabricated atop the metal layer, thus forming an interface surface. During polishing (e.g., planarization), in which an upper portion of the interface surface is removed, the presence of the interface surface greatly reduces the loading on the conductive element. A second substrate fabricated using the same process may be stacked atop the first substrate and bonded using a hybrid bonding process. | 04-03-2014 |
20140113398 | Apparatus for Vertically Integrated Backside Illuminated Image Sensors - A backside illuminated image sensor comprises a photodiode and a first transistor located in a first chip, wherein the first transistor is electrically coupled to the photodiode. The backside illuminated image sensor further comprises a second transistor formed in a second chip and a plurality of logic circuits formed in a third chip, wherein the second chip is stacked on the first chip and the third chip is stacked on the second chip. The logic circuit, the second transistor and the first transistor are coupled to each other through a plurality of boding pads and through vias. | 04-24-2014 |
20140117546 | HYBRID BONDING MECHANISMS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS - The embodiments of diffusion barrier layer described above provide mechanisms for forming a copper diffusion barrier layer to prevent device degradation for hybrid bonding of wafers. The diffusion barrier layer(s) encircles the copper-containing conductive pads used for hybrid bonding. The diffusion barrier layer can be on one of the two bonding wafers or on both bonding wafers. | 05-01-2014 |
20140191341 | Method and Apparatus for a Semiconductor Structure - A semiconductor structure may include a first device having first surface with a first bonding layer formed thereon and a second device having a first surface with a second bonding layer formed thereon. The first bonding layer may provide an electrically conductive path to at least one electrical device in the first device. The second bonding layer may provide an electrically conductive path to at least one electrical device in the second device. One of the first or the second devices may include MEMS electrical devices. The first and/or the second bonding layers may be formed of a getter material, which may provide absorption for outgassing. | 07-10-2014 |
20140248730 | MEMS Device and Method of Formation Thereof - The present disclosure provides a method including providing a first substrate; and forming a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device on a first surface of the first substrate. A bond pad is formed on at least one bonding site on the first surface of the first substrate. The bonding site is recessed from the first surface. Thus, a top surface of the bond pad may lie below the plane of the top surface of the substrate. A device with recessed connective element(s) (e.g., bond pad) is also described. In further embodiments, a protective layer is formed on the recessed connective element during dicing of a substrate. | 09-04-2014 |
20140256087 | Hybrid Bonding and Apparatus for Performing the Same - A method includes performing a hybrid bonding to bond a first package component to a second package component, so that a bonded pair is formed. In the bonded pair, first metal pads in the first package component are bonded to second metal pads in the second package component, and a first surface dielectric layer at a surface of the first package component is bonded to a second surface dielectric layer at a surface of the second package component. After the hybrid bonding, a thermal compressive annealing is performed on the bonded pair. | 09-11-2014 |
20140263586 | Integrate Rinse Module in Hybrid Bonding Platform - A method includes performing a plasma activation on a surface of a first package component, removing oxide regions from surfaces of metal pads of the first package component, and performing a pre-bonding to bond the first package component to a second package component. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264948 | Air Trench in Packages Incorporating Hybrid Bonding - A package component includes a surface dielectric layer including a planar top surface, a metal pad in the surface dielectric layer and including a second planar top surface level with the planar top surface, and an air trench on a side of the metal pad. The sidewall of the metal pad is exposed to the air trench. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273347 | Methods for Hybrid Wafer Bonding Integrated with CMOS Processing - Methods for forming an integrated device using CMOS processing with wafer bonding. In an embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes defining an integrated circuit function using a front-end substrate having one or more active devices and a back-end substrate having connections formed in metal layers in dielectric material, wherein the back-end substrate is free from active devices; manufacturing the front-end substrate in a first semiconductor process; more or less simultaneously, manufacturing the back-end substrate in a second semiconductor process; physically contacting bonding surfaces of the front-end substrate and the back-end substrate; and performing wafer bonding to form bonds between the front-end and back-end substrates to form an integrated circuit. Additional methods are disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20150044786 | Alignment Systems and Wafer Bonding Systems and Methods - Alignment systems, and wafer bonding alignment systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, an alignment system for a wafer bonding system includes means for monitoring an alignment of a first wafer and a second wafer, and means for adjusting a position of the second wafer. The alignment system includes means for feeding back a relative position of the first wafer and the second wafer to the means for adjusting the position of the second wafer before and during a bonding process for the first wafer and the second wafer. | 02-12-2015 |
20150064810 | Low Contamination Chamber for Surface Activation - An embodiment low contamination chamber includes a gas inlet, an adjustable top electrode, an adjustable bottom electrode, and an outlet. The chamber is configured to adjust a distance between the adjustable top and bottom electrodes in accordance with a desired density of plasma disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. | 03-05-2015 |
20150072505 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF HOLDING A DEVICE - Provided is an apparatus and a method of holding a device. The apparatus includes a wafer chuck having first and second holes that extend therethrough, and a pressure control structure that can independently and selectively vary a fluid pressure in each of the first and second holes between pressures above and below an ambient pressure. The method includes providing a wafer chuck having first and second holes that extend therethrough, and independently and selectively varying a fluid pressure in each of the first and second holes between pressures above and below an ambient pressure. | 03-12-2015 |