Patent · US Expired

Method for planarizing a layer of material

US5272117A · kind A · utility

81Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 1992
Grant dateDec 21, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76819
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming a planarized layer of material starts by providing a substrate (12). An integrated circuit layer (14) is formed overlying the substrate (12). A first layer of material (16) is formed overlying the integrated circuit layer (14). An etch stop layer (18) is formed overlying the layer of material (16) and etched to form sidewall formations or spacers. A second layer of material (20) is formed overlying the layer of material (16) and the etch stop layer (18). Planarization, polishing, or etch-back processing is performed using the etch stop layer (18) to endpoint. The resulting planarized layer has a thickness which is determined accurately by the etch stop layer (18).

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