Abstract:
A method for fabricating an electrically blowable fuse on a semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a fuse portion 102 on the semiconductor substrate. The fuse portion is configured to turn substantially non-conductive when a current exceeding a predefined current level passes through the fuse portion. The method also includes depositing a substantially conformal first layer 302 of dielectric material above the fuse portion and depositing a second layer 304 of dielectric material above the first layer, thereby forming a protrusion of dielectric material above the fuse portion. The second layer being different from the first layer. The method further includes performing chemical-mechanical polish on the protrusion to form an opening through the second layer above the protrusion. There is also included etching, in a substantially isotropic manner, a portion of the first layer through the opening to form a microcavity 502 about the fuse portion. The etching is substantially selective to the second layer and the fuse portion. Additionally, there is included depositing a substantially conformal third layer 606 of dielectric material above the second layer, thereby closing the opening in the second layer.
Abstract:
A process for manufacturing a deep trench capacitor in a trench. The capacitor comprises a collar in an upper region of the trench and a buried plate in a lower region of the trench. The improvement comprises, before forming the collar in the trench upper region, filling the trench lower region with a non-photosensitive underfill material such as spin-on-glass. The process may comprise the steps of (a) forming a deep trench in a substrate; (b) filling the trench lower region with an underfill material; (c) forming a collar in the trench upper region; (d) removing the underfill; and (e) forming a buried plate in the trench lower region.
Abstract:
A process for the manufacture of silicon integrated circuits uses a dual damascene metallization process with an organic intermetal dielectric (14). A pattern to be etched is first etched in a hard mask (16) without exposing the underlying intermetal dielectric (14) and then transferred into the intermetal dielectric (14) on an enlarged scale.y
Abstract:
A method for forming a multi-level conductive structure on an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first conductive layer 108 and forming a first dielectric layer 112 above the first conductive layer. The method further includes forming a second conductive layer 302 above the first dielectric layer. There is also included etching through the second conductive layer and at least partially into the first dielectric layer to form a trench 706 in the second conductive layer and the first dielectric layer, thereby removing at least a portion of the dielectric layer and forming a first conductive line 503 and a second conductive line 505 in the second conductive layer. Further, the method includes depositing a low capacitance material 908 into the trench. The low capacitance material represents a material having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the first dielectric layer.
Abstract:
A method for forming a microstructure includes photolithographically forming a vertically extending post on a portion of a surface of a substrate to provide a first structure. A flowable, sacrificial material is deposited over a surface of the first structure. The flowable, sacrificial materially flows off the top surface and sidewall portions of the post onto adjacent portions of the surface of the substrate to provide a second structure. A non-sacrificial material is deposited over a surface of the second structure. The non-sacrificial material is deposited to conform to the surface of the second structure. The non-sacrificial is deposited over the sacrificial material, over the sidewall portions and over the top surface of the post. The deposited sacrificial material is selectively removed while the non-sacrificial material remains to form a third structure with a horizontal member provided by the non-sacrificial material. The horizontal member is supported a predetermined distance above the surface of the substrate by a lower portion of the post. The flowable material is a flowable oxide, for example, hydrogensilsesquioxane glass, and the post has a width less than 20 .mu.m. The resulting structure, formed with a single photolithographic step, is used for supporting a capacitor deposited over it. The capacitor is formed as a sequence of deposition steps; i.e., depositing a first conductive layer over a surface of the support structure; depositing a dielectric layer over the conductive layer; and depositing a second conductive layer over the dielectric layer.
Abstract:
A method for forming a plurality of electrically conductive wires on a substrate. The method includes forming a relatively non-planar metal layer over a surface of the substrate. A self-planarizing material is deposited over the metal layer. The self-planarizing material forms a planarization layer over the surface of the metal layer. The planarization layer has a surface relatively planar compared to the relatively non-planar metal layer. A photoresist layer is deposited over the surface of the planarization layer. The photoresist layer is patterned with a plurality of grooves to form a mask with such grooves exposing underling portions of the planarization layer. The photoresist mask is used as a mask to etch grooves in the exposed portions of the planarization layer and thereby form a second mask. The second mask exposes underling portions of the relatively non-planar metal layer. The second mask is used to etch grooves in the relatively non-planar conductive metal layer and thereby form the plurality of electrically conductive wires in the metal layer. The wires are separated from each other by the grooves formed in the relatively non-planar metal layer. The planarization layer is formed by a spinning-on an organic polymer, for example an organic polymer having silicon, or a flowable oxide, or a hydrogensilsequioxane, or divinyl-siloxane-benzocyclobutene. The metal layer is etched using reactive ion etching. The planarization layer is removed using a wet chemical etch.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing a memory component comprising a memory location (104) having memory cells and first control electrode strips (162) for controlling the individual memory cells, and a peripheral area (106) having peripheral elements and second control electrode strips (164) for controlling said peripheral elements. The inventive method enables the expansion of the second control electrode strips (164) in the peripheral area (106) to be approximately randomly adjusted to minimum line widths, without influencing or changing the expansion of the first control electrode strips (162) in the memory location (104).
Abstract:
A method of filling gaps between adjacent gate electrodes of a semiconductor structure. A self-planarizing material is deposited over the structure. A first portion of such material flow between the gate electrode to fill the gaps and a second portion of such material becomes deposited over tops of the gate electrodes and over the gaps to form a layer with a substantially planar surface. A phosphorous dopant is formed in the second portion of the self-planarizing material. Thus, relatively small gaps may be filled effectively with a layer having a very planar surface for subsequent photolithography. The phosphorous dopant provides gettering to remove adverse effects of alkali contaminant ions which may enter the gap filling material. The dielectric constant of the material filing the gaps, i.e., the first portion of the gap filling material, being substantially free of such contaminants, has a relatively low dielectric constant thereby reducing electrical coupling between adjacent electrodes. The self-planarizing material is a flowable material. The flowable oxide may be spun on or may be deposited by gaseous deposition. The phosphorous dopant may be provided by, for example: implanting phosphorous ions into the second portion of the self-planarizing layer and heating the material to both cure such material and activate the phosphorous ions; depositing a phosphorous doped layer over the layer of self-planarizing material, heating the structure to out-diffuse the phosphorous dopant into the second portion of the self-planarizing material and selectively removing the deposited layer; or by curing the spun-on self-planarizing material in a phosphine environment.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, a method for expanding trenches includes the steps of forming a trench in a substrate, preparing surfaces withIn the trench by etching the surfaces with a wet etchant to provide a hydrogen terminated silicon surface and anisoropically wet etching the trench to expand the trench.
Abstract:
A memory structure having a trenched formed in a substrate. A collar oxide is located in an upper portion of the trench and includes a pedestal portion. A method of forming a memory device having a collar oxide with pedestal collar is also disclosed.