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US4661228A
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Apparatus and method for manufacturing planarized aluminum films
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1986-05-15
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Granted: 1987-04-28
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Expires: 2006-05-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for planarizing an aluminum layer on a semiconductor wafer includes two deposition sources. The first source applies a refractory metal silicide layer to form a barrier to oxygen. The wafer is moved to a second deposition source which is an aluminum sputter device including a heater for the wafer, R.F. bias on the wafer and a magnetic mirror behind the wafer to move the plasma away from the wafer.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald M. Mintz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32431; H01J37/3266; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/0682; C23C14/22; C23C14/54; H01J37/32917; H01J37/32935; H01J37/34; H01J37/3402; H01J37/3405; H01J37/3408; H01J37/3411; H01J37/3414; H01J37/3423; H01J37/3435; H01J37/345; H01J37/3458
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for forming a planarized aluminum layer on a semiconductor wafer comprising: deposition means for forming a refractory metal silicide layer over the wafer; sputter means for forming an aluminum layer by sputter deposition over the refractory metal silicide layer including; means for heating the wafer to temperatures above 400° C. from behind while sputtering; magnetic mirror means located behind the workpiece for moving a plasma away from the wafer; and means for positioning the wafer before said deposition means and said sputter means in sequence without exposing the wafer to oxygen-bearing gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for forming a planarized aluminum layer on a semiconductor wafer comprising: deposition means for forming a refractory metal silicide layer over the wafer; sputter means for forming an aluminum layer by sputter deposition over the refractory metal silicide layer including; means for heating the wafer to temperatures above 400° C. from behind while sputtering; magnetic mirror means located behind the workpiece for moving a plasma away from the wafer; and means for positioning the wafer before said deposition means and said sputter means in sequence without exposing the wafer to oxygen-bearing gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
170 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sputter means includes a first target substantially of aluminum having a planar material emitting surface with a circular outer perimeter and a second target substantially of aluminum having a sloped emitting surface relative to said planar emitting surface, said second target being a circular annulus having an axial thickness at an outer perimeter which is greater than an axial thickness at an inner perimeter, means for supplying an ionizable gas to a space adapted to be evacuated, the space being between the target and workpiece, electric field means for establishing an ionizing electric field for the gas in the space, magnetic field means for establishing a confining magnetic field for the gas ionized by the electric field in the vicinity of the emitting surfaces of the first and second targets, means for mounting the targets so that emitted material is sputtered from the sloped emitting surface outside of the first target, and means for connecting an R.F. bias power source to the workpiece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device as in claim 1 wherein said magnetic mirror means includes a solenoid coil behind the wafer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said deposition means for forming a layer of refractory metal silicide is a means for forming a layer of tantalum silicide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the electric field means and the magnetic field means include means for establishing separate first and second discharges in the ionized gas immediately above the emitting surfaces of the first and second targets, said separate discharge establishing means including: first and second electric field means for establishing separate first and second ionizing electric fields for the gas above the first and second targets, respectively, and first and second magnetic field means for establishing different confining magnetic fields for the gas ionized by the electric fields in the vicinity of the emitting surfaces of the first and second targets, respectively, the first and second magnetic field means, respectively, including first and second magnetic field sources and pole pieces for coupling flux from the first and second magnetic field sources to the first and second targets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the magnetic field sources are electromagnets responsive to different adjustable current sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the means for mounting the targets mounts the sloped surface at an angle 45° displaced from the planar emitting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the emitting surface of the first target has an annular configuration with inner and outer radii of R 1 and R 2 , respectively, the emitting surface of the second target being symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the emitting surface of the first target and respectively having inner and outer radii of R 3 `and R 4 , wherein R 1 <R 2 <R 3 <R 4 .
Claim 10
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of sputter depositing a planar aluminum layer on an oxygen-bearing layer on a semiconductor wafer comprising the step of depositing a refractory metal silicide layer on the oxygen-bearing layer and then sputtering an aluminum layer on said refractory metal silicide layer without exposing said refractory metal silicide to oxygen-bearing gas, the sputtering of aluminum being done while applying an R.F. bias to the wafer and a magnetic field vertical to the center of the wafer in a polarity which moves plasma away from the wafer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of sputter depositing a planar aluminum layer on an oxygen-bearing layer on a semiconductor wafer comprising the step of depositing a refractory metal silicide layer on the oxygen-bearing layer and then sputtering an aluminum layer on said refractory metal silicide layer without exposing said refractory metal silicide to oxygen-bearing gas, the sputtering of aluminum being done while applying an R.F. bias to the wafer and a magnetic field vertical to the center of the wafer in a polarity which moves plasma away from the wafer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said refractory metal silicide layer is at least 200 Angstroms thick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said refractory metal silicide is deposited by sputter deposition.
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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) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |