← Back to Patent Explorer
US5459354A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor device with improved insulation of wiring structure from a gate electrode

Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp
•
Filing: 1993-12-20
•
Granted: 1995-10-17
•
Expires: 2013-12-20
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor device comprises a silicon substrate, a gate electrode including a conductive layer formed on the silicon substrate with a gate insulating film disposed between the conductive layer and the silicon substrate and a first insulating layer covering the conductive layer, a conductive region formed in the surface of the silicon substrate at its portion adjacent to the gate electrode, a second insulating layer formed so as to cover the gate electrode and the silicon substrate, a third insulating layer formed so as to cover the second insulating layer, a contact hole formed by etching to penetrate the third and second insulating layers and to reach the conductive region, and a wiring layer formed to cover the third insulating layer and having a contact part extending inside the contact hole, and electrically connect to the conductive region, the second insulating layer being made of a material having a selected ratio of an etching rate relative to an etching rate of a material of the first insulating layer in formation of the contact hole by etching, and sections of the third and second insulating layers exposed to an inner side of the contact hole being flush along the inner side.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tatsuya Hara

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 09:29
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D64/00; H10D64/20; H10D64/23; H10D64/251; H10D64/258; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 204 words
A wiring structure in a semiconductor device comprising: a silicon substrate; a gate electrode including a conductive layer formed on said silicon substrate with a gate insulating film disposed between the conductive layer and the silicon substrate and a first insulating layer covering said conductive layer; a conductive region formed in the surface of said silicon substrate at its portion adjacent to said gate electrode; a second insulating layer formed so as to cover said gate electrode and said silicon substrate; a third insulating layer formed to cover said second insulating layer; a contact hole formed by etching to penetrate said third and second insulating layers and to reach said conductive region; and a wiring layer formed to cover said third insulating layer and having a contact part extending inside said contact hole, and electrically connected to said conductive region, wherein said second insulating layer is made of a material having a selected ratio of an etching rate relative to an etching rate of a material of said first insulating layer in formation of said contact hole by etching and wherein sections of said third and second insulating layers exposed to an inner side of the contact hole are flush along said inner side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 204 words
A wiring structure in a semiconductor device comprising: a silicon substrate; a gate electrode including a conductive layer formed on said silicon substrate with a gate insulating film disposed between the conductive layer and the silicon substrate and a first insulating layer covering said conductive layer; a conductive region formed in the surface of said silicon substrate at its portion adjacent to said gate electrode; a second insulating layer formed so as to cover said gate electrode and said silicon substrate; a third insulating layer formed to cover said second insulating layer; a contact hole formed by etching to penetrate said third and second insulating layers and to reach said conductive region; and a wiring layer formed to cover said third insulating layer and having a contact part extending inside said contact hole, and electrically connected to said conductive region, wherein said second insulating layer is made of a material having a selected ratio of an etching rate relative to an etching rate of a material of said first insulating layer in formation of said contact hole by etching and wherein sections of said third and second insulating layers exposed to an inner side of the contact hole are flush along said inner side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
A wiring structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first insulating layer includes an insulating layer formed on said conductive layer and a side wall formed on a side surface of said conductive layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
A wiring structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the etching rate of the second insulating film is higher than the etching rate of the first insulating film in the etching for formation of said contact hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 55 words
A wiring structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second insulating layer is made of a material so as to make a ratio of an etching rate of said second insulating layer relative to an etching rate of said first insulating material at the etching in formation of said contact hole higher than 1.5.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
A wiring structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first insulating film is a silicon dioxide film, and said second insulating film is a silicon nitride film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 225 words
A wiring structure in a semiconductor device comprising: a silicon substrate; a gate electrode including a conductive layer formed on said silicon substrate with a gate insulating film disposed between the conductive layer and the silicon substrate and a first insulating layer covering said conductive layer; a conductive region formed in the surface of said silicon substrate at its portion adjacent to said gate electrode; a second insulating layer formed so as to cover said gate electrode and said silicon substrate; a third insulating layer formed so as to cover said second insulating layer; a contact hole formed by etching to extend through said third and second insulating layers and to reach said conductive region; and a wiring layer formed to cover said third insulating layer, extend inside said contact hole, and electrically connect to said conductive region, wherein said second insulating layer is made of a material having a ratio of an etching rate selected relative to an etching rate of a material of said first insulating layer such that in formation of said contact hole by etching said first insulating layer is prevented from being removed by etching while said second insulating layer is completely removed at the bottom portion of said contact hole and wherein said second and third insulating layers have their portions facing said contact hole aligned with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 225 words
A wiring structure in a semiconductor device comprising: a silicon substrate; a gate electrode including a conductive layer formed on said silicon substrate with a gate insulating film disposed between the conductive layer and the silicon substrate and a first insulating layer covering said conductive layer; a conductive region formed in the surface of said silicon substrate at its portion adjacent to said gate electrode; a second insulating layer formed so as to cover said gate electrode and said silicon substrate; a third insulating layer formed so as to cover said second insulating layer; a contact hole formed by etching to extend through said third and second insulating layers and to reach said conductive region; and a wiring layer formed to cover said third insulating layer, extend inside said contact hole, and electrically connect to said conductive region, wherein said second insulating layer is made of a material having a ratio of an etching rate selected relative to an etching rate of a material of said first insulating layer such that in formation of said contact hole by etching said first insulating layer is prevented from being removed by etching while said second insulating layer is completely removed at the bottom portion of said contact hole and wherein said second and third insulating layers have their portions facing said contact hole aligned with each other.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4782037A Cited
US5045916A Cited
US4744861A Cited
US5043790A Cited
JPH04330768A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-10-16 1999-04-17 1999-10-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-10-16 2003-04-17 2003-10-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-10-16 2007-04-17 2007-10-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag