Patent US5998296A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5998296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming contacts and vias in semiconductor
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-16
•
Granted: 1999-12-07
•
Expires: 2017-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A method of filling openings (20, 50) in a semiconductor (10, 40) includes the steps of first forming a fill metal layer (30, 60) over the semiconductor which substantially covers the openings (20, 50). Thereafter, a surface coating (32, 62, 64) of a predetermined material is formed over the fill metal layer (30, 60). Then, high pressure is applied on the surface coating (32, 62, 64) to force the fill metal into the openings (20, 50). Metal film surface cracks previously plaguing force-fill processes are thereby eliminated or substantially reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Mukul Saran
- 👤 James F. Garvin, Jr.
- 👤 Wei-Yung Hsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:29
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of filling contacts and vias, comprising the steps of: (a) forming openings in an interlevel dielectric film, by forming the openings to have a plurality of side surfaces and a bottom surface; (b) forming at least one metal film of a first material on the interlevel dielectric film where the metal film covers the openings and does not substantially enter the openings; (c) forming at least one surface coating film of a second material different from the first material over the metal film said surface coating film having the property of minimizing shear forces exerted on the metal film; and (d) applying pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to the surface coating film to cause the metal film to substantially enter the openings.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of filling contacts and vias, comprising the steps of: (a) forming openings in an interlevel dielectric film, by forming the openings to have a plurality of side surfaces and a bottom surface; (b) forming at least one metal film of a first material on the interlevel dielectric film where the metal film covers the openings and does not substantially enter the openings; (c) forming at least one surface coating film of a second material different from the first material over the metal film said surface coating film having the property of minimizing shear forces exerted on the metal film; and (d) applying pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to the surface coating film to cause the metal film to substantially enter the openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of forming a thin layer of anti-reflective coating over the metal layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of depositing a layer of titanium nitride over the metal layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of forming a layer of aluminum oxide over the metal layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the steps of: forming a first surface coating layer of a first material over the fill metal layer; and forming a second surface coating layer of a second material over the first surface coating layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface coating film forming step (c) comprises the steps of: forming a first surface coating layer of titanium over the metal layer; and forming a second surface coating layer of titanium nitride over the titanium layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method, as set fort in claim 1, further comprising the step of forming at least one barrier layer along the bottom surface and the plurality of side surfaces of the openings prior to forming the metal layer of a step (b).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method, as in claim 7 wherein a first barrier layer is titanium and a second barrier layer is titanium nitride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the metal film is aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of exposing the wafer to oxygen and thereby forming a layer of aluminum oxide over the aluminum metal layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of exposing the wafer to nitrogen and thereby forming a layer of aluminum nitride over the aluminum metal layer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of filling contacts and vias, comprising the steps of: (a) forming openings in an interlevel dielectric film by forming the openings to have a plurality of side surfaces and a bottom surface; (b) forming at least one barrier layer along the bottom surface and the plurality of side surfaces of the openings; (c) forming at least one metal film of a first material on the barrier layer with the metal film covering the openings and not substantially entering the openings to form a gap in the openings; (d) forming at least one surface coating film of a second material different from the first material over the metal film said surface coating film having the property of minimizing shear forces exerted on the metal film; and (e) applying pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to the surface coating film such that the metal film substantially fills the openings.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of filling contacts and vias, comprising the steps of: (a) forming openings in an interlevel dielectric film by forming the openings to have a plurality of side surfaces and a bottom surface; (b) forming at least one barrier layer along the bottom surface and the plurality of side surfaces of the openings; (c) forming at least one metal film of a first material on the barrier layer with the metal film covering the openings and not substantially entering the openings to form a gap in the openings; (d) forming at least one surface coating film of a second material different from the first material over the metal film said surface coating film having the property of minimizing shear forces exerted on the metal film; and (e) applying pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to the surface coating film such that the metal film substantially fills the openings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the metal film is aluminum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of forming a layer of anti-reflective coating over the metal layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of depositing a layer of titanium nitride over the metal layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of exposing the wafer to oxygen thereby forming a layer of aluminum oxide over the aluminum metal layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the step of exposing the wafer to nitrogen thereby forming a layer of aluminum nitride over the aluminum metal layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the steps of: forming a first surface coating layer of a first material over the fill metal layer; and forming a second surface coating layer of a second material over the first surface coating layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface coating film forming step comprises the steps of: forming a first surface coating layer of titanium over the metal layer; and forming a second surface coating layer of titanium nitride over the titanium layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method, as in claim 12 wherein a first barrier layer is titanium and a second barrier layer is titanium nitride.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5073518A
Cited
US5488014A
Cited
US5432732A
Cited
US5312775A
Cited
US5266521A
Cited
US5471084A
Cited
US5534463A
Cited
US5412250A
Cited
US5580823A
Cited
US5613296A
Cited
US5610103A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |