Patent · US Expired

Direct etch for thin film resistor using a hard mask

US5547896A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
10References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 1995
Grant dateAug 20, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 13, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S148/136
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a method of etching a thin film resistor material, such as NiCr or CrSi, and of producing a thin film resistor, a non-photoresist hard mask is deposited on an exposed surface of thin film resistor material, a delineated portion of the hard mask is etched with a hydrogen peroxide etchant that does not affect the thin film resistor material to expose the material therebeneath, and the exposed thin film resistor material is etched with a second etchant that does not affect the hard mask. The second etchant may be sulfuric acid heated to greater than 125.degree. C. for NiCr or a mixture of phosphoric acid, nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid for CrSi. The hard mask preferably comprises TiW.

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