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US6063656A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cell capacitors, memory cells, memory arrays, and method of fabrication

Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-18
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Granted: 2000-05-16
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Expires: 2017-04-18
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Abstract

Abstract A masking and etching technique during the formation of a memory cell capacitor which utilizes an etching technique to utilize a maximum surface area over the memory cell and to form thin spacers to pattern separation walls between capacitors. This technique results in efficient space utilization which, in turn, results in an increase in the surface area of the capacitor for an increased memory cell capacitance.

Inventors

  • 👤 Darwin A. Clampitt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 01:26
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10B; H10B12/00; H10B12/01; H10B12/02; H10B12/03; H10B12/033; H10B12/30; H10B12/31; H10B12/315; H10D; H10D1/00; H10D1/01; H10D1/041; H10D1/042; H10D1/60; H10D1/68; H10D1/692; H10D1/711; H10D1/714; H10D1/716

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 306 words
A method of producing a memory cell, comprising: providing an intermediate structure comprising a substrate having at least one thick field oxide area and at least one active area, including at least one implanted drain region and at least one implanted source region, said intermediate structure further including at least one transistor gate member spanned between said at least one drain region and said at least one source region on said at least one substrate active area, and a barrier layer substantially covering said at least one field oxide area, said at least one active area, and said at least one transistor gate member; patterning a first resist on said barrier layer; removing said barrier layer in said pattern of said first resist to a predetermined depth to form recesses with corners formed at a step between said recesses and non-removed portions of said barrier layer; removing said first resist; depositing a shield layer over said barrier layer; patterning a second resist on said shield layer; removing said shield layer in said pattern of said second resist such that a portion of said shield layer under said second resist and a portion of said shield layer in said barrier layer recess comers remain after said shield layer removal; removing said barrier layer to expose a portion of said at least one transistor gate, member, a portion of said at least one active area, and a portion of said at least one field oxide area; removing said second resist; depositing a storage poly layer; depositing a support material over said storage poly layer prior to the removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said support material after removing said shield layer portions; depositing a dielectric layer over said storage poly layer; and depositing a cell poly layer over said dielectric layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 306 words
A method of producing a memory cell, comprising: providing an intermediate structure comprising a substrate having at least one thick field oxide area and at least one active area, including at least one implanted drain region and at least one implanted source region, said intermediate structure further including at least one transistor gate member spanned between said at least one drain region and said at least one source region on said at least one substrate active area, and a barrier layer substantially covering said at least one field oxide area, said at least one active area, and said at least one transistor gate member; patterning a first resist on said barrier layer; removing said barrier layer in said pattern of said first resist to a predetermined depth to form recesses with corners formed at a step between said recesses and non-removed portions of said barrier layer; removing said first resist; depositing a shield layer over said barrier layer; patterning a second resist on said shield layer; removing said shield layer in said pattern of said second resist such that a portion of said shield layer under said second resist and a portion of said shield layer in said barrier layer recess comers remain after said shield layer removal; removing said barrier layer to expose a portion of said at least one transistor gate, member, a portion of said at least one active area, and a portion of said at least one field oxide area; removing said second resist; depositing a storage poly layer; depositing a support material over said storage poly layer prior to the removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said support material after removing said shield layer portions; depositing a dielectric layer over said storage poly layer; and depositing a cell poly layer over said dielectric layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said barrier layer comprises a first barrier layer and a second barrier layer adjacent said at least one transistor gate member, said at least one active area, and said at least one field oxide area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said first barrier layer includes a material comprising tetraethyl orthosilicate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said second barrier layer includes a material comprising a borophosphosilicate glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said shield layer includes a material comprising silicon nitride.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 320 words
A method of producing a memory cell, comprising: providing an intermediate structure comprising a substrate having at least one thick field oxide area and at least one active area, including at least one implanted drain region and at least one implanted source region, said intermediate structure further including at least one transistor gate member spanned between said at least one drain region and said at least one source region on said at least one substrate active area, a barrier layer substantially covering said at least one field oxide area, said at least one active area, and said at least one transistor gate member, at least one conductive plug extending through said barrier layer to contact said at least one drain region, and an additional barrier layer covering said barrier layer and said at least one conductive plug; patterning a first resist on said additional barrier layer; removing said additional barrier layer in said pattern of said first resist to a predetermined depth to form recesses with corners formed at a step between said recesses and non-removed portions of said additional barrier layer; removing said first resist; depositing a shield layer over said additional barrier layer; patterning a second resist on said shield layer; removing said shield layer in said pattern of said second resist such that a portion of said shield layer under said second resist and a portion of said shield layer in said additional barrier layer recess corners remain after said shield layer removal; removing said additional barrier layer to expose said at least one conductive plug; removing said second resist; depositing a storage poly layer; depositing a support material over said storage poly layer prior to removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said support material after removing said shield layer portions; depositing a dielectric layer over said storage poly layer; and depositing a cell poly layer over said dielectric layer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 320 words
A method of producing a memory cell, comprising: providing an intermediate structure comprising a substrate having at least one thick field oxide area and at least one active area, including at least one implanted drain region and at least one implanted source region, said intermediate structure further including at least one transistor gate member spanned between said at least one drain region and said at least one source region on said at least one substrate active area, a barrier layer substantially covering said at least one field oxide area, said at least one active area, and said at least one transistor gate member, at least one conductive plug extending through said barrier layer to contact said at least one drain region, and an additional barrier layer covering said barrier layer and said at least one conductive plug; patterning a first resist on said additional barrier layer; removing said additional barrier layer in said pattern of said first resist to a predetermined depth to form recesses with corners formed at a step between said recesses and non-removed portions of said additional barrier layer; removing said first resist; depositing a shield layer over said additional barrier layer; patterning a second resist on said shield layer; removing said shield layer in said pattern of said second resist such that a portion of said shield layer under said second resist and a portion of said shield layer in said additional barrier layer recess corners remain after said shield layer removal; removing said additional barrier layer to expose said at least one conductive plug; removing said second resist; depositing a storage poly layer; depositing a support material over said storage poly layer prior to removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said remaining shield layer portions; removing said support material after removing said shield layer portions; depositing a dielectric layer over said storage poly layer; and depositing a cell poly layer over said dielectric layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said barrier layer comprises a first barrier layer and a second barrier layer adjacent said at least one transistor gate member, said at least one active area, and said at least one field oxide area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said first barrier layer includes a material comprising tetraethyl orthosilicate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said second barrier layer includes a material comprising a borophosphosilicate glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said shield layer includes a material comprising silicon nitride.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-05-16 2003-11-15 2004-05-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-05-16 2007-11-15 2008-05-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-05-16 2011-11-15 2012-05-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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