Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of fabricating an interconnect for an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: forming a diffusion barrier film on an integrated circuit substrate; amorphizing the diffusion barrier film to create an amorphous diffusion barrier film by implanting ions selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen and silicon into the diffusion barrier film; and forming a copper film on the amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of fabricating an interconnect for an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: forming a diffusion barrier film on an integrated circuit substrate; amorphizing the diffusion barrier film to create an amorphous diffusion barrier film by implanting ions selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen and silicon into the diffusion barrier film; and forming a copper film on the amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming a diffusion barrier film comprises the step of forming a diffusion barrier film from at least one material selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ti, WN, TiW and TiN.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming a diffusion barrier film comprises the step of chemical vapor depositing a diffusion barrier film on an integrated circuit substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming a copper film is followed by the steps of: forming a second diffusion barrier film on the copper film, opposite the amorphous diffusion barrier film; and amorphizing the second diffusion barrier film to create a second amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of amorphizing the second diffusion barrier film step comprises the step of implanting ions into the second diffusion barrier film to create a second amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming a diffusion barrier film comprises the step of forming a diffusion barrier film on an interlevel dielectric layer on an integrated circuit substrate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of fabricating an interconnect for an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: forming a dielectric layer on an integrated circuit substrate, the dielectric layer including a contact hole that exposes a portion of the integrated circuit substrate; forming a diffusion barrier film on the dielectric layer opposite the integrated circuit substrate and on the exposed portion of the integrated circuit substrate; amorphizing the diffusion barrier film to create an amorphous diffusion barrier film by implanting ions selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen and silicon into the diffusion barrier film; and forming a copper film on the amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of fabricating an interconnect for an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: forming a dielectric layer on an integrated circuit substrate, the dielectric layer including a contact hole that exposes a portion of the integrated circuit substrate; forming a diffusion barrier film on the dielectric layer opposite the integrated circuit substrate and on the exposed portion of the integrated circuit substrate; amorphizing the diffusion barrier film to create an amorphous diffusion barrier film by implanting ions selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen and silicon into the diffusion barrier film; and forming a copper film on the amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of forming a diffusion barrier film comprises the step of forming a diffusion barrier film from at least one material selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ti, WN, TiW and TiN.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of forming a diffusion barrier film comprises the step of chemical vapor depositing a diffusion barrier film on the dielectric layer opposite the integrated circuit substrate and on the exposed portion of the integrated circuit substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of forming a copper film is followed by the steps of: forming a second diffusion barrier film on the copper film, opposite the amorphous diffusion barrier film; and amorphizing the second diffusion barrier film to create a second amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of amorphizing the second diffusion barrier film step comprises the step of implanting ions into the second diffusion barrier film to create a second amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the steps of: forming a second dielectric layer on the second amorphous diffusion barrier film, opposite the copper film, the second dielectric layer including a second contact hole that exposes a portion of the second amorphous diffusion barrier film; forming a third diffusion barrier film on the second dielectric layer opposite the underlying conductor and on the exposed portion of the second amorphous diffusion barrier film; amorphizing the third diffusion barrier film to create a third amorphous diffusion barrier film; and forming a second copper film on the third amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the amorphizing step comprises the step of implanting ions into the third diffusion barrier film to create a third amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the step of forming a second copper film is followed by the steps of: forming a fourth diffusion barrier film on the second copper film, opposite the third amorphous diffusion barrier film; and amorphizing the fourth diffusion barrier film to create a fourth amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the step of amorphizing the fourth diffusion barrier film step comprises the step of implanting ions into the fourth diffusion barrier film to create a fourth amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of fabricating an interconnect for an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: forming a dielectric layer on an integrated circuit substrate, the dielectric layer including a contact hole that exposes an underlying conductor; forming a diffusion barrier film on the dielectric layer opposite the underlying conductor and on the exposed portion of the underlying conductor; amorphizing the diffusion barrier film to create an amorphous diffusion barrier film by implanting ions selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen and silicon into the diffusion barrier film; and forming a copper film on the amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of fabricating an interconnect for an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: forming a dielectric layer on an integrated circuit substrate, the dielectric layer including a contact hole that exposes an underlying conductor; forming a diffusion barrier film on the dielectric layer opposite the underlying conductor and on the exposed portion of the underlying conductor; amorphizing the diffusion barrier film to create an amorphous diffusion barrier film by implanting ions selected from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen and silicon into the diffusion barrier film; and forming a copper film on the amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of forming a diffusion barrier film comprises the step of forming a diffusion barrier film from at least one material selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ti, WN, TiW and TiN.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of forming a diffusion barrier film comprises the step of chemical vapor depositing a diffusion barrier film on the dielectric layer opposite the underlying conductor and on the exposed portion of the underlying conductor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of forming a copper film is followed by the steps of: forming a second diffusion barrier film on the copper film, opposite the amorphous diffusion barrier film; and amorphizing the second diffusion barrier film to create a second amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the step of amorphizing the second diffusion barrier film step comprises the step of implanting ions into the second diffusion barrier film to create a second amorphous diffusion barrier film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the underlying conductor is an underlying copper conductor.