Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines formed over an inter-dielectric oxide layer in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: depositing a layer of metal over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; patterning the deposited layer of metal using a mask; etching the patterned metal layer to form patterned metal interconnection lines over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; testing the metal interconnection lines to determine the presence of broken lines; selectively depositing a refractory metal onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines formed over an inter-dielectric oxide layer in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: depositing a layer of metal over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; patterning the deposited layer of metal using a mask; etching the patterned metal layer to form patterned metal interconnection lines over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; testing the metal interconnection lines to determine the presence of broken lines; selectively depositing a refractory metal onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selectively depositing the refractory metal comprises the step of: selectively depositing tungsten by means of a chemical vapor deposition process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of selectively depositing tungsten comprises the steps of: exposing the patterned metal interconnection lines to a mixture of SiH 4 at a rate between 3-10 standard cubic centimeters per minute, WF 6 at a rate between 3-25 standard cubic centimeters per minute, and H 2 at a rate between 25-100 standard cubic centimeters per minute; and processing the exposed metal interconnection lines a pressure between 50-200 mTorr, a temperature between 250-350 degrees Celsius, and a deposition rate between 2000-10000 Angstroms per minute.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines formed over an oxide layer in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: forming patterned metal interconnection lines over an oxide layer; testing the metal interconnection lines to determine the presence of broken lines; selectively depositing tungsten onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines formed over an oxide layer in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: forming patterned metal interconnection lines over an oxide layer; testing the metal interconnection lines to determine the presence of broken lines; selectively depositing tungsten onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of selectively depositing tungsten comprises the step of: selectively depositing tungsten by means of a chemical vapor deposition process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of selectively depositing tungsten comprises the steps of: exposing the patterned metal interconnection lines to a mixture of SiH 4 at a rate between 3-10 standard cubic centimeters per minute, WF 6 at a rate between 3-25 standard cubic centimeters per minute, and H 2 at a rate between 25-100 standard cubic centimeters per minute; and processing the exposed metal interconnection lines a pressure between 50-200 mTorr, a temperature between 250-350 degrees Celsius, and a deposition rate between 2000-10000 Angstroms per minute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
In an integrated circuit having at least two layers of metal interconnection lines separated by an oxide layer, a method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines in the second layer, said method comprising the steps of: forming patterned a second layer of metal interconnection lines over an oxide layer; selectively depositing a refractory metal onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
In an integrated circuit having at least two layers of metal interconnection lines separated by an oxide layer, a method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines in the second layer, said method comprising the steps of: forming patterned a second layer of metal interconnection lines over an oxide layer; selectively depositing a refractory metal onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of selectively depositing the refractory metal comprises the step of: selectively depositing tungsten by means of a chemical vapor deposition process.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of selectively depositing tungsten comprises the steps of: exposing the patterned metal interconnection lines to a mixture of SiH 4 at a rate between 3-10 standard cubic centimeters per minute, WF 6 at a rate between 3-25 standard cubic centimeters per minute, and H 2 at a rate between 25-100 standard cubic centimeters per minute; and processing the exposed metal interconnection lines a pressure between 50-200 mTorr, a temperature between 250-350 degrees Celsius, and a deposition rate between 2000-10000 Angstroms per minute.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
In an integrated circuit having at least two layers of metal interconnection lines separated by an oxide layer and comprising: a layer of metal interconnection formed lines over an oxide layer; and a tungsten layer selectively deposited onto the layer of metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
In an integrated circuit having at least two layers of metal interconnection lines separated by an oxide layer and comprising: a layer of metal interconnection formed lines over an oxide layer; and a tungsten layer selectively deposited onto the layer of metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines formed over an inter-dielectric oxide layer in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: depositing a layer of metal over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; patterning the deposited layer of metal using a mask; etching the patterned metal layer to form patterned metal interconnection lines over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; selectively depositing tungsten onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of repairing broken metal interconnection lines formed over an inter-dielectric oxide layer in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: depositing a layer of metal over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; patterning the deposited layer of metal using a mask; etching the patterned metal layer to form patterned metal interconnection lines over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; selectively depositing tungsten onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 which further comprises the step of: depositing a layer of tungsten on the inter-dielectric oxide layer prior to depositing the layer of metal thereon.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of fabricating metal interconnection lines in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: depositing a layer of metal over an inter-dielectric oxide layer; patterning the deposited layer of metal using a mask; etching the patterned metal layer to form patterned metal interconnection lines over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; depositing a refractory metal layer onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of fabricating metal interconnection lines in an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: depositing a layer of metal over an inter-dielectric oxide layer; patterning the deposited layer of metal using a mask; etching the patterned metal layer to form patterned metal interconnection lines over the inter-dielectric oxide layer; depositing a refractory metal layer onto the metal interconnection lines to form fully interconnected metal lines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 which further comprises the step of: depositing a refractory metal layer on the inter-dielectric oxide layer prior to depositing the layer of metal thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of depositing a refractory metal comprises the step of: selectively depositing tungsten onto the etched layer to form metal interconnection lines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 which further comprises the step of: depositing a layer of tungsten on the inter-dielectric oxide layer prior to depositing the layer of metal thereon.