Abstract:
THE INVENTION INVOLVES A PROCESS FOR ALLOYING A METAL SUCH AS ALUMINUM INTO A SEMICONDUCTOR SUCH AS GERMANIUM IN THE PRESENCE OF REACTIVE INSULATING MATERIAL SUCH AS SILICON DIOXIDE. A LAYER OF AN ORGANIC MATERIAL IS DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACE OF THE INSULATING MATERIAL PRIOR TO ALLOYING AND HEATED FOR A TIME AND TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO LEAVE A RESIDUE OF THE ORGANIC MATERIAL AT THE SURFACE OF THE INSULATING MATERIAL. THE ORGANIC MATERIAL IS REMOVED BY SPRAYING WITH AN ORGANIC SOLVENT SUCH AS TRICHLORO-ETHYLENE WHILE THE MATERIALS ARE STILL HOT. ALLOYING OF THE METAL WITH THE SEMICONDUCTOR IS THEN CARRIED OUT AND ANY REACTION BETWEEN THE ALUMINUM AND THE SILICON DIOXIDE WHICH MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO OCCUR IS MINIMIZED.
Abstract:
A semiconductor device having a dielectric coating on at least one surface is mounted in a special holder which will allow the etching solution to contact only one oxide coated surface of the semiconductor to etch the same according to a predetermined pattern. A first electrical lead is connected either directly or indirectly to the opposite surface of the semiconductor and a second electrical lead is connected to an electrode disposed in the etching solution. Both of these are connected to a meter or detector for sensing any current between the two leads through the semiconductor. A chopped d.c. light source is focused to provide a spot of light at at least one etching point so that upon removal of the dielectric, the pulsating light beam will generate an a.c. signal on the semiconductor which will be detected by the meter to signal the etching endpoint.