An apparatus for chemical mechanical polishing of a wafer includes a process chamber and a rotatable platen disposed inside the process chamber. A polishing pad is disposed on the platen and a wafer carrier is disposed on the platen. A slurry supply port is configured to supply slurry on the platen. A process controller is configured to control operation of the apparatus. A set of microphones is disposed inside the process chamber. The set of microphones is arranged to detect sound in the process chamber during operation of the apparatus and transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the detected sound. A signal processor is configured to receive the electrical signal from the set of microphones, process the electrical signal to enable detection of an event during operation of the apparatus, and in response to detecting the event, transmit a feedback signal to the process controller. The process controller is further configured to receive the feedback signal and initiate an action based on the received feedback signal.

A method of detecting a polishing endpoint includes storing a plurality of library spectra, measuring a sequence of spectra from the substrate in-situ during polishing, and for each measured spectrum of the sequence of spectra, finding a best matching library spectrum from the plurality of library spectra to generate a sequence of best matching library spectra. Each library spectrum has a stored associated value representing a degree of progress through a polishing process, and the stored associated value for the best matching library spectrum is determined for each best matching library spectrum to generate a sequence of values representing a progression of polishing of the substrate. The sequence of values is compared to a target value, and a polishing endpoint is triggered when the sequence of values reaches the target value.

Exemplary substrate edge polishing apparatuses may include a chuck body defining a substrate support surface. The apparatuses may include an edge ring seated on the chuck body. The apparatuses may include a retaining wall disposed radially outward of the edge ring. The apparatuses may include a slurry delivery port disposed radially inward of the retaining wall. The apparatuses may include a cylindrical spindle that is positionable over the chuck body. The apparatuses may include an annular polishing pad coupled with a lower end of the cylindrical spindle.

A thin film transistor includes an active layer including a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, a capping layer filling a thickness difference between the first portion and the second portion and arranged on the first portion, a gate insulating layer arranged on the capping layer, a gate electrode on the active layer, wherein the gate insulating layer and the capping layer are disposed between the gate electrode and the active layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode connected to the active layer.

A wafer cleaning apparatus includes a polishing unit used in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of a wafer and a cleaning dispensing unit arranged to direct cleaning fluids toward a far edge of the wafer after the CMP of the wafer. A wafer cleaning method includes CMP of a wafer by a polishing unit and directing cleaning fluids toward a far edge of the wafer after the CMP of the wafer by a cleaning dispensing unit. Another method can include CMP, applying deionized water, and applying pH adjuster having a pH range from about 2 to about 13.

Provided is a package structure includes a first die, a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and a carrier. The first dielectric layer covers a bottom surface of the first die. The first dielectric layer includes a first edge portion and a first center portion in contact with the bottom surface of the first die. The second dielectric layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer and laterally surrounding the first die. The second dielectric layer includes a second edge portion and a second center portion. The second edge portion is located on the first edge portion, and the second edge portion is thinner than the second center portion. The carrier is bonded to the first dielectric layer through a bonding film.

A method is provided in which a monitor cell is made that is substantially identical to the flash memory cells of an embedded memory array. The monitor cell is formed simultaneously with the cells of the memory array, and so in certain critical aspects, is exactly comparable. An aperture is formed that extends through the control gate and intervening dielectric to the floating gate of the monitor cell. To prevent silicide contamination during a subsequent CMP process, a silicide protection layer (SPL), such as a resist protective oxide, is formed over exposed portions of the control gate prior to formation of a silicide contact formed on the floating gate. The SPL is formed simultaneously with existing manufacturing processes to avoid additional process steps.

A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip having a first surface and a second surface; a first adhesive layer on the first surface; a second semiconductor chip that includes a third surface and a fourth surface, and a connection bump on the third surface. The connection bump is coupled to the first adhesive layer. The semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate connected to the connection bump. The semiconductor device includes a first resin layer covering the connection bump between the second semiconductor chip and the wiring substrate, and covers one side surface of the second semiconductor chip connecting the third surface and the fourth surface. The first adhesive layer covers an upper portion of the at least one side surface. The first resin layer covers a lower portion of the t least one side surface. The first adhesive layer and the first resin layer contact each other.

Some implementations described herein relate to dispensing a slurry onto a polishing pad for a chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) process. These implementations also involve rotating the polishing pad while the slurry is dispensed onto the polishing pad. Rotation of the polishing pad results in a traversal of the slurry radially outward toward a polishing pad outer edge of the polishing pad. The polishing pad includes a plurality of groove segments and a geometric patterns formed by the plurality of the groove segments impede the flow of the slurry to the polishing pad outer edge.

Provided are abrasive grains and a composition for chemical mechanical polishing which are for selectively polishing a silicon nitride film, and which are applicable not only to silicon oxide films but also to amorphous silicon films and polysilicon films. This method for manufacturing abrasive grains includes: a first step of heating a mixture which contains particles having a sulfanyl group (—SH) fixed to the surface thereof via covalent bonds, and which contains a compound having carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds; and a second step, which is performed after the first step, of further adding a peroxide and carrying out heating.