Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of forming a field oxide isolation region, comprising: forming a masking layer of a masking material over a silicon substrate; patterning said masking layer to form an opening for said field oxide isolation region, whereby the remainder of said masking layer forms an implant mask; implanting dopant ions through said opening into said silicon substrate to form a channel-stop implant; implanting oxygen ions through said opening into said silicon substrate in a first oxygen ion implantation at a first energy level, to produce an oxygen concentration in an oxygen implantation region of the substrate; after completion of the first oxygen ion implantation, implanting oxygen ions through said opening into said silicon substrate in a distinct second oxygen ion implantation at a second energy level that is at least about as great as the first energy level, to increase oxygen concentration, uniformity, and depth in the oxygen implantation region of the substrate; removing said implant mask; and after removing said implant mask, forming said field oxide isolation region in and on said silicon substrate by annealing in a non-oxygen ambient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of forming a field oxide isolation region, comprising: forming a masking layer of a masking material over a silicon substrate; patterning said masking layer to form an opening for said field oxide isolation region, whereby the remainder of said masking layer forms an implant mask; implanting dopant ions through said opening into said silicon substrate to form a channel-stop implant; implanting oxygen ions through said opening into said silicon substrate in a first oxygen ion implantation at a first energy level, to produce an oxygen concentration in an oxygen implantation region of the substrate; after completion of the first oxygen ion implantation, implanting oxygen ions through said opening into said silicon substrate in a distinct second oxygen ion implantation at a second energy level that is at least about as great as the first energy level, to increase oxygen concentration, uniformity, and depth in the oxygen implantation region of the substrate; removing said implant mask; and after removing said implant mask, forming said field oxide isolation region in and on said silicon substrate by annealing in a non-oxygen ambient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first oxygen ion implantation is made at a dosage of between about 1×10 18 and 3×10 18 ions/cm 2 and at an energy of between about 30 and 150 KeV.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said second oxygen ion implantation is made at a dosage of between about 1×10 18 and 3×10 18 ions/cm 2 and at an energy of between about 30 and 150 KeV, whereby said oxygen ions are implanted at a depth of between about 300 and 4000 Angstroms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said field oxide isolation region is formed by annealing in an ambient of argon, at a temperature of between about 800 and 1000° C. for between about 0.5 and 10 minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said field oxide isolation region is formed by annealing in an ambient of nitrogen, at a temperature of between about 800 and 1000 ° C. for between about 0.5 and 10 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said field oxide isolation region is formed by a rapid thermal anneal, at a temperature of between about 900 and 1050 ° C. for between about 0.5 and 3 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said field oxide isolation region is formed to a thickness of between about 3000 and 6000 angstroms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said masking layer is an oxide layer, formed to a thickness of between about 2000 and 5000 angstroms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said masking layer is a photoresist layer, formed to a thickness of between about 3000 and 20,000 angstroms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said removing said implant mask is performed by a wet chemical etch.