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Thermal process for forming high value resistors

Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-16
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Granted: 1997-07-29
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Expires: 2016-01-16
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention develops several methods used in a semiconductor fabrication process to form a resistive material having a specific resistive value. A first method uses the steps of: forming a titanium layer over a silicon substrate; and subjecting the titanium layer to a rapid thermal processing cycle. A second method uses the steps of: forming a titanium layer over a silicon substrate; subjecting the titanium layer to a rapid thermal processing cycle; and forming a titanium nitride layer over the thermally processed titanium. A third method uses the steps of: forming an insulating layer over a silicon substrate; forming an undoped polysilicon layer over the insulating layer; forming a titanium layer over the polysilicon layer; subjecting the titanium layer to a rapid thermal processing cycle; and forming a titanium nitride layer over the thermally processed titanium. Additionally, the resistive structure can be capped using a nitride layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Randhir P. S. Thakur

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 14:17
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/40; H10D1/47; H10D1/474; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/136

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 107 words
A semiconductor fabrication process to form a resistive material having a specific resistive value, said process comprising the steps of: forming a refractory metal layer over a supporting substrate; and thermally processing said refractory metal layer at a temperature ranging from 700°-850° C. in the presence of an ambient gas consisting of a combination of nitrogen and oxygen; wherein said step of thermally processing is performed at a controlled temperature and with a controlled amount of ambient gas such a desired said specific resistive value is formed by altering the sheet resistance of the refractory metal layer obtained during said step of forming a refractory metal layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 107 words
A semiconductor fabrication process to form a resistive material having a specific resistive value, said process comprising the steps of: forming a refractory metal layer over a supporting substrate; and thermally processing said refractory metal layer at a temperature ranging from 700°-850° C. in the presence of an ambient gas consisting of a combination of nitrogen and oxygen; wherein said step of thermally processing is performed at a controlled temperature and with a controlled amount of ambient gas such a desired said specific resistive value is formed by altering the sheet resistance of the refractory metal layer obtained during said step of forming a refractory metal layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 1 further, comprising the additional step of forming a specific resistance capping layer superjacent said thermally processed refractory metal layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said specific resistance capping layer comprises a nitride of said refractory metal layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said refractory metal is converted to a refractory metal nitride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said refractory metal is titanium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein a portion of said refractory metal is converted to a refractory metal nitride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said step of thermally processing is a process selected from the group consisting of rapid thermal processing, plasma annealing and furnace annealing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said step of forming a said refractory metal layer is a forming method selected from the group consisting of chemical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, sputtering, and MOCVD.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 126 words
A semiconductor fabrication process to form a resistive material having a specific resistive value, said process comprising the steps of: forming an insulation layer over a supporting substrate; forming a semiconductive layer over said insulating layer; forming a refractory metal layer over said semiconductive layer; and thermally processing the existing material on said supporting substrate at a temperature ranging from 700°-850° C. in the presence of an ambient gas consisting of a combination of nitrogen and oxygen; wherein said step of thermally processing is performed at a controlled temperature and with a controlled amount of ambient gas such a desired said specific resistive value is formed by altering the sheet resistance of the refractory metal layer obtained during said step of forming a refractory metal layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 126 words
A semiconductor fabrication process to form a resistive material having a specific resistive value, said process comprising the steps of: forming an insulation layer over a supporting substrate; forming a semiconductive layer over said insulating layer; forming a refractory metal layer over said semiconductive layer; and thermally processing the existing material on said supporting substrate at a temperature ranging from 700°-850° C. in the presence of an ambient gas consisting of a combination of nitrogen and oxygen; wherein said step of thermally processing is performed at a controlled temperature and with a controlled amount of ambient gas such a desired said specific resistive value is formed by altering the sheet resistance of the refractory metal layer obtained during said step of forming a refractory metal layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The process of claim 9, wherein said step of thermally processing is a process selected from the group consisting of rapid thermal processing, plasma annealing and furnace annealing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 9, wherein said forming of all layers comprises depositing these layers by chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 9, wherein said refractory metal layer is converted to a refractory metal nitride layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
The process of claim 9, wherein a portion of said refractory metal layer is converted to a refractory metal nitride layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 9, wherein said refractory metal is titanium.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-07-28 2001-01-27 2001-07-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-07-28 2005-01-27 2005-07-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-07-28 2009-01-27 2009-07-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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