US5960317A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of forming electrical interconnects on integrated circuit substrates using selective slurries
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-09-26
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2017-09-26
Abstract
Abstract Methods of forming electrical interconnects include the steps of forming a first electrically conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate and then forming a first electrically insulating layer on the first electrically conductive layer. A second electrically insulating layer is then formed on the first electrically insulating layer. The second electrically insulating layer is then etched to expose the first electrically insulating layer and then a third electrically insulating layer is formed on the first electrically insulating layer. The first and third electrically insulating layers are then etched to define a contact hole therein which exposes a portion of the first electrically conductive layer. A barrier metal layer is then formed. The barrier metal layer is preferably formed to extend on the third electrically insulating layer and on the exposed portion of the first electrically conductive layer. The second electrically conductive layer is then formed to extend on the barrier metal layer and into the contact hole. The second electrically conductive layer and barrier metal layer are then polished in sequence to expose the third electrically insulating layer. The step of polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the barrier metal layer preferably comprises the steps of polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the third electrically insulating layer simultaneously at a first rate and a second rate less than the first rate, respectively, using a first slurry, and then polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the third electrically insulating layer simultaneously at a third rate and a fourth rate greater than the third rate, respectively, using a second slurry.
Inventors
- 👤 In-kwon Jeong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:09
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D64/00; H10D64/01; H10D64/011; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/071; H10W20/092; H10W20/031; H10W20/062; H10P; H10P52/00; H10P52/40; H10P52/403; H10P95/00; H10P95/06; H10P95/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of forming an electrical interconnect, comprising the steps of: forming a first electrically conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first electrically insulating layer on the first electrically conductive layer; patterning the first electrically insulating layer to define a contact hole therein which exposes a portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a barrier metal layer extending on the first electrically insulating layer and on the exposed portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a second electrically conductive layer extending on the barrier metal layer and into the contact hole; polishing the second electrically conductive layer using a first slurry that can polish the second electrically conductive layer and the first electrically insulating layer at a first rate and a second rate less than the first rate, respectively; and polishing the second electrically conductive layer using a second slurry that can polish the second electrically conductive layer and the first electrically insulating layer at a third rate and a fourth rate greater than the third rate, respectively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of forming an electrical interconnect, comprising the steps of: forming a first electrically conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first electrically insulating layer on the first electrically conductive layer; patterning the first electrically insulating layer to define a contact hole therein which exposes a portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a barrier metal layer extending on the first electrically insulating layer and on the exposed portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a second electrically conductive layer extending on the barrier metal layer and into the contact hole; polishing the second electrically conductive layer using a first slurry that can polish the second electrically conductive layer and the first electrically insulating layer at a first rate and a second rate less than the first rate, respectively; and polishing the second electrically conductive layer using a second slurry that can polish the second electrically conductive layer and the first electrically insulating layer at a third rate and a fourth rate greater than the third rate, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of forming a first electrically insulating layer comprises depositing an oxide layer containing silicon using a plasma.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of forming a barrier metal layer comprises forming a barrier metal layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium nitride, tungsten nitride and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of forming a second electrically conductive layer comprises forming a second electrically conductive layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, aluminum, copper and silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said polishing steps are performed in an apparatus containing first and second polishing plates with the first and second slurries, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of patterning the first electrically insulating layer is preceded by the steps of: forming a second electrically insulating layer on the first electrically insulating layer; etching the second electrically insulating layer to expose the first electrically insulating layer; and then forming a third electrically insulating layer on the first electrically insulating layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of etching the second electrically insulating layer comprises etching the first electrically insulating layer at a first etch rate and etching the second electrically insulating layer at a second etch rate; and wherein a ratio of the first etch rate to second etch rate is in a range between about 0.33 and 3.0.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of forming a first electrically insulating layer comprises depositing an oxide layer containing silicon using a plasma.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of forming a second electrically insulating layer comprises forming a second electrically insulating layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of spin-on-glass, flowable oxide, photoresist and electrically insulating polymers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of forming a third electrically insulating layer comprises forming a third electrically insulating layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of spin-on-glass, flowable oxide, electrically insulating polymers, silicon dioxide, borophosphosilicate glass, SiOF, silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said step of forming a third electrically insulating layer comprises depositing a third electrically insulating layer using low pressure or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of forming an electrical interconnect, comprising the steps of: forming a first electrically conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first electrically insulating layer on the first electrically conductive layer; forming a second electrically insulating layer on the first electrically insulating layer; etching the second electrically insulating layer to expose the first electrically insulating layer; forming a third electrically insulating layer on the first electrically insulating layer; patterning the first and third electrically insulating layers to define a contact hole therein which exposes a portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a barrier metal layer extending on the third electrically insulating layer and on the exposed portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a second electrically conductive layer extending on the barrier metal layer and into the contact hole; and polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the barrier metal layer to expose the third electrically insulating layer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of forming an electrical interconnect, comprising the steps of: forming a first electrically conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first electrically insulating layer on the first electrically conductive layer; forming a second electrically insulating layer on the first electrically insulating layer; etching the second electrically insulating layer to expose the first electrically insulating layer; forming a third electrically insulating layer on the first electrically insulating layer; patterning the first and third electrically insulating layers to define a contact hole therein which exposes a portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a barrier metal layer extending on the third electrically insulating layer and on the exposed portion of the first electrically conductive layer; forming a second electrically conductive layer extending on the barrier metal layer and into the contact hole; and polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the barrier metal layer to expose the third electrically insulating layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said step of polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the barrier metal layer comprises the steps of: polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the third electrically insulating layer simultaneously at a first rate and a second rate less than the first rate, respectively, using a first slurry; and polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the third electrically insulating layer simultaneously at a third rate and a fourth rate greater than the third rate, respectively, using a second slurry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said step of forming a barrier metal layer comprises forming a barrier metal layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium nitride, tungsten nitride and combinations thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said step of forming a second electrically conductive layer comprises forming a second electrically conductive layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, aluminum, copper and silicon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said polishing steps are performed in an apparatus containing first and second polishing plates with the first and second slurries, respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said step of forming a first electrically insulating layer comprises depositing an oxide layer containing silicon using a plasma.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said step of forming a second electrically insulating layer comprises forming a second electrically insulating layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of spin-on-glass, flowable oxide, photoresist and electrically insulating polymers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said step of forming a third electrically insulating layer comprises forming a third electrically insulating layer containing a material selected from the group consisting of spin-on-glass, flowable oxide, electrically insulating polymers, silicon dioxide, borophosphosilicate glass, SiOF, silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said step of forming a third electrically insulating layer comprises depositing a third electrically insulating layer using low pressure or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said step of forming a third electrically insulating layer is followed by the step of forming a trench having a first width in the third electrically insulating layer; and wherein said step of patterning the first and third electrically insulating layers comprises patterning the first and third electrically insulating layers to define a contact hole having a second width less than the first width, extending between a bottom of the trench and the first electrically conductive layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said step of polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the barrier metal layer comprises the steps of: polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the third electrically insulating layer simultaneously at a first rate and a second rate less than the first rate, respectively, using a first slurry; and polishing the second electrically conductive layer and the third electrically insulating layer simultaneously at a third rate and a fourth rate greater than the third rate, respectively, using a second slurry.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 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 |