Patent US5434451A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5434451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tungsten liner process for simultaneous formation of integral contact studs and interconnect lines
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-01-19
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Granted: 1995-07-18
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Expires: 2013-01-19
Abstract
Abstract Tungsten studs and tungsten lined studs that make low resistance thermally stable ohmic or Schottky contacts to active devices on a semiconductor substrate are made by first defining a triplex metallurgical structure. The triplex metallurgical structure includes an ohmic layer, a barrier layer and a sacrificial layer. Then, a blanket layer of insulator is deposited and polished, or etched, or both, until the stud metallurgy is exposed. The sacrificial layer is then etched out, leaving holes self-aligned to the contacts and to the ohmic and the barrier layers. A blanket layer of CVD tungsten is then deposited and the substrate is polished, or etched, or both, to remove excess tungsten. The metal contact studs can be simultaneously formed with patterned interconnection lines which are self-aligned to each other and also to the contact studs.
Inventors
- 👤 Hormazdyar M. Dalal
- 👤 Kevin J. Hutchings
- 👤 Hazara S. Rathore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:14
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/032; H10W20/042; H10W20/045; H10W20/033; H10W20/035; H10W20/056; H10W20/058; H10W20/063; H10W20/069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of making contact studs which form ohmic or Schottky contacts with active regions of a semiconductor substrate having an insulation layer through which contact holes have been formed exposing said active regions, said method comprising the steps of: forming a lift-off stencil pattern over said insulation layer having a pattern of holes corresponding to at least some of said contract holes; depositing in sequence on said lift-off stencil pattern an ohmic layer, a barrier layer and a sacrificial layer to form a triplex metallurgical structure; removing said stencil layer leaving said triplex metallurgical structure within said at least some of said contact holes defining contact studs; depositing a blanket layer of insulator over said triplex metallurgical layer and removing the blanket layer of insulator until the contact studs are exposed; removing the sacrificial layer by etching, leaving holes self-aligned to the contacts and to the ohmic and the barrier layers; and depositing a blanket layer of CVD tungsten.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of making contact studs which form ohmic or Schottky contacts with active regions of a semiconductor substrate having an insulation layer through which contact holes have been formed exposing said active regions, said method comprising the steps of: forming a lift-off stencil pattern over said insulation layer having a pattern of holes corresponding to at least some of said contract holes; depositing in sequence on said lift-off stencil pattern an ohmic layer, a barrier layer and a sacrificial layer to form a triplex metallurgical structure; removing said stencil layer leaving said triplex metallurgical structure within said at least some of said contact holes defining contact studs; depositing a blanket layer of insulator over said triplex metallurgical layer and removing the blanket layer of insulator until the contact studs are exposed; removing the sacrificial layer by etching, leaving holes self-aligned to the contacts and to the ohmic and the barrier layers; and depositing a blanket layer of CVD tungsten.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said ohmic layer is Ti and said barrier layer is Cr--CrO x .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said sacrificial layer is deposited to approximately 1.5× a height of the contact studs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein said blanket layer of insulation is deposited to a thickness of approximately 1.1× a height of the contact studs and said CVD tungsten is deposited to a thickness of approximately 0.9× said height, said method further comprising the step of removing excess tungsten to form solid tungsten contact studs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: depositing a second blanket layer of insulator prior to the step of removing the sacrificial layer; photolithographically defining an interconnection on top of the second blanket layer of insulator; etching the second blanket layer of insulator until the contact studs are exposed and then performing the step of removing the sacrificial layer, leaving holes self-aligned to the contacts and to the ohmic and the barrier layers; depositing a thin layer of CVD tungsten; depositing a conductive metal; and removing excess metallurgy leaving tungsten lined, self-aligned interconnection lines and contact studs as an integral structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method recited in claim 5 wherein said sacrificial layer is deposited to approximately 1.5× a height of the contact studs and said second blanket layer of insulation is deposited to a thickness of approximately 1.1× a thickness of said interconnection lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method recited in claim 5 further comprising the steps of: depositing a third blanket layer of insulator; photolithographically defining an upper level of interconnection lines on top of the third blanket layer of insulator; etching the third blanket layer of insulator to a depth of approximately 20% greater than a thickness of said upper level interconnection lines; photolithographically defining a pattern of interlevel contact studs interconnecting said first mentioned interconnection lines and said upper level interconnection lines; further etching the third blanket layer of insulator until contact points to the said first mentioned interconnection lines are exposed; depositing a thin layer of CVD tungsten; depositing a conductive metal; and removing excess metallurgy leaving tungsten lined, self-aligned upper level interconnection lines and interlevel via studs as an integral upper level structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method recited in claim 5 further comprising the steps of: depositing a third blanket layer of insulator; photolithographically defining a pattern of interlevel contact studs interconnecting said first mentioned interconnection lines and said upper level interconnection lines; etching the third blanket layer of insulator until contact points to the said first mentioned interconnection lines are exposed; photolithographically defining an upper level of interconnection lines on top of the third blanket layer of insulator; further etching the third blanket layer of insulator to a depth of approximately 20% greater than a thickness of said upper level interconnection lines; depositing a thin layer of CVD tungsten; depositing a conductive metal; and removing excess metallurgy leaving tungsten lined, self-aligned upper level interconnection lines and interlevel via studs as an integral upper level structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A contact stud making ohmic contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said contact stud being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of metal disposed within said contact holes; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer; a layer of titanium over said barrier material; and a CVD layer of tungsten over said titanium layer filling said contact hole to form a solid tungsten contact stud.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A contact stud making ohmic contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said contact stud being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of metal disposed within said contact holes; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer; a layer of titanium over said barrier material; and a CVD layer of tungsten over said titanium layer filling said contact hole to form a solid tungsten contact stud.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
A contact stud making ohmic contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said contact stud being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of metal disposed within said contact holes; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer; a layer of titanium over said barrier material; and a relatively thin CVD layer of tungsten over said titanium layer; a layer of titanium over said CVD layer of tungsten; and a conductive layer filling said contact hole to form a tungsten lined contact stud.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
A contact stud making ohmic contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said contact stud being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of metal disposed within said contact holes; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer; a layer of titanium over said barrier material; and a relatively thin CVD layer of tungsten over said titanium layer; a layer of titanium over said CVD layer of tungsten; and a conductive layer filling said contact hole to form a tungsten lined contact stud.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
An integral structure of electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs making ohmic or Schottky contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having a pattern of said interconnect wiring contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of a metal disposed within said pattern on electrical wiring and contact holes; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer; a first layer of titanium over said barrier layer; a CVD layer of tungsten over said first layer of titanium; a second layer of titanium over said CVD layer of tungsten; and a conductive layer filling said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes to form an integral tungsten lined electrical interconnect wiring and contact stud structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
An integral structure of electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs making ohmic or Schottky contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having a pattern of said interconnect wiring contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of a metal disposed within said pattern on electrical wiring and contact holes; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer; a first layer of titanium over said barrier layer; a CVD layer of tungsten over said first layer of titanium; a second layer of titanium over said CVD layer of tungsten; and a conductive layer filling said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes to form an integral tungsten lined electrical interconnect wiring and contact stud structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
An integral structure of electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs making ohmic or Schottky contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having a pattern of said interconnect wiring contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of metal disposed within said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes, said ohmic layer is titanium; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer, said barrier layer is composed of chromium containing chromium oxide; a CVD layer of tungsten over said barrier layer; a layer of titanium over said CVD layer of tungsten; and a conductive layer filling said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes to form an integral tungsten lined electrical interconnect wiring and contact stud structure, said conductive layer is an aluminum/copper alloy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
An integral structure of electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs making ohmic or Schottky contact to active areas in a semiconductor substrate, said electrical interconnect wiring and contact studs being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having a pattern of said interconnect wiring contact holes therein defining locations of contact studs and comprising: an ohmic layer of metal disposed within said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes, said ohmic layer is titanium; a layer of a barrier material over said ohmic layer, said barrier layer is composed of chromium containing chromium oxide; a CVD layer of tungsten over said barrier layer; a layer of titanium over said CVD layer of tungsten; and a conductive layer filling said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes to form an integral tungsten lined electrical interconnect wiring and contact stud structure, said conductive layer is an aluminum/copper alloy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
109 words
An integral structure of electrical interconnect wiring and via studs making electrical contact to lower level tungsten lined interconnect lines, said electrical interconnect wiring and via studs being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having a pattern of said interconnect wiring via holes therein defining locations of via studs and comprising: a first titanium layer disposed within said pattern on electrical wiring and via holes; a CVD layer of tungsten over said first titanium layer; a second titanium layer over said tungsten layer; and a conductive layer filling said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes to form an integral tungsten lined electrical interconnect wiring and via stud structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
109 words
An integral structure of electrical interconnect wiring and via studs making electrical contact to lower level tungsten lined interconnect lines, said electrical interconnect wiring and via studs being substantially coplanar with an insulator layer having a pattern of said interconnect wiring via holes therein defining locations of via studs and comprising: a first titanium layer disposed within said pattern on electrical wiring and via holes; a CVD layer of tungsten over said first titanium layer; a second titanium layer over said tungsten layer; and a conductive layer filling said pattern of electrical wiring and contact holes to form an integral tungsten lined electrical interconnect wiring and via stud structure.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of making contact studs which form ohmic or Schottky contacts with active regions of a semiconductor substrate having an insulation layer through which contact holes have been formed exposing said active regions, comprising the steps of: forming a lift-off stencil pattern over said insulation layer having a pattern of holes corresponding to at least some of said contact holes; depositing in sequence over said lift off stencil pattern an ohmic layer, a barrier layer and a sacrificial layer to form a triplex metallurgical structure; removing said stencil layer leaving said triplex metallurgical structure within said contact holes; depositing a blanket layer of insulator over said triplex metallurgical structure; removing a portion of said blanket layer of insulator to expose said triplex metallurgical structure; and removing the sacrificial layer of said triplex metallurgical structure to leave holes self-aligned to the contacts and to the ohmic and barrier layers.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of making contact studs which form ohmic or Schottky contacts with active regions of a semiconductor substrate having an insulation layer through which contact holes have been formed exposing said active regions, comprising the steps of: forming a lift-off stencil pattern over said insulation layer having a pattern of holes corresponding to at least some of said contact holes; depositing in sequence over said lift off stencil pattern an ohmic layer, a barrier layer and a sacrificial layer to form a triplex metallurgical structure; removing said stencil layer leaving said triplex metallurgical structure within said contact holes; depositing a blanket layer of insulator over said triplex metallurgical structure; removing a portion of said blanket layer of insulator to expose said triplex metallurgical structure; and removing the sacrificial layer of said triplex metallurgical structure to leave holes self-aligned to the contacts and to the ohmic and barrier layers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method recited in claim 14 further comprising the steps of: depositing tungsten over said insulator and within said holes self-aligned to the contacts and to the ohmic and barrier layers; and removing a portion of said tungsten deposited during said depositing step, said portion removed during said removing step being tungsten deposited over said insulator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method recited in claim 7 further comprising the step of depositing a layer of titanium on said thin layer of CVD tungsten after said step of depositing a thin layer of CVD tungsten and before the step of depositing a conductive metal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of depositing a layer of titanium on said thin layer of CVD tungsten after said step of depositing a thin layer of CVD tungsten and before the step of depositing a conductive metal.
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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) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |