Patent · US Expired

Process for forming a semiconductor device

US5972804A · kind A · utility

138Cited by
21References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 3, 1997
Grant dateOct 26, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 3, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/906
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming an oxynitride gate dielectric layer (202, 204) begins by providing a semiconductor substrate (200). This semiconductor substrate is cleaned via process steps (10-28). Optional nitridation and oxidation are performed via steps (50 and 60) to form a thin interface layer (202). Bulk oxynitride gate deposition occurs via a step (70) to form a bulk gate dielectric material (204) having custom tailored oxygen and nitrogen profile and concentration. A step (10) is then utilized to in situ cap this bulk dielectric layer (204) with a polysilicon or amorphous silicon layer (208). The layer (208) ensures that the custom tailors oxygen and nitrogen profile and concentration of the underlying gate dielectric (204) is preserved even in the presence of subsequent wafer exposure to oxygen ambients.

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