Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for reducing warpage of an epitaxial layer of a first semiconductor material formed on a second semiconductor material wherein the warpage predominantly results from said first and second materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, said second semiconductor material having first and second opposing surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: forming a layer of tensioning material on the second surface of said second material; treating said tensioning material to exert a force which warps said second material; and forming a substantially epitaxial layer of said first material on the first surface, said first material exerting a force counteracting the force of said tensioning material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for reducing warpage of an epitaxial layer of a first semiconductor material formed on a second semiconductor material wherein the warpage predominantly results from said first and second materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, said second semiconductor material having first and second opposing surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: forming a layer of tensioning material on the second surface of said second material; treating said tensioning material to exert a force which warps said second material; and forming a substantially epitaxial layer of said first material on the first surface, said first material exerting a force counteracting the force of said tensioning material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first material has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said second material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said tensioning material has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said second material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said second material comprises silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first material comprises gallium arsenide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said tensioning material comprises a metal silicide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said tensioning material has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said metal silicide comprises tungsten silicide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of treating said tensioning material comprises heating and cooling said tensioning material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said first material comprises gallium arsenide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said tensioning material comprises a metal silicide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said metal silicide comprises tungsten silicide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said metal silicide comprises titanium silicide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the force exerted by said first material returns said second material to a substantially planar shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the force exerted by said tensioning material is developed before said epitaxial layer is formed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tensioning material has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said second material so that said tensioning material can be formed to a 0.5 micron thickness or less in order to prevent said tensioning material from spalling off from said second surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tensioning material has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is substantially greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said second material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tensioning material has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said first material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said tensioning material has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of said first material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of treating said tensioning material comprises the steps of: heating said tensioning material to relieve intrinsic stress; and cooling said tensioning material so that the force applied to said second material by said tensioning material is primarily thermal stress due to the differing thermal properties between said second material and said tensioning material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: forming semiconductor devices in a region on a surface of said first material.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for forming a substantially planar epitaxial layer of a first semiconductor material on a second semiconductor material, said second material having first and second opposing surfaces, the method reducing warpage effects caused by said first material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion than said second material, the method comprising the steps of: forming a layer of tensioning material on the second surface, said tensioning material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion than said first material; forming a layer of said first semiconducting material on the first surface; and exerting counteracting stresses on the first and second surfaces by cooling said first material and said tensioning material so that the resulting shape of said second material is substantially planar.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for forming a substantially planar epitaxial layer of a first semiconductor material on a second semiconductor material, said second material having first and second opposing surfaces, the method reducing warpage effects caused by said first material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion than said second material, the method comprising the steps of: forming a layer of tensioning material on the second surface, said tensioning material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion than said first material; forming a layer of said first semiconducting material on the first surface; and exerting counteracting stresses on the first and second surfaces by cooling said first material and said tensioning material so that the resulting shape of said second material is substantially planar.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said second material is essentially monocrystalline.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said first material comprises gallium arsenide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said tensioning material comprises a metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said tensioning material comprises metal silicide.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said metal silicide comprises at least one of titanium silicide, tungsten silicide, tantalum silicide, molybdenum silicide, cobalt silicide and nickel silicide.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of annealing the silicide before exerting the counteracting stresses.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the anneal is performed prior to forming the layer of first material on the first surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said first material is formed in a substantially monocrystalline layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of: forming semiconductor devices in a region on a surface of said first material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
143 words
An improved method of forming a gallium arsenide layer on a first surface of a silicon substrate, said silicon substrate having a second surface opposite said first surface, said method comprising: forming a layer of a first metal silicide on said second surface of said silicon substrate; forming a layer of gallium arsenide on said first surface of said silicon substrate; heating said layer of said metal silicide to approximately its annealing temperature; and cooling said layer of said metal silicide from approximately its annealing temperature so that said layer of said metal silicide exerts a tensioning force across said second surface of said silicon substrate which counters warping effects of a tensioning force exerted on said first surface on said silicon substrate by said layer of gallium arsenide so that said first surface of said silicon substrate has a substantially planar orientation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
143 words
An improved method of forming a gallium arsenide layer on a first surface of a silicon substrate, said silicon substrate having a second surface opposite said first surface, said method comprising: forming a layer of a first metal silicide on said second surface of said silicon substrate; forming a layer of gallium arsenide on said first surface of said silicon substrate; heating said layer of said metal silicide to approximately its annealing temperature; and cooling said layer of said metal silicide from approximately its annealing temperature so that said layer of said metal silicide exerts a tensioning force across said second surface of said silicon substrate which counters warping effects of a tensioning force exerted on said first surface on said silicon substrate by said layer of gallium arsenide so that said first surface of said silicon substrate has a substantially planar orientation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of forming semiconducting devices on a surface of said layer of gallium arsenide.