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US4400411A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Technique of silicon epitaxial refill

Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1982-07-19
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Granted: 1983-08-23
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Expires: 2002-07-19
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Abstract

Abstract A process of forming silicon epitaxial refilled pockets in a thick oxide layer, three to five micrometers thick, on a substrate. Pockets are selectively formed in the thick oxide layer by plasma etching. The pockets are filled using a silicon tetrachloride source.

Inventors

  • 👤 Han-Tzong Yuan
  • 👤 Roger N. Anderson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 00:49
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/20; H10P14/29; H10P14/2901; H10P14/2902; H10P14/2905; H10P14/24; H10P14/27; H10P14/271; H10P14/2926; H10P14/34; H10P14/3402; H10P14/3404; H10P14/3411; H10W; H10W10/00; H10W10/01; H10W10/011; H10W10/018; H10W10/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/026; Y10S148/05

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 210 words
A process of forming a plurality of epitaxial refills in thick oxide layers using a continuous flow reactor for use in producing semiconductor devices, comprising the sequential steps of: forming a silicon substrate for supporting said epitaxial refills; treating said substrate with a first standard silicon cleaning solution; immersing said treated substrate in a first acid; rinsing said acid from said substrate with distilled water; forming an oxide layer on said substrate, said oxide layer comprising densified silane oxide layers; forming a silicon nitride layer on said plurality of densified silane oxide layers; selectively forming a photoresist layer on said silicon nitride layer; etching to a predetermined depth selective areas of said photoresist layer, said silicon nitride layer, and said silane oxide layers; removing the remaining photoresist with an asher; applying a common oxide echant to the exposed silane oxide layer; removing the remaining silicon nitride; treating said etched oxide layer with a second standard silicon cleaning solution; immersing said treated etched oxide and substrate in a second acid; rinsing said second acid from said etched oxide layer and substrate with distilled water; and filling pockets formed by etching in said silane oxide layers with said refill, said refill being substantially level to the surface of said silane oxide layers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 210 words
A process of forming a plurality of epitaxial refills in thick oxide layers using a continuous flow reactor for use in producing semiconductor devices, comprising the sequential steps of: forming a silicon substrate for supporting said epitaxial refills; treating said substrate with a first standard silicon cleaning solution; immersing said treated substrate in a first acid; rinsing said acid from said substrate with distilled water; forming an oxide layer on said substrate, said oxide layer comprising densified silane oxide layers; forming a silicon nitride layer on said plurality of densified silane oxide layers; selectively forming a photoresist layer on said silicon nitride layer; etching to a predetermined depth selective areas of said photoresist layer, said silicon nitride layer, and said silane oxide layers; removing the remaining photoresist with an asher; applying a common oxide echant to the exposed silane oxide layer; removing the remaining silicon nitride; treating said etched oxide layer with a second standard silicon cleaning solution; immersing said treated etched oxide and substrate in a second acid; rinsing said second acid from said etched oxide layer and substrate with distilled water; and filling pockets formed by etching in said silane oxide layers with said refill, said refill being substantially level to the surface of said silane oxide layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein a (111) silicon wafer substrate is used.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second standard silicon cleaning solution comprises piranha, water, nitric acid, and water, applied in sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
A process as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second acids are 10% hydrogen fluoride, said first acid applied for about one minute and said second acid for about 10 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 42 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said forming of said oxide layer uses a silane oxide deposition process, said densifying uses a steam process and said densified silane oxide layers result in a thickness ranging from three to five micrometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
A process as defined in claim 5, wherein said forming a silicon nitride layer uses a vapor deposition process between reacting monosilane and ammonia at about 900° C. to form a layer about 1000 A thick.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
A process as defined in claim 6, wherein said etching uses a plasma process so that edges formed in said thick oxide layer are substantially straight and uniform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
A process as defined in claim 7, wherein removing the remaining silicon nitride employs a phosphoric acid solution at about 150° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said filling step uses a silicon tetrachloride source having a concentration from about 3% to about 5% with a growth time of about 160 seconds at a temperature of about 1130° C.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3566220A Cited
US3764409A Cited
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US4141765A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-08-22 1987-02-21 1987-08-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-08-22 1991-02-21 1991-08-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-08-22 1995-02-21 1995-08-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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