Patent · US Expired

Low cost method of fabricating epitaxial semiconductor devices

US5360509A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
8References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 8, 1993
Grant dateNov 1, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 8, 2013

Classification

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

Abstract

Significant reductions in the cost of fabrication of epitaxial semiconductor devices without sacrifice of functional characteristics is achieved by eliminating the conventional but costly polishing procedure, instead subjecting the substrate to grinding, cleaning and etching processes in which the grinding removes material from the surface to a depth of at least 65 microns and the etching further removes material to a depth of about 6-10 microns, the grinding preferably being carried out in two steps, the first being a coarse step and the second being a fine step, with the rotated grinding elements dwelling at their respective last grinding positions for a short period of time. The result is the equivalent of the prior art polishing procedure which took considerably longer to carry out and which therefore was much more costly. Complementing this grinding procedure is an improved and cost effective epitaxial process utilizing a unique two-step hydrochloric gas high temperature etch and a faster growth rate process with shorter cycle steps. In addition, oxygen control and "gettering" capabilities result in a total process improving the economics of formation of epitaxial semiconducto…

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