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US5522966A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dry etching process for semiconductor

Assignee: Denso Corp
•
Filing: 1993-11-17
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Granted: 1996-06-04
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Expires: 2013-11-17
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Abstract

Abstract A process for forming trenches on a surface of a semiconductor substrate by dry etching using a gas mixture. The gas mixture comprises; (1) an etchant gas comprising at least bromine which etches the semiconductor surface to form trenches, (2) a cleaning gas comprising a halogen which evaporates residue formed by the etching, and (3) a reactive gas, e.g. N2, capable of reacting with material formed during the etching and capable of controlling the inclination of the trenches.

Inventors

  • 👤 Atsushi Komura
  • 👤 Yoshikazu Sakano
  • 👤 Kenji Kondo
  • 👤 Keiichi Kon
  • 👤 Tetsuhiko Sanbei
  • 👤 Shoji Miura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 06:35
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/20; H10P50/24; H10P50/242; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/906

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
A process for forming trenches on a surface of a semiconductor substrate by plasma etching of Si using a gas mixture, said gas mixture comprising HBr, SF 6 and N 2 , in a dry etching device, wherein the flow rate of HBr is 10 to 100 SCCM, the flow rate of SF 6 is 2 to 10 SCCM, the flow rate of N 2 is 3 to 10, under a pressure of the gas mixture of 50 to 150 mTorr, at a high frequency power of the plasma of 200 to 600 watts, and under a magnetic field strength of 0 to 100 gauss.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 105 words
A process for forming trenches on a surface of a semiconductor substrate by plasma etching of Si using a gas mixture, said gas mixture comprising HBr, SF 6 and N 2 , in a dry etching device, wherein the flow rate of HBr is 10 to 100 SCCM, the flow rate of SF 6 is 2 to 10 SCCM, the flow rate of N 2 is 3 to 10, under a pressure of the gas mixture of 50 to 150 mTorr, at a high frequency power of the plasma of 200 to 600 watts, and under a magnetic field strength of 0 to 100 gauss.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the trench side wall angle is set at an angle of 60 to 90°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein the trench side wall angle is made smaller by increasing the flow rate of N 2 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein the trench side wall angle is made smaller by decreasing the flow rate of SF 6 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 55 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein during etching, N 2 is decomposed to form N radicals in the plasma, which react in the gas phase with Si or etching products to form SiN, which covers the side wall, prevents the progress of excessive etching of the side wall, and controls the side wall angle.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4256634A Cited
US4208241A Cited
US4226665A Cited
US4450042A Cited
US4784720A Cited
US4855017A Cited
JPH04171813A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-06-04 1999-12-04 2000-06-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-06-04 2003-12-04 2004-06-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-06-04 2007-12-04 2008-06-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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