Strain relief trenches for epitaxial growth
US11804374B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 2020 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10D30/475
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Strain relief trenches may be formed in a substrate prior to growth of an epitaxial layer on the substrate. The trenches may reduce the stresses and strains on the epitaxial layer that occur during the epitaxial growth process due to differences in material properties (e.g., lattice mismatches, differences in thermal expansion coefficients, and/or the like) between the epitaxial layer material and the substrate material. The stress and strain relief provided by the trenches may reduce or eliminate cracks and/or other types of defects in the epitaxial layer and the substrate, may reduce and/or eliminate bowing and warping of the substrate, may reduce breakage of the substrate, and/or the like. This may increase the center-to-edge quality of the epitaxial layer, may permit epitaxial layers to be grown on larger substrates, and/or the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.