Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor device with multilayer silicon oxide silicon nitride dielectric

US4907046A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 15, 1988
Grant dateMar 6, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 15, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D64/68
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A solid state device includes a transistor (A) and a capacitor (B). The capacitor is defined by a lower polycrystalline silicon layer or electrode (20), multiple dielectric layers (22), and an upper polycrystalline silicon layer or electrode (30). The dielectric layers are formed by vapor depositing a 3.6-18.6 nm thick layer of silicon nitride on the lower polycrystalline layer. Thicker silicon nitride layers increase the failure rate and decrease the capacitance (FIG. 8). More specifically, the silicon nitride layer is deposited on a thin, about 1 nm, oxidized film or surface (24) of the polycrystalline silicon layer. The silicon nitride layer is oxidized forming a silicon dioxide layer (28) until the silicon nitride layer is only about 3 nm thick. This forms on oxide layer that is 1-8.4 nm thick. If the silicon nitride layer is reduced below 3 nm, the polycrystalline silicon tends to oxidize rapidly reducing capacitance and increasing failure (FIG. 8).

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