US5959326A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capacitor incorporated in semiconductor device having a lower electrode composed of multi-layers or of graded impurity concentration
Assignee: NEC Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1997-05-07
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2017-05-07
Abstract
Abstract In a capacitor incorporated in a semiconductor device, a capacitor lower plate is formed of a first amorphous silicon film on an interlayer insulator film and a second amorphous silicon film stacked on the first amorphous silicon film. A crystallization preventing film is formed between the first and second amorphous silicon films, or alternatively, the first amorphous silicon film is formed to have an impurity concentration lower than that of the second amorphous silicon film. A stacked structure formed of the first and second amorphous silicon films is patterned into a capacitor lower plate having a top surface and a side surface, and hemispherical grains are formed on not only the top surface but also the side surface of the patterned stacked structure. In this process, crystalline growth from the interlayer insulator film is prevented by the crystallization preventing film or by the fact that the first amorphous silicon film is formed to have an impurity concentration lower than that of the second amorphous silicon film. Thus, concaves and convexes in the form of hemispherical grains are uniformly formed on not only the top surface but also the side surface of the patterned stacked structure, so that a remarkably increased capacitance can be obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 Fumiki Aiso
- 👤 Hirohito Watanabe
- 👤 Toshiyuki Hirota
- 👤 Masanobu Zenke
- 👤 Shuji Fujiwara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:25
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B12/00; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/60; H10D1/68; H10D1/692; H10D1/711; H10D1/712
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A capacitor incorporated in a semiconductor device and having a capacitor lower plate having a top surface and a side surface continuous to the top surface, said capacitor lower plate being composed of a first silicon film, a crystallization preventing layer formed on the first silicon film, and a second silicon film formed on the crystallization preventing layer, said capacitor lower plate having concaves and convexes in the form of hemi-spherical grains formed on said top surface and said side surface, said capacitor lower plate being covered with a capacitor insulating film which is covered with a capacitor upper plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A capacitor incorporated in a semiconductor device and having a capacitor lower plate having a top surface and a side surface continuous to the top surface, said capacitor lower plate being composed of a first silicon film, a crystallization preventing layer formed on the first silicon film, and a second silicon film formed on the crystallization preventing layer, said capacitor lower plate having concaves and convexes in the form of hemi-spherical grains formed on said top surface and said side surface, said capacitor lower plate being covered with a capacitor insulating film which is covered with a capacitor upper plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A capacitor claimed in claim 1 wherein said capacitor lower plate has a connection extending at a side opposite to said top surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A capacitor claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second silicon films is formed of polysilicon or amorphous silicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacitor claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said first and second silicon films contains impurity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A capacitor claimed in claim 1 wherein said second silicon film has an impurity concentration higher than that of said first silicon film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
A capacitor incorporated in a semiconductor device and having a capacitor lower plate having a top surface region and connected to another circuit element formed in the semiconductor device, said capacitor lower plate having an impurity concentration grade which is low at a lower portion adjacent to the circuit element and which is high at said top surface region, said capacitor lower plate including a first silicon film having a low impurity concentration and consituting said lower portion and a second film formed on said first silicon film having an impurity concentration higher than that of said first silicon film, said capacitor lower plate having concaves and convexes in the form of hemi-spherical grains formed on at least said top surfaces, said capacitor lower plate being covered with an insulating film which is covered with a capacitor upper plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A capacitor incorporated in a semiconductor device and having a capacitor lower plate having a top surface region and connected to another circuit element formed in the semiconductor device, said capacitor lower plate having an impurity concentration grade which is low at a lower portion adjacent to the circuit element and which is high at said top surface region, said capacitor lower plate including a first silicon film having a low impurity concentration and consituting said lower portion and a second film formed on said first silicon film having an impurity concentration higher than that of said first silicon film, said capacitor lower plate having concaves and convexes in the form of hemi-spherical grains formed on at least said top surfaces, said capacitor lower plate being covered with an insulating film which is covered with a capacitor upper plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A capacitor claimed in claim 6 wherein said capacitor lower plate has a side surface continuous to said top surface, and said concaves and convexes in the form of hemi-spherical grains are formed on not only said top surface but also said side surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A capacitor claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said first and second silicon films is formed of impurity-containing polysilicon or amorphous silicon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A capacitor claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said first and second silicon films is formed of impurity-containing polysilicon or amorphous silicon.
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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) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |