Patent · US Expired

Method for forming shallow trench isolation structure

US6001707A · kind A · utility

31Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 1, 1999
Grant dateDec 14, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 1, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76237
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming a shallow trench isolation structure in a substrate includes the steps of forming a doped region around the future top corner regions of a trench. The concentration of dopants inside the doped region increases towards the substrate surface. Thereafter, a trench is formed in the substrate, and then a thermal oxidation operation is carried out. Utilizing the higher oxidizing rate for doped substrate relative to an undoped region, the upper corners of the trench become rounded corners. Subsequently, a liner oxide layer is formed over the substrate surface inside the trench using conventional methods. Finally, insulating material is deposited into the trench to form a trench isolation structure.

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