Abstract:
The object to be sputter etched is excited in a reduced atmosphere of inert gas by the application of an RF potential across a pair of electrodes, one of which supports the object and is capacitively coupled to the RF source. The improvement is a means to catch and retain material removed by the sputtering operation.
Abstract:
A process is described for passivating completed FET devices by encapsulation. High purity silicon dioxide is deposited on the completed field effect transistor (FET) device by the RF sputtering of a high purity silicon dioxide target in an inert atmosphere. The sputtered silicon dioxide layer is made approximately 1.5 times the thickness of the FET gate. Then, the device is annealed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to restore the threshold voltage of the FET to its desired value prior to sputtering. Appropriate ranges are disclosed for the values of the temperature and the RF power density of the sputtering step and for the temperature and the time of the annealing step.
Abstract:
1,095,413. Semi-conductor devices. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Nov. 8, 1965 [Dec. 24, 1964], No. 47223/65. Heading H1K. Parts of a layer of semi-conductor material forming components of an integrated circuit are isolated by etching deep grooves between them and filling the grooves with insulating material. An N-type silicon substrate 1a has a P-type epitaxial layer 1b deposited on one surface by thermal decomposition of silicon tetrachloride using hydrogen as a carrier gas. The surface of layer 1b is covered with a photo-resist which is exposed and developed, Fig. 2A (not shown). The wafer is then etched using a mixture of nitric, hydrofluoric and acetic acids to expose the substrate, Fig. 2B (not shown). The surface is masked using a thermally grown oxide layer and phosphorus is diffused-in to form highly conductive connection regions (5) extending across the floors of etched grooves (B) and up the sides of the islands (R), Fig. 2D (not shown). The oxide mask is removed and the device anodized, using sulphuric acid and a platinum cathode, to form a thick layer (7) of silicon dioxide which at least fills grooves (B), Fig. 2E (not shown). The surface of oxide layer (7) is masked with a photo-resist (25) Fig. 2F (not shown), and is etched to expose the surfaces of the islands (R), Fig. 2G (not shown), to provide a reference level. The surface of the wafer is lapped to this reference level and chemically polished using sodium hydroxide, Fig. 2E (not shown). An oxide layer 9 is then formed on the surface of the wafer and transistors are formed by diffusion in selected islands A, Fig. 1C. Interconnections are formed by vapour depositing strips 13 of aluminium or molybdenum over the oxide layer, crossovers being effected by contacting the ends of diffused connection regions 5 and depositing the crossing connections on top of oxide layer 7 at right angles to region 5. The arrangement of an AND-INVERT gate is illustrated, Figs. 1A and 1D (not shown), in which four transistors (T1 to T4) are formed in islands (A), while the diffused connection regions (5) extend between smaller islands (C) on which connections are made between deposited conductors and regions (5). Thin film resistors (3, 3 1 ) are deposited on top of oxide layer (7) and extend at right angles to the direction of regions (5).