Patent US4470871A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4470871A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Preparation of organic layers for oxygen etching

Assignee: Intersil Corp
•
Filing: 1983-12-27
•
Granted: 1984-09-11
•
Expires: 2003-12-27
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An improved method of etching a layer of organic material on a sustrate by oxygen plasma or oxygen reactive ion etching is disclosed. The surface of the layer is flood exposed with a plasma including a fluorine species for a time sufficient to significantly reduce the etch rate thereof in the oxygen etch. A patterned mask is then formed on the layer and the exposed portion etched. The subject method produces vertical walls in the etch profile with substantially no rounding of the top edge.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lawrence K. White
  • 👤 Metodi Popov

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 20:13
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/20; H10P50/28; B; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/14; H10P50/286; H10P50/287

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
In a method of forming a pattern in a layer of organic material on a substrate comprising: (a) forming on the layer of organic material a patterned layer of a material resistant to oxygen etching, and (b) using said patterned layer as a mask, etching the exposed portion of the organic layer with an oxygen plasma etch or an oxygen reactive ion etch, the improvement comprising plasma treating the entire surface of the organic material prior to forming the masking layer thereon with a plasma including a fluorine species for a time sufficient to significantly reduce the etch rate of the surface in an oxygen plasma or oxygen reactive ion etch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 111 words
In a method of forming a pattern in a layer of organic material on a substrate comprising: (a) forming on the layer of organic material a patterned layer of a material resistant to oxygen etching, and (b) using said patterned layer as a mask, etching the exposed portion of the organic layer with an oxygen plasma etch or an oxygen reactive ion etch, the improvement comprising plasma treating the entire surface of the organic material prior to forming the masking layer thereon with a plasma including a fluorine species for a time sufficient to significantly reduce the etch rate of the surface in an oxygen plasma or oxygen reactive ion etch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
An improved method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plasma includes a fluorine species and oxygen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
An improved method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plasma includes a gas selected from the group consisting of carbon tetrafluoride, trifluoromethane and silicon hexafluoride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
An improved method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said plasma is a mixture of carbon tetrafluoride and oxygen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
An improved method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said mixture is about 95 parts by volume of carbon tetrafluoride and 5 parts by volume of oxygen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
An improved method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said treatment reduces the etch rate of the surface of said organic layer in an oxygen plasma or oxygen reactive ion etch by at least about 20 percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
An improved method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said organic layer is a polyimide dielectric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
An improved method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said organic layer includes a novolac resin and a diazoquinone sensitizer therefor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4240869A Cited
US4333793A Cited
US4377437A Cited
US4430153A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-09-11 1988-03-12 1988-09-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-09-11 1992-03-12 1992-09-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-09-11 1996-03-12 1996-09-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag