Patent · US Expired

Gap filling method using high pressure

US5918152A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 1997
Grant dateJun 29, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/31051
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method is described for filling narrow gaps in a surface that is being overcoated. This has been achieved by heating the overcoating layer to a sufficient extent so that it flows relatively easily. This, in combination with externally applied pressure, causes the overcoating layer to effectively fill any narrow gaps in the surface being coated. Temperature and pressure are applied for a time that is sufficient to allow small quantities of gas that may have become trapped in the gaps to bubble to the surface. In an alternative embodiment, the surface to be coated is subjected to negative pressure prior to application of the coating. This eliminates the possibility of trapping gas in the gaps so a waiting time is no longer necessary.

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