Patent · US Expired

Method of planarization of topologies in integrated circuit structures

US4954459A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
2References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 3, 1989
Grant dateSep 4, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 3, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/959
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method is disclosed for making a highly planarized integrated circuit structure having deposited oxide portions planarized to the level of adjacent portions of the integrated circuit structure which comprises: depositing, over an integrated circuit structure having first portions at a height higher than the remainder of the integrated circuit structure, a conformal oxide layer having a thickness which exceeds the height of said first portions above the remainder of the integrated circuit structure; forming a patterned mask layer over said deposited oxide layer with one or more openings therein in registry with the higher height first portions of the integrated circuit structure; etching exposed portions of said conformal oxide layer through the mask openings down to a level approximately equal to the level of the unexposed portion of the conformal oxide layer; removing the mask layer; and polishing the oxide layer to remove raised portions of the conformal oxide layer remaining after the etching step to form a highly planarized structure. Optionally, the oxide layer may be further etched anisotropically until the upper surfaces of the underlying integrated circuit structure is ex…

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