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US4874484A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Etching method for generating apertured openings or trenches in layers or substrates composed of n-doped silicon

Assignee: TDK Electronics AG
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Filing: 1988-05-13
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Granted: 1989-10-17
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Expires: 2008-05-13
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention provides the production of apertured openings or trenches in layers or substrates composed of n-doped silicon proceeding in an electrolytic way, whereby the silicon is connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell containing an agent that contains hydrofluoric acid. Hole structures having highly variable cross-section can be reproducibly manufactured with the method of the invention and holes can be localized by prescribing nuclei. The invention can be used in the manufacture of trench cells in memory modules, insulating trenches in LSI semiconductor circuits, large-area capacitors (varicaps), and in contacting more deeply disposed layers in disconnectable and voltage-controlled thyristors.

Inventors

  • 👤 Helmut Foell
  • 👤 Volker Lehmann

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 19:07
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D18/00; H10D18/60; H10D1/00; H10D1/60; H10D1/62; H10D1/64; H10D12/00; H10D12/211; H10D12/212; H10D62/00; H10D62/10; H10D62/17; H10D62/192; H10D62/206; H10D62/343; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/60; H10P50/61; H10P50/613

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a structured silicon nitride layer is used as an etching mask.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a structured silicon nitride layer is used as an etching mask.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 91 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a chemical etching is also performed before and/or after the electrolytic etching.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 91 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a chemical etching is also performed before and/or after the electrolytic etching.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the chemical etching is carried out in a caustic solution.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 87 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a wetting agent is added to the electrolyte.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 87 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a wetting agent is added to the electrolyte.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the wetting agent is based on formaldahyde.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 103 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a wet etching is carried out in a 1 to about 10 weight percent caustic potash solution with an etching time of 10 minutes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 103 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a wet etching is carried out in a 1 to about 10 weight percent caustic potash solution with an etching time of 10 minutes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 99 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a pre-etching is carried out in a 10 weight percent caustic potash solution with an etching time of 10 minutes.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 99 words
A method for generating apertured openings of trenches in substrates composed of n-silicon, as used in the manufacture of semiconductor components, especially LSI semiconductor circuits, through masked etching, wherein an electrolytic etching is carried out in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, through the application of a constant or chronologically varying potential, the silicon substrate being connected as a positively polarized electrode of an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis being injected by illuminating the silicon member proceeding from a backside and a pre-etching is carried out in a 10 weight percent caustic potash solution with an etching time of 10 minutes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 50 words
A method for manufacturing semiconductor components including the steps of generating controlled hole geometries and trenches in a silicon substrate through masked etching by using an electrolytic etching in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, with a constant or chronologically varying potential, and using a chemical etching before the electrolytic etching.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 50 words
A method for manufacturing semiconductor components including the steps of generating controlled hole geometries and trenches in a silicon substrate through masked etching by using an electrolytic etching in an electrolyte containing hydrofluoric acid, with a constant or chronologically varying potential, and using a chemical etching before the electrolytic etching.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of injecting the electrolysis by illuminating the silicon substrate.

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3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-10-16 1993-04-17 1993-10-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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