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US5211804A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for dry etching

Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-10-11
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Granted: 1993-05-18
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Expires: 2011-10-11
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Abstract

Abstract A method for dry etching is disclosed which incorporates the steps of preparing a substrate having a metal film thereon in which aluminium is contained therein; generating a plasma by interacting a mixture gas consisting of a chloride gas, an oxygen gas and a nitrogen gas or a mixture of a chloride gas, a chlorine gas, an oxygen gas and a nitrogen gas with a microwave in a magnetic field, and etching the metal film in the plasma, whereby the metal film which contains aluminum can be etched without undercutting it and forming residues.

Inventors

  • 👤 Motoki Kobayashi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 20:33
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/71; H10P50/20; H10P50/26; H10P50/264; H10P50/266; H10P50/267

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for etching a metal film containing aluminium, comprising the steps of: forming a metal film on a substrate; forming an inorganic mask on a part of the metal film, the other part of the metal film being exposed; introducing a mixture gas consisting essentially of a chloride gas, an oxygen gas and a nitrogen gas into a reaction chamber; introducing microwaves into the reaction chamber; generating a magnetic field into the reaction chamber; interacting the microwaves with the magnetic field to change the mixture gas into a plasma in the reaction chamber; and subjecting the substrate having the metal film and the inorganic mask thereupon to the plasma to etch the exposed metal film in the reaction chamber and to form a taper shaped side wall for the remaining metal film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for etching a metal film containing aluminium, comprising the steps of: forming a metal film on a substrate; forming an inorganic mask on a part of the metal film, the other part of the metal film being exposed; introducing a mixture gas consisting essentially of a chloride gas, an oxygen gas and a nitrogen gas into a reaction chamber; introducing microwaves into the reaction chamber; generating a magnetic field into the reaction chamber; interacting the microwaves with the magnetic field to change the mixture gas into a plasma in the reaction chamber; and subjecting the substrate having the metal film and the inorganic mask thereupon to the plasma to etch the exposed metal film in the reaction chamber and to form a taper shaped side wall for the remaining metal film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 1, wherein a radio frequency power outputted from a radio frequency power source is provided to the substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 2, wherein the radio frequency power controls the energy of ions which attack against substrate in the plasma.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 1, wherein the mixture ratio of the oxygen gas in the mixture gas is less than 10%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 1, wherein the mixture ratio of the nitrogen gas in the mixture gas is in a range of 5% to 30%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method for dry etching set forth in claim 1, wherein the inorganic mask is an S i O 2 film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 1, wherein the chloride gas is boron trichloride gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 1, wherein the metal film is an Al-Si-Cu film.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 134 words
A method for etching a metal film containing aluminium, comprising the stops of: forming a metal film on a substrate; forming an inorganic mask on a part of the metal film, the other part of the metal film being exposed; introducing a mixture gas consisting essentially of a chloride gas, a chlorine gas, an oxygen gas and a nitrogen gas into a reaction chamber; introducing microwaves into the reaction chamber; generating a magnetic field in the reaction chamber; interacting the microwaves with the magnetic field to change the mixture gas to a plasma in the reaction chamber; and subjecting the substrate having the metal film and the inorganic mask to the plasma to etch the exposed metal film in the reaction chamber, and form a taper shaped side wall for the remaining metal film.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 134 words
A method for etching a metal film containing aluminium, comprising the stops of: forming a metal film on a substrate; forming an inorganic mask on a part of the metal film, the other part of the metal film being exposed; introducing a mixture gas consisting essentially of a chloride gas, a chlorine gas, an oxygen gas and a nitrogen gas into a reaction chamber; introducing microwaves into the reaction chamber; generating a magnetic field in the reaction chamber; interacting the microwaves with the magnetic field to change the mixture gas to a plasma in the reaction chamber; and subjecting the substrate having the metal film and the inorganic mask to the plasma to etch the exposed metal film in the reaction chamber, and form a taper shaped side wall for the remaining metal film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 9, wherein a radio frequency power outputted from a radio frequency power source is provided to the substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 10, wherein the radio frequency power controls the energy of ions in the plasma which attack the substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 9, wherein the mixture ratio of the oxygen gas in the mixture gas is less than 10% but is present in an amount sufficient to etch the metal film when converted into a plasma.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 9, wherein the mixture ratio of the nitrogen gas in the mixture gas is in a range of 5% to 30%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 9, wherein the inorganic mask is an S i O 2 film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 9, wherein the chloride gas is an boron tri-chloride gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method for dry etching set forth in claim 9, wherein the metal film is Al-Si-Cu film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method for etching set forth in claim 1 in which the mixing ratio of the oxygen gas is 5-10%.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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JPS57170536A Cited
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US4505782A Cited
JPS59220928A Cited
US4468284A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-05-17 1996-11-16 1997-05-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-05-17 2000-11-16 2001-05-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-05-17 2004-11-16 2005-05-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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