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US4513905A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated circuit metallization technique

Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc
•
Filing: 1984-05-09
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Granted: 1985-04-30
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Expires: 2004-05-09
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Abstract

Abstract A process in the manufacture of integrated circuits in which a barrier layer of Cr or Ti is deposited in a partial atmosphere of N 2 in an Ar sputtering gas on a layer of Si so that the N 2 is incorporated in the Cr or Ti, after which conductor material such as gold, silver, low temperature eutectic or other high temperature solders, are deposited on the barrier layer. This barrier layer reduces migration of Si and Cr through and over the conductor material so that a wettable (bondable) surface is provided which results in greater bond strength and greater reliability when the die is attached to a bonding pad by the conventional heat treat method.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald S. Nowicki
  • 👤 John F. Moulder

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 16:54
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/40; H10D; H10D62/00; H10D62/80; H10D62/83; H10D64/00; H10D64/60; H10D64/62; H10W72/00; H10W72/30; H10W72/071; H10W72/073; H10W72/07331; H10W72/07332; H10W72/07333; H10W72/07336

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 121 words
In the process of fabricating integrated circuits and other items where a wettable or bondable conductive material is required for reliable contact with other bondable or conductive material, the steps of forming a conductive or bondable layer comprising: depositing a metal barrier layer on a prepared Si surface, said barrier layer being formed in the presence of N 2 so that N 2 is incorporated into the barrier layer; depositing a layer of conductive or bondable material on said barrier layer and subjecting said surface and layers to high temperature, said barrier layer thus formed reduces migration of the Si through the conductive or bondable material to provide said wettable bonding material after the subjection of said layers to high temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 121 words
In the process of fabricating integrated circuits and other items where a wettable or bondable conductive material is required for reliable contact with other bondable or conductive material, the steps of forming a conductive or bondable layer comprising: depositing a metal barrier layer on a prepared Si surface, said barrier layer being formed in the presence of N 2 so that N 2 is incorporated into the barrier layer; depositing a layer of conductive or bondable material on said barrier layer and subjecting said surface and layers to high temperature, said barrier layer thus formed reduces migration of the Si through the conductive or bondable material to provide said wettable bonding material after the subjection of said layers to high temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier layer is formed of Cr.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said deposition steps comprise sputtering in a sputtering apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The process as claimed in claim 3 wherein said barrier layer is formed by sputtering with a low atmosphere of N 2 in a sputtering gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said conductive material is Au.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conductive material is silver or silver alloy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said conductive material is a eutectic alloy of semi-precious metals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said conductive material is a high melting temperature solder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said barrier metal is titanium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said barrier metal is a titanium alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said barrier metal is titanium plus refractory metals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 131 words
A method of fabricating integrated circuits and the like, in part performed in a sputtering apparatus, comprising: providing a Si surface, sputtering a barrier layer of a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, titanium, titanium alloy or titanium plus refractory metals in the low atmospheric chamber of said sputtering apparatus which atmosphere includes N 2 thereby incorporating N 2 in said barrier layer, sputtering a layer of conductive material on said barrier layer, placing a bonding pad with a solder on one surface in contact with said conductive material, and heating said layered material and pad to bond the layered material and pad together, the barrier layer reducing the migration of Si through the conductive material during the heating step so that the conductive material adheres to the pad.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 131 words
A method of fabricating integrated circuits and the like, in part performed in a sputtering apparatus, comprising: providing a Si surface, sputtering a barrier layer of a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, titanium, titanium alloy or titanium plus refractory metals in the low atmospheric chamber of said sputtering apparatus which atmosphere includes N 2 thereby incorporating N 2 in said barrier layer, sputtering a layer of conductive material on said barrier layer, placing a bonding pad with a solder on one surface in contact with said conductive material, and heating said layered material and pad to bond the layered material and pad together, the barrier layer reducing the migration of Si through the conductive material during the heating step so that the conductive material adheres to the pad.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3651562A Cited
US3609471A Cited
US3624894A Cited
US3649803A Cited
US3923470A Cited
US4023725A Cited
US4420110A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-04-29 1988-10-29 1989-04-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-04-29 1992-10-29 1993-04-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-04-29 1996-10-29 1997-04-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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