Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor body, and device formed therefrom, having grooves with silicon nitride on the groove surfaces

US4907063A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
5References
38Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateMay 20, 1987
Grant dateMar 6, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 20, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/978
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor integrated circuit device is provided with polycrystalline silicon filling U-grooves etched in a semiconductor substrate to form isolation regions which prevent any short-circuiting between the polycrystalline silicon and electrodes or wiring formed on the semiconductor substrate. A silicon dioxide film is formed within the U-grooves, and a silicon nitride film and a silicon dioxide film are further formed thereon. The silicon nitride film has a high hardness which suppresses the development of crystal defects in the peripheral active regions due to the expansion of the surface of the polycrystalline silicon when it is oxidized. When the surface of the polycrystalline silicon is oxidized, the oxidation proceeds along the oxide film over the nitride film, so that the whole of the oxide film is formed thickly. Therefore, the silicon nitride film and the silicon dioxide film are provided with an increased margin against the etching used for forming contact holes.

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