Patent · US Expired

Mark protection scheme with no masking

US6057206A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 1999
Grant dateMay 2, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of forming an alignment mark protection structure is disclosed and includes forming an alignment mark protection layer over a substrate which has an alignment mark associated therewith. The method also includes forming a negative photoresist layer over the alignment mark protection layer and removing a portion of the negative photoresist layer which does not overlie the alignment mark. The removal exposes a portion of the alignment mark protection layer which does not overlie the alignment mark and the exposed portion of the alignment mark protection layer is then removed. Preferably, the removal of a portion of the negative photoresist includes selectively exposing a peripheral portion thereof using an edge-bead removal tool, thereby allowing for the formation of an alignment mark protection structure without an extra masking step.

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