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US5946583A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing

Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-18
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2017-11-18
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Abstract

Abstract A method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing according to the invention is disclosed. This method, suitable for a substrate on which devices and first alignment marks are already formed, comprise: forming a metal layer on the substrate, thereby forming second alignment marks on the metal layer above the first alignment marks; forming a required metal pattern on the metal layer and removing part of the metal layer on the first alignment marks; forming a first dielectric layer, an etching stop and a second dielectric layer over the substrate, thereby forming third alignment marks, fourth alignment marks and fifth alignment marks on the first dielectric layer, etching stop and second dielectric layer, respectively; performing chemical mechanical polishing, causing the disappearance of the fifth alignment marks; and forming contact windows in the first dielectric layer and clear out windows on the fourth alignment marks to make said fourth alignment marks reappear. Furthermore, the method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing according to the invention not only makes the required alignment marks reappear, but also simplifies the semiconductor process, that is, unlike the prior art, no extra photolithography and etching is required in the invention, because the contact windows and clear out windows are formed simultaneously.

Inventors

  • 👤 Chi-Hsi Wu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 09:11
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P95/00; H10P95/06; H10P95/062; H10W; H10W46/00; H10W46/101; H10W46/201; H10W46/501

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
A method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing, suitable for a substrate on which devices and first alignment marks are already formed, comprising: forming a first dielectric layer, an etching stop and a second dielectric layer on said substrate, thereby forming second alignment marks, third alignment marks and fourth alignment marks on said first dielectric layer, said etching stop and said second dielectric layer, respectively; performing chemical mechanical polishing, causing the disappearance of said fourth alignment marks; and forming clear out windows on said third alignment marks to make said third alignment marks reappear.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 98 words
A method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing, suitable for a substrate on which devices and first alignment marks are already formed, comprising: forming a first dielectric layer, an etching stop and a second dielectric layer on said substrate, thereby forming second alignment marks, third alignment marks and fourth alignment marks on said first dielectric layer, said etching stop and said second dielectric layer, respectively; performing chemical mechanical polishing, causing the disappearance of said fourth alignment marks; and forming clear out windows on said third alignment marks to make said third alignment marks reappear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein said first dielectric layer is an oxide layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein the thickness of said first dielectric layer is 1 K˜5 KÅ.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein said etching stop is a silicon nitride layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein the thickness of said etching stop is 100˜3,000Å.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein said second dielectric layer is an oxide layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein the thickness of said second dielectric layer is 5 K˜20 KÅ.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein said first dielectric layer, said etching stop and said second dielectric layer are formed by use of chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method for preventing alignment marks from disappearing after chemical mechanical polishing of claim 1, wherein said clear out windows are formed by use of photolithography and plasma etching.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5401691A Cited
US5640053A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-08-30 2003-03-01 2003-08-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-08-30 2007-03-01 2007-08-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-08-30 2011-03-01 2011-08-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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