US5972769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-aligned multiple crown storage capacitor and method of formation
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-18
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Granted: 1999-10-26
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Expires: 2017-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A self-aligned multiple crown storage cell structure 10 for use in a semiconductor memory device and method of formation that provide a storage capacitor with increased capacitance. A double crown storage cell structure embodiment 10 can be formed by patterning a contact via 18 into a planarized base layer that can include an insulating layer 12, an etch stop layer 14, and a hard mask layer 16, depositing a first conductive layer 20, etching the first conductive layer 20, etching the hard mask layer 16, depositing a second conductive layer 24 onto the conductive material-coated patterned via 18 and the etch stop layer 14, depositing a sacrificial (oxide) layer 26 onto the second conductive layer 24, etching the sacrificial layer 26, depositing a third conductive layer 28, and etching conductive material and the remaining sacrificial layer 26. The last several steps can be repeated to form a storage cell structure 10 with three or more crowns.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Yung-Hsi Tsu
- 👤 Jing Shu
- 👤 Isamu Asano
- 👤 Jeffrey Alan McKee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:17
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B12/00; H10B12/01; H10B12/02; H10B12/03; H10B12/033; H10B12/30; H10B12/31; H10B12/318
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for forming a self-aligned multiple crown storage cell structure for use in a semiconductor memory device, comprising: providing a planarized base layer; patterning a contact via into the base layer; forming a first sacrificial layer on the base layer; depositing a first conductive layer onto the patterned via and the first sacrificial layer; etching the first conductive layer to expose the first sacrificial layer; removing the first sacrificial layer; depositing a second conductive layer onto the conductive material-coated patterned via and also on the base layer; depositing a second sacrificial layer onto the second conductive layer to fill the via; etching the second sacrificial layer to expose portions of the second conductive layer; depositing a third conductive layer onto the exposed portions of the second conductive layer and the remaining second sacrificial layer; performing an etch of the conductive layer to expose portions of the base layer; and removing remaining portions of the second sacrificial layer to form a double crown storage cell structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for forming a self-aligned multiple crown storage cell structure for use in a semiconductor memory device, comprising: providing a planarized base layer; patterning a contact via into the base layer; forming a first sacrificial layer on the base layer; depositing a first conductive layer onto the patterned via and the first sacrificial layer; etching the first conductive layer to expose the first sacrificial layer; removing the first sacrificial layer; depositing a second conductive layer onto the conductive material-coated patterned via and also on the base layer; depositing a second sacrificial layer onto the second conductive layer to fill the via; etching the second sacrificial layer to expose portions of the second conductive layer; depositing a third conductive layer onto the exposed portions of the second conductive layer and the remaining second sacrificial layer; performing an etch of the conductive layer to expose portions of the base layer; and removing remaining portions of the second sacrificial layer to form a double crown storage cell structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein both the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer comprise an oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the base layer further comprises an etch stop layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: depositing a fourth conductive layer onto the conductive material-coated patterned via and the base layer; depositing a third sacrificial layer onto the fourth conductive layer; etching the third sacrificial to expose portions of the fourth conductive layer; depositing a fifth conductive layer onto the exposed portions of the fourth conductive layer and the remaining third sacrificial layer; performing an etch to expose the base layer; and etching the remaining third sacrificial layer, thereby forming a three crown storage cell structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: depositing a fourth conductive layer onto the conductive material-coated patterned via and the base layer; depositing a fourth sacrificial layer onto the fourth conductive layer; etching the fourth sacrificial layer to expose portions of the fourth conductive layer; depositing a fifth conductive layer onto the exposed portions of the fourth conductive layer and the remaining fourth sacrificial layer; etching conductive material to expose the base layer; and etching the remaining fourth sacrificial layer; depositing a sixth conductive layer onto the conductive material-coated patterned via and the etch stop layer; depositing a fifth sacrificial layer onto the sixth conductive layer; etching the fifth sacrificial layer to expose portions of the sixth conductive layer; depositing a seventh conductive layer onto the exposed portions of the sixth conductive layer and the remaining fifth sacrificial layer; etching conductive material to expose the base layer; and etching the remaining fifth sacrificial layer, thereby forming a four crown storage cell structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1, wherein etching conductive material to expose the base layer further comprises: etching the third conductive layer to expose the remaining second sacrificial layer and a portion of the second conductive layer; and etching the exposed portion of the second conductive layer to expose the base layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the base layer further comprises an insulating layer formed from an oxide and an the etch stop layer comprising Si 3 N 4 deposited onto the insulating layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each conductive layer comprises polysilicon deposited using chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the second sacrificial layer comprises SiO 2 deposited using chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising depositing a dielectric onto the storage cell structure and depositing a top plate over the dielectric to form a multiple crown storage capacitor.
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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) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |