US5633191A
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Process for minimizing encroachment effect of field isolation structure
Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp
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Filing: 1996-08-19
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Granted: 1997-05-27
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Expires: 2016-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A method for minimizing the impurity encroachment effect of field isolation structures for NMOS, PMOS and CMOS integrated circuits is disclosed. In the process, a polysilicon layer is deposited on a laminate comprising a substrate having thereon a pad oxide, and the stacked layers on the pad oxide. An overhang layer is deposited on the polysilicon layer, and a photo-resist mask which masks the active regions is then applied so as to remove the unmasked overhang layer and the unmasked polysilicon layer. The resultant structure is isotropically etched to partially undercut the vertical portions of the polysilicon layer under the overhang layer so as to form an overhang. The photo-resist is stripped, and the stacked layers not covered by the overhang layer are etched anisotropically. The channel-stop ions are implanted, and the overhang layer is removed. Anisotropically etch the stacked layers by using the polysilicon layer as a mask, and then the resultant structure is subjected to oxidation to form the isolation regions. The channel stop region is self-aligned to the resultant field oxide and the isolation structure is free of the impurity encroachment effect.
Inventors
- 👤 Fang-Ching Chao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:07
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/60; H10P14/61
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A process for forming isolation regions on a semiconductor substrate, the process comprising: forming a polysilicon layer on a laminate comprising a substrate having thereon a pad oxide, and stacked layers on the pad oxide; forming an overhang layer on the polysilicon layer; forming an active region photo-resist mask on the overhang layer; removing unmasked portions of the overhang layer and the polysilicon layer; isotropically etching the polysilicon layer under the overhang layer so as to form an overhang of said overhang layer over said polysilicon layer; removing the photo-resist mask; anisotropically etching the stacked layers to remove portions thereof not covered by the overhang layer to expose a portion of the pad oxide; implanting ions into a portion of the substrate, wherein the overhang layer serving as an implant mask; removing the overhang layer; anisotropically etching the stacked layers, wherein the polysilicon layer serving as an etching mask; and oxidation so as to form the isolation regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A process for forming isolation regions on a semiconductor substrate, the process comprising: forming a polysilicon layer on a laminate comprising a substrate having thereon a pad oxide, and stacked layers on the pad oxide; forming an overhang layer on the polysilicon layer; forming an active region photo-resist mask on the overhang layer; removing unmasked portions of the overhang layer and the polysilicon layer; isotropically etching the polysilicon layer under the overhang layer so as to form an overhang of said overhang layer over said polysilicon layer; removing the photo-resist mask; anisotropically etching the stacked layers to remove portions thereof not covered by the overhang layer to expose a portion of the pad oxide; implanting ions into a portion of the substrate, wherein the overhang layer serving as an implant mask; removing the overhang layer; anisotropically etching the stacked layers, wherein the polysilicon layer serving as an etching mask; and oxidation so as to form the isolation regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 1 further comprising, after oxidation, removing the stacked layers and the pad oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said overhang layer is a silicon nitride layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said stacked layers comprise a silicon nitride layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said stacked layers comprise a second polysilicon layer and a silicon nitride layer on the second polysilicon layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
A process for forming isolation regions on a semiconductor substrate, the process comprising: forming a polysilicon layer on a laminate comprising a substrate having thereon a pad oxide, and a first silicon nitride layer on the pad oxide; forming a second silicon nitride layer on the polysilicon layer; forming an active region photo-resist mask on the second silicon nitride layer; removing the unmasked portions of the second silicon nitride layer and the polysilicon layer; isotropically etching the polysilicon layer under the second silicon nitride layer so as to form an overhang of said second silicon nitride layer over said polysilicon layer; removing the photo-resist mask; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer to remove the portion thereof not covered by the second silicon nitride layer; implanting ions of a first type into a portion of the substrate, wherein the second silicon nitride layer serving as an implant mask; removing the second silicon nitride layer; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer, wherein the polysilicon layer serving as an etching mask; and oxidation so as to form the isolation regions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
A process for forming isolation regions on a semiconductor substrate, the process comprising: forming a polysilicon layer on a laminate comprising a substrate having thereon a pad oxide, and a first silicon nitride layer on the pad oxide; forming a second silicon nitride layer on the polysilicon layer; forming an active region photo-resist mask on the second silicon nitride layer; removing the unmasked portions of the second silicon nitride layer and the polysilicon layer; isotropically etching the polysilicon layer under the second silicon nitride layer so as to form an overhang of said second silicon nitride layer over said polysilicon layer; removing the photo-resist mask; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer to remove the portion thereof not covered by the second silicon nitride layer; implanting ions of a first type into a portion of the substrate, wherein the second silicon nitride layer serving as an implant mask; removing the second silicon nitride layer; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer, wherein the polysilicon layer serving as an etching mask; and oxidation so as to form the isolation regions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 6 further comprising, after oxidation, removing the first silicon nitride layer and the pad oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the pad oxide is 300˜600Å.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the first silicon nitride layer is 1000˜2000Å.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the polysilicon is about 2000Å.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the second silicon nitride is 1000˜2000Å.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein said substrate is of p-type and said implanted ions are of p-type.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 12, wherein said substrate is of n-type and said implanted ions are of n-type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein said substrate comprises n-type regions and p-type regions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 14, wherein said substrate is of n-type or of p-type.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process according to claim 15 further comprising, before implanting the ions of the first type, masking active regions of the first type, and removing the first-type active region mask after the ions of the first type are implanted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process according to claim 15 further comprising, after said ions of the first type are implanted, masking active regions of a second type, implanting ions of the second type, and removing the second-type active region mask.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
210 words
A process for forming isolation regions on a semiconductor substrate, the process comprising: forming a second polysilicon layer on a laminate comprising a substrate having thereon a pad oxide, a first polysilicon on the pad oxide, and a first silicon nitride layer on the first polysilicon layer; forming a second silicon nitride layer on the second polysilicon layer; forming an active region photo-resist mask on the second silicon nitride layer; removing the unmasked portions of the second silicon nitride layer and the second polysilicon layer; isotropically etching the second polysilicon layer under the second silicon nitride layer so as to form an overhang of said second silicon nitride layer over said second polysilicon layer; removing the photo-resist mask; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer and the first polysilicon layer to remove the portions thereof not covered by the second silicon nitride layer to expose a portion of the pad oxide; implanting ions of a first type into a portion of the substrate, wherein the second silicon nitride layer serving as an implant mask; removing the second silicon nitride layer; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer and the first polysilicon layer, wherein the second polysilicon serving as an etching mask; and oxidation so as to form the isolation regions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
210 words
A process for forming isolation regions on a semiconductor substrate, the process comprising: forming a second polysilicon layer on a laminate comprising a substrate having thereon a pad oxide, a first polysilicon on the pad oxide, and a first silicon nitride layer on the first polysilicon layer; forming a second silicon nitride layer on the second polysilicon layer; forming an active region photo-resist mask on the second silicon nitride layer; removing the unmasked portions of the second silicon nitride layer and the second polysilicon layer; isotropically etching the second polysilicon layer under the second silicon nitride layer so as to form an overhang of said second silicon nitride layer over said second polysilicon layer; removing the photo-resist mask; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer and the first polysilicon layer to remove the portions thereof not covered by the second silicon nitride layer to expose a portion of the pad oxide; implanting ions of a first type into a portion of the substrate, wherein the second silicon nitride layer serving as an implant mask; removing the second silicon nitride layer; anisotropically etching the first silicon nitride layer and the first polysilicon layer, wherein the second polysilicon serving as an etching mask; and oxidation so as to form the isolation regions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 18 further comprising, after oxidation, removing the first silicon nitride layer, the first polysilicon layer and the pad oxide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 18, wherein the thickness of the pad oxide is 100˜300Å.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 18, wherein the thickness of the first polysilicon is 250˜400Å.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 18, wherein the thickness of the first silicon nitride layer is 1000˜2000Å.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process according to claim 18, wherein the thickness of the second polysilicon is about 2000Å.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 18, wherein the thickness of the second silicon nitride is about 2000Å.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 18, wherein said substrate is of p-type and said implanted ions are of p-type.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 25, wherein said substrate is of n-type and said implanted ions are of n-type.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 18, wherein said substrate comprises n-type regions and p-type regions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 27, wherein said substrate is of n-type or of p-type.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process according to claim 28 further comprising, before implanting the ions of the first type, masking active regions of the first type, and removing the first-type active region mask after the ions of the first type are implanted.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process according to claim 29 further comprising, after said ions of the first type are implanted, masking active regions of a second type, implanting ions of the second type, and removing the second-type active region mask.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-26 | 2000-11-25 | 2001-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-26 | 2004-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-11-25 | 2009-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |