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US5153701A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor device with low defect density oxide

Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1990-05-25
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Granted: 1992-10-06
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Expires: 2010-05-25
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Abstract

Abstract Low defect density oxides suitable for use as thin gate oxides or in charge storage capacitors are described. First and second layers are formed on a substrate with misaligned defect structures. A third layer is then grown by diffusing a species through the first and second layers to the substrate. The species reacts with the substrate. The low defect density results from the misaligned defect structure of the first and second layers. In one embodiment, the first and second layers are grown and deposited oxides, respectively. The third layer is grown by diffusing oxygen through the first two layers and the interface between the first and second layers acts as a sink trapping defects. The oxide silicon interface has desirable characteristics because the oxide grows in near equilibrium conditions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Pradip K. Roy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 23:48
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D64/00; H10D64/01; H10D64/013; H10D64/01302; H10D64/01332; H10D64/01336; H10D64/0134; H10D64/01342; H10D64/01346; H10D64/60; H10D64/66; H10D64/68; H10D64/681; H10D64/685; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/60; H10P14/63; H10P14/6302; H10P14/6304; H10P14/6306; H10P14/6308; H10P14/6309; H10P14/6322; H10P14/65; H10P14/6516; H10P14/6529; H10P14/66; H10P14/662; H10P14/6326; H10P14/6328; H10P14/6334; H10P14/69; H10P14/692; H10P14/6921; H10P14/69215

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.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4140548A Cited
US4214919A Cited
US4305200A Cited
US4518630A Cited
US4794571A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-10-06 1996-04-06 1996-10-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-10-06 2000-04-06 2000-10-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-10-06 2004-04-06 2004-10-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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