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US5086011A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for producing thin single crystal silicon islands on insulator

Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices Inc
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Filing: 1988-01-25
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Granted: 1992-02-04
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Expires: 2008-01-25
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor fabrication process uses an epitaxial layer as an etch stop in a plasma etch process. In one embodiment, mechanical stops and an epitaxial layer are used in combination for stopping precisely at a desired end point.

Inventors

  • 👤 Philip S. Shiota

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 02:03
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P90/00; H10P90/19; H10P90/1904; H10P90/1906; H10W; H10W10/00; H10W10/01; H10W10/061; H10W10/10; H10W10/181; H10P90/1914; H10W10/011; H10W10/012; H10W10/014; H10W10/13; H10W10/17; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/012; Y10S148/135; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/914; Y10S438/924; Y10S438/97

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim 164 words
A method for fabricating dielectrically isolated single crystal semiconductor regions utilizing a first and a second substrate, and having first and second surfaces, comprising the steps of: forming a layer of epitaxial semiconductor on said first surface of said first substrate; forming a masking layer on said layer of epitaxial semiconductor to expose selected portions of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor where isolation regions are to be formed; forming isolation regions in said selected substrate where exposed by said making layer; subsequent to said step of forming isolation regions, forming a dielectric layer on said first surface of said second substrate and/or the surface of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; joining said layer of epitaxial semiconductor and said first surface of said second substrates together; and removing a selected one of said first and second substrates, leaving said epitaxial layer, using a plasma etch wherein RF energy is introduced into the one of said first and second substrates other than that selected for removal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 164 words
A method for fabricating dielectrically isolated single crystal semiconductor regions utilizing a first and a second substrate, and having first and second surfaces, comprising the steps of: forming a layer of epitaxial semiconductor on said first surface of said first substrate; forming a masking layer on said layer of epitaxial semiconductor to expose selected portions of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor where isolation regions are to be formed; forming isolation regions in said selected substrate where exposed by said making layer; subsequent to said step of forming isolation regions, forming a dielectric layer on said first surface of said second substrate and/or the surface of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; joining said layer of epitaxial semiconductor and said first surface of said second substrates together; and removing a selected one of said first and second substrates, leaving said epitaxial layer, using a plasma etch wherein RF energy is introduced into the one of said first and second substrates other than that selected for removal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said second substrate is a handle comprising a material selected from the group of materials consisting of semiconductors, insulators, and ceramics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said first substrate comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and semiconductor compounds formed from elements of Group III and Group V of the periodic table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said selected substrate is more highly doped than said layer of epitaxial semiconductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said selected substrate is etched, and said layer of epitaxial semiconductor is not.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein a layer of polymer is deposited by said plasma on said layer of epitaxial semiconductor after said selected substrate is removed, thereby preventing removal of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said isolation regions are also formed on scribe lines between adjacent die formed in said first and second substrates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of joining is performed under pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of joining under pressure is preceded by a hydration bake of one or both of said first and second substrates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as in claim 9 wherein said hydration bake is performed within the range of approximately 400° C. to 900° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of joining under pressure is performed at a pressure within the range of approximately 15 to 25 atmospheres.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method as in claim 11 wherein said step of joining under pressure is performed at approximately 700° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of joining under pressure occurs in a steam environment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of forming isolation region comprises the steps of: forming a trench in said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; forming a layer of insulation on at least the sides of said trench; and filling said trench with a filler material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said filler material comprises polycrystalline semiconductor material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of forming isolation regions comprises the steps of: forming a trench in said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; and filling said trench with an insulation material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 181 words
A method for fabricating dielectrically isolated single crystal semiconductor regions utilizing a first and a second substrate, and having first and second surfaces, comprising the steps of: forming a layer of epitaxial semiconductor on said first surface of said first substrate; forming a masking layer on said layer of epitaxial semiconductor to expose selected portions of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor where isolation regions are to be formed; forming isolation regions in said selected substrate where exposed by said masking layer. forming a dielectric layer on said first surface of said second substrate and/or the surface of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; either before or after said step of forming isolation regions, joining said layer of epitaxial semiconductor and said first surface of said second substrates together; and removing a selected one of said first and second substrates, leaving said epitaxial layer, by a plasma etch wherein RF energy is introduced into the one of said first and second substrates other than that selected for removal such that said selected substrate is etched, and said layer of epitaxial semiconductor is not.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 181 words
A method for fabricating dielectrically isolated single crystal semiconductor regions utilizing a first and a second substrate, and having first and second surfaces, comprising the steps of: forming a layer of epitaxial semiconductor on said first surface of said first substrate; forming a masking layer on said layer of epitaxial semiconductor to expose selected portions of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor where isolation regions are to be formed; forming isolation regions in said selected substrate where exposed by said masking layer. forming a dielectric layer on said first surface of said second substrate and/or the surface of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; either before or after said step of forming isolation regions, joining said layer of epitaxial semiconductor and said first surface of said second substrates together; and removing a selected one of said first and second substrates, leaving said epitaxial layer, by a plasma etch wherein RF energy is introduced into the one of said first and second substrates other than that selected for removal such that said selected substrate is etched, and said layer of epitaxial semiconductor is not.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as in claim 17 wherein said isolation regions are also formed on scribe lines between adjacent die formed in said first and second substrates.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as in claim 17 wherein said second substrate is a handle comprising a material selected from the group of materials consisting of semiconductors, insulators, and ceramics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method as in claim 17 wherein said first substrate comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and semiconductor compounds formed from elements of Group III or Group V of the periodic table.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a layer of polymer is deposited by said plasma on said layer of epitaxial semiconductor after said selected substrate is removed, thereby preventing removal of said layer of epitaxial semiconductor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said selected substrate is more highly doped than said layer of epitaxial semiconductor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method as in claim 17 wherein said step of joining is performed under pressure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method as in claim 23 wherein said step of joining under pressure occurs in a steam environment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method as in claim 23 wherein said pressure is within the range of approximately 15 to 15 atmospheres.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as in claim 25 wherein said step of joining under pressure is performed at a temperature of approximately 700° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as in claim 23 wherein said step of joining is preceded by a hydration bake of one or both of said first and second substrates.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as in claim 27 wherein said hydration bake is performed within the range of approximately 400° C. to 900° C.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method as in claim 17 wherein said step of forming isolation region comprises the steps of: forming a trench in said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; forming a layer of insulation on at least the sides of said trench; and filling said trench with a filler material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method as in claim 29 wherein said filler material comprise, polycrystalline semiconductor material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method as in claim 17 wherein said step of forming isolation regions comprises the steps of: forming a trench in said layer of epitaxial semiconductor; and filling said trench with an insulation material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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