Patent · US Expired

Thermally stabilized photoresist images

US4762768A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 1986
Grant dateAug 9, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 27, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/40
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Photo resist image layers, particularly those used for high resolution geometries in microelectronic applications, are stabilized against distortion or degradation by the heat generated during subsequent etching, ion implantation processes and the like, by the application of a film of a thermally stabilizing agent prior to post-development bake of the image layer. High temperature resistant film forming polymers, of which gelatin and gelatin hydrolysates are preferred examples, are employed as thermally stabilizing agents. The process serves to achieve thermal stabilization of the photoresist image layer without significantly affecting the ease of subsequent stripping of the layer. It is particularly effective when used to thermally stabilize positive resist images derived from photoresist systems based on novolak resins.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.