← Back to Patent Explorer
US4544416A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Passivation of silicon oxide during photoresist burnoff

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1983-08-26
•
Granted: 1985-10-01
•
Expires: 2003-08-26
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method of removal of photoresist in a manufacturing process for semiconductor devices utilizes burnoff in an oxidizing atmosphere. In order to reduce contamination of underlying silicon dioxide layers, chlorine in the atmosphere getters Na+ ions, etc. The chlorine gas is obtained from HCL added to the oxidizing atmosphere.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles G. Meador
  • 👤 Eddie H. Breashears

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 18:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/26; G03F7/42; H; H10; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/20; H10P50/28; H10P50/286; H10P50/287

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of manufacture of semiconductor devices comprising the steps of: forming a layer of silicon oxide on a face of a semiconductor body, applying a coating of photoresist on said face over said layer of silicon oxide, exposing and developing said coating of photoresist to define a pattern then performing an operation on said face using such pattern as a mask, and thereafter removing the remaining parts of said coating of photoresist by exposing said body to an atmosphere of oxygen and HCl at elevated temperature whereby the oxygen burns off the photoresist and chlorine freed by reaction of oxygen and HCl getters contaminants of the silicon oxide.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of manufacture of semiconductor devices comprising the steps of: forming a layer of silicon oxide on a face of a semiconductor body, applying a coating of photoresist on said face over said layer of silicon oxide, exposing and developing said coating of photoresist to define a pattern then performing an operation on said face using such pattern as a mask, and thereafter removing the remaining parts of said coating of photoresist by exposing said body to an atmosphere of oxygen and HCl at elevated temperature whereby the oxygen burns off the photoresist and chlorine freed by reaction of oxygen and HCl getters contaminants of the silicon oxide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said semiconductor body is silicon, and said high temperature is at least 400° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said temperature is no more than about 800° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the concentration of HCl is at least about 4%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said temperature is in the range of 400° to 800° C. and the concentration of HCl is at least 4%.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 50 words
A method of removing photoresist from a face of a silicon body in manufacture of semiconductor devices, comprising the step of exposing said face to an atmosphere of oxygen and HCl at a temperature in the range of 400° to 800° C. to burn off said photoresist and getter contaminants.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 50 words
A method of removing photoresist from a face of a silicon body in manufacture of semiconductor devices, comprising the step of exposing said face to an atmosphere of oxygen and HCl at a temperature in the range of 400° to 800° C. to burn off said photoresist and getter contaminants.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the concentration of HCl in said temperature is at least 4%.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3920483A Cited
US4018627A Cited
US4201800A Cited
US4374699A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-09-30 1989-04-01 1989-10-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-09-30 1993-04-01 1993-10-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-09-30 1997-04-01 1997-10-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag