IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,455,511
Granted Patent B2
US 12,455,511 · App. 17/889,460 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

In-situ lithography pattern enhancement with localized stress treatment tuning using heat zones

Inventors: Daniel J. Fulford (Cohoes, NY); Anthony R. Schepis (Averill Park, NY); Mark I. Gardner (Cedar Creek, TX); H. Jim Fulford (Marianna, FL); Anton J. DeVilliers (Clifton Park, NY)
Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
G03F7/70783G03F7/70483H01L21/3247H01L21/67103H01L21/67115H01L21/67288H01L22/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,455,511
App. No.
17/889,460
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for optimizing wafer shape. For example, the method can include receiving a wafer having a working surface for one or more devices to be fabricated thereon and a backside surface opposite to the working surface, measuring the wafer to identify bow measurement of the wafer, and forming a stress-modification film on the backside surface of the wafer. The stress-modification film can be reactive to heat such that applied heat modifies an internal stress of the stress-modification film. The method can also include applying a pattern of heat onto the stress-modification film to modify the internal stress of the stress-modification film, the pattern of heat corresponding to the bow measurement.

Claims (22)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a wafer having a working surface for one or more devices to be fabricated thereon, and a backside surface opposite to the working surface;

measuring the wafer to identify bow measurement of the wafer;

forming a first stress-modification film on the working surface of the wafer, the first stress-modification film reactive to heat such that applied heat modifies an internal stress of the first stress-modification film;

forming a second stress-modification film on the backside surface of the wafer, the second stress-modification film reactive to heat such that applied heat modifies an internal stress of the second stress-modification film;

applying a first pattern of heat onto the first stress-modification film to modify the internal stress of the first stress-modification film; and

applying a second pattern of heat onto the second stress-modification film to modify the internal stress of the second stress-modification film,

wherein the first and second patterns of heat correspond to the bow measurement of the wafer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second patterns of heat is applied by a laser.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bow measurement includes a plurality of first sub-bow measurements, and the first pattern of heat is applied by a plurality of heating units that correspond to the first sub-bow measurements.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the heating units are installed on a wafer chuck.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a first stress-modification film is performed prior to measuring the wafer to identify bow measurement of the wafer.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein forming a second stress-modification film is performed prior to measuring the wafer to identify bow measurement of the wafer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a first stress-modification film is performed subsequent to measuring the wafer to identify bow measurement of the wafer.

8. A system, comprising:

a bow measurement device configured to measure a wafer to identify bow measurement of the wafer, the wafer having a working surface for one or more devices to be fabricated thereon, and a backside surface opposite to the working surface;

a stress-modification film formation device configured to form first and second stress-modification films, the first and second stress-modification films reactive to heat such that applied heat modifies internal stresses of the first and second stress-modification films;

a heat generator configured to generate a pattern of heat; and

a controller coupled to the bow measurement device, the stress-modification film formation device and the heat generator, the controller configured to control the bow measurement device to measure the wafer to identify the bow measurement of the wafer, control the stress-modification film formation device to form the first and second stress-modification films on the backside surface and working surface of the wafer, respectively, and control the heat generator to generate and apply the pattern of heat onto the first stress-modification film and/or the first and second stress-modification films, the pattern of heat corresponding to the bow measurement.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the heat generator includes a laser.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the bow measurement includes a plurality of sub-bow measurements, and the heat generator includes a plurality of heating units that correspond to the sub-bow measurements.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a wafer chuck, wherein the heating units are installed on the wafer chuck.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2022
From: FULFORD, DANIEL J.; SCHEPIS, ANTHONY R.; GARDNER, MARK I.; FULFORD, H. JIM; DEVILLIERS, ANTON J.
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060828/0746 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63306588 · Feb 4, 2022
Related Publication 20230251584A1 · Aug 10, 2023
References Cited (12)
US 9842879B2 · Matsugai · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10355042B2 · Matsugai · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10763431B2 · Ok et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10854667B2 · Matsugai · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210366792A1 · Fulford et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220336226A1 · Cutler · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230251574A1 · Schepis · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240203797A1 · Weloth · 2024 [cited by examiner]
JP 202172361A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006104582A2 · 2006 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2021154641A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued Apr. 20, 2023 in PCT/US2022/052083, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]