US5714804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semiconductor contact structure in integrated semiconductor devices
Assignee: STMicroelectronics lnc USA
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Filing: 1996-11-14
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Granted: 1998-02-03
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Expires: 2016-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connection structure is provided for protecting a barrier metal layer within a contact opening during the formation of an aluminum interconnection layer overlying a tungsten plugged connection structure. The deposited tungsten plug overlying the barrier metal layer is etched back sufficiently to create a slight recess at the opening. A thin layer of tungsten is then selectively deposited for filling the recess. This layer acts as an etch stop during aluminum interconnection layer formation and protects the underlying barrier metal layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert O. Miller
- 👤 Gregory C. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:09
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/032; H10W20/033; H10W20/037; H10W20/054; H10W20/056; H10W20/057; H10W20/063; H10W20/0633; H10W20/40; H10W20/41; H10W20/42; H10W20/425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a thin layer of a barrier material covering the exposed conductive layer region and only a portion of the sidewalls such that the upper portion of the sidewalls is not covered by the barrier material; a conductive material filling the opening over the thin layer of the barrier material to a level below the insulating layer upper surface leaving a portion of the barrier material exposed; an etch stop layer positioned over the first conductive material and the exposed barrier material, and having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer and being of a material that is selectively chemically-etchable with respect to the etch stop layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a thin layer of a barrier material covering the exposed conductive layer region and only a portion of the sidewalls such that the upper portion of the sidewalls is not covered by the barrier material; a conductive material filling the opening over the thin layer of the barrier material to a level below the insulating layer upper surface leaving a portion of the barrier material exposed; an etch stop layer positioned over the first conductive material and the exposed barrier material, and having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer and being of a material that is selectively chemically-etchable with respect to the etch stop layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure according to claim 1, further comprising a thin conductive cap layer placed between the etch stop layer and the interconnection layer for better interface chemistry therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the thin layer of the barrier material is titanium, or titanium nitride, or titanium nitride on titanium bilayer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the first conductive layer is a polysilicon or doped silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the conductive layer is an interconnection layer to other integrated circuit elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the lateral dimension of the opening is approximately one micron for insulating layer having a thickness in the range of one to four microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the etch stop layer ranges from one hundred angstrom to one thousand angstrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a thin layer of a barrier material covering the exposed conductive layer region and only a portion of the sidewalls such that the upper portion of the sidewalls is not covered by the barrier material; a conductive material filling the opening over the thin layer of the barrier material to a level below the insulating layer upper surface; an etch stop layer positioned over the conductive material and the exposed barrier material, and having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer and being selectively etchable with respect to the etch stop layer, wherein the etch stop layer is tungsten.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a thin layer of a barrier material covering the exposed conductive layer region and only a portion of the sidewalls such that the upper portion of the sidewalls is not covered by the barrier material; a conductive material filling the opening over the thin layer of the barrier material to a level below the insulating layer upper surface; an etch stop layer positioned over the conductive material and the exposed barrier material, and having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer and being selectively etchable with respect to the etch stop layer, wherein the etch stop layer is tungsten.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure according to claim 8 wherein the etch stop layer is formed by chemical vapor deposition with a relatively high H 2 to WF 6 flow ratio.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure according to claim 9 wherein the H 2 to WF 6 flow ratio ranges from 5 to 20.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the conductive material and etch stop layer are both tungsten.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the etch stop layer is aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the lower portion of the etch stop layer around the sidewalls of the opening extends down to a level below the upper surface of the conductive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
129 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a conductive material filling the opening to a level below the insulating layer upper surface; an etch stop layer positioned over the conductive material, the etch stop layer having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer, the interconnection layer being of a material that is selectively chemically-etchable with respect to the etch stop layer such that the etch stop layer is an etch stop for the etching of the interconnection layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a conductive material filling the opening to a level below the insulating layer upper surface; an etch stop layer positioned over the conductive material, the etch stop layer having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer, the interconnection layer being of a material that is selectively chemically-etchable with respect to the etch stop layer such that the etch stop layer is an etch stop for the etching of the interconnection layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a first conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the first conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the first conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a conductive material filling the opening to a level below the insulating layer upper surface; an etch stop layer positioned over the first conductive material, the etch stop layer having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer, the interconnection layer being selectively etchable with respect to the etch stop layer such that the etch stop layer is an etch stop for the etching of the interconnection layer, wherein the first conductive layer, the conductive material and the interconnection layer are all aluminum and the etch stop layer is tungsten.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electrical connection structure for an integrated circuit device, comprising: a first conductive layer; an insulating layer overlying the first conductive layer, the insulating layer having an upper surface; an opening through the insulating layer and exposing a region of the first conductive layer, the opening having sidewalls; a conductive material filling the opening to a level below the insulating layer upper surface; an etch stop layer positioned over the first conductive material, the etch stop layer having an upper surface approximately co-planar with the insulating layer upper surface; and an interconnection layer overlying the etch stop layer, the interconnection layer being selectively etchable with respect to the etch stop layer such that the etch stop layer is an etch stop for the etching of the interconnection layer, wherein the first conductive layer, the conductive material and the interconnection layer are all aluminum and the etch stop layer is tungsten.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-02 | 2001-08-04 | 2002-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-02 | 2005-08-04 | 2006-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-08-04 | 2010-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |