Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor structure having an air region and method of forming the semiconductor structure

US5510645A · kind A · utility

162Cited by
12References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 17, 1995
Grant dateApr 23, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 17, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S148/073
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming an air region or an air bridge overlying a base layer (12). Air regions (20a, 20b, 28a, and 48) are formed overlying the base layer (12) to provide for improved dielectric isolation of adjacent conductive layers, provide air-isolated conductive interconnects, and/or form many other microstructures or microdevices. The air regions (20a, 20b, 28a, and 48) are formed by either selectively removing a sacrificial spacer (16a and 16b) or by selectively removing a sacrificial layer (28, 40). The air regions (20a, 20b, 28a, and 48) are sealed, enclosed, or isolated by either a selective growth process or by a non-conformal deposition technique. The air regions (20a, 20b, 28a, and 48) may be formed under any pressure, gas concentration, or processing condition (i.e. temperature, etc.). The air regions (20a, 20b, 28a, and 48) may be formed at any level within an integrated circuit.

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