Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for producing a semiconductor memory device for storing the information as a function of the presence or absence of electrical charges stored in a groove capacitor, comprising the steps of: forming a gate electrode (14) for a transistor on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate (11), forming a first impurity-diffusion layer (28) on both sides of said gate electrode (14) on the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11), after formation of said first impurity-diffusion layer (28), forming an electrically conductive member (43) on the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11), patterning said electrically conductive member (43) for forming an opening of a predetermined shape thereby defining a region for forming said groove capacitor, forming a groove (15) of said groove capacitor by selectively etching a portion of the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11) exposed by the formation of said opening, forming a second impurity-diffusion layer (31) on at least a sidewall of said groove (15), forming a capacitor insulating film (20) on the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11) for covering an exposed surface of said electrically conductive member (43) and an inner surface of said groove (15), and forming a cell plate electrode (22) on said capacitor insulating film (20).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for producing a semiconductor memory device for storing the information as a function of the presence or absence of electrical charges stored in a groove capacitor, comprising the steps of: forming a gate electrode (14) for a transistor on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate (11), forming a first impurity-diffusion layer (28) on both sides of said gate electrode (14) on the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11), after formation of said first impurity-diffusion layer (28), forming an electrically conductive member (43) on the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11), patterning said electrically conductive member (43) for forming an opening of a predetermined shape thereby defining a region for forming said groove capacitor, forming a groove (15) of said groove capacitor by selectively etching a portion of the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11) exposed by the formation of said opening, forming a second impurity-diffusion layer (31) on at least a sidewall of said groove (15), forming a capacitor insulating film (20) on the main surface of said semiconductor substrate (11) for covering an exposed surface of said electrically conductive member (43) and an inner surface of said groove (15), and forming a cell plate electrode (22) on said capacitor insulating film (20).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said groove (15) of said groove type capacitor is formed under highly selective etching conditions wherein said semiconductor substrate (11) is selectively etched while said electrically conductive member (43) is left substantially unetched.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of forming said groove (15) comprises using said opening in said electrically conductive member (43) as a mask for etching said portion of the main surface of said semiconductor substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of forming a cell plate electrode (22) comprises forming a polycrystal silicon film (49) on said capacitor insulating film (20) and patterning said polycrystal silicon film (49) to form said cell plate electrode (22).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of forming said groove (15) comprises the steps of depositing a photoresist on said electrically conductive member (43), and performing a self aligning etching, thereby to form an end surface of said opening of said electrically conductive member (43) and the inner wall surface of said groove (15) in a common plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of forming said groove (15) further comprises using said opening in said electrically conductive member (43) as a mask for etching said portion of the main surface of said semiconductor substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of forming a capacitor insulating film (20) comprises forming a nitride film (50) at least on the inner surface of said groove (15), and thermally oxidizing said nitride film to form said insulating film (20).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of forming a cell plate electrode (22) comprises: forming a polycrystal silicon film (49) on said oxidized nitride film, and patterning said polycrystal silicon film and said oxidized nitride film to form said insulating film (20) and said cell plate electrode (22).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of forming a capacitor insulating film (20) comprises forming a film at least on the inner surface of said groove (15), wherein the film is a material selected from the group consisting of Ta 2 O 5 film and a multilayer film including a nitride film and a Ta 2 O 5 film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of forming a cell plate electrode (22) comprises forming a polycrystal silicon film (49) on said capacitor insulating film (20) and patterning said polycrystal silicon film (49) to form said cell plate electrode (22).