Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for fabricating a capacitor having a first and a second electrode, comprising the following steps: a) forming an insulative layer overlying a substrate; b) forming an opening in said insulative layer in order to expose said substrate; c) forming a conductive plug in said opening, said conductive plug forming a first portion of the first electrode of said capacitor, said conductive plug recessed below a surface of said insulative layer; d) forming a first conductive layer overlying said conductive plug, said first conductive layer forming a second portion of the first electrode; e) forming a second conductive layer, for preventing diffusion of atoms, in said opening and overlying said first conductive layer such that said second conductive layer is surrounded on sidewalls by said insulative layer, said second conductive layer forming a third portion of the first electrode, said first conductive layer reducing a contact resistance between said conductive plug and said second conductive layer; and f) forming a third conductive layer overlying said second conductive layer to form a fourth portion of the first electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for fabricating a capacitor having a first and a second electrode, comprising the following steps: a) forming an insulative layer overlying a substrate; b) forming an opening in said insulative layer in order to expose said substrate; c) forming a conductive plug in said opening, said conductive plug forming a first portion of the first electrode of said capacitor, said conductive plug recessed below a surface of said insulative layer; d) forming a first conductive layer overlying said conductive plug, said first conductive layer forming a second portion of the first electrode; e) forming a second conductive layer, for preventing diffusion of atoms, in said opening and overlying said first conductive layer such that said second conductive layer is surrounded on sidewalls by said insulative layer, said second conductive layer forming a third portion of the first electrode, said first conductive layer reducing a contact resistance between said conductive plug and said second conductive layer; and f) forming a third conductive layer overlying said second conductive layer to form a fourth portion of the first electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as specified in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: a) creating a dielectric layer to overlie said third conductive layer, said third conductive layer and said insulative layer substantially preventing oxidation of said second conductive layer; and b) creating the second electrode overlying said dielectric layer, said first and the second electrode and said dielectric layer forming the capacitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as specified in claim 1, further comprising: a) forming a dielectric layer overlying said third conductive layer; and b) forming the second electrode overlying said dielectric layer, said dielectric layer electrically insulating the first and the second electrodes one from one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as specified in claim 3, wherein said step of forming the second electrode comprises sputtering an electrically conductive material to overly said dielectric layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as specified in claim 3, wherein said step of forming said dielectric layer comprises the following steps: a) applying temperatures capable of oxidizing said second conductive layer; and b) preventing said second conductive layer from oxidizing during said step of applying temperatures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method as specified in claim 3, wherein said step of forming said dielectric layer comprises depositing a dielectric material from a group of materials consisting of Ba x Sr.sub.(1-x) TiO 3 , BaTiO 3 , SrTiO 3 , PbTiO 3 , Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 , (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O 3 , (Pb,La)TiO 3 , KNO 3 , and LiNbO 3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as specified in claim 1, further comprising the step of planarizing said insulative layer prior to forming said conductive plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein said step of forming said conductive plug comprises depositing in-situ doped polysilicon in said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as specified in claim 8, further comprising selecting said first conductive layer from materials which form a silicide with polysilicon during a thermal anneal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as specified in claim 8, further comprising etching back a portion of said polysilicon to create a recess in said insulative layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as specified in claim 8, wherein said step of forming said conductive plug comprises planarizing said polysilicon to expose said insulative layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as specified in claim 11, further comprising the step of performing a chemical mechanical planarization to effect said step of planarizing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein said step of forming said conductive plug comprises selectively growing silicon in said opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as specified in claim 13, further comprising selecting said first conductive layer from materials which form a silicide with said silicon during a thermal anneal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as specified in claim 14, further comprising terminating said step of selectively growing silicon prior to said silicon completely filling said opening, thereby creating a recess in said insulative layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein said step of forming said insulative layer comprises the following steps: a) depositing a first portion of said insulative layer to overly the substrate; and b) depositing a second portion of said insulative layer to overly said first portion, said second portion capable of prohibiting oxygen penetration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said second conductive layer comprises forming said second conductive layer with a material which prohibits silicon diffusion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said second conductive layer comprises forming said second conductive layer with a material selected from a group consisting of refractory metals, conductive metal oxides, and metal nitrides.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as specified in claim 1, further comprising selecting said second conductive layer from a group of materials consisting of Ta, TiN, TaN, Ti, RuO 2 , and Ru.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said third conductive layer comprises forming said third conductive layer with a material selected from a group consisting of non-oxidizing materials and conductive oxides.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said third conductive layer comprises forming said third conductive layer from a material selected from a group consisting of platinum and RuO 2 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said second conductive comprises: a) sputtering an atom diffusion prohibiting material to overlie said first conductive layer and said insulation layer; and b) removing portions of said atom diffusion prohibiting material to expose said insulative layer while retaining said atom diffusion prohibiting material in said recess overlying said first conductive layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein said step of forming said first conductive layer comprises depositing a material selected from a group consisting of refractory metals and metal nitrides.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as specified in claim 1, further comprising selecting said first conductive layer from a group of materials consisting of Ti, W, Co, Ta, and Mo.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as specified in claim 1, further comprising performing an anneal during said step of forming said first conductive layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as specified in claim 1, further comprising performing a nitrogen anneal during said step of forming said first conductive layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as specified in claim 1, wherein the step of depositing said insulative layer comprises depositing a material selected from a group consisting of oxide, nitride, and oxynitride.