IP Library Granted Patent US 12,437,991
Granted Patent B2
US 12,437,991 · App. 17/562,045 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Wafer processing method

Inventor: Nuo-Wei Luo (Singapore, SG)
Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
H01L21/027G03F7/168
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,437,991
App. No.
17/562,045
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wafer processing method includes: providing a wafer, wherein the wafer has a first position and a second position, and the first position faces the second position in a reference direction; coating a photoresist liquid on the wafer; and performing a heating process to heat the wafer coated with the photoresist liquid to form a photoresist layer on the wafer, wherein during the heating process, a temperature of the wafer gradually increases in the reference direction, so that a thickness of the photoresist layer gradually decreases in the reference direction.

Claims (15)

1. A wafer processing method, comprising the following steps in sequence:

providing a wafer, wherein the wafer has a first position and a second position, and the first position faces the second position in a reference direction;

coating a photoresist liquid on the wafer; and

performing a heating process to heat the wafer coated with the photoresist liquid to form a photoresist layer on the wafer,

wherein during the heating process, a temperature of the wafer gradually increases in the reference direction, so that a thickness of the photoresist layer gradually decreases in the reference direction,

wherein a distance between the first position and the second position is equal to a diameter of the wafer, the reference direction is a diameter direction of the wafer, and the temperature of the wafer gradually increases from the first position on an edge of the wafer to the second position on another edge of the wafer along the diameter direction, so that the thickness of the photoresist layer gradually decreases from the first position to the second position of the wafer along the diameter direction.

2. The wafer processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the heating process is performed by a heating device, and the heating device comprises a first heating unit, a second heating unit and a third heating unit.

3. The wafer processing method according to claim 2 , wherein the first heating unit, the second heating unit and the third heating unit are set at a first set temperature, a second set temperature and a third set temperature to heat the wafer, respectively, wherein the first set temperature is lower than the second set temperature, and the second set temperature is lower than the third set temperature.

4. The wafer processing method according to claim 3 , wherein the first heating unit, the second heating unit and the third heating unit are provided in sequence in the reference direction.

5. The wafer processing method according to claim 3 , wherein the first set temperature, the second set temperature and the third set temperature are all between 90° C. and 110° C.

6. The wafer processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the heating process is performed by a heating device, the heating device has a top surface, the wafer is placed obliquely on the top surface, and a distance between the wafer and the top surface gradually decreases in the reference direction.

7. The wafer processing method according to claim 6 , wherein at least one spacer is provided on the top surface, and the first position of the wafer is placed on the at least one spacer.

8. The wafer processing method according to claim 7 , wherein a height of the at least one spacer is between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

9. The wafer processing method according to claim 8 , wherein the height of the at least one spacer is between 0.1 mm and 1 mm.

10. The wafer processing method according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the photoresist layer is between 9000 angstroms and 11500 angstroms.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2021
From: LUO, NUO-WEI
To: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058477/0923 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202111387024.3 · Nov 22, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230162979A1 · May 25, 2023
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