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US4426249A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Composition and thickness variation in dielectric layers

Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1983-06-30
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Granted: 1984-01-17
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Expires: 2003-06-30
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Abstract

Abstract A method of precisely controlling the thickness of dielectric islands on a substrate is provided. The subject method comprises forming a patterned layer of an etchable metal over a first dielectric layer on a substrate, forming a second layer of dielectric material thereover so that there is contact where the etchable metal layer has been removed, patterning the second dielectric layer so that islands remain only over the openings in the etchable layer, removing the etchable metal layer and then patterning the first dielectric layer. There are thus provided islands of dielectric material on the substrate having a thickness equal to the first only or the first and second dielectric layers together, respectively. The process may be extended to form at least one additional layer of dielectric material on certain of the islands.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Brown
  • 👤 Phillip C. Jozwiak

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 03:09
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/01; H10W70/05

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 162 words
A method for forming islands of dielectric material of varying thickness on a substrate comprising: (a) forming a first layer of dielectric material on the substrate; (b) depositing thereover a thin layer of etchable metal; (c) forming a patterned layer of resist material over the layer of etchable metal; (d) removing the exposed portion of the etchable metal layer; (e) depositing a second layer of dielectric material thereover, said layer contacting the first layer of dielectric layer in the openings in said metal layer; (f) forming a patterned layer of resist material over the second layer of dielectric material so that only said areas of contact are covered; (g) removing the exposed portion of the second dielectric layer and the remainder of the etchable metal layer; (h) forming a patterned layer of resist material over the remaining portion of the second dielectric layer and exposing a portion of the first dielectric layer; (i) removing the exposed portion of the first dielectric layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 162 words
A method for forming islands of dielectric material of varying thickness on a substrate comprising: (a) forming a first layer of dielectric material on the substrate; (b) depositing thereover a thin layer of etchable metal; (c) forming a patterned layer of resist material over the layer of etchable metal; (d) removing the exposed portion of the etchable metal layer; (e) depositing a second layer of dielectric material thereover, said layer contacting the first layer of dielectric layer in the openings in said metal layer; (f) forming a patterned layer of resist material over the second layer of dielectric material so that only said areas of contact are covered; (g) removing the exposed portion of the second dielectric layer and the remainder of the etchable metal layer; (h) forming a patterned layer of resist material over the remaining portion of the second dielectric layer and exposing a portion of the first dielectric layer; (i) removing the exposed portion of the first dielectric layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the substrate is comprised of an electrically insulating material having thereon a layer of metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said material is a polycrystalline material and said substrate contains a planarizing layer of dielectric material underlying the layer of metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the polycrystalline material is beryllium oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein both dielectric layers are comprised of the same material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said material is silicon nitride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, additionally including the steps of selectively etching said layer of metal on the substrate to form a circuit pattern and depositing a top electrode over the resulting structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the thickness of one second dielectric layer is between 20 and 100 percent of the thickness of the first dielectric layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a third layer of dielectric material is deposited on the substrate, said method additionally including repeating steps (b) through (e) after step (e) and repeating steps (f) and (g) after step (g).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein all dielectric layers are comprised of the same material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USRE29947E Cited
US4289834A Cited
US4184909A Cited
US4307179A Cited
US4376287A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-01-16 1987-07-18 1988-01-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-01-16 1991-07-18 1992-01-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-01-16 1995-07-18 1996-01-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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