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US6200433B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

IMP technology with heavy gas sputtering

Assignee: Applied Materials Inc
•
Filing: 1999-11-01
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Granted: 2001-03-13
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Expires: 2019-11-01
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention generally provides a copper metallization method for depositing a conformal barrier layer and seed layer in a plasma chamber. The barrier layer and seed layer are preferably deposited in a plasma chamber having an inductive coil and a target comprising the material to be sputtered. One or more plasma gases having high molar masses relative to the target material are then introduced into the chamber to form a plasma. Preferably, the plasma gases are selected from xenon, krypton or a combination thereof.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peijun Ding
  • 👤 Rong Tao
  • 👤 Barry Chin
  • 👤 Dan Carl

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 02:47
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/04; C23C14/046; C23C14/22; C23C14/34; C23C14/35; C23C14/354; C23C14/358; H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/032; H10W20/033; H10W20/042; H10W20/056

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 120 words
A method for depositing one or more layers on a substrate, comprising: (a) positioning the substrate on a first support member in a first chamber; (b) introducing one or more plasma gases into the first chamber selected from xenon, krypton or a combination thereof; (c) supplying a first power to a first coil positioned to inductively couple energy into the first chamber; (d) supplying a second power to the first support member; (e) sputtering a first material from a first target onto the substrate to form a barrier layer thereon, wherein the first material is selected from tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium nitride and a combination thereof; and then (f) depositing a seed layer on the barrier layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 120 words
A method for depositing one or more layers on a substrate, comprising: (a) positioning the substrate on a first support member in a first chamber; (b) introducing one or more plasma gases into the first chamber selected from xenon, krypton or a combination thereof; (c) supplying a first power to a first coil positioned to inductively couple energy into the first chamber; (d) supplying a second power to the first support member; (e) sputtering a first material from a first target onto the substrate to form a barrier layer thereon, wherein the first material is selected from tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium nitride and a combination thereof; and then (f) depositing a seed layer on the barrier layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein (e) and (f) are performed at a pressure between about 20 mTorr and 60 mTorr.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is deposited on a dielectric material disposed on the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first power is between about 1 kW and 5 kW.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 97 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein (f) comprises: (i) positioning the substrate on a second support member in a second chamber having a second target disposed therein, the second target comprising a second material; (ii) introducing one or more plasma gases into the second chamber selected from xenon, krypton or a combination thereof; (iii) supplying a third power to a second coil positioned to inductively couple energy into the second chamber; (iv) supplying a fourth power to the second support member; and (v) sputtering the second material onto the substrate to form the seed layer thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein (e) and (f)(v) are performed at a pressure between about 20 mTorr and 60 mTorr.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the third power is between about 1 kW and 5 kW.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the fourth power is equal to or less than about 450 W.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the second material is selected from copper, tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium nitride and a combination thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 54 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the first and third powers are between about 1 kW and 5 kW, the second and fourth powers are equal to or less than about 450 W, and the second material is selected from copper, tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium nitride and a combination thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US5281554A Cited
US5372848A Cited
US5766379A Cited
US5633199A Cited
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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) 2004-03-12 2004-09-11 2005-03-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2008-03-12 2008-09-11 2009-03-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2012-03-12 2012-09-11 2013-03-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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