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US5926739A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor processing method of promoting photoresist adhesion to an outer substrate layer predominately comprising silicon nitride

Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1995-12-04
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Granted: 1999-07-20
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Expires: 2015-12-04
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor processing method of promoting adhesion of photoresist to an outer substrate layer predominately comprising silicon nitride includes, a) providing a substrate; b) providing an outer layer of Si 3 N 4 outwardly of the substrate, the outer Si 3 N 4 layer having an outer surface; c) covering the outer Si 3 N 4 surface with a discrete photoresist adhesion layer; and d) depositing a layer of photoresist over the outer Si 3 N 4 surface having the intermediate discrete adhesion layer thereover, the photoresist adhering to the Si 3 N 4 layer with a greater degree of adhesion than would otherwise occur if the intermediate discrete adhesion layer were not present. Further, a method in accordance with the invention includes, i) providing an outer layer of Si 3 N 4 outwardly of the substrate, the outer Si 3 N 4 layer having an outer surface; ii) transforming the outer Si 3 N 4 surface into a material effective to promote adhesion of photoresist to the Si 3 N 4 layer; and iii) depositing a layer of photoresist over the transformed outer Si 3 N 4 surface, the photoresist adhering to the Si 3 N 4 layer with a greater degree of adhesion than would otherwise occur if the outer Si 3 N 4 surface were not transformed.

Inventors

  • 👤 J. Brett Rolfson
  • 👤 Annette L. Martin
  • 👤 Ardavan Niroomand

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 03:23
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/60; H10P14/69; H10P14/694; H10P14/6943; H10P14/69433; H10P14/63; H10P14/6326; H10P14/6328; H10P14/6334; H10P14/65; H10P14/6502; H10P14/6506; H10P14/66; H10P14/668; H10P14/6681; H10P14/6682; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/942; Y10S438/948

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 81 words
A semiconductor processing method comprising: providing a substrate; providing an outer layer of Si 3 N 4 outwardly of the substrate, the outer Si 3 N 4 layer having an outer surface; transforming the outer Si 3 N 4 surface into a material effective to promote adhesion of photoresist to the Si 3 N 4 layer, the material predominately comprising silicon enriched Si 3 N 4 ; and forming a layer of photoresist in physical contact with the transformed outer surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 81 words
A semiconductor processing method comprising: providing a substrate; providing an outer layer of Si 3 N 4 outwardly of the substrate, the outer Si 3 N 4 layer having an outer surface; transforming the outer Si 3 N 4 surface into a material effective to promote adhesion of photoresist to the Si 3 N 4 layer, the material predominately comprising silicon enriched Si 3 N 4 ; and forming a layer of photoresist in physical contact with the transformed outer surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 93 words
A semiconductor processing method comprising: providing a substrate; placing the substrate within a chemical vapor deposition reactor; feeding a gaseous silicon containing precursor and a gaseous nitrogen containing precursor to the reactor under conditions effective to deposit a Si 3 N 4 layer on the substrate; reducing the gas flow of the nitrogen containing precursor to the reactor to enrich an outermost surface of the deposited Si 3 N 4 layer with silicon atoms; and depositing a layer of photoresist in physical contact with the silicon enriched outer Si 3 N 1 surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 93 words
A semiconductor processing method comprising: providing a substrate; placing the substrate within a chemical vapor deposition reactor; feeding a gaseous silicon containing precursor and a gaseous nitrogen containing precursor to the reactor under conditions effective to deposit a Si 3 N 4 layer on the substrate; reducing the gas flow of the nitrogen containing precursor to the reactor to enrich an outermost surface of the deposited Si 3 N 4 layer with silicon atoms; and depositing a layer of photoresist in physical contact with the silicon enriched outer Si 3 N 1 surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The semiconductor processing method of claim 2 wherein the silicon containing precursor comprises dichlorosilane and the nitrogen containing precursor comprises ammonia.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2002-07-19 2003-01-18 2003-07-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-07-19 2007-01-18 2007-07-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-07-19 2011-01-18 2011-07-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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