Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
475 words
A process for fabricating a DRAM array on a silicon substrate, said process comprising the following sequence of steps: creating a plurality of separately isolated active areas arranged in parallel interdigitated rows and parallel non-interdigitated columns; creating a gate dielectric layer on top of each active area; depositing a first conductive layer superjacent surface of said array; depositing a first dielectric layer superjacent said first conductive layer; masking and etching said first conductive and said first dielectric layers to form a plurality of parallel conductive word lines aligned along said rows such that each said word line passes over a inner portion of each said active area being separated therefrom by a remanent of said gate dielectric layer; creating of a conductively-doped digit line junction and storage node junction within each said active area on opposite sides of each said word line; depositing a second dielectric layer superjacent said array surface; creating a first aligned buried contact location at each said digit line junction in each said active area; depositing a second conductive layer superjacent said array surface, said second conductive layer making direct contact to said digit line junctions at said first buried contact locations; depositing a third dielectric layer superjacent to said second conductive layer; masking and etching said second conductive layer and said third dielectric layer to form a plurality of parallel conductive digit lines aligned along said columns such that a digit line makes electrical contact at each digit line junction within a column, said digit lines running perpendicular to and over said word lines forming a 3-dimensional, waveform-like topology; depositing a first oxide layer superjacent said array surface of said waveform-like topology; creating a second aligned buried contact location at each said storage node junction in each said active area; depositing a third conductive layer superjacent said array surface assuming said waveform-like topology in response to existing topology, said third conductive layer making contact to said storage node junctions at said second buried contact locations; patterning said third conductive layer to form a portion of a storage node plate at each said storage node junction, said storage node plate having a V-shaped cross-section; depositing a fourth dielectric layer; masking and etching said fourth dielectric layer thereby creating a via-hole extending through said fourth dielectric layer and stopping at inner V-shaped base portion of said storage node plate; depositing a fourth conductive layer, said fourth conductive layer attaching to said third conductive layer by way of said via-hole thereby forming a completed storage node plate having a mushroom extended V-shaped cross-section; isotropically etching said fourth dielectric layer; depositing a cell dielectric layer adjacent and coextensive with said storage node plate and adjacent said array surface; and depositing a fifth conductive layer adjacent to and coextensive with said cell dielectric layer to form a cell plate common to the entire memory array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
475 words
A process for fabricating a DRAM array on a silicon substrate, said process comprising the following sequence of steps: creating a plurality of separately isolated active areas arranged in parallel interdigitated rows and parallel non-interdigitated columns; creating a gate dielectric layer on top of each active area; depositing a first conductive layer superjacent surface of said array; depositing a first dielectric layer superjacent said first conductive layer; masking and etching said first conductive and said first dielectric layers to form a plurality of parallel conductive word lines aligned along said rows such that each said word line passes over a inner portion of each said active area being separated therefrom by a remanent of said gate dielectric layer; creating of a conductively-doped digit line junction and storage node junction within each said active area on opposite sides of each said word line; depositing a second dielectric layer superjacent said array surface; creating a first aligned buried contact location at each said digit line junction in each said active area; depositing a second conductive layer superjacent said array surface, said second conductive layer making direct contact to said digit line junctions at said first buried contact locations; depositing a third dielectric layer superjacent to said second conductive layer; masking and etching said second conductive layer and said third dielectric layer to form a plurality of parallel conductive digit lines aligned along said columns such that a digit line makes electrical contact at each digit line junction within a column, said digit lines running perpendicular to and over said word lines forming a 3-dimensional, waveform-like topology; depositing a first oxide layer superjacent said array surface of said waveform-like topology; creating a second aligned buried contact location at each said storage node junction in each said active area; depositing a third conductive layer superjacent said array surface assuming said waveform-like topology in response to existing topology, said third conductive layer making contact to said storage node junctions at said second buried contact locations; patterning said third conductive layer to form a portion of a storage node plate at each said storage node junction, said storage node plate having a V-shaped cross-section; depositing a fourth dielectric layer; masking and etching said fourth dielectric layer thereby creating a via-hole extending through said fourth dielectric layer and stopping at inner V-shaped base portion of said storage node plate; depositing a fourth conductive layer, said fourth conductive layer attaching to said third conductive layer by way of said via-hole thereby forming a completed storage node plate having a mushroom extended V-shaped cross-section; isotropically etching said fourth dielectric layer; depositing a cell dielectric layer adjacent and coextensive with said storage node plate and adjacent said array surface; and depositing a fifth conductive layer adjacent to and coextensive with said cell dielectric layer to form a cell plate common to the entire memory array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said gate dielectric layer is oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second conductive layers comprise a layer of tungsten silicide and doped polysilicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second dielectric layers are selected from the group consisting essentially of oxide or nitride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said third dielectric layer is oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said fourth dielectric layer comprises a layer of nitride covered with a layer of oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second buried contacts are self aligned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said third, said fourth and said fifth conductive layers are doped polysilicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as recited in claim 7, wherein said third and said fourth conductive layers are deposited by low temperature deposition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said second, said third, and said fourth dielectric layers are deposited by chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said cell dielectric layer is nitride.