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US5139967A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Process for planarizing insulating dielectric material

Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1991-02-20
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2011-02-20
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Abstract

Abstract A method of processing a semiconductor wafer comprises the following sequential steps: selectively fabricating a semiconductor wafer in multilevels to produce desired electronic devices and integrated circuits on the wafer, the selective fabrication resulting in an irregular upper surface topography; applying a coating of insulating dielectric material having a melting point of less than or equal to about 850 DEG C. atop the fabricated wafer; and selectively impinging laser energy upon the dielectric coating for a selected period of time to at least partially melt the dielectric coating and cause its upper surface to become planarized.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • 👤 Trung T. Doan
  • 👤 Chang Yu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 10:00
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P95/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
A method of processing a semiconductor wafer comprising the following sequential steps: selectively fabricating a semiconductor wafer in multilevels to produce desired completed electronic devices and integrated circuits on the wafer, the selective fabrication resulting in an irregular upper surface topography having high and low points separated from one another by at least one micron; applying a protective coating of borophosphosilicate glass insulating dielectric material having a melting point of less than or equal to about 850° C. atop the fabricated wafer; and selectively impinging excimer laser energy directly upon the protective insulating coating at a fluence of from 0.5 Joules/cm 2 to 10.0 Joules/cm 2 with intermittent pulses having a pulse on period of approximately 25 nanoseconds for a selected period of time to melt the protective insulating coating and cause its upper surface to become planarized.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 138 words
A method of processing a semiconductor wafer comprising the following sequential steps: selectively fabricating a semiconductor wafer in multilevels to produce desired completed electronic devices and integrated circuits on the wafer, the selective fabrication resulting in an irregular upper surface topography having high and low points separated from one another by at least one micron; applying a protective coating of borophosphosilicate glass insulating dielectric material having a melting point of less than or equal to about 850° C. atop the fabricated wafer; and selectively impinging excimer laser energy directly upon the protective insulating coating at a fluence of from 0.5 Joules/cm 2 to 10.0 Joules/cm 2 with intermittent pulses having a pulse on period of approximately 25 nanoseconds for a selected period of time to melt the protective insulating coating and cause its upper surface to become planarized.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS5526619A Cited
US4609407A Cited
JPS58215054A Cited
US4554572A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-08-18 1996-02-17 1996-08-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-08-18 2000-02-17 2000-08-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-08-18 2004-02-17 2004-08-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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