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US5733813A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for forming planarized field isolation regions

Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
•
Filing: 1996-05-09
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Granted: 1998-03-31
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Expires: 2016-05-09
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Abstract

Abstract Planarized field isolation regions are formed in a semiconductor substrate to isolate adjacent semiconductor devices by implanting an isolation material, such as oxygen or nitrogen ions, into a substrate patterned to define the field isolation regions. The implanted isolation material combines with the silicon in the substrate to form a field isolation region that extends downward from the surface of the substrate.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hung Sheng Chen
  • 👤 Chih Sieh Teng

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 19:26
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W10/00; H10W10/01; H10W10/011; H10W10/012; H10W10/0125; H10W10/10; H10W10/13

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A method for forming field isolation regions in a silicon substrate, the method comprising the steps of: forming a masking layer on the substrate; patterning and etching the masking layer to expose a surface region of the substrate; implanting the surface region of the substrate with a material to form an implant region that extends downward from the top surface of the substrate; and annealing the substrate in an ambient having substantially no oxygen so that the material in the implanted region chemically reacts with the silicon substrate to form a field isolation region that extends downward from the top surface of the substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 104 words
A method for forming field isolation regions in a silicon substrate, the method comprising the steps of: forming a masking layer on the substrate; patterning and etching the masking layer to expose a surface region of the substrate; implanting the surface region of the substrate with a material to form an implant region that extends downward from the top surface of the substrate; and annealing the substrate in an ambient having substantially no oxygen so that the material in the implanted region chemically reacts with the silicon substrate to form a field isolation region that extends downward from the top surface of the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the masking layer includes a layer of oxide and an overlying layer of silicon nitride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the material includes oxygen ions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the material is implanted in multiple steps prior to the annealing step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the material includes nitrogen ions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of removing the masking layer prior to the annealing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ambient includes nitrogen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the nitrogen ions are implanted in multiple steps prior to the annealing step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of forming a layer of screen oxide over the surface region prior to the implanting step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 9 and further comprising the step of removing the layer of screen oxide after the annealing step.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3897274A Cited
DE2941653A1 Cited
US4975126A Cited
JPH0210835A Cited
JPH0324727A Cited
JPH05121540A Cited
US5393693A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-03-30 2001-09-29 2002-03-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-03-30 2005-09-29 2006-03-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-03-30 2009-09-29 2010-03-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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