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EP0905768A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

A dual damascene process for metal layers and organic intermetal layers

Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
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Filing: 1998-08-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-08-21
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Abstract

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. <IMAGE>

Inventors

  • 👤 Dirk Tobben

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 19:41
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/73; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/071; H10W20/081; H10W20/084; H10W20/088; H10W20/0882

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 92 words
A process for the manufacture of a semiconductive integrated circuit comprising the steps of: preparing a semiconductive workpiece to which a conductive connection is to be provided; providing a layer of an intermetal dielectric over the top surface of the workpiece; depositing a layer of a hard mask material over the intermetal dielectric layer; patterning the hard mask layer to form therein a stepped pattern without exposing the underlying intermetal dielectric layer; etching the workpiece to transfer the stepped pattern into the intermetal dielectric; and filling the pattern with a desired metal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 26 words
The process of claim 1 in which the stepped patterning of the hard mask includes separate patterning of first and second levels in the hard mask.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process of claim 2 in which the intermetal dielectric is a silicon-free organic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 3 in which the semiconductor is silicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process of claim 4 in which the hard mask layer is of silicon oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 5 in which the hard mask layer comprises a layer of silicon nitride overlying a layer of silicon oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim 2 in which the stepped pattern includes a relatively narrow deeper portion and a relatively wide upper portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
The process of claim 7 in which the etching of the workpiece to transfer the pattern on an enlarged scale into the intermetal dielectric uses an etch that etches preferentially the intermetal dielectric layer over the hard mask layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 8 in which the semiconductor is silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The process of claim 9 in which the intermetal dielectric layer is a silicon-free organic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
The process of claim 10 in which the hard mask comprises a layer of silicon oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim 11 in which the hard mask comprises a layer of silicon nitride overlying a layer of silicon oxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process of claim 12 in which the hard mask is patterned by an anisotropic fluorine-based etch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
The process of claim 9 in which the transfer of the metallization pattern in the hard mask to the metallization pattern in the intermetal dielectric uses an anisotropic oxygen plasma etch.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE2535156A1 Cited
US4472240A Cited
US4529860A Cited
DE19723062A1 Cited

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