Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A semiconductor device for applications requiring a relatively thin oxide layer, said semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a first oxide layer grown on an exposed surface portion of said substrate, said first oxide layer including defect structures; a dielectric layer deposited over said first oxide layer, said dielectric layer being of a composition which is transparent to an oxidizing species, said dielectric layer including defect structures, wherein the dual layer combination of said oxide layer and dielectric layer includes an interface defined therebetween, the dual layer combination having a thickness of at most 150 Å; and a second oxide layer grown underneath said first oxide layer by diffusing an oxidizing species through said dielectric and first oxide layers, said second oxide layer being a relatively thin layer, with respect to the dual layer thickness, which creates an essentially planar, stress-free interface with said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A semiconductor device for applications requiring a relatively thin oxide layer, said semiconductor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a first oxide layer grown on an exposed surface portion of said substrate, said first oxide layer including defect structures; a dielectric layer deposited over said first oxide layer, said dielectric layer being of a composition which is transparent to an oxidizing species, said dielectric layer including defect structures, wherein the dual layer combination of said oxide layer and dielectric layer includes an interface defined therebetween, the dual layer combination having a thickness of at most 150 Å; and a second oxide layer grown underneath said first oxide layer by diffusing an oxidizing species through said dielectric and first oxide layers, said second oxide layer being a relatively thin layer, with respect to the dual layer thickness, which creates an essentially planar, stress-free interface with said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A semiconductor device as defined in claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer is disposed such that the defect structures of said dielectric layer are misaligned with the defect structures of the first grown oxide layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A semiconductor device as defined in claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer comprises low pressure chemical vapor deposition decomposed tetraethoxysilane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A semiconductor device as defined in claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer comprises a deposited polysilicon layer which is subsequently oxidized to form silicon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A semiconductor device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first oxide layer comprises a thickness in the range of 25-50 Å, the deposited dielectric layer comprises a thickness in the range of 25-100 Å and the second grown oxide comprises a thickness in the range of 20-50 Å.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A semiconductor device as defined in claim 5 wherein the first oxide layer comprises a thickness of approximately 50 Å, the deposited dielectric layer comprises a thickness of approximately 50 Å, and the second grown oxide comprises a thickness of approximately 50 Å.