Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of insulating films on a base layer, said plurality of insulating films comprising at least a first insulating film, a second insulating film, and a third insulating film, said second insulating film located between said first and third insulating films and said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said first and third insulating films and serving as an etching stopper and as a light shading film; forming a first opening portion by etching said third insulating film, and exposing said second insulating film to said first opening portion; forming a second opening portion smaller in width than said first opening portion by etching said second insulating film exposed to said first opening portion and etching said first insulating film, and exposing said base layer to said second opening portion; forming a metal layer in said first and second opening portions so that said metal layer can contact with said base layer exposed to said second opening portion; and burying said metal layer in said first and second opening portions and planarizing the buried metal layer by irradiating said metal layer with a laser beam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of insulating films on a base layer, said plurality of insulating films comprising at least a first insulating film, a second insulating film, and a third insulating film, said second insulating film located between said first and third insulating films and said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said first and third insulating films and serving as an etching stopper and as a light shading film; forming a first opening portion by etching said third insulating film, and exposing said second insulating film to said first opening portion; forming a second opening portion smaller in width than said first opening portion by etching said second insulating film exposed to said first opening portion and etching said first insulating film, and exposing said base layer to said second opening portion; forming a metal layer in said first and second opening portions so that said metal layer can contact with said base layer exposed to said second opening portion; and burying said metal layer in said first and second opening portions and planarizing the buried metal layer by irradiating said metal layer with a laser beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second insulating film has absorption rate more than 30% with respect to said laser beam so that said base layer is not damaged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base layer comprises aluminum, aluminum base compound, copper, copper base compound, single crystal silicon, polycrystal silicon, or a compound semiconductor selected from the group consisting of GaAs and AlGaAs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first insulating film comprises a silicon (Si) oxidation film or a Si oxidation film containing phosphorus (P), said second insulating film comprises Al 2 O 3 , and said third insulating film comprises a silicon (Si) oxidation film or a Si oxidation film containing phosphorus (P).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method, of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 1, wherein said laser beam comprises an excimer laser beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 5, wherein said metal layer comprises aluminum (Al), Al base compound, copper (Cu), or Cu base compound.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
268 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices, comprising the steps of: forming a first insulating film and a second insulating film of a plurality of insulating films sequentially on a base layer, said second insulating film formed on said first insulating film and being smaller in etch rate than said first insulating film, said second insulating film serving as an etching stopper and as a light shading film; forming a first opening portion by etching said second insulating film, and exposing said first insulating film to said first opening portion; forming a third insulating film of said plurality of insulating films on said second insulating film and in said first opening portion so that said second insulating film and said first opening portion are covered with said third insulating film, said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said third insulating film; etching said third insulating film and first insulating film at said first opening portion to form a) a second opening portion, which is larger in width than said first opening portion, in the third insulating film and b) a third opening portion, which is substantially equal in width to said first opening portion, in said first insulating layer, and exposing said base layer to said third opening portion; forming a metal layer in said first, second and third opening portions so that said metal layer can contact with said base layer exposed to said third opening portion; and burying said metal layer in said first, second and third opening portions and planarizing the buried metal layer by irradiating said metal layer with a laser beam.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
268 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices, comprising the steps of: forming a first insulating film and a second insulating film of a plurality of insulating films sequentially on a base layer, said second insulating film formed on said first insulating film and being smaller in etch rate than said first insulating film, said second insulating film serving as an etching stopper and as a light shading film; forming a first opening portion by etching said second insulating film, and exposing said first insulating film to said first opening portion; forming a third insulating film of said plurality of insulating films on said second insulating film and in said first opening portion so that said second insulating film and said first opening portion are covered with said third insulating film, said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said third insulating film; etching said third insulating film and first insulating film at said first opening portion to form a) a second opening portion, which is larger in width than said first opening portion, in the third insulating film and b) a third opening portion, which is substantially equal in width to said first opening portion, in said first insulating layer, and exposing said base layer to said third opening portion; forming a metal layer in said first, second and third opening portions so that said metal layer can contact with said base layer exposed to said third opening portion; and burying said metal layer in said first, second and third opening portions and planarizing the buried metal layer by irradiating said metal layer with a laser beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second insulating film has absorption rate more than 30% with respect to said laser beam so that said base layer is not damaged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 7, wherein said base layer comprises aluminum, aluminum base compound, copper, copper base compound, single crystal silicon, polycrystal silicon, or a compound semiconductor selected from the group consisting of GaAs and AlGaAs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first insulating film comprises a silicon (Si) oxidation film or a Si oxidation film containing phosphorous (P), said second insulating film comprises Al 2 O 3 , and said third insulating film comprises a silicon (Si) oxidation film or a Si oxidation film containing phosphorous (P).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 7, wherein said laser beam comprises an excimer laser beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 11, wherein said metal layer comprises aluminum (Al), Al base compound, copper (Cu), or Cu base compound.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
271 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices, comprising the steps of: forming a first insulating film and a second insulating film of a plurality of insulating films sequentially on a base layer, the second insulating film formed on said first insulating film, said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said first insulating film and serving as an etching stopper and as a light shading film; forming a first opening portion by etching said second and first insulating films; forming a third insulating film of said plurality of insulating films on said second insulating film and in said first opening portion so that said second insulating film and said first opening portion are covered with said third insulating film, said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said third insulating film; etching said third insulating film on said first opening portion forming a second opening portion, which is larger in which than said first opening portion, in said third insulating film and also said etching causing said third insulating film to form a sidewall insulating film on sidewalls of said first and second insulating films within said first opening portion and further said etching exposing said base layer to an opening portion defined by said sidewall insulating film; forming a metal layer in said first and second opening portions so that said metal layer can contact with said base layer exposed to said opening portion defined by said sidewall insulating film; and burying said metal layer in said first and second opening portions and planarizing the buried metal layer by irradiating said metal layer with a laser beam.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
271 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices, comprising the steps of: forming a first insulating film and a second insulating film of a plurality of insulating films sequentially on a base layer, the second insulating film formed on said first insulating film, said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said first insulating film and serving as an etching stopper and as a light shading film; forming a first opening portion by etching said second and first insulating films; forming a third insulating film of said plurality of insulating films on said second insulating film and in said first opening portion so that said second insulating film and said first opening portion are covered with said third insulating film, said second insulating film being smaller in etch rate than said third insulating film; etching said third insulating film on said first opening portion forming a second opening portion, which is larger in which than said first opening portion, in said third insulating film and also said etching causing said third insulating film to form a sidewall insulating film on sidewalls of said first and second insulating films within said first opening portion and further said etching exposing said base layer to an opening portion defined by said sidewall insulating film; forming a metal layer in said first and second opening portions so that said metal layer can contact with said base layer exposed to said opening portion defined by said sidewall insulating film; and burying said metal layer in said first and second opening portions and planarizing the buried metal layer by irradiating said metal layer with a laser beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second insulating film has absorption rate more than 30% with respect to side laser beam so that said base layer is not damaged.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 13, wherein said base layer comprises aluminum, aluminum base compound, copper, copper base compound, single crystal silicon, polycrystal silicon, or a compound semiconductor selected from the group consisting of GaAs and AlGaAs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first insulating film comprises a silicon (Si) oxidation film or a Si oxidation film containing phosphorus (P), said second insulating film comprises Al 2 O 3 , and said third insulating film comprises a silicon (Si) oxidation film or a Si oxidation film containing phosphorus (P).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 13, wherein said laser beam comprises an excimer laser beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices as set forth in claim 17, wherein said metal layer comprises aluminum (Al), Al base compound, copper (Cu), or Cu base compound.