IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,572,067
Granted Patent B2
US 12,572,067 · App. 18/189,189 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Guiding structures for fabrication of angled features in a semiconductor device

Inventors: Steven Holmes (Red Hook, NY); Pouya Hashemi (Purchase, NY); Robert L. Bruce (White Plains, NY); Eric A. Joseph (Croton on Hudson, NY); Yanning Sun (Scarsdale, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G03F7/0015G03F7/0002H01J37/3053H01F41/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,572,067
App. No.
18/189,189
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor structure includes a first plurality of slanted features within a first region of a substrate. Two or more magnetic guiding structures are embedded within the first region of the substrate. The first plurality of slanted features is located between the two or more magnetic guiding structures for varying a magnetic field strength around the first plurality of slanted features. A second plurality of slanted features are located within a second region of the substrate. The second region of the substrate is adjacent to the first region of the substrate. The second plurality of slanted features include a second orientation angle that is different from a first orientation angle of the first plurality of slanted features.

Claims (43)

1 . A semiconductor structure, comprising:

a first plurality of slanted features within a first region of a substrate; and

two or more magnetic guiding structures embedded within the first region of the substrate, and the first plurality of slanted features being located between the two or more magnetic guiding structures for varying a magnetic field strength around the first plurality of slanted features.

2 . The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second plurality of slanted features within a second region of the substrate, the second region of the substrate being adjacent to the first region of the substrate.

3 . The semiconductor structure of claim 2 , further comprising:

a hardmask layer above the first region and the second region of the substrate; and

a dielectric material conformally deposited on the first region and the second region of the substrate.

4 . The semiconductor structure of claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of slanted features includes a second orientation angle.

5 . The semiconductor structure of claim 4 , wherein the second orientation angle is equal to 90 degrees.

6 . The semiconductor structure of claim 2 , wherein a second depth of the second plurality of slanted features is deeper than a first depth of the first plurality of slanted features.

7 . The semiconductor structure of claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of slanted features includes a first orientation angle, and wherein the second plurality of slanted features includes a second orientation angle that is different from the first orientation angle.

8 . The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of slanted features includes a first orientation angle.

9 . The semiconductor structure of claim 8 , wherein the first orientation angle is different from 90 degrees.

10 . The semiconductor structure of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic field strength around the first plurality of slanted features deflect a trajectory of reactive ion etch ions for varying the first orientation angle of the first plurality of slanted features.

11 . The semiconductor structure of claim 1 , wherein the two or more magnetic guiding structures embedded within the first region of the substrate includes a magnetic structure composed of a magnetic material.

12 . The semiconductor structure of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of Iron, Nickel, Cobalt Neodymium magnets, Samarium Cobalt magnets, and Aluminum/Nickel/Cobalt magnets.

13 . A method of forming a semiconductor structure, comprising:

forming a first plurality of slanted trench features within a first region of a substrate, the first plurality of slanted trench features being located between two or more guiding structures, and the two or more guiding structures being embedded within the first region of the substrate for generating a magnetic field near the first plurality of slanted trench features; and

forming a second plurality of slanted trench features within a second region of the substrate, the second region of the substrate being adjacent to the first region of the substrate.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a distance between the first region of the substrate and the second region of the substrate is selected based on the magnetic field not affecting the second region of the substrate.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the first plurality of slanted trench features further comprises:

forming a first photoresist layer over the substrate;

patterning the first photoresist layer to form first trenches within the first region of the substrate;

depositing an electrode material within the first trenches; and

conducting a magnetic annealing process on the electrode material to form the two or more guiding structures.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

forming a hardmask layer above the substrate;

forming a second photoresist layer over the hardmask layer;

patterning the hardmask layer; and

conducting an etching process to form the first plurality of slanted trench features within the first region of the substrate and the second plurality of slanted trench features within the second region of the substrate adjacent to the first region of the substrate, the first plurality of slanted trench features being at a first orientation angle, the second plurality of slanted trench features being at a second orientation angle different from the first orientation angle.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic field near the first plurality of slanted trench features deflect a trajectory of reactive ion etch ions for varying the first orientation angle of the first plurality of slanted trench features.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

forming a third photoresist layer on the first region of the substrate; and

conducting an etching process to extend a depth of the second plurality of slanted trench features in the second region of the substrate.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the two or more guiding structures embedded within the first region of the substrate includes a magnetic structure composed of a magnetic material.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of Iron, Nickel, Cobalt Neodymium magnets, Samarium Cobalt magnets, and Aluminum/Nickel/Cobalt magnets.

21 . A semiconductor structure, comprising:

a first plurality of slanted features within a first region of a substrate wherein the first plurality of slanted features includes a first orientation angle that includes a first vertical angle different from 90 degrees;

a second plurality of slanted features within a second region of the substrate, the second region of the substrate being adjacent to the first region of the substrate, wherein the second plurality of slanted features includes a second orientation angle different from the first orientation angle and that includes a second vertical angle equal to 90 degrees, the first plurality of slanted features and the second plurality of slanted features providing a mold for nanoimprint lithography; and

two or more magnetic guiding structures embedded within the first region of the substrate, and the first plurality of slanted features being located between the two or more magnetic guiding structures for varying a magnetic field strength around the first plurality of slanted features.

22 . The semiconductor structure of claim 21 , further comprising:

a hardmask layer above the first region and the second region of the substrate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2023
From: HOLMES, STEVEN; HASHEMI, POUYA; BRUCE, ROBERT L.; JOSEPH, ERIC A.; SUN, YANNING
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063085/0643 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240319591A1 · Sep 26, 2024
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