Microwave-activated etching of dielectric layers
US6015761A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/76804
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microwave-activated plasma process for etching dielectric layers (20) on a substrate (25) with excellent control of the shape and cross-sectional profile of the etched features (40), high etch rates, and good etching uniformity, is described. A process gas comprising (i) fluorocarbon gas (preferably CF.sub.4), (ii) inorganic fluorinated gas (preferably NF.sub.3), and (iii) oxygen, is used. The process gas is introduced into a plasma zone (55) remote from a process zone (60) and microwaves are coupled into the plasma zone (55) to form a microwave-activated plasma. The microwave-activated plasma is introduced into the process zone (60) to etch the dielectric layer (20) on the substrate (25) with excellent control of the shape of the etched features.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.